Driving home on Friday at about 10 pm I rolled into one of those make-believe, other-world experiences at the corner of 5th and Lucerne: a nighttime film shoot in progress. It was quiet and surreal: one could feel the low hum of muffled activity; the trees were under-lit in golden hues; and a giant condor crane lit the scene from above with a massive light. People shuffled about quietly.
I understand why some residents don’t like film shoots. They don’t want the trucks on the streets. They don’t like hearing gun shots in the night (even if they know they’re just Hollywood firepower.) They don’t like having to wait till the Director yells “cut” before they can drive on by.
But personally, I like stumbling into a film shoot. I feel like it makes our world more intriguing, and gives us a taste of what put this town on the map. It makes me see the streets and the homes in a new way – whether from lighting that accents an architectural gem, or from seeing the owner’s furniture lined up outside on the drive, not quite right for its ‘close up.’
This particular night they were filming a scene for a new television show scheduled to air in 2012 titled “Perception” and starring Eric McCormack (Will & Grace) so I was kind of hoping I would hit pay dirt and see him stumbling toward me as they wrapped the scene. But no luck.
Film LA ,which monitors filming in Los Angeles, reports that film, television and commercial production here has only inched up slightly from last quarter. Evidently, the tide of runaway productions to Canada, New York, the Midwest and elsewhere has yet to be turned. Â Local film crews, and the economy, are suffering from the diminished on-location work here in Los Angeles.
You can sign up for email notifications from Film LA to learn what productions will be shooting in the greater Larchmont / Hancock Park area. Â Sign up is easy at http://www.filmla.com/enotifications.php
