The 2004 Taylor Hackford film “Ray,” starring Jamie Foxx, tells the life story of legendary musician Ray Charles. Production primarily took place in Louisiana, with some additional filming in Los Angeles, California. Early in the film Ray Charles, played by Foxx, performs at The Rocking Chair club. Afterwards, the club owner Marlene, played by Denise Dowse, offers Ray to stay at her place, supposedly located in Seattle. The house can actually be found in New Orleans.
LOCATION: 4445 Venus St, New Orleans, LA 70122
The film jumps ahead to 1950 as Ray is performing in Los Angeles. Several quick establishing shots of the city are seen, including Los Angeles City Hall, which appears a couple times in the film. The iconic building has been featured in endless films, such as “L.A. Confidential,” “Liar Liar,” “Gangster Squad,” “Impulse,” L.A. Bounty” and more.
LOCATION: 200 N Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
This building is also briefly seen as the Waters & Sons Record Shop during the Los Angeles establishing shot montage. The same location appeared in the film “Devil In A Blue Dress.”
LOCATION: 426 S Main St, Los Angeles, CA 90013
The home of Della Bea Robinson, played by Kerry Washington, can be found in New Orleans.
LOCATION: 649 Park Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70114
After Ray and Della Bae get married, the move into this home, supposedly located in Texas, but actually found in New Orleans.
LOCATION: 1505 Bodenger Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70114
Ray and Della Bae later move into this home, located in Los Angeles.
The 2022 action comedy “Day Shift,” starring Jamie Foxx, was primarily filmed in Southern California. In the film, Bud Jablonski, played by Foxx, lives at this apartment building, which can be found in Toluca Lake. The area where he is seen parking can be found facing Sarah St.
LOCATION: 4604 Cahuenga Blvd, Toluca Lake, CA 91602
Bud’s ex-wife and daughter live in this home, located in Northridge.
LOCATION: 11804 Darby Ave, Northridge, CA 91326
Seth, played by Dave Franco, lives in the apartment building, located in North Hollywood.
LOCATION: 12835 Burbank Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91607
The 2004 Michael Mann film “Collateral” takes place during one night in Los Angeles, where production was likewise based. Early in the film, a taxi driver named Max, played by Jamie Foxx, gets gas at this station, which has since been remodeled.
LOCATION: 1400 Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90021
Max picks up Vincent, played by Tom Cruise, who turns out to be a hitman and uses Max to make the rounds as he finds his targets. Vincent’s first stop is this apartment, where he tells Max he’s closing a real estate deal.
LOCATION: 1039 S Union Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90015
He asks Max to go to the alley in the back and wait for him. This is actually a completely different location, where a body suddenly falls on top of Max’s taxi cab.
LOCATION: Alley behind 1666 W 2nd St, Los Angeles, CA 90026 (GPS coordinates: 34.062793, -118.266048)
Yet a third location was featured in the shots looking up at the broken window. It was also used as the interior, where Detective Fanning, played by Mark Ruffalo, later arrives at the scene.
LOCATION: 1033 Beacon Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90015 (back side of the building, GPS coordinates: 34.048907, -118.276713)
Another alley is featured when Vincent ties Max to the steering wheel as he leaves to kill his next target.
LOCATION: Alley behind 3200 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90010 (GPS coordinates: 34.061102, -118.292291)
Max honks on the horn for help, but instead attracts some men looking to rob him. They attempt to take Vincent’s briefcase, but he returns to the car and executes the men.
At the end of the film, Max and Annie, played by Jada Pinkett Smith, arrive at the Redondo Beach Station. Director Michael Mann previously used this same station in the opening shots of “Heat.” If you plan to visit this station, the only way to access the platform is by purchasing a fare.
LOCATION: 2406 Marine Ave, Redondo Beach, CA 90278
Max and Annie continue down to the street level below the station.
The film ends as Max and Annie make their way out to the street and the train departs.
Quentin Tarantino’s 2012 western “Django Unchained” is set in various locations across the USA. The filming locations also span across several states, including California, Wyoming and Louisiana. In the opening of the film, Django, played by Jamie Foxx, is shown as a slave. The was filmed at Alabama Hills in Lone Pine, California. Alabama Hills is a staple of old westerns, having been used in dozens of films, such as “How the West Was Won” and “The Gunfighter.” It appears in more modern films as well, such as “Iron Man,” “Tremors,” “Gladiator” and more.
LOCATION: Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, CA 93545
Dr. King Schultz, played by Christoph Waltz, arrives with Django in the town of Daughtrey, Texas. This was actually filmed at Melody Ranch in Newhall, California. The sets are sometimes moved around at Melody, depending on the needs of the latest production. So it can be tricky matching up every shot, but there remains a lot of areas that do match up almost exactly. The same ranch is also briefly seen in the early scenes of Tarantino’s “Once Upon A Time In… Hollywood,” on the set of the fictional “Bounty Law.”
The two are first seen arriving into the town between these two buildings.
LOCATION: 24715 Oakcreek Ave, Newhall, CA 91321
They are seen passing this building.
They proceed down this main street, as the locals stare them down. This section has changed a bit from how it appeared in the film.
Schultz parks his wagon in front of the building on the left. Most of this area still looks the same as it did in the film.
The enter this saloon, where the bartender quickly runs out to fetch the sheriff. The doors were switched to swinging doors in the film. This same set was featured prominently in the TV show “Westworld,’ as the brothel where Thandie Newton’s character works.
After the bartender runs out, Schultz prepares some beer for himself and Django.
Here are some views from upstairs.
Dr. Schultz has a confrontation with the sheriff between these two buildings. The boardwalk on the left is where Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt sit for their “Bounty Law” interview at the beginning of “Once Upon A Time In… Hollywood.”
