Filming Locations: Argo (2012)

Filming Locations: Argo (2012)

Saturday, March 30, 2013 / No Comments

The following movie posters are from the original "fake" movie in 1980:

Argo is a 2012 historical drama thriller film directed by Ben Affleck. This dramatization is adapted from the book The Master of Disguise by CIA operative Tony Mendez, and Joshuah Berman's 2007 Wired article "The Great Escape" about the "Canadian Caper", in which Mendez led the rescue of six U.S. diplomats from Tehran, Iran, during the 1979 Iran hostage crisis.

The film stars Affleck as Mendez with Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin, and John Goodman (previous Encino resident now owned by David Hasselhoff) in supporting roles, and was released in North America to critical and commercial success on October 12, 2012. The film was produced by Grant Heslov, Ben Affleck, and George Clooney (Studio City resident). The story of this rescue was also told in the 1981 television movie Escape from Iran: The Canadian Caper, directed by Lamont Johnson.

Upon release, Argo received widespread acclaim and also received seven nominations for the 85th Academy Awards and won three, for Best Film Editing, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Picture. The film also earned five Golden Globe nominations, winning Best Picture – Drama and Best Director, while being nominated for Best Supporting Actor for Arkin. It won the award for the Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture at the 19th Screen Actors Guild Awards with Alan Arkin being nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role. It also won Best Film, Best Editing, and Best Director at the 66th British Academy Film Awards (Wikipedia).

On a side note, Argo, is "based on a true story and is not a true story" according to Ben Affleck. What this means is that drama and Hollywood flair was added to make this story more interesting and worth 2 hours of your time watching. There are many fictionalized events shown in this movie that if you wanted to experience the true story, you are better off reading the book. Wikipedia does a good job of listing the historical inaccuracies if you are interested in knowing the truth. 

One last thing, this film is a good example of US Military and War propaganda glorifying and validating the efforts to fight various wars, occupy other countries, etc. The fact that this film won an Oscar Best Picture and was also presented by First Lady Michelle Obama to Ben Affleck at the awards ceremony seems highly suspect. At any rate, the movie is obviously well directed and still worth watching. I just wanted to share some personal opinions. And now for the filming locations.

Argo was mostly filmed in LA and not in Iran. To discover the other locations, I recommend visiting the following sites:

1. LA Times
2. Discover Los Angeles
3. IAMNOTASTALKER
4. The Location Guide
5. LA Curbed
6. Central Intelligence Agency (allow for viewing the actual documents from 1980 available on their site)

The American Embassy in Tehran, Iran actually used the VA Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center 16111 Plummer St., North Hills, CA 91343. The VA hospital is rather large with 18 similar looking buildings. This facility bore resemblance to the American Embassy in Tehran with the red brick institutional look which is why it was chosen.  The producers of the film made did an excellent job of blending in "70's Iran" with the VA hospital using exterior shots from buildings in Turkey as you cant even tell that this was actually filmed in North Hills. According to IAMNOTASTALKER (also check out the link for other shows and movies filmed there), Building 4 was used for this film including some of the interior shots.  

Tony Mendez and John Chambers discuss their plans for producing a fake movie to rescue the hostages at the Smokehouse Restaurant 4420 W. Lakeside Dr., Burbank, CA 91505 which is actually located across from the Warner Bros Studios which was also used in the film (see below). Its not known if in the true story, these guys met at the Smokehouse but its highly plausible considering many movie stars and Warner Brothers personnel eat lunch at the Smokehouse.

The Warner Bros. Studios 3400 W Riverside Dr., Burbank, CA 91522 was used as the backdrop for where the fake movie company, Studio Six Productions was created. Additionally, the studio was called "The Burbank Studios" at that time during the 70's and 80's when it was shared with Columbia Pictures before it was later changed to the infamous WB logo for Warner Brothers as it shows today. 

You can view more SFV Filming Locations here.

Celebrity Real Estate: David Hasselhoff Re-lists Encino Mansion

Celebrity Real Estate: David Hasselhoff Re-lists Encino Mansion

Tuesday, November 6, 2012 / No Comments

[Update April 28, 2013]: This home finally sold on April 26, 2013 for $3,549,000 which was $1,569,000 above the original purchased price of $1,980,000 back on March 29, 1996. However the final sale price is $2,401,000 less than the original list price set in August 2008 for $5,950,00. At this time, Hasselhoff's relocation is unknown but one has to wonder if he sold his longtime Encino home to downsize or simply wanted to move to a more exclusive area.

