Inyokern Airport-A great place to do your next shoot

Dear Reader,

The other day I had a chance to do a photo shoot at the Inyokern Airport, about two and a half hours north east of Los Angeles or about an hour north east of Palmdale. This is a private airport in the middle of the Mojave Desert surrounded by Joshua trees and the Southern Sierra Mountains. A lonely place, unless you are a jackrabbit or a coyote. If you film on runway 18, you will have a great view of the Sierra’s, in winter it is not uncommon for the peaks to be covered in snow, occasionally the snow level drops down to the valley. Don’t fret, by mid-morning all the snow will melt and one will be left with a view of the mountains that will be stunning. Since Inyokern is high desert, in summer temperatures are hot, but not unbearable like one would find in Death Valley about three hours north/east. Since this is a private airport and film friendly there are not the usual restrictions one would find at public airfields. The staff is friendly and very accommodating; they really go out of their way to make sure your specific needs are met.

The town of Ridgecrest is about ten miles east of the airport; there is no shortage of places to lodge your crew. My favorite place to stay is the “Heritage Inn & Suites” (760-446-6543), the rooms are comfortable the pillows are soft; there is restaurant that serves great food. The Hampton Suites Ridgecrest is another great place to stay, or if you are really budget conscious there is the Motel 6, (760-375-6866) with parking across the street for large vehicles, rates are under $40, you can’t get cheaper, the rooms are adequate, cable TV, a table to do your work and a warm shower. My only complaint, the heater does not work well. In terms of food, there are plenty of good restaurants, check out YELP for your favorite food.

Scotty Seymour is the general manager of the Indian Wells Valley Airport District; he is the man you want to contact if you want to shoot at the Inyokern Airport 760-377-5844. Scotty understands the needs of producers and he will go out of his way to make sure you get what you need. If you need an RV and someone who is familiar with the surrounding valley please feel free to call me (Mike Green) at 818 317 7099, I provide local rates for my services and I am a good contact person.

Squaw Valley/Lake Tahoe a great Place to do your next Film Shoot

Dear Reader,

I had a chance to visit Squaw Valley twice this year, the first time in late March, a week after a huge snow storm covered the valley in 72 inches of snow. The second time in Mid-July. Squaw Valley is located about thirty miles north of Lake Tahoe and south of Truckee off of Interstate 80.

In winter it is a skiers paradise, Squaw Valley can get up to 500 inches of snow in a season; in summer outdoor enthusiast can take advantage of the many lakes, hiking trails, horseback riding, off-roading and other activities.

When I was there last March I was working with a clothing company that was shooting their winter catalogue. The company took full advantage of the ski resorts many locations, including shooting on the cable car to the top of the mountain, the village with its many high end boutiques and restaurants. The parking lot is huge and the staff allowed me to park my motor home close to set, next to the village. My biggest concern was the weather, Squaw Valley can get snow anytime between September and June. In California all large vehicles must always carry chains with them year round, subsequently I always carry chains with me in my basement of my motor home just in case the need arises.

The great advantage about Squaw Valley is the number of lodges, therefore finding a place to house your crew will not be a problem. Tahoe City is about seven miles south of Squaw Valley, there one will find a Safeway, several gas stations that sell diesel and gasoline, restaurants, a movie theatre plus more. In the town of Truckee there is a dump station, that also sells gas and diesel fuel (Donner Lake Chevron 530-587-6022).

In the summer car shoots film around Lake Tahoe because of the scenery and of course the lake. I almost learned the hard way, highway 89-South and North; if off limit to vehicles over forty-five feet long. There are five switchback turns near Emerald Bay that are very difficult to navigate in a tractor trailer. Take highway 28 east around the lake, then take highway 50 west to the city of Lake Tahoe, this will take you back to highway 89. This will add an additional hour to the commute, however the route is easier to access in a large vehicle and the view of the lake is incredible. There are some vintage casinos off of highway 28, so if you need one this is the perfect road to find one.

If you are interested in shooting in Lake Tahoe (Placer County) you can call Beverly Lewis (Film Office Director) at 877.228.3456 and she can assist you with your location needs and film permits. If you ever need an RV call me Mike Green at 415.730.7127.

The Four Aces/Club Ed

Dear Reader

My two favorite diners/gas stations near Los Angeles are the Four Aces and Club Ed. Locations are similar and have a unique look, Club Ed has the buttes behind the diner, and the Four Aces is surrounded by Joshua Trees. Club Ed is one of the most popular locations in LA County according to Film LA. The Four Aces is a lot easier to book, because it is not as well known. Hollywood has a tendency to over use prime locations, ignoring some of the gems.

Club Ed is on a large lot and has a lot more sets than the Aces, plus there is a giant parking lot across the street. Club Ed has two gas stations, a diner, a motel with a pool and rooms decorated in 50’s style. CE has a large parking lot across the street, ideal for large crews, though it is about thirty minutes further than the Four Aces.

