
“Sup Dawg? This
time,we gonna drop it when it’s hot!” Oh, wow, how do i segue from mid-'90's rap in my ear buds to further back to the Summer of 1972. No, NOT “Summer
of ’42.” That is an altogether different nostalgic coming-of-age movie that’s
both touching and humorous. This entry on our obsessive fan-based website/blog,
“Kip’s American Graffiti Blog” (FYI - sometimes referred to as “KIP PULLMAN’S AMERICAN GRAFFITI BLOG”) we present
to you (because you never asked) the entire shooting schedule of, yes, you
guessed it, AMERICAN GRAFFITI. For those
of you who aren’t in film school, or living in your mom’s basement watching and
studying movies all day (and night) I’m going to give you a generic definition of the term
Shooting Schedule. A movie shooting
schedule is essentially a detailed plan that presents all the necessary
information about all the details involved in filmmaking. The schedule is
generally prepared by an assistant director who reports to the production manager who manages the Production Schedule.
It usually has details about actors, locations, technicians, animals,
special effects, vehicles, etc., related to the production of the film. It represents a timeline which states where
and when production resources are used.
The schedule can be changed as needed in pre-production stage. However, once established, everyone involved
has to honor it. No change is effected in the production of the film without consideration
to the shooting schedule. An established
format of shooting schedule is followed and given to producers and everyone in the
film. The information presented here is from
the daily progress reports as printed in the coffee-table-sized book, “The Cinema
of George Lucas” by Marcus Hearn. The dialogue
excerpts are from the second draft of the script dated May 10, 1972 with the original
title: “ROCK RADIO…IS…AMERICAN GRAFFITI…SAGA OF THE LOW-RIDERS” written by George
Lucas, Gloria Katz, & Willard Huyck. So, I'm setting down the Gin & Juice and pickin' up a bottle of Old Harper & Coke just to get myself into the spirit of things, ya understand?!
_________________________________________________
 |
Jana Bellan as carhop waitress, Budda standing with arms crosed her chest probably an attempt to stay warm (San Francisco Summer can be cold in the late eve. She , Lucas and staff prepare to shoot take 3 of 4 where Budda turns down Toad for a date |
SHOOT Day 1: Monday, June 26, 1972
CALL 7:00pm WRAP:
5:30am
LOCATION: 4th
St (Between C st. and Lincoln) San Rafael, CA
Scenes: EXT
STREET & COUPE (John and Carol) Scene Sc. 22 (John “I don’t like that surfing crap.
Rock –n-roll’s been going downhill since Buddy Holly died”)
Pages 2-6/8
Setups: 10
SHOOT DAY 2:
Tuesday, June 27, 1972
CALL 8:00pm WRAP:
6:40am
LOCATION: 4th
St (Between C. and Lincoln) San Rafael, CA
Scenes: EXT
STREET & COUPE (John & Carol).
[John: “How old are you?” Carol: “Old enough. How old are you?” “Too old for you,”]
Pages: 4-7/8
Set Ups: 19
NOTES: Unable to clear
or control street as planned due to City Council Order to San Rafael Police
Department
 |
American Graffiti radio spots |
SHOOT DAY 3:
Thursday, June 28, 1972
CALL 7:30 WRAP:
5:40am
LOCATION:
Oakhill Park & Petaluma Blvd., Petaluma Blvd., Petaluma, CA.
Scenes: EXT STREET (Coupe/Water Balloon/Park)
Pages: 3:
-2/8
Setups: 29
Cars: ’32 Coupe,
Studebaker, 24 atmosphere cars
SHOOT Day 4:
Thursday, June 29, 1972
CALL 7:30pm WRAP:
5:30am
LOCATION:
Petaluma Streets, Petaluma
Scenes: EXT
STREET & COUPE (Coupe & Falfa).
Scene 54 [Carol] Carol: "He’s fast” John: “Yeah, 'but he’s stupid.”
Pages 2-7/8
Setups: 28
 |
Mackenzie Phillips and Pau Le Mat rehearse their lines as Lucas (red jacket in window) watches. |
SHOOT Day 5:
Friday, June 30, 1972
CALL 6:30pm WRAP:
5:40am
LOCATION:
Rusty’s Auto Wrecking, 21481 8th St East, Sonoma, CA; Scene
30 (song indicated [“It’s just a matter of time”]
Pages 3-7/8
Setups: 23
Livestock: 1 dog
 |
Paul Le Mat "John Milner" |
SHOOT Day 6:
Monday July 3, 1972
CALL 7:30pm WRAP:
5:40am
LOCATION: 4th
Street San Rafael
Scenes: EXT STREET
(Coupe/BA/Bozo, etc) Scene 24 [Traveling-Terry-Mercury”: song indicated: "Almost
Grown”] Sc 27 [Driver-Mercury: “Toad is that you in that beautiful car?" Terry nods casually. “Jeeze what a waste of
machinery.”]
