Cookie Cutter houses in Irvine.

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Howdy. I am a graduate student at Chapman University and I am currently trying to secure a 'cookie cutter' house and neighborhood for my short film. This look is crucial to my film. I am willing to pay 1200- for the use of a home for 5 days in February. I also would like to be able to shoot exteriors of the neighborhood. I have been talking to The Irvine Company and home builders with no such luck. Any leads or information would be GREATLY appreciated. These film projects would not be possible without the generous support from members of the Orange County community.



Here is a brief synopsis of my film. [Also, we do have a 1 million dollar insurance policy] This film will be shown domestically and internationally in several film festivals. I am so excited and proud to be a part of this project.



LAND OF MAKE BELIEVE



Scott Ayles tried escaping an ordinary life. Now he?s drowning in it. Our main character, Scott wants to reclaim his old identity after faking his own death. Upon getting caught, the story centers on Scott?s desire to reconnect with his family. The social constraints of the status quo and community at large ?have in effect ? redefined his identity.



The goal is to separate Scott?s feelings of isolation and entrapment from those wherein he wants to escape. The house is an arm of the suburban dystopia, which he wants no part of.



Thank you for reading this.



Warmest Regards.



Kara
 
You should look for a house in Westpark where the uniformity is high. If the theme is the constraints of status quo, the neighborhood shots in Westpark will be perfect.
 
Call a local realty office. Perhaps they'd appreciate $1200 for 5 days of shooting in one of their "staged" homes...you know, the ones that aren't selling.
 
Agree 100% with IR that Westpark is by far the most "cookie cutter" in all of Irvine. Good luck Kara, your film sounds interesting.
 
The houses just north of Warner and just West of Paseo Westpark would be perfect. There are at least four for sale in this area, but I don't know if any are vacant.
 
Call the Tan Man at Countrywide, I am sure they have plenty of vacant homes to chose from. They will also have more in February.
 
WOW--Thank you for the input.



I have been in contact with home builders and they won't allow any filming even though we have all of the proper insurance paperwork and we would be paying.



Alas....



I did drive around WEST IRVINE and I left a little handout for possible locations---I got a few bites from that.



WEST PARK --ok great! Are there any areas or subdivisions in particular that all look alike [ie] down to the garages, drive ways, color of stucco, etc. etc.



WOW...This forum has been so helpful....MANY MANY THANKS.



K
 
you only need permit (from the owner) for the house you will be shooting in. if you want to shoot in the neigbourhoud. go to the city, not the home owners. something like the OC film comissioners office... good luck
 
Flmgrip--yes, yes, I know about getting permission through the county to shoot on the Irvine streets. Thanks for the heads up.



Irvine Soul--Portola Springs is another great area. Thank you.
 
FilmLaw, I didn't mean contact the builders...I meant contact a realty office. Ask them to do a shoot in one of the homes they have listed...one that is VACANT but staged with furniture (they would just have to ask the seller for permission). I'm thinking 1200 bucks would be welcome to some sellers at this point.
 
<p>I was reading some of Troopers comments about the friendliness of East Coasters versus Left Coasters. I think there is much validity to it, but I have a new take on why that is. It is directly related to the portability of the population. It is much more common for people on the East Coast to live within 25 miles of where they grew up. No so on the West Coast. The population is much more transient. So neighbors in SoCal don't bother to get to know each other because in a few months or short years, you'll have new neighbors. </p>

<p>In my first Irvine neighborhood, I only new four of my neighbors. It was condos and it seemed like there were new neighbors every month. And I barely recognized anyone. Now, I live in Woodbridge on a street with 30 homes. In six years, I have talked with residents of 24 of the homes. The other six I rarely see outside of their homes except when they are in their cars. I wave to them. Sadly, I know the names of only about 10. And in that six years, 16 of the homes have had changes in residents, either through home sales or new tenents in the rentals. I think it helps that I am outside a lot with my dogs and my son. I think people are friendly, it is just more "work" to get to know your neighbors. I wonder what would happen if I had an emergency in the home. Or wanted to borrow a cup of sugar or an egg.</p>

<p> </p>
 
Cal - I think you may be on to something there. Even on my parents' street in South OC (been there since the 80s) they knew many people on the block for years. But once that group of original owners started moving out, the ones who have come in seem to have been coming and going by comparison (a few by way of foreclosure).
 
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