[Original Post]:

The multi-talented David Hasselhoff has just re-listed his Encino mansion for $3,795,000 on November 5, 2012 which is not too far from the former Edward Evertt Horton mansion which was later demolished as well as the Encino Velodrome. David Hasselhoff is best known for his role as "Michael Knight" on Knight Rider, "Mitch Buchannon" in Baywatch, and if you happen to live in Germany, a top selling pop singer. Hasselhoff is a long time actor having started in 1975 on the long time running soap opera, The Young and the Restless. He even started his singing career on Kids Incorporated during its first season.

The home measures 5 Beds/5.5 Baths on 8,947sqft on a total lot size of 1.48 acres built in 1988. The listing states:

Gates open on a long, tree-canopied drive leading to a circular motor court to this classic Colonial on nearly 1.5 acres flat lot. The Marble Foyer and sweeping wrought iron staircase open to a grand, 2-story Living Room, rich, wood paneled Library & Pub Room through to a Family/Media Room. Wonderful Chef's Kitchen & Sun Room. Sub-Zero & Traulsen, Viking Range & Grill, 2 Bosch Dishwashers. Expansive lawns reveal Pool, Waterfall into a Grotto Spa. N/S Tennis Court w/ Viewing Pavilion. The Main House has 4 Bedrooms + Maid's + 5.5 Baths. Additionally, there are Two, Full 1+1+Kitchen Guest Houses. This Entertainer's Paradise has vast opportunities awaiting its new Owner with a Dream.

David Hasselhoff last purchased this property on March 29, 1996 for $1,980,000 by funnyman actor John Goodman which I believe was purchased in May 31, 1991 for $2,975,000 representing a loss of $995,000 for Goodman  to Hasselhoff in 1996 but I cannot confirm this amount so dont quote me. If this home were to sell at the listing price, David Hasselhoff would be looking at a profit of $1,815,000 not including taxes, commissions,  and other related expenses. Its not known why Hasselhoff is selling but is probably related to his divorce to his second wife Pamela Bach back in 2006 or maybe not.

This is not the first time David Hasselhoff has tried to sell his Encino mansion as he tried in August 2008 for $5,950,00, August 2009 for $4,195,000, dropped to $3,795,000 on October 2009, dropped to $3,495,000 on November 2009, and re-listed on two separate occasions on April 2010 and March 2011 for $4,195,000. Back in 2009, this home listing was covered by Big Time Listings, The Realestalker, LA Times Hot Property, and AOL Luxist. On a completely different side note, Hasselhoff's parents, Joseph and Dolores sold their Monrovia home in 2006 for $805,000 which may have been purchased back in 1992. 

One of the interesting insights regarding this home listing is the initial asking price dispute between David Hasselhoff and his ex-wife revealed from Your Mama at the Realestalker back in August 2009:

As is often and usually the case when marrieds go splitsville, the once happy marital home gets put on the block which is exactly what happened back in August of 2008 when a judge decreed that usually shirtless actor/singer David Hasselfhoff and his then soon to be ex-wife Pamela Bach were to sell their long time estate in Encino, CA. At the time, the feuding between Mister and Missus soon-to-be-ex-Mrs. Hasselhoff was about at what price the property was to be listed. He wanted to list the 5 bedroom and 5.5 pooper property at less than five million clams and she believed the 1+ acre flag lot spread on Louise Avenue was worth close to eight million smackers. Your Mama thinks ex-Mrs. Hoff was living on another planet if she thought her house was actually worth 8 million bucks and someone else obviously agreed with us because the Hoff House quietly came up for sale in August of 2008 with an asking price of $5,950,000 and then hit the open market in early 2009.

Above images courtesy The Agency

Hasselhoff has picked an interesting time to re-list his home as the Encino market has been hit lately with high priced celebrity homes considering the following homes which are currently available:

1. Joe Simpson's Royal Oaks Mansion which is currently listed for $4,395,000
2. The former Al Jolson Estate which was owned by Charlie Sheen at one time is listed for $6.5 million. 
3. The former home of Selena Gomez is available for $3,699,0000. 
4. Heidi Saban Stills (father is billionaire Haim Saban) home is available for $2,999,000. 
5. The former Macy Gray home is available for $5.9 million.
6. The former Joey Lawrence home is available for $2.250 million. 

There are many celebrities who previously or currently call Encino home like Tori Spelling (former), Scott Baio (former), the Jackson Family compound, Leighton Meester, Annette Funicello's fire destroyed home, Brian Bloom, Tamar Braxton and Vincent Herbert (former), Vampire Diaries Director (former), Jennifer Morrison (former), Dave Grohl, Donald Penn, and Shirley MacLaine (former) to name a few (or several).

You can view more Celebrity Real Estate here.