Month: July 2017

Blade Runner 2049 Experience

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At the 2017 San Diego Comic-Con, Warner Bros. hosted a “Blade Runner 2049 Experience.”  Visitors were invited to experience a VR tour of the futuristic world, as well as a set recreation, with props and actors interacting with you.  Here we offer some photos of the special exhibition.

First up, a view of the full structure, as seen from outside.

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The entrance to the building.

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Once inside, there is some concept art from the film on display.

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One of the actual Spinner vehicles used in the film.

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A recreation of the film set, featuring the streets of a futuristic Los Angeles.

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Vending machines, in which visitors were distributed free t-shirts for the film.

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Bibi’s bar, in which visitors could actually go inside for a free drink.

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Some posters for the film.

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Numerous props from the film were on display.  Here are some of Officer K’s, played by Ryan Gosling, LAPD issued Blade Runner items.

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Deckard’s, played by Harrison Ford, handcuffs and binoculars, used while hiding out.

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Eye scanner, used by Officer K to identify replicants.

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Some LAPD evidence bags.

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Items found in Officer K’s apartment.

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Some miscellaneous props used in a variety of scenes in the film.

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Memory spheres used to store Voight Kampff tests to determine if one was a replicant or not in the original movie, along with some everyday tools used by manicurists in the sequel.

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LAPD badges and handcuffs issued to officers.

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Deckard’s blaster, used in both the original film and the sequel.

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Luv’s blaster.

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Items from the marketplace where residents gather to shop and eat.

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Cocktail glasses used by Deckard.

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Cocktail bottles and glasses from Officer K’s apartment.

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Decorative accessories used to adorn the office of Niander Wallace, played by Jared Leto.

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Some costumes from the film.  First, a hazmat suit, helmet and boots worn by Sapper, played by Dave Bautista, to protect him from the harsh atmospheric elements while farming.

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Some sophisticated attire worn by Luv.

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Some colorful clothing worn by Mariettte as she cruises Bibi’s Bar.

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A custom designed coat with a specially crafted collar to protect Officer K from the elements.

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Iconic yellow rain jacket made with readily available materials, worn by Joi.

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Living a solitary life, Rick Deckard wears this casual t-shirt and pants.

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Related articles: Blade Runner (1982)

Pulp Fiction (1994)

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One of the most critically acclaimed films of the 1990s, Quentin Tarantino’s “Pulp Fiction,” was shot in Southern California. The restaurant that opens and closes the film was the Hawthorne Grill in Hawthorne, California.  Unfortunately, the restaurant closed in 1996 and is now an AutoZone. It could be found at 13763 Hawthorne Blvd, Hawthorne, CA 90250.

Vincent Vega takes Mia Wallace to the memorable “Jack Rabbit Slims,” which is not a real restaurant.  The interiors were built on a studio stage.  However, the exterior is in fact a real place, albeit not a restaurant.  Located in Glendale, California, the building was originally a bowling alley called Grand Central Bowl, which has long since closed.  Today, the building is owned by The Walt Disney Company, which owned Miramax, the company which released “Pulp Fiction.”  The building is part of Disney’s larger Grand Central Business Center, which consists of numerous buildings in the area used as business offices.  The building is actually tucked away behind a wall and fencing, but the wall is not very tall and it’s easy to get a view over top of it.  What is not so easily accomplished is getting a closer view of the building.  The property is only open to business staff, so the closest the public can get is the sidewalk.

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LOCATION: 1435 Flower St, Glendale, CA 91201

Vincent Vega pays a visit to his friend Lance, played by Eric Stoltz, early in the film, in order to purchase some heroin.  After Mia Wallace mistakes Vega’s heroin for cocaine, she overdoses and is rushed to this house in the Atwater Village neighborhood of Los Angeles, for a very tense scene in which they give her an adrenaline shot.

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LOCATION: 3519 La Clede Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90039

The building where Butch’s boxing match takes place can be found in Pasadena.  The marquee has since been changed.  The same building was also used in “This is Spinal Tap.”

