location shooting in NYC – Maria Lokken

An App to Help you Get There on Time

Maria — Sat, 20 Dec 2014 12:50:12 +0000

Oh, the sheer torture of being stuck in traffic when you must, must, must pick up the equipment, get to the location, deliver the crew, bring the food, and get whatever and whomever to the place they need to be, so they can shoot the scene, stay on schedule and not have the Line Producer throw things because you are late due to traffic. The fact is, there’s no easy way to predict if you’ll be stuck on the 59th Street Bridge behind a guy who forgot to fill his gas tank. However we live in the 21st century and there is an app for almost everything and now you can give yourself a fighting chance with WAZE – a real time traffic navigation app.

Here’s what their website says:

So, how does it work?
After typing in their destination address, users just drive with the app open on their phone to passively contribute traffic and other road data, but they can also take a more active role by sharing road reports on accidents, police traps, or any other hazards along the way, helping to give other users in the area a ‘heads-up’ about what’s to come.

In addition to the local communities of drivers using the app, WAZE is also home to an active community of online map editors who ensure that the data in their areas is as up-to-date as possible.

I’m particularly intrigued by the ‘community’ aspect of the app. How many times have you been in a traffic jam and turned on the radio station that is “all news all the time”, and they say NOTHING, ABSO-FREAKING-LUTELY nothing about the jam you’re in; and you are driving on a major highway. Now, with WAZE perhaps you can avoid the jam, and if not, at least you can let others know about it. If it’s true that what goes-around-comes-around , then next time, maybe, someone will help you avoid the dreaded, oh-so-hated traffic snarl ups that get your heart racing and skin sweating because you happen to be driving the cargo van that has ALL the cameras and everyone is waiting for you.

Download the free app here.

Location Shooting in New York City

Maria — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 04:00:21 +0000

I am a New Yorker — pay no attention to the fact that I moved to New Jersey, we all make mistakes — there’s no place like New York. Where else can you get a hamburger at 3am, or meet someone for a cup of coffee at midnight if you’re so inclined. New York City has a pulse and energy that isn’t easily duplicated anywhere in the world and I love to see NY captured on film. If you’re as much of a film and TV buff as I am, you’re probably interested in the behind the scenes as well. If you are, I invite you take the walking tours created by The New York City Mayor’s Office for Film, Theatre and Broadcasting. These tours are free, fun, and easy to access. Simply go their website and download the podcast and the maps and you’re on your way.

The first tour takes place in Tribeca and is narrated by actor Julianna Margulies. Tribeca is a triangular section of the city located below Canal Street – hence the name TriBeCa (TRIangleBElowCAnal.) The tour features the locations for Ghostbusters, Saturday Night Live, Law & Order, Kramer vs. Kramer, Sophie’s Choice, Annie Hall, Mo Better Blues, City Hall, Spin City and others. After the tour you can enjoy visiting art exhibitions, shopping, or just having a glass of something-something at any number of restaurants in the area.

Battery Park is the second tour narrated by actor Matthew Modine. Matthew gives a brief history of the entertainment industry in NYC as well as the details on the restoration work done in the area. You’ll be directed to several landmarks, as well as specific locations where scenes in Klute, Patterns, Wall Street, Desperately Seeking Susan, Working Girl, Men in Black and others were shot. You’ll also learn which film was the only one allowed to actually shoot inside City Hall.

If you’re interested in behind the scenes, or if you just love NYC as much as I do, this is a fun way to spend a crisp Fall afternoon – and for goodness sakes it’s free.