When you think of oscar-winning movies, seldom would you think of biographical movies, right? But here we are with the movie Green Book. The movie was so good that it ended up winning countless awards, including BAFTAs, Golden Globes as well as the prestigious Oscar! Today, we will tell you all about the movie and also where was Green Book filmed! So make sure you stick with us till the very end!
Based on the biography written by Nick Vallelonga and Brian Hayes Currie, Green Book is inspired by real-life events. The events took place in 1962 with Nick’s father, Don Shirley, and his bodyguard/driver Tony Lip. The movie is emotionally charged and discusses issues like race, s*xuality as well as other social stereotypes.
So, where was Green Book filmed? In reality, the movie takes place all across the US, with the duo being on tour, but Green Book was filmed mostly in New Orleans, Louisiana. Some other prominent areas in Louisiana include places like Burnside, Mandeville, and Hammond. Filming of a few scenes for the movie also took place in Georgia as well as New York.
The filming locations of Green Book have been meticulously chosen. While we may not be able to tell the difference, someone native to Louisiana will easily point out where the locations are. If you want to challenge yourself in the same way, check out where shows like Pretty Little Liars, The Vampire Diaries, and Heartland have been filmed!
Table of Contents
The Plot Of Green Book | What Is The Movie About?
Before we move on to see where was Green Book filmed, we need to see what the movie has been about! Starring in Green Book, we have stars like Mahershala Ali, Viggo Mortensen, and Linda Cardellini. It’s Ali’s convincing performance as Don Shirley that helped the movie score so many awards.
The movie follows the life of Dr. Don Shirley, an acclaimed pianist in the early 1960s. Don is planning to go on a tour of the midwest and the deep southern regions. And to accompany him, he needs a driver. This is the perfect opportunity for Tony Lip, who is looking for a new job after finishing his contract as a bouncer.
After a brief interview, Don agrees to hire Tony, and the two set off on a car ride to the midwest. It’s important to know that it’s the 1960s, so blatant racism is still quite prevalent. To make the journey easy, Don’s record label hands Tony a handbook of ‘The Negro Motorist Green Book.’ It is a guidebook for African-American travelers for safe accommodation.
But not everything goes smoothly. We see incidences of police brutality, and systemic racism as the two are arrested one night. In another instance, Don is refused entry into a pub where he is scheduled to play. Tony and Don bond with each other throughout the trip, and Don finds himself a true friend and protector in Tony. If you haven’t watched Green Book till now, you really should!
Where Was Green Book Filmed | All The Locations You Need To Know!
Green Book was released in 2018, first at the Toronto International Film Festival and then in theatres nationwide. The movie received positive responses from the audience. However, there has been a critical response to the portrayal of race in the movie. But we think the audience is the best judge of that.
No wonder, almost 4 years after its release, people still want to know where was Green Book filmed! So, check out where in Louisiana the movie was filmed!
Louisiana, USA
While the movie starts off in New York, most of Green Book has been filmed in Louisiana. Green Book is the road kind of movie, with all significant scenes inside the car, out on the road, or elsewhere. This means there was no set location chosen for the movie. This flexibility made the cast and crew independent of the locations.
The actors had to give strong performances since there was no aesthetic aspect that would take over any form of shortcomings! Not that there was any since the writing of Green Book was so solid. That is partly attributed to the first-person accounts in the biography by Don Shirley’s son, Nick Vallelonga.
New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
New Orleans played a significant part in terms of locations for Green Book. Many of the crucial scenes have been shot in locations all over the city. Many of the Hollywood movies and shows that come to be filmed in New Orleans often have a particular theme to them. The themes are mostly supernaturally charged or filled with mystery and suspense.
In Green Book, the New Orleans of the 1960s showed us the bustling music scene that was prevalent in the region. Pivotal scenes in New Orleans include Don Shirley’s performance at the Indiana Performance Hall. It was filmed in the McAlister Auditorium at Tulane University, New Orleans.
Another scene that supposedly took place at the Birmingham Restaurant was filmed at the English Turn Golf & Country Club, Clubhouse, New Orleans. Further, at the beginning of the movie, we see Tony in between jobs. That is because he worked at the Copacabana hotel, which has gone under renovation. International House Hotel, Camp Street, and Carver Theater in New Orleans were used as the exteriors as well as the interior stand-in, respectively.
Burnside, Hammond, and Mandeville, Louisiana Filming Locations
Some other bits and pieces of filming were done around other locations in Louisiana. Houmas House Plantation in Burnside was used as the venue for the Raleigh Concert for Don. Then Ruby’s Roadhouse in Mandeville was used as the location stand-in for Orange Bird.
Final Words
We hope now you know where was Green Book filmed! The movie scored so many awards and deservedly so! You cannot get over the fact that racial discrimination was prevalent in America as late as the sixties. So give the movie a go if you haven’t already!
Also, if you liked the filming locations here, then you should definitely check out where movies like Matilda, Nevada Smith, and Cold Mountain were filmed! If you have a favorite movie or show you would want to be covered, then let us know in the comments down below! We will try to get you all the info that you need!
Is the Green Book movie a true story?
Yes, Green Book is based on a true story. The movie is inspired by the true story of a 1962 tour of the Deep South by African-American pianist Don Shirley and Italian-American bouncer and later actor Frank “Tony Lip” Vallelonga, who served as Shirley’s driver and bodyguard.
Did Ali play the piano in Green Book?
Yes, Mahershala Ali played piano in a few scenes in Green Book, but for close-up scenes of hands, professional pianists were used.
Where to watch Green Book in 2022?
You can watch Green Book online on Netflix in 2022.
