If you are a cinephile or just enchanted with the points and stories of San Francisco, you can discover more about this city that is the setting for more than 1200 movies and series and be sure to include it in your script.
Check out some of these movies now. So let’s go... LIGHTS. CAMERA. ACTION!
Vertigo
Launch: 1958
Script: In San Francisco, retired detective John ‘Scottie’ Ferguson suffers from a terrible fear of heights. One day, he meets an old acquaintance, from college days, who asks him to follow his wife, Madeleine Elster. John accepts the assignment and is put in charge of the Woman, following her around town. She shows a strange attraction to high places, leading the detective to face his worst fears. He begins to belive the Woman is insane, with possible suicidal tendencies, when something strange happens on this mission.
The film takes places in some parts of the city, such as the Brocklebank Apartments building on Nob Hill, the cemetery in Mission Dolores, Fort Point, the famous Lombard Street, Coit Tower, Union Square, among many others. If you want to know more, visit the website.
San Andreas
Launch: 2015
Script: A Strong earthquake hits California and forces Ray, a firefighter specializing in helicopter rescues, to travel the state alongside his ex-wife to rescue their daughter Blake.
Some scenes in the film were shot at Fisherman’s Wharf, the Embarcadero, Lombard Street and the Golden Gate Brigde.
The Princess Diaries
Launch: 2001
Script: Mia is a 15-year-old girl who lives with her mother in San Francisco and suddenly discovers that her father is actually the Prince of Genovia, a small European country. She then receives a visit from her newfound grandmother, who starts giving her lessons in etiquete, teaching her how to behave like a princess. But as her birthday approaches, she needs to decide which path she intends to take in her life: becoming a princess and moving to Genovia or staying with her mother.
In the film, Mia Thermopolis’ house is actually an out-of-service firehouse building (724, Brazil Ave); Anthony R. Grove High School is an old house (2601 Lyon Street); and there are also scenes filmed at the Museé Mécanique, formerly established in the basement of the former Cliff House, now on Fisherman’s Wharf.
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Launch: 2011
Script: Will Rodman is a scientist who works in a laboratory where experiments are carried out on monkeys. He is interested in discovering new drugs to cure Alzheimer’s, as his father, Charles, suffers from the disease. After one of the monkeys escapes and wreaks havoc, his research is cancelled. Will doesn’t give up and takes some samples of the drug home, applying them to his own father, as well as a baby monkey from one of the lab’s test subjects. Soon Charles not Only recovers, but his memory is improved, thanks to the medication. The puppy, who is named after Caesar, shows unusual inteligence.
The stage of the main confrontation between the apes and the humans, in Planet of the Apes, is the Golden Gate Bridge, being partially destroyed in the film.
X-Men: The Last Stand
Launch: 2006
Script: A cure is discoverd for mutants, who can now choose to keep their powers or become normal humans. The Discovery pits Magneto, who believes this cure will become a weapon againt mutants, and the X-Men, led by Professor Charles Xavier.
In this movie, the Golden Gate Bridge is relocated by Magneto to Alcatraz Island in order to destroy the base and experiments on healing mutants.
The Pursuit of Happyness
Launch: 2007
Script: Chris Gardner is a Family man facing serious financial problems. Despite all attempts to keep the family together, Linda his wife, decides to leave. Chris is now a single father and needs to take care of Christopher, his 5-years-old son. He tries to use his skills as a salesman to get a better job that will give him a better salary. Chris gets a job as an intern at a major stockbroker, but doesn’t receive a salary for his services. His hope is that, at the end of the internship program, he will be hired and thus have a promising future at the company. But their financial problems cannot wait for this to happen, which causes them to be evicted. Chris and Christopher take to sleeping in shelters, train stations, restrooms and wherever they can find refuge at night, holding out hope that better days will come.
Film locations that take place in the city include Glen Park Station, Golden Gate Park, Ross Alley in Chinatown, Taylor St. on Russian Hill and Pine St. in Financial District.
Full House
Launch: 1987 - 1995
Script: Danny is a widower who has the help of two friends to take care of his three daughters and still have to work. Together They get into big trouble and learn the meaning of friendship and togetherness.
The series' opening clip features the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco Bay, Alamo Square and in the background “The Painted Ladies”.
If you are curious to know more, visit the website.
I hope you enjoyed our trip through San Francisco. Where should Let’s Travel the World make its next stop??
If you need a little help with your script, get in touch.
Stay tuned for the next posts from Let’s Travel the World!!