When it comes to movies and series, apart from their casting, storyline, and more, location plays as crucial a role as anything else. Imagine if we did not have that iconic Notting Hill Bookshop from Notting Hill, or how different Game of Thrones would feel in today’s life if they hadn’t shot it in Dubrovnik, the capital of Croatia. While actors, directors, and a good script are a necessity, sometimes the right location and view can provide the overall product with an extra edge.
Well, the same can be said for Jon Hamm’s new Apple TV+ show, Your Friends & Neighbors. This dark comedy-crime drama offers a pretty sharp and satirical lens on the lives of the ultra wealthy, in a narrative that is equal parts absurd and emotionally resonant. But what has provided the series a little extra ‘edge’ are the locations the series has been shot in, indirectly helping it carve out a distinct niche for itself in a landscape where stories of wealth, betrayal, and moral ambiguity often dominate.
Created by Jonathan Tropper, the series so far is being lauded for its clever writing, nuanced performances, and a setting that feels not only aspirational but eerily hollow. Set in a fictional place called the Westmont Village, the place isn’t just a backdrop for the show’s eventful happenings but is rather a character in its own right. From its picture-perfect manicured lawns to sprawling McMansions, the neighborhood has just the right amount of ‘air of untouchable privilege’ as well as an ‘air of secrecy’ that might undo its very fabric.
So if you have been watching Your Friends & Neighbors, wondering where the series was shot, you might be surprised that many of these locations are pretty easily recognizable. Here is all you need to know about this latest Apple TV+’s latest sitcom and where it was shot.
What Is Your Friends & Neighbors About?
Before we start on where Your Friends & Neighbors was filmed, let’s first dive into what the series is all about. Created by Jonathan Tropper (known for Banshee and Warrior), the series is a nine-episode, dark comedy-crime drama that so far seems to be thriving on the tension between outward perfection and inner chaos.
Your Friends & Neighbors | Credits: Apple TV+
At its helm is Jon Hamm‘s Andrew Cooper (or just Coop), a once-successful hedge fund manager whose life couldn’t be in any worse place now. Following his divorce from his wife, Mel (portrayed by Amanda Peet), after he found her cheating on him with his best friend, Coop also ends up losing his job due to a ‘workplace indiscretion’ (he had consensual s*x with a junior employee who got him fired over a fake complaint).
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Now at his wits’ end and facing financial ruin, a two-year non-compete clause, and mounting alimony and child support payments, Coop is forced to confront his fragile privileged existence that has fallen apart like a house of cards. But rather than downsizing or finding work elsewhere, he turns to an unlikely solution that is sure to come back to bite him in his gluteus maximus: stealing from his wealthy neighbors in the Westmont Village.
Jon Hamm as Andrew Cooper in Your Friends and Neighbors | Credits: Apple TV+
While it starts as a desperate attempt to maintain the lifestyle his family has fallen so accustomed to, it soon turns into a dangerous game as secrets begin to unravel, hidden behind his neighbor’s perfect lives and polished facades. Rather a mix of Breaking Bad and Desperate Housewives, but not quite like either, the show is a brilliant blend of genres and so far has been garnering rave reviews.
Apart from Jon Hamm and Amanda Peet, the series included an ensemble cast: Olivia Munn as Samantha, Coop’s neighbor and lover dealing with her own divorce; Lena Hall as Ali, Coop’s troubled musician sister; Mark Tallman as Nick Brandes, Coop’s best friend and Mel’s new lover; Hoon Lee as Coop’s business manager, Barney Choi; Isabel Gravitt as Tori Cooper, Coop’s 17-year-old daughter; Donovan Colan as Hunter Cooper, Coop’s teenaged son, and a lot more.
Each character mentioned above and more have their demons to deal with, whether it be infidelity or greed, making Westmont Village more of a ‘microcosm’ of human flaws, secrets, and more.
Where was Your Friends & Neighbors filmed?
The over-the-top wealthy, spotless, affluent Westmont Village was brought to life through careful location scouting in New York’s Hudson Valley. A region known for its scenic beauty and upscale communities, the place is located in Westchester County. Principal photography of the series began in April 2024 and used several scenic sites to create the show’s affluent feel and vibe.
The Hudson Valley was also chosen for its contemporary architecture, lush, green landscapes, and its close proximity to New York City. Thus, an ideal stand-in for a suburb populated by financial elites, here is where the fictional place of Westmont Village was created. From the region’s charming marketplaces to its awe-inspiring estates and green landscapes, it helped bring the aspirational yet isolating vibe of the fictional place to life (via Soap Central and 4Filming.
Some key filming locations include:
Woodlea Mansion, Briarcliff Manor: This historic estate served as the backdrop for many of the country club scenes, where Coop meticulously investigates the social hierarchies of his peers. From the mansion’s sprawling grounds to its elegant interiors and more, it is the perfect place to show the exclusivity and elegance of Westmont Village’s elite.
Rye, New York: The coastal city of Rye also served as the backdrop in Your Friends & Neighbors. Known for its architecture, the show features several outdoor shots from the city, including Purchase Street. Even the recurring hangout spot in the series, Sunshine Coffee Roasters, is located in Rye, adding a bit of quaint charm and modern sophistication to the series’ aesthetics.
Midtown Manhattan: While Hudson Valley served as the place where Coop resided in, his former life in the financial world were shot at 767 Third Avenue, a sleek office building, and the RT60 Rooftop Bar & Lounge at the Hard Rock Hotel, where Coop meets characters like Liv (Kitty Hawthorne).
College of New Rochelle (Masonic Care Community): This location was used for scenes involving Coop’s son, Hunter, at school. Filmed at the former College of New Rochelle, the place grounded the show’s dynamics in a more realistic setting.
Astoria, Queens: The 3119 23rd Avenue in Astoria serves as Varga’s Pawn Shop in the show, a gritty contrast to the show’s otherwise sprawling and polished aesthetics.
Sterling Ridge, Harrison, New York: This 10,000 sq ft estate serves as the Cooper Family Mansion. Originally designed by Rosario Candela in the 1930s, this lavish mansion adds the glitz to Cooper’s life and lifestyle as he fights to save it.
Fordham University, Westchester Campus: This elegant and sophisticated location served as the wellness center where Mel, Coop’s ex-wife works at.
Moreover, some scenes featured in the show were also filmed in New Jersey, especially the northeastern part of the state. Places like The Garden State, Yankee Doodle Tap Room, Thomas Sweet, Ridgewood’s Bluemercury beauty shop, the Valley Hospital, Bergen County Sheriff’s Office in Paramus added to the show’s visual palette (via Moviedelic and NJ.com).
Thus, the Hudson Valley and all the other places featured in the show extend beyond mere backdrops. From their serene landscapes to their imposing presence, all play a crucial role in the characters’ life and struggles, mirroring their internal conflicts. By grounding Your Friends & Neighbors in this concrete but idealized world, the creators make Westmont Village feel admirable, aspirational, and claustrophobic all at the same time, serving as an ideal backdrop for Coop’s moral fall.
Your Friends & Neighbors is currently streaming on Apple TV+.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