Pages: 4
Setups: 16
HOLIDAY: July
4, 1972
No work
 |
JFK |
 |
"Oh, yes, I'm the great pretender, wha, wha..." (Photo: Dennis Stock/Magnum Photos) |
SHOOT DAY 7: Wednesday July 5
CALL: 7:30pm WRAP:
5:30am
Location: Wilson’s Appliance Store, 145 Kentucky Ave.,
Petaluma; Chamber of Commerce Parking Lot, Petaluma Blvd.
Scenes: EXT TV APPLIANCE STORE. Sc. 36 [Curt is
shanghaied by the Pharaohs]
EXT. PARKING LOT
EXT. STREET
PAGES: 6
SETUPS: 13
 |
Bo Hopkins as "Joe the Pharaoh" |
SHOOT DAY 8 Thursday, July 6
CALL: 7:30pm WRAP: 5:45am
LOCATION: Richmond
Streets, Richmond CA; Miniature Golf Course/Office, Pinole
SCENES: EXT STREET
(Hoods/Curt/Merc)
EXT. Miniature Golf Course
INT. HOLE-IN-ONE OFFICE Sc. 48 [Joe: “We’re outta
gas.” Curt: “They don’t sell gas here”
“We’re outta money too.”]
PAGES: 6-1/8
SETUPS: 16
SHOOT DAY 9:
Friday, July 7
CALL: 7:30pm WRAP:
5:15
LOCATION: Chamber of Commerce
Lot, Petaluma Blvd. North
SCENES: EXT
PARKING LOT, Sc. 62 [the patrol car loses its trans-axle and two rear wheels.]
PAGES:
1-7/8
SETUPS: 26
SHOOT DAY 10:
Monday, July 10
CALL: 7:00pm WRAP: 6:00am
LOCATION: Mels
Drive-in,140 S. Van Ness near Mission San Francisco, CA
SCENES: EXT.
DRIVE IN, Sc 2 [“A large neon sign buzzes in the foreground, “Burger City,”
while in the background, Rock Around the Clock” blares from the radio of a
beautiful decked and channeled candy-apple red, tuck and rolled ’53 Merc that
glides into the Drive-in.”]
PAGES: 4
SETUPS: 15
CARS: Citroen
SR EQUIPMENT: (1)
Jeep Crane #4
SHOOTING
DAY
11: Tuesday, July 11
CALL: 7:00pm WRAP: 6:00am
LOCATION: Mels
Drive-in, San Francisco
Scenes EXT
DRIVE-IN, Sc. 42 [John orders Carol a Coke; Song designated: In the Still of the Night.”]
PAGES 8
SETUPS: 23
 |
Donna Wehr as Carhop |
SHOOT
DAY:
12 Wednesday, July 12
CALL:
6:30pm WRAP: 5:30am
LOCATION:
Mel’s Drive-in, San Francisco
Scenes
EXT.
DRIVE-IN, Sc72
Pages
5-2/8
SETUPS: 24
 |
Filming Ron Howard in an interior scene at Mels Drive-in. Lucas (under counter), Haskel Wexler (behind camera) |
SHOOT
DAY 13: Thursday, July 13
CALL:
7:30pm WRAP: 5:30am
LOCATION: C
of C. Lot, Petaluma. Petaluma Streets
SCENES: EXT.
STREET
EXT. CAR LOT & STREET
EXT. CAR LOT/COPS (retake)
PAGES:
1-2/8
SETUPS: 20
SHOOT
DAY 14: Friday July 14
CALL: 6:30pm WRAP: 5:26am
LOCATION: Marin Memorial Cemetery, Novato
SCENES: EXT CANAL. [Laurie gets angry with Steve;
The Merc is stolen; talk of the “Goat Killer”
PAGES:
4-2/8
SETUPS: 8
SHOOT
DAY 15: Monday, July 17
CALL: 6:00am WRAP:
7:49
LOCATION:
Mel’s Drive-in, San Francisco
Scenes
INT.
DRIVE-IN
EXT. DRIVE-IN, Sc [Curt speaking on the phone to the blonde in the white T-bird: “It’s important to me..You’re the most perfect beautiful creature I’ve ever seen and I don’t know anything about. Could we meet someplace?” Voice:
“I cruise 3rd Street every Night. Maybe I’ll
see you again tonight.” “I don’t think So…I’m leaving in a couple of hours.”
