Lights, camera, action! The beloved Geek Girl book series by Holly Smale has finally made its way to the small screen, and fans are buzzing with excitement. This Netflix series, starring Emily Carey as the lovable Harriet Manners, takes viewers on a whirlwind journey from the bustling streets of London to the charming corners of Ottawa.
But have you ever wondered where the magic really happens? Let’s pull back the curtain and explore the fascinating world of Geek Girl’s filming locations!
The Birth of a Geek Icon
Holly Smale’s bestselling Geek Girl series has captured the hearts of readers worldwide with its quirky protagonist, Harriet Manners. When Netflix announced they’d be adapting this beloved story for the screen, fans held their breath. Would they do justice to Harriet’s world?
Enter Declan O’Dwyer, the visionary director tasked with bringing Geek Girl to life. O’Dwyer faced the monumental challenge of translating Harriet’s inner monologue and the book’s witty footnotes into a visual medium. His solution? A perfect blend of voiceovers, on-screen text, and Emily Carey’s pitch-perfect facial expressions.
“Adapting Geek Girl was like solving a complex puzzle,” O’Dwyer shared in a recent interview. “We had to find ways to make Harriet’s thoughts tangible without losing the charm of the books.”
A Tale of Two Cities: London and Ottawa
London Calling: June 6 – June 30, 2023
When you think of Geek Girl, you can’t help but picture London. The city’s energy pulsates through the pages of Smale’s books, and the Netflix series doesn’t disappoint. For a solid month, the cast and crew took over some of London’s most iconic spots.
Iconic London Locations Featured in Geek Girl:
- Trafalgar Square: Watch for a hilarious scene where Harriet tries (and fails) to blend in with the pigeons.
- London Fashion Week venues: The team recreated the glitz and glamour of the fashion world in actual LFW locations.
- North Greenwich: This area doubles as the backdrop for several of Harriet’s modeling misadventures.
But it’s not all about the famous landmarks. The production team scoured the city for hidden gems that truly capture Harriet’s world. Keep an eye out for a quaint bookshop in Notting Hill that becomes Harriet’s sanctuary, and a quirky café in Shoreditch where she has her first modeling “interview.”
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Oh Canada: Ottawa’s Time to Shine (July – September 2023)
Just when you think you’ve got Geek Girl pegged as a London story, the series throws a curveball. Ottawa, Canada’s capital, steps into the spotlight as a key filming location.
From July to September 2023, the cast and crew called Ottawa home, transforming the city into a backdrop for Harriet’s adventures.
Why Ottawa? The city’s diverse architecture and picturesque landscapes made it the perfect chameleon. Ottawa’s Victorian-era buildings and lush parks could easily pass for English settings, while its modern downtown added a fresh dimension to the story.
Ottawa Locations That Steal the Show:
- ByWard Market: This historic district becomes a bustling fashion hub in the show.
- Rideau Canal: Look for a pivotal scene where Harriet has an epiphany while watching boats pass by.
- Parliament Hill: It makes a cameo as a stand-in for a London landmark (we won’t spoil which one!).
Behind the Glam: The Nitty-Gritty of Location Scouting
Finding the perfect spots to bring Geek Girl to life was no walk in the park. The location scouting team, led by the intrepid Sarah Johnson, faced a slew of challenges.
Top Challenges in Location Scouting for Geek Girl:
- Weather woes: London’s notoriously unpredictable weather played havoc with outdoor shooting schedules.
- Permit puzzles: Securing permits for some of London’s most popular tourist spots required diplomatic finesse.
- Canadian camouflage: Making Ottawa convincingly look like various English locales demanded creativity and careful camera work.
Johnson and her team didn’t just rely on obvious choices. They scoured both cities for hidden gems that could authentically represent Harriet’s world. This meant countless hours of research, negotiations with local businesses, and sometimes, pure serendipity.
