Isn’t it funny how things sometime go full circle? Today our ace paparazzo, Jason Mitchell, made wonderful and certainly iconic photos of Kristen Stewart and Joan Jett out in the San Fernando Valley. As you must know, Kristen is playing Joan in a film about The Runaways. Joan and her manager Kenny Laguna are the co producers of the film. That is Kenny in the photos.
Buzz Foto co owner, Brad Elterman was paling around and taking photos of Joan in the SF Valley way back in 1977! Brad’s countless and legendary photo sessions of Joan were done in the SF Valley, Hollywood and West Hollywood. Check out the photograph of Joan standing in the center of Santa Monica Blvd in 1978. Yes, that is Brad with Joan at the old Tropicana Motel also from ’78.
So don’t you think that Kristen was perfect to play Joan? We do!
The most difficult part of the photo business is getting started and making connections. Back in the mid seventies we befriended Rodney Bingenheimer and we were best of buddies for years. Rodney knew everyone plus is was an editor at Phonograph Record Magazine he got invited to all of the hot parties. Rodney made all of the introductions to us with all of the record company PR so we were there being wined & dined too, while we were taking the most amazing photos. We had a blast and we are still great friends today.
Here is the best Rodney story. Did you know that he got to meet Frank Sinatra in Las Vegas? Well he did and guess who made the introduction? ELVIS!!! Oh Yeah, that is Elvis’s belt that Rodney is holding!!
Remember thisTwilight Prediction? We just might have the answer for you on who is going to be the bigger star. Rumors are swirling on the web that Twilight Actress Kristen Stewart is set to play our pal Joan Jett in the upcoming biopic of the start of Joan’s band, The Runaways. Wait, are you too young to remember this Rock’n’Roll legend? Surely you’ve heard of Joan Jett, and if you haven’t, here’s a little history lesson. Joan, best known for her single, “I Love Rock N’ Roll,†founded the band The Runaways along with her drummer Sandy West (pictured below).
Joan Jett also had a solo career and founded the group “Joan Jett and the Blackhearts.†The hard-core beauty is a friend of our own 70’s iconic photographer, Brad Elterman who scored these great shots of her back in the day. Brad was hanging out with Joan when he took this photo of her in her hotel roo.
The film is to revolve around Joan and Cherie Currie and follow them from the band’s rise as teenagers to their dissolution and disillusionment.
Video director Floria Sigismondi wrote the screenplay and is directing. Joan Jett will use her acting and directing chops to serve as an executive producer for the film. Our phone have been ringing off the hook!!! Why? Because we are afterall, the source for the best Joan Jett photos around!
What makes this 1977 Joan Jett photograph with her giant switchblade cool and iconic is that it was shot with black and white. If we made this photograph in color, it probably would not have reeked of the seventies as much as it does.
Back in the day it was all about shooting these bands with TRI-X film. It was much cheaper than a roll of color film and it is what gives it all of the lovely grain.
Yep, that is half of Buzz Foto hanging out with Joan Jett at the old Tropicana Motel on Santa Monica Blvd in 1976. Joni had been tossed out of her mom’s house and she took up permanent residence at the Trop.
The motel has been torn down, Joan is a giant star and the photo biz is better and more exciting than ever!
The little park across the street from the Beverly Hills Hotel is the location for many staged paparazzi photo shoots these days. It is the ideal setting and no one can see you from the street.
Speaking of that little park, we just found this vintage Joan Jett photograph taken at that same park back in 1977. Good luck getting this session today.
