Where Is Resident Alien Filmed? The Real-Life Locations Behind The Series

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The ‘Resident Alien‘ series stands out as it offers an unexpectedly optimistic take on a science fiction show centered around an alien planning to exterminate humans. However, one consistent aspect that captivates viewers is the stunning scenery in and around the fictional town of Patience, Colorado. The opening scene introduces us to charming mountain cabins nestled amidst the majestic Colorado Rockies, with snow-covered peaks serving as a breathtaking backdrop. The town itself exudes an idyllic charm that makes viewers yearn for a visit.

As a gamer immersed in the world of “Resident Alien”, I can tell you that just like how game levels aren’t always created within the game’s fictional universe, the series isn’t filmed where it takes place. Sure, there are scenes shot on location, but most of the places we see are actually filmed in spots far removed from their on-screen counterparts. In fact, many interior shots are staged on sets built inside soundstages. This setup is more cost-effective because it reduces travel expenses and related costs, making it a smart move for production.

The show “Resident Alien” may appear to be based in Colorado, but it’s actually filmed elsewhere. Specifically, it’s made in various locations around Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Interestingly, many TV shows are produced there, and the local film industry employs over 65,000 people. “Resident Alien” is just one of the many productions coming out of Vancouver, but the unique settings used for the series set it apart from similar shows. Here’s where each scene in “Resident Alien” was filmed.

Patience, Colorado’s picturesque look is thanks to a little town on Vancouver Island

The picturesque town portrayed in the series isn’t a real place called Patience, Colorado. Instead, it’s the quaint Canadian town of Ladysmith, located in British Columbia, nestled on the shores of the Strait of Georgia, just southwest of Vancouver, that serves as the scenic backdrop for the show. Although the buildings may seem authentic, they were not filmed within the United States, despite the signage suggesting otherwise.

For much of the year, reaching Ladysmith requires a two-hour ferry journey. The film crew alters a three-block area to recreate the setting for Patience. Throughout the year, they come, establish filming locations for an entire season, and film for several days at a time, sometimes even twice or thrice a year. With approximately 9,000 inhabitants, these blocks form a significant part of Ladysmith’s historic district. Interestingly, Main Street is known as 1st Avenue, while High Street and Roberts Street also play crucial roles.

In choosing Ladysmith as the setting for “Resident Alien,” production designer Michael Joy and showrunner Chris Sheridan aimed to depict a modern-day version of the idyllic America portrayed by Norman Rockwell. The interior scenes such as the diner, mayor’s office, D’Arcy (Alice Wetterlund) and Asta’s (Sara Tomko) apartment, police station, and several other locations were all filmed on a single soundstage. Additional sets for Harry’s cabin, The 59 bar, and the Hawthornes’ home were built on a second stage. Various exterior shots were taken in Squamish, Surrey, Burnaby, and Coquitlam, all located in British Columbia.

The beautiful vistas of Patience are actually in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

In the series “Resident Alien,” the town of Patience is just a portion of the backdrop, with numerous shots showcasing its famous landscapes that appear to be the Rocky Mountains. However, these scenes are actually a blend of real locations and clever visual effects. For instances where Harry (played by Alan Tudyk) walks on snow-covered peaks, filming was done on two glaciers: Rainbow Mountain in the Sea-to-Sky Corridor and the Pemberton Icefield.

To reach these secluded locations, the team transports all necessary gear and personnel via helicopter when required. In December 2023, Tudyk posted a photo of filming on an icy glacier during Season 3 production, hinting at a potential Season 4 twist where Harry develops a preference for beach settings, offering some diversity. The picture shows that the glacier is isolated, as only a handful of people are working with cameras and audio equipment in the distant background.

In the TV show, when Patience is portrayed with a mountain range in the background, this scene was actually filmed at the Canadian Motion Picture Park backlot in Burnaby, B.C., and enhanced with digital effects. However, these mountains are not real neighbors to Ladysmith, as they merely seem so in the show. If you recognize the landscape, it’s possible that some of the show’s scenes were created using images from Telluride, Colorado, since it’s speculated that this specific scenery was used for compositing.

