Naman Shrestha
Hallmark’s ‘The Perfect Setting’ chronicles around a young and ambitious woman named Abby, who dreams of becoming a successful jewelry designer. Having spent several years in Belgium with her grandfather, she misses him every now and then. When she finds out that there is a Valentine’s Day Diamond Contest in Belgium, Abby has two reasons for visiting the European country. Thus, she books her flight and pays a visit to her grandfather. Moreover, she hopes to win the contest and take the right step towards turning her dreams into reality.
Unexpectedly, she crosses paths with a charming man named Alexander, sparking a romance between the two. With Jonathan Wright at the helm, the romantic drama movie lives up to its title as it takes the audiences through the cobbled streets and alleyways across Belgium, thus putting the country’s old-world charm at full display and generating questions about whether it was also taped there.
Where Was The Perfect Setting Filmed?
‘The Perfect Setting’ was filmed in Belgium in Northwestern Europe. To be specific, the shooting particularly took place in the Antwerp Province. According to reports, principal photography for the romantic film commenced in November 2024 and was wrapped up within the same month within a few weeks. The cinematographer, Russ Goozee, expressed his excitement about shooting the Hallmark movie in Belgium. By looking at the visuals of the film, it is evident that he and his team made use of the diverse landscapes, favorable weather and Renaissance architecture of the country’s northernmost province to enhance the production’s visual appeal.
Antwerp Province, Belgium
Since the story unfolds in Belgium, the production team of ‘The Perfect Setting’ ensured that the setting is authentic by traveling all the way to the Antwerp Province and taping almost the entirety of the film on location. To be specific, the city of Mechelen served as the primary production location as the cast and crew members set up camp in different parts of the city to shoot exterior as well as interior scenes. During the shooting process, the actors and technicians were spotted recording pivotal sequences on Grootbrug or the Large Bridge in Mechelen. On one of the days, they also occupied the area near a local school in the city early in the morning to capture some shots.
A few scenes of the Hallmark production were also lensed in and around the parking lot of one of the train stations. A portion of the lighthearted film was also shot in the city of Antwerp, popularly known as the diamond capital of the world. From the looks of it, the filming unit of ‘The Perfect Setting’ also took over Grote Markt — the central square of the city of Antwerp — and shot multiple outdoor scenes with the monumental fountain and stunning guild houses in the background. Suderman Straat also served as one of the filming sites for the movie. Apart from the romantic film, Antwerp Province has also hosted the production of many films over the years, including ‘The World of Ludovic,’ ‘A Perfect Plan,’ ‘Blueberry Hill,’ ‘Waiting for Dublin,’ ‘Total Eclipse,’ and ‘Loft.’
The Perfect Setting Cast Details
‘The Perfect Setting’ consists of romantic performances from a couple of well-established actors — Laci J. Mailey and David Elsendoorn. Interestingly, besides being an actor, the former is also a writer and producer. For instance, she has written the script of a couple of short films — ‘An Irish Name’ and ‘Mary Jean Remembers.’
Laci J. Mailey as Abby
Hailing from Fruitvale, British Columbia, Laci J. Mailey portrays Abby, the aspiring jewelry designer, in ‘The Perfect Setting.’ Most of you might recognize her from her roles in ‘Chesapeake Shores,’ ‘The Romeo Section,’ ‘Falling Skies,’ ‘Supernatural,’ ‘Emily Owens M.D.,’ and ‘Ring of Fire.’ Her movie credits include the likes of ‘Newlywed and Dead,’ ‘Betty’s Bad Luck in Love,’ and ‘The Dorm.’
David Elsendoorn as Alexander
The Dutch actor, David Elsendoorn, dons the garb of Alexander in the Hallmark production. Widely known for her role as Jan Maas in Apple TV+’s ‘Ted Lasso,’ he has also been featured in ‘My Norwegian Holiday,’ ‘Single Street,’ and ‘King of the Skies.’ Moreover, he stars in several Dutch projects, including ‘Gelukzoekers,’ ‘Spangas,’ ‘Meisje van plezier,’ and ‘Ik weet wie je bent.’
Besides the above-mentioned actors, the romantic film also features other talented actors in supporting yet important roles, including Hans Royaards as Laurent, Brian Froud as Jules Peeters, and Justin Hay as Hugo. In addition, Gloria Bae portrays a store employee, while Xavier Baeyens plays the role of a security guard.
Read More: Hallmark’s The Sweetest Heart: Filming Locations and Cast Details
