What is your favorite Robert Zemeckis film?

What is your favorite Robert Zemeckis film?

Answer the poll to the right -->

-AM

Location Scouting at Doc's Mansion

Production III, "546"

My third semester at USC is another heavy production semester. "546" or "Production III" is the last major production class before we produce our thesis (if we decide to do a thesis). I am doing sound on the project -- both production sound and post sound. It's one of the more intense roles in 546 so my partner and I are prepared for a crazy semester!

Location Scouting

The past two weeks, we were location scouting various areas to film our movie "Crushing Violet." We need a mansion to be the younger girl's parent's house. Our co-producer, Josh, introduced us to Doc's Mansion from "Back to the Future," also known as "The Gamble House."

The director, Joe, and I drove up and searched for the giant house. I screamed when we saw it -- it's definitely from the movie!

Doc's Mansion from "Back to the Future"

Joe, our director, is making sure Doc's Mansion will work for his vision of the movie.

The front door of Doc's Mansion - a bit blurry! Below is the photo of Marty entering the front door.

A screen shot from "Back to the Future."

Young Doc inside his mansion.

To the right of the mansion is its garage or Doc's workshop.


Front of Doc's workshop.

I found one video of the scene here.

Test Shooting

This upcoming weekend is our test shooting weekend. We will test this location as well as a few more for their lighting and sound needs, among other technical issues. This will be our first weekend working on set together as a team - should be a ton of fun!

-AM

It's Storming in LA

As I lay in my bed (or is it lie in my bed?) watching "Back to the Future," a gust of wind threw my windows open just as the Lebanese were attacking Doc. I jumped up and yelled out for my roommate, Brigitte, to come and save me. She only laughed.

When Barb came home, I ran into her room to film the scary storm.








We survived the rain but not without major flooding...

This is a photo of the 2 lanes flooded on my way to school -- that was a scary day!

We went to Grauman's

Grauman's Chinese Theater

This is a video of Barb and me driving to Grauman's Chinese Theater on Hollywood Blvd. During our drive we caught a glimpse of a music video for the Japanese band "X."

Here is the street view of the music video. Behind me is Grauman's Chinese Theater.

Sherlock Holmes

We went to see the movie Sherlock Holmes. I really enjoyed the film and did not want it to end. It genuinely had me wanting more! The on-screen chemistry between Robert Downey, Jr and Jude Law was outstanding -- so much so that Rachel McAdams' character was lost. Another, lesser known actress would have played that role better, I believe. You almost forget she was in the movie! Okay there's my critique. Go see the film and compare it to Avatar, because I am sure that is what our nation is doing!

After Sherlock Holmes, we played in the Grauman's courtyard. This is where actresses and actors have put their hand and footprints in cement. We found Robert Downey, Jr.'s --

**Just a quick note that last summer I had the opportunity to sit next to Robert Downey, Jr. at his wife's USC event. Talk about being completely aware of yourself! Read about it here.

Popcorn

Then we started having more fun with popcorn -- a competition grew over how much popcorn Joel could catch in his mouth. Luke would be the thrower.

Luke Patton and Joel Townsend. Only a glimpse of the awesome times USC students have together!

Luke throwing popcorn over the lion. Not sure if Joel actually caught any.

And that was our night at Grauman's theater. We all dream of the day when we too will put our footprints in the cement outside that theater. I'll probably go barefoot :-)

AM