Complete newb.

[amelialourdes.livejournal.com]

I just finished watching the film and it is my number one on my list of FILMS TO ACQUIRE IMMEDIATELY. I absolutely loved it in case you all couldn't tell. One of the reasons that I really just adored it is because I went to college around the San Pedro/Rancho Palos Verdes area and seeing the image of that bridge through Zach's eyes brings a completely different perspective to my college experience. I only wish the people were that cool around there.

Anyway, so thinking about San Pedro got me thinking about locations and I looked back at every entry and location hasn't been really addressed. Since I'm from Los Angeles, I usually just tell people who aren't from here that we're from 'LA'. But, Los Angeles is comprised of area after specific area just like any other city. I had one question running through my head throughout the entire movie regarding Zach's CalArts acceptance and Shaun's living situation.

Are we (in this shiny, brand new fandom) going to accept that Zach goes to school at CalArts in Valencia which is about 30-45 minutes away from Los Angeles proper (downtown, Hollywood, the beach, etc.) and lives with Shaun off campus in an unknown location? I'm just trying to figure it out in my head because I envision Shaun living in the city which wouldn't be anywhere near Zach's campus even though he says that he lives close. Like, maybe he lives in Santa Clarita or Sylmar or SF Valley -- those areas. Or, am I just getting too specific and it doesn't even matter?

I'm going for the latter. Any opinions are welcomed though! Sorry if this has been discussed.

Comments

[qaf-fanatic.livejournal.com]

In my fic's i used Valencia as Shaun's residence.

Since like you said...people who don't live there, wouldn't know the difference between if you said LA or Santa Monica. It's still all LA, pretty much.

So i think the reason Zach said L.A. is because he didn't know for sure where Shaun lived or else he would have already known that Shaun lived near Cal Arts if he lived in Valencia.

So yeah...that was kinda jumbled. You know what i mean though right?

[amelialourdes.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I understand. I think that I'm just trying to put everything in perspective and the whole conversation of "I live near CalArts" got to me. I know that since Shaun is a writer he has the freedom to live wherever he wants. He's not boxed into only one area of Los Angeles so that does give him the freedom to live near the CalArts area. It is relatively cheaper over there.

Thank you for your help! Great username as well, :)

[qaf-fanatic.livejournal.com]

Thanks. *wink*

It really is my first true love

[skippylikes.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking Zach just said LA as he A) really didn't talk to Shaun at all once he left and just knew what Gabe said, and B) was just generalizing.

Also Shaun just leased a new place so he might have been in LA and then chose a place closer to a serviceable surf spot(Shaun said he wouldn't get in the water in LA proper) and quieter location for his writing. AKA Valencia.

[amelialourdes.livejournal.com]

Thank you for your response! I forgot that he was in the San Pedro area because he moved out of his place and was about to lease a new place. As a writer, he has the freedom to live somewhere other than Los Angeles proper. That's understandable.

[spikedluv]

Welcome! Fabulous movie, isn't it? I was hooked from the first moment.

As for your question, I've used Valencia in my fic, but just because I took Shaun at his word that he lived close to Cal Arts.

[amelialourdes.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the welcome! It's such a wonderful movie. I kept on waiting for that movie when everything was going to spiral out of control but the reactions in this film are so different from anything I've seen before. I'm absolutely hooked!

I think that that's the primary reason I asked this question -- fan fic. If ever I write something I want to place them in an area where they may possibly be living. I think Valencia is a good choice. Thanks!

[spikedluv]

You're welcome! And yes, such a wonderful movie! And such fun to pimp out; I've managed to convert a few folk on my f-list, who had to see it after reading my squee. And this has become my HEA fandom, all schmoop, no angst, because I just want to see the boys happy. *g*

[inthekeyofd.livejournal.com]

In the commentary they have a funny discussion about that line and Brad was like, "actually I'm not that close." Just kidding around, I was thinking he lived either in Valencia or in Santa Clarita.

[amelialourdes.livejournal.com]

I can't wait to listen to the commentary! It must be chocked full of goodies. I really can't imagine anyone who's in the entertainment business to be living around Valencia so I think that I associated real life too much with this fictional world. I like the thought of holing them up in Valencia or Santa Clarita ... even though Santa Clarita is kind of conservative. They can tough it out.

[boonesfarmgirl.livejournal.com]

I do not know about LA but I am from Phoenix and we have the same thing here. The "Valley of the Sun" is really 420 square miles and growing every day. So I live in Glendale but if I wanted to convince someone to live with me I would say I live near Tempe (where Arizona State is) even though I am 30 miles away. What is a freeway ride? People commute all that way and more every day. To us it is just not that big of a deal.

Based on this experience I never thought Shaun lived down the street from Cal Arts just that he is a freeway away. Look at how far apart Zach and Gabe lived all those years that never stopped them from seeing each other. All relative, I guess.

Chelle

[amelialourdes.livejournal.com]

I live in Glendale too but Glendale, CA. Hee. I understand what you mean about that kind of residential confusion. It's just easier to say that you're from a more general area than one specific area that people may not be so familiar with.

That's a good point you bring up. San Pedro is kind of the ghetto while it's obvious that Gabe lives in a more prominent part of the city along the coast somewhere. So, it is possible that he's just a commute away from Valencia. Thanks for the response!

[bea-nonymous.livejournal.com]

HELLO THERE FRIEND!

[amelialourdes.livejournal.com]

HI FRIEND! OMG, DIFFERENT FANDOM!