Hollywood is a neighborhood in Los Angeles, California - situated
west-northwest of Downtown Los Angeles.
Due to its fame and cultural
identity as the historical center of movie studios and movie stars, the
word "Hollywood" is often used as a metonymy of American cinema, and is
often interchangeably used to refer to the greater Los Angeles area in
general. The nicknames StarStruck Town and Tinseltown refer to Hollywood
and its movie industry. Today, much of the movie industry has dispersed
into surrounding areas such as the Westside neighborhood, but
significant auxiliary industries, such as editing, effects, props,
post-production and lighting companies remain in Hollywood, as does the
backlot of Paramount Pictures.Many historic Hollywood theaters are used
as venues and concert stages to premiere major theatrical releases and
host the Academy Awards. It is a popular destination for nightlife,
tourism, and is home to the Hollywood Walk of Fame.