Saagar Kote
Apple TV+’s ‘Smoke’ is a crime drama series that revolves around arson investigator Dave Gudsen and demoted police detective Michelle Calderone, who pursue two serial arsonists. One of the criminals, dubbed the DNC arsonist, employs a divide-and-conquer strategy, initiating simultaneous fires in diverse locations, such as grocery store chip aisles, to keep emergency services busy. The second arsonist targets public areas, utilizing milk jugs filled with fry-oil accelerant to trigger detonations, causing chaos.
The Dennis Lehane creation is loosely based on the critically acclaimed podcast ‘Firebug.’ It features an ensemble cast that includes Taron Egerton, Jurnee Smollett, Rafe Spall, and Hannah Emily Anderson. Dark thematic elements set in vulnerable spaces, claustrophobic cinematography, and realistic fire visuals create a simmering tension in the narrative.
Smoke Filming Locations
Though ‘Smoke’ is primarily set in a fictional town called Umberland in the Pacific Northwest, it was filmed in British Columbia, especially Vancouver and Maple Ridge. According to reports, principal photography started on March 13, 2024, and concluded on July 31, 2024. Certain portions were also taped at sound stages and studio spaces in New York City. During the course of filming, the show was titled ‘Firebug.’
Vancouver, British Columbia
Most of the outdoor sequences in the crime drama were lensed in Vancouver, as it offers a diversity of spaces, from elite streets to beautiful mountains, forests, and beaches. The cast and crew were seen filming at various spots around the region. The visuals of arson that are dominant throughout the narrative were created by utilizing the streets, buildings, and the local flavour that the urban entity has to offer. Vancouver provides a genuine feel of the Pacific Northwest due to its geographical advantages, leading the production team to choose it as their base location.
As reported in the Vancouver Sun, when the creator, Dennis Lehane, was scouting places to shoot the series, he knew he had found the right place when he reached Vancouver. In an interview, he opined that he concluded his search for an ideal location with the port city, as it just felt right. He stated, “I love the cinematic paradox. Here you get all this green, all this rich, rich green, and this incredible blue. And then you got red over here, which is fire. That to me is going to be a visually interesting show.”
When asked by TV Insider about how the crew managed to stage scenes involving fire, especially the opening sequence, Dennis Lehane opined that he and his technical crew came up with a plan based on using practical real fire whenever possible. He was disturbed by the fact that technological improvements in terms of CGI only led to fire looking more artificial. Hence, using real effects made it possible for the computers to render images that looked closer to reality.
The creator also said that the opening scene, where the protagonist is trapped around fire in his dream, was real fire on the burn stage, where you’re blasting fire out through pipes, and that the crew was prepared to shut it off in a millisecond if anything went wrong during the taping. In an interview with Time, he emphasized the team’s commitment to realism, stating, “Right from the beginning, I said to my team, this is what I want it to look like. I don’t want to endanger anybody, but we have to find a way to do practical fire.”
Dubbed “Hollywood North,” Vancouver has grown into a major hub for film and television production, especially given its competitive tax incentives, making it a cost-effective alternative for filming. The seaport boasts excellent studios and experienced crews, which are instrumental in facilitating the production of feature films and shows, such as ‘The Good Doctor,’ ‘The Flash,’ ‘Riverdale,’ ‘Bates Motel,’ ‘Lucifer,’ and ‘A Series of Unfortunate Events.’
Maple Ridge, British Columbia
Several key exterior scenes of ‘Smoke’ require quieter streets and natural settings, which were taped in the small city of Maple Ridge. Its proximity to Vancouver afforded the crew convenient access to production sites, a skilled labor pool, and studio facilities. This city is a popular choice for filming due to its peaceful neighborhoods and lush green spaces. It offers a refreshing contrast to typical busy cityscapes and enhances the Pacific Northwest vibe. Popular projects that were brought to life here include Apple TV+’s ‘Stick,’ ‘The Last of Us,’ Netflix’s ‘Night Agent,’ and ‘The X-Files.’
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