‘Snowpiercer’ is a dystopian thriller series based on the 2013 film of same name, Snowpiercer, by Bong Joon-ho and inspired by the French graphic novel ‘Le Transperceneige.’ The story is set in a world that has become a frozen wasteland. In this world, a train called the Snowpiercer carries the last of humanity. The train is divided into luxury compartments for the rich and crowded bogies for the poor. The series explores themes of class discrimination and political issues, all set in the confined space of the train. To create the action-packed scenes and detailed settings, careful planning was needed. Here’s a look at where ‘Snowpiercer’ was filmed.
Where was “Snowpiercer Season 1” Filmed?
The filming for the first season of ‘Snowpiercer’ started on August 20, 2018, and ended on January 24, 2019. Since the show is set on a train, most of the filming was done indoors to create the feeling of being on a moving train. Most of the filming took place at Martini Studios in Langley, British Columbia. The second season began filming in October 2019 but was paused in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Langley, British Columbia
The primary filming location for ‘Snowpiercer’ was Martini Studios in Langley, British Columbia. Martini Studios has large soundstages where the entire train interior was built. This studio, which opened in 2017, has 250,000 square feet of space and can accommodate multiple productions at once. Along with ‘Snowpiercer,’ the studio has been used for other Netflix shows like ‘Chilling Adventures of Sabrina’ and ‘Another Life.’
Since the show is mostly set inside a train, the filming was done on soundstages at the studio. The art department had to work hard to make the train interiors look real. Most of the visuals, including the train’s exterior and action scenes, were created using a mix of practical effects and CGI. For example, the scene with the train’s aquarium car was created using CGI.
When filming started, the director of the first episode, Scott Derrickson, shared a picture from the set to announce the news. The cast and crew also posted pictures on social media from Martini Studios. Aaron Glenane, who plays “The Last Australian” on the train, shared a photo from the set and tagged Martini Film Studios.
Vancouver, British Columbia
The second season of ‘Snowpiercer’ began filming in October 2019 in Langley, but production was paused in March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite this, British Columbia’s film industry continued working on new content. Some parts of ‘Snowpiercer’ were filmed in Vancouver, especially during the pandemic. Annalise Basso, who plays LJ in the series, mentioned that filming for season 2 was completed before the full impact of the pandemic was felt.
On a lighter note, Basso joked that she hopes the team can one day take the passengers out of the train. She suggested that they might need to go to places like Iceland or Greenland to shoot exterior scenes. The art department used special effects like gimbals and airbags to mimic the vibrations of a moving train. CGI was also used to create scenes with bloodshed and the aquarium inside the train.
The first season of ‘Snowpiercer’ was mainly filmed in Martini Studios in Langley, British Columbia, with additional scenes shot in Vancouver. The use of advanced set design and CGI helped create the unique and immersive world of the show. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, the production team worked hard to deliver a visually stunning series that captivates viewers with its story and setting.
Official Trailer
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Snowpiercer Season 1
Q: Where was ‘Snowpiercer (2020)’ filmed?
A: The first season of ‘Snowpiercer’ was primarily filmed at Martini Studios in Langley, British Columbia. Some scenes were also shot in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Q: When did the filming for ‘Snowpiercer (2020)’ take place?
A: The filming for the first season of ‘Snowpiercer’ started on August 20, 2018, and wrapped up on January 24, 2019. The filming of the second season began in October 2019 but was paused in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Q: Where is Martini Studios located?
A; Martini Studios, where most of ‘Snowpiercer’ was filmed, is located in Langley, British Columbia, Canada.
Q: What other shows or movies have been filmed at Martini Studios?
A: Besides ‘Snowpiercer,’ Martini Studios in Langley, British Columbia, has also been used for other Netflix shows like ‘Chilling Adventures of Sabrina’ and ‘Another Life.’
Q: When was the first season of ‘Snowpiercer’ released?
A: The first season of ‘Snowpiercer’ premiered on May 17, 2020.