The Four Aces is smaller; it is ideal for photo shoots; parking is limited and it is located on a compact lot. The FA has one gas station, a diner and a motel, and no pool. Like Club Ed the Motel is decorated in 50s motif, and is surrounded by Joshua Trees in the middle of no-where. Actually the Four Aces is only about an hour from Los Angeles, in LA County. Just watch your speed, the CHP is always looking for speeders on the 14. As I indicated before, the Four Aces is not as popular as Club Ed, but that does not mean it is not a great location. It is underused, therefore your audience won’t have a moment of déjà vu; though not as big, if all you need is a gas station, some old 60s and 50s car in the background, a motel, even Norman Bates would find this prime property for “Mother”. All you need is a big ice machine, just don’t take a shower, it might be your last shower.

My only complaint is the fire department tends can be a little overbearing, so make sure on your Film Permit do your check list for each shooting day, and have someone in charge of that duty; this rule is for any location in Los Angeles County.

If you have any questions about these locations; for the Four Aces 310-396-2211 or e-mail epun@mac.com. At Club Ed 310.839-5722, if you need a film permit call Film LA 213-977-8600. And of course if you need a motor home or have any questions please call me Mike Green at 818-317-7099, my Web Address is; http://web.me.com/mgreen2528/Site/About_Us.html

Dear Reader

As you know or might not know, I travel up and down the West Coast on a regular basis. Last May I had a chance to work in San Francisco and beyond for a motorcycle photo shoot. San Francisco is a challenging place to drive a car; a motor home or any large vehicle requires a lot of planning. I personally like to use Google maps and a good old fashion paper map; a good rule is, if the street is yellow it is a truck route, if the street is white it might be too difficult to navigate in a large vehicle. Google maps allow me to zoom into a specific location and do a 360-degree view of the area. This technique is not always perfect, but for the most part it really helps me to find the best route to any destination I need to access.

San Francisco is the only city I have ever done any type of production in; that the police department escorts large vehicles to location. It felt a little awkward at first speeding through red lights, having people stare at me, but after a couple of lights it felt great. I felt like Jesse Jackson, “I am somebody”, I even started to wave at my adoring fans and to my surprise they waved back. I could get use to this, but to my disappointment, my location was on the right, darn.

Twin Peaks is the second highest location in San Francisco; one can see downtown, the Bay Bridge to the east, AT & T Park where the SF Giants play, Fisherman’s Warf to the north and the iconic Golden Gate Bridge to the northwest. This is a favorite spot for photographers, especially on a clear day. It was the perfect location to show off the bikes, as the sun rose from the east, the bikers emerged from the low-lying fog in an orange hue.

The second location was off of Market Street; Market Street is an interesting street, there are lanes only for buses, trolleys and cabs, lanes for bikes and one lane for vehicles. Around 7^th Street heading east, all non-commercial vehicles and trucks must go right or be prepared for a ticket from SFPD. If one wants to make a left turn be prepared for frustration, because there are few points along Market Street that you turn left. This is why I’m glad we had an escort to our locations, SFPD allowed our caravan to access streets that would have normally been illegal to access from.

My best advise, San Francisco is a city that is a very friendly to do your next production, the city is beautiful, the crews are top notch, and the support is the best. If you are interested in shooting in SF, look at the http://www.reeldirectory.com/ online or call Lynette at 415-531-9760.

El Mirage Dry Lakebed in Southern California

Dear Reader,

One of my favorite dry lakebeds in Southern California is El Mirage Dry Lakebed. El Mirage is only an hour and half to two hours from Los Angeles; which makes it the closest dry lakebed from LA. It also has one of the best roads of any of the lakebeds in Southern California; only the last quarter of a mile is dirt. Once you are on El Mirage the surface of the lakebed is very smooth, just watch for a few dips and any place you see grass. The speed limit is 400 miles per hour and the CHP is looking for people who exceed the speed limit in F-16 jets, so watch your speed; last year one of my drivers got a nasty ticket for going 410 in one of my motor homes. (Please enjoy my sense of humor)

What makes El Mirage such a photogenic location is each angle offers a different perspective, east and west there are low lying hills, to the south is the mighty San Gabriel and San Bernardino Mountains, in the winter these mountains are snow capped. To the northwest is Edwards Air Force Base. Don’t be surprise if a drone is spying on your shoot, the air force test drones at nearby Edwards and sometimes they fly around El Mirage. During the week, few people visit; so there is little interference from the public, plus the rangers patrol the area to keep the rift raft away. Just make sure you obtain the proper film permits or else your production will be shut down. There are only two restrooms on the lakebed, which is located at the entrance, so if you are planning on shooting, you differently will need a motor home or a porta-potty. The area is flat and void of any vegetation except on the outer edges of the lakebed.

