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Van Nuys | Traffic...
Both the freeways and surface streets are notorious for severe traffic congestion, and the area's freeway-to-freeway interchanges regularly rank among the top 10 most congested points in the country. Depending on the time of day and driving conditions, getting the crew and equipment to locations can take much longer than the point-to-point distances normally would indicate. Realistic travel times are necessary in order to keep schedules on track. Pre-plan carefully, leave early and check the live traffic maps link to the right.
Permits...
Within the county's borders, other entities and jurisdictions may exist, with separate requirements, fees and permits of their own. Individual cities, beaches, parks, federal lands and private property owners all may play a part in the puzzle. This can make getting legal permission to shoot at your chosen location(s) a long and trying process. You can often avoid hassles by enlisting a single agency who will act as your liaison between the various entities concerned. If you don't want to do it yourself, we suggest contacting Film LA Inc., a non-profit company who can handle all the details for you so you can get on with shooting your project.
Unions...
Whether your production is union or not, it may still be necessary to hire union sound, lighting and camera crew if a venue you wish to shoot at is union affiliated. Motion picture studios, broadcast networks, convention centers and theme parks, etc., may have specific requirements regarding the use of non-union technicians working on the premises. However, non-union crews are often allowed within guidelines. If you're unsure about a possibly unionized location, it's always safer to ask in advance than to encounter a problem at the last minute. Weather...
We enjoy some of the best weather in the continental US but, contrary to popular folklore, it really does rain occasionally in southern California. The "rainy season" (if you want to call it that) normally runs from November through April. Also, very high or low temperature ranges and extreme winds can sometimes be a problem depending on region and the time of year. The deserts can be 90-100F in the daytime and 40-20F at night during the winter. Beaches and coastal regions are often foggy, overcast and drizzly in May and June. During the late spring and fall the can be "Santa Ana winds" in excess of 60mph. This occur when air is then forced down the mountain slopes out towards the Pacific coast; the air mass is further heated by compression as it drops in altitude before reaching the Los Angeles Basin. Santa Ana winds can stop an exterior shoot dead in it's tracks but are usually predictable. Feel free to contact us if you are planning a location shoot anywhere in the southern California area. Although we can't always predict things like weather and local government, we're always happy to discuss ways to avoid typical pitfalls and make your shoot as stress free and productive as possible.
| Live Traffic Maps >
Permits at Film LA >
IATSE Directory >
NABET Directory >
Los Angeles County Facts >
Average Temps & Rainfall > |
