MOVIE ITINERARY
KEVIN MA takes a look at Los Angeles through the lens of the Oscar- winning film director
KEVIN MA discovers Tarantino’s Los Angeles and beyond
QUENTIN TARANTINO
has set many of his films in and around the City of Angels, where he spent his formative years. With his ninth film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
( OATH) playing onboard this month, we’re exploring the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area to trace some of the most memorable locations in the Tarantino Universe.
PAT & LORRAINE’S 1 COFFEE SHOP
Tarantino’s directorial career started with Reservoir Dogs, a thriller about a heist gone terribly wrong. In the film’s seven-minute opening scene, the group of would-be robbers talk about music and tipping over breakfast in this diner, earning it a guaranteed place on any movie buff’s list of recommended restaurants.
4720 Eagle Rock Boulevard
MELODY RANCH 2 MOTION PICTURE STUDIO
In OATH, Rick Dalton (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) spends a day filming a western TV series at this reallife Hollywood studio, owned by ‘the Singing Cowboy’ Gene Autry. The studio – which served as the set for TV series Deadwood and Westworld – was also used by Tarantino in Django Unchained. You can visit the studio and museum of film memorabilia by booking a VIP tour. 24715 Oak Creek, Newhall
THE SANCTUARY 3 ADVENTIST CHURCH
The bloody massacre that kicks off the entire Kill Bill saga was filmed at this Spanish-style church out in the Mojave Desert. The structure was originally built as a community hall before church décor was added for the 1981 film True Confessions. For Kill Bill, a wooden porch was added and the interior was completely reworked into its current form. It remains an active church today. 19809 East Avenue G, Lancaster
SAFARI INN 4
Tarantino’s reputation as an up-andcoming talent was further elevated with his screenplay for True Romance. One of the most memorable locations in this violent romantic fairy tale is this motel, in which Alabama (played by Patricia Arquette) faces off against the gangster played by James Gandolfini. Built in 1955, the motel has appeared in numerous films and TV series, including Apollo 13 and Six Feet Under. 1911 West Olive Avenue, Burbank
BRUIN THEATRE 5
In OATH, Sharon Tate (played by Margot Robbie) scores a free ticket to see her own performance in The Wrecking Crew at the Bruin Theatre in Los Angeles’ Westwood neighbourhood. Tarantino said that he tried to do the same when his selfpenned movie True Romance was playing at the theatre in 1993. It only worked when the manager saw fans of Reservoir Dogs approach Tarantino for autographs.
948 Broxton Avenue
NEW BEVERLY CINEMA 6
Also in OATH, Tate spots a cinema hosting an adult film premiere before going to a restaurant with her friends. That cinema eventually became the New Beverly Cinema. In 2007, Tarantino bought the building to save it from redevelopment, before taking over in 2014 as its head programmer. The cinema now screens Tarantino’s own movies (projected on film, of course) and prints of classics from his personal archive.
7165 Beverly Boulevard