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LOCATION: 129 N Raymond Ave, Pasadena, CA 91103

Later in the film, after Butch has double-crossed Marsellus Wallace, he sneaks back to his apartment, located in North Hollywood, to retrieve his gold watch.

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LOCATION: 11813 Runnymede St, North Hollywood, CA 91605

After a violent confrontation at his apartment, Butch is leisurely driving away, when a chance encounter with Marsellus occurs at this intersection of Fletcher Dr. and Atwater Ave., also located in Atwater Village.  Butch is facing NW on Atwater Ave. when he spots Marsellus crossing Fletcher Dr.

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LOCATION: Intersection of Atwater Ave. / Fletcher Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90039

Butch quickly floors it and hits Marsellus, before getting in a car collision in the intersection.  Marsellus awakens and begins firing his gun at Butch, when a bystander is hit in front of Fosters Freeze, which is at the same intersection.  Forsters Freeze was also featured on the television show “GLOW.”

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LOCATION: 2760 Fletcher Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90039

Marsellus chases Butch on foot SW down Fletcher Dr. from the same intersection.

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LOCATION: Fletcher Dr., just past Atwater Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90039

Marsellus fires one last shot in the distance at Butch, who is standing at the corner of this building in Canoga Park.  This location is far away from the earlier shots in Atwater Villiage.  It is actually the corner alley next to the Zed’s Pawn Shop, in which both characters make a grave mistake in entering.

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LOCATION: The alley left of Crown Pawn Shop at 20933 Roscoe Blvd, Canoga Park, CA 91304

Zed’s Pawn Shop is where things take a bizarre, ugly turn for Butch and Marsellus.  The real building actually is a pawn shop.

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LOCATION: 20933 Roscoe Blvd, Canoga Park, CA 91304

Near the end of the film, Jules and Vincent find themselves in “The Bonnie Indecent,” in which they are in sudden, urgent need of getting rid of a body.  They arrive here at Jimmy’s house, played by Quentin Tarantino.  It is here they meet “The Wolf,” played by Harvey Keitel.

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LOCATION: 4145 Kraft Ave, Studio City, CA 91604

The site of Monster Joe’s Truck and Tow can be found in Sun Valley. The area has changed some since filming took place.

LOCATION: 12143 Branford St, Sun Valley, CA 91352

Related articles: Reservoir Dogs (1992), Jackie Brown (1997), Kill Bill (2003), Django Unchained (2012), Once Upon A Time In… Hollywood (2019)

Friends

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The opening to the hit show “Friends” was not filmed in New York, but rather in Burbank, California.  The fountain seen in the show is located on “Park Blvd” at the Warner Bros. Ranch, a small property that sits off-site from the main Warner Bros. Studios lot.  The ranch is unfortunately not open to public visitation.  However, plans are in place to relocate the fountain to the Embassy Court of the main Warner Bros studio lot.

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LOCATION: 411 N Hollywood Way, Burbank, CA 91505 (closed to public), soon to be relocated to main Warner Bros studio lot

What is open to the public is a recreation of the “Central Perk” cafe, which can be found on the Warner Bros. Studio Tour over at the main lot.

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LOCATION: 4000 Warner Blvd, Burbank, CA 91505

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Some autographed scripts can also be found on display on the Warner Brothers Studio Tour.

Jeopardy!

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The long-running game show “Jeopardy!” is filmed on the Sony Pictures studio lot.  Often the set can be visited as part of their studio tour.

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LOCATION: 10202 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232

Some of the contestant podiums, which were previously used on the actual show.

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A view behind the contestant podiums.

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A view behind one of host Alex Trebek’s former podiums.

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Boogie Nights (1997)

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Paul Thomas Anderson’s epic portrayal of the 1970s and 1980s porn industry, “Boogie Nights,” was shot all around Southern California, but like many of his early works, was primarily based around the San Fernando Valley.

The opening shot of the Reseda Theater can be found on Sherman Way in Reseda, California.  The theater has long since closed, but plans are underway to reopen the property as a mutiplex.

