Filmmaker Shows 'Naked' Freeways As 405 Closure Approaches
LOS ANGELES (CBS) — Ever wanted to know what a Los Angeles without cars would look like? You don't have to wait for this weekend's 405 Freeway closure to find out.
Filmmaker Ross Ching has created a short film, "Running on Empty," by using time-lapse footage while his camera stayed completely still.
He accumulated footage of major streets and freeways in Los Angeles and then used Adobe Photoshop to remove the cars from each image.
Ching matted the images over the roads, but left the sky alone, allowing the film to have a natural, less affected feel — resulting in a compelling and unique take on the city.
As this weekend's "Carmageddon" approaches, the short film proves to be quite timely, considering Angelenos will see congested streets and inevitable traffic — the opposite of what Ching's film portrays.
"I think more than anything the video serves as a reminder that we've come so reliant on cars that when something like the closure of a ten mile stretch of freeway happens, the millions of people in LA are paralyzed," Ching said.
Although the 405 is LA's most popular freeway, it seems people are forgetting about the other means of transportation the city provides, including the Metro which is offering free rides on its red, purple, and orange lines.
Another option is ditching cars and buses all together by taking a train, plane, or helicopter.
"I just wanted to show a world in which we run out of gas. All the infrastructure we spent trillions of dollars building then becomes useless," he added.
Ultimately, people will find a way to get where they need to be regardless of the 405 closure, and although it is being called "Carmageddon," it really is not the end of the world: the city will get its beloved freeway back on Monday.
