About Castaic
The locations for film shoots in Castaic are not the traditional-type production sets or sound stages. The sites offered for rent are authentic to the area’s rich history of the founding peoples and industry—the Native Americans and Mexicans—and ranching.
The homes and ranches on acres of land offer the style and flavor of the hacienda architecture and the scenery of the high desert valley between the San Gabriel and the Santa Susana ranges. The unincorporated community of Castaic with a population of just over 19,000, is located in Northwest Los Angeles County, 35 miles from Greater LA and 47 miles from the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
The Castaic area is famous for the largest range war in US history fought between 1890 and 1916. This battle over ranch boundaries and grazing rights claimed the lives of many and thwarted the ranger-turned-negotiator appointed by President Theodore Roosevelt.
The site of present-day Stonegate Subdivision is the location of the last authentic cattle round-up in LA County. There are many different options for the perfect film shoot location in Castaic. The only difficult choice will be picking just one.
Film Shoot Location Options in Castaic
There are many options for renting and securing sites for film shoot locations in Castaic. The flavor of the area holds allegiance to its ranching history in both architecture and landscape. For outdoor shoots, Castaic is located near the Mojave Desert with high desert scenery. The Valley has the surrounding mountain ranges, and the variations in elevation can offer micro-climate conditions throughout the day.
- Staging
The services and products in this category are set designers, labor, and catering although on a much smaller scale than a full production shoot. There are not many locally owned businesses in Castaic to support a film shoot, but there are companies nearby in Santa Clarita and in LA to offer ancillary support.
- Catering
An important service, and the most scrutinized, is catering. The food service for a film shoot is a manageable scope; however, attention to detail and efficiency remains necessary. The catering options range from LA trendy to authentic Mexican cuisine. Both can be served with wait staff or self-serve buffet style.
- Equipment Rental
There are many options for companies providing rentals of equipment and fixtures for a film shoot in Greater Los Angeles. The scope of a rental service may be expanded to delivery, set up, breakdown, and set design.
Film Shoot Location Companies in Castaic
The choices are numerous for companies supporting the film industry in Greater Los Angeles. These companies serve all areas of LA County with the logistics in place to provide services and support for indoor and outdoor shoots.
- The Production HUB
This website holds to its HUB description. The film industry relies on this resource as its clearinghouse of listed companies providing products and services within scope. This solution-based system provides references and contact information of companies to complete the team for the shoot.
- Distinctive Catering
This locally owned catering company is located in nearby Santa Clarita. The company offers options from wait-served to buffet style. The site for the food service can be either indoor or outdoor, and the added scope of furniture rental is available. The menu choices range from specialty to authentic with vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free variations.
- Ask 4 Tacos
This company is located in Culver City and serves the North LA County area. Its emphasis is on corporate venues and personal events in homes. The service offers wait-staff and self-serve choices. All ingredients are fresh and locally sourced.
Pros and Cons of Film Shoot Locations in Castaic
As with everything, there are pros and cons. The good and the not-so-good features can be managed by realistic expectations, informed decisions, and logistics. Prior to your stay, make sure you are aware of all the ups and downs of a film shoot location in Castaic.
Advantages
- Authentic
This feature holds both indoor and outdoor film shoots. The indoor shoots in Castaic are private homes or ranches offered by the host owners. Many of these buildings are of the architecture and design of the traditional hacienda-ranch style.
- Climate
The Northwest area of LA County does not experience the Mediterranean-like climate. This section of the County is located in the area where the coastline elbows to the West. Castaic is, therefore, located further inland than LA and away from the shoreline.
- Transportation
If the team for the film shoot is organized and self-contained, then transportation to Castaic from LAX can be achieved without renting a car.
Disadvantages
- Transportation
This category also belongs on the list of disadvantages. When making the decision of the mode of transportation, particular attention needs to be given to the self-containment and the flexibility of the film crew, and the timetable.
- Limited choices
The location of Castaic is chosen for its authenticity and scenery and not for the bevy of choices for entertainment during your downtime. You may have to travel to a nearby city for entertainment or fine dining.
- Climate
This characteristic of the Castaic area will also fall into the disadvantage column. Given the variations in elevation causing changes in the weather in short order, coordination and mobility of an outdoor shoot is a must.
Famous Locations in Castaic
- Castaic Dam
This dam created Castaic Lake and Lagoon, and these are the western terminus of the California Aqueduct Project. This project was built in 1973, and it stores drinking water for the LA area and Riverside. Castaic Lake is a state recreation area containing 11,000 areas of open-space habitat. The park is known for world-class fishing, boating, hiking, and sailing.
- Santa Clarita Performing Center
The Center is located on the campus of the College of the Canyons. The shows at this theater are considered ambitious and supportive of art education programs. The Center encourages exposure to the K-12 school levels where art and drama programs remain underfunded. This is a fantastic place to take in a show and help promote the arts in Santa Clarita at the same time.
- Bowers Cave
The San Martin Mountain range is Southwest of Castaic Junction, the location of Bowers Cave. This cave was discovered by Dr. Stephen Bowers in 1952. The contents of the cave are considered the most valuable of all Indian artifacts in the region. Legend has it that the medicine men of the Alliklik tribe wanted to hide their feather robes and ceremonial blades and wands from the invading Spaniards who set out to quash the native traditions of faith.
