Many jokes have been made in movies and TV shows about the land beyond the Hollywood Hills: the Valley.

Now, however, many locals want to change the narrative.

Whether you are from SoCal or around the world, you've likely heard the stereotypes about how the Valley is "boring" and, of course, "the Valley girl" accent. But the San Fernando Valley offers much more than its reputation implies.

Tommy Gelinas, founder of the Valley Relics Museum, wants everyone to know how special his homeland is from movie studios to the start of BMX as a sport.

"The Valley history is global history," Gelinas said.

He was born and raised in the Valley and felt he had to open the museum to share the rich history that he feels has gone under-documented. The museum holds cultural artifacts, like the van from "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" and even the original Jack in the Box talking clown.

"For a long time, the Valley was so rural and hot, but people looked at us like country bumpkins. We weren't thinking about it. You can talk all you want about us, but everything a kid could possibly do was here in the Valley," Gelinas said.

The mall was popularized in the Valley, and many restaurant chains such as Bob's Big Boy were founded in the area. Over the years, many celebrities have moved here to escape the congestion of Hollywood and other neighborhoods on the other side of the hills.

And you can't have an in-depth conversation about the Valley without taking into account all the major movies and TV shows filmed on these very streets, like the iconic chase scene in "Terminator 2." 

Co-founder of My Valley Pass, the official visitors' guide to the Valley, Jared Cowan, leads a film tour to over 40 locations.

"There was a wooden ramp built so the truck could go over and look like it was crashing into the fake wall and not the real wall at all," he said. "One of the most iconic scenes in the movie right here in the San Fernando Valley."

Through this tour and 818 Day, a celebration of the businesses and locations of the San Fernando Valley, Cowan wants to highlight these Hollywood connections. He says people from around the world do come to take in the sites.

"There are people who come from Germany and Australia. It connects them to certain parts of their growing up," Cowan said.

They also want to bring pride to locals. A new flag was designed in hopes of having it flown high at businesses and sports arenas. Gelinas said it's to promote this unique area of SoCal.

"To change the narrative and shine the light back on the San Fernando Valley," Gelinas said.

And where else would the new flag for the Valley be unveiled? A mall, of course. If you would like to own your own flag, pre-orders are open.