Where was Forever filmed? Netflix teen dramas’ filming locations, explored

Netflix's Forever splashed not only for its tear-inducing plot twists and angsty teens, but also because viewers were hungry to see more of its desolately beautiful landscape and city magic quietly driving the action. The show, set in Los Angeles in 2018, depended greatly on landscapes to express characters' cultural and inner lives. Where, then, was Netflix's Forever filmed?

No shock there: the sites are actually based on real sites all over the United States. From lively LA neighborhoods to breathtaking Massachusetts coastal landscapes, the mood of the show is a mix of lived-in city life and contemplative beach landscapes.

Let's take a look at where filming actually occurred—and dispel a couple of myths along the way.

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Main location shooting of Forever: Los Angeles, California

Most of Forever was shot on location in Los Angeles, California, and the show's home base. Keeping the show on location in real Los Angeles neighborhoods lends credibility and gravitas to the show and provides the show with a realistic and comforting sense of place. The viewers will relate to such places as Crenshaw and View Park–Windsor Hills that pop up throughout the series.

By shooting on location in actual LA neighborhoods, the show captures the textures of city life—neighborhood streets, high school campuses, and street corners—upon which the characters' lives constantly impinge. They're not sets—they inform the emotional tone and plot of the show.

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School and neighborhood scenes were shot on location in actual LA settings

The majority of the school scenes were shot on location in Los Angeles in actual schools and the adjacent neighborhoods. The series does not shortchange the studio re-creations with these scenes but instead employs practical locations to create a naturalistic look and feel. This choice contributes to the realism of the characters' lives, grounding the emotional consequences in real, day-to-day locations.

Outside of classrooms and school hallways, neighborhoods and city icons are also part of the show. They are the usual urban environments that serve to establish the social composition, age differences, and cultural identity at the center of the story.

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The last episode was shot in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts

Although Forever was primarily filmed in California, the final episode undergoes a highly conspicuous location switch. The episode shooting was relocated to Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts, and among the places filmed are Oak Bluffs, Vineyard Haven, Aquinnah, and Squibnocket Beach.

This environmental change is a stark departure from the previous urban landscape of the series, topped by a seaside facade that is a giveaway of a thematic shift for the series. The island's serene, contemplative imagery is symbolic and carries the direction of the series towards conclusions and contemplation.

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Some of the digital production techniques used in Forever

Although most of the shooting was on location, some scenes were augmented by digital effects and green screen. The techniques were applied judiciously to create moments in which visual continuity or stylistic imperative demanded post-production adjustment.

But it's worth noting that there is no evidence of specially constructed sets or international locations.

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Forever was mostly shot in the United States, with Los Angeles being its visual centerpiece and Martha's Vineyard its location swap in the last episode. The look and feel of the show most closely mirror those of these American locations, describing the lives, culture, and struggles of their characters.

By remaining grounded in everyday environments, By staying rooted in real environments, Forever delivers an emotional authenticity that resonates deeply.

Also read: Forever cast and character guide: Who plays whom in the Netflix show?