where TV pilots are being shot

[Temis the Vorta]

Here's an interesting (to me, anyway) list: I like it when shows are shot in either the places where they belong (where they are ostensibly set) or otherwise "right." For instance, how could a show called Good Christian Bitches be set any place but Dallas?

But how can Grace (about the professional dance world) not be shot in NYC? Poe is set in Boston, which has plenty of buildings that could pass for the 1840s. (Not that Boston is the right city for Poe anyway...) Good luck to Reconstruction making Santa Fe look like Missouri. Hallelujah needs to be in the South or Midwest. I guess it's too much to hope that Alcatraz will be shot entirely in San Francisco. Hopefully they'll stick to SF for exteriors.

I also like seeing underexposed locations: I'm looking forward to seeing Puerto Rico (The River), Pittsburgh (Locke & Key) and Portland (Grimm). In general, I'd like to see more shows set in the Southwest, but not just around LA.

 

[Canadave]

Poe is set in Boston, which has plenty of buildings that could pass for the 1840s.

It's interesting that Toronto is again standing in for Boston, as it did in the pilot for Fringe. Not sure it's the best choice, but it can work if they shoot it carefully.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

Is there a push to keep pilots off of TV or something? Shooting them seems a little excessive.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

It would be better for them to shoot it carefully in Boston. Or even better, set it in Baltimore, where it belongs, and shoot it carefully there! But it probably doesn't matter since they cast the lead so badly, I have to wonder whether the network is just trying to fulfill the guy's contract and never intends to pick it up to series at all.

The problem with shooting shows where they don't belong is that you get Genericsville, USA. It may not be bad, but it adds nothing good. Look at V, for instance. If that were actually shot in NYC, it might have a bit more character. But I guess that's like trying to put out a four-alarm fire with a squirtgun.

Is there a push to keep pilots off of TV or something? Shooting them seems a little excessive.

If they'd cast Charlie Sheen in Pan Am, I'd pay real money to see him shot. Wakka wakka.

 

[Owain Taggart]

Poe is set in Boston, which has plenty of buildings that could pass for the 1840s.

It's interesting that Toronto is again standing in for Boston, as it did in the pilot for Fringe. Not sure it's the best choice, but it can work if they shoot it carefully.

Yeah, it's either Toronto or Vancouver often passing itself off as big American cities such as NY. And often because it's cheaper to film up here.

 

[Starbreaker]

Hallelujah will probably be shot in or around Atlanta. A lot of recent films and TV shows have been filmed there: The Walking Dead, Zombieland, CBS's new drama Hail Mary is being filmed there, Detroit 1-8-7's first episode was there, Franklin & Bash on USA, The Change-Up w/ Ryan Reynolds & Olivia Wilde, Vampire Diaries, etc.

 

[ManOnTheWave]

http://www.deadline.com/2011/03/pil...tion-booming-canada-loses-ground/#more-112690For instance, how could a show called Good Christian Bitches be set any place but Dallas?

Maybe the could go all reverse Robocop and shoot it in Detroit.

 

[Canadave]

Poe is set in Boston, which has plenty of buildings that could pass for the 1840s.

It's interesting that Toronto is again standing in for Boston, as it did in the pilot for Fringe. Not sure it's the best choice, but it can work if they shoot it carefully.

Yeah, it's either Toronto or Vancouver often passing itself off as big American cities such as NY. And often because it's cheaper to film up here.

I just find it strange, I guess, because nothing about Toronto really says Boston to me. Montreal would make a lot more sense to me, especially if this series is set in the 1840s. Ah well...

 

[Temis the Vorta]

The Walking Dead is a good example of a show that makes good use of its location - Atlanta isn't the first place you'd think to set a zombie apocalypse (Las Vegas is that place ) but that just makes it all the creepier - "it can happen anywhere." I still can't believe the comic book writer didn't set the story in Atlanta because of the CDC!

 

[Greg Cox]

The Walking Dead is a good example of a show that makes good use of its location - Atlanta isn't the first place you'd think to set a zombie apocalypse (Las Vegas is that place ) but that just makes it all the creepier - "it can happen anywhere." I still can't believe the comic book writer didn't set the story in Atlanta because of the CDC!

I'm waiting for them to reveal that the zombie plague began with a secret experiment at the Coca-Cola Museum . . . .

