Hollywood Locations
As we already mentioned, people are very passionate about movies! This passion usually takes the form of talking about movies that you have seen before or even making statements like “I must see this movie” or “This is my favorite genre”.
If you want to make big money off your love for cinema, then starting a website or media outlet focused solely on covering different types of films is a great way to go. You can earn good income from the traffic that they receive too!
There are many ways to cover new releases, but one of our favorites is taking a look at what parts of the film cost where. The locations featured in a movie are important markers of its success because it shows how well funded the production was.
Los Angeles, CA
As we already mentioned, California is an incredible place to live if you’re looking to make your career in acting or filmmaking.
If you are dreaming of a chance at success as an actor, then the first thing you must do is determine the best route for you to take.
There are many ways to become famous in this industry, so deciding which one is right for you depends mostly on your personal goals.
Some people choose to start off by taking more informal classes through community organizations or educational institutions. This can be anything from taking dance lessons to learning how to use Photoshop to creating movie stories.
Other individuals may decide to pursue vocational training or advanced education in acting or cinematography. By gaining these qualifications, you would have more opportunities to work with professionals and get professional level guidance.
Whatever path you choose to go down, never underestimate the importance of networking and developing relationships within the film business. It will help you gain access and grow professionally.
Universal Studios
Located in Los Angeles, California just outside of downtown is one of the greatest movie making facilities in the world! In fact, it was built as a studio for feature films back in 1923. Since then, it has been home to some of the highest grossing movies ever made, including The Fast and the Furious series, Mission: Impossible, Jurassic World, and many more!
Universal Studios is known for its incredible rides and shows that put a strong emphasis on storytelling. These stories are usually related to a specific genre or franchise so people can connect with them easily.
For example, The Simpsons Ride puts you through a journey through Springfield by exploring different areas and experiencing various jokes and storylines. This way, users get an overall feel for the show while at the same time having a good laugh.
Many of these stories also include themes about death, loss, love, and other powerful emotions which help promote understanding and empathy. This is very important when discussing how we relate to each other and why things happen.
You will notice there are no fast cars or dinosaurs at Universal Studios, but what you do find are characters from famous film franchises such as Spider-Man, Harry Potter, Shrek, and Madagascar.
Grauman’s Chinese Theatre
The area around Grauman’s Chinese Theater is home to some of the most iconic movie locations in cinema history. Some you may have heard about, like where James Bond leaps out of the car in “Die With Diehard” or where Meryl Streep finds herself completely naked under her robe in “The Devil Wears Prada.” Others are less well known, but just as spectacular!
Many people don’t realize it, but much of what we see in expensively-lengthened films takes place somewhere within Los Angeles city limits. Many studios use the surrounding areas as backdrops for filming because it is cost effective and easy to access. Plus, there are so many buildings here that even someone who has never seen a film before can tell which ones belong to what genre and era.
This article will discuss several famous movie sets, including some that have been torn down since then. But whether they remain or not doesn’t really matter; their stories live on via movies and documentaries.
Sunset Boulevard
One of the most well-known locations in film history is definitely Sunset Boulevard. This article has been written before, but it’s still very important to understand the basics about this popular street.
Sunset Boulevard runs eastbound from Maclay Avenue all the way up to Benedict Canyon Road in Beverly Hills. The famous frontage was once home to two separate apartment buildings that were demolished to make room for the car dealership that now occupies the site.
The word “sunset” comes from the British term sun down, because back then people used clocks instead of digital devices. When the clock struck sunset, night would officially come out and begin. In America, they often use the word sunset as a metaphor or analogy for something else, so there’s no direct correlation between the two terms.
But either way, when the setting sun disappears behind some kind of obstruction (like a cloud) it looks cool. Technically speaking, this is called solar illumination, and it takes away part of the light source to create an interesting effect.
Rodeo Drive
If you ever wanted to feel like a celebrity, then you need to visit Rodeo Drive. This is one of the famous streets in Los Angeles that are always lined with expensive cars and boutiques. It’s also very popular for taking pictures because there are so many flashy signs and decorations.
However, your average tourist probably doesn’t realize how rich some people are! Some stores have reported sales of over a million dollars just from walking down the street. A lot of these businesses were an extension of what owner or professional made money doing in other areas, so they incorporated their style into theirs.
The thing about Rodeo Drive is that it is mostly focused on making people look wealthy and well-educated. There are not too many examples where someone could actually afford to shop here, unless they work in the industry or know the owners really well.
There was a time when only wealthy people lived close by, but now this is the case for most big cities. People will talk about the importance of keeping nature alive, and why we should be careful about using plastic, but never once do they mention where all of this material comes from.
The Walk of Fame
The famous “Walk of Fame” in Hollywood is made up of beautiful brass plaques that commemorate some of the most influential people in entertainment, as well as milestones in film history. Some say it looks more like a memorial walkway than a tribute to artists, but either way you look at it, it’s pretty tasteful!
The first person inducted into this prestigious group was singer/songwriter Frank Sinatra. He received his plaque in 1997 for his contributions to music and popularizing many songs such as My Way, That’s What I Like About You, and Somewhere.
Another notable individual who has a plaque here is actor Nicolas Cage. He got it in 2007 for his acting achievements, including his role in the movie Gone Baby Gone where he played an ex-convict.
Other individuals include comedian Steve Martin (for His Comedic Ability), filmmaker Steven Spielberg (For Changing the Face of Cinema Through the Use of Story And Narration) and producer Jeffrey Katzenberg (For Creating An Empire Of Media Outlets).
The Oscars
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences holds their annual event in late spring, when awards are given to movie studios for their achievements during the past year. Since 1927, when they gave out the first Best Movie Award, the Oscars have grown in size, from 1-2 minutes long to almost 3 hours!
The number of nominees has also increased, going up from five categories in the original award’s run to twenty-four today. (There were only ten nominees back then!) And while once there was just one winner per category, now there can be more than one person awarded in each.
But what most people don’t know is that not every academy member votes in the Awards themselves. That honor goes to our next topic!
Academy Members
We talked earlier about how actors and directors work in close quarters with other talented individuals, but what about everyone else? Writers, producers, and even studio executives all play an integral part in making a film happen. They're needed at every stage, so it makes sense to include them in this discussion.
That's why we should consider members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as voters too. Each individual gets a vote, which comes through either via mail or online ballot. Some may feel more motivated to put forth his/her own personal opinion instead of voting for someone else's project, but both options are legitimate ways to participate.
The Hollywood Walk of Fame
The famous “Walk of Fame” in Los Angeles is actually made up of several different types of markers. Some recognize individuals, some celebrate milestones, and some are creative. But what they all have in common is that they are all for an apppearnce or achievement within the film industry.