The marshall, played by Tom Wopat, has a short standoff with Dr. Schultz and Django in front of these buildings, before Schultz reveals he is a bounty hunter with a valid warrant. Schultz and Django are also seen walking past these buildings earlier when they first entered the town.
Later in the film, Dr. Schultz and Django make their way to Tennessee. Django picks out a new set of clothes for himself at the Chattanooga Haberdashery. This was also filmed at Melody Ranch.
Unlike most movie ranches in Southern California, Melody Ranch does in fact offer tours to the public. However, the challenge is simply finding availability. The ranch is sometimes booked for months or years at a time, hosting such shows as “Deadwood,” “Westworld” and “Peaky Blinders,” as well as numerous films and commercials. With such high demand as a filming location, the opportunities for tours are quite limited and require much diligence or good timing.
In search of the Brittle Brothers, Schultz and Django make their way to a plantation owned by Big Daddy, played by Don Johnson, supposedly located in Tennessee. This was filmed at the Evergreen Plantation in Edgard, Louisiana. The Evergreen Plantations was formerly available for tours to the public, but has since stopped offering them. This main house can actually be seen from the road, but it is a busy road, so it’s not the safest area to try to grab photos. The same plantation was featured in the films “The Beguiled,” “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter,” “Antebellum” and “Free State of Jones,” as well the TV shows “Preacher,” “Into the Badlands” and the 2016 version of “Roots.”
LOCATION: 4677 LA-18, Edgard, LA 70049
The pair are seen entering through this front gate. The dirt trail leading to the house has since grown back over with grass.
There is a flashback scene of the Brittle Brothers beating Django’s wife Broomhilda, played by Kerry Washington. This was filmed at the back of the Evergreen Plantation, where real housing communities were set up for slaves.
Django confronts the Brittle Brothers in this area, also located behind the main house at the Evergreen Plantation. John Brittle is about the beat a woman who is tied to the base of the tree located next to the white barn. After Django exacts his revenge, Dr. Schultz soon joins him at the scene.
As Django and Schultz gear up and mount their horses to go in search of Broomhilda, we are back at Melody Ranch. They first ride out of this building.
Candyland, the estate of Calvin Candie, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, was a set constructed for the film. The exterior was built on the grounds of the Evergreen Plantation, which has since been removed. The interiors were filmed at Second Line Stages in New Orleans (800 Richard St, New Orleans, LA 70130).
Back in Lone Pine, where the opening of the film takes place, you’ll find the excellent Lone Pine Film History Museum. During the production, Tarantino would hold screenings for crew members at the museum’s screening room. At the completion of the film, Tarantino donated the dentist wagon of Dr. Schultz, where it is currently on display. If you have the opportunity, we highly recommend visiting the museum, which dives deep into the history of the many films shot in the Lone Pine area.
LOCATION: 701 S Main St, Lone Pine, CA 93545
Also on display at the museum is a photo of Tarantino and the cast, as well as a signed copy of the script.
Here is a director’s chair from the film.
Over at Melody Ranch, they also have their own museum, known as the Melody Ranch Motion Pictures Studio Museum. The collection contains a mixture of memorabilia acquired by the owners over the years, as well as items donated by productions shot at the ranch. There is a small area focused on “Django Unchained.”
Edgar Wright’s 2017 film “Baby Driver” was filmed in Atlanta, Georgia and the surrounding areas. The opening shot of the bank was filmed at the Candler Building on Peachtree St in Atlanta. However, the entrance seen in the film faces John Wesley Dobbs Ave NE.
LOCATION: 127 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30303
Baby, played by Ansel Elgort, parks the getaway car across the street.
LOCATION: 140 Peachtree St NW, Atlanta, GA 30303
For the opening titles, Baby exits the Healey Building, which is where his boss Doc, played by Kevin Spacey, sets up the heists. The camera looks up to the sky, with some visual effects added to make the building look even taller than it actually is.
LOCATION: 57 Forsyth St NW, Atlanta, GA 30303
The camera pans down to Baby exiting the building.
He then starts dancing as he walks down the sidewalk listening to his music.
After making his way down Forsyth St, he crosses here and nearly gets hit by a car.
LOCATION: 63 Forsyth St NW, Atlanta, GA 30303
His arrives at a coffee shop, where he first sees Debora, played by Lily James, passing by outside. His entire walk during the opening credits is an unbroken shot, meaning you can follow Baby’s exact path if you’re so inclined.
LOCATION: 85 Poplar St NW, Atlanta, GA 30303
Debora works at the former Uncle Chucky’s Diner in Forest Park, which has since closed. The building currently sits vacant. It can be tricky to access, as the address is on GA-85, but the restaurant actually sits bit further back from the road, with no direct entrance from GA-85. Instead, you need to take a couple side roads to access it.
LOCATION: 5116 GA-85, Forest Park, GA 30297
The next bank robbery, which goes awry, is a bit north of Downtown Atlanta. This building also currently sits vacant.
LOCATION: 84 Perimeter Center E, Atlanta, GA 30346
Baby and Doc case the post office for their next potential heist. The exterior was filmed at Dahlberg Hall in Atlanta.
LOCATION: 30 Courtland St SE, Atlanta, GA 30303
The climax of the film was shot at the Jerry Wadley Memorial Bridge in Juliette, about 70 miles south of Atlanta. It’s located very close to another famous filming location in Juliette; the Whistle Stop Cafe from “Fried Green Tomatoes.”
LOCATION: Jerry Wadley Memorial Bridge, Juliette, GA 31046
Film Oblivion 