Hello Focus fans, it's nice to see you all again.
Welcome to a very unique episode of Real Destinations.
In response to the Coronavirus crisis,
I am sheltering in place,
at home, here in Los Angeles,
which also happens to be the setting
for Focus' newest movie, "The High Note".
So lets take a virtual tour of the city of angels,
and see some of the locations featured
in director Nisha Ganatra's latest movie.
There hasn't been a new Grace Davis record in a decade,
and the fans want one.
You're not a producer.
Let me do my job and you do yours.
Set in the heart of L.A's music scene,
"The High Note" follows pop superstar Grace Davis,
and her personal assistant Maggie,
who secretly dreams of producing her next album.
Grace, you are the song.
You should not be buried under all these flashy garbage.
Although situated in the heart of Hollywood,
film makers can't just waltz
in and use these famous locations.
And to tell us more about
that, is The Hight Note's
locations manager, Robert Foulkes.
"The High Note" was shot entirely on location
throughout Los Angeles.
The clubs, concert venues, the Microsoft Theater,
the giants before, driving up and down the sunset strip.
It was really great.
It's fun figuring out what kind of says LA.
In the movie Grace records her albums
at Capitol Studios,
one of Hollywood's most iconic landmarks.
Just North of the famous intersection
of Hollywood and Vine,
this recording studio is home to a wealth of music history.
Let's take it from the top.
Capitol Studios was built in 56.
We're one of the main studios
left that are attached to a record label.
We have a writer room, the production suites,
mastering, we have vinyl cutting,
we have underground echo chambers.
They're like 20 feet underground
and they're well revered in the industry.
Hey, y'all notice a microphone in there, right?
Even more impressive than its technical abilities,
is Capitol Studios' storied history.
Dozens of legendary artists have recorded
their albums at Capitol Studios.
Hubby hidy milk remover, the stars
that are in that, it was so gratifying.
And they were such a great team.
Is that dope, or is that dope.
Perched in the hills above West Hollywood,
the Laurel Canyon Country Store is a hidden gem
of LA history.
In the movie, Maggie picks up some of Grace's necessities,
but this Bohemian bodega was a hotspot
for iconic musicians throughout the 1960s and 70s.
The scene attracted hippies and groupies,
creating a safe haven for the music loving community.
Nestled in the Hollywood Hills,
it's a treasured outdoor venue,
the John Anson Ford Theater.
The Amphitheater was originally constructed in 1920
and rebuilt to its current specs in 1931.
From jazz to punk the venue has hosted thousands
of performances throughout the decades,
including the climatic finale scene in "The High Note".
In a much needed escape from the hustle and bustle
of the city, Maggie returns to her hometown on Catalina.
A popular island getaway 22 miles
off the Southern California coast.
Historically, the island was utilized for smuggling,
otter hunting and gold digging.
But in the 1920s it was developed
into a tourist destination.
Catalina is just a great getaway.
You definitely get lost,
you feel like you're a whole world away from Los Angeles.
Now you work at the same radio station that we see
in "The High Note" where Maggie's dad works.
Hey, Mag pie.
Hi dad.
Yeah, to have have the whole film production here,
it felt like half the town was at our radio station.
And it was so fun to see just all the activity,
the crew in the studio, our tiny little radio station.
It was a treat to be able to film at a place like
that and take all the equipment out to an island
and film it and have it close so smoothly.
Yeah, long live Catalina.
Go visit everybody when this quarantine is over.
Los Angeles has certainly a city for dreamers.
I moved here myself over 10 years ago
and I've loved immersing in its rich culture of film,
music and history.
I can't wait to see it's streets bustling with life
and energy once again.
But in the meantime, if you're looking for a taste of LA,
check out "The High Note" premiering at home on demand,
Friday, May 29.
We hope to see you on the road again very soon.
Until then, stay safe.