FilmBinder Vault

Location Bible

3 min read

Location Bible

Primary Locations

1. The Bronx House (Main)

Type: Residential — row house or two-family structure
Neighborhood: The Bronx, NYC (specific block TBD in scout)
Status: To be scouted

Requirements:

  • Exterior: Unremarkable, typical of the block — do not cast a house that “looks haunted”
  • Ground floor: Large enough for 2-3 people + small crew; kitchen/living space for family gathering scenes
  • Upper level: Bedroom for Kendrie and Charlize’s sleeping scenes
  • Basement: The critical space — see below

Basement requirements:

  • A real basement with at least one enclosed room
  • Ground-level window preferred (horizontal light source)
  • Must be visually ordinary — this is the non-negotiable for the ambiguity
  • Must be large enough for a small crew (camera, sound, one or two lights)
  • Acoustically quiet from exterior — the basement should be the film’s quietest space

Scout priority: HIGHEST. This is the most important location decision in the film.

Permit: NYC Film Office residential permit; owner agreement; neighborhood notification

2. Staten Island Apartment (Opening/Reference)

Type: Residential apartment
Borough: Staten Island — near ferry or accessible
Status: To be scouted

Requirements:

  • Smaller than the Bronx house (they’re moving for more space)
  • Clean, organized-looking — Charlize’s aesthetic
  • Large windows or good natural light
  • Different light quality from the Bronx house (cooler, more open)

Scout priority: HIGH (establishes the visual baseline for the film’s before-picture)

3. Staten Island Ferry Terminal and Ferry

Type: Public transit infrastructure
Status: Permit required

Requirements:

  • Access to ferry deck for exterior shots (daylight and/or night)
  • Terminal access for boarding sequences
  • Open water and harbor background

Permit: NYC Ferry / NYCDOT filming permit; advance application required

Scout priority: MEDIUM (important for transit sequences but schedule-flexible)

4. NYC Subway

Type: NYC MTA subway system
Status: MTA filming permit required

Lines of interest:

  • Above-ground Bronx sections of the 2/5 (IRT Lexington Avenue line) — elevated tracks through the Bronx; specific visual character
  • Underground sections for tunnel-light sequences
  • Station platforms as staging spaces

Permit: MTA Arts & Design filming permit; 2–4 week lead time minimum; significant cost

Alternative approach: Station platforms can sometimes be shot guerrilla-style for quick pickup shots; speak to production attorney about risk tolerance

Scout priority: MEDIUM — scout with transit DP to identify specific station aesthetics

5. Exterior / Park

Type: Public park or exterior space
Status: NYC Parks filming permit

Requirements:

  • Natural environment — grass, trees, sky
  • The contrast to the film’s interiors: open, airy, populated by the ordinary world
  • Not a landmark park; a neighborhood park or open space

Scout priority: LOW-MEDIUM — schedule in prep after primary locations locked

Location Logistics

Base Camp

TBD based on primary house location. Target: within 1–2 blocks of the Bronx house for interior shooting days.

Requirements: Trucks (camera, electric, grip, art), catering, cast holding.

Travel Days

The Staten Island sequences are on a different island from the primary location. Organize Staten Island shoot days as a block to avoid unnecessary crossings.

Permit Contacts

  • NYC Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment: nyc.gov/film — residential, park, and general city permits
  • MTA Arts & Design: arts.mta.info — subway filming
  • NYC Ferry / NYCDOT: Ferry terminal permits

Scout Checklist

For each location:

  • Photograph exterior and all interior spaces
  • Record ambient sound at different times of day
  • Test basement for acoustic quality
  • Note practical light sources
  • Confirm crew access and turnaround
  • Identify parking and base camp options
  • Confirm owner/tenant availability for shoot dates
  • Initiate permit process

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