A Bit of Advice for Those Who Like to Find Movie Locations
Okay, so because I'm providing leads to famous places, I feel it necessary to stress the following points:
Don't bother people who live and work in famous buildings.
I do believe that if people don't want strangers eyeballing their houses or buildings, they shouldn't have allowed filming in the first place, or have moved into easily recognizable structures. It's common sense that people like to visit famous sites.
However, and I am adamant in this statement, that does not give any of us the right to annoy the residents or violate their rights to privacy.
Stay off the lawn. Don't snoop. Unless it's a public facility, stay out. And for goodness sake, people, don't peek into windows. Interiors are very rarely shot on location; what you see on TV or in a movie as the inside of a house or building is almost always shot on a soundstage. The idiots who think TV shows are shot inside real houses are the kinds of people who forced the owners of the Brady Bunch house to erect that disappointing fence.
Don't trespass. Stay off private property.
My advice is to take a picture from a respectable distance, then scoot. And if what you want to take a picture of is inaccessible...well, tough noogies. Don't squeeze through fences. Don't climb over walls. Don't open gates, even if they aren't locked. If it's at all apparent they want you out, then stay that way.
"What harm could it do?" Well, if you're asking the question, you don't know the answer. Don't find out. Consequences aren't always obvious.
Be courteous, respectful and quiet.
You might think the polite thing to do would be to knock on the door and ask the residents if it would be all right to take a picture, but odds are they would probably prefer you not disturb them at all, let alone come onto their front porch. In the event that they happen to be outside, though, you should probably ask politely and then respect their wishes. If they say no, they mean no. If they say yes, however, keep in mind that they probably would rather not be included in your snapshot.
And don't be a jerk. Don't reenact scenes on the lawn or in the street. Remember that there are neighbors around; don't get them angry at the owners of the famous site.
Do not take a piece of anything as a memento.
I wish this were obvious. Yet, too many people want to take a rock or steal a sign or snatch a brick. Don't erode the site we all remember. And regardless that it's illegal, it's just uncool.
"Oh, it's just one rock." Hey, turdbrain, stop being dense. I'd like to see that rock right where it's supposed to be.
Incidentally, don't leave anything, either. No one cares about your little mark but you.
Finally...
Seeking out movie locations can be fun, but use common sense when you do it and don't piss anybody off. I and the visitors to the The Big Waste of Space don't want to suffer in your wake.
