Naman Shrestha
Inspired by true events, the Kevin Williamson creation, Netflix’s ‘The Waterfront,’ is a family crime drama series that revolves around the Buckley family and their decades-long successful fishing empire. The Buckleys are the go-to suppliers for not just the local fishing industry but also for the restaurants in the area. When the patriarch, Harlan Buckley, endures two unexpected heart attacks, his wife, Belle, and son, Cane, take the reins and try their best to keep their crumbling family business running.
Trouble looms large as Harlan’s daughter, Bree, becomes involved in a complicated relationship that could prove to be dangerous for the Buckleys and their future. Still in recovery, Harlan captains the fishing empire as their ship sails through some treacherous waters, threatening the balance of the business. Starring Holt McCallany (‘Mindhunter’), Melissa Benoist, Jake Weary, and Maria Bello, the show is set in the fictional coastal town of Havenport, which ends up becoming an additional character in the narrative.
The Waterfront Filming Locations
Although ‘The Waterfront’ is set in the fictional town of Havenport, it is filmed across North Carolina, especially in the Wilmington metropolitan area and Southport. According to reports, principal photography for the inaugural iteration of the drama series got underway in late August 2024 and continued for about four months before wrapping up in December of the same year. Throughout the shooting process, the cast and crew had loads of fun on set and returned home with new friends and memories. Moreover, when they were not busy filming, many of them explored the Old North State.
Wilmington, North Carolina
Several locations across North Carolina’s Wilmington Metropolitan Area were utilized to paint the visual canvas of the lives of the members of the Buckley family. A portion of the filming took place at Front Street, particularly at the 100 block of North Front Street and the famous shopping complex called The Cotton Exchange at 321 North Front Street. Spanning about eight buildings embellished with cobblestone-lined walkways and courtyards, it offers an elevated shopping, dining, and entertainment experience. A dinner scene featuring two characters was taped at a Southern cuisine restaurant called The Basics at 319 in the establishment. For showcasing the exterior of the Havenport courthouse, the team made use of the post office at 152 North Front Street.
Shooting also took place at the Cape Fear Club at 1518 Country Club Road, the state’s oldest private country club, which was founded back in 1896. While not confirmed, a few scenes seem to have been shot at Cinespace Studios Wilmington at 1223 North 23rd Street. With 10 column-free stages, skilled crew, first-rate facilities, offices, and multiple other services, the 258,000 sq. ft. complex appears to be an ideal backdrop for a show like ‘The Waterfront’ since it encapsulates the panoramic magnificence of the region, complete with its mesmerizing coastline and old-world charm.
The Chamber of Commerce at 1 Estell Lee Place doubles up as the exterior of the Havenport hospital in the show. The elegant wedding venue called Little Drum Landing on 2 Ann Street also served as a filming site. Providing a picturesque setting of the Wilmington Riverwalk, it takes pride in being the one and only outdoor riverfront venue in the heart of Historic Downtown. Meanwhile, the sequence set in the hardware store was captured at William E. Poole Designs at 12 Market Street. The backdrop of a scene also highlights the French restaurant, Caprice Bistro, and the gift shop, The Black Cat Shoppe, located at 10 and 8 Market Street, respectively.
The cast and crew also visited Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts at 310 Chestnut Street to tape a few sequences. A significant part of the city’s cultural scene, the Old City Hall portion was transformed into a bank for a scene. Additionally, a scene where Grace drives around the area in her vehicle was lensed on South Water Street. Besides that, the team also settled on Suites on Market to double up as a seedy motel, while Diller’s place is actually a property at 4011 Cherry Avenue. The area around Greenfield Lake also makes an appearance in the show.
Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina
Lying just east of the town of Wilmington in New Hanover County, Wrightsville Beach is also a shooting spot for the Netflix production. Multiple sequences feature the South Banks Channel Bridge in the background. Highlighting the coastal scenery of the town, one of the scenes has a character riding down the bridge on their bike, which extends to an area in downtown Southport. Over the years, Wrightsville Beach has aided in the production of many shows and movies such as ‘Dawson’s Creek,’ ‘One Tree Hill,’ ‘Florida Man,’ ‘The Choice,’ ‘Surface,’ ‘To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday,’ ‘Hightown,’ and ‘Sleeping with the Enemy.’
Southport, North Carolina
For shooting purposes, the production team of ‘The Waterfront’ also set up camp in the city of Southport, which is situated in North Carolina’s Brunswick County. Several establishing and exterior shots were taped in the downtown area of the city. In particular, the exterior and deck areas of the Fishy Fishy Cafe at 106 Yacht Basin Drive were transformed into Buckley’s waterfront restaurant. The cast and crew members were also spotted shooting important scenes in various other local spots, including Potter’s Seafood at 94 Yacht Basin Drive, Morningstar Marinas Southport at 606 W West Street.
Moreover, numerous exterior scenes were lensed in and around Yacht Basin Drive, Southport Pier, and the Southport waterfront. Situated at 223 East Bay Street, the Southport Community Building was turned into a production location for a funeral scene. The International Longshoremen’s Local at 211 West 10th Street doubled as the fictional Havenport’s Sheriff’s Office.
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