Monday, 6/9/97 Film comes home FILM: With an East Coast look
that belies its proximity to Hollywood, UCLA is a prime location to
shoot films, television shows and commercials
By Aimee Phan Daily Bruin Staff When UCLA students watch last
summer’s hit movie "The Nutty Professor," they might notice the
beautiful college campus where it was filmed. If one looks
carefully, the building that Eddie Murphy walks up to looks just
like Powell Library. That’s because it is. In fact, numerous images
of Westwood, Bruin Walk, buildings and campus eateries are
sprinkled throughout the film, which takes place at a fictional
college. This is not the only film that has singled out UCLA as the
classic college campus. Many film and television studios have used
the lush campus grounds for movies, television shows and
commercials. In the last few years, UCLA has played home to "Higher
Learning," "Threesome," "Congo" and the current romantic comedy
"’Til There Was You." Other upcoming films that were filmed on
campus within the past year include Matthew Broderick’s directorial
debut "Infinity" and Warner Brothers’ "Mad City," starring Dustin
Hoffman and John Travolta. Many television programs and commercials
also use UCLA for background shots, including "The Tonight Show
with Jay Leno," "Dave’s World" and numerous television
movies-of-the-week. With the campus just minutes from most
production companies in Hollywood, UCLA is a favorite location
shoot due to its proximity and variety of scenery. "UCLA is a very
popular filming location because we are local," explains James
Blaine, the public events manager in the Events Management Office.
Blaine and his office are responsible for organizing all commercial
film and television shoots on campus. "We offer things here that
are unique to Southern California, such as old and new buildings,
athletic facilities, students and parking." However, as with any
good location shoot, UCLA doesn’t come cheap. According to the
Events Management Office, an average film company will pay around
$7,000 for a full day’s shoot. This includes permit fees, parking
fees, staffing and the use of the location. Still, film production
companies are willing to pay for the attractive locations that UCLA
offers. But because this is still a college campus, the Events
Management Office and the production companies work hard to plan
around the school’s schedule so it won’t disturb too many people.
"We have more requests for filming than we can accommodate," Blaine
admits. "It all depends on the scheduling. The filming does bring
up some inconveniences. What we try to do is make sure that all the
walkways are always accessible so people can keep moving and go to
their classes and keep the area from getting congested." Recently,
a production company was on campus filming a commercial that will
feature young students at a typical college. Steve Block, Brand
Advertising director, explains that UCLA’s picturesque beauty and
East Coast-college feel contributed to choosing UCLA for their
location shoot. "This is a very beautiful campus," Block says. "It
looks like a typical college campus and it’s in Los Angeles, very
close to the production company. The campus also looks like it can
be anywhere, not just California." Most students are intrigued as
they walk to and from class, encountering the different shoots
taking place on their very own campus. Such was the case earlier
this year when actress Kimberly Williams and the cast and crew of
"Relativity" were shooting a scene in front of Rolfe Hall. Some
were so star-struck and impressed that they even asked if they
could watch the filming. "There were students here who just loved
that series," Blaine recalls. "They asked if they could sit in and
watch them film it, and we ran it by the producers and they said
sure." Some students are thrilled when they see the cameras rolling
on campus and are eager to find out when they can see their campus
on the big screen. "I think it’s cool that you can see UCLA on
television commercials and movies," says Maria Chi, a first-year
history student. "It’s always fun to point out all the places to
your friends when you’re watching a movie and tell them you’ve been
there." Students get even more excited when they see popular movie
idols walking around and filming on their campus. "It’s exciting to
see famous actors on campus filming something," says Jennifer Park,
a first-year undeclared student. "I feel proud showing my friends
that my campus has been on TV." But some students aren’t as
star-struck or excited about the filming as others, complaining
that the crew and film equipment take up too much room on campus
and force students to walk around the big distractions. "I’m used
to (the cameras). It’s nothing that exciting," says Mehra Pouyan, a
fourth-year neuroscience student. "When they get in the way, it’s
annoying. This is a campus and it’s for students." Some people are
too annoyed by the noise the filming brings to be interested in the
famous celebrities that may be there. "I don’t find it
interesting," says Rouzita Rashtiam, a fourth-year neuroscience
major. "With all the construction and then all the equipment, you
begin to feel a little trapped. It gets on your nerves." Even
though students may get impatient with all the commotion, their
attitudes sometimes change when they see their school on the big
screen. "Who wouldn’t want to see their school on TV?" Chi says.
"Yeah, maybe the equipment can be a little annoying and you might
have to walk a little out of your way, but it’s no big deal. Our
school will be seen by millions of people. I think it’s great."
AARON TOUT On Jan. 31, Harmony Pictures filmed a commercial for
Tylenol at Powell Library. Columbia Pictures "Higher Learning" used
the UCLA campus for its fictional college setting. AARON TOUT Josh
Charles plays Eddy in "Threesome," which was filmed at UCLA.