Naman Shrestha
Adapted from the eponymous novel written by Sarah Vaughan, Paramount+’s ‘Little Disasters’ is a drama series created by Ruth Fowler. The narrative revolves around a long-term friendship between four women — Jess, Liz, Charlotte, and Mel. Despite having nearly nothing in common, the four mothers were brought together because of their common due dates. As they navigate motherhood together, their friendship deepens with time. Their bond complicates and unravels when the stay-at-home mother, Jess, visits the hospital with her baby daughter, who has suffered an unexplainable head injury.
On duty is Jess’ close friend and ER doctor, Liz, who must decide whether to trust Jess or report the situation to social services. Eventually, Liz’s decision causes a ripple effect that ultimately threatens their decades-long friendship, as well as their respective families. Featuring impressive onscreen performances from Diane Kruger, Jo Joyner, Ben Bailey Smith, Shelley Conn, and Emily Taaffe, the tale of friendships and motherhood unfolds in the households of four families and the hospital where Jess’ daughter is admitted for treatment.
Little Disasters Filming Locations
The shooting for ‘Little Disasters’ is conducted in Hungary and England, particularly in Budapest and London. According to reports, principal photography for the Paramount+ production took place in the summer of 2024, between the months of June and July. Emily Taaffe, who portrays Mel, took to social media and expressed her gratitude for being a part of the shoot. She stated, “Much like raising a child, making a tv show takes a village and we were lucky to be surrounded by some of the best! For me(l), special mention must go to @saffroncullane for giving me the wardrobe of dreams & @chloeedwardsmakeup for doing a lot of story telling through the medium of hair. Thanks also to @ronailillamakeup for looking after me so nicely in Budapest and @francescaqmakeup in London. And to @lizziebutterick for her costume prowess on those long hot London days.”
Budapest, Hungary
A major chunk of ‘Little Disasters’ was lensed in and around the capital of Hungary — Budapest. Doubling as the Provence region in France, the city served as the primary production location where the cast and crew members utilized several of its streets and neighborhoods. The filming unit also took over a luxurious property for taping the scenes involving the rental house where the group of friends visit in the second episode of the debut season. Most days, they would go out for dinners and explore the city after the end of each day on set, making the filming experience all the more special.
During a conversation with TV Guide, Patrick Baladi, who portrays Andrew, elaborated on his experience of shooting in Budapest. He stated, “The filming we did in Hungary was great. It was 38 degrees, and my girlfriend came out to visit for a week, we would meet up with JJ [Feild] and his other half and all go out on these electric scooters. My girlfriend hadn’t been on one before, which was the source of great amusement to all of us. We eventually learnt how to negotiate the Budapest traffic and headed down to the river and had some drinks and lunch which was just lovely.”
In the same interview, Jo Joyner, who plays the role of Liz in the series, also spoke briefly about shooting in Budapest. “We filmed in this incredible location with all this beautiful outdoor space – our art designers did such a fantastic job. There was a big dinner table scene where all the couples were interacting – and I loved the nuanced hints that something darker was going on. Then I had some fun bits with Diane (Kruger) where we got to play drunk, be a little bit cheeky and then have a nice big row! We got to do it all,” she said.
London, England
A minor portion of ‘Little Disasters’ was also shot in London, the capital of England and the United Kingdom. For the purpose of shooting, the cast and crew members set up camp in the residential district of Richmond. The renowned River Thames also features in the backdrop of numerous exterior sequences. Apart from the drama show, the capital has hosted the production for many movies and TV shows, including ‘Jay Kelly,’ ‘Love Actually,’ ‘After the Hunt,’ ‘Last Christmas,’ ‘The Diplomat,’ ‘The Night Manager,’ ‘The Crown,’ and ‘Death in Paradise.’
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