Film News 2006 winter 11/12/06 7:59 PM Page 1 SANTA CLARITA California Winter 2006 “Zoey 101”(continued from cover) “We’re fortunate to have a spacious parking Bryden. “We do everything in our power to lot atop the hillside here on the property that help them get their work done while making overlooks the entire Santa Clarita Valley,” it as comfortable as possible,” said Bryden. said Bryden. Convenience has also played a role in the The unique positioning of the parking lot that success of “Zoey” in Santa Clarita. Several allows for horizon views, combined with crew members, including the medic, craft movie magic, transforms the Santa Clarita service and construction professionals, live in Valley into the Pacific Ocean just outside the Santa Clarita Valley. Other members of the “Zoey’s” PCA’s campus in each episode. cast and crew not in Santa Clarita are able to Nickelodeon Relocates Hit Series take advantage of the reverse-commute drive “It’s really a beautiful space and what’s from Los Angeles, and a few stay at local “Zoey 101” to Santa Clarita interesting is that the parking lot is on an hotels. In addition to Santa Clarita’s we’ve got all the benefits of Hollywood.” Attracting “Zoey 101,” Nickelodeon’s hit tween inland for the location and called upon location Diamond knew it would be a stretch relocating a elevated spot looking into the skyline,” said convenient location, its abundant network of series starring Jamie Lynn Spears, to Santa Clarita manager, David Diamond, to help her. Diamond beachside program to the Santa Clarita Valley, Fisher. “You buy that there is ocean out there.” industry professionals and the fact that other Fisher and her production team have enjoyed is a case study in “Entertainment 101” – it’s all had recently collaborated with Karen Bryden of but after talking with Bryden he was confident it film-related businesses are located within working in Santa Clarita so much that about who you know. Santa Clarita Valley Locations for several projects could work. Now he just had to convince The Mann Biomedical Park also features an the Park, provide unlimited resources to executives from Nickelodeon have visited the at the Mann Biomedical Park - a business Nickelodeon. outdoor basketball court and several tree- production. location to see all that the City has to offer. In early 2006 the “Zoey” production team complex originally built by Lockheed to lined walkways reminiscent of Pepperdine’s “We feel comfortable here,” said Fisher. needed to find a new location for the resemble a college “I’ve worked in Los Angeles for 25 years, but it campus, which Bryden was able to secure use “Ten or 15 years ago we had to drive things up “We’re very, very pleased.” show due to scheduling conflicts with campus. had been about 15 years since I had done of for “Zoey.” from Los Angeles, which meant a loss of time its hero location - Pacific Coast something in Santa Clarita,” said Fisher. “I always in the day,” said Fisher. “But now there’s a lot “Zoey 101” is currently shooting its third and fourth seasons in Santa Academy (PCA), a.k.a. Pepperdine “David knew that thought of Santa Clarita as desert and hot.” “It’s been great having ‘Zoey’ with us,” said of support in the area and so many locations; Clarita. Season three episodes are currently in rotation on air. University. Pepperdine’s campus has Nickelodeon was served as the location for seasons looking at a few Fisher was willing to give Santa Clarita a look one and two, but when Nickelodeon major factors with thanks to Diamond’s recommendations and Harsh Times - November 10, 2006 Benny Bliss and the Disciples of Greatness - January 15, 2007 ordered 26 episodes for seasons regard to when she toured the Mann Biomedical property Tenacious D: Pick of Destiny - November 17, 2006 Mr. Woodcock - January 19, 2007 three and four, the production team relocating ‘Zoey,’” with Bryden, she was able to picture “Zoey” at Bobby - November 17, 2006 Zodiac - January 19, 2007 knew it wouldn’t be possible to said Bryden. “Not home in Santa Clarita. Alpha Dog - January 12, 2007 Epic Movie - January 26, 2007 accomplish that many episodes as only did they If you’re heading to the movies this season And be sure to set your Tivo, you won’t want to miss an episode of “NCIS,” “The Unit,” they were limited to the summer need to find a “When we drove onto the property it was be sure to catch the following films, all of “John from Cincinnati,” “Big Love,” “Heroes” and “Zoey 101,” all of which are based here in months when the campus was closed. location that beautiful. We were surrounded by tall trees and “Zoey” needed a new home. could double as because the structure was built around the same which shot on location in Santa Clarita. Santa Clarita. Release dates are tentative and subject to change. Pepperdine, they time as Pepperdine, there were enough Because “Zoey” already had an were also faced similarities to make it work,” said Fisher. established look, production needed with finding Coincidentally both Pepperdine and Mann to identify a location that could double for studio space, feature the same type of exterior walkway Pepperdine’s campus. After an exhaustive maintaining their lighting, meaning less work for production to search up and down the Southern California budget and make Mann look like the campus. Karen Bryden of Santa Clarita Valley Locations City of coastline from Oxnard to Huntington Beach, identifying a was instrumental in bringing Nickelodeon's “Zoey SANTA CLARITA that perfect location still could not be found. 