Located in the south of California, one of the major U.S. states, Los Angeles is one of the largest metropolitan cities in the nation. It is the home to the Hollywood film and television industry bringing out a certain charm of its own with its pop culture and scenic landmarks. The city has many attractions ranging from the Hollywood studios such as Paramount Pictures, Universal, and Warner Brothers to the iconic Hollywood sign. Intricate theme parks, Santa Monica Pier, and Griffith Park can keep people entertained for hours. Los Angeles is home to several concert halls where traditional and modern music may be heard. It has been inextricably linked to a pleasant environment, plenty of leisure time, and outdoor activity for more than a century. Largely due to immigration, Los Angeles is a city with unparalleled ethnic and racial diversity.
The book, Image of the City, by Kevin Lynch, talks about the looks of a city and how it is responsible for creating an identity. The city is described by its surroundings and elements. “Nothing is experienced by itself, but always in relation to its surroundings, the sequences of events leading up to it, the memory of past experiences.” – the book says. Movies and television shows have been a major driving factor in creating an identity for many cities and countries. Cinematography is an essential part of producing any movie which requires representing the background in a certain way in correspondence with the scene and helping the audience connect with the context.
L.A. is a city which is widely shown in so many on-screen shows and movies with its beautiful skyline and scenic beaches. It not only brings the beauty of an unbuilt environment but also has some architecturally important buildings such as the Griffith observatory, Walt Disney concert hall, Bradbury Building and so on. Let’s take a look at some of the clips from the movies that display the image of this magnificent city beautifully.
Hollywood sign
The 44-foot-tall Hollywood Sign is a landmark in downtown Los Angeles and is visible from almost anywhere. The movie “Friends with Benefits” set in L.A. showcases this sign from a different angle- not the usual angle of how this sign is displayed, where the protagonists sit on the sign which is situated on a cliff and have a conversation. It very well captures the essence of the landmark which is usually the first image that flashes whenever one thinks of L.A.
Griffith Park
This city is like a filming set with bright lights and a cinematic influence. Griffith Park is the 11th-largest municipally owned park in the United States, with more than 4,300 acres. It is one of the most filming locations in the city portraying the stellar views and natural beauty of the city. Sebastian and Mia in the movie La La Land find a breathtaking view of the San Fernando Valley after a party in the Hollywood Hills, where they steal the show by singing “A Lovely Night.” The scene was captured in Cathy’s Corner. Winding rows of majestic palm trees swaying in the sun running all along the city are very well portrayed in this movie.
Chinatown
Chinatown is a neighbourhood in downtown Los Angeles shown in this movie. It takes us through traditional Chinese restaurants, pagoda-style buildings with red lanterns, small art galleries, and dark bars. It’s a completely different image of the city.
Griffith Observatory
A popular architectural landmark of the city, Griffith observatory is is a facility in Los Angeles, California, sitting on the south-facing slope of Mount Hollywood in Griffith park. The nicest views of Los Angeles may be found from every conceivable angle at Griffith Observatory. This iconic rollout scene from the movie Transformers captures this architectural marvel in the one of most theatrical ways.
Downtown
Downtown was once a forgotten part of the city but has now reclaimed its place and features some of the best iconic filming locations. The film 500 days of summer has several montages where the protagonists are walking down the street and the scenes showcase a number of important architectural buildings and the urban fabric of Downtown, L.A. leaving an image of the place for the viewers. One of the buildings that is focused upon is the fine arts building also known as a global marine house which has a beautiful facade made in the Romanesque Revival style of architecture.
Bradbury Building
The Bradbury building, located at 304 South Broadway, is a stunning example of decorative brickwork, wood, and iron. It is represented in this movie as a ruined structure.
Union station
A luxurious train station with shops, eateries, and waiting area zones, union station was built in 1939 and is still a key rail hub. It is a nodal landmark to ensure extensive transportation. This station serves as a court in the film.
To sum up, Los Angeles is unique in that it captures the essence of a multi-ecological setting bringing the ocean, the skyscraper, the nature under one rooftop.
References:
- Lynch, K., n.d. Kevin Lynch: The Image of the City.