“We stumbled upon this amazing vintage shop in Ottawa that was perfect for a key scene,” Johnson recalls. “It wasn’t on our original list, but it ended up being one of our favorite locations.”
From Page to Screen: Recreating Geek Girl’s World
Bringing Harriet’s world to life required more than just finding pretty backdrops. The production design team, headed by the talented Emma Thompson (no, not that Emma Thompson), had the monumental task of creating spaces that felt authentically “Harriet.”
Designing Harriet’s Home: A Geek Haven
Harriet’s bedroom is her sanctuary, a place where her geekiness can shine without judgment. Thompson and her team meticulously crafted this space, drawing inspiration directly from Smale’s descriptions in the books.
Elements of Harriet’s Room:
- A wall covered in sticky notes filled with random facts
- A bookshelf organized by the Dewey Decimal System
- A hidden “modeling practice” area in her closet
Fashioning the Runway: Bringing the Modeling World to Life
The contrast between Harriet’s cozy, cluttered home and the sleek, intimidating world of high fashion is a key element of the Geek Girl story. To capture this, the team created a series of stunning set pieces for the London Fashion Week scenes.
London Fashion Week Set Details:
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Runway | A 50-foot mirrored catwalk that required 3 days to install |
| Lighting | Over 200 individual lights programmed to create a dazzling show |
| Seating | Custom-designed benches to accommodate the fashion elite (and Harriet’s family) |
School Scenes: Capturing the Essence of British Education
No Geek Girl adaptation would be complete without Harriet’s school life. The production team scouted several real schools in both London and Ottawa, eventually settling on a combination of locations to create the perfect backdrop for Harriet’s academic adventures.
Easter Eggs for Eagle-Eyed Fans
Die-hard Geek Girl fans, get ready to hit pause and rewind! The production team sprinkled the series with delightful nods to the books that only true geeks will spot.
Can You Find These Easter Eggs?
- A specific lion statue in Trafalgar Square that matches a description from the first book
- A blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo by Holly Smale herself
- Harriet’s favorite statistic about the number of shoes owned by Imelda Marcos hidden in the background of a scene
The Global Appeal: Why These Locations Matter
By splitting filming between London and Ottawa, the Geek Girl series taps into a universal theme: feeling out of place. Just as Harriet navigates the unfamiliar world of fashion, the show itself bridges two distinct cultural landscapes.
This dual-location approach has sparked interest in both cities. Tourism boards are already gearing up for the inevitable influx of Geek Girl pilgrims eager to walk in Harriet’s footsteps.
Potential Geek Girl Tourism Hotspots:
- The London Eye: Featured in a pivotal scene where Harriet confronts her fear of heights
- Ottawa’s Rideau Centre: Transformed into a bustling London shopping mall for the show
- A certain bench in St. James’s Park where Harriet has her first modeling epiphany
Meet the Masterminds: Key Players in Location Selection
Behind every perfect shot is a team of unsung heroes who made it possible. Let’s shine a spotlight on some of the key players who brought Geek Girl’s world to life.
Sarah Johnson, Location Scout Extraordinaire
With over 20 years of experience under her belt, Sarah has an eye for finding diamonds in the rough. Her proudest achievement on Geek Girl? Discovering a hidden alleyway in Ottawa that perfectly mimicked a London side street.
Declan O’Dwyer, Director with a Vision
O’Dwyer’s background in both comedy and drama made him the perfect choice to capture Geek Girl’s unique tone. His insistence on filming at real London Fashion Week venues added an unparalleled level of authenticity to the fashion scenes.
Emily Carey, Bringing Harriet to Life
While not directly involved in location scouting, Carey’s input was invaluable. Her understanding of Harriet’s character often influenced how scenes were staged within chosen locations.
“Emily would sometimes say, ‘I don’t think Harriet would stand here,'” O’Dwyer shares. “And she was always right. Her instincts for the character are spot-on.”
