L.A. Times article re: shootmoviesincalifornia.com

[joe hedge]

Shot on Red M-X!

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-ct-onlocation10-2010mar10,0,7587310.story

 

[Ketch Rossi]

I for now have believed and dreamed of Hollywood since very young age and made an extremely long and difficult journey, as many I imagine, so that one day I could leave the Dream that is Hollywood, and this Dream, in my opinion is in the mind of many.

Unfortunately even so Hollywood and therefor, California have provided the very foundation of this Dream, lately MovieMaking, has left Hollywood in more then one way, and it seems that the State Laws, Permits Requirements, and Taxes, simply do too little to help Filmmakers film in California, and this goes all the way to the Top Studios.

Every one wants to save Production money no matter what, I love California, and even so I moved here and there, I truly hope that California survives, against the local expenses, in some cases a must, and that the call to Filmmakers to have the need to film any were else Tax brakes and other Incentives are offered, will soon come to an end, so that Movies are made were the Story calls fro, and not were the best incentive is granted.

 

[Andrew Walker]

If I was going to shoot a movie I wouldn't do it in California. I love the state, I just hate the idiots running it. I would much rather go North into Oregon or East into Arizona or New Mexico. Its not just the tax breaks that you can get in other states. Its just the ease at which you can get the locals to sign on with what your trying to do. In California you can have that ease as well, just as long as your willing to pay out the nose for it. I have no sympathy for California because they are driving the productions away. I do feel sorry for the people that live in the LA area and work in the industry because they are losing their jobs because of the morons running the state.

 

[BigLu]

I have worked with ED Gutentag on a feature with 3 RED cameras, and the guy is on point. He works so hard and puts such a genuine effort into keeping work here in Hollywood. Reminding people that California can do so much more to open, keep and have jobs for the film industry professionals and independents.

GO ED! a prolific DP with RED cameras.
I support and hope your film raises some noise to bring it back.

http://shootmoviesincalifornia.com/?page_id=2

 

[M Most]

I do feel sorry for the people that live in the LA area and work in the industry because they are losing their jobs because of the morons running the state.

Or because of the people who go elsewhere because they dislike politicians.

The last time I looked, you live in Burbank. Nobody is forcing you to leave in order to make a movie. It's your choice, and perhaps you should ask yourself if it's politicians that are the problem or people like yourself who want to blame them. If you want to shoot elsewhere, that's fine. But you should be honest about the reasons for doing so.

 

[Andrew Walker]

Or because of the people who go elsewhere because they dislike politicians.

The last time I looked, you live in Burbank. Nobody is forcing you to leave in order to make a movie. It's your choice, and perhaps you should ask yourself if it's politicians that are the problem or people like yourself who want to blame them. If you want to shoot elsewhere, that's fine. But you should be honest about the reasons for doing so.

I would want to shoot elsewhere because its a pain in the ass to shoot in California and more so in the LA area. The politicians make policy and I don't like many of the policies in this state regarding filming and other things. What would force me to leave is a very limited budget. Not everyone has a big studio budget to make their film. So people go where their money will go the furthest. All I'm saying is that if CA wants to keep productions here they will cut them some major tax breaks.

 

[Mark Allen]

There are more elements than just tax breaks and politics.

It's hard to get locations in LA. It's expensive, most have been shot out if their remotely affordable. Even junky warehouses are very expensive to rent because people here are savvy to what studios will pay which makes it very hard for indepedents. Locations are the primary reason I've known productions to shoot out of LA.

One interesting non-location scenario was this: I was part of a TV production that was very low budget. Financing was from outside of the US even which economically is exactly perfect for the state. However, there was a Union blockade that parked trucks blocking the ability to shoot at one of the locations because the show was being done non-union. The investors never shot in LA again. Productions all moved to NZ. I don't know if that happens rarely or ever at all, but I really could not see the logic in pushing away a series of productions like that.

 

[Brandon Kraemer]

The quality of light might be another reason to shoot someplace other than LA. Of course opinions will differ on this subject, but the famous Cinematographer Gordon Willis, for instance, hated L.A.'s quality of light, equating it to a "toaster-oven".

 

[Rick Darge]

The quality of light might be another reason to shoot someplace other than LA. Of course opinions will differ on this subject, but the famous Cinematographer Gordon Willis, for instance, hated L.A.'s quality of light, equating it to a "toaster-oven".

That's a great description for LA light..

 

[joe hedge]

The quality of light might be another reason to shoot someplace other than LA. Of course opinions will differ on this subject, but the famous Cinematographer Gordon Willis, for instance, hated L.A.'s quality of light, equating it to a "toaster-oven".

Michael Mann talking about LA light for Collateral:

http://www.observer.com/node/49643

"...there is a unique mood to the skies above L.A., at two or three a.m. Streetlights reflect off the bottom of clouds. Even in darkness, you can see into the distance; silhouetted palms against the sky … I had to figure out how we were going to evoke that three-dimensional night-how to see into the L.A. night."

