Carmel Magazine

Carmel Magazine, Spring 2018

Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/977271

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 101 of 219

A s the second season of HBO's "Big Little Lies" approaches, Doug Lumsden of Monterey Movie Tours has noticed an uptick in inquiries about the series. The interest reminds him of decades past, when stars like Troy Donahue, Ryan O'Neal and Joey Heatherton reg- ularly made movies in Monterey County. "It has just been fantastic. We've got that magic back," says Lumsden, who grew up in the area and remembers sneaking behind the scenes as crews filmed flicks like "The Big Bounce" and "My Blood Runs Cold." That fascination with the big screen stayed with him, and Lumsden eventually saw an opportunity to explore the region's movie connec- tions. A few years after launching his original Monterey Peninsula scenic tour in 1999, he was commissioned to create a one-time excursion commemorating the 30th anniversary of "Play Misty for Me." "During that anniversary tour, I saw just how excited people got about the movie connections," he remembers. The reaction inspired Lumsden to retool his tour vehicle, acquire the licensing for various film clips, and introduce the Monterey Movie Tour. Nearly 15 years later, the outing continues to welcome guests on a three-hour excursion that showcases several peninsula cities and makes three stops along the 17-Mile Drive in Pebble Beach. As they learn about the area's history, culture and landscapes, guests also watch scenes from some of the more than 200 movies filmed in Monterey County. Like the region it spotlights, the movie tour is constantly evolving. When high-profiles film projects take place locally, for example, the Monterey County Film Commission often shares updates so that Lumsden can incorporate information into his tour. "Doug's interest in local movie history makes him a wonderful part- ner for us. He does a great job of showcasing the area, and he's just an engaging, enthusiastic promotor of all things filmed in Monterey County," says film commissioner Karen Nordstrand. Lumsden finds joy in sharing the region's cinematic stories with guests. "Movies elicit such a response. I get this all the time—someone will come up to me and say, 'You're taking me back to this moment in time when I watched this movie and I loved it, and now I finally got to see where that scene was filmed...' You're just bringing back those memo- ries," he says. "It's so wonderful, and so fulfilling, to have a job that makes people happy." For Monterey Movie Tours reservations, visit montereymovietours.com. Monterey Movie Tour Showcases Filmmaking Locations flock to sites that appeared in the show. "It's hard to track the exact value of the spin- off tourism, but if you look on social media, you'll see people posting selfies at Fisherman's Wharf and on the beach and in front of Monterey City Hall," Nordstrand says. In addition to providing free planning servic- es to location scouts, Nordstrand oversees educational programs, movie screenings and events that link area residents with the film industry. During the commission's Focus on Film and Reel Jobs seminars, screenwriters, produc- ers, animators and other film professionals share perspective on the business. Hollywood in Your Backyard gatherings offer additional in- person networking opportunities. The organiza- tion's annual scholarships support film students and beginning filmmakers who live or study in Monterey County. The MCFC also created the Monterey County Movie Map, now in its second edition, 100 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 8 Photo: Alamay Clint Eastwood and Donna Mills starred in the 1971 thriller "Play Misty for Me," which was set in Carmel. Eastwood also directed the movie.

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of Carmel Magazine - Carmel Magazine, Spring 2018