Where was Smoke shot? Revisiting key filming locations of the Taron Egerton series

Apple TV+’s Smoke is a gripping and atmospheric crime drama that delves into the twisted psychology of serial arsonists and those hunting them. The show is created by Dennis Lehane, known for Mystic River and Shutter Island.

At the heart of the show is Dave Gudsen, a haunted arson investigator with a troubled past. Along with him is Michelle Calderone, a recently demoted police detective. They hunt two dangerous antagonists, one who uses the "divide and conquer" method, and another who crafts bombs from milk jugs filled with accelerants. The show also unravels the psychological damage behind the crimes.

To portray a world full of versatile landscapes, the makers have utilised some spectacular real locations for filming. The fictional town of Umberland is situated in the Pacific Northwest, while the series was primarily shot in British Columbia, Canada, with Vancouver as the main hub.

Read on to know the key filming locations of the Taron Egerton series.

Here are the key filming locations of Smoke

To bring forth the gritty and moody world of Smoke, the series has utilised its locations intelligently. As mentioned, the fictional town of Umberland is from the Pacific Northwest, while Vancouver has served as the core filming location. Vancouver is known for its architectural variety, dense forest, and overcast skies. Moreover, it blends naturally with the Pacific Northwest aesthetic. The show has shot several street-level arson scenes, urban investigations, and exteriors.

Next is the Maple Ridge in British Columbia, a suburban area with a more residential feel, providing a small-town backdrop. Therefore, it is perfect for portraying isolated neighbourhoods disrupted by sudden fires and chaos. Additionally, some interior scenes are shot in Sound Stages in New York City. The controlled space helped shoot the close quarters moments of interrogation rooms, fire labs, or emergency dispatch centres.

Dennis Lehane was the one who scouted the locations for Smoke, and when he saw Vancouver, he described it as “cinematically paradoxical” while speaking with the Vancouver Sun:

“I love the cinematic paradox. Here you get all this green, all this rich, rich green, and this incredible blue. And then you got red over here, which is fire. That to me is going to be a visually interesting show.”

Lehane also insisted on using actual fire rather than relying heavily on CGI. It was a bold and creative decision, especially in the dream sequence where the protagonist is surrounded by fire was filmed on a burn stage with real fire piped through safety controllers. Additionally, the team was prepared to shut down the fire in a millisecond:

“Right from the beginning, I said to my team, this is what I want it to look like. I don’t want to endanger anybody, but we have to find a way to do practical fire,” Lehane said in an interview with Time Magazine.

He believed CGI fire lacked realism, despite advancements in tech. By using practical effects, they could achieve visually authentic and emotionally immersive scenes, even when digital rendering was later used to enhance, not replace, the fire. This approach reflects Lehane’s gritty, grounded storytelling style, which is seen in his previous work.

Why does Vancouver and Maple Ridge work in Smoke so perfectly?

Smoke isn't the first show getting shot in Vancouver. The city's potential has been utilised by many shows, including The Good Doctor, Lucifer, and Bates Motel. These shows have been filmed in and around Vancouver, showcasing its ability to stand in for a variety of settings.

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On the other hand, Maple Ridge, a small city in British Columbia, played an essential supporting role in the visual identity of Smoke. Its quiet streets, dense greenery, and suburban calm made it the ideal location for scenes requiring an atmospheric contrast to Vancouver’s more urban energy.

Moreover, it is near Vancouver, suggesting the crew's smoother transportation from one location to another. It comes with wooden trails and winding roads with misty backdrops, and it worked well for scenes depicting residential tension and isolated arson attacks. The Last of Us is another show that has utilised the same location to complement the film world.

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