Author: Caroline Olsen-Van Stone
The commercial filming that regularly occurs at Occidental College is intended more to increase name recognition of the College than increase revenue, Director of Master Calendar and Filming Mary Grogan said.
Grogan deals with Unreel, the company that Occidental hired two years ago to handle the bulk of filming logistics. When Grogan was hired almost three years ago, she was working 22 hours a day each week to organize a single filming. “Two more people would have had to be hired if we didn’t use Unreel,” she said. “It has made my life a lot easier.”
In order to begin filming at Oxy, the production company first contacts Unreel about using the college as a location. Then Unreel calls Grogan to see if the College is interested in the deal. Grogan assesses whether the film’s content compliments the College’s reputation and checks with departments on campus to make sure there are no scheduling conflicts. “This is an academic institution, so I make sure that filming doesn’t interfere with our main purpose,” Grogan said. She also asks for President Susan Prager’s approval.
After Grogan authorizes the deal, the location scout is invited to the college, and often given a “location tour.” If the director approves, the contract portion of the process begins.
Contracting for film usually takes about three weeks, Grogan explained. “Sometimes it takes weeks to decide between an ‘a’ and a ‘the,'” she said.
The annual revenue the College makes from filming is approximately $100, 000. This amount is allocated to the College’s General Operating Fund, of which it makes up an “infinitesimal percent,” Vice President for Administration and Finance Michael Groener said.
Because the College does not depend on filming for a large portion of annual revenue, it feels no pressure to take part in projects that do not uphold the reputation of the College.
This has not always been the case, however. In the 1990s, the television show 90210 used the college throughout the school year. “Directors yelled at students, they listed 1600 Campus Road as the address for a casting call; production really took over campus,” Grogan said.
Though the 90210 series probably made more money for the College, it interfered with classes and students, Groener explained.
Although the College does not take in a significant amount of revenue from filming, it does enjoy some extra perks. One production company gave a donation to the Biology Department for faculty research after using one of their labs for a film. This was in addition to the regular fee they were charged for the shoot.
Some colleges in the LA area depend on filming revenue, and thus often have filming crews on campus. The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandizing has filming almost every day, Grogan explained. “Filming is exciting the first time you see it, but after it interferes with getting to class a few times, you start to get tired of it,” Grogan said.
The way that film crews interact with the students is very different. When The Holiday was filmed at Occidental in January 2006, the production crew constantly warned students not to enter the shots. During the taping of television series Monk, star Tony Shalhoub signed autographs and was very approachable.
Because of the negative experience during the filming of 90210, Occidental did not have any filming on campus from 2001 to 2005. Now, the College typically schedules filming during the summer or on weekends, so it doesn’t impede students. The College also tries to make sure that the neighborhoods surrounding the campus are not inconvenienced, Grogan said.
Filming on campus requires a lot of cooperation and planning. For each shoot, at least two or three Campus Safety Officers and a supervisor from the LA Fire Department are delegated to ensure that everything runs smoothly.
Some students feel that limiting the number of productions filmed on campus makes them more of a novelty. “For me it’s really fun to watch. I saw someone dressed like a vampire running around this past summer,” Jackie Herrlin (junior) said. “And, every time I watch Clueless with my friends, I make sure to point out that it was filmed at Oxy.”
Occidental students are not above being star-struck. When Made of Honor was filmed this past summer, students reportedly yelled out to Patrick Dempsey, co-star of popular television series Grey’s Anatomy, as he was standing outside of Erdman.
Grogan also noted that filming raises excitement on campus. The enthusiasm does not end at graduation, either. The Alumni Association has a DVD that includes clips from many of the films that have been shot on campus.
Occidental’s campus has been used for films, television and commercials over the years. However, the College does not allow films to use its name. In many cases, the College only permits films to keep Oxy’s building signs in the background. In January 2006, Columbia Pictures used Thorne Hall for the film The Holiday, but covered up the building name.
“We always want to have control of the College’s name,” Grogan said. “We can’t compromise its reputation.”
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