About Culver City
Culver City is located in Los Angeles County only 10 miles outside metropolitan LA’s downtown core. This small urban center takes its name from Harry Culver, the man credited with founding the city. When first developed, Culver City was known as a sundown town. However, in recent years, this city has enjoyed an influx of immigrants and is now considered to be highly multicultural.
From the 1920s on, Culver City has been known as the creative heartland for film and TV shows. This urban center has become synonymous with the headquarters base of Metro-Goldwyn Mayer. During the years 1932 and 1986, many prosperous businesses operated out of Culver City including the National Public Radio West, Sony Pictures Entertainment, and the Hughes Aircraft Company.
Reported to enjoy up to 281 days of sunshine each year, Culver City is a great place to spend time if you enjoy outdoor recreation. With mild temperatures and little rain, it’s not hard to see why people love to vacation here.
A city that is a popular spot for filming everything from TV shows to movies, commercials, and even documentaries, it’s not hard to understand why Culver City film shoot locations are always in demand.
Film Shoot Options in Culver City
Finding the right Culver City film shoot location can take some searching. Once you’ve settled on the perfect spot, it’s time to hire some of the city’s top designers, set decorators, furniture rental companies, and caterers to get the place ready for filming to begin.
- Coffee Service
Coffee is the liquid motivation your cast and crew needs to keep your schedule on target at your Culver City film shoot location. Whether you were looking for a steady flow of joe from disposable carafes, a commercial-grade drip-coffee machine, or a full-service espresso bar and the staff to run it, the right Culver City coffee catering company can ensure you’ve got it all.
- Audio-Visual Equipment Rentals
Culver City is home to several top-tier audio-visual equipment rental companies that can provide you with everything you need. Whether you are searching for a soundboard, microphone, video camera, specialized lens, or something completely different, Culver City’s audio-visual equipment rental specialists have got it all and will deliver it right to your door.
- Hair and Makeup
On-site hair and makeup professionals are an absolute must to ensure your filming schedule stays on time. With such close proximity to some of the area’s major film studios, Culver City is the home base for many of the industry’s top hairstylists and makeup artists with experience preparing talent for the big screen.
Film Shoot Companies in Culver City
Securing the right spot for your Culver City film shoot allows you to check one very important item off your to-do list. But if that list seems overwhelming and you’re not sure how you’ll get it all done, it’s time to call in some local professionals to help you get the job completed on time and within your budget.
- Glamsquad
A national business with a location in Los Angeles, Glamsquad is a team of hair and makeup professionals with many years of experience providing their beauty services to those in the film and photography industries. Coming directly to your film set to help your on-screen talent look their very best, Glamsquad takes great pride in their attention to detail, customized approach to beauty, and ability to work within very tight deadlines to ensure your cast looks and feels their very best.
- Café Vida
Café Vida is a Culver City-based coffee house and eatery that specializes in healthy food and tasty treats. With a menu that is rich in Californian and Latin fare, each dish created by Café Vida is prepared from the finest quality ingredients at the pinnacle of their freshness and flavor. Café Vida offers in-house dining as well as off-site catering options which include mobile coffee catering, sandwich trays, and full-service meals.
- Wilko AV
For all of your audio-visual equipment rental needs, you can’t go wrong with Wilko AV. Based in Los Angeles, Wilko AV stocks a large selection of premium quality audio-visual equipment, ensuring they have everything you require whether your event is large or small. Offering delivery and installation, Wilko AV is proud of its exceptional customer service which includes real-time technical support.
Pros and Cons of Film Shoots in Culver City
One of California’s most picturesque urban centers, it’s not hard to see why Culver City is a popular gathering place for tourists and locals alike. However, filming a movie, TV show, documentary, or commercial in Culver City comes with its benefits and its drawbacks.
Advantages
- Year-round pleasant weather
A city that is well known for its consistently beautiful weather, Culver City sees almost 281 days of sunshine annually.
- Lots of beaches to enjoy
Culver City is a little more inland but is still quite near to some of the finest beaches California has to offer. Among the most popular sunny seaside havens near Culver City are Venice Beach, Santa Monica Pier, and Manhattan Beach.
- Craft coffeehouses
Culver City is home to many coffee houses, cafes, and java bean roasters, giving you a wide selection of great places in which to sample a tasty cup of joe. Some of the most highly recommended cafes in Culver City are Cognoscenti Coffee, Super Domestic Coffee, and The Boy and the Bear.
Disadvantages
- High cost of living
The cost of living in Culver City is on par with other major urban centers like Los Angeles and San Francisco. Though Culver City offers an excellent standard of living, it comes with a very high price tag attached.
- Moderate crime rate
Unfortunately, Culver City sees a higher crime rate than the national average.
- Heavy traffic
Since Culver City is situated quite close to Los Angeles, the streets and highways in this small metropolitan center are heavily congested both day and night.
Famous Locations in Culver City
- Wende Museum
A popular museum and historical center first opened to the public in 2002, the Wende Museum is home to greater than 100,000 artifacts from the Cold War and the former Soviet Union. The museum’s name means “turning point.”
- Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook
For incredible views of the Los Angeles’ town core, it is well worth the climb to Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook. Climbing to a total of 500 feet at its summit, Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook can be reached via a trail or the Culver City Stairs, a staircase measuring 282 steps in total.
- Culver City Park
With 41 acres in total space, Culver City Park is a recreational area that includes a playground, basketball court, softball field, and skate park. Also found here are several picnic areas and a dog-friendly trail.
