Naman Shrestha
Based on the true story of an enslaved man named Gordon and inspired by the 1863 photos of his rare back showcasing several brutal whippings, Apple TV+’s ‘Emancipation’ is a historical thriller movie directed by Antoine Fuqua. Set in the 1860s, the narrative follows African-American slave Peter who makes a courageous escape from slavery, fueled by his desire to taste freedom and reconcile with his family again. However, the plantation owners don’t make it any easier for him to escape.
Along with their wild dogs, the owners hunt Peter down through the mud-filled swamps while he does everything he can to escape their clutches. The movie’s realistic depiction of slavery gives viewers something to think about and empathize with black people on a deeper level, which is vital as racism is, unfortunately, still a prevalent issue in modern society. Moreover, the setting of the 1860s is complemented by monochrome visuals and different locations. Hence, it is natural for you to wonder where ‘Emancipation’ was shot. In that case, we have you covered!
Emancipation Filming Locations
‘Emancipation’ was filmed entirely in Louisiana, specifically in Greater New Orleans, St. Tammany Parish, Bush, St. Francisville, Baton Rouge, Schriever, and Los Angeles. The maker’s original plan was to begin shooting in early May 2021 in Los Angeles, but it got postponed to June of the same year, with the new location being Georgia. Although, in April 2021, they decided to move the production elsewhere due to the controversial Election Integrity Act of 2021, allegedly designed to restrict voter access. This change of plans cost them around $15 million, as they chose to shoot it in Louisiana, where the story is set.
After several delays, principal photography for the Will Smith-starrer commenced in July 2021, but it halted on August 2 for five days after some crew members tested positive for COVID-19. Finally, it got wrapped up in December of the same year. Now, without further ado, let’s transport ourselves to the 1860s and get a detailed account of all the specific sites that appear in the movie!
Greater New Orleans, Louisiana
Several portions of ‘Emancipation’ were lensed in Greater New Orleans, a metropolitan statistical area that centers on the eponymous city and encompasses eight Louisiana parishes. Situated in the state’s southeastern region, Greater New Orleans is one of Louisiana’s largest commercial hubs. Over the years, it has hosted the production of many movies, including ‘Django Unchained,’ ‘12 Years a Slave,’ and ‘JFK.’
Other Locations in Louisiana
For recording purposes, the cast and crew members of ‘Emancipation’ set up camp at various sites across Louisiana, including in the unincorporated community of Bush, which was their base camp for the most part. St. Tammany Parish and the state’s capital city, Baton Rouge, also served as pivotal production locations for the slavery movie. In addition, several key scenes were taped in and around the Rosedown Plantation State Historic Site at 12501 LA-10 in St. Francisville and Ardoyne Plantation at 2678 LA-311 bldg 1 in Schriever.
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