The W Hotel is set to open in Hollywood and with it comes all new excitement in the Hollywood area.  High end new residences atop a new chic hotel in Hollywood.  With a plethora of high end eateries in the area, the recent addition of the Urban Outfitters and other hip shopping plus the upcoming Whole Foods Hollywood in the works the new W Hotel is ready to be accepted by the locals and the tourists.  Designed with the entertainment industry in mind the W is hoping to attract productions and more.  A pre-opening party included a live concert from Depeche Mode which kicked off the grand opening celebrations a bit early but definately got the attention of the media, local businesses and many Angelinos.  With an official opening date set for December 3, 2009 the festivities have only begun.  I can’t wait to see what else is in store.

Today, Creative Environments of Hollywood joins the rest of the world in mourning. The loss of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, is both shocking and deeply saddening. As news of Michael Jackson’s sudden death continues to spread, Creative Environments of Hollywood would like to reflect on our personal history with the King of Pop.

Michael Jackson will forever be a friend of Creative Environments of Hollywood, and sister company, Colony Bancorp of Malibu.  Michael’s connection with us came through his friendship and work with the late Herb Ritts, a world renowned fashion photographer famous for his black and whites. It was in one of our many properties that Ritts operated his studio for several years. There, he photographed Michael on numerous occasions for media publications as well as promotional artwork.

The photos, taken in the 1990’s, were only one of many projects on which Michael Jackson and Herb Ritts collaborated. Herb is celebrated for his creative vision in photographing Michael’s well-known January of 1992 “Rolling Stone” Magazine Cover.  Jackson’s music video for “In the Closet,” featuring supermodel Naomi Campbell, was yet another Hollywood production in which the two were able to combine their creative talent. In addition, Herb photographed Michael’s sister, Janet Jackson, several times, and even directed the music video for Janet’s hit song, “Love Will Never Do (Without You).”

Michael Jackson’s time in our lofts and office spaces will forever be captured and remembered through the art which elegantly reflects and portrays him at the height of his career. His music and achievements throughout the decades have inspired generations. The energy and life with which Michael Jackson entertained will live on in the hearts of millions. He will be greatly missed.  

As the Los Angeles economy rebounds from a rough year and a half of uncertainty we see new hope, new obstacles and yet more uncertainty.  With the collapse of many giant companies and an excess of available retail real estate we are seeing foreign companies that have had success in the recent past taking a chance in the US market.  As these new companies bring their goods to the Los Angeles market we see the potential for new jobs and increased consumer spending.  The entertainment industry appears to be picking the pace up now that the strikes they have faced for the last two years appear to be behind them opening the potential for more jobs and more studio spending which makes up a large portion of the LA economy.  While we are seeing these great improvements we are also dealing with new obstacles such as a water shortage.  With California financially strapped the ability to purchase out of state water is not as easy, we have been forced to reduce consumption and water our lawns on certain days and hours.  There appears to be a lot of change going on in the LA area, but what we are unsure of is what is really changing and if it is for the better or worse.  Unemployment remains higher than in recent history, real estate appears to have leveled out, the state of California can’t balance their budget and the average business man is unsure if they should grow their business or shut it down.  The bottom line is don’t give up.  The economy is turning around, even if it is slower than you may have hoped for.

News was recently released that the Screen Actors Guild has tentatively come to an agreement with the studios.  The last two years the entertainment industry has been in a holding pattern with the Writers Strike and SAG operating without a contract for roughly the last year under the constant threat of a work stoppage.  Well, Friday good new came across the news wires, or so we thought.  SAG and the studios reached a tentative two year deal, but the union president swears to oppose the deal.  The new agreement is not far from what the Writers negotiated over a year ago, something SAG could have taken long ago and kept the industry moving along in this rough economy.  I don’t see how actors could turn this agreement down with the economic climate in Los Angeles today.  Actor’s should be excited about the potential of more production work.  Should everything pass we could see the benefits across the Los Angeles area with camera operators, editors, caterers, location companies, make-up artists and more getting more work the Los Angeles economy could turn off of this one change.  I know it’s a lot to wish for, but who ever said positive thinking was a bad thing?

I just read an article on the NY Times Blog that made me realize how hard hit the entertainment industry has been with the recent economic woes.  Film Locations in the city of Los Angeles are at their lowest rates in over 16 years.  With an entertainer as the governor of California how can we not be supporting an entertainment stimulus package similar to what Canada, Detroit and other cities competing for filming have done.  Their are tax incentives in many cities to promote the use of locations throughout the United States, why does Los Angeles and the great state of California not push something through to keep their prime business in their own district boundaries.  Michigan would fight if the auto industry threatened to leave Detroit, North Carolina has its claim on the tobacco industry and Los Angeles has the glitz and glamour of Hollywood and the television and film industries.  As a long time resident of Los Angeles as well as a part of a business that relies on film companies working on their productions in Los Angeles and production companies renting office space it is a shame to see that we have allowed other cities to take our business away without a fight.