Friends,
We are in early pre-production for a new live action comedy/horror short film, "Not a Creature Was Stirring". Before we reach out to location services, I'll run this past our experts here.
The story begins with "A star-filled sky and crescent moon cast bluish-grey shadows among the snow-dusted yuccas and Joshua trees of an otherwise dark, flat and barren desert" and the bulk of the primary photography will be at a distressed roadside motel; possibly an active or decommissioned Route 66-style property. The exterior of the motel/structure will establish the old and forgotten Americana tone and mood. Most of the INT scenes are inside one of the creepy rooms and bathroom.
I'm seeking suggestions or recommendations for suitable locations in or around 1) Southern California, 2) Nevada, 3) Arizona.
I'd greatly appreciate any guidance.
Respectfully,
Michael Hogan
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The visual atmosphere already feels very cinematic from the description alone — especially the contrast between the isolated desert landscape and the forgotten roadside Americana aesthetic.
There’s something psychologically unsettling about abandoned motels and empty desert spaces that works incredibly well for horror because the environment itself begins carrying emotional tension before anything even happens narratively.
Wishing you a great shoot and hope you find the perfect location for the world you’re building.
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Thanks for the insightful comment and well-wishes, Charmane!
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Looks and feels intriguing. I want a seat in the front row when it comes out. All the success for a great shoot.
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SOTHERN CALIFORNIA (PALM SPRING)
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Thank you, Claude. I'll keep you posted. And thank you, Rhiye!