SeeCalifornia.com

By C. MacDonald

HOLLYWOOD FILMS IN HB, AGAIN —Huntington Beach recently was used in a pilot for a CSI-type TV series called, “Graceland.” There was a full day of action and shooting on the beach and under the pier involving large Hollywood lights, reflector screens, diesel generators, cameras on tracks, star chairs, makeup artists and much more glitzy looking stuff.

It was all quite a sight for gawking Spring Breakers coming out to the beach to sunbathe or swim. One scene, on the beach just below the Kite Connection Store, involved a woman being confronted by a man with a gun. She wrestles it out of his hand, pulls her own “heat” and gets the drop on him. “It’s exciting being so close to the action,” said Caroline Minium, who stood looking down from the pier at the taping just a few feet beneath her. “My friends in Palo Alto won’t believe it, so I’m taking photos,” said the Stanford University student.

The beautiful blue sky day really cooperated with the 20th Century Fox team filming the event. During a break, one of the directors raced up the pier to the popular Surf City Store to purchase a seashell necklace and a reproduction of an HB pier painting. The actors and film crew previously did scenes at Malibu and were heading to Leo Carillo State Beach for more shots.

Huntington Beach’s Bolsa Chica State Beach and Hyatt Regency Resort  have often been used as a “set” for the 90210 TV series, Undercover and other shows. It’s beauty, cooperative city officials and closeness to Hollywood make it an ideal filming location.