What state fits the "American suburbia" stereotype most? (renting, lawyers)
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A lot of those movies have no suburban elements at all (Die Hard? Speed? Parent Trap?).
I think the difference between say Chicago-filmed suburban films (Sixteen Candles, Home Alone) and SoCal (ET, Poltergeist) is people know one is set near LA. There is a very distinctive look to much of LA suburbia seen in films, and there is a very generic look to suburban Chicago. That isn’t always true, but in broad strokes it’s easier to imagine Midwest suburbia tree coverage and built environment and housing stock in more of America.
I agree – California-style suburbia is almost instantly identifiable even if it's supposed to be depicting somewhere else in the US.
You see this all the time in movies or TV shows that are supposed to take place in the Midwest or out East. For instance, a lot of movies/shows depicting suburban high schools show students eating lunch or walking around in expansive outdoor common areas, which doesn't exist in most of the country.
Another example is Pam and Jim's house from The Office – even though the house looks like it maybe could be in Pennsylvania, it's got one of those flimsy "car ports" on the side of the house which might protect a car from a bit of winter rain but would be useless in a colder climate like Scranton.
It's certainly no small wonder that foreigners associate American suburbia with California because it's basically all you see in American popular media.
I agree – California-style suburbia is almost instantly identifiable even if it's supposed to be depicting somewhere else in the US.
You see this all the time in movies or TV shows that are supposed to take place in the Midwest or out East. For instance, a lot of movies/shows depicting suburban high schools show students eating lunch or walking around in expansive outdoor common areas, which doesn't exist in most of the country.
Another example is Pam and Jim's house from The Office – even though the house looks like it maybe could be in Pennsylvania, it's got one of those flimsy "car ports" on the side of the house which might protect a car from a bit of winter rain but would be useless in a colder climate like Scranton.
It's certainly no small wonder that foreigners associate American suburbia with California because it's basically all you see in American popular media.
Not to mention, the ubiquitous mountains that look eerily like southern CA in the background, even if there are no mountains where something is set (I once saw mountains in the background of something taking place in a suburban Long Island neighborhood, lol). Noticed this on the Office as well when they drive around.
Obviously some shows have higher set budgets than others.
For instance, a lot of movies/shows depicting suburban high schools show students eating lunch or walking around in expansive outdoor common areas, which doesn't exist in most of the country.
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Always was jealous kids in California got to have those. Always saw it on TV.
I agree – California-style suburbia is almost instantly identifiable even if it's supposed to be depicting somewhere else in the US.
You see this all the time in movies or TV shows that are supposed to take place in the Midwest or out East. For instance, a lot of movies/shows depicting suburban high schools show students eating lunch or walking around in expansive outdoor common areas, which doesn't exist in most of the country.
Another example is Pam and Jim's house from The Office – even though the house looks like it maybe could be in Pennsylvania, it's got one of those flimsy "car ports" on the side of the house which might protect a car from a bit of winter rain but would be useless in a colder climate like Scranton.
It's certainly no small wonder that foreigners associate American suburbia with California because it's basically all you see in American popular media.
What are these movies/tv taking place back east where HS kids are walking through hallways and eating lunch in cafeterias that are outdoors? I get it if they don’t say where it’s suppose to take place, but the reality is there’s plenty of indoor schools in/around Los Angeles that have subbed for schools elsewhere.
You can cherry pick a house from The Office with a carport, but there’s countless where people are none the wiser that the suburban neighborhood is in Southern California.
Not to mention, the ubiquitous mountains that look eerily like southern CA in the background, even if there are no mountains where something is set (I once saw mountains in the background of something taking place in a suburban Long Island neighborhood, lol). Noticed this on the Office as well when they drive around.
Obviously some shows have higher set budgets than others.
There are more ridiculous things than shooting in Southern California: such as shot in Toronto or Vancouver (Canada has very generous tax break and local accommodations for film shooting.) but called it Los Angeles or NYC.
There are more ridiculous things than shooting in Southern California: such as shot in Toronto or Vancouver (Canada has very generous tax break and local accommodations for film shooting.) but called it Los Angeles or NYC.
The best (or worst?) example of this was Jackie Chan’s “Rumble in the Bronx” where he’s fighting and jumping from rooftops in NYC with snow capped mountains behind him, lol. It’s coming up on 30 years since I’ve seen it, but it’s always stuck out in my mind how blatant it was.
If you want a real mind fu** take the studio tours at WB, Sony (MGM), Paramount, and Universal, in Los Angeles. Once you see the back lot and studio offices used for all types of settings you can’t unsee them moving forward watching tv/movies. If you only do one, do WB.
The best (or worst?) example of this was Jackie Chan’s “Rumble in the Bronx” where he’s fighting and jumping from rooftops in NYC with snow capped mountains behind him, lol. It’s coming up on 30 years since I’ve seen it, but it’s always stuck out in my mind how blatant it was.
If you want a real mind fu** take the studio tours at WB, Sony (MGM), Paramount, and Universal, in Los Angeles. Once you see the back lot and studio offices used for all types of settings you can’t unsee them moving forward watching tv/movies. If you only do one, do WB.
Hahaha. I agree with you, it’s really ridiculous.
Like one of the most New Yorker shows, Seinfeld, was shot in Burbank CA?
The show that “inspired” so many young people in the ‘90s to move to NYC hoping to live in a humongous (in NYC standard) apartment with 5 other friends who miraculously always happened to be free AT THE SAME TIME so they could always hang out together?! Aka Friends? Entirely shot in Burbank CA too.
This talk makes me miss Law & Order, at least they really shot in NYC.
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