Late last night, four of my classmates and I returned to LA after spending the weekend at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin for the first ACM Film Festival. The weekend was full of student films and cold weather. While the trip was enjoyable, it was busy and it was cold. I am from Colorado, so the cold doesn’t bother me, but for some reason, Wisconsin didn’t feel right. Upon returning late last night we were glad to return to the warmth of LA. Getting back into the van we are often stuck in for long rides in traffic, it felt comforting and normal. The same was true when I entered the apartment we are staying at for the block. It is strange to me that I found myself returning to a place that I have always thought I wanted to avoid – Los Angeles. Before this class I never thought I could spend this much time in LA and be happy about it. Returning last night made me realize that for the moment, LA is my “home” base, full of exciting adventures and great company.

Tonight a few of us went downtown for dinner and attempted to watch a movie at the RedCat theater by the Disney Concert Hall. We wandered around the downtown area for a bit searching for food. While walking we came across this area that was more pristine and had carefully designed spaces. The walk was lovely and we passed the bench from (500) Days of Summer that is currently inaccessible due to the fence around the park it is in. I always feel that it is important to walk around a new place in order to get to know it. Even though LA is large and we did not walk around that much, I feel like I have a better sense of the downtown area.

Also, through wandering we discovered some interesting spaces. After discovering the Central Market was closed (and that many other restaurants happened to be closed on Mondays) we settled down in a restaurant with great a view. We sat outside and looking up would see tall, looming buildings. There was one in particular that looked like a flat panel standing straight up, ready to fall over with too much wind.

Unfortunately, the movie was sold out so we did not get the chance to see it. Regardless, the evening was enjoyable. I appreciate how throughout this class I have been slowly discovering treasures within the city. While LA is not home and I am still not sure I want it to be, for now it was been a gracious host sharing its wonders with us. For now I am content being here and am glad to be back from Wisconsin. A little warmth never hurt anybody.

The films of Hollywood have taken us around the world and to new places in time. However, there are many interesting film locations right here in LA. Yes, LA is overused in countless films, TV shows- you name it. The more intriguing part is that several locations in LA are not what they seem.

Our class so far has visited some very iconic and informative places, and passed many more on our joyous car rides in LA traffic. For example, yesterday we went to Union Station (built in 1939), a very beautiful building, that has a very large open space to the left just as you go through the main entrance. This spacious room is decorated just like the rest of the station, but has doors that almost look like they are from 50 years ago. Across from the doors is a very long ticket counter made of dark wood. The counter also looks like it is from a previous era.

On one of our car rides today we passed the recognizable Johnnie’s Coffee Shop Restaurant, a “googie-style” architecture restaurant from the mid-century. The restaurant looks like it’s full of nostalgia and delicious, typical diner food.

Here’s the spoiler – these are spaces that do not function in the way they seem. The intriguing massive room in Union Station is blocked off from entry, teasing passersby with its grandeur, and is currently mostly used for filming. Sadly, as Corrina mentioned in her previous post, Johnnie’s is not a place where you can go an eat. It is now just a facade and a film set. Many – I mean many – movies have been filmed there.

Here is a link to a website that shows six locations in Hollywood that have been re-used many times and some are now used only for movies: http://www.cracked.com/article_20173_6-places-youll-recognize-from-background-every-movie.html

And here is a link of a mash up of the various scenes shot at the Quality Cafe, another restaurant place now only used for filming: http://gawker.com/5609169/movie-scenes-from-quality-cafe-a-skilled-mash-up

Also worth mentioning, we have meet some incredible people who have been willing to share some of their time with us and answer our eager questions. This morning we went to the Hollywood Heritage Museum and met George. He knows a lot about film and is more than willing to share. George works as a drapery man for film and TV productions. He told us stories of working on sets and how the need for people who have drapery expertise is becoming less and less of a necessity. George had a lot to say but there is one thing he said that stood out. He repeated a few times that you have to “adapt or die.” While that is a scary thought, it makes sense. For any career, you have to be able to adapt to whatever is thrown your way or success will not come easily.