# Why are some American shows filmed in England or Europe? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 21, 2015, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-shows-filmed-in-england-or-europe/718199 "2015-04-21T16:11:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-shows-filmed-in-england-or-europe/718199/1 "2015-04-21T16:11:58Z")
Is it mostly a cost savings move? Game of Thrones being a recent example with the filming in Ireland, Iceland and other places in Europe. Also I wonder about union issues being simpler in Europe too. (yes, I know England is part of Europe. ) ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-shows-filmed-in-england-or-europe/718199/2 "2015-04-21T16:14:12Z")
Tax breaks is a usual answer. ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-shows-filmed-in-england-or-europe/718199/3 "2015-04-21T16:18:32Z")
Tax in Ireland, for sure. Dotted around London, there’s also a huge residual blue screen skill set from Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings (the latter filmed in NZ). Also seen recently in movies like Gravity. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-shows-filmed-in-england-or-europe/718199/4 "2015-04-21T16:21:33Z")
Yep in the case of Northern Ireland [tax breaks](http://www.iftn.ie/news/?act1=record&only=1&aid=73&rid=4285520&tpl=archnews&force=1) are attracting film and TV shoots. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-shows-filmed-in-england-or-europe/718199/5 "2015-04-21T16:22:47Z")
Pretty sure all the Star Wars movies were filmed in England , at least the scenes that were on sets. They also filmed desert scenes and snow scenes elsewhere. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-shows-filmed-in-england-or-europe/718199/6 "2015-04-21T16:39:14Z")
Well, for AGoT, I’d imagine that having actual historical locations that actually more or less resemble the places in the book (Kings Landing is filmed in Dubrovnik, Croatia and on Malta). If they were to film those in the US, it would require extensive set-building and CGI, while the locations tend to remove at least some of the set building (I know there’s a lot of CGI already). There are also the aforementioned tax breaks. The combination makes it really attractive. Think of it this way- if you had to film an arid area scene, would you film it in say… West Texas with a huge tax break, California with no tax breaks, or Portland with a huge tax break? West Texas, obviously- the combination of proper terrain and tax breaks would make it mighty attractive relative to the wet but cheap Portland, or arid, but expensive California. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-shows-filmed-in-england-or-europe/718199/7 "2015-04-21T16:46:07Z")
The US has pretty much any kind of terrain needed such as oceans , mountains, deserts, forests, glaciers , etc. But I agree we don’t have really old stuff , except for Larry King. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-shows-filmed-in-england-or-europe/718199/8 "2015-04-21T16:48:16Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > Pretty sure all the Star Wars movies were filmed in England , at least the scenes that were on sets. They also filmed desert scenes and snow scenes elsewhere. Bits of the original were shot at the then Shepperton Studios. Episode 7 looks like loads of it was done at Pinewood - [15 stages were used](http://www.pinewoodgroup.com/production/star-wars-episode-vii) - and Episode 8 is booked in for similar. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-shows-filmed-in-england-or-europe/718199/9 "2015-04-21T16:48:41Z")
California has plenty of tax breaks for film and television shooting. It’s what all the rest are trying to beat out. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-shows-filmed-in-england-or-europe/718199/10 "2015-04-21T16:51:22Z")
I noticed recently that Twilight Zone has a lot of episodes set on desert planets. I assume they were all filmed in CA or close by such as Arizona or Utah. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-shows-filmed-in-england-or-europe/718199/11 "2015-04-21T16:58:36Z")
Sometimes, it’s also influenced by the cost for the off-screen elements. Any film project has dozens of people working behind the scenes from simple extras and labor to catering and accounting. Plus costs like permits, equipment rental, hotels, etc. All of these are reasons to get off the beaten path. One other factor: sometimes, it’s not just a tax break but direct funding that can make the project attractive. Public grants or foreign financing structures, for example. For quite a while, Germany was the go-to place if you needed help financing a film. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-shows-filmed-in-england-or-europe/718199/12 "2015-04-21T17:14:28Z")
