On Location peels back the curtain one some of your favorite films, television shows, and more.
Materialists marks the return of the New York City rom-com—although, like most things these days, the dynamic has complicated. Lucy (Dakota Johnson) is a matchmaker at a high-end service who, at the Midtown wedding of one of her success stories, not only meets handsome, wealthy, interested bachelor Harry (Pedro Pascal) but also bumps into her ex John (Chris Evans), who is there as a cater waiter. The ensuing love triangle plays out all over Manhattan and Brooklyn at their dreamiest and leafiest—and even takes a dalliance Upstate. It’s a whirlwind tour of the city’s most tasteful.
Production designer Anthony Gasparro and set decorator Amy Silver both count themselves as New Yorkers—although Gasparro now lives in Los Angeles—and took to the task of curating New York like pigeons to a sidewalk. Below, they take us through the hotels, restaurants, and bars that you’ll see in Materialists.
What is each of your relationships with New York City?
Amy Silver: I live in New York. I live in Brooklyn. I’ve lived here for about 30 years, and I’ve lived in like 12 different neighborhoods. Currently I live in Park Slope, but my first apartment was in the East Village, on Avenue B.
Anthony Gasparro: I’m currently living in Los Angeles, but I am a New Yorker through and through. I was born in the Bronx and lived in New York City since like ‘89, then moved to Williamsburg in 1990 so I feel like a sort of pioneer. I also lived mostly in Manhattan, Park Slope, and Carroll Gardens when I was living in New York City.
What was the brief for working on this film? What was Celine Song’s vision for how she wanted to portray New York?