Where Is Amazon's Carnival Row Actually Filmed?
While it may not be revered as one of Amazon Prime's best shows, "Carnival Row" does offer viewers a unique mashup of genres with a star-studded cast of familiar faces in what is one of the true highlights of the show, a beautifully crafted setting. Anyone who has taken the time to appreciate the aesthetics of the Burgue and the other places showcased may very well be interested to know where the entire series was actually shot.
According to a report from Sportskeeda, almost all of "Carnival Row" was shot in the Czech Republic. One of the main points of operation for the production took place in Barrandov Studios, which can be found in the capital city of Prague. But the mystical, Victorian-era-themed realm the series takes place in didn't just happen on a soundstage. The real-world locations the Amazon Prime series took advantage of for filming included many well-chosen places like Liberec, Frydlant, and Krnsko. In addition, filming occurred in the Central Bohemian Region and the Prachov Rocks area as well. And while the vast majority of shooting for the fantasy-mystery drama did, in fact, take place in the aforementioned Czech Republic, trips to other locations had to be made as well. Germany and the United States, specifically Illinois, were also needed in order to help bring the breathtaking fantasy period piece to life.
The only thing more intriguing than where they carefully concocted their approach to creating the world of "Carnival Row" is how they went about making their gorgeously realized ideas look authentic onscreen.
Carnival Row's settings were a challenging, collaborative labor of love
Some shows rely heavily on locations, and others utilize a smorgasbord of CGI and green screen work to sell the fantasy. When it comes to the steampunk Victorian-esque setting of "Carnival Row," the Amazon Prime series went with a healthy dose of both options.
First, they had to cultivate the desired look and construct the sets, which was no easy endeavor. Production Designer Francois Séguin told Architectural Digest that he had a grueling work schedule but did admit he enjoyed all of it. "I was there seven days a week, 12 hours a day for months and months and months. But it was fun!" Part of the difficulty of working in the area they were shooting in, according to Séguien, was that there was "very little Victorian architecture," so he adjusted accordingly. "I decided to go a little bit in between. A kind of Roman London, if you can imagine that," the production designer said in the interview. "The Roman buildings are falling apart."
But while all that was going down, the VFX team worked alongside them to ensure the final product would look outstanding onscreen. "These days, the VFX and production design teams always work very closely, especially on shows like this where the end result is such a mix of the two," VFX Supervisor Betsy Patterson told Architectural Digest. "For most of the buildings you see on the show, the production design team built the bottom half, and the VFX team built the top half, so it was extremely important that we were in sync."
The collaborative efforts of both skilled departments helped turn the fantasy of "Carnival Row" into a reality, allowing viewers to revisit their creations as much as they like.