Scenic 395 - The Official Guide 2019/2020

2019-2020 Scenic 395 15 Ridgecrest in 1993, although various projects filmed out here prior to that. According to Lueck, prior to that the Bu- reau of Land Management dealt with the film process. The RRFC was formed to help expe- dite things and provide a central location to assist with information and filming permits. Lueck said much filming still involves BLM, which gets into the act whenever feder- al land is used. Filming also takes place in the city or on private property and the RRFC can assist with these projects as well. Lueck gave as an example a Kia commercial that filmed on Ridgecrest city streets in July. “BLM wasn't involved in that,” Lueck said. “What we had to do was pull a permit from the city and go through the workings with [the Ridgecrest Police Department] and we go ahead and get it permitted and then they can film on French and Las Flores Avenue.” The formation of the film commission makes the location-scouting process much easier on production companies. “[Before the RRFC] They didn't know where to go, how to do it. They were scattered all over the place, trying to figure out who owns that, what's that. So they can come to this office and they can say we are looking for that.” Lueck ex- plained. He said the RRFC can filter through the requests and run down whether desired locations are state or federal land or whatever. “We just save them tons of money, that they don't have to research. We know,” he said. Many projects do still involve BLM land, and the RRFC has a very close relationship with BLM film liaison Elaine Hanson. Han- son was named Public Employee of the Year, Federal in the 2016 California On Location Awards, which celebrate members of Califor- nia's film and television community who work on location. The RRFC also advises private property owners, who don't always know what to do when they are approached by a production company interested in shooting on their pri- vate property. The commission assists home- owners in negotiating guidelines and agree- ments for film companies that want to use their property. Nalagan said the commission advises pri- vate property owners to “make sure there's in- surance, make sure there's crew safety, don't jeopardize your private property in any way in the sense of digging up holes and not filling them.” Lueck added that the RRFC has a contract they give property owners to guide them. “If they follow the guidelines they are pretty safe,” he said. He added that property owners should be sure to find out the production's storyboard and working hours, to avoid hav- ing neighbors awakened in the middle of the night if someone decides to shoot a scene in- volving a loud band. Since filming takes place year round, they also advise production companies about the climate if need be. “One of the things we need to let the pro- duction company know is about the heat so they take safety productions,” Nalagan said. She added that the commission of course rec- ommends sunscreen, water, hats and provides contact information for medical issues. The commission also refers productions needing help with casting to Elena Vitale and her High Desert Talent Agency. Vitale, who is a local legend herself, is sufficiently well- known that she has an entry in the Internet Movie Database. This lists The Brave (direct- ed by and starring Johnny Depp and Marlon Brando), Pet Shop and Trona as movies she provided casting for. These movies all filmed in the greater Ridgecrest area, and many lo- cals have stories about Johnny Depp who is usually described as “quiet,” “down to earth,” and “just a regular guy.” When the television show Westworld filmed in the area late last year, marketer Ra- mon Jaime assisted in getting the word out to Kern County radio and TV stations that the production needed 300 or so local extras. The office in Ridgecrest logged 82 produc- tions in 2017, 99 in 2016, 99 in 2015, and 58 in 2014. A total is obviously not available for 2018 yet, but Nalagan said as of mid-July there were three productions scheduled for July and at least three for August. It seems to this author that a lot of the films made locally tend to be on the science fiction end of the spectrum, but Lueck and Nalagan said that the productions run the gamut of all types of works. Nalagan said local productions include a lot of car commercials, as well as photo shoots, music videos, and then feature films, short films, independent films. The list of celebrities who have completed work in the area is jaw-dropping. The Spice Girls and Madonna filmed (separately) at Cuddeback Lake back in the day. A partial list of those working here in the past includes Robert Downey Jr., George Clooney, and the classic Star Trek crew. To say nothing of Cindy Crawford during the time she was the most famous supermodel in the world. More recently, Rihanna filmed the Star Trek Beyond music video and James Marsden filmed a Toyota commercial in this area. A Wrinkle in Time also recently filmed here. Charlize Theron in 2016 took advantage of the stark beauty of Cuddeback Lake for a J'adore Dior fragrance commercial. Nalagan said this work was put together without the use of CGI. According to Nalagan, a plastic tarp was placed on the ground and filled with water for a sort of infinity effect in front of the beautiful mountains visible from the (normal- ly) dry lake bed. Asked if the work is as glamorous as it seems, Nalagan said it sometimes is. One thing the RRFC does, however, is provide complete discretion while the projects them- selves are going on. “When Rihanna was here they kept it so under wraps that none of the paparazzi or her fans [knew],” Nalagan said. She added that the film commission office has a confidentiali- ty contract with the production companies. “There's a lot of trust. That's why they will come out here,” Lueck said. Jaime is the commission's marketer, and markets through the California Film Commis- sion and other groups. Lueck and Nalagan also attend film conferences and other events to help promote the area for production com- panies. “We have been here so long that the word kind of filters down and people just know we promote deserts,” Lueck said with a laugh. “So once you put that word out that we are deserts it kind of opens it up 'to what kind of deserts do you have?'” Nalagan added that one of the perks of the job is exposing the wider world to the beauty of the desert. “It's an unknown beauty that is untapped,” she said. Continued from Page 15 JACK BARNWELL/REPRINTED BY PERMISSION OF THE DAILY INDEPENDENT A Kia Sportage SUV being filmed for a television commercial moves through Ridgecrest with a California Highway Patrol escort. NOW AVAILABLE: LIFETIME SUBSCRIPTION Get a PDF of every future Scenic 395 for one low price: $47.50. 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