Pasadena California is a really swell little town.
Yeah, it’s snug up to Los Angeles… and it’s got high buildings like the city….
And it’s got a lot of people, traffic and freeways criss-crossing all over and around it…
But it is nestled at the base of some very tall and steep hills that cannot really support a lot of building…. so wherever you are in Pasadena you can look up at the hills and feel you are not that far from quiet and solitude.
And best of all, Pasadena is just a ‘hop, a skip and a jump’ from Los Angeles. A thirty minute drive will usually get you from one to the other (OK, that’s not a promise, and you should always reckon on an extra hour travel time in LA to account for traffic).
So, I’d recommend Pasadena as a base from which to explore the Northern and Eastern parts of the LA area.
A Church in Pasadena
Pasadena/Burbank
Pasadena, on Colorado Blvd
Pasadena, on Colorado Blvd
Pasadena, on Colorado Blvd.. a theater and shopping complex
The shops and stores have the names of ‘the Big Boys’ of fashion and such… even though I’m very simple and plain and would not recognize a Versace ‘whatever’ from a ‘knock-off’…. I do recognize the famous-designer names on the buildings as I drive by. I also like the architecture….. all-in-all, regardless of your interest or lack thereof in fashion and jewelry, I’d recommend a little drive down Rodeo Drive the next time you’re in Beverly Hills.
Rodeo Drive
Rodeo Drive
Rodeo Drive
Beverly Hills on Santa Monica Ave
Versace on Rodeo Drive
The entrance to Beverly Hills
`Beverly Hills’
~Weezer~
Where I come from isn’t all that great
My automobile is a piece of crap
My fashion sense is a little whack
And my friends are just as screwy as me
I didn’t go to boarding schools
Preppie girls never looked at me
Why should they?
I ain’t nobody
Got nothing in my pocket
Beverly Hills
That’s where I want to be
Livin’ in Beverly Hills
Beverly Hills
Rolling like a celebrity
Livin’ in Beverly Hills
Look at all those movie stars
They’re all so beautiful and clean
When the housemaids scrub the floors
They get the spaces in between
I wanna live a life like that
I wanna be just like a king
Take my picture by the pool
’cause I’m the next big thing
Beverly Hills
That’s where I want to be
Livin’ in Beverly Hills
Beverly Hills
Rolling like a celebrity
Livin’ in Beverly Hills
Yeah, Wilshire Blvd is a ‘Big-City’ street. It goes for miles and miles from the 405 and cuts a swath through the heart of the LA basin. The famous ‘Miracle Mile’ is on Wilshire…. Wilshire is the place to go for a sight into the heart of Los Angeles…. just get yourself ready for traffic light after light. But that’s OK… LA is such a fun place to rubberneck…. having a red light every block will enable you to see the sights, the architecture and the people, all of which Los Angeles excels at.
Don’t go onto Wilshire and expect to get from one end to the other quickly…. but what you will see along Wilshire will be enough to fill a scrapbook of sights and sounds and memories.
Her’s some photos I took the other day of the buildings along Wilshire Blvd in the Fairfax area.
I suppose it’s redundant to say ‘La Brea Tar Pits’, yet, that’s what we do.
La Brea is an area in the Los Angeles basin in which the seepage of tar collected form above-ground pools of thick gooey oils.
At times, these pools of oil would become covered by a layer of water from rains… these waters would lure unwary animals to a death of entombment in the tar.
It’s quite a museum…. and it’s right on Wilshire, the main street in LA. It is kind of odd in a way.. you’re driving along from stop light to stop light, thousands of cars jammed on that wide road… among the towering buildings…. and all of a sudden, here’s a ten acre open spot with statues of elephants alongside a pond.
If you stop in LA at any time, you really should stop for a time at La Brea.
It’s always fun seeing people doing interesting and magical things with their talents and time.
In the film industry, a ’Grip’ is a person who moves equipment, and knows how a director will likely want things set up… this includes lighting, cameras and audio. There is a huge and bewildering array of film equipment used to make motion pictures….. they can range from the mundane C-47 (clothespin), to huge moving cranes and tracks to move cameras in smooth motion.
Half a year ago I met a fellow who has a ‘grip’ company in Los Angeles. He sent me the following e-mail announcing the expansion of his company into new and larger quarters.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Z-Ville Productions New Sound Stage
Hey Y’all — Zander here,
It has been a while since I sent out an update about the company and how we can help you make your film / music or video project the best it can be — now we will be equipped to really make you project ROCK! We have expanded in a few smaller ways over the last six month but now…
We are proud to offer you the services of space and time:
Z-Ville Presents: An Affordable Sound Stage!
We are acquiring a great building (June 3rd) and will be fully equipping it as a functional Sound Stage. – 1/2 Price for June and July!
Here is the deal with the space as it is now and what it will become in the next few months — and we ask Your Help to make it a success. Please consider us for all your gear and production needs and PLEASE – tell all to give us a shout for GREAT rates and services… THANKS SO MUCH ……….. zzzzzzzzzzzzz
An Affordable Sound Stage:
Located off the corner of the 405 freeway and W. Florence Ave (just south of La Tijera and La Cienega)
Please call to stop by anytime!
