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Kern reels in productions
Proximity to L.A., diverse scenery, lack of red tape keep filmmakers focused on area
| Saturday, Jan 6 2007 4:50 PM
Last Updated: Saturday, Jan 6 2007 4:54 PM
We may not have Hollywood's storied film history, the Walk of Fame or the skinny starlets, but cameras are rolling somewhere in Kern County just about every day.
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The region is popular among professional filmmakers looking for mountain forests, dusty deserts, urban scenery, farm landscape, roaring whitewater and desolate highways.
And with the demand for our scenery comes jobs -- everything from technical assistants to local extras.
Dave Hook, liaison for the Kern County Film Commission, said movie crews work more than 300 days a year at various locations in the area.
The producers of "Jericho," a CBS series about a group of Kansans trying to survive a nuclear attack, recently filmed scenes on Highway 43 near Interstate 5. The crew hired some 150 extras, mostly locals, Hook said.
Extras are often uncredited and indistinct. And unless a production company issues an open "cattle call" for large crowd scenes, an aspiring actor's best bet is to sign on with a reputable talent agency, which can help place clients.
Ann McCright, of the McCright Agency in Bakersfield, said she provided most of the 150 extras for the "Jericho" shoot. Her agency also represents models, but actors are more in demand now, she said.
McCright said experienced actors should have a head shot and resume. The agency will set up a free consultation for newbies, but those with some acting chops have an advantage in the highly competitive field.
Hook said open casting calls are typically publicized in local media or on the Film Commission's Web site.
Hey, that's Taft!
Kern County has been on Hollywood's radar for decades. The first local movie on record, "Opportunity," was a silent film starring Fatty Arbuckle. It was shot in Taft in 1913.
Hook said the commission has documented 460 feature films, but many more have certainly been shot in Kern.
"I can safely tell people that thousands of movies have been made in Kern County," said Rick Davis, film commissioner and executive director of the Kern County Board of Trade.
Kern's list of feature film credits is long and impressive, and that's not to mention numerous TV and commercial projects. Titles in recent memory include "Seabiscuit" (Tejon Ranch, 2003); "Erin Brockovich" (Boron, 2000); "Flightplan" (Mojave Airport, 2004-05); and "Holes" (Cuddeback Dry Lake, Red Rock Canyon, 2003).
Clint Eastwood's "Flags of Our Fathers," the World War II film recently in local theaters, features a B-29 bomber landing on and taking off from Iwo Jima in the Pacific Ocean. That scene was shot at Mojave Airport, Davis said.
The film commission keeps shoot plans secret and locations sealed off from the public. Time is money in show business, and production crews don't want to be bothered by fans and outsiders.
Who you gonna call?
The movie industry brings in about $13 million annually in economic benefits to Kern businesses, Davis said. Crews spend thousands every day on local help, food, lodging, goods, services and more.
The region appeals to filmmakers for three main reasons, Davis said: Diverse scenery, proximity to Los Angeles and the film commission's ability to cut through red tape and quickly open doors to production.
The commission functions as a one-stop agency that makes all the phone calls, gains access to locations and handles permits and other mundane chores. Props, vehicles, animals, equipment -- anything a production company needs -- are at the commission's fingertips.
Jack Clements, supervising producer of "Jericho," said the commission ensured that everything was in order. Hook said the crew spent about $100,000 locally per day for eight days.
"We appreciated help from the city, the county and law enforcement," Clements said. "We had a great experience and we're anxious to come back."
Freelance location scout and manager Thom Anable has been involved in several commercials shot in Kern County, including a Chevrolet spot made at Tejon Ranch in August.
"In terms of helpfulness, thoroughness and professionalism, the Kern County office is right at the top of my list," said Anable, who has worked all over the United States and sits on the board of directors of the Location Managers Guild of America. "They've been the most responsive people I've worked with in all the western states."
Film companies don't have to worry about being nickle-and-dimed to death in Kern. The county doesn't charge for film permits, road closures and other services, though federal, state and private-property fees may apply in some locations.
Keith Nakata, a freelance location scout from Los Angeles, said his experiences in Kern have always been positive.
"The support from (Davis and Hook's) office is a factor," he said. "When you're considering areas, it's very helpful to have someone locally to help you with all kinds of issues -- housing, permits, restaurants, mediation."
Worth the effort
The film commission, a branch of the county Board of Trade, was created in 1996 by the Board of Supervisors. The agency spends about $50,000 a year recruiting and promoting. The Board of Trade's annual budget is $605,000.
That's a pretty smart trade-off for some $1 million a month in economic benefits.
"We have a reputation of being one of the most film-friendly locations on the West Coast," Davis said.