As we posted starting in March and May, HBO is setting a new Queer themed dramedy in the Castro, San Francisco, and other environs of the Bay Area. The pilot has been shot and is in the can with eight more episodes ordered. The once untitled series has at last been named, Looking and production started yesterday.
The series is touted as a Queer hybrid of HBO's off kilter, Brooklyn based, 20 something Girls and the now canceled, long running, Sarah Jessica Parker led ensemble, Sex in the City. Looking spins it's tales around three pals and their ups and downs of living life as out 21st century, SF gay boys.
As previously reported the three principles have remained the same. Jonathan Groff (Glee, C.O.G.), Frankie Alavrez (Smash) and Australian Murray Bartlett (Guiding Light, August). The pilot was written by Michael Lannan, Interior Leather Bar, and directed by Andrew Haigh who made the highly acclaimed film, Weekend who will both continue to be involved.
What's new is that Brit hottie, 32-year-old, out actor Russell Tovey, best known for playing a werewolf in the BBC series Being Human, has been cast as "Kevin', an accomplished video game wunderkind who has achieved financial and critical success at a young age." Guest stars are also being lined up including hunky DILF Scott Bakula (Behind the Candelabra/Men of a Certain Age) and others. Local casting continues to hunt up good examples of San Francisco population to fill in around the principles. Here's the latest list we could find for those looking to do some day work or perhaps get that big break.
The series is set to shoot over the next three months so keep an eye peeled for star sightings and perhaps some of the cast and crew out doing 'research' for their roles or material for story direction. This is the first episodic television series shot in SF since Nash Bridges (1996-2001) and should be a great shot in the arm for local economy. Hopefully the location scouts will continue to pursue Queer destinations for series sets like they did for the pilot when they rented out Este Noche, the last Latino LGBT bar standing in the Mission.
Days before each shoot, notices like the one pictured to the right will be posted to alert passers by that filming will be occurring on certain days. People who are curious can observe from a distance or reroute their pedestrian plans for that day. This notice is for filming on Market and Church near the Apothecarium.
Looking joins Ryan Murphy's film adaptation of the Broadway play The Normal Heart, along with his new show Open, which stars Anna Torv and Jennifer Jason Leigh as a lesbian couple. HBO continues to prove why it's consistently rated the best programing for Queer content by GLAAD multiple years running.
Bay Area/ San Francisco/ Arts & Culture
UPDATE: HBO's New Queer Series 'Looking' Started Filming Yesterday
Published on September 17, 2013
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