The wake up call has come, California Dreamers! Make a visit to the California Film Commission’s website www.film.ca.gov and click on the "Search Locations" tab to be rewarded with the new and improved CinemaScout! CinemaScout utilizes state-of-the-art technology to streamline the location hunting process and provide excellent, detailed results for each found location. The revised site is comprehensive and easy to use, allowing a visitor to enter multiple location specifications simultaneously. These include: Category, Subcategory, and Building Materials. One can also provide an exact location name and i.d. #, as well a region/county/city or town breakdown if such information is available (it is not necessary to acquire a result, however.) Or, if you prefer, click on specific region on the map of California situated on the right-hand side of the page and the region will automatically populate for you. You may even look up a location within a varied mileage from a specific zip code. After hitting search, you will be rewarded with a location that fits your specifications, along with excellent quality photographs of the location, detailed location description, i.d. numbers, location map, and complete contact information. The location information contained within CinemaScout is managed by Reel Scout, a web-based catalogue system designed specifically for film commissions. The California Film Commission manages all location information found in CinemaScout, and frequently updates what’s stored in the catalogue.

Imagine you’re working on a production that’s included a last-minute addition to your shooting schedule: a dream sequence at an "Ivy-league type University." Initiate your search on CinemaScout by clicking on the "Schools" selection under Category, "Colleges/Universities/University" under Subcategory, "Brick" under Building Materials, and "Los Angeles" under Region. Amongst the locations found in this search was the University of Southern California (USC). As mentioned in the description of USC, the architecture not only contains bricks but also includes colonnades, arched windows, bell and clock towers, floor to ceiling windows, balconies, and grand entry staircases. The school’s library boasts tile floors and a ceiling height of 20 feet. The added details and photos can help in the decision-making process of the value in scouting the location.

Aside from speedy, all-encompassing search results and a more comprehensive service, Amy Lemisch, Director of the California Film Commission, proclaims a huge benefit to the upgrade is the ease of use. "The system is completely user friendly and very detailed searches can be done at one time!" she proclaims. "In today’s competitive climate, we’re fortunate to have this powerful tool to showcase and promote our vast inventory of locations."