Blame it on those years in film school. I often envision a place as a location in a movie. Want to play along? Walk down Fair Oaks toward Huntington and turn the corner just as you pass the old Rialto Theater. This is what you see. Now, you tell me … what happens in this scene?
23 comments:
I'm seeing.....it's coming to me...I think I see a BUSBY BERKELEY number!!!!!!
Sorry Laurie, I couldn't stop myself.
Now you know why I'm never invited anywhere.
LOVE those colours.
Thanks for explaining the difference btw South Pasadena and Pasadena.
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as a non-film-buff I've no idea where it might have been seen but it is a cool shot.
The way you combine the geometric lines and shapes and the texture of walls' surface make a very nice composition.
Oh, and thank you very much for adding my blog to your blog roll. The honor is mine.
I am seeing a police chase up those stairs.
Love this melange of colurs and those old steps. I don't know what film this facade was used in but hey, isn't that Clint walking around the corner with that 'look' in his eye?
In this scene we... ehm... completely forget about the script and stop to admire that blue sky and the graphic qualities of this shot! :)
I am seeing a chase coming out the door...
The chased stumbles out the door and slides down the rail and takes off, and the pursuer, perhaps a tad bit on the heavy side, hikes up his already too short trousers before running (?) down the steps.
Kind of like a scene from the Monkees. ; )
First, ditto Eki's comments. Second, I adore those pale, washed out colors and texture, And third, I see Shirley McLain coming out that upper door dressed in a picture hat and and long brown silk gown (a la Hello Dolly). She meets Clint Eastwood on the sidewalk and they walk along talking about catching breakfast at a some cafe, meeting Paul Newman along the way. They jump into a two seater 60s sports car with Shirley sitting in costume between them up on the car's back portion with feet and skirts dangling in the car between the guys and they take off on the freeway for breakfast tacos at some street vendors' in LA. (see why I've never sold that screenplay?!) :-). Love this shot.
Hey, where did you go to film school?
-Kim
Seattle Daily Photo
Love all the ideas. I just like the looks of the pastel stucco colored walls and rusty ole stairs.
PS Feel free to borrow from my blog. I am tres flattered.
I think I'll enjoy what the others write instead of writing my own, then just look at the photo. I love the way you caught the colors/surfaces and juxtaposed them against the sky.
L, i'm kinda like don't know what 2 say. Late in the day or week or sumthing.
I do like the colors & the quality of your pics. I sense your shooting skills make this scene look a whole lotta better than if in person.
The composition is fabulous. I love the geometry and the complementary yellow in the lower right and the blue of the sky in the upper left. I picture someone stumbling or maybe standing at the top doing something. Could even be someone giving a speach along the lines of Peter Finch in Network. that is a stunning image!!! I'm a sucker for a diagonal line every time.
I came back to this again cause it's so good. I can see a print of this with a wide mat and thin metal frame. YOU GOOD
I love a good wall or three, especially with the well timed light you have here.
Tryphena enters the frame at right and continues walking up the sidewalk out of frame left.
I love you people!
Kim, you won my heart with your Shirley McClain/Eastwood/Newman caper. But Kelly and Sharon I love a good Monkees screwball comedy or tense police chase, too. And Jude, you KNOW how I love Peter Finch and a good antiestablishment rant.
But I think this round goes to Wayne for innovation. Never would I have chosen Busby Berkeley for this setting -- and I LOVE IT. (Elaine, Tryphena needs to walk back into THAT frame.)
Thank you for all the nice compliments! I am fond of this picture, especially that surprising blue sky. I am still figuring out how digital reads light differently than film. I'd have never gotten that blue in my film camera without a filter. This was a happy accident arrived by playing with settings.
Now, when I saw this spot, I imagined Anna Magnani calmly opening that upper door and releasing two doves from a cage. She smiles knowingly, lights a cigarette and then turns around to go inside. After a beat, Jean Paul Belmondo rushes out in a tuxedo desperately looking skyward. He stumbles down the stairs and sinks to the bottom steps. What is a magician without his birds? And who is this woman who brought him down...
Thanks for indulging me and playing along! Oh, and Kim -- it was University of Texas in the mid 80s. Majoring in RTF (Radio/Television/Film) was a magnificent way to go deeply into student loan debt! Lots of good memories of guerilla filmmaking, writing derivitave scripts and acting in all my friend's arty projects.
I see a great police chase. Someone throwing themselves over the door and landing effortlessly on the ground. Very cool!
I'm guessing that since the majority of the picture is white and looks like its in direct sunlight, the exposure was really fast causing the sky to appear darker. Also could be a high saturation setting? Anyway, nice work!
I love the picture, the angles, the colors and the invitation to create a script. At first I thought, "shoot out." But then I saw Rita Hayworth meeting Fred Astaire half way down the stairs and they end up dancing in the street. The music,something like, "Slaughter on 10th Avenue."
Irina, it really does look like the scene of a police chase doesn't it?
Scott! Welcome! Thanks for the kind words. I did shoot it fast, and the hot afternoon light coming from behind me was ideal for getting a blue sky but still... I was pretty psyched about how blue that sky turned out to be. (Of course, I'll never be able to duplicate it!)
Hi Mom! I knew you'd see a musical dance number down those stairs. Do I know you or what?
Thanks for taking the time to comment, folks.
The Rialto Theater has a long history in film, television, and commercials. It was heavily featured in the movie, The Player, with Tim Robbins. I believe a murder occurred behind the theater (in The Player, that is.) Recently, I was watching an episode of the drama about swingers in the '70s called Swingtown. In one scene, a curious housewife goes to see a film there. "DEEP THROAT starring Linda Lovelace" was displayed in big letters on the marquee.
Mister earl, welcome! And thanks for the Swingtown info. I knew about The Player -- but TV drama about 70s porn? I missed that one!
I do love the old theater and hope it doesn't disintegrate before someone restores it. My husband loves the decay of it but it just makes me sad.
I have just discovered the flipside of your blog. Hopper. I often see film, especially noir and often artisits, and here is Hopper. Paul Newman as Harper walking towards the wilful daughter of his client who blows smoke at him seductivley from those cherry red pursed lips and runs a finger over her silky white neck....
Photographer stroke fustrated writer.
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