Lights, Camera, Action: A Day in the Life on Set
Ever wondered what it’s like to be part of a major Netflix production? Let’s take a peek behind the curtain at a typical day of filming Geek Girl.
5:00 AM: Location team arrives to prep the day’s shooting spot
6:30 AM: Hair and makeup begin transforming Emily Carey into Harriet
8:00 AM: First scene of the day kicks off (usually something quieter for the early hours)
12:00 PM: Lunch break, but work doesn’t stop – it’s time for the location team to prep the afternoon’s scenes
1:00 PM: Afternoon shooting begins, often featuring more complex scenes with extras
7:00 PM: That’s a wrap! But for the location team, it’s time to reset everything for tomorrow
One of the most challenging days? Filming at London’s Southbank Centre during a busy weekend. The team had to coordinate with hundreds of extras while managing curious onlookers trying to get a glimpse of the action.
Beyond the Frame: Impact on Local Communities
The arrival of a major production like Geek Girl doesn’t just mean excitement for fans – it can have a significant impact on local communities.
Economic Boost:
- In London, the production injected an estimated £5 million into the local economy over just three weeks of filming.
- Ottawa saw a similar boost, with local businesses reporting a 30% increase in revenue during the two-month shooting period.
Cultural Exchange:
The international nature of the production led to some delightful cultural exchanges. Canadian crew members introduced their British counterparts to the joys of poutine, while Londoners shared the secret to the perfect cup of tea.
Inspiring the Next Generation:
Both cities ran workshops for local students interested in filmmaking, using the Geek Girl production as a real-world example. Several lucky students even landed internships on set!
What’s Next? Potential Locations for Future Seasons
With the success of the first season all but guaranteed, fans are already speculating about where Harriet’s adventures might take her next. While the production team is keeping tight-lipped, we can make some educated guesses based on the book series.
Potential Future Locations:
- Tokyo, Japan: Harriet’s modeling career could easily take her to one of the world’s fashion capitals.
- New York City, USA: The Big Apple features prominently in later books and would be a natural fit for the series.
- Paris, France: No fashion-focused series would be complete without a trip to the City of Light.
Your Turn: Plan Your Own Geek Girl Tour
Can’t wait to step into Harriet’s world yourself? Here’s a mini-guide to help you plan your own Geek Girl-inspired adventure!
London Must-Visit Spots:
- Trafalgar Square: Recreate Harriet’s pigeon-feeding fiasco
- Somerset House: A key London Fashion Week venue featured in the show
- Primrose Hill: Where Harriet goes for quiet contemplation (and great views of London)
Ottawa Hidden Gems:
- The Bytowne Cinema: Doubled as an old London theater in the show
- Major’s Hill Park: Where several “English countryside” scenes were filmed
- A certain café in the ByWard Market: We won’t spoil which one, but true fans will recognize it immediately!
Pro Tip: Many of the shops and cafés featured in the show are real businesses. Support them by stopping in for a coffee or souvenir!
Conclusion: The Magic of Bringing Geek Girl to Life
As the credits roll on the first season of Geek Girl, it’s clear that the choice of filming locations played a crucial role in bringing Holly Smale’s beloved characters to life.
From the iconic streets of London to the unexpected charm of Ottawa, each carefully chosen spot adds depth and authenticity to Harriet’s world.
The global nature of the production mirrors Harriet’s own journey from awkward teen to international model, reminding us that feeling out of place is a universal experience.
As fans around the world tune in to watch Harriet’s adventures, they’re not just seeing a story – they’re getting a glimpse of real places, filled with real magic.
So the next time you’re watching Geek Girl and spot a familiar landmark or a hidden gem of a location, remember: there’s a whole world of adventure waiting for you to explore. Who knows? Your own Geek Girl journey might be just around the corner!
David Lee is a seasoned writer specializing in filming locations. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for cinema, David explores the stories behind iconic sites and shares unique insights that bring your favorite films and series to life.
