For those of you follow my Instagram (@craigrobertyoung) you have probably noticed a slew of recent activity mainly comprising of spectacular views or funny places I’ve come across on my travels.
I’m currently traveling America working on a documentary with Jeff Goldblum, yes that JG the actor and star of blockbusters including Independence Day, Jurassic Park and The Fly. He is also a near-constant presence in Wes Anderson’s movies. The project is going to be an amazing, wonderful show, called “The World According To Jeff Goldblum, and will Air on Disney + in the fall.
Even though making this documentary is a hard task, we are most certainly having a lot of fun along the way.
Apart from shooting here, in our own backyard, we have visited Cleveland, Portland, Vegas, Baltimore, San Diego…
Do you want know the best thing to do in Burlington, Vermont? Go see the Ben & Jerry’s factory where they have a graveyard dedicated to all the dead flavors they retire. You also get to see how the factory operates and sample their delicious new flavors.
A little closer to home is Lone Pine, up there on Highway 395, about three hours north of Hollywood and on the way to Mammoth. I’d never been there before and it was quite breathtaking. It’s a quaint town of only 2000 inhabitants and close to Death Valley and has a real old Western feel…it was a backdrop for a lot of classic westerns and taking in the views, O can see why. Many classic film stars have shot in the town, including Cary Grant, Doris Day, Randolph Scott, James Stewart, Spencer Tracey, Steve McQueen and Gregory Peck.
The most important of the bunch was the classic ‘High Sierra” starring Humphrey Bogart and Ida Lupino, which was made in 1941. I learned all about this at the museum of western film history on the Main Street there. Apart from the wonderful Sierras, the town is a gateway to Mount Whitney and Cerro Gordo (the ghost town) which is also definitely worth visiting. It’s an old silver mine with a freaky unique hotel, the elevation is close to 12,000ft and the view from up there is totally worth the hour-long drive. And while you’re there, check out Jake’s Saloon, a real Western throwbac, complete with double-swing doors, two pool tables and a table tennis table at the back. It’s also the only place with a full liquor license in the town.
As for accommodation, I recommend the Best Western on Main Street, not super fancy but a perfect place to rest your weary bones.
Next week I’m off to the yee-haw land of Austin and Dallas in Texas, and from there on to San Francisco.
Can’t wait to taste the good food, drink in the culture and….oh yeah…work!
Till next time stay dry!
Craig Young
