In the latest episode of Talking Pictures, my podcast about movies with co-host Kevin Smokler, special guest (and good friend) Justin Sondak joins in a conversation about the varied uses of location in film. We recorded the podcast while visiting Justin in Chicago, itself the home of not a few flicks.
Locations seem to break down into various categories, which we discuss in the podcast, varying from the irrelevant to the crucial. My favorite uses of location usually come from Curtis Hanson, who tends to make location both a character and a thematic element in his films. The Pittsburgh of Wonder Boys, for example, shares a lot in common with the film’s protagonist, a once-great writer fallen on hard times.
It’s something I don’t think about much when I’m making or writing movies, often because I’m creating worlds from scratch or am limited to location by budget constraints, but I want to more. Location is an implicit consideration in my current project, as it is in the title, so maybe that will give me some practice.
What are some of your favorite uses of location in film?
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