Blue Cloud Movie Ranch opened its doors for people in the entertainment industry to explore the sets that housed “American Sniper,” “Iron Man,” and “The Old Man” with Jeff Bridges on Monday morning.
People who attended got the opportunity to ride around in a golf cart to tour the sites and see what the ranch had to offer.
Dylan Lewis, owner of Blue Cloud, decided to host this industry day because he wanted to bring people in creative fields to the ranch and see how it has improved over the years.
“Hey, let’s get here. Let’s meet each other. No agenda other than have some coffee, check out what the space is, see if it brings up any ideas for you, and let’s have fun. Let’s be social, let’s meet in real life. And let’s be creative together,” Lewis said.
Lewis said he appreciates anyone who gave their time to being at the ranch and hopes the experience ignited that childlike wonder of Hollywood.
“I hope that people take away a little bit of fun, a little bit of that childhood excitement of movie magic and walking around sets … starting their day in L.A. and ending their day or popping into downtown Fallujah or a cave and a beautiful mission church and just to see all the magic that this industry is,” Lewis said. “And I hope that it excites them about doing business here in L.A. I hope it sparks an idea.”
Michael Swidler, a film and television literary representative, said his favorite site was the mission church.
“I mean, I want to have as many events (as possible.) I want to shoot movies there. I want to shoot TV there. I would do all those things there. So, that was really cool,” Swidler said about the church.
If Swidler has a message for his peers, he said, it’s that people are still here and want to make things.
“Get up here, shoot something, have an event here, do something up here, ’cause it’s awesome. It’s really great,” Swidler said.
Alison Flierl, a screen and television writer, came to see what was available to shoot some potential projects – and fell in love with the cave and gas station sets.
“I didn’t have a specific project in mind when I came here, but I just kind of wanted to walk and see what’s available and close to home, ’cause a good friend is involved with this ‘stay in L.A.’ campaign, so I love bringing stuff here,” Flierl said.
She came with her friend, Tate Hanyok, who is a director and screenwriter.
Hanyok said that once ideas are set for production, everything must be possible.
She was talking about having a movie involving caves and people asking her where she would get the caves to shoot.
“Well, there’s caves here … it’s just good to know that there’s things that have already been invented, and you can pitch to a producer,” Hanyok said.
