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by Jen Collins, aka Kitty Bukkake
Lately all I really want to do is watch DVDs, and right now I'm living on "The Shield." Maybe you've watched it too--it's a cop show set here in Los Angeles, somewhat based on the Rampart scandal, and stars Michael Chiklis, whom I immediately took a shine to because despite playing an LA cop, he retains the lingering brogue of a former Masshole like myself--he's from Lowell, Massachusetts. They shoot at Prospect Studios, right here in Franklin Hills, and on location all over the east side--Silverlake, Echo Park, HiFi. It's a fabulous show, and recognizing streets and stores and houses makes it more exciting to watch.
Last week in between Season 3 Episodes 2 and 3, I hit Trader Joe's for another box of popsicles, and spotted Catherine Dent (Danny Sofer, good cop, mostly) in line with her baby. Her bright green shirt and khaki shorts outfit threw me because she's always wearing blues on the show. Then today, eagerly anticipating Season 4 Disc 1 (Hurry, Netflix), I was on my way to the Los Feliz post office and I passed a shoot at Franklin and Talmadge, a block from my house. There were cops everywhere, maybe not unusual for a location shoot, but I immediately thought it must be "The Shield," it has to be. And it was. Walton Goggins (Shane Vendrell, bad cop, mostly) was checking his reflection in the side window of a Land Rover. As I drove away I heard someone yell, "Okay people, let's go!"
Now I'm home and bummed out, not only because the mail is late, but, damn. I hate knowing that the only thing I'm interested in right now is happening a block away from my house, and I'm watching it happen... from my couch, three seasons ago, strung out on iced coffee, wearing a floppy hat and a sweaty bikini.
So anyway, my question for the readers of LAist in the meantime is, what would happen if a person just walked down there and stood around watching them shoot? Are there rules about civilians on a union set? Would they think (know) I'm a crazy person, or worse--a tourist? And most importantly, how do I stop watching exciting things happen and start being part of them? Okay, I don't expect you to answer that last part.
(Note: I went home to get my camera, but when I got back they were on lunch break. Still lots of cops around, but real cops, not TV cops. But then again, this is LA. Law enforcement may just be their day job.)
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Jen/Kitty- the Streets are yours for the gawking. You can't disrupt the film shoot, but you can stand at the edge of their permitted area and watch, as long as you're not blocking the sidewalk or "loitering" (which means an adjacent property owner or occupant has asked you to leave and you refuse). I say, go enjoy your streets and the "production value" added by living in LA.
I must advise you: Don't watch the filming! Even though it's allowed - it must be - and it seems interesting in theory, because, hey, we like TV (or movies, or media stuff in general), you will soon find the mind-numbingly dull process of actually shooting the footage... over and over... puts you at risk of not liking it.
Was Dorothy really happier to see what the Wizard really was? Of course not. As I alluded in a recent post on my site about some filming I encountered down in Long Beach (for the movie Spring Breakdown, nothing takes the luster off seeing a movie being made more than seeing a movie being made. Our love of entertainment springs largely from our illusion of its glamour; don't ruin it by throwing reality into the mix.
My suggestion: You're already on the couch. Just watch the nicely edited final result. The remote is right next to you.
Leave the sycophantic antics to the tourists. That's what they're here for. (I should admit I am a native Angelino; perhaps I am overly jaded about such things.)
I live right there. You kids GET OFF MY LAAAAAAAAAAAAWN!
Any time I've worked on sets in LA, the movies have been about suicidal sub-cultural American revolutionaries, or rabid pirates humping and chopping each other's legs off, or people taking a shit on the floor. So as you can imagine, the rules are different, if there are rules at all. I am actually more curious about how things work in the "normal" scheme of things. So thanks for the advice!
I love the Shield, easily one of the best shows on TV the last couple years. So lucky for you to come across a shoot, possibly the only thing other than missing my friends in LA is the ability to see film shots.