The story of Alana Kane [Alana Haim] and Gary Valentine [Cooper Hoffman] growing up, running around and falling in love in the San Fernando Valley, 1973...Written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, LICORICE PIZZA tracks the treacherous navigation of first love. –MGM Pictures

 PTA brought on Production Designer Florencia Martin SDSA, Set Decorator Ryan Watson SDSA and their teams to help bring to life his memories of growing up in the valley in the 1970s. They dove into the suburbia of that time and place, capturing reminisces from many “locals” and deep research into photos, videos and films of that era, and have created a warm, natural snapshot of the times and “The Valley”. Gene Serdena SDSA, who has been a mentor for Florencia over the years, chatted with Ryan and her in our newest edition of Inside the Set with SETDECOR. 
We know you will enjoy!
 
A further note from MGM:
“Over time and as their friendship grows, Gary pursues career opportunities outside of acting and becomes a budding entrepreneur selling waterbeds and opening a pinball arcade; and Alana gives serious consideration to her future (including a foray into acting). On their own or side by side, both Gary and Alana experience a series of epiphanies that are both uproarious and bittersweet: close encounters with a famous actor [portrayed by Sean Penn], a Hollywood producer [Bradley Cooper], and a local politician [Benny Safdi]. Both self-aware and at loose ends, Alana and Gary blaze through a time and place that carry for them the thrill of first love, entering adulthood, and the discovery of newfound potential — perhaps, most of all, in each other.”

Here's a small gallery to give you a glimpse as to what you will see in our Inside the Set with SETDECOR video conversation and the film itself. Both are very much worth watching!

Fat Bernie’s Pinball Arcade...Both self-aware and at loose ends, Alana [Alana Haim]and Gary [Cooper Hoffman] blaze through a time and place that carry for them the thrill of first love, entering adulthood, and the discovery of newfound potential — perhaps, most of all, in each other.” MGM. Photos by Melinda Sue Gordon© 2021 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Fat Bernie’s Pinball Arcade...This is Gary’s second venture in this same business space, the first was a waterbed store. It was the '70s! The era of Licorice Pizza stores, based on the nickname for vinyl records. Photos courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures ©2021 All Rights Reserved.

Gary’s Soggy Bottom Waterbed booth at San Fernando Valley Youth Fair. Photo by Melinda Sue Gordon© 2021 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Fat Bernie’s Waterbed Store...After Alana pointed out the poor choice of store name Soggy Bottom for a waterbed business, it became Fat Bernie’s, which he then kept for the later pinball arcade. Photo courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures ©2021 All Rights Reserved. [Check the video for stories about custom-making all of these waterbeds!]

Jon Peters house...Gary, Alana & their crew have delivered their Ultimate Waterbed to Barbra Streisand’s boyfriend’s upstairs bedroom and are in process of filling it from a hose out the window. [Check the video for fun details!] Photo courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures ©2021 All Rights Reserved.

Jon Peters house...A different look from the homes of our protagonists. Photo courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures ©2021 All Rights Reserved.

Mood board for Jon Peters house

Tail of the Cock...Total re-creation of a classic Valley steak house! [Check details for so much behind-the-scenes of this!] Photo courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures ©2021 All Rights Reserved.

Tail of the Cock...The location space was a derelict restaurant with full windows overlooking a golf course. [Watch the video conversation for details about changing 24 windows into stained glass. And look at the great effect!] Insert: Gary [Cooper Hoffman] with a date spies Alana across the room with a movie star. Photos courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures ©2021 All Rights Reserved.

Tail of the Cock...We had to show this tucked away bar wall – look at those lamps and art! Inset: Alana with a former big-time director and a genuine movie star. Celebrities and families hung out here. Pictured: Tom Waits, Alana Haim, Sean Penn. Images courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures ©2021 All Rights Reserved.

Gary’s house, Sherman Oaks 1970s – heart of the Valley suburbia. He and his younger brother spend most of their time in the den [left] watching television, which is always left on...in this photo the TV is hidden by the living room fireplace. Photo courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures ©2021 All Rights Reserved.

Gary’s house, Sherman Oaks 1970s – heart of the Valley suburbia. Looking from the kitchen, you can glimpse the TV in the background, complete with rabbit-ear antenna. Photo courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures ©2021 All Rights Reserved. [Do check out the video conversation - for stories behind this!]

Florencia notes, “I would love to just thank our entire crew on LICORICE PIZZA, as we started early when we were coming out of lockdown for the pandemic, and it really was because of the passion and the trust that everyone came together to make this project happen. And I’m very thankful to Ryan, his whole team, our construction coordinator Anthony Syracuse and Adrian Valdez scenic artist. Everyone's crew came together to make this film happen. You can't do it without them."
 
Ryan adds, “Yeah, I had an absolutely incredible buying team on this one: Kathleen Rosen and Ethan Goodwin. Joanna Venezky helped us put together the teenage fair, she was indispensable. Reuben Abarca was our Draper and Anthony Carlino, our fantastic lead, and the entire crew. We had a really stellar crew!
 
Ryan also wishes to acknowledge SDSA Business members he particularly relied on for this film: Advanced Liquidators Office Furniture - Air Designs - Alley Cats – Alpha Companies Motion Picture Rentals - Astek Wallcovering – Chairish - Diamond Foam and Fabric - Faux Library Studio Props -  Green Set - Hand Prop Room - Heaven or Las Vegas - History for Hire - Hollywood Cinema Arts - Hollywood Studio Gallery - ISS/Independent Studio Services - LA Party Rents - Lennie Marvin’s Propheaven - Little Bohemia Rentals - The Mart Collective - Midcentury LA - Modernica Props – Objects - Omega Cinema Props - Playback Technologies - Practical Props - Premiere Props - RC Vintage - Sony Pictures Studios - Town & Country Event Rentals - U Frame It Gallery - Universal Studios Property - Warner Bros. Studios
Do watch the video conversation, Ryan mentions several!
And check for more photos below!