The Whale is a psychological drama based on the 2012 play of the same name by Samuel D. Hunter, directed by Darren Aronofsky, and revolves around an obese English teacher, Charlie. In his apartment, he watches the world go by while he eats and drinks himself to death.
However, he finds himself desperate to rebuild his relationship with his estranged teenage daughter, Ellie. When Charlie finally works up the courage to approach her, he finds only a hapless, sharp-tongued teenager who isn’t afraid to speak her mind.
Regardless, Charlie remains persistent and attempts to redeem himself as a father. The monotonous atmosphere of the narrative reflects the state in which the protagonist lives his life, far from any excitement, giving us an immersive viewing experience. In addition, the setting of the gloomy and cluttered apartment makes us wonder where “The Whale” was filmed.
Where Was The Whale Movie Filmed?
“The Whale” movie was filmed completely in New York, particularly in Newburgh. According to reports, filming on the Brendan Fraser starrer began in March 2021 and wrapped up in about a month, in April of that year.
Although the story takes place in Mormon County, Idaho, the filmmakers chose to shoot the film in New York City, probably because most of it takes place within the four walls of Charlie’s apartment.
New York
All key sequences for “The Whale” were filmed in Newburgh, a city in Orange County, New York. The production team made particular use of the Umbra Sound Stages facility at 9 Scobie Drive, with the majority of filming taking place in Stage 4, the 18,000-square-foot sound stage.
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Umbra Sound Stages is home to four acoustic soundstages of various sizes, a stage/build workshop, office space, and a 1,500-square-foot cyclorama. All these features make it a suitable recording location for various productions.
The film studio warmly welcomed the actors and crew of the dramatic film. To perfect his role as the protagonist, Fraser worked with a dance instructor for several months before filming began. In addition, he learned how his obese character would move and consulted with the Obesity Action Coalition.
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In addition, it took nearly four hours for the makeup department to fit the actor’s prosthetics, which weighed up to 300 pounds, before filming could begin.
Located in the northeastern United States, just 60 miles north of New York City, Newburgh is not new as a film or television production location. In fact, she has appeared in several projects over the years. Some are “The Return” “I Know It’s Too True”, and “Winter House”.
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