HOORAY FOR HOLLYWOOD!

One bonus of visiting clients in their homes is that they sometimes live in exotic or unusual places. I've seen many elaborate pads over the years, and I'm always amazed at how much effort certain homeowners exert to deck out their digs. I'm talking really beautiful but majorly anal-retentive stuff--like elaborate built-in entertainment centers, restaurant-style kitchens, and gaudy Vegas-like bedrooms. It's nice, I suppose, but because I'm in the Restoration Business, I've seen far too many Grand Palaces reduced to ruble by the overwhelming power of fire, water and mold; or worse, the slow but inevitable decay delivered by father time. Houses are work, major work, and I say use the money for travel, buy one really nice painting, or take piano lessons. Keep the place comfy, of course, but not so plush that its loss would send you into a depressive tailspin. And believe me, I see it happen every day.

Anyway, last week I met one of my clients in her office at Paramount Studios. Normally, I would try to conduct business over the phone, but I must admit, I found the notion of a midday meeting on the Paramount lot very intriguing. I'm a huge movie fan and anytime I can work something movie-related into my workday, I'll go for it every time. So here are some shots I took while walking the grounds after my meeting, and after my very gracious host gave me a personal tour aboard her spunky little golf cart. The seeds of the commentary were planted as I strolled.


The Pond.
This area can be filled with millions of gallons of water and used as a mock ocean. The parting of the Red Sea in The 10 Commandments was filmed here. It's funny, but after seeing Bowling for Columbine, I find it very difficult to watch Chuck Heston movies. He's just such a Bone-Head. My favorite of his films now is the remake of Planet of the Apes because he's an ape, he warns other apes of man's brutality, and then he dies. Call me crazy, but I think it's Poetic Justice to have this grumpy gun advocate uttering words of warning against violence. Sure beats his customary rote recitation of the 2nd Amendment.


New York Facades used in Ghost.
I'm a reluctant fan of this movie, but I do really like it. It's lightweight for sure, and a little too sentimental, but I never tire of watching Whoopi Goldberg's wacky performance--she's brilliant in this. To me, this film is much more her story than anyone else's. And I like the way her character, Oda Mae Brown, is not just a Psychic, she a kicked-up-a-notch Medium that can speak to departed loved-ones, pass messages to those left behind, and allow the dead to inhabit her body at will. She's lewd and crude and very, very funny. A nd she almost makes Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze watchable. Almost.









Paramount Logo and Water Tower.
This iconic logo got me thinking about the many Paramount Pictures in my video library. Here's a short list with comments:

The Court Jester--I remember watching this film on TV as a kid and thinking, "This is like an Errol Flynn movie, only it's supposed to be funny." I still crack-up during Danny Kaye's "Pellet with the Poison, Flagon with the Dragon" routine. Essential!

Rosemary's Baby--Still one of my favorite Horror movies. All the characters are fully realized, but Ruth Gordon's nosy neighbor steals the show. Essential!

The Godfather I & II--Crime as the family business, what a concept. These films never cease to amaze me. Francis and everyone involved at their absolute best. Essential!

Save the Tiger--How did I know as a 13-year-old that there was a dark side to Capitalism? I didn't, but this film struck a chord with me, and it still rings loud and clear. Essential!

Chinatown--Another film exploring the dark side of Capitalism. This one just gets a little darker, a little grittier, and hits a lot closer to home. A true LA story and another home run for Roman Polanski. Essential!

Apocolypes Now--Of all the war movies I've seen, this one seems the most telling about the true nature of war: no good guys, no bad guys, just the harsh reality of it all. This film is eerie and nightmarish, and thanks to Robert Duvall, also extremely funny. Essential!

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home--The best in the Star Trek series for me. This one has it all: humor, heroics, and humpback whales. Anyone even remotely familiar with Star Trek will find (Vulcan) gold here. Essential!

Shirley Valentine--Lonely housewife talks to walls. The other side of domestic bliss. By the way, do you know the F-plan? Essential!

Titanic--Romance, disaster, hubris, humor. This film has a very novelistic quality for me: rich characters, specific settings, and historic connections. Being a former sailor, I appreciate the dignity of the doomed crew, the tragically misguided Captain, and Kate Winslet's wonderful tits! Essential!

School of Rock--In the near future, perhaps the classroom will be the only place young people can learn about Rock-n-Roll. But with teachers like Jack Black, we have nothing to fear. Essential!


Paramount offices.
As my afternoon visit at Paramount came to a close, I had to smile. I knew I probably wouldn't have another opportunity to visit the lot anytime soon; but hey, I was there on that sunny summer day--and I was getting paid for it.