Saagar Kote
‘Get Hard’ is a comedy thriller that focuses on the partnership between James King (Will Ferrell) and Darnell (Kevin Hart). When Millionaire stockbroker James King is convicted of embezzlement and fraud, he is sentenced to ten years in San Quentin Maximum Security Prison. To acquire the necessary skills to ‘survive’ in prison, he seeks the help of Darnell, a car wash owner, who James believes has experience in prison survival. The Etan Cohen directorial is a caper that combines comedy and action in unique ways. The urban spaces seen in the film add depth to the overall narrative. The roads, buildings, and colours in the film reflect certain realities of contemporary American life, and also showcase ideas of class, race, and privilege. The backdrops play a critical role in the overall narrative as they add cultural depth and authenticity.
Get Hard Filming Locations
‘Get Hard’ was primarily filmed in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Los Angeles, California. Principal photography began around March 17, 2014, and wrapped up within a couple of months, in mid-May of the same year. During the shooting process, the cast and crew members had a great time and returned home with loads of fun memories.
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is known for its stunning residential neighborhoods, and also for its vast spaces that contribute to the visual dynamics for films shot here. The property at #4717 Saint Charles Avenue in New Orleans doubled for James King’s mansion in ‘Get Hard.’ The mansion sets the tone for the film by showcasing the elite life of the millionaire. It is one of the grandest homes in the area, featuring a Romanesque essence in its architectural style.
Filming took place over three days in the 9th Ward region of New Orleans. The neighborhood primarily has an African-American presence, making it an apt production location for the Will Ferrell starrer. The scenes featuring the Crenshaw Kings gang were shot in a residential area of this region. An unspecified golf course in New Orleans is featured in a scene where Martin learns that James is working with Darnell. In an interview for The Collider, Etan Cohen said that the main challenge while shooting the film was finding the tone. He believes that the crazy things that happen in the film make it hard to find a specific feel, and the balance between grounded realities and the crazy scenes is a difficult one to achieve.
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles is known for its picturesque locations that make it ideal for all kinds of projects. Located at 10768 Bellagio Road in the neighborhood of Bel Air, the Bel-Air Country Club served as one of the filming sites. The introductory shots featuring the entrance to James King’s mansion are shot in and around the club, which contains an 18-hole golf course and tennis courts. The entrance to the club is an architecturally rich feature utilized at the beginning of the movie. A driving scene was shot around the Smart Pawn Crenshaw at #2627 Crenshaw Boulevard in Los Angeles. The corner of #354 Plymouth Boulevard in the neighborhood of Windsor Square served as the production location where the filming team taped fake prison scenes. The production converted the corner into a makeshift prison set for the film, and the crew reportedly spent two nights shooting on location.
Century City is a neighborhood and business district in Los Angeles. It is one of the prominent urban centers in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The establishment hosts skyscrapers and other grand buildings that add to its magnificence. Interestingly, many films and TV shows have been filmed in and around Century City. ‘Die Hard’ utilized the Fox Plaza in the area. The he classic comedy ‘Crazy, Stupid, Love’ is also shot in this area. When asked in an interview about the experience of working with debutante Etan Cohen, Will Ferrell opined that it was a great experience working with him. he also praised the entire team surrounding the director, including the cinematographer. Kevin Hart said, “From my side, I think I’ll go with what Will said. We got lucky; we got a guy who is a first time director but has been behind the camera and was protected with a team of producers who knew what they were doing.”
Situated in the vibrant business hub of Century City, 2000 Avenue of the Stars, Los Angeles, CA 90067, is a top-tier commercial real estate hub. It is the location of Wealthrop Fund Management in the movie. The scenes featuring James at the beginning of the film, where he is exhibiting his superiority complex in front of his employees, and the scene where he gets a promotion from Martin are shot here. Darnell and James steal the computer from here, following which Gayle catches them.
Read More: Get Hard Ending Explained: How Do James and Darnell Stop Martin?
