Recently, the huge fansite for True Blood called the VAULT had an interview with the lovely Suzuki Ingerslev (whom we met several times- and we love her!).  Suzuki is the head set decorator for HBO’s True Blood.  Suzuki mentioned Hotel Carmilla which was a fictional hotel that was filmed at Sofitel Hotel in Los Angeles.  Read more:  http://www.trueblood-online.com/the-vault-exclusive/true-bloods-set-designer-suzuki-ingerslev-talks-about-hotel-carmilla/

The business behind the show
Hotels seek the Hollywood limelight
November 3, 2009 |  9:00 am
Now you can shoot your movie and hold the junket for it at the same place.

The historic Langham Huntington Hotel in Pasadena (formerly the Ritz-Carlton) has long had a connection to Hollywood. The landmark 380-room hotel built in 1907 has been a home to movie stars and celebrities and the site of numerous press junkets and events hosted by the major studios and television networks.

Now, in a further effort to bolster its profile, the hotel is billing itself as a film destination as well.  The Langham Huntington, one of eight luxury hotels owned by a Hong Kong-based chain, recently hired a booking firm, Filming Direct, to promote the hotel to location managers and film producers.It already has hosted two TV pilots and the Walt Disney Pictures film “You Again.” On Wednesday, it will draw the CBS drama “Criminal Minds,” which will film scenes in the lounge, gym and Japanese gardens.

“The entertainment business is a natural part of our overall revenue stream anyway,” said Jorgen Christensen, the hotel’s director of sales and marketing. “So this is just a natural extension.”

In fact, filming can be a lucrative business for hotels, generating $15,000 to $25,000 a day in income. There’s also the intangible benefit of having your hotel featured in a popular TV show or movie. Think of the Beverly Wilshire, spotlighted in the movie “Pretty Woman.”

“We are a relatively unknown brand, despite the hotel’s long history,” Christensen said. “This is another way for us to talk to the wider marketplace.”

The Langham Huntington isn’t the only hotel eager to capture a large slice of what has been a shrinking production pie in the L.A. area. Several other hotels around L.A. are looking to drum up film business to generate additional revenue, given the recession’s toll on tourism and the lucrative convention business.

To tap into that demand, Heidi Pierce-Zweimuller launched Filming Direct in 2002. The company specializes in lining up film shoots for hotels. Starting with the Millennium Biltmore Hotel downtown, the company’s client list has expanded to include the Radisson and Marriott hotels in Culver City and the Sofitel on Beverly Boulevard, where episodes of HBO’s “Entourage” and “True Blood” were filmed in the summer, along with a commercial for American Express.

Filming Direct, which gets a percentage of the film revenues that the hotels collect, will book an estimated $1 million in hotel revenues this year and expects that to grow to as much as $2 million next year, Zweimuller said.

“More hotels are entertaining the idea of having filming in their hotels,” Zweimuller said. “They can up their revenue.”

– Richard Verrier

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  The Radisson Culver City   is now FILM FRIENDLY!                   The Radisson- LA in Culver City, CA is now film friendly!  The Radisson just signed on with Filming Direct.com to represent them.   This remodeled retro-esque hotel is wonderfully decorated with  banqet halls, stunning ballrooms, fantastic suites…..all of which are now available for filming your feature films, commercials, television shows, or made for tv movies.  To see more about the Radisson click here.   Sincerely,    Heidi Pierce-Z                                               Gunther Z.   heidipierce-z@filmingdirect.com   gunther@filmingdirect.com  (213) 200-1879                                             (323)240-9839 Greetings!           About Filming Direct Filming Direct is a location booking company.  Representing hotels, homes, bars, restaurants, apartments, office buildings.  Clients can choose to list their homes with us or choose to have us negotiate all their filming contracts.  Visit www.filmingdirect.com to view our locations.               Â

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  The Park Plaza  Downtown  is now FILM FRIENDLY!           l   l l l   l       Greetings! The Park Plaza Hotel in downtown Los Angeles, CA is now film friendly!  The Park Plaza just signed on with Filming Direct.com to represent them.   The hotel is beautifully decorated with grand banqet halls, stunning ballrooms, fantastic suites…..all of which are now available for filming your feature films, commercials, television shows, or made for tv movies.  To see more about the Park Plaza click here.    Sincerely,    Heidi Pierce-Z                                               Gunther R.   heidipierce-z@filmingdirect.com   gunther@filmingdirect.com  (213) 200-1879                                             (323)240-9839   WE ALSO REPRESENT:   SOFITEL LA THE LANGHAM THE BILTMORE THE VICEROY O HOTEL   SOCIALS HOLLYWOOD     About Filming Direct Filming Direct is a location management company.  Representing hotels, homes, bars, restaurants, apartments, office buildings.  Clients can choose to list their homes with us or choose to have us negotiate all their filming contracts.  Visit www.filmingdirect.com to view our locations.     Join Our Mailing List           Â

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Considering the popularity of the show and we were a part of  this coming Sundays episode (episode 4) and also episode 5 and episode 6. We thought we would let you know who was there, our favorite sherriff Eric, Sookie and Bill were all there at Sofitel LA in April filming these episodes.  We even got a a surprise guest with one of the stars of AMC’s huge hit “Breaking Bad” star Dean Norris in one of the lobby scenes.    And of course what would the drama be without the newest vixen and troublemaker  Jessica Hamby playing along in the lobby.    Photos below- sorry none with the stars of the show.

Pretty Soon we will be featuring articles about:

1. The Location Scout Process
2. The Filming Process- what to pack before they come and more prepartion lists!
3. The Listing Process- how do location scouts search for properties?  How do I optimize my listing?
4. Target audience- what kind of movies or filming do you want in your home? What do you think would be a good match?
5. Seen a show and think your property would be perfect for it?  We’ll let them know!
6. How to get your house in movies
7. The negotiation process- How we get you the most money for your location!
8. The highs and lows of filming in your home or business
9. FAQ section
10.Different states have different laws for filming and different benefits!

Filming Direct has some extensive marketing strategies, but this is a new one…. check out our building advertisment!  All over Los Angeles people have started to use the sides of buildings instead of billboards, this strategy has worked great for Filming Direct and our Hollywood filming locations!  Now location scouts and producers can’t miss us!  This lifesize poster takes up the entire side of a building located on the corner of Beverly and Fairfax in West Hollywood (it can be seen for miles)!  Check out our photos below:  For location management or listing your home on our website please contact heidipierce-z@filmingdirect.com

The Filming Direct Team with star Adrian Grenier!

It’s no coincidence that HBO’s huge hit show ”Entourage” filmed their last episode at Simon LA Restaurant inside Sofitel Hotel  right after wrapping at the Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles.  Thanks to our sales team at Filming Direct.com we were able to negotiate a deal with Associate Producer Gary Goldman to come take a look at all the properties we represent!  Because producers and locations scouts trust us and have worked with us, they know that their projects will run smoother if they film at locations we represent.  With our 7 years of experience with locations, filming, sales, and production we are the trusted location company.  If you would like Filming Direct.com to represent your restaurant or hotel please contact our sales team at (213)200-1879 or heidipierce-z@filmingdirect.com.