Grand Theft Parsons : The Film's Locations


Grand Theft Parsons called for authenticity on a shoe string budget. The first two weeks were filmed at The Four Aces in Palmdale, an all-in-one location manager's dream where the likes of T3 and Identity were shot. The location doubled for the motel, diner, gas station, melon lady stand and most of the driving shots.

Thanks to the California First Scheme set up by the State Governor allowing LA based productions to film in designated state properties at no charge, the team were given permission to film at LAX for one week in the original hangar where Parsons' body was kept. The crew then moved to Pomona in East LA for the final 10 days of the shoot, again filming in state property for free. The scenes were shot at Lanterman's Developmental Center, a mental health institution based on a 350 acre campus where the crew re-built the interiors of three of the characters' houses and where they also burnt the body. The only downside was the patients who occasionally wandered into shot.

The final three days of shooting were in Joshua Tree National Park, enabling the crew to get shots of Cap Rock where Gram's body was actually burnt. The crew stayed in the Joshua Tree Inn and two of the crew - the director of photography, Bob Hayes and first assistant cameraman - stayed in Room 8 where Gram died. Of course they swore they saw his shadow moving across the room in the middle of the night.