Friday, May 25, 2012

"The Hand Prop Room" on Venice Blvd. Props Galore. Hollywood. How to rent a prop?

The Hand Prop Room--a huge warehouse where you can rent all kindsa-cool-props.


How to rent a prop?

For an assignment I had to go to a "prop" store and rent an item for a shoot. I decided to go to the "Hand Prop Room" at 5700 Venice Blvd. near Hauser, about half a mile away from Venice/Fairfax.  I've driven by this location hundreds of times and never bothered to think what HPR stood for.

I'm surprised they don't have a more "visual" sign outside advertising "props."  There were no inviting and welcoming signs from the street side of Venice Blvd pointing to the entrance just around the corner.  Very unassuming. Very non-descript. Hidden-LA baby!!! A treasure if you will.  Just a big door which was open that revealed the inside of what could be a bar or coffee shop. Props baby props!!! I got fooled!!! Ha ha!!

I'm sure people looking for Halloween accessories would looooooove this place and bring tons more business, but I don't think they have a problem with that.
(Above: Hmmm, I wonder if this meat was used as a punching bag in a movie, yes, you know which one I'm talkin'na 'bout!!! Doncha Adrienne?    



Rows upon rows, aisles upon aisles of "eye-candy."

   Video below of just "one" of the rooms/aisles in this massive building/warehouse

(Video above of the glass/silverware section)

To make sure that the assignment was carried out I had to furnish a receipt. No prob.  Of course identical items can be found at thrift stores, used stores, consignment stores, pawn shops, however, that was not the purpose of the assignment. I had to actually go to a "prop" store, you know, the kind that Hollywood movie companies go to when they need "period" pieces for their films.

Not only do the "movie" industry people go there to get their props, many stylists for photographers, as well as photographers go there to add authenticity to their shoots.   
It was very, very interesting.  Fascinating. Compelling. Holy mole, it was like a "horders" paradise.  lol!!! It was like a museum. It was like going back into time.  It was like reliving part of your childhood. It was like being transported to a specific year and time.  Stuff, stuff and more stuff. Where did they get those things?  Where do I start looking?  Did I go too fast down an aisle and miss something? 

They've got vintage........everything. Cameras from way back when.  Military guns. Al Capone type machine guns (you need a special permit to rent those.) Hand-made African tribal bowls and boats.  Things called VHS players and something called a tape-recorder (I hope I spelled that correctly!!!)  Authentic costume jewelery.  Typewriters. Clocks. Really cool 50s style sunglasses.  Bags? Bags galore.  The list goes on and on and on. 




Now, when I did ask the dude if they had any "Pan Am" stuff, he said "no."  And then he told me they can't have any "brands/labels" on the items due to copyright infringement!! When I asked him if they had any "model planes," he pointed me in the direction, and lo and behold, I found my "Pan Am" 1970's airplane.  With the over 190 gazillion items, with new items added daily, I'm sure the guy working there didn't remember the "Pan Am" toy-model plane!!! All good in the hood.

I asked the dude at the counter if "tour buses" ever dropped off tourists, because this would definitely be a visually stimulating place to see old and authentic Americana that most foreign tourists have only experienced through the movies.  He said no. The next time I have visitors over, from abroad or from here, I'm sure gonna take them there. Yes sirreee!!!  They have a whole bunch of vintage 50s items. James Dean and Elvis would feel at home.


 Neon signs galore.

How it works?  You see an item and you like it. Bring it (if it's not too huge) to the cashier on the 1st floor. They will scan it or look up a code. In my particular case, I wanted to do a "Pan Am" theme.   The item scanned as a "Propeller Planes Mounted." For a weeks rental the cost was $35. Yes, I'm sure I can find something like it at a thrift store for $5 which I would also get to keep,  but that my friend, like mentioned before, was not the purpose of the assignment. 

Then, they multiply $35 by 10 times.   What does that mean?  Well, for a mere $35 there are items that people wouldn't bother returning or conveniently misplace.  However, when you multiply the item's number by "ten" the likelihood of it being returned goes up sharply. Thus, I had to put a deposit of $350 on the plane.  My grand total was $385, of which I'll receive the $350 deposit back in a week.  And yes, they did charge my account.  So if an item is valued at $200, you betcha, you'll be charged $200 X 10 = $2000 (plus $200) for a grand total of $2200.  Real Hollywood money baby!!!

Items vary in price. My buddy Niklas and Fredrik (brothers from Sweden) rented an authentic WW II medal for 8 bucks. 

The replacement cost for this particular item is $550, which is another incentive "not" to loose the item and to bring it back. 


I'm looking forward to going there again. I'll be back........
..until "I'm back," keep up with the latest by clicking HERE and "LIKING" my FB page. NOW!!!

Below is a link to the Hand Prop Room's Webpage.

Monday, May 21, 2012

Coast 2 Coast Swim Challenge. Raising funds for free swim lessons for under-served LA kids

Coast2Coast Swim Challenge
5/20/12
Culver City Plunge
Photos and Videos by @Shiggy Ichinomiya GoShiggyGo
Please "like" my Facebook page. Yes! --->>
 Click HERE and then click "like" for my Facebook Photography page. Stay updated NOW

Great job to everyone who participated, volunteered, contributed, swam, made a difference, helped, cared, donated time and energy, hustled on the PR team AND thank you to all the people who got involved behind the scenes. YOU know who you are. What amazing weather and what a great day!!!!
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. 




