An early November two-day Fam Tour, hosted by Joyce Kiehl, Director of Communications for Visit Greater Palm Springs, introduced a group of LMGI members to many of the location gems of California’s High Desert. Just about a two-hour drive east of downtown Los Angeles, the area offers unique and often surprising opportunities for filmmakers.
JJ Levine, Debbie Page, Brian Lee, Kristina Santoro, Kyle “Snappy” Oliver, Keaton Ross, Sonia Villerias, Flint Maloney and Sheila Ryan were on board for an incredible survey of the East Valley that included Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Indio and Coachella in the first of two planned tours. Dan Taylor from Inland County Film Services and Stephanie Stethem, Riverside County Film Liaison, along with local scout Thies Lemke, rounded out the group.
“Hosting location scouts is always an invaluable opportunity,” says Kiehl. “I truly enjoyed seeing our oasis through their eyes!”
“One of the great advantages to the region is that it’s a doorstep away from metro Los Angeles,” noted KALM/scout Ross. “It has a unique look that many films, TV and most certainly, commercials would find attractive. There are many mid-century homes, Spanish red-tile rooftops, and of course, desert and open lands to play with.”
Location professionals were able to add many location gems to their bag of tricks. A visit to Aziz Farms impressed them with the importance of date farming to the area. Many on the tour mentioned that the Empire Grand Oasis offered the most unique opportunities to lure a project to Palm Springs. Though the property has not yet been filmed, it is open to the idea.
“The Empire Grand Oasis really surprised me!” said LM Levine. “It was a huge property, with very lush vegetation, palm trees and water features. It could be Hawaii, or maybe even India.”
LM Page was “surprised to learn that the Indio/Coachella Valley is on an aquifer and there are many incredibly lush areas to be found out that way. There are serious opportunities to double for Hawaii, which seems crazy in the desert but is true!”
“Some of these destinations could double for Hawaii or the Middle East,” says LM Oliver. “If you are looking for destinations where you wouldn’t have to fly to get to that region, this area could work.”
“The owners of the Bermuda Dunes Airport were really excited that we were there,” noted KALM/Scout Lee. “They made us feel like they welcome filming and that they would work around production.”
LM Santoro found the Tennis Garden grounds “amazing and with incredible vistas. The property exteriors and courtyards could double for a campus with a stadium, quads and everything else!”
For KALM Villerias, the BMW Center and Thermal Racetrack was an “amazing experience, with great people and fast cars! As for the Coachella Polo Club, I was under the impression that the festival was on dirt but it’s not and the club is super pretty.”
Known as the “City of Festivals,” Indio is known for the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and the Indio International Tamale Festival. The downtown area is alive with new businesses, restaurants and cultural venues. The charming and historic old town embodies the region’s rich cultural heritage.
“Downtown Indio would make a great location for a period piece or contemporary film,” observed KALM/Scout Ryan. “It has a cool vibe to it with symmetrical buildings, large windows and a great backdrop.”
“Our hosts for this tour really cared about our filming concerns and will go out of their way to assist us in any way that they can,” said LM Flint Maloney. “The area has some unique locations which would justify production costs to get out of LA, and I am looking forward to scouting more in the area.”
“Permits are inexpensive, and many locations are easy to access and control,” adds Ross. “It is a good option if it fits your criteria. The tour was smooth and well planned. Food was fantastic and was overall a great experience and networking event.
“It’s not just about showcasing our film-friendly assets but also about building meaningful connections,” sums up Kiehl. “I came away from the weekend with valuable insights that will help us better support the work of location scouts in the future.”
The second Fam Tour for Greater Palm Springs was scheduled for December 13-15, with visits to Desert Hot Springs, Cathedral City & Rancho Mirage.
For more information, please visit www.gpsfilmoasis.com