The movie ‘May December,’ directed by Todd Haynes, is a romantic drama starring Julianne Moore as Gracie Atherton-Yu and Natalie Portman as Elizabeth Berry. Elizabeth is an actress preparing to play Gracie in an upcoming film. Many years ago, Gracie had a famous and controversial romance with a young boy named Joe, which even led her to prison. Now, Gracie and Joe are married with twins who are about to graduate from high school.
When Elizabeth comes to stay with Gracie and Joe to learn more about Gracie, the couple’s relationship begins to crumble. Joe begins to understand what happened in his youth, while Elizabeth and Gracie discover similarities and differences in one another. The film examines the complications of understanding another person through Elizabeth’s eyes. Many people are wondering about where the film was shot because it is primarily set in Georgia, particularly near Gracie and Joe’s home.
Where was “May December” Filmed?
‘May December’ was filmed entirely on location in the Savannah Metropolitan Area in Georgia. The filming took place in the Fall of 2022, after about six weeks of preparation. The actual shooting lasted for 23 days in October and November.
Savannah Metropolitan Area, Georgia
The cast and crew of ‘May December’ filmed in several locations in and around the coastal city of Savannah. Some scenes were also shot on Tybee Island, a beautiful beach location in Chatham County. In an interview, Todd Haynes talked about how the filming experience is unique for every film, depending on the story and the vision of the filmmaker. He said, “My films have always been experiments with a lot of ambition and trying to get a lot of stuff shot with limited resources and time, which was true for this film too.”
Challenges During Filming
However, the filming process did have some challenges. Haynes shared that Ed Lachman, who had been his cinematographer since 2002, broke his femur bone and couldn’t shoot the movie. So, Haynes had to get a new director of photography just two weeks before pre-production. He had never worked with Sam Lisenco, the production designer, before, but they had been planning another movie together that didn’t happen.
Despite these challenges, Haynes embraced the situation and made the best of it. He said, “We had to have a plan that worked with the script. I wasn’t freaking out the way everyone does in movies at some point.” He also talked about the ups and downs before and during the shooting. Interestingly, Savannah wasn’t the first choice for the film’s setting. The location changed due to the availability of Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman and other factors. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Haynes praised Savannah for how well it fit the story and served as a perfect setting and filming location for ‘May December.’
Choosing Savannah
Interestingly, Savannah wasn’t the first choice for the movie’s setting. The location changed due to the availability of Julianne Moore, Natalie Portman, and other factors. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the director praised Savannah. He said, “Savannah provided a unique and specific setting for our story. We placed Gracie’s house on Tybee Island, about 20 minutes from downtown Savannah. Elizabeth’s inn, where she stays, is in the historic district of Savannah. The climate, color palette, and marshy, humid environment of Savannah served the film well.”
Filming Locations in Savannah
Savannah is a popular filming destination for movies and TV shows. Besides ‘May December,’ other projects like ‘Pain Hustlers,’ ‘The Menu,’ ‘The Gift,’ and ‘The Act’ have also been filmed here.
Here are the specific locations where ‘May December’ was filmed:
Islands High School: 170 Whitemarsh Island Road, Savannah, Georgia. Some school scenes were filmed here.
Elizabeth’s Lodging: 121 West 36th Street, Savannah, Georgia. This is where Elizabeth stays during the film.
Pet Shop: The Telfair Pets store is really named Exotic Underworlds and is located in Savannah’s Oakhurst district.
Joe Yoo’s Father’s Residence: Courtney Station Apartments in Pooler, Georgia. The scenes at Joe’s father’s house were shot here.
Seaside Restaurant: The Crab Shack at 40 Estill Hammock Road, Tybee Island, Georgia. Some scenes from a seaside restaurant were filmed here.
West Mercer Community Center: First Baptist Church Educational Building, 102 W McDonough Street, Savannah, Georgia. The community center sequences were filmed here.
Gracie and Joe’s House: Catalina Drive, Tybee Island, Georgia.
Café where Elizabeth interviews Gracie: The Gallery Espresso, 234 Bull Street, Savannah, Georgia.
Over the years, Savannah has become a popular filming location, attracting many movies and TV shows. Besides ‘May December,’ other films and TV projects like ‘Pain Hustlers,’ ‘The Menu,’ ‘The Gift,’ and ‘The Act’ have also been shot in this charming Southern city.
Official Trailer
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – May December
Q: Where was ‘May December’ filmed?
‘May December’ was totally filmed in the Savannah Metropolitan Area of Georgia, United States. The production team employed a variety of locales in and around Savannah, including Tybee Island, to depict the film’s unique setting.
Q: When was ‘May December’ filmed?
The filming of ‘May December’ took place in the fall of 2022. The cast and crew spent about six weeks preparing for the shoot and filmed for 23 days during the months of October and November 2022.
Q: Where was the café scene in ‘May December’ filmed?
A: The café scene where Elizabeth interviews Gracie was filmed at The Gallery Espresso, located at 234 Bull Street, Savannah, Georgia, USA. This location provided an authentic and charming setting for the scene.
Q: Where was the seaside restaurant scene in ‘May December’ filmed?
A: The seaside restaurant scenes were filmed at The Crab Shack, located at 40 Estill Hammock Road, Tybee Island, Georgia, USA. This location added a beautiful coastal atmosphere to the movie.
Q: When is the release date of ‘May December’?
A: May December’ was released on Netflix on December 1, 2023.