What we have now:
3200SF building with:
1800SF Sound Stage with 18’ ceilings and cinder block walls
200SF Loft
2 – offices (for production or filming)
1 – Entryway with tile flooring
3 – back rooms (being converted into Makeup, Wardrobe and Kitchen / Greenroom)
2 – Bathrooms
3000SF Gated Parking Lot with 12 spaces
3000SF Roof – Flat with views of the City and surrounding warehouse roofs
Abandoned railroad tracks right out front for great aesthetics
Full Grip and Lighting Services on site
What is Coming:
Removable 20′x20′x16′ Cyc wall
Flats Sets: Jail Cells / Interrogation Room / Living Room / Bed Room / Dungeon – Basement / Multi Window Office with City Scenes / More…
Staging
Full PA System
Large Cloth Green Screen
Large Makeup Room
Large Wardrobe Room
Large Kitchen / Green Room
Shower designed for filming
HERE IS OUR FULL COMPANY PROFILE:
Z-Ville Productions is a full service Production Company for the independent filmmaker / producer. We offer a Sound Stage / Production Trailers / RV’s / A Grip and Lighting Truck / Camera Packages / Locations and Crew:
*17′ G&E TRUCK with 3+ ton Grip and 3 ton Lighting:
HMI / Kino / Tungsten / Specialty items such as Fogger / Dolly / Track / Fabrics / etc…
*3200 SQUARE FOOT SOUND STAGE:
1800SF Raw space with 18’ ceilings / two offices / two Bathrooms / Loft Green Room / Lots of Power / Lots of Gear (see above)
Three other rooms being developed into: Make Up / Wardrobe / Kitchenette / Bedroom Set / Shower Set / Flats Sets also coming soon.
*24′ “ALL IN ONE” TRAILER:
Makeup / Wardrobe Bar / Production Desk / Kitchen / Bathroom with shower / Sleeps Three – Five Persons.
*26′ CLASS C RV:
For Production or Picture Vehicle –
set up with an office in the back / full kitchen / Bathroom with shower / overhead bunk
*12 PERSON PASSENGER VAN: (Available only with Trailer Rental)
*CAMERA PACKAGES:
RED CAM / HPX500 / EX3 / HVX200 / DVX100b / ARRI SRII 16MM / and more…
*30’ JIMMY JIB:
Fully remote op and HD ready with 17” monitor and extras
*WE HAVE COMPETITIVE RATES AND CAN WORK WITH YOUR BUDGET!
*WE OFFER PACKAGE DEALS THAT WILL SAVE YOU LOTS OF MONEY!
Meeting and working with Zander was a treat, he’s a pretty cool guy who is good at setting his gear up, and keeping an eye on things. He’s also good company during a long day of filming.
Passing through life we are often confronted by situations that seem outside of our control… sometimes people retreat inward… reducing their exposure to the outside world…. but Man is a social animal… we need the tribe, the family, to continue our internal enrichment and provide companionship. But what of the lost ones wandering with no one? Can they be reached out to? If you extend your hand to such a one…. who knows but that you will, in so doing, pull yourself to a higher place.
The first film I was ever in is on IMDB now…. it is a ten minute short film called ‘Eating Alone’ by the Director Ron Moon. Thank you Ron, for giving me my first film role.
I’m even on the poster for the film!… well, that’s my legs anyway.
Leaving for an unknown shore
With every breeze just like a sigh
The sea is deep with
tears of those before
With feelings like the sea birds cry
It gently took me by the hand
Across the ocean blue
And placed me in a foreign land
Far away from you
No more the ancient conversation
Replies with just a nod
No fiddle plays a lamentation
No slowly burning sod
No smiles await on Ellis
Fears of the unknown
Only tired hearts of the countless
People taken from their homes
To be drawn across an ocean
This crooked path we pave
On earth’s eternal motion
To be a servant to the slave
Wait and yearn to be released
As the ground beneath you heaves
Turn your gaze to the East
Reflect on what the cold wake leaves
To be drawn across an ocean
This crooked path we pave
On earth’s eternal motion
To be a servant to the slave
Wait and yearn to be released
As the ground beneath you heaves
Turn your gaze to the East
Reflect on what the cold wake leaves
To be drawn across an ocean
This crooked path we pave
On earth’s eternal motion
To be a servant to the slave
I was wandering through an old (semi) abandoned warehouse in Los Angeles.
People have come in and done pretty nice artwork on the walls.
This place was very interesting on many levels.
The architecture is early twentieth century utilitarian. Built with brick and sustaining earthquake damage through the years, it no longer serves as a functioning warehouse, but houses film industry equipment, and serves as a set for films. There are loads of bays in which trucks and trailers and miscellaneous equipment can be stored, ready at all times to roll out into the lot for work. Any of the bays can be readily ‘dressed’ to fit nearly any indoors need.
The roof leaks terribly however, and the water running down the brick walls has resulted in layers of lichen growing here and there, lifting the old paint. We were working there just a couple of days after getting a large amount of rain in California. Several areas of the floor were covered with water.
It was fun wandering around this building and noticing the modifications made to the building through the years…. many holes have been drilled into the brick walls and threaded studs inserted so that ‘set’ walls can be built quickly to change the appearance. This is indeed a great place to film.
I don’t know if this art was the result of local graffiti artists, or if they were put onto the walls for some film that was made here. At any rate, the art is a bit old.. lichen is growing over the art, and the paint below is lifting off. But the quality of the art is very good. These were talented people who did this work.