 

[Owain Taggart]

It's interesting that Toronto is again standing in for Boston, as it did in the pilot for Fringe. Not sure it's the best choice, but it can work if they shoot it carefully.

Yeah, it's either Toronto or Vancouver often passing itself off as big American cities such as NY. And often because it's cheaper to film up here.

I just find it strange, I guess, because nothing about Toronto really says Boston to me. Montreal would make a lot more sense to me, especially if this series is set in the 1840s. Ah well...

Yeah, I know. Unfortunately, to most American viewers, they'd never know the difference as most locations wouldn't seem out of place as they can often feel interchangeable.

 

[Starbreaker]

Well, I don't really care about buildings. I watch shows for entertainment value, not to pick out landmarks.

 

[Canadave]

Well, I don't really care about buildings. I watch shows for entertainment value, not to pick out landmarks.

Same, but it can hurt suspension of disbelief sometimes. Like when Massive Dynamic's New York City headquarters were apparently found inside the Royal Ontario Museum, for example...

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Yeah, it's either Toronto or Vancouver often passing itself off as big American cities such as NY. And often because it's cheaper to film up here.

I just find it strange, I guess, because nothing about Toronto really says Boston to me. Montreal would make a lot more sense to me, especially if this series is set in the 1840s. Ah well...

Yeah, I know. Unfortunately, to most American viewers, they'd never know the difference as most locations wouldn't seem out of place as they can often feel interchangeable.

That's the problem - that they're "interchangeable." If they were shot in the correct city, the location itself could become a character instead of just an irrelevance.

It's particularly bad when shows are supposed to be set in highly distinctive cities like NYC and SF. (I do notice that it's rare that shows attempt to pass off another city as SF since the results are hilarious when they do try.)

 

[Starbreaker]

Well, I don't really care about buildings. I watch shows for entertainment value, not to pick out landmarks.

Same, but it can hurt suspension of disbelief sometimes. Like when Massive Dynamic's New York City headquarters were apparently found inside the Royal Ontario Museum, for example...

Nobody but Canadians would know that.

 

[Owain Taggart]

I just find it strange, I guess, because nothing about Toronto really says Boston to me. Montreal would make a lot more sense to me, especially if this series is set in the 1840s. Ah well...

Yeah, I know. Unfortunately, to most American viewers, they'd never know the difference as most locations wouldn't seem out of place as they can often feel interchangeable.

That's the problem - that they're "interchangeable." If they were shot in the correct city, the location itself could become a character instead of just an irrelevance.

It's particularly bad when shows are supposed to be set in highly distinctive cities like NYC and SF. (I do notice that it's rare that shows attempt to pass off another city as SF since the results are hilarious when they do try.)

Yeah, exactly. I think being accurate would add to the atmosphere, not only in terms of locations that could be recognized, but in terms of feeling fresh instead of feeling average. I mean, I'm sure Treme was filmed in New Orleans, right? That felt rather authentic.

The end result with all these different versions of the big cities is that you see one thing that might never be seen again in another movie featuring the same city, which movies that are actually shot in their cities tend to be consistent.

 

[Canadave]

Well, I don't really care about buildings. I watch shows for entertainment value, not to pick out landmarks.

Same, but it can hurt suspension of disbelief sometimes. Like when Massive Dynamic's New York City headquarters were apparently found inside the Royal Ontario Museum, for example...

Nobody but Canadians would know that.

I dunno... it's such an obvious and distinctive landmark. It's definitely getting a lot of worldwide recognition, and though it doesn't match the CN Tower in terms of icons of Toronto, it is really bloody obvious if you've ever been to Toronto.

I mean, it's not like it's some obscure local store or something that gives it away. When you see that, it's pretty in-your-face.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Apart from L&O (SVU and Criminal Intent), which shows of any kind are shot in New York these days?

 

[Nerys Myk]

Same, but it can hurt suspension of disbelief sometimes. Like when Massive Dynamic's New York City headquarters were apparently found inside the Royal Ontario Museum, for example...

Nobody but Canadians would know that.

I dunno... it's such an obvious and distinctive landmark. It's definitely getting a lot of worldwide recognition, and though it doesn't match the CN Tower in terms of icons of Toronto, it is really bloody obvious if you've ever been to Toronto.

I mean, it's not like it's some obscure local store or something that gives it away. When you see that, it's pretty in-your-face.

Never heard of it. Nor do I recall seeing it before. The "gee that building fell over and hit the one next to it" look is pretty unique though.