Los Angeles 1998: ‘Over the past twenty years we’ve been in a variety of helicopters; this is the latest, OPD.’ Storyville: Whirlybird: Live Above LA, Bob Tur, BBC 2021
There was never a movie date or a dinner date with Bob. It was a car crash, or an air crash or a fire. I was in love with the excitement of Bob. ibid. Marika Gerrard
So Marika and I started chasing news stories. And LA was the perfect place to cover breaking news … Driving the city streets I saw the real Los Angeles. And your job is to put the camera on your shoulders and document what’s going on … I loved the thrill of the chase. ibid. Bob
When you’re a stringer your wherewithal, your monetary wherewithal, depends on whether you get the story or not. ibid. Marika
We became slaves to breaking news … There’s hundreds of miles of freeways. And that’s when I started thinking about helicopters. ibid. Bob
Flying a helicopter over the city of Los Angeles, you feel like an angel. You see things that few people ever get to see. ibid.
The helicopter allowed us to get to stories while they were still happening. ibid. Marika
It’s getting worse. Night is falling over this troubled area. And over the cover of approaching darkness, fortunately, the shotgun rounds don’t travel far. We are out of their reach. ibid. Bob filming LA riots
The city is just getting worse and worse. It’s really changed. A different place. It’s not the place I remember as a kid being able to walk everywhere. ibid.
There are no solutions. Civilisation’s going to have to basically destroy itself before people get the message. People aren’t getting the message right now. Things aren’t going to get better. There are no solutions. ibid.
Over the last five years LA has averaged over 5,000 gang-related crimes a year. MS-13: The New Mafia: America’s Deadliest Gang, 2008
A police brutality story that has focused attention on Los Angeles … The police beating of a black motorist … has now been seen around the world. Crimes that Changed Us: Rodney King, news bulletins, DiscoveryPlus 2021
The jury deliberates for seven days. On April 29 1992 the jury is ready to deliver its verdict. ibid. caption
This is wrong. This is not what should have happened. This is a miscarriage of justice. ibid. witness
It’s not right what you’ll doing. I came from the ghetto too. You burn the white man, why destroy my business? Why destroy my truck? Why steal my computer. I tried to make it. Can’t you understand? ibid. wise elderly gentleman
They are encouraging everyone to cooperate. Stay off the streets. It’s anticipated that a curfew will be put into effect tomorrow night. ibid. Tom Bradley, Mayor
Calling 911 repeatedly. And no-one is coming. ibid. old folks’ home on fire
One small suburb of Los Angeles has arguably the most exclusive postcode in the world – 90210. Hollywood calls it home. The capital of celebrity, a billionaire’s playground, a world where style is status, luxury rules the roost. Who you know, what you drive, and how much you make, is all that really matters. Inside Beverly Hills: The Land of the Rich and Famous s1e1, Channel 4 2021
The average house price in 90210 is $4.5 million. ibid.
Nearly half of Beverly Hills adults are single. There are twice as many women in the market for love than men. Inside Beverly Hills: The Land of the Rich and Famous s1e2, captions
Beverly Hills boasts more millionaires than any other town in the world. ibid.
Appearances are everything in Beverly Hills. And what you drive speaks volumes about your wealth and status. Inside Beverly Hills: The Land of the Rich and Famous s1e3
But recently actual sightings of strange figures flying over Los Angeles have people wondering, Is there a real-life mad scientist out there, or up there? The Proof is Out There s2e9, History 2022
I don’t want to be his only thing. The Soloist 2009 starring Jamie Foxx & Robert Downey junior & Catherine Keener & Tom Hollander & Lisa Gay Hamilton & Nelsan Ellis & Rachael Harris & Stephen Root & Lorraine Toussaint & Justin Martin & Octavia Spencer & Jena Malone & Lemon Anderson et al, director Joe Wright, Steve Lopez to counsellor
I’ve done good by you, haven’t I? ibid. Downey to Foxx
If I ever see you again, I’ll cut you like a fish. ibid. Foxx to Downey
You are of no consequence: Nathaniel Ayers. ibid. commentary
Sometimes friends piss each other off, right. It’s part of the deal. Mr Ayers, I’m honoured to be your friend. ibid. Downey to Foxx
A year ago I met a man who was down on his luck and thought I might be able to help him. I don’t know that I have. Yes, my friend Mr Ayes now sleeps inside. He has a key. He has a bed. But his mental state and his well-being are as precarious now as the day we met. There are people who tell me I’ve helped him. Mental health experts who say that a simple act of being someone’s friend can change his brain chemistry, improve his function in the world. I can’t speak for Mr Ayers in that regard. Maybe our friendship has helped him, maybe not. I can however speak for myself. I can tell you that by witnessing Mr Ayer’s courage, his humility, his faith in the power of his art I have learned the dignity of being loyal to something you believe in. Holding on to him. Above all else believing without question. That it will carry you home. ibid.
Mr Ayers still sleeps inside and is a member of LAMP. He continues to play the cello, as well as the violin, bass, piano, guitar, trumpet, French horn, drums and harmonica. ibid. banner
Mr Lopez continues to write his column for the LA Times. He is learning the guitar. ibid.
There are 90,000 homeless people on the streets of greater Los Angeles. ibid.