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LOCATION: 18443 Sherman Way, Reseda, CA 91335

Just down the street is the “Hot Traxx” nightclub, which is now a church.  Also right around the corner is the workplace of Quiz Kid Donnie Smith in “Magnolia.”

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LOCATION: 18419 Sherman Way, Reseda, CA 91335

Dirk Diggler’s parents’ house is located far south of the Valley, down in Torrance, California.

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LOCATION: 3503 187th St, Torrance, CA 90504

Jack Horner takes Dirk out for a meal with Amber Waves and Rollergirl at Du-Pars Restaurant and Bakery in Studio City.  The same restaurant was featured in the film “Valley Girl.” The location has since closed down and the building has been heavily remodeled.

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LOCATION: 12036 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604 (now closed)

Jack Horner’s house is tucked away in the city of Covina.  The property is not easily visible from the street.

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LOCATION: 19515 E Cameron Ave, Covina, CA 91724

The side of the house, where Little Bill, played by William H. Macy, witnesses his wife having sex outside, while a group of party guests watch.

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The back of Jack Horner’s house, with the patio and swimming pool, where the party takes place.

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Later in the film, Dirk Diggler moves into his own house, located in Woodland Hills.

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LOCATION: 4214 Lobos Rd, Woodland Hills, CA 91364

Amber Waves makes a documentary about Dirk Diggler, which itself is based on the documentary “Exhausted: John C. Holmes, the Real Story.”  The bridge Dirk stands in front of is the Colfax Ave footbridge in Studio City.  It can be found near the intersection of Colfax Ave and Ventura Blvd.  Once you spot the overpass on Colfax, the bridge is just beneath it and can easily be accessed by foot.

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LOCATION: Near the intersection of Colfax Ave / Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604 (nearest address is 4028 Colfax Ave, Studio City, CA 91604)

Towards the end of the film, things take a darker turn as Dirk solicits himself to perform sexual acts for money.  The alley where he meets the man in the truck is still there, but the buildings to the left has since been demolished.  The church in the background can still be seen.  This location is very close to the donut shop in the film.

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LOCATION: 18128 Sherman Way, Reseda, CA 91335

Buck Swope picks up some donuts at the aforementioned Miss Donuts.  This is in Reseda, near the church seen above and the “Hot Traxx” location.

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LOCATION: 18231 Sherman Way, Reseda, CA 91335

The drug dealer robbery is planned from the El Royale Hotel in Studio City.

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LOCATION: 11117 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604

Things reach a crescendo with a drug deal gone bad, at this house in Encino.  Sadly, the house has since been demolished and a new home build in it’s place.  Luckily, we we able photograph it prior to it’s demolition.

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LOCATION: 16801 Encino Hills Dr, Encino, CA 91436

Related articles: Hard Eight (1996), Magnolia (1999), Punch-Drunk Love (2002), There Will Be Blood (2007), The Master (2012), Inherent Vice (2014)

Michael Jackson’s Thriller

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Tucked away in the Angelino Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles, near Echo Park, you’ll find the house from arguably the most famous music video of all time; Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.”  Just a couple doors down is the house from “Charmed” (also seen in “Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo”) and across the street is the house from “Grandma’s Boy.”

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LOCATION: 1345 Carroll Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90026

Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)

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James Cameron’s iconic sci-fi action sequel, “Terminator 2: Judgement Day,” shot all around California, primarily in the Los Angeles, San Fernando Valley and Fremont areas.  Here we’ll take a look at some of these spots.

The T-1000 travels back in time and arrives underneath this bridge, where he kills a police officer and takes his car, beginning his search for John Conner.  This was the 6th St Bridge in downtown Los Angeles, which was used in countless films.  Sadly, the bridge has since been demolished.

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LOCATION: Under the 6th St. Bridge, at the intersection of lower E 6th St. and Santa Fe Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90013 (now demolished)

John Conner lives at this house in Canoga Park with his foster parents.  The T-1000 later arrives searching for John.

