This is Hollywood, but that shaking wasn't a special effect

The AES power plant in Redondo Beach is often used for filming TV shows, movies and commercials, and sometimes the effects production crews create can rattle the windows in the nearby neighborhood.

So when the earthquake struck, Redondo Beach Fire Chief Dan Madrigal turned to City Manager Bill Workman and told him not to worry. A crew was filming at AES today.

Workman replied, "My guess is it’s an earthquake."

After the shaking stopped, Redondo’s City Hall and library were evacuated.

Inspectors checked for structural damage and to make sure the electric and gas connections were still hooked up properly. They found no problems, and 20 minutes later employees went back to work and readers back to the library.

Gene Draper, an AES team leader, said the production crew was between takes when the earthquake hit. They waited a couple of minutes and then went back to shooting.

-- Jeff Gottlieb

photo of AES power plant by Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times