Dion Beebe, the DP on Collateral, on the same subject:

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0HNN/is_8_19/ai_n6171215/

"Beebe was particularly excited about how at night the camera reveals this immersive glowing, haloed, surreal environment, caused by the thick LA marine layer, trapping and diffusing the light coming from the sodium vapor street lights."

 

[M Most]

The quality of light might be another reason to shoot someplace other than LA. Of course opinions will differ on this subject, but the famous Cinematographer Gordon Willis, for instance, hated L.A.'s quality of light, equating it to a "toaster-oven".

That's not surprising, since Gordon Willis hates just about everything about L.A.

 

[M Most]

I would want to shoot elsewhere because its a pain in the ass to shoot in California and more so in the LA area.

As compared to what? Going to another location that has far less experienced crew, having to deal with travel, lodging, and per diems for above the line talent, trying to set a path to post production (which would likely be done in L.A. anyway)? I've worked and shot in Los Angeles for many years and while it may be a bit difficult at times, there are many factors that work in its favor - like availability of everything, almost immediately, whenever you need it. In almost every way, I've always found that everything gets harder when you leave L.A., not easier. You're entitled to your opinion, but I get the impression that you're really going with the flow rather than asking and answering the questions honestly. It's not always all about getting a tax bribe (and that's what it is, regardless of what it's called). It's a matter of being able to do your job efficiently and have a bunch of people around you who can do the same. There is no place I've been to anywhere in the world that caters to that more than Los Angeles.

The politicians make policy and I don't like many of the policies in this state regarding filming and other things. What would force me to leave is a very limited budget. Not everyone has a big studio budget to make their film. So people go where their money will go the furthest. All I'm saying is that if CA wants to keep productions here they will cut them some major tax breaks.

They already have. If you're not aware of that, you're not paying attention. Or you don't care.

 

[Rick Darge]

L.A. 4 Life .. I love working in this town

The guys working on Ordinary Average Guys are awesome. Ed, Evin, Kehoe, Sykes, Korb Brothers. I'm throwing some help in the ring with the media transcode. Thank god for the ROCKETTTTTT -

 

[Dylan Macleod CSC]

Michael Mann talking about LA light for Collateral:

http://www.observer.com/node/49643

"...there is a unique mood to the skies above L.A., at two or three a.m. Streetlights reflect off the bottom of clouds. Even in darkness, you can see into the distance; silhouetted palms against the sky … I had to figure out how we were going to evoke that three-dimensional night-how to see into the L.A. night."

Dion Beebe, the DP on Collateral, on the same subject:

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0HNN/is_8_19/ai_n6171215/

"Beebe was particularly excited about how at night the camera reveals this immersive glowing, haloed, surreal environment, caused by the thick LA marine layer, trapping and diffusing the light coming from the sodium vapor street lights."

Hollywood has a long and much revered history in the art of filmmaking. But that doesn't mean that just because people decide not to shoot there, that the production is a "runaway". It seems that if any film production is shot anywhere other than Hollywood it is "runaway".

I have experienced the same unique light described above in Miami. I have also experienced fantastic crews in Chicago, NYC, Atlanta, Vancouver, Toronto - and Mexico for that matter.

Hollywood does seem to be a magnet for talent - but really - many talented people choose to live elsewhere. Just because it's not Hollywood, doesn't necessarily mean it is crap...

 

[M Most]

Hollywood has a long and much revered history in the art of filmmaking. But that doesn't mean that just because people decide not to shoot there, that the production is a "runaway". It seems that if any film production is shot anywhere other than Hollywood it is "runaway".

Did anyone in this thread actually say that? I know I didn't.

I have experienced the same unique light described above in Miami. I have also experienced fantastic crews in Chicago, NYC, Atlanta, Vancouver, Toronto - and Mexico for that matter.

Hollywood does seem to be a magnet for talent - but really - many talented people choose to live elsewhere. Just because it's not Hollywood, doesn't necessarily mean it is crap...

I don't recall anyone saying anything to that effect, either.

 

[Andrew Walker]

As compared to what? Going to another location that has far less experienced crew, having to deal with travel, lodging, and per diems for above the line talent, trying to set a path to post production (which would likely be done in L.A. anyway)? I've worked and shot in Los Angeles for many years and while it may be a bit difficult at times, there are many factors that work in its favor - like availability of everything, almost immediately, whenever you need it. In almost every way, I've always found that everything gets harder when you leave L.A., not easier. You're entitled to your opinion, but I get the impression that you're really going with the flow rather than asking and answering the questions honestly. It's not always all about getting a tax bribe (and that's what it is, regardless of what it's called). It's a matter of being able to do your job efficiently and have a bunch of people around you who can do the same. There is no place I've been to anywhere in the world that caters to that more than Los Angeles.



They already have. If you're not aware of that, you're not paying attention. Or you don't care.

All I know is that just me going around trying to get stock shots around LA is rather difficult. I can go anywhere else and its easier. Don't get me wrong I really like LA and there are some beautiful shots around here. But that doesn't make it easier to shoot. All I'm saying is that if this area was a little more friendly and not so interested in shaking the lose change from filmmakers pockets then it might not be as bad.