(Photos for above banner courtesy of ©Shiggy Ichinomiya. GoShiggyGo.Com)

Click link below to see my photo in The Daily Breeze
My photo in the Daily Breeze was used for PR for the Coast2Coast Swim Challenge


(Honored that my photos were used for the above flyer)


(Erin Bloodgood, mohawk guy and Dee Lamberton)
Want to see photos from the whole set? Click below






(Legendary Stan the Man. He swam from 5am to 10pm. Stanley Leventhal swam over 20 miles. That's from the mainland to Catalina Island!!!! WOW!!!)

(Above: Wow Peter, your eyes match your shirt. Stunning!!!)


Go LA TRI Club members!!!! Over 1800 members STRONG!!!
(You too can join the LA Triathlon Club. LATriClub.Com)
(Go Michelle Sayre!!!!)

(Above: Kelley is about to do a flip turn.)


(Photos for above banner courtesy of CLICK HERE and LIKE. NOW. When? NOW




(Erin and Dee swimsuit models for our sponsor Toyota!!!)




Sponsored by Toyota
Sponsored by LA Sports Massage

Sponsored by Xterra Wetsuits
Sponsored by PowerBar
Melanie Weber and crew volunteering.


(Above: Thank you TOYOTA for sponsoring the event.)


(Thank you Houlihan Lokey(Click here for Houlihan Lokey's website) for sponsoring the event and the LA Tri Club.)

(Sean the DJ and MC)


(Stella looking good)

(Stella looking good again.)

(Stella.....looking!!!!)

(Above: Lisa Z and Carol rocking the pink)


(Above: Hotties--Janice, Lisa and Carol)

(Above: Hotties--Stella, Carol and Vanessa)






(Coach Gerry providing coaching through Tower 26)
LA TRIATHLON Club's Co-Founder Larry Turkheimer
UCLA's Libby getting ready

Dr. Heather
Dr. Heather
One of my favorite "action shots" of Dr. Heather. Look at the hand glide over the water. Graceful.

Melanie getting ready to volunteer






(Above: Volunteers checking the laps of the swimmers)


Ironman Kona just qualified Holger Beckman



(Above: Recent Ironman St. George finisher-Lynne!!)

(Above: My boy Brian showing how many laps he has done.)

(Above: Beautiful Susan)


(Above: 4 time Gold Medalist Lenny Krayzleburg)

(One of my favorite moments of the day----watching Heather laugh. Go Todd Go. Go David Lee GO!!!)


(Above: David Lee. All around good guy and, yes, look carefully, yes, that's him in the cheese commercial.)


(Above: Bethune Middle School students getting ready to swim)
(Bethune Middle School students at the Culver City Plunge Municipal Pool)
(David Lee counting the swimmer's laps.)
(Above: Sun Block Super-Sized)








(Above: Lenny helping a student put on a swimming cap for the 1st time.")





Peter B looking good with Kim


I LOVE BETHUNE TOO!!!














(Above: LA Tri Club President Paul Hekimian using a GoPro for a swim-analysis)




(Above: Lenny with Melanie Weber and Roberta Silverman)













(Tony giving some swim pointers)

(Above: The Brenkus Family and Lenny Krayzleburg)


(Above: Heather and Emma)

What a handsome guy in the white shirt!!!! LOL!!!



(Above: LA Tri Club's President Paul Hekimian using the GoPro to record the swimmer's technique)


Melanie volunteering and PR'ing


(Susan Moon. Most improved swim!!!)

(Thank you sponsor----Evolution Physical Therapy)


Liz Hamm and Lisa Zollner talk about swim times. Good times.











(Looks like Lenny is Mr. Popular!!! The girls loved him!)







(Up and coming comedian, my boy, Nathan Oviedo)



(Tony making sure everyone gets on the bus back to Bethune Middle School.)

(Michelle rockin' the LA Tri Club water bottle.)




Wanna see photos from the WHOLE set? Click link below

---------------------------
Video for Make a Splash below.

(Above is a video I made for the "Make a Splash" video contest.)


Coast 2 Coast VIDEOS BELOW

(Video above: Swimming. Lenny Krayzelburg (4 Olympic Gold Medals) talks about his commitment to helping raise water safety awareness.)
--------------------------------

(Video above: John Brenkus, yes award winning John Brenkus from ESPN's TV show, "Sports Science" talks to the kids from Bethune Middle School about "perfect practice." John is also the author of the best-selling book-->>
The Perfection Point: Sport Science Predicts the Fastest Man, the Highest Jump, and the Limits of Athletic Performance. Larry Turkeheimer, the co-founder of the LA Tri Club is the MC and Lenny Krayzelburg encourages the kids to do well in school because "it's contagious.")


To get the latest updates, news and recent photos, please like my Facebook Photography page:
Click HERE and then "LIKE" my Facebook page.


Please contact Shiggy if you need an event, red-carpet, corporate or headshot/portrait photographer.
Your "GO" to-photographer. Go Shiggy Go. Photography with heart!!!
goshiggy@gmail.com