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LOCATION: 19828 Valerio St, Canoga Park, CA 91306

John Conner and a friend rob an ATM at this former bank in Van Nuys, California.  The building is now a pharmacy and is fenced off from the street, with no trespassing signs.  It’s still fairly easy to photograph from the sidewalk, however.

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LOCATION: 14400 Roscoe Blvd, Van Nuys, CA 91402

After the T-1000 spots John Conner, he begins to pursue him, as John flees down the stairwell of a parking garage.  This is a garage at the Santa Monica Place shopping center.  Despite appearances, it’s actually not too difficult to match up the areas used in the film.

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LOCATION: 395 Santa Monica Place, Santa Monica, CA 90401

John races over to his bike.

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The T-1000 chases him at an inhuman speed.

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A look at some other shots seen during the bike chase…

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In one of the most famous scenes in the film, after thinking he’s finally escaped the T-1000, due to some help from the T-800, John is surprised when the T-1000 drives a semi truck through the overpass wall of Bull Creek, a flood control channel located in North Hills.

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LOCATION: Bull Creek, SW corner of Plummer St, near Hayvenhurst Ave, North Hills, CA, 91343

Here is a view of the Bull Creek channel, where John Conner is chased on his dirt bike by the T-1000.

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After The Terminator saves John Conner, Conner asks him to stop the bike at this alley in Van Nuys, where he questions him on his mission.  The alley is located very close to the bank where John Conner robs the ATM.

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LOCATION: Alley on Wakefield Ave, between Burton St and Roscoe Blvd, Van Nuys, CA 91402

Sarah Conner, played by Linda Hamilton, is being held at the Pescadero State Hospital for the Criminally Insane.  These scenes were shot at the Phoenix House for Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation.  We did not replicate the exact angles seen of the building in the film, as those sections are now entirely obscured by a row of trees.

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LOCATION: 11600 Eldridge Ave, Lake View Terrace, CA 91342

Sarah has a dream in which she approaches a playground as Judgment Day begins.  This was filmed at Elysian Park, overlooking Dodger Stadium and Downtown Los Angeles.  The park has changed quite a bit and the chain link fence is long gone, but the city skyline can still be matched up.  This area is near Elysian Fields on Park Road, where it ends in a cul-de-sac.  The playground has been moved up closer to the road and the area seen in the film is now a lookout point.

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LOCATION: Near Elysian Fields, Park Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90012 (GPS coordinates: 34°04’56.8″N, 118°14’23.4″W)

The T-800, Sarah and John stop off at this desert market and gas station, as they make their way to the Salceda ranch.  Although long since closed, the property is still recognizable from the film. The same building was featured in the film “From Dusk Till Dawn.”

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LOCATION: 46551 140th St E, Lancaster, CA 93535

Later in the film, the Terminator, John and Sarah Conner all break into the Cyberdine Headquarters, where Skynet will be created, launching Judgement Day.  The real building is located in Northern California in the city of Fremont.  Ironically, the building actually belongs to a real tech company, Mattson Technology.

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LOCATION: 47131 Bayside Pkwy, Fremont, CA 94538

A closer look at the entrance, where the SWAT truck crashes through.

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We leave you with some props from the film.  The T-1000’s crowbar arms, stabbing finger and liquid metal bullet wound can be found on display at Planet Hollywood in Florida.

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LOCATION: 1506 E Buena Vista Dr, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

Related articles: The Terminator (1984), Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines (2003)

Wonder Boys (2000)

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Curtis Hanson’s excellent, overlooked 2000 film “Wonder Boys” takes place within the literary circles of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where the film was also shot.  The film ranks among Hanson’s finest works and features an impressive, ensemble cast.  We highly recommend it if you’ve never seen it.

This house is where Michael Douglas’ character lives in the film, disheveled and struggling to finish writing his second book.

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LOCATION: 359 S Atlantic Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15224

Later in the film, the confrontation with “Vernon Hardapple” takes place in the parking lot of this bowling alley.  The bowling alley is also seen in the Farrelly Brothers comedy “Kingpin,” where Woody Harrelson’s character loses his hand.

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LOCATION: 25 New York Ave, Rochester, PA 15074