About Westlake Village
Westlake Village could be described as a bedroom community in western Los Angeles County with the corporate presence of Fortune 500 companies like J.D. Power, Anheuser-Busch, K-Swiss, and Dole. There are 8,300 residents in this live-work-play community.
At one time, this nine-mile strip was part of Ventura County. Its history is typical of this region involving Spanish/Mexican land grants and cattle ranching. However, in 1943, a portion of the original 12,000 acres, at one time owned by William Randolph Hearst, operated simultaneously as a cattle and a movie ranch. The list of television shows filmed at this ranch includes Bonanza, Gunsmoke, and Tarzan.
In the early 1970s, California law was changed to prohibit a city from being in two counties. The portion of Westlake on the Ventura County side was annexed into Thousand Oaks, and the remaining land on the Los Angeles County side was re-incorporated into the City of Westlake Village.
Dance Shoot Location Options in Westlake Village
Most of the dance shoot options offered are actual studios with a few residential and commercial spaces listed should these venues work for a certain product or message. There also exists the possibility of remote locations outdoors within the city or in the open spaces within the Santa Monica Recreation Area. The ancillary services particular to a dance shoot would be considered local, a benefit to the project budget.
- Choreography
A dance shoot needs choreography as a film shoot needs a script. The message and brand of the subject are articulated through movement and rhythm. An experienced choreographer would recognize the talent of the dancers and would determine if the dance design should incorporate improvisation. This method would give wide berth to the dancers for self-interpretation of movement within the general guidelines for the shoot.
- Costume Design
Along with choreography, an important aspect of dance is costume design. The style, color, and texture of the costumes will aid in connecting the target audience to the dancers and to the message of the performance. Without spoken words, the connection needs to be through visual communication in which costuming plays an important role.
- Permitting
All filming within the city limits requires a permit without exception for non-commercial or educational productions. There are no liaison services offered to production companies between the public and other city departments. The project budget will need to accommodate the work involved in presenting the plan for street closures, the techniques for any special effects, and the authorizations obtained from the affected public as a part of the permit package.
Dance Shoot Companies in Westlake Village
It is beneficial for any filming project to hire local talent for the stages of production to qualify for the tax incentives available in California. Since Westlake Village is located within the 30-Mile Studio Zone, all hired talent and crews will be considered local. The project will achieve the added benefit of local knowledge of both the dance industry and the area.
- Protégé Arts
This popular and local dance academy located in Westlake Village employs experts in all dance genres, together with experience in choreography, editing, and studio design. The executive director and the instructors could provide services to the dance shoot at all levels of production. Many of the instructors at Protégé Arts are native and beginning their careers, as well as their education, in the film and the performing arts industries prevalent in Southern California.
- Elizabeth Meredith
Based in Los Angeles, this experienced costume designer serves Westlake Village. Elizabeth Meredith, a designer with 13 years of experience and a member of the Costume Design Guild, has credentials in working on television, movies, and period films where costuming is an important aspect of audience relations. Ms. Meredith has been vetted by the ProductionHUB and has earned the reputation for showing allegiance to the budget. Ms. Meredith has connections with costume houses to be able to pull the necessary wardrobe pieces together with low-cost efficiency.
- Sunbelt Rentals
Sunbelt Rentals is a national equipment rental company serving Westlake Village. The talent at Sunbelt can assess the shoot location for needed equipment for portable power, material and equipment handling, flooring, or ground stabilization from set-up to breakdown. Entertainment and film are one of the named industries specific to Sunbelt’s areas of service and expertise.
Pros and Cons of Dance Shoot Locations in Westlake Village
The management of the effects of the pros and cons takes insight and patience when considering the whole project. There are advantages and disadvantages to any project or task, and each item should not be considered separately. Below is a list of suggested considerations.
Advantages
- California Tax Incentives
The field of competition has been made even under new guidelines. The lottery system is no longer a factor when considering applications, and the budget caps have been removed.
- Climate
The summers are sunny and warm without being too hot and the winters are mild. You will not need to worry about packing a heavy coat and snow boots.
- Proximity to Los Angeles
Although not every ancillary service to support a dance shoot will be in Westlake Village, these services will be located within Greater Los Angeles. This outsourcing will also strengthen the merits of the application for tax incentives when establishing the project’s investment in the local economy.
Disadvantages
- FilmLA
Westlake Village is not within the service of FilmLA. Therefore, the onus is placed upon the production company when completing the permit package and coordinating with other city services.
- Fires and mudslides
Los Angeles County is susceptible to mudslides and fires. Wildfires are the most frequent from May through November due to the dry, high winds in the canyons. Unfortunately, these wildfires play a determining role in the force and dangers of mudslides as the charred ground cannot absorb the winter rains that occur from December through February.
- Transportation
If public transportation is the mode of choice out of Los Angeles, then the 40-mile drive from downtown can take as long as 4 hours. The nearest MetroLink station to Westlake Village is in North Hollywood, with the remaining distance traveled by bus. The ride in a private car can be less than 1 hour, which is not a particular disadvantage. The disadvantage is only one viable choice of transportation from Los Angeles.
Famous Locations in Westlake Village
- The Spa at The Four Seasons
The Spa is known for its 28 treatment rooms designed to accommodate a corporate event or those on a date. The therapeutic atmosphere and serenity of scheduled day visits are known to both visitors and residents. The treatment rooms can be private with secluded areas for sunbathing, a whirlpool soak, or a Swiss shower. All treatment room guests will have access to the serenity pools and the private gardens.
- Nabu Wines
The Nabu Winery and Tasting Room are popular with residents and tourists. The vineyards are native to the Malibu coast, sustainably grown, and locally crafted. The owners of the winery are lifetime residents of Southern California. The business was built from the owners’ passion for wine crafting and love of music. The tasting rooms feature music from the owners’ private collections and live local bands.
- Chumash Indian Museum
This museum is located on the site of a past village of the Chumash tribe, the real first settlers of this area. The museum is both a center for living history and a preservation site to educate visitors on the significance of the tribe’s contribution to the environment that remains today. The venue also serves as a gathering place for all community members, native and non-native, to connect with the past as a pathway forward.
