Upamanyu Biswas
Netflix’s ‘Bad Thoughts’ presents a series of vignettes brought to life by creator Tom Segura, delving into several disturbing stories that capture the dark side of humanity in a satirical manner. Each episode pushes the limits of the unexpected as questions of ethics and morality are reframed into hilarious narratives. Segura, who also stars in the series, takes on a variety of roles throughout each episode. In one of them, he plays a country music star who decides to kidnap his fans after losing his creative edge. Desperate to find some answers, he makes them live in an impoverished town under his rule, exemplifying the chilling yet amusing take on life. Thus, the dark comedy series takes a unique approach to storytelling, which also extends to its colorful settings that try to reimagine reality in new ways.
Bad Thoughts Filming Locations
Filming for ‘Bad Thoughts’ primarily takes place in two regions – Austin, Texas, and Los Angeles, California. The principal photography for season 1 likely took place during June 2024. As the series dives into numerous madcap storylines with imaginative backdrops, Texas and California’s diverse neighborhoods offer the perfect destination for much of the production. They are home to all types of terrain, including beaches, forests, mountains, and deserts. At the same time, the two states are also resplendent with eye-catching urban architecture that is stunning to look at, especially in the hilly areas of Los Angeles. Thus, the show’s disparate storylines can be brought to life authentically in the dry, lush, and concrete locales of the two regions, which also draw millions of tourists annually.
Austin, Texas
‘Bad Thoughts’ is largely filmed in the city of Austin, the capital of Texas. The crew utilized the Troublemaker Studios at 4900 Old Manor Road as one of the prominent backdrops for huge chunks of the narrative. It provides sound stages, green screens, and other highly-vaunted production services that are vital in bringing the ambitious scope of the Tom Segura-led satire to life. Outside the studio environment, Texas is also famed for its idyllic countryside, warm weather, notable landmark spots, and a robust infrastructure that can support any type of filmmaking venture. The live music scene in the city is also worth singling out as a vibrant industry. Cast and crew shared their experiences of filming in the region, describing it as a vital spot for the show’s colorful settings and imaginative concepts.
Several past movies and shows have found Austin the perfect spot for filmmaking, mainly because of the vast array of locales to choose from. The southern part of the city is also notable for its contribution to racing, mainly due to Formula One’s Circuit of the Americas, which has previously hosted the United States Grand Prix. Other regional tourist destinations include the Texas Capitol, Bullock Texas State History Museum, Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, UT Tower, Zilker Metropolitan Park, and Neill-Cochran House Museum. There is a lot of history, heritage, and splendid architecture scattered around the area, touching upon some of the main nerve centers of the entire nation.
Los Angeles, California
Although set in increasingly disturbing realities, ‘Bad Thoughts’ was filmed in California’s capital city, Los Angeles. The city is known as a haven for most filmmaking projects, mainly because of the state-of-the-art production facilities and beautiful outdoor areas. The teeming and bustling environment is capped with several iconic landmarks such as the Hollywood Sign, Walt Disney Concert Hall, TCL Chinese Theatre, Griffith Observatory, Dodger Stadium, Universal Studios Hollywood, and Hollywood Walk of Fame. Some of these dazzling spots even feature in the encompassing drama and intrigue of the show’s different episodes. However, some scenes may have been recorded in a studio, especially in the heightened, fantasy-like storylines.
While the world views Los Angeles as the home of Hollywood, it is also graced with idyllic Mediterranean weather, appealing cuisines, palm tree-lined streets, and as the home of various luminaries. As the shining beacon of celebrity culture, the city serves as an interesting comparison with some of the themes prevalent in ‘Bad Thoughts,’ particularly as it delves into surrealistic concepts that require a high degree of creativity – a quality displayed in abundance throughout the region. In the past, several projects have been lensed in the areas of Los Angeles, such as ‘You,’ ‘Black Mirror,’ ‘The Studio,’ ‘The Office,’ ‘Modern Family,’ and ‘Succession.’
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