California's Movie Magic

On this episode of the California Now Podcast, host Soterios Johnson explores the depth and breadth of California's cinema-centric offerings with three guests representing distinct aspects of the industry. First, Johnson connects with Ana Santiago, an assistant curator at the brand-new Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, for a preview of what's in store for visitors to the long-awaited museum. Santiago says visitors can see famous film artifacts up close, like the ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz and the famous Rosebud from Citizen Kane. They can even watch an old movie shot on rare nitrate film in a state-of-the-art theater. Next, Johnson talks to California Film Commissioner Colleen Bell, who offers insight into how the state became the center of the movie-verse for both filmmakers and cinephiles. (Hint: California’s fabulous weather and longstanding reputation as a creative and innovative hotspot play a big role.) Finally, Johnson chats with TMZ Bus Tour guide Melanie Miller about some of the fun to be had tooling around town looking for A-listers and checking out celebrity hangouts. The two-hour tour covers highlights in Hollywood, West Hollywood, and Beverly Hills—and Miller shares a few great stories featuring popular celebs.