PAGES: BAL
OF SEQ
SETUPS: 30
Notes: (1) Éclair camera fell off
tripod-badly damaged
SHOOT
DAY 16: Tuesday July 18
CALL:
6:30pm WRAP: 5:26am
LOCATION: Marin, Memorial Cemetery, Novato;& Petaluma Streets, Petaluma
SCENES EXT. STREET (Terry/Falfa)
SCENES EXT. STREET (Laurie/Falfa)
PAGES: 2-4/8
SETUPS: 12
NOTES: Light rain from 1:30am to wrap prevented completion of scheduled scenes, streets too
wet.
 |
Ed Greenberg "Kip Pullman." |
SHOOT
DAY: 17 Wednesday July 19
CALL:
7:30 WRAP: 5:37
LOCATION:
Petaluma Streets (Petaluma Blvd.,Kentucky, Washington, Western)
SCENES EXT. STREET (Curt/V.W./T-Bird/Kip) Sc. 29
[Shouting from on e car to another, Kip: “Henderson, Long time no see.
What’cha been doing?” Curt: “Not much, just wanted to let you know that Bobbie here is hopelessly in love with you and trembles at the sight of your rippling biceps…” Bobbie turns in the V.W. and “starts flailing at Curt with her purse.”]
PAGES:
1-2/8
SETUPS: 20
 |
Debbie Celiz, Lynne Marie Stewart & Richard Dreyfuss |
SHOOT
DAY 18: Thursday July
20
CALL:
7:30 WRAP: 5:45
LOCATION
Rowena
Lane (KTOB transmitter), Petaluma, Lazy-Me Used Cars, 320 Petaluma Blvd.; North Petaluma streets.
SCENES
EXT.
RADIO STATION, Sc. 70 [Manager: “The Wolfman is everywhere…Listen-no offense to your hometown here, but this ain’t exactly the hub of the universe…Hell, here I sit while there’s a whole big beautiful world out there.”]
EXT CAR LOT
EXT. STREETS
PAGES: 2
SETUPS: 18
 |
KTOB radio, tower site located on Rovina Ln. was Petaluma's local community radio station for many decades. The exterior scenes of Curt approaching Wolfman's radio station were filmed here. circa 1961 |
Friday
7-21-72 - Company DID NOT WORK
SHOOT
DAY
19:
Saturday, July 22
CALL: 12:00pm WRAP:
8:45pm
LOCATION: Marin Memorial, Cemetery, Novato
SCENES
EXT.
CANAL & CANAL ROAD, FILTER DAY FOR-NIGHT
PAGES: 4-1/8
SETUPS: 11
 |
Directing is all in the hands (Photo: Dennis Stock/Magnum Photos) |
SHOOT
DAY
20: Sunday, July 23
CALL:
7:30 WRAP: 5:40
LOCATION: 4th St., San
Rafael
SCENES
EXT.
STREETS-MONTAGE SEQUENCES
PAGES: 2
SETUPS: 27
Note: 4 cameras used…one Jeep crane
 |
Candy Clark "Debbie" rests between takes on the hood of a car. (Photo: Dennis Stock/Magnum Photos) |
SHOOT
DAY
21: Monday, July 24
CALL:
8:30pm WRAP: 6:30am
LOCATION: Sanders Used Cars (B St. and Petaluma Blvd North); EZ Pickins Gas Station,
U.S. 101 (South of Petaluma); Frates Road, Sonoma County
SCENES
EXT.
CAR LOT
EXT STREETS
EXT. GAS STA., Sc 66 [Attendant (to John): “Why do they even try…Hell; you’ve been number one longer than I can remember…”]
EXT PARADISE ROAD, Sc 75 [“Both cars roar off the starting line, tires smoking and screaming.”]
PAGES: 2-4/8
SETUPS: 23
 |
Climactic drag race on Frates Road "Paradise Road" in Petaluma, CA |
SHOOT
DAY
22: Tuesday, July 25
CALL: 8:30pm WRAP: 6:40pm
LOCATION:
Petaluma
High School; Pet Streets; Frates Road.
SCENES
EXT. GYM PARKING LOT, sc 21 [Wendy: “Same old Curt. All the
time we were going together you never knew what you were
doing.”]
EXT STREETS
EXT. PARADISE ROAD (cont’d)
PAGES: 2-2/8
SETUPS: 22
NOTE:
Blew
reverse gear in ’32 Coupe
 |
100 block Petaluma Blvd. North (circa 1986) Sonoma Co. Library |
SHOOT
DAY 23: Wednesday, July
26
CALL: 8:30pm WRAP: 6:30am
LOCATION: Rear of Beasley’s Rest. (Petaluma Blvd. N. &Washington); Pet. Streets, Frates Road
SCENES
EXT.
