Boardwalk Empire Brings Money, Glamour to the City

If the mid-century Mad Men aren't for you, perhaps you've been tuning in to HBO on Sunday nights for Boardwalk Empire, the show set in Atlantic City during the Prohibition Era. While New Jersey may be the backdrop, there's plenty of New York City to be seen—and not just in the New York gangsters portrayed on the show. First of all, they've been shooting all over the city, and the 1920s boardwalk was actually built in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Check out this timelapse below:

Now Crain's reports that this once empty lot in Greenpoint—previously slated for a luxury condo—is not only housing the city's largest outdoor set ever built (at 300-feet long), but the the city's most lucrative production. The show's co-producer, Joe Iberti, told the site, “We are the biggest production of the season. In terms of scale and the number of people employed, it's on the level of a Law & Order and is probably even bigger.” Other shots are filmed inside Steiner Studios (and elsewhere in New York, like Far Rockaway and Park Slope), but this one is the centerpiece—and it's being closely guarded from the public behind many, many crates (ScoutingNY tracked it down).

One Syracuse professor says the set reminds him of "the kind of things they used to build in the golden age of filmmaking in Los Angeles, which has never been done in New York. It's different than just shooting on the streets of New York, because it's got the right look, like Law & Order did. This show isn't just good for employment; it's glamorous.” Take that, Gossip Girl. If you haven't watched it yet, check out the trailer for the show below:

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By Jen Carlson in Arts & Entertainment on October 11, 2010 3:59 PM

Comments [rss]

robingee

The sets and costuming are GORGEOUS.

citylion

The costumes are off. A lot of Buscemi's wardrobe is wrong for the period actually having been created much later than when it's set. Friends in the costume wardrobe industry hated the show after the first two episodes for its inaccuracy.

It's nice to look it but they have it wrong on the clothes.

NlGGAZ

So Rome was sopranos in the Hellenistic era and now Boardwalk Empire is Sopranos in the 20s? I mean it's entertaining but it feels kinda done already.

jaycjay

Until they start devoting 50% of the running time to Buscemi whining in his shrink's office, it has little in common with The Sopranos.

I haven't watched Rome, so I don't really know if it was as boring as The Sopranos.

Poppa

Psst...Scorsese only directed the pilot. For the he's just an executive producer.

It would be fuckin' sweet if he handled the entire series, though. Ah, well. I still recommend the show.

whatstheproblem

The show has amazing sets and costumes but as for Scorsese directing more episodes I'd disagree. The pilot was so far the worst episode. I guess they just tried too hard to squeeze in a lot but not very well.

I actually was looking forward to this show and find it pretty weak considering all the press hype. Steve Buscemi is cast wrong and seems old and feeble. I just can't see it. Michael Shannon however has proven to be an excellent character.

Since the show is on HBO and the series is picked up for two more seasons, let's hope they find a bit more than redone Scorsese style shots and violence. Overall I'd say it should change it's name to BORED-WALK EMPIRE.