![]() ![]() In 1986, Capra came on board as president of EUE Screen Gems. After shooting the entire film at an antebellum home south of here, De Laurentiis built a studio complex near the town’s airport. He then served as president of Avco Embassy Pictures for two years before going to work for Dino De Laurentiis, who in 1983 produced “Firestarter” starring Drew Barrymore. After his discharge, he worked in Los Angeles as a production assistant, then as second assistant director for several popular TV series, including “Gunsmoke,” “The Rifleman” and “Hazel.” (the parent company of Hughes Aircraft), then teaching combat motion picture photography in the U.S. My father always felt like he was at the top of his creative game with this one.”Ĭapra followed his father into the film world, crafting documentaries for Hughes Tool Co. “People would watch it and write the stations and say, ‘Oh, we want to see that movie again.’ ”Ĭapra Jr., who finally saw the film when he was in college, is now an aficionado of all things “Wonderful.” “It’s a sad picture in many ways. “You could hardly switch a channel without seeing it,” Capra says. ![]() (The rights are now owned by Republic Entertainment Inc., which made an exclusive deal with NBC to show the movie during the holidays.) The small screen was flooded with showings, a blessing in disguise for a movie many Americans had never even heard of. The film found its audience when its copyright lapsed in 1973 and the television networks suddenly had free and unlimited access. Today, though, the perennial holiday favorite starring Stewart as the awkward George Bailey and Donna Reed as his smitten wife is regarded as one of the most beloved American films. and Stewart after their military stints in World War II, was not a success at the box office despite good reviews and five Academy Award nominations. The movie, which marked a return to filmmaking for both Capra Sr. did not see “It’s a Wonderful Life” at the theater that first year. “He was a great friend of my dad’s they remained friends throughout my father’s life.” (Frank Capra Sr. James Stewart, one of young Capra’s favorites in a household guest list of stars like Clark Gable, Jean Harlow and Gary Cooper, showed the young boy around, pointing out the Bailey Building & Loan, the Bedford Bank and other landmarks. That was one of the first times I realized what my dad was doing.” “The whole town had all this fake snow,” Capra recalls. His mother, Lucille, tried hard to shield her children from the Hollywood glamour and glitz, so it came as a surprise when one hot July day his dad took him to see the fictitious town of Bedford Falls. There are so many more things I will miss about LA and my LA family.Capra was 12 when “Wonderful Life” made its debut. Brittany, thank you so much for bringing me into your dance world! Lindy Groove and Tuesday nights at Joe’s. ![]() Jamie, Vickie, John, Jessica, Michele, and everyone else I called in a panic whenever Percy did something I didn’t understand – thank you for everything. My Percival adventures and the support I received from all of you in my dog education.If you haven’t seen it yet, for the love of dog, go! Disneyland! Disneyland! Disneyland! I’ll never get tired of trips to Disneyland with friends and family.I have the deepest respect for the incredibly fantastic people I worked with and count myself very lucky for knowing all of you. How I loved cooking with and for my friends! Good food, good wine, great conversation! I will miss this. Thank you, Michele, for bringing Jessica and Tina into my life. Michele’s amazing ability to bring people together.That was, without a doubt, one of my favorite Los Angeles days – I grin whenever I think of it. “It’s a Wonderful Life” at the Million Dollar Theater with Michele, Courts, and Ludlow followed by Bratwurst at the Wurst Kuche (or “worst cooch”, as Courts pronounces it).Randomness with Jamie Lightning Pants.Below are just a few of the people and experiences that made my time in this city amazing. I’m ecstatic about the new life waiting for me in Seattle, but I’m also sad to leave the life I’ve built in LA. Due to medical need and a very lucky alignment of circumstances, I am moving immediately. ![]() For a variety of reasons – some legitimate, some merely grounded in fear – I failed to move last year. Over the past couple years, most of you have heard me whine incessantly about my desire to move to Seattle. ![]()
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