SmallScreen Experts

Both production designer Judy Rhee and location manager Rocco Nisivoccia are well versed in the ins and outs of shooting for TV.

things we were looking for in that particular location,” says production designer Judy Rhee. “We wanted it to have an old-world and a mom-and-pop feel, and this place offered character and texture in terms of old brick and some darker wood.”

Rhee also transformed a bodega in the actual Hell’s Kitchen into a liquor store. “The owner stayed open while we were prepping, and he shut down while we shot there,” Rhee says, praising the accommodating nature of New York City’s small businesspeople. “There are lots of fans of the show, so they’re willing to work with us.”

The season shot in all five New York City boroughs (as well as in upstate New York), and the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, the New York Police Dept. and other city agencies were also supportive, according to Nisivoccia, who credits their help for making it possible to shoot a scene in Queens that features a big explosion that can be seen in the show’s Season 2 trailer. “That was right here in the heart of the city,” Nisivoccia says.

Both Nisivoccia and Rhee were new to the superhero genre and worked hand in hand on the new season, quickly learning how to best serve the needs of the stunt department, whose work is vital to the action- driven show.

Showrunner and executive producer Melissa Rosenberg and exec producer Raelle Tucker provided Nisivoccia and Rhee with scripts for the entire season before the show went into pre-production. “We were able to discuss the long-term arc of the season, whether it was a visual arc or a story arc, and how it would all relate,” says Rhee. “It was immensely helpful to have the scripts ahead of time.”

Nisivoccia also acknowledges the luxury of being able to see the full season before shooting. “Changes always come,” he allows, “but we knew about the big stuff ff and could start thinking about what was coming down the road.” Judy Rhee

Patriot (2017) (10 episodes)

Alpha House (2013-14) (10 episodes)

Meet the Browns (2009-10) (5 episodes)

Rocco Nisivoccia

Quantico

(2017) (21 episodes)

The Good Wife

(2016) (6 episodes)

The Mysteries of Laura

(2015-16) (16 episodes)

The Sopranos

(2007) (9 episodes, assistant location manager)