Sofia Coppola is known for making her films’ locations a much a part of the plot as her leading characters. Her new film, Somewhere, is no exception.
The Chateau Marmont, or the ‘castle on the hill’, just off of Sunset Blvd in Hollywood, CA, has always been a favorite hang out of Hollywood’s elite. From Marilyn Monroe to Cameron Diaz, stars have always been able to find privacy and discretion at the Chateau, making it the perfect inspiration, and location, for Somewhere.
The movie focuses on actor Johnny Marco who seemingly has everything- fame and fortune- but he’s miserable, until his young daughter reenters his life.
Coppola recently told CBS news, “I started with this character, this kind of lost actor, and I thought of course he would live at the Chateau Marmont.”
She chose to shoot most of the film on location at the hotel, incorporating the hotel’s storied history into the film.
The location resonated with the movie’s star, Stephen Dorff as well. Dorff lived at the hotel after he made his first movie and spent a lot of time there when he first started to make it in Hollywood. “I had my first photo shoot here with Bruce Weber, I had my 21st birthday party (here),” he told CBS.
Just 20 years ago the hotel was in disrepair but has since been restored with timeless pieces that give guests the feeling nothing has changed since the early days of Hollywood.
Rooms at the Chateau Marmont begin at $370 for a standard bedroom to $3700 for a two bedroom penthouse. Reservations can be made at ChateauMarmont.com.
Somewhere is in theaters now.
