“So what about that high budget stuff and all the Tinseltown glory?” We are happy you asked. Lets catch everyone up real quick.
Tinseltown is the old nickname for Hollywood. And Hollywood is where the magic happens. Besides the chance of running into a celebrity, it’s a very interesting adventure to go check out where some of your favorite shows and movies are filmed.
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But before you go rubbing elbows with Michael Bay, let’s set the scene, pun intended.
In the early 1900’s, this city became an ideal haven for independent filmmakers that were fleeing the iron grip of Thomas Edison’s motion picture patents. Edison was known to sue and halt any production on the East Coast that wasn’t his own. The great weather and the varying landscape became an ideal place for filming. And when Edison’s Motion Picture Patents Company would try to come out west to sue, an escape to Mexico was effortless.
The Hollywoodland sign was soon to follow. What? You didn’t know that the sign started out that way? It’s not the most common piece of information about the city, but it is important. The sign started out as an advertisement for a subdivision, but when the project didn’t take off, the last four letters were removed. They were never restored and the sign in its current form became a trademarked symbol of the city and has been used in hundreds of movies since it’s creation.
Movies like San Andreas, Sharknado, Gangster Squad, Argo, Bewitched, The Day After Tomorrow, Independence Day, Demolition Man and Pretty Woman have all featured the legendary sign.
Los Angeles is huge so the possibilities of where to film are endless. Keep your head up and plenty of movie scenes will come to life as you walk the same streets where Oscar winners make their living. You are already planning to take a trip to the Griffith Observatory(L) right? While in the area, check out the Bronson Caves(L). Although this location is part of the beautiful Griffith Park, the area is remote-looking and craggy. It was perfect for Sci-Fi and westerns. Oldies like The Vampire Bat and Robot Monster were filmed here as well as some of the newer stuff like Tremors 4 and The Scorpion King.
Maybe you are a fan of the biggest movie franchise of all time –Fast and the Furious. If so, StarMap has some great news for you! Many of the locations throughout the films can be accessed right now in LA. Check out where the first rally scene took place in the Alameda Square. Stop by the Toretto house(L) in Echo Park(L) or maybe you can grab a bite at the Neptune’s Net(L) after having your own race with a Ferrari on PCH(L). Finish it off by stopping by the Leo Carrillo State Park(L) where the most memorable scene from Furious 7 was shot as a tribute to Paul Walker.
By the way the Leo Carrillo(L) location is just naturally beautiful and has been used by a number of famous films, old or new, like Inception, Grease, and the Karate Kid.
If you are a fan of the 90’s and have seen “Independence Day”, Blade Runner,” “Godzilla,” “The Terminator,” “Transformers,” “ Kill Bill,” “Lethal Weapon 2” and “Con Air,” then you will definitely be familiar with the 2nd Street Tunnel in Downtown. It’s probably the most recognized filming location that no one really knows or thinks about.
Downtown LA(L) appears in so many movies it’s hard to keep track. But it’s also masked very well and without knowing it you’ve probably seen it in one of your favorite films.
Music videos across all genres have used the Downtown skyline as their backdrops. The most notable has to be Michael Jackson’s Thriller(L), the filming locations for this classic were all around the city center. Besides the King of Pop(L), Pharrell, Fatboy Slim and Maddona have all included LA in their visual work.
So while you’re bumping Californication or Under the Bridge by The Red Hot Chilli Peppers, remember you can check out the filming locations for the music videos yourself.
And turn the tunes up as you’re cruising down Sunset. Don’t forget to stop by the mansion that was used for the long running show The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.(L) This is the place where Will Smith became one of the most popular actors in Hollywood.
When you get to Beverly Hills(L), almost every other street is a filming location. When you see the architecture and the manicured lawns you will understand why. Beverly Hills 90210, The Beverly Hillbillies, Beverly Hills Cop, and Clueless were all set and filmed in this neighborhood of 1%ers. No, seriously, this neighborhood is flawless and has some of the shiniest fire hydrants ever. (picture of Beverly Hills sign on Sunset Blvd)
The 90210 zip code is known for the most expensive homes in the entire country. Many of the beautiful architectural creations are used in various projects including T.V. and major films. The most famous would have to be The Gresytone Mansion where the Social Network, X-Men, Star Trek 2 and many other films were shot. But the stand out has to be Ghostbusters, this classic film, heavily used the mansion to set up some of the more memorable scenes.
Who are we forgetting? Oh yea, the most famous family on television is often roaming these streets while shooting mundane footage for their reality show “Keeping Up with the Kardashians”.
As much as it hurts to say it, the Khardashians are a constant in Beverly Hills. Some of this rat pack (We are not referencing Sinatra here) lives in the area and a couple of them run a boutique on Melrose. This family has made the LA streets their filming grounds.
Without famous destinations, LA would just be San Diego. Don’t get us wrong, SD is nice, but this right here, this right here, this is Los Angeles. Enjoy this city responsibly.
