I used to think California could be a substitute for Arizona, in terms of a filming or photography. My perspective has changed a lot since I worked on a film in Arizona this fall (2012). For instance California's desert is famous for Joshua Trees, a funny looking tree in my opinion, that is numerous and uniquely California, in fact there is a national park near Palm Springs named after this cactus where they grow in large numbers. In Arizona the most common cactus is the Saguaro, a plant that conjures the epitome of the Southwest Desert. Not only is there a contrast in plant life and geology, Phoenix and the surrounding cities has something that even Palm Springs does not have; the buildings are modern, could I say urban desert motif. When I travel to Palm Springs, I feel like I am going back in time to the 1950's, except for the downtown section that reminds more of a contemporary open air mall than a "real city". The architecture of the homes in Palm Spring was designed and built in the nineteen fifties and sixties and for the most part remained the same all these years. In reality this is not a bad thing if your shooting a period piece or you want a retro look. Phoenix has evolved, there are few old building, the city feels new and vibrant, most of downtown Phoenix is newly built. A light rail system was completed several years ago to make Phoenix a more pedestrian friendly city. Museums, parks and other such destinations has transformed this metropolis into a place in the Southwest that is truly Sui generous to this ecosystem of human beings that converge in this desert landscape. Instead of non-native plants and trees, Phoenix encourages native plants to compliment the panorama.
If you are looking for locations that are different than what you would find in California, consider Arizona and specifically Phoenix and the surrounding cities as your backdrop. Phoenix is less than a six hour drive from Los Angeles with great crews and support equipment for your needs. If you have any questions or you need a motor home call me Mike Green at 818 317 7099.
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