The comedy, which tells the story of soap opera writer Jack Gable, was filmed in the USA, in the state of California and New York City. Filming began on March 14, 1990 and ended in June of the same year. The main part of the filming took place in Southern California, including Los Angeles. In particular, two luxurious estates in Montecito, near Santa Barbara, were used. Additional location shots were made in Pasadena, at a residence known as Wayne Manor, familiar to viewers from the Batman series. Filming also took place in Griffith Park and Elysian Park in Los Angeles, on the Angeles Crest Highway in the San Gabriel Mountains, in Malibu State Park, at Grier Ranch in Murrieta, at the Walt Disney Company's Golden Oak Ranch, and at Brookfield Farm in Thousand Oaks. The second part of the filming took place in New York. Here, scenes of Jack's house on West Gramercy Park and his office on 6th Avenue were shot, as well as various city scenes, mostly filmed on various streets in Manhattan. The famous Central Park also appeared in the frame. The choice of these locations made it possible to create a vivid contrast between the real world and the fictional universe of the soap opera.

Filming Locations:

Jack's Apartment

In the Movie

The scene where a cable TV repairman comes to Jack Gable. When he manages to fix the TV, Jack turns on the soap opera "Beyond Our Dreams". The repairman makes a vulgar comment about the actress and asks Jack if he really watches such shows. Jack replies that he writes these shows and is the screenwriter of this soap opera.

In Reality

The scene was filmed in a residential building on Gramercy Park West in Manhattan. The building is located on the west side of Gramercy Park, between East 20th and East 21st Streets. This area is known for its quiet and safe atmosphere, as well as well-preserved architecture. Gramercy Park itself is a small private park, accessible only to residents of nearby houses who have a key. The area around the park is considered one of the most prestigious and picturesque in New York: buildings here usually do not exceed 20 floors, and many of them have historical value. This place was chosen as the home of the main character because of its picturesque location and the prestige of the area. The area emphasizes a certain status of the main character, who, although he works on a soap opera, lives in a fairly respectable place.

Meeting Place of Jack and Laura

In the Movie

The scene where Jack and Emma meet to go together to Vermont for the weekend. Laura is the star of the soap opera "Beyond Our Dreams", which Jack writes. He is strongly infatuated with Laura, but his feelings are not reciprocated, and she constantly uses him. Laura is dumped by her lover and invites herself on a trip with Jack to Vermont for the weekend. Jack picks her up, but at the last moment her lover Marcelo arrives at her house, whom she wanted to spite by going to Vermont. They kiss and eventually Laura dumps Jack, and he goes to Vermont alone.

In Reality

The scene was filmed at Urban Plaza in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan. The plaza, occupying half a block, serves as a transition between the commercial and residential zones of Worldwide Plaza. It features a fountain by Sidney Simon, cafes, and seating areas. The choice of Urban Plaza as a filming location is due to the fact that this place combines comfort and urban infrastructure, which corresponds to the lifestyle of the famous actress who lives here according to the film's plot.

Restaurant

In the Movie

The scene where Jack and Janet stop for a bite to eat at a restaurant during a walk. Janet is Jack's friend and often acts as his advisor. When Jack finds himself in the fictional world of Ashford Falls, she tries to help him sort out his feelings for Laura. And although Jack is initially focused on his feelings for Laura, he gradually begins to realize that Janet is the person who is always there and supports him. As a result, Jack begins to think that true feelings may be closer than he thought.

In Reality

The scene was filmed at the New York Delicatessen restaurant at 104 West 57th Street in Manhattan, located in a 1938 building for the famous Horn & Hardart automat restaurant chain. In 1977, Horn & Hardart abandoned its building on 57th Street, and it was converted into the New York Delicatessen. This place became a popular spot for lunch and meetings, attracting both locals and tourists due to its diverse menu and convenient location in the city center. Unfortunately, the building was plagued by misfortune. In 1986, a tragedy occurred at the New York Delicatessen: a waitress was killed by her boyfriend, who worked there as a chef. In 2006, the building was sold for $63 million: the Landmarks Preservation Commission refused to hold hearings on granting it official city landmark status, and the building was demolished. Along with it, the New York Delicatessen disappeared from here. On the site of the former restaurant, a glass Hilton hotel was built, symbolizing changes in the architectural landscape of Manhattan and a departure from historic establishments to modern commercial properties. At the time of filming, city residents still remembered this place and its historical background; moreover, the establishment was popular due to its tasty food and central location, so it is not surprising that the filmmakers decided to include it as a location in the plot.