Government Cheese filming locations: Where was the David Oyelowo series filmed?

"Government Cheese" is a family comedy-drama set in 1969, San Fernando Valley, California.

The series follows the muddled journey of a character named Hampton Chambers, played by David Oyelowo, who makes his way out of prison only to find that his family has changed, and a past he's so desperately trying to run away from is pulling him back in.

The show’s well-defined mix of surrealism and comedy needed an outlet for detailed locations that would visually catch the vibe and aura of that era.

While the story is based solely in California, the filming took place across various locales that helped bring the 1969 background to life.

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Filming Locations for Government Cheese

Los Angeles County, California

Most of "Government Cheese" was filmed in LA County, with the San Fernando Valley serving as the central location for the production.

The choice of Los Angeles was necessary for taking care of the show's legitimacy, replicating the classic ‘American dream.’

Regardless of the crew’s initial thought of filming in New Mexico, actor David Oyelowo maintained the stance of wanting to film in Los Angeles. In an interview with Collider, he stated:

“I remember I got a call at one point, and they were like, ‘Are you sure about this LA thing?’… ‘I’m absolutely sure.”

His enthusiasm led to the show being captured on film in the quite iconic City of Angels, which turned out to be beneficial for crew members who were from the same locality, as they were able to stay close to their families during the time of production.

The Valley’s old-fashioned aesthetic and its suburban homes made it a perfect background to focus on both the drives and struggles that the Chambers family goes through in the show.

From the moment filming commenced in January 2024, the production team worked as much as possible to get a hold of the essence of 1969, mixing vibrant retro-ish designs with modern and contemporary settings.

The result achieved in return was a smooth representation of a Californian lifestyle that coordinated with the show's dreamlike tone.

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Stoney Point Park, Los Angeles, California, USA

Stoney Point Park, situated in Chatsworth, LA, is also seen in “Government Cheese.” Recognised for its prominent sandstone rock formations, the park provided a natural and weathered background for some of the important scenes.

The park’s wonderful views of the San Fernando Valley and the Santa Susana Mountains gave the series a tranquil yet rugged atmosphere, perfectly adding to the surreal and creative elements of the show.

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Vancouver, British Columbia

Even though the Apple TV show “Government Cheese” is based in Los Angeles, Vancouver played a significant role in bringing the production to life.

The city, often known as "Hollywood North," has a reputation for impersonating countless American locations, which made it a faultless alternative for depicting LA in 1969.

Many scenes, especially those with old-fashioned homes and period-accurate settings, were filmed in Vancouver.

The production team cautiously cherry-picked the neighbourhoods and buildings that echoed the architectural elegance and atmosphere of the era. Vancouver's combination of urban and natural settings, merged with its modern filming amenities, allowed the filming crew to successfully recreate a past era.

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"Government Cheese" effortlessly merged various filming locations to pick up on the true feel of 1969 California while still bringing out the show's matchless and surreal feel.

From LA County to Vancouver, these backgrounds and settings helped the show to stay visually rooted in its past and historical context.

Eventually, these filming locations played an essential role in upholding the story of "Government Cheese”, luring viewers into the peculiar world of the Chambers family.