Author: Julie Xu
Bank of America came to campus on Feb. 2 to film a commercial on Anderson Field and in the Ahmanson Reading Room of the library. Yet this is not the first time filming has occured on Occidental’s campus. A variety of different networks and companies have decided to use Occidental as the set for their television shows or commercials this year. Both NCIS and Law & Order: Los Angeles filmed on campus, as well as commercials for companies such as McDonalds.
All filming negotiations are handled by Unreel Locations, a management company responsible for promoting Occidental to film studios.
Scouts from different studios travel around Los Angeles looking for a location for their shoot. If Occidental meets their requirements, they contact Unreel Locations, who manages all of the logistics between the film studio and the campus. If the film studio decides to use Occidental as a location, Unreel Locations will set up the contract. Information on the shooting timeline and where on campus they plan to shoot is included in the contract, as well as liability information related to the production studio’s insurance and Workers’ Compensation.
Unreel Locations is also responsible for protecting college property. Before the production studio begins to shoot on campus, Unreel representatives come to campus to take pictures of all the buildings and rooms the studio will use. This ensures that the studio remains liable for damages incurred.
Unreel Locations works directly with Mary Grogan, Director of Master Calendar, Conference Services and Catering & Filming, to ensure that the campus is able and willing to accommodate the production staff.
On the actual day of filming, Occidental has about two campus security officers working very closely with the filming. There is also a fire marshal on duty.
Most of the filming at Occidental is done is over breaks. Over the 2010/2011 holiday break, NCIS and McDonalds filmed on campus.
“We try to schedule the majority of our filming on campus when students will not be disrupted,” Grogan said. This decision was due to a major inconvenience to students that took place during the 1993 filming of “Beverly Hills 90210.”
Other previously filmed television shows at Occidental include “Criminal Minds,” which was shot in 2007, and “Greek,” which was filmed in 2008. Movies filmed on campus include “That Hagen Girl” starring Shirley Temple and Ronald Reagan, “Star Trek III: The Search for Spock,” “Clueless” starring Alicia Silverstone, “Jurassic Park 3,” “The Holiday” and, most recently, “The Kids Are all Right.”
“Seeing Occidental on the big screen in films and television makes us appreciate the campus much more,” Director of Communications Jim Tranquada said.
“Even though I have to take a different route to class [on days of filming], I enjoy watching the camera crew film while I’m walking to class,” Walker Miner (first-year) said.
“I love being able to stop by the filming location and take pictures with the actors,” Maggie Nelson (first-year) said.
Production studios and the college are collaborating to create opportunities for students. Internships are offered through the school, allowing students to shadow and work with the production staff while on campus.
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