Harry’s Cabin is actually at Britannia Beach

A significant setting in the series “Resident Alien” is Harry’s cabin, situated by a lake. The exterior of this home, featuring a balcony with a water view, is frequently shown. In the first episode, Harry, in his alien form, breaks into the building and eliminates his human doppelganger by tossing him into the frigid waters just beyond the balcony. Contrary to what one might expect, the location where the house is filmed isn’t actually on a lake.

From my perspective, nestled along the shoreline of Britannia Beach lies a humble abode overlooking the stunning Salish Sea. This idyllic spot is approximately 34 miles north of Vancouver and a mere ten-minute journey south of Squamish. Perched on the edge of Howe Sound, it’s nestled within an inlet, offering tranquil waters with minimal tidal shifts – making it feel like Harry’s Earthly home rests beside a serene, mostly still lake. However, for the sake of cinematic magic, the actual structure you see is merely a facade, as the ideal setting had to be recreated.

Michael Joy, the production designer, shared with SyFy that they scoured numerous locations for Harry’s cabin, but the pivotal scene in the pilot involved a fight with an 8-foot-tall alien. It became evident fairly soon that they would need to create this cabin as a set. The exterior of the cabin was built, and all internal shots you see on the show were filmed inside a studio in Vancouver.

New York City is actually Vancouver, thanks to some digital trickery

Initially residing in New York City (specifically, The Big Apple), Harry later moved to Patience. Interestingly, both locations appear in the series. In a flashback scene depicting his and Isabelle’s (Elvy Yost) first encounter, they are found within an art gallery in New York City – this particular gallery being the Polygon Art Gallery in Vancouver. In the third season, Harry and Asta journey to the city on a quest for another alien, with numerous shots of him in Times Square. Instead of flying Alan Tudyk down to film these scenes, it was determined unnecessary.

In a different phrasing: Robert Duncan McNeill, both executive producer and director, traveled to New York with an alien mask and gloves, carrying them in his luggage. During filming, another actor stood in for Harry. When the character admires the city from behind in human form, it’s not Tudyk you see. However, there are scenes where Tudyk’s face seems to be visible, seemingly set in New York – but McNeill remained in Canada to film as much as he could, which doesn’t fully account for these instances.

In downtown Vancouver, every single shot for the show was taken. The creator and executive producer, Chris Sheridan, revealed to SyFy that they altered the city’s appearance to resemble New York City. Joss Whedon was notably amazed by how ordinary places were dramatically changed with minimal set decorations. They also increased the number of extras in each scene, which made Vancouver, usually less crowded, seem bustling and busy.

Yellowstone National Park is actually in the Pacific Northwest

In the third season of “Resident Alien”, Harry decides to join the mayor and his family on a vacation to Yellowstone National Park, hoping to discover the Grey’s plan during their short break. The series features several well-known landmarks within the historic park, such as Old Faithful geyser, which is also showcased in the program. Interestingly, the scene where the main characters observe the geyser erupting was created using digital and camera tricks, since they didn’t physically travel there for that specific scene. However, it’s worth noting that filming in Yellowstone National Park was done outside of Vancouver.

In a scene showing where the group lodges, you see The Lodge at Riverside, situated in Grants Pass, Oregon. However, the cast didn’t travel there, as the interior scenes were filmed at another location in Canada. Interestingly, the hotel lobby depicted in the movie is actually found within the GreenTee Country Club Westwood Plateau, which lies approximately 20 miles east of Vancouver, not in Oregon as it appears on screen.

The show also features various other shooting spots, such as:

* The former Royal Canadian Mounted Police campus close to Queen Elizabeth Park, where scenes inside the hangar were filmed at the Unit Five Facility during Season 3.
* A pedestrian bridge featured in “Alien Dinner Party” can be found within Capilano River Regional Park, Vancouver.
* In place of the New York Public Library, the Vancouver Art Gallery was utilized.
* Other filming locations include the Teahouse in Stanley Park, Pizza 2001, the Rogers Building, and the Sandcastle Bowl Bar and Grill, situated in Surrey.

At present, you can find the initial three series of “Resident Alien” on Netflix. As for season 4, unfortunately, there isn’t a specific release date yet; however, it is scheduled to broadcast on the USA Network following three seasons that previously aired on the Syfy Channel.

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2025-04-17 21:31