Culver Studios Won't Become Condos, Says New Owner

The studio, located in downtown Culver City with its highly recognizable front lawn and columned mansion (used for the Atlanta fire scenes in Gone With the Wind), was originally created by silent movie pioneer Thomas Ince in 1918. Past owners of the 14-acre studio property have included Cecil B. DeMille, Joseph Kennedy, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, David O. Selznick and Howard Hughes.

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The Loneliest Place in America? L.A.’s Bus Stops at Midnight

The challenge was getting enough stability for a high-quality image without alerting riders to his presence. The low-light required a longer exposure than usual, and so his camera had to remain completely still to avoid blurring the image. When even a suction cup rig didn’t do the trick, Brown settled on a length of pipe insulation with a slit down one side. The insulation fit over a rolled-down car window, and with a friend at the wheel, Brown would call a halt when a promising scene presented itself. He’s then quickly rest the lens on the insulation to stabilize the camera.

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Dalai Lama Faces Tough Questions at Hollywood Gathering

In traditional saffron robes and matching visor -- colors that corresponded nicely with the nearby University of Southern California's -- the Dalai Lama offered ruminations on a number of serious topics, including his thoughts on materialism, faith, same-sex relationships and a woman's place in the Buddhist clergy. On the latter point, he stressed that Buddhism has a long tradition of female monks, and saw no reason why one couldn't eventually take his place.

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