Temperatures vary during the year; winter temperatures can dip in the thirties at night and in the summer 100 plus is the norm. During the warmer months few venture into the area, therefore one will have little interference from the public. El Mirage is closed when the lakebed is hit with heavy rains, which usually happens a few times a year at most. The only other concern one might encounter is Santa Ana winds that can cause a brown out, I have only experienced that situation once, but getting good weather forecast is important.

The best place to lodge your crew is in the town of Victorville and Sheri Davis from the Inland Film Commission can assist you with the most cost effective options. Davis can also help one find caters, crew and equipment rentals. For more information and film permits call Sheri Davis or Dan Taylor at 951 779 6700. If you need a motor home call Mike Green RVs at 818 317 7099.

Bombay Beach (Salton Sea-CA)

Dear Reader,

One place that is always in some form of transformation, both bad and good is the Salton Sea. In the years I have return to this Sea, an oasis the the parch Mojave desert in the Imperial Valley, just south/east of Palm Springs about an hour. Teaming with a wide variety of water foul, it is almost out of place in this harsh climate.

There are many places to shoot around the Salton Sea, the North Shore is one, Bombay Beach offers even more variety. Though like most of the Salton Sea area, it is always wise to scout in advance, because of vandals and construction Bombay is always changing. What one will find in Bombay are sinking buildings, graffiti, salt water that is percolating through the ground, an abandoned harbor, various structures in disrepair, a stunning view of the sea and a strange eerie quietness except for the occasional Union Pacific trains and birds overhead and on the water.

To get more information on shooting in Bombay Beach or the Salton Sea, call Mark Hilvaty at the Palm Springs Film Alliance 909 553 6881 or Sheri Davis at the Inland Film Commission 951 779 6700. If you need current pictures of the area and/or motor homes please call Mike Green at 818 317 7099.

Lake Tahoe/Squaw Valley a great place to do a winter or Christmas theme photo shoot or commercial

Dear Reader

I got a call from a very good Client of mine if I was interested in doing a job in Lake Tahoe; the job was to take place in late March. To the uninitiated, Lake Tahoe is one of the snowiest places in the United States, only behind Truckee; which happens to be the town one would have to exit from if they wanted to go to Tahoe City, or in my case, Squaw Valley. I checked the Weather Channel on the Internet for ten-day weather forecast, despite the fact that the previous week Tahoe received a record twenty-five feet of snow, the week of the shoot the weather was going to be mild. I agreed to the job, but to play it safe I bought my chains with me and some cash to have someone take my chains on and off for me.

Donner Pass on I-80 is the main route to Tahoe City or as in my case to Squaw Valley; if your destination is South Lake Tahoe you would take I-50 or Highway 395 from Los Angeles. I latter learned that you can also access South Lake Tahoe from I-80 to 89 S, but because of record snow, 89 S has been closed for most of the winter because of concerns of avalanches. I am used to driving in bad weather, though I like to use my common sense, I try to avoid driving at night or early morning, especially if the temperature drops below freezing. I gave myself a two day window to get up to Tahoe, I did not want to drive through Donner Pass at night; Donner Pass is steep and winding, and if you are going too fast you can meet your deceased relatives sooner than you expected. I tend drive very conservatively, especially in atrocious weather.

My Client put the crew up at the Resort at Squaw Creek, a wonderful resort, that had I had a couple of extra days in my schedule, I would had stayed there and did some cross country skiing and some hiking. I arrived a day before the shoot and took a bus to Tahoe City, a fifteen minute bus ride from the resort. Tahoe City is located on the most northern part of Lake Tahoe; Tahoe City is a combination rustic mixed with modernism. One would find small boutiques, ski stores, coffer shops, a post office, a small movie theatre, a Subway Sandwich and a grocery store and more. There was a park on the lake edge, but because of heavy snow, it was inaccessible.

Typically places like Lake Tahoe-California, Mt. Hood-Oregon, Sun Valley-Idaho, and Mt. Reiner-Washington are used as locations for fashion and catalogue shoots, especially for winter and Christmas issues. Since it takes sometimes up to eight months to produce a catalogue book, shooting for these books occur in March and April, when there is still snow on the ground. As in the case of this photo shoot, the unnamed company was shooting a winter issue. The weather was perfect low 50’s during the day, though it did get cold at night.

The biggest challenge to shooting at places like Lake Tahoe in early spring is the weather can be unpredictable, so in terms of planning; having a couple optional days built into the schedule helps take the uncertainty out of the equation. The Resort at Squaw Creek has ample parking for any size crew in the service parking lot, the rooms are spacious, the amenities are awesome and the people are extremely helpful.

If you plan to shoot in the Lake Tahoe area, call Kathleen Dodge 800 457 6279 at the El Dorado Lake Tahoe Film & Media Office. If you want to stay at The Resort at Squaw Creek call 866 635 7937. Of course, if you need a really nice luxury talent or production motor home for your next shoot you can call me (Mike Green) at Mike Green RVs 818 317 7099.