Where was Sneaky Pete shot? Revisiting key filming locations of the Prime Video crime drama

Amazon Prime Video's Sneaky Pete (a travelogue of city streets, farmland, and Hollywood) was never just a con artist satire. All seasons of the Bryan Cranston-co-created series had Giovanni Ribisi as con artist Marius Josipović, sharp storytelling, and an appealing atmosphere.

Under those poker games, suspicious motel meetings, and family farm drama, a production process still transported the show from coast to coast!

The series felt true to its crime-thriller genre as the first two seasons were set in the lush countryside and rich urban vibe of New York.

But by Season 3, Hollywood lured Sneaky Pete to California. The result? A show that, without fans noticing it, merged West Coast success with East Coast rugged appeal. Let's go over its major filming locations.

The real-life filming locations of Sneaky Pete

Sneaky Pete's first two seasons relied on New York City shooting in packed boroughs and quiet little towns. Margo Martindale, who played Audrey Bernhardt, was fond of the Bernhardt family farm in Orange County, Warwick.

Martindale told Express UK,

"It is gloriously beautiful, it’s about an hour and 10 minutes from the City on a dairy farm. They have a wonderful ice cream place there and they always bring us the ice cream they make."

Not all of the shoots in New York were as calm. For example, filming in Brooklyn had its own challenges. Production was put on hold by an unwell person who walked into a scene one day, Martindale recalled. She sums up the chaos that gave the series its authentic urban feel: "That's just New York City."

Also, when it comes to Marius's schemes, Sneaky Pete was shot in Manhattan, Queens, and Yonkers, including the skyline of New York and its backstreets. Fans were entertained by the danger and mystery of these filming choices, which rooted the show's crimes and frauds in reality.

Hollywood stepped in with its tax credits

Inspired by the state's revamped tax incentives program, Sneaky Pete had sneakily (of course) packed its bags for California by Season 3!

The Hollywood Reporter says the show was partially approved for $9.2 million in tax credits. For context, they spent over $53 million in-state and hired 250 actors, 220 crew members, and over 2,500 extras.

Amy Lemisch, executive director of the California Film Commission, helps tell us how the Golden State could pass for any place.

Lemisch said:

"From the earliest days of TV, shows set in other locales have been filmed in California. (...) One of the many advantages to filming in California is our unique ability to match the look of just about any other locale — from New York City to other planets."

California's scenery made it an ideal chameleon, allowing Sneaky Pete to cash in on Hollywood's facilities while staying true to its East Coast aesthetic. It joined shows that had relocated like this, such as The Affair and The OA.

The shift was seamless for fans. A good production team and some hefty tax credits can make any location feel like home for a wanted scammer! And that was proved by the fact that season 3 looked like it was set in the same world.

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Watch Sneaky Pete on Amazon Prime Video.

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