David Smirnoff: Grandparent and Old West Filmmaker From Right Here in Southern California!

David Smirnoff! Photo by Natalia Radcliffe

~ Natalia Radcliffe ~

Grandparents can bring a lot of life and love in our lives. Armed with a lifetime of stories, they bring perspective, laughter, and lessons to their grandchildren. 

In honor of National Grandparent’s Day this year, we want to highlight one of our own team member’s very own grandfather, who grew up right here in Southern California, and who worked with and was around horses for most of his life. 

David Smirnoff was a city boy for most of the time, but he always looked forward to visiting his grandfather’s ranch in Malibu. (Prospector Ranch is but a short drive away. Small world, huh?) There, he could take in the country scenery, and help his grandfather around the ranch, which included riding and taking care of horses. He learned not only how to ride and handle horses, but how to take care of them, to connect with them. 

David at his grandfather's ranch in Malibu. Photo courtesy of David Smirnoff

David riding a horse at his grandfather's ranch in Malibu. Photo courtesy of David Smirnoff

Those days on the ranch with his grandparents have always held a special place in his heart. In fact, it was his time around horses and the ranch as a child that ultimately influenced the path he would walk in his career. 

As an adult, David ended up having a career in the film industry, working on many projects and commercials. A lot of the projects he worked on revolved around the West and horses. As he had experienced being around and working with horses, he was the perfect person to work on films and other projects that involved the animals. For example, back in the day when cigarettes were more popular than they are today, he worked on Marlboro advertisements, famous at the time for their Western theme in some ads. As is always the case when you are working with animals, there will inevitably be times when the animals spook or do something sudden.

David on set woking with horses! Photo courtesy of David Smirnoff

One funny time, in retrospect, that David remembers happened on a bright sunny day when he and others were working on a film project with a rather large herd of horses. That day, some of the crew had brought their children to work. David and others were going to film a scene where horses ran down a path, guided by fences on either side, out of the shot. The first time they filmed, it was a beautiful sight. The horses ran down perfectly, going exactly where they needed to. However, with the horses, there were two smaller bodies running ahead of them, also down that same path! It turns out some of the children on set that day were near the area they were going to film, and were caught unawares when they started to shoot. 

Thankfully, no one was hurt, and it became a fond funny memory. 

If you are interested in horses and the old west like David, come check us out! Want a western-themed AirBnb? We have a conestoga covered wagon, Safari tent, or miners’s camp. Want Western-themed location for photoshoots or filming? Our property has got you covered. The first thing you see when you drive up to our property is the focal point of Prospector Ranch, our elegant, rustic saloon. It has provided many opportunities for lovely pictures or filming. In addition, our property can serve as an Old West or ranch backdrop, with lots of space to branch out and explore.