101” to Santa Clarita. location that Soundstage/warehouse space was also www.filmsantaclarita.com was flexible available on site, which meant the interiors of 23920 Valencia Boulevard Karen Fisher, senior director of production for with their shoot schedule. I knew we could meet Pepperdine could be duplicated with sets. The Suite 235 Nickelodeon, realized she would need to look all those needs.” final hurdle was replicating the beach. Santa Clarita, CA 91355 (Continued on back cover) media center north - 20+ stages and Scoop:Surf’s Up in Santa Clarita Thanks to HBO 10+ movie ranches Beach front property in Santa Clarita may be 180 the property will undergo in preparation for Haynes, transitioning Santa Clarita into a beach - Currently home hard to come by, but David Milch and his team “John.” “When filming ‘Deadwood’ we worked community is worth the additional work and time to five network seem to have found it. The City proudly under a poetic license because of the as many crew members live locally. “We have a television shows welcomes Milch’s newest series, “John from unfamiliarity of the time period. Conversely, good working relationship with [Melody Ranch] Cincinnati,” to town at Melody Ranch, where the “John From Cincinnati” is set in the present; we and the Santa Clarita Film Office is very western town set - recently the location of Milch’s have to make it believable and contemporary. serviceable. They are really great to work with,” “Deadwood” series - will be transformed to Santa Clarita is the perfect place for us to do he said. reflect “John’s” ‘surf-noir’ setting. that.” HBO has picked up 12 episodes of “John from In “John,” Santa Clarita will double for the ocean- Cincinnati”including the pilot. The show is Location Manager Brian Haynes worked on side city of Imperial Beach, the southern most tentatively scheduled to premier in summer 2007. “Deadwood” and is excited about the complete U.S. city before reaching Mexico. According to inside: Did you know that the Santa Clarita Valley Film Office’s Web site, www.FilmSantaClarita.com, received nearly 2 million hits in FY 2005-2006, making it one of the City of Santa Clarita’s top three visited sites. If you haven’t • Message from the Film Office seen it lately, check out the new design and streamlined navigation. And yes, it’s Mac compatible! • COLA Awards • Business Spotlight: Motion Picture General Store www.filmsantaclarita.com Film News 2006 winter 11/12/06 7:59 PM Page 2 SANTA CLARITA California message from the film office As we prepare to say goodbye to 2006, I am We recently met with a representative from proud to report that this year has been a highly- Congressman Buck McKeon’s office regarding successful one for Santa Clarita. The harsh the important role the film industry plays in our Soledad Canyon Mining Property Independent Film “Urban Assault” Feature Film “Serenity” realities of runaway production cannot be community, from increasing our sales tax ignored, and yet Santa Clarita remains busier revenue to helping brand Santa Clarita as one than ever. In Fiscal Year 2005-2006, the City’s Film of the premier entertainment capitals. And we Office issued more permits for location filming continue to coordinate with the California Film than previous years with a record 285 permits. Commission to ensure that the film industry Generally Speaking - Phil’s Got it All That’s a 17 percent increase over FY 2004-05 and remains successful in California. Phil Horlings didn’t always dream of being in the For example, when “CSI” first came to Santa a 26 percent increase over FY 2003-04, the first entertainment industry. Ask him and he’ll tell you Clarita and started the new wave of crime scene full year the City issued permits. We were proud We’ll continue to host the Film Industry that he just ‘fell into it.’ Back in 1978 he landed a procedural series, Phil’s inventory grew to to have been home to many noted television Stakeholder Summits in 2007, so I hope you’ll job at a post production house – starting out include an assortment of forensic supplies, and film productions in 2006, including “NCIS,” plan to attend.