Nineteen years ago, I moved to Los Angeles. I did not know if it would be a temporary move or else. To be honest, not many things in my life tend to be permanent so I did not give it too much thought. I just wanted a change of scenery, and Los Angeles was that big time, compared to Milan, Italy.What most attracted me then was the geography of the place. Quite incredible if you think about the fact that it has it all, desert, ocean and mountains are just all features of its backyard. I did not know many Angelenos and did not care to meet a lot. I was trying to have time by myself and enjoyed to be where not many knew me.
Just one year short of twenty, here I am still, more and more in love with this place. Not many other cities allow you to be in touch with nature and wildlife while you enjoy the best Vietnamese pho one night, a movie premiere of a so-far-unknown but deserving Pakistani director right after, an early a.m. stop at a cool bar Downtown and a pack of coyotes crossing in front of the car on your way home. But the real heart of Los Angeles, I learned, is its people. There is more talent for square foot here than in any other place in America, most likely in the world. Talented people determine the atmosphere of this place more than the ocean breeze and car exhausts (quite a mix to get stoned on, anyhow). In L.A, talent mixes well with generosity and sharing, a rare combination. Apart a few obvious primadonnas, I find Angelenos--even very famous ones-- to be available and approachable, with a sincere desire to know others and their own talents. So the art (and movie, music, fashion, design) scene has a quality on its own, when you're talking independent.
Indie Los Angeles is just the place to be if you want to get stimulated, not overwhelmed. What makes it such is this peculiar "grace" of the talented Angelenos. It must have something to do with the necessity to share the road on cramped freeways. You get to spend all this time bumper to bumper, you learn to distract yourself using your imagination, create and inhabit other worlds yet paying attention not to invade somebody else's space. You cooperate and share, else you might die or get crashed. Quite a lesson.
Now I am working at one of my crazy projects, lining up incredibly talented people for a reportage about L.A. and its amazing residents. Only problem, the photographer assigned to my pitch is coming to town in full Memorial Day Weekend, a holiday not recognized in Italy. I imagined I'd find a bunch of difficulties setting appointments in those days. Angelenos notoriously like to party and get out of town as soon as given a chance. But guess what? As soon as I explained what I have in mind, people gave up their plans to make room for us and come aboard. So instead of barbecuing in their backyard, hiking in the canyons or recovering form the night before hangover, we'll have them all in line, 9 am to 9 pm, and will get it done. Where else any of this would happen? Magic in LA! Who said there was no more magic when Johnson retired?
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