After we set up at the Troy Waterfront Farmers Market this morning, I went for a walk and took a step way back in time.
Sections of downtown Troy, NY, have literally been transformed. HBO is filming a new 10 part movie series called, The Gilded Age.
Julian Fellowes, writer, and creator of Downton Abbey, latest period drama, The Gilded Age, is set in and around New York during the 1880s. The title refers to this time of prosperity in the United States thanks to the industrial boom, and the show will follow the comings and goings of the upper-crust of New York’s high society during that time.
More than 300 people have been on hand transforming the streets of Troy. Crews have turned the paved streets into dirt roads and will soon lay cobblestone “jigsaw puzzles.” Modern signs have been removed, building’s facades changed and landscape brought in.
Storefronts have also taken a step back in time. Some businesses are still open for business behind the scenes; others have been paid to close during the filming.
Locals were able to audition for parts as extras for the series. I never knew the attention to detail they spent on extras.
One woman we know from the market is an extra and sat for 4 hours to have her hair done just to walk down the street. She was then squeezed into a corset and a huge bustled period dress.
Everyone says the HBO crew has been very nice and accommodating while setting the stage for the series, originally scheduled for shooting last year. Covid 19 had other plans.
The filming is in such early stages; there isn’t even a trailer for the series yet. The star-studded cast is here and has started filming this week. Shooting is scheduled through most of June. Christine Baranski, Cynthia Nixon, Amanda Peet, and Morgan Spencer are part of the cast.
For the last two days, the extras all sat in the Troy Music Hall. Everyone sat on one side, then the next day, the other side. The extras were rearranged on the second day for the illusion of a full audience in the music hall. One said they sat for a long time while they shot the same scene 12 times, the actress had trouble pronouncing one word.
Walking around the transformed streets early this morning in the rain was almost magical. The storefront window displays and the attention to detail were amazing to see. I could really imagine what life was like back in 1880 in the greatest city in the world, NYC.
I drudged through the dirt-filled streets and was glad I wore my muck boots this morning after seeing the weather forecast.
I felt like I struck gold when I came upon a tent filled with horse-drawn carriages. I was literally all by myself with only one other guy out taking photos out in the streets as well. We commented to each other how cool it was actually to see and experience the set.
It’s pretty weird to see behind the scenes and the many trucks, lights, scaffolding, trailers, and bucket trucks amongst the 1880 scenery.
Inside some of the storefronts, artists were still at work lettering the windows and antiquing the doorways. Others were dressing the window vignettes with period items. I told one of them how amazing it looked; he got a big smile on his face and said, thanks!
I’m not sure I will ever have another opportunity like this again. I was so happy the streets were deserted; having a bunch of other people walking around would have completely spoiled the magic for me.
I went back to our spätzle booth at the market to cold, rainy conditions; everything was soaking wet. It was a long day, but more people came to the market regardless of the weather. I could tell the ones who checked out the movie set, they all had muddy boots and shoes like me.
So cool! I wish we had gone today – maybe we can check it out before we leave town Tuesday.