Home / Arts and Entertainment / Filmmaker Nia DaCosta Shares Unique Filming Demands for 1950s England-Set Drama
Filmmaker Nia DaCosta Shares Unique Filming Demands for 1950s England-Set Drama
16 Nov
Summary
- Filmmaker Nia DaCosta scouted over 200 houses to find the perfect location for her 1950s England-set film
- Production designer Cara Brower had to ensure the house could handle stunts like firing guns, setting off fireworks, and dropping a chandelier
- Star and producer Tessa Thompson was not allowed to drink water in the historic house used for filming
In November 2025, filmmaker Nia DaCosta discussed the meticulous process of scouting locations for her upcoming 1950s England-set film. DaCosta explained that production designer Cara Brower initially looked at 200 houses before finding the perfect property, which had to meet a specific set of criteria.
"The house had to be old and have a gravitas to it," DaCosta said. "And so [Cara] looked at 200 houses, and I looked at five in the end because she did a lot of the groundwork." The key requirements included being able to shoot a gun off the roof, set off fireworks, and even drop a chandelier inside the home without damaging the historic structure.
Star and producer Tessa Thompson added that they weren't even allowed to drink water in the 300-year-old house used for filming. Despite the unique challenges, DaCosta revealed she wrote the script with Thompson in mind for the lead role, drawing inspiration from her passion for the project during a difficult time.
