It is the most popular destination – New York – since the United States reopened its borders. But for those who can’t get there right away, West Side Story already offers a spectacular visit to the Big Apple of 1957.
Rob striem, head of scouting on Steven Spielberg’s film, showed 20 minutes the places where Maria and Tony live their tragic love story.
“My job was to find natural settings that could match the plot, which was not easy because the city has changed a lot and it continues to evolve constantly,” says Rob Striem to 20 minutes. Steven Spielberg has sometimes accompanied him on his visits, which was an honor for this specialist in urban decors who worked in particular with Martin Scorsese, Steven Soderbergh, Tom McCarthy, as well as on the series. Sex and the City and The Knick.
Between reality and creation
It is in Harlem, Washington Heights and Brooklyn that Rob Striem found his happiness with the mythical fire ladders where the two heroes sing their passion. He also traveled to Paterson, New Jersey, the city that inspired Jim Jarmusch for his eponymous film. “We used the original buildings, some of which are still in their original condition,” explains Rob Striem, “but gentrification has made a lot of things disappear and traffic has made it even more difficult for us. The film also shows how poor neighborhoods were razed in the 1950s to make way for modern and luxurious homes. The film opens with a construction site in the heart of Manhattan where a high place of New York culture has been erected: Lincoln Center.
The real buildings mingle with additions from the “deco” team to make the illusion perfect. “You had to be very careful with the floors,” remembers Rob Striem, “because they had to be secure to allow the dancers to move around safely. »Some musical numbers like America, where the Puerto Rican community evokes the American dream and its disillusions, were filmed in several different locations, the staging giving the illusion that everything is happening in the same place. “It was a puzzle, but the result is worth it: the precision of Steven Spielberg’s vision makes the whole thing homogeneous and magical,” says Rob Striem.
He and his team also experienced unexpected problems. “One of our big problems has been the trees, which have grown a lot since we planted them in the 1950s,” he explains. They are no longer shrubs like they used to be, but giants that create canopies above the streets. »It was sometimes necessary to prune the foliage, taking care not to damage the trunks, a task supervised by the city. “The rules are strict: you should not disturb the inhabitants in any way and always negotiate with them to cause them as little concern as possible. Mission accomplished: during our report, passers-by came to greet Rob Striem, with a smile on their face, as they remembered the shoot. “My greatest pride is to tell myself that they have fond memories of it. “Just as much as the spectator of the film, amazed to rediscover the“ city that never sleeps ”in a different light.