Manhattan is easily the world’s most identifiable movie set. Sophisticated, cosmopolitan, and always authentic, the city’s celebrated neighborhoods have captured the eye of many filmmakers.
At long last, the Washington Heights area gets its time in the spotlight with the Tony Award–winning musical turned film In the Heights. Writer, producer, composer, and star Lin-Manuel Miranda’s tribute to his beloved neighborhood tells the story of three scorching summer days (culminating with a blackout) in the life of the neighborhood’s first-generation residents with backgrounds hailing from Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic. The cast of characters includes a Dominican American bodega owner Usnavi (Anthony Ramos), his honorary grandmother a.k.a. “Abuela” Claudia (Olga Merediz), and a local car service operator Kevin Rosario (Jimmy Smits) in search of the American dream. Last but not least, Miranda makes an appearance as the affable “piragua guy” who pushes a shaved ice cart for a living.
The dream team behind 2018’s Crazy Rich Asians—director Jon M. Chu, Emmy-nominated production designer Nelson Coates, and set decorator Andrew Baseman—once again weave their movie magic to create a home for the tight-knit community. “What we did with Jon for the Asian community with Crazy Rich Asians, we really wanted to do for the Latino community as far as representation goes,” says Baseman.
The sets are a mix of street scenes, bodegas, apartments, a hair salon, public parks, and even a swimming pool (perfect for a Busby Berkeley–style dance number) filmed on location and at a soundstage in Brooklyn that capture the sights, sounds, and flavors of the community. Since the area has seen its share of gentrification with the addition of “Chase Banks, Targets, Chipotles, and people lining their spaces with LED lights,” as Coates notes, “we took it back a notch, without making it feel period and allowing you to see the cultures.”
The interiors of the families are represented with three different styles and color palettes. “The trick for me was to make sure the Dominican characters’ interiors were different from the Cubans, which looked different from the Puerto Ricans,” says Baseman. “To keep things straight, I made a poster of the three different flags with the three characters of that nationality. “
Perhaps the most prolific quote comes from Abuela Claudia, who says in the film, “Little details tell the world we are not invisible.” For the designers, this translates into character-oriented elements known in the industry as “Easter eggs” or “set blessings” that Coates felt strengthened the story. Look for little things such as park rocks in the shape of the Dominican Republic and Miranda’s favorite sports jersey and video games in Usnavi’s apartment. Baseman paid homage to Miranda’s love of musicals by creating posters of Merrily We Roll Along and Kiss Me Kate.