anybody familiar with motels in L.A. area

C

c.g._eads

Veteran
I'm looking for a location with really nice cinematic motel rooms. You know, something that's old fashioned, walls painted something other than white - just something that's not a run of the mill looking motel room - it's got some charm and qualities that would look good on film. It's supposed to be a cheap motel my characters stay at on their journey (interior only - exterior not important). But as you all know, real cheap motel rooms look really... cheap.

thanks.

chris
 
I've got to agree with taormina. You're basically asking for something that never really existed other than in our memories of a time that never was.
 
I third that sentiment.

I shot a scene this Summer in a decent size, yet cheap looking and there was no room whatsoever to light, move, shoot, or get audio.

However, all down Ventura Blvd there are old 50s and 60s motels that look both good on the outside (old and cheap) and good on the inside (old and cheap). I dont have any specific names. These rooms will be smaller than the room I shot in, so I wish you luck.
 
LA is filled with such places. On Central Avenue (lovely area) there's an old historic hotel, I think it's called the "Dunbar". I hope it's still there. It's been used in many movies. All over Silverlake, Pico Union,East Hollywood, MacArthur park are 2-4 story center hallway apartment houses. They're slums basically and always have vacant rooms, so get in touch with the manager and hand him some cash. I know some of them will play. How else will they get money for meth?
I realize they aren't "Motels" but they've been used in many capacities over the decades and are part of LA's urban fabric. I was Fireman in those areas for a long time and know them intimately. You'll find what you're looking if you're willing to hunt around. Some great locations kid. Be careful though. Hard core areas.
 
DevonKrain said:
I third that sentiment.

I shot a scene this Summer in a decent size, yet cheap looking and there was no room whatsoever to light, move, shoot, or get audio.

However, all down Ventura Blvd there are old 50s and 60s motels that look both good on the outside (old and cheap) and good on the inside (old and cheap). I dont have any specific names. These rooms will be smaller than the room I shot in, so I wish you luck.
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How'd you handle this? Hand held? on camera mic? Or did you blow it off?
 
Haha, I totally agree. I thought someone would pop in with a funny joke or something. Too bad.

Anyway, I might consider this as I'm going to have 8 open weekends while I'm there this summer. I'll keep an eye on this thread and see how it progresses.

-Kegan
 
Poorly, but the best I could. I had three actors and two cameras in the room. It was an involved scene, lots of dialogue, some action and needed covered as much as possible without it turning into a 16 hour shoot.

I put a Lav on one actor and had a boom op in the corner of the room next to B-cam which was on sticks. B-cams was soleyl covering actor #2, cross room. A-cam was on Steadicam for the opening shot, then a combination of handheld and sticks for the rest. Boom was the the second hardest part - it took a while for the op to figure out I needed it AT the ceiling, no lower.

Lighting was the hardest part. There was nowhere to hide a light. Barely 8' ceilings and without confining the scene too much it was impossible to light. We didnt have permission to shoot - I just rented the room and we shot all night, so that meant no lighting from outside in - "moonlight". I used the twp ractical table lamps, the ceiling fixture and I hid one small 250w fresnel behind the TV.

In all, it worked okay, but definitely not good. If I were to do it again, building the set would be the only way to go.
 
DevonKrain said:
Poorly, but the best I could. I had three actors and two cameras in the room. It was an involved scene, lots of dialogue, some action and needed covered as much as possible without it turning into a 16 hour shoot.

o.
Click to expand...

Do you think a monopod would've helped in this situation???

everytime i've used one it's worked out so damn well, but no one ever seems to consider them. sticks take up so much room! What do you think?
 
There are also some on Sepulveda Blvd, between Roscoe and Ventura. These tend to be the "by the hour" type. But they are the old 50s/60s type.
 
Since I'm shut in to day working and cant drive Ventura to check out the options, I'm flying it on Google Earth and I just cant see anything from above on Ventura. Too hard to tell the difference of offices, minimalls and old motorcourts.

Flying Sepulveda is another story. I can easily count 5 or more on Sepulveda in the Burbank to Sherman Way area. "Cinema Motel" is right near Victory.
 
Devon, are these places you've only seen the outside of? Or the inside too? Much more important is the inside.

These motels are supposed to be out in the middle of nowhere on a roadtrip. so that's where the exteriors will be shot. Then I'll shoot the interiors to the motel room right here in one of these motels.
 
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