‘West Side Story is a love drama that follows the love story of teenagers Tony and Maria. Despite their involvement with rival gangs, they both found a way to come together in this ancient love affair. Based on the 1957 stage music of the same name by Jerome Robbins with the book by Arthur Laurents, the movie comes with a rich legacy and well-deserved big names attached. The production and filming of the movie have also been amazing news.
Where Was West Side Story Filmed?
The West Side Story movie was shot in New York and New Jersey, using a mix of local recording and studio. A few large sets are also built to give the movie its signature sense of beauty. The main photography reportedly began on July 1, 2019, and ended on September 27 of that year. Now let’s take a look at some of the areas used for recording.
The song ‘West Side Story is set in New York City, and the recording takes place locally in most parts of The Big Apple. Most notably, scenes were shot around Manhattan, including dance numbers in Harlem. A group of producers also spent time hanging out in the flatlands of Brooklyn.
Other scenes are reportedly shot at 24 Commerce Street, West 131st Street, and West 113 Street, among many other locations in the city. Met Cloisters, a museum located at 99 Margaret Corbin Drive, Fort Tryon Park in Washington Heights, Manhattan, also provided a background of a few photographs. Sets are being built at Steiner Studios on 15 Washington Avenue in Brooklyn.
The production team reportedly spent about 10 days shooting in the town of Paterson, New Jersey, where the outdoor set was being built. Additional indoor movie production was done at Art Factory Studios, located at 70 Spruce Street. The group also recorded at a venue outside Paterson City Council, located at 155 Market Street.
Lens installation continued at City Hall district and in the West and East Veterans Place car parks in downtown Paterson, where large sets were reportedly built to resemble demolished buildings. Many of the front shops in the downtown area were also provided with temporary renovations to look like New York City in the 1950s, including a photo of Tunney’s Irish Pub on Washington Street and the Yamasa Restaurant on Ellison Street.
Newark City also hosted the filming of the movie ‘West Side Story.’ The National Newark Building, at 744 Broad Street, reportedly represented Bamberger supermarket. Workers reportedly shot near South Orange Avenue and several other locations in Essex County, including the town of East Orange.