> [@bump](#): > > …Think of it this way- if you had to film an arid area scene, would you film it in say… West Texas with a huge tax break, California with no tax breaks, or Portland with a huge tax break? > > West Texas, obviously- the combination of proper terrain and tax breaks would make it mighty attractive relative to the wet but cheap Portland, or arid, but expensive California. The History Network’s upcoming [Texas Rising](http://www.history.com/shows/texas-rising) was shot in Durango, Mexico. Aside from financial considerations, the dramatic scenery has been used in many westerns. Of course, the Texas Revolution took place in arid Central Texas & the flat-as-a-pancake Coastal Prairie. Where the scenery is Not So Dramatic. No giant boulders anywhere! However, the locations will probably not be my main objections. For example, the [Yellow Rose of Texas](https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/xey01) has a prominent role… I love the locations for _Game of Thrones._ Ireland, Iceland, Croatia, etc. They just need a bit of dressing to look really exotic… ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-shows-filmed-in-england-or-europe/718199/13 "2015-04-21T17:37:24Z")
Besides Game of Thrones, which U.S. TV shows are shot in Europe? ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-shows-filmed-in-england-or-europe/718199/14 "2015-04-21T17:45:56Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > Besides Game of Thrones, which U.S. TV shows are shot in Europe? The most recent season of 24 was. Can’t think of another off-hand. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-shows-filmed-in-england-or-europe/718199/15 "2015-04-21T17:51:00Z")
Some shows that are broadcast in the United States aren’t exclusively American shows. Two or more studios in different countries will join together, split the costs of a production, and each hold the broadcast rights in their own country. The current series _Penny Dreadful_ is an example. It’s co-produced by Showtime (for American broadcast) and Sky (for British broadcast). ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-shows-filmed-in-england-or-europe/718199/16 "2015-04-21T17:53:50Z")
_Da Vinci’s Demons_ (on Starz) is done at a studio in Swansea, Wales. As for recent series that are now finished, I can think of _Rome_ which actually was done in Italy and _The Tudors_ was done in Ireland. And _The Borgias_ was done in Hungary. I think all those series were “co-productions” as well. Sadly both Rome & The Borgias were too expensive to finish as originally planned even with the co-production setup. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-shows-filmed-in-england-or-europe/718199/17 "2015-04-21T18:21:58Z")
Band of Brothers was shot in England. Seems that HBO likes Europe for their shows. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-shows-filmed-in-england-or-europe/718199/18 "2015-04-21T18:44:54Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > California has plenty of tax breaks for film and television shooting. It’s what all the rest are trying to beat out. Yet many, many shows that take place in California aren’t filmed there. Vancouver is a common stand-in for Western US cities. When people say “tax breaks,” they mean much more serious and substantial breaks, and any savings the state might offer pale in comparison to the ballooning film costs that end up being cheaper somewhere else. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-shows-filmed-in-england-or-europe/718199/19 "2015-04-21T19:37:46Z")
> [@fiddlesticks](#): > > _Da Vinci’s Demons_ (on Starz) is done at a studio in Swansea, Wales. > > As for recent series that are now finished, I can think of _Rome_ which actually was done in Italy and _The Tudors_ was done in Ireland. And _The Borgias_ was done in Hungary. I think all those series were “co-productions” as well. Sadly both Rome & The Borgias were too expensive to finish as originally planned even with the co-production setup. _Black Sails_ is shot in South Africa. Not that Nassau (the show’s principle setting) is part of the US but it’s a fair bit closer than South Africa is and I suppose they could have used any tropical beach style location without it being noticeable to the average person. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-shows-filmed-in-england-or-europe/718199/20 "2015-04-21T21:02:59Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > Besides Game of Thrones, which U.S. TV shows are shot in Europe? History Channel’s _Sons of Liberty_ miniseries was shot in Romania. I realize that New England has developed in the last centuries–towns are now cities & countryside is suburbia. But _Turn_ does OK with the Virginia coast standing in for Long Island & Williamsburg for parts of Philadelphia & York City. Couldn’t watch the whole _SOL_; Samuel Adams was just _not_ an athletic, street fighting cutie with a permastubble… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-shows-filmed-in-england-or-europe/718199.md?page=2)