The biggest Mid Hudson Valley production of summer 2019 featured HBO’s THE UNDOING, starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant. The series was created by David Kelley (THE WIRE, TREME) and directed by Danish director Susanne Bier (BIRD BOX, AFTER THE WEDDING). Edgar Ramirez, Ismael Cruz Cordova, Matilda De Angelis, Lily Rabe, Noma Dumezweni, Noah Jupe, Sofie Gråbøl, and Donald Sutherland also star in the limited series.
From writer David E. Kelley (Big Little Lies, The Wire, Treme) and director Susanne Bier (Bird Box, The Night Manager, After the Wedding), THE UNDOING focuses on Nicole Kidman’s Grace Fraser, a successful therapist, and her devoted husband, Jonathan (Hugh Grant), and their young son who attends an elite private school in New York City. A chasm opens in Grace's seemingly perfect life: a violent death, a missing spouse and a chain of terrible revelations.
The premier of THE UNDOING was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic and rescheduled for Oct 25..
“2019 was a fantastic year for film and TV production in the Hudson Valley with three HBO productions, including THE UNDOING,” recalls Laurent Rejto from the Hudson Valley Film Commission. “Other production included I KNOW THIS MUCH IS TRUE and THE PLOT AGAINST AMERICA. In addition, we worked on several productions with Netflix, Amazon Studios, Paramount, Hulu and many others. Revenue topped $46-million.”
“The effect of the Covid-19 pandemic has been brutal,” Rejto added, “Regional production came to a standstill in mid March after Ubisoft’s WEREWOLVES WITHIN and the Brazilian production DIARY OF AN EXCHANGE STUDENT. Local crew, cast members and vendors went without work and revenue for months. The film commission also lost an enormous amount of funding due to Covid-19, but we’re making every effort to come back stronger than ever.”
Film and TV productions have adopted strict zones and guidelines. Several films are currently in production, and the film commission is working with HBO on two potential limited series for 2021 and with Showtime for something that will hopefully land here late fall.”
The ability to film on Route 209 was the primary reason that this HBO series moved production to Ulster County for a week. In addition to filming on Route 209, production also took place in the Town of Esopus, and on the Kingston–Port Ewen Suspension Bridge (also known as the Wurts Street Bridge). Tech City in the Town of Ulster was used as a base for filming on Route 209, and also served as the set for a massive blue screen that was used for helicopter shots. HBO made a charitable contribution to all three towns involved.
More than 250 crew members were involved with thousands of rooms nights booked at area hotels. Several key crew members were from the region including production designer Lester Cohen, and part time resident Ellen Chenoweth. Executive producer Celia Costas last worked in the Hudson Valley region on A QUIET PLACE.
To stream THE UNDOING tune to HBO Sundays at 9pm at https://www.hbo.com/the-undoing
The Hudson Valley Film Commission is a 501(c)(3) non profit organization that helps productions secure local crew, cast, locations, vendors, post production facilities, and more! Since 2000, the film commission has supported and worked on over 500 productions, helping to create thousands of jobs and over $250 million in regional economic development.
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