BAR PARKING LOT
EXT. STREETS (Curt/T-Bird)
EXT. PARADISE ROAD
(cont’d)
PAGES: 4
SETUPS: 26
NOTE: 1st attempt to roll car
failed…approx. 6:10 Am. Continued to shoot until wrap. Car unable to repeat run due to broken tie rod.
 |
Beasley's Eats' (circa 1975) rear parking area located on Water Street, Petaluma. In a picture that resembles a screen shot from the film, GOODFELLAS, the general location to the parking lot, left of the restuarant is the parking location where Toad (Charles Martin Smith) got sick, beat up and rescued by John Milner (Paul Le Mat). |
SHOOT
DAY 24: Thursday, July 27
CALL: 8:30pm WRAP: 6:40am
LOCATION:
EZ
Pickins, U.S. 101; Public Parking
Lot, Petaluma Blvd.; Streets and sidewalk, Petaluma
Frates Road
SCENES
EXT.
GAS STATION (pick-up c.u. “John”)
EXT ACME LOT
EXT. STREET and SIDEWALK
EXT. PARADISE ROAD (cont’d)
PAGES: 3-3/8
SETUPS: 25
NOTE: 2nd attempt at car stunt failed…Bent right tie rod.
SHOOT
DAY
25: Monday, July 31
CALL: 8:00am WRAP: 8:00pm
LOCATION:
Petaluma High School, Marin Memorial Cemetery, Novato
SCENES
INT.
HALL
INT. BOY’S LAVATORY
INT. GIRL’S LAVATORY
EXT. CANAL AND CANAL ROAD (retake)
PAGES: 1-5/8
SETUPS: 13
NOTE: Retakes needed at Canal location due to
underexposed film.
 |
Candy Clark & Charles Martin Smith at the canal |
SHOOT
DAY
26:
Tuesday, Aug 1
CALL: 10:00am WRAP:
10:10pm
LOCATION:
Mt.
Tamalpias High School- Boy’s Gym, Mill Valley
SCENES
INT.
GYM (Sock Hop), Sc. 14 [designated song: “At the Hop”]
PAGES: 6-1/8
SETUPS: 38
NOTE: 4 cameras used
SHOOT
DAY
27:
Wednesday, August 2
CALL: 8:30pm WRAP:
6:15am
LOCATION:
Petaluma
High School; Pet. Streets
SCENES
EXT.
GYM PARKING LOT
EXT. STREETS
EXT. DRIVE-IN (retake)
PAGES: 2-7/8
SETUPS:
18
SHOOT
DAY 28: Thursday, August
3
CALL: 8:30pm WRAP: 6:40am
LOCATION:
KRE
Radio, Berkeley; Buchanan Field, Concord
SCENES
EXT./INT.
RADIO STATION
EXT: AIRPORT
INT. AIRPLANE
PAGES: 4-2/8
SETUPS: 16
NOTE: Airplane unable to taxi off due to flat left tires. Did
not get shot of plane airborne.
SHOOT
DAY 29: Friday, August 4
CALL:
8:30pm WRAP: 9:30am
LOCATION:
884
Bodega Ave., Petaluma; Frates Road;. Buchanan Field (2nd unit)
SCENES
EXT.
/INT LIQUOR STORE, Sc. 44 [Toad tries to buy the elusive bottle of “Old Harper. Designated song:Teenager in
Love”]
EXT. PARADISE ROAD (retake)
EXT. AIRPORT/AIRPLANE, SC. 79 [“Curt listens to the radio as the plane takes off. As it climbs and banks out over the valley, the music fades and the station drifts between static and other stations an then it’s gone.
Curt turns off the radio and looks out the window. As
the plane banks, the wing tips down and through the window Curt sees the yellow Thunderbird crossing beneath on the small grey ribbon of highway.
Curt leans up, watching it-the plane shadow ripples over the car and then it’s gone”]
PAGES: 4-1/8
SETUPS: 26
NOTES: Low
overcast prevented shooting at Frates Road location until 8:40am. Stunt again failed to work. “A” arm and tie rods bent. (1) cameraman & (1) asst. cameraman to airport to film plane take off after company wrap at Frates Road location.
Wrap 1st unit shooting “AMERICAN GRAFFITI”
2nd
UNIT SHOOTING: Monday, 8/7/72
CALL:
4:00am WRAP: 10:42am
LOCATION:
Frates Road
SCENES: EXT PARADISE ROAD (retake
stunt and explosion only)
EXT. ROAD/T-BIRD (aerial shot)
NOTE: Used Cessna
as camera plane f/aerial shot.
(4) cameras used on stunt.
______________________________________________
NOTES:
 |
Actress, Sylvia Koscina. 1962 |