From Sleazy Bar to Villa-Like Estate

Last week I shot in a small, sleazy bar in a San Fernando Valley barrio. For the past three days, I've been working high in the hills above Malibu in a villa once owned by Motley Crue's Nicky Six. But here's the rub: While I had the run of the bar, all five or six hundred square feet of it, at the villa I was confined to a large room with high ceilings and plenty of windows and instructed to shoot on a white seamless. Go figure!

Other than the fact they didn't have me shooting outside, on the very private and sumptuous grounds of the estate with its magnificent 360° panoramic views of the Santa Monica Mountains, I had a great time.

Did I mention the food? Well, the food, i.e., the craft services, were truly outstanding! My compliments to the chef. I must admit, I could easily get used to showing up on locations where the first thing I'm asked is how I like my eggs and would I prefer pork, turkey, or soy bacon, toast or bagel, hash browns or O'Brien potatos? Or, would I rather go with quiche and fresh fruit? Or, any and/or all of the above and more? Much more-- like assorted pastries and other goodies, just-squeezed juice, freshly ground coffee... I'm not even going to discuss the lunches, dinners, and late-night snacks. (The grilled Mahi Mahi for lunch on Day Two was absolutely delish!) Anyway, It was like shooting on a cruise ship. I think I gained 5 lbs. working this video and photo-shoot! At the sleazy bar location, they ordered in pizza or Mexican or Chinese... I don't remember which.

The producers for this gig even hired me a great assistant! As a result, I'm now officially spoiled.

BTW, I don't want anyone to think I've never worked sets like this before. I have. Quite a few times in fact... though not lately, I'll admit.

Things are tough all over and budgets, for the most part, are being slashed to hell. I blame technology and the internet and asswipes. Too much entertainment content is being pirated, bootlegged, and given away for free. It's unbelievable! Most of the asswipes, that is the bootleggers and pirates, aren't even making money off their illegal activities. Apparently, they do it because they think it's cool or whatever. Yeah. Very cool. You're screwing over a lot of people! Not just companies and whatnot, but the people who earn their livings making the content.

Okay, I'm done ranting. The pretty girl at the top is Shawna, posing on a seamless in a big room in an incredible mansion perched atop a stunningly landscaped hill at the end of a multi-mile-long private road and hidden away in the beautiful Santa Monica Mountains not far from Malibu, California.