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Arts & Entertainment

Half Moon Bay On Film: The Coastside in the Arts

See something strangely familiar in that movie you just rented? Feel like you've been there before? Maybe you have. Half Moon Bay Patch gives you the scoop in the first of a three-part series about film, books and music.

What could be a better backdrop for a feature film than the quaint towns, sparkling sea and dramatic scenic roads of the Coastside?  Nothing, according to many directors who have selected Half Moon Bay and the Coast as a place to film throughout the decades. 

“It is amazing the number of films that have been shot here,” says San Mateo County Film Commissioner Brena Bailey.

In her eleventh year as Film Commissioner, Bailey has the ability to assist with everything from start to finish when it comes to filming Coastside.  The San Mateo County Film Commission, a department within the San Mateo County Convention & Visitors Bureau, is currently busy with several ongoing projects, including the beginning stages of a about the life of surfer Jay Moriarty (who, by the age of 15, was known to be more than adept at surfing the break just past Pillar Point Harbor). 

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Bailey will help scout filming locations, work with the production offices, and even locate crew and talent for the film, if needed. She begins projects by providing potential moviemakers with ideas, including digital still images of areas to shoot that match their needs.  “This is one of our most useful services for filmmakers,” says Bailey of the images.

Lighthouses, such as Pigeon Point, and coastal roads on high cliffs, as well as the beach, are popular sites with directors.  

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Additional support from the Film Commission includes securing permits, referrals, references and contracts for services.

“Each jurisdiction is different with their timelines and guidelines,” explains Bailey.

Charise Hale McHugh of the says the city requires a permit from City Hall if filming takes place within five square miles of Half Moon Bay.

Odd requests for Bailey could be rounding up Port-A-Potties, arranging for dry cleaning, or finding restaurants for crew to dine in.

“There is a lot of economic impact from film,” says Bailey in regards to the increased patronage of local goods and services created by productions shot on location.

So, what are some film titles boasting location credits here? 

Dating back to 1971, Harold and Maude, which has become a cult classic, was filmed in Northern California along the Coastside cliffs, from the daisy field and farmhouses of Highway 92 West to a famous scene of Harold swerving, which occurs at Pescadero Road at Highway 1.

Big stars Richard Gere, Kim Basinger, and Uma Thurman shot a scene for 1992’s Final Analysis at Pigeon Point Lighthouse.

Robin William’s Bicentennial Man, a 1999 Oscar-nominated story where Williams’ android character develops human emotion, shows a house at Jones Beach and scenes at Henry Cowell Ranch Beach. 

2001’s Bandits shot scenes at Highway 92 and 35. The film starred Cate Blanchett and Bruce Willis.

In 2003, House of Sand and Fog, starring Ben Kingsley and Jennifer Connelly, was shot in Half Moon Bay, as well as along . On a completely different note, local musician Neil Young spent time in Half Moon Bay shooting his creation Greendale, depicting generations of the Green family, dwellers of a small coastal town.  American Wedding, the third installment in the American Pie series (starring Jason Biggs), featured a movie wedding at the Half Moon Bay.

Fitzgerald Marine Reserve in Moss Beach played host to the crew of 2005’s Memoirs of a Geisha, directed by Rob Marshall and starring Ziyi Zhang and Li Gong.

Look no farther than the edges of the earth for our backyard to be an inspiration to documentary filmmakers, including sports columnist Bruce Jenkins’ Inside Mavericks: Portrait of a Monster Wave and Riding Giants from filmmaker Stacy Peralta. Local photographer Larry Shoenberger narrates his film, California Coastal Sunset Light Shows, with music by jazz pianist Terry Disley.

In addition to films, McHugh says that lots of commercials are shot in the area as well. Music videos and stills for commercials are also popular.

Want to know more about filming in Half Moon Bay and the Coast? The California Film Commission and the Association of Film Commissioners International are also good resources to get more information on film productions in the area. The Coastside Film Society is a 10-year old nonprofit headquartered in the Half Moon Bay that promotes the film arts in the Bay area. The Film Society has screened over 100 films during monthly film screenings - many produced by local filmmakers.

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