Shubhabrata Dutta
Created by Paul Hunter and Aeysha Carr, ‘Government Cheese’ takes the mind-bending route to a black comedy set in the late 1960s. The series revolves around the Chambers family, an African-American family whose apparent patriarch, Hampton Chambers, has just returned from prison. His invention, a self-sharpening power drill, seems to be his second chance at a clean life.
Unfortunately, Hampton’s fate has something else in store for him. While his family has changed a lot in his absence and finds him unnatural, he is also pulled back into the game of crime he was once a part of. Add old friends and shady characters to the mix, and we get a surrealist drama series replete with chaos. With a narrative set in the past, the setting became crucial, and no matter the events that unfold in the story, the production team had to ensure that the backdrops didn’t appear inappropriate.
Government Cheese Filming Locations
The series is set in 1969 in San Fernando Valley, California, which is also where almost the entire filming took place, except for a few scenes that were shot in Simi Valley and Livermore. Under the working title ‘Bonneville,’ principal photography began in the first week of January 2024. It halted in the middle of the month before resuming again in May and wrapping up by mid-September of the same year. Talking to Collider, actor David Oyelow (Hampton Chambers) stated how he “had two to three crew members come up to me who also live in LA, thanking us for the fact that they got to be with their families, be in the place that is supposedly the hub of our business, and shoot a show of this nature for months on end. That was something very heartening.”
Los Angeles County, California
‘Government Cheese’ is filmed primarily in Los Angeles County, home of Hollywood (City of Los Angeles), containing some of the world’s most exotic estates and spaces. Since the narrative carries the American dream motif, it makes sense for the crew to shoot in the county, a symbol of that dream. However, it is Oyelow who convinced the executive at Apple and managed to greenlight the location rather than New Mexico, where filming would have been more reasonable. On being asked to elaborate on the same in an interview with Collider, he said, “The great thing about Apple is they got some money. When we started talking to them, and it looked like this was going, I remember I got a call at one point, and they were like, ‘Are you sure about this LA thing?’ I went, ‘I’m absolutely sure.'”
The actor added, “They said, ‘Because if we shoot in New Mexico, we are going to save a ton of money.’ I said, ‘Do you want me to hand the phone to my wife because you can speak to her about the fact that I will not be home for another six months?’ They went, ‘It’s okay, we’ll figure it out.’” That’s how they finalized the decision to film in the City of Angels. The actor further explained that the decision led to many local members of the production team being able to spend time with their families.
The production team took special care to incorporate buildings, signs, and areas in the Valley that evoke the late 1960s and 1970s. Myriad bright colors and designs, way different from the modern, minimal ones, were added to highlight the ambiance, constantly reminding the viewers of the narrative’s setting that symbolizes both ambition and illusion. There is also a sense of nostalgia that the show manages to invoke with its setting, one reminiscent of simpler times.
It also seems that the crew captured a few scenes at Stoney Point Park in Chatsworth, Los Angeles, to showcase natural backdrops and establishment shots. It is a well-known spot among hikers and adventurers and offers a unique setting that is easily recognizable. Not to mention, Los Angeles is where the Warner Bros. Studios, the Walt Disney Studios, and the Universal Studios Hollywood theme park are based. This makes the place a go-to location for film and TV productions, offering ample filming facilities, highly-trained crews, and modern equipment.
Vancouver, British Colombia
The production team also shifted base to Vancouver to capture specific scenes. Nicknamed Hollywood North, it is a high-profile alternative to Los Angeles, offering stunning natural and urban backdrops as well as numerous state-of-the-art studios for international productions. Thanks to Apple’s big budget, the crew was able to utilize all of these and recreate various settings as per the story’s requirements. Other Apple TV+ shows shot here include ‘See,’ ‘Home Before Dark,’ ‘Last of US,’ and ‘Stick.’
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