Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Shh!

In comments July 17th I mentioned I was "coming to you from the Pasadena Public Library," where a crew was shooting scenes from Ghost Whisperer.

Many Hollywood productions use filming locations in Pasadena, South Pasadena, Altadena and the surrounding area. Our parks and institutions stand in for places all over America and Europe. The Ghost Whisperer crew is in town so often they've probably all given in and bought property here.

The shoot itself was inside at the northeast end of the building. I didn't see any of the performers. I'm a performer myself and I respect their workspace, so I didn't try to get near the set. But even on the outer edges of the shoot, where I could glimpse lights and crew, I was asked not to take photos.

They asked nicely, so there you have it. I'm sorry I didn't get you a picture of a crew guy in a tool belt. I think a lot of us would have enjoyed that. But I did get this pic of some of the essential equipment outside the library's back door.

25 comments:

Cafe Pasadena said...

Put a cross on top of it and it looks like a church where you can sing out Hallelujah at the top of your lungs!

Shell Sherree said...

So they shouldn't have to call out, "Quiet on the set."

It's still a lovely photo, Petrea. Perhaps the tool belt guy is better left to our imaginations anyway.

Dina said...

That's a lot of equipment. Fine picture, but I'd prefer one of a guy in a tool belt.

Sahildeki Ev said...

Oh I love that show. I will try to locate your library next season..

Anonymous said...

My daughter and I are really impressed that you got to see them setting up to film Ghost Whisperer. We like that show. So cool.

Looks like y'all have a really great library! My son is disgusted by my tendency to seek out the library in every town that I visit. I seem to have an affinity for libraries, so you have just fulfilled my requirements for truly experiencing the heart of a place by posting this photo!

Cafe Pasadena said...

btw, there was another tv/film/commercial production crew over at Bistro 45 near Lake/Colorado for a few days last week.

Petrea Burchard said...

Hallelujah for the film and TV business, right CO? Let's give them some tax incentives to work in California.

Hee hee, Shell. There's a uniform--long hair, work boots, shorts with lots of pockets, a tool belt, and a t-shirt. You'll see the most interesting and varied t-shirts on a Hollywood set.

Dina, like Shell said, it might be better left to your imagination. Kidding! Men and women of the crew are of all physical types, regardless of the "uniform."

Turquoise D, I know what room they were shooting in so maybe I can get back down there and get a picture of it. No promises, but I'll try.

Nikki, we also have smaller branches in pretty buildings. I'll seek them out. I don't have kids so I'm free to love libraries and book stores everywhere I go.

Yeah, Cafe, and I often see crews up at Farnsworth Park and all around town. I told one of the guys at the library we were glad to have them.

John Sandel said...

Hey, I have a tool belt …

Anonymous said...

Now all he needs are the tools.

Escapist said...

Its lovely.......


jooliiieeesss:-)


P.s:- Long tym,didn't catch yur text on my blog...

Trish said...

the thing about living in the LA area is that you see crews all the time. Funny thing is that you never really get to see stuff happening because they always shush you away. One of the cooler things is to go on the Universal behind the scenes tour---you get all the juicy stuff and learn loads of great stuff.

Then again, we've got P here to tell us all about it, right?!

and yeah, I suspect that you don't really want pictures of ALL the crew...some of them are...yeah, well, anyway, let's just say that would be a specialized section of the internet.

J+P...humnn, I think that's one of those pictures P's going to have to keep for herself...unless Chippendales is still hiring?

and the library is a beautiful building...great shot and I can totally understand why the crews use it.

Petrea Burchard said...

Har de har. Sweetie, we should get that thing down from the attic.

Escapist, thinking of you. Bad news from Jakarta last week. Did you blog about it? I'll check.

Crew work can be hard labor. The crew gets there before anyone else and they leave after everyone else does. They lift, carry, and serve the production. When I work on a set I don't usually get to know most of them because I'm only there for a day or two at best. Some stars get to know their crew, some don't. But they're experts at everything from construction to electricity to lighting design, and the work can't be done without them.

Vanda said...

Maybe you should have asked for his autograph, and tell him how you loved his work.

I said it before, Pasadena is the part of LA a European would feel the most comfortable.

Cafe Pasadena said...

Toadberry, I've heard the same thing from my Euro friends. Btw, your an ex-Euro, right?

Margaret said...

You're killing me. I really wanted to see the guy in the tool belt.

Vanda said...

Cafe, what gave me away, the accent?

I'm totally with Margaret.

Petrea Burchard said...

Okay, next time I see a crew guy on San Gabriel soil, I will try for a tool belt shot.

Vanda, what accent?

HearkenCreative said...

Now, wait a minute. The Pasadena Main library is one of my kids' favorite haunts; we go at least once or twice a week, and check out a dozen books between the two of them. Plus, the library has some great entertainment: last week they saw a magician perform for 50 kids (free show!).

Yes, tax incentives. Now, California. We're losing too much production to other states (and British Columbia -- even though I love BC).

Speaking of, do any of you PasadenaDailyPhoto commenters know of a comprehensive listing of shows and movies shot in Pasadena, or does such a thing exist? FilmPasadena.org doesn't have much. I'm working on the McKinley Elementary School website, and would love to list all the varied projects that have been filmed there (House, Monk, Adam Sandler films, the upcoming Fame remake, etc.) but I only know of the productions that I have interfaced with over the last few years. As you know, I love Pasadena history, and I was trying to dig further into the history of McKinley. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

One of the things that I absolutely love about the Pasadena Main library is the great big main hall, with its tapestries, gigantic light fixtures, and cork floors. Perfect for any movie or television show that needs some class.

Ms M said...

What a great building! And you portrayed it well.
Sounds like there are a lot of people with "tool belt envy" :)

Cafe Pasadena said...

Vanda, it was when you said Pasadena is a PART of LA!

Hearken!, Creative: how far back into Pasadena's history are talking about? I'm sure that could be found, maybe even by tomorrow!

Petrea Burchard said...

Loren, I recommend you contact Ann Erdman, the Pasadena Public Information Officer. You can find her email at her blog, http://pasadenapio.blogspot.com/.

pasadenapio said...

Thanks for featuring this, Petrea!

Mike, we had a choir on the balcony in the Great Hall for a major special event a few years ago (Mayor Rick Cole's State of the City event) and it was fantastic.

I have spent a lot of time in the basement and up and down various hidden and not-so-hidden staircases in Central Library, and I prefer to think that the Ghost Whisperer would have her work cut out for her there.

We have a superior film office (www.cityofpasadena.net/film), managed by Ariel Penn who is very well respected by the industry.

Dina said...

The closest I came to having a tool belt was wearing a holster for pliers on my belt. It was a status symbol at Heifer Ranch, showing you worked in Livestock and not in Education or Garden. Pliers can work as a hammer, a lever, or pliers.

Cafe Pasadena said...

Thanks, PIO, for the info.
Now what ever happened to that other even more major event you were supposed to be working on?

Petrea Burchard said...

Dina, now you're getting at it: tool belt as status symbol.

Notice how she doesn't answer, Cafe. She's such a busy woman. Maybe she needs a volunteer assistant.