The Mystery-Hunting of Warfield and the true-life shooting of A Simple Favor
‘A Simple Favor’ is full of things being turned on their heads, but one of the most intriguing elements comes with the titular favor—the quiet, quaint small town of Warfield, Connecticut. As the tale unwinds with a flurry of secrets and suspense, viewers have long asked the question: Does Warfield exist?
This article reveals the truth about Warfield, the real places that brought it to life, and the creative decisions around places like Goodell College and Warfield Elementary. We also dig deep into how Toronto and New York City stood out from the sleepy suburban community. Whether you’re a movie fan, interested in where it was set, or a cineaste who adores location trivia, this deep dive has everything.
Warfield: Fictional With a Touch of Reality
Warfield, Conn., correspondent JANE COLLINS We too liked the resurgence of skirts in the summer, but even better in the fall! Warfield may be a real town, but it’s only real in the world of A Simple Favor. Created by author Darcey Bell, Warfield is a serene suburb that serves as a backdrop for Stephanie, who lives a peaceful life in the movie.
It uses Warfield as a springboard for its suspenseful story, making it seem familiar and real. In Another Simple Favor, the sequel, Warfield is still there, thus proving that Stephanie’s busy boobs have not cut her emotional ties to her cozy corner of the world.
Filming Warfield: Toronto as the Stand-In Star
While Warfield takes place in Connecticut, the filmmakers filmed most scenes in Ontario, Canada. Take Emily’s gorgeous mansion, for example, which can be found at 7 Ashley Park Road in Etobicoke.
Unionville, a pretty section of Markham, yielded many street scenes. Stephanie’s son’s Warfield Elementary School was captured at Elmcrest Public School in Mississauga. Peabody and Sherman were placed only in the best places, and there were specially selected ones from Warfield to show Warfield’s small-town charm throughout the two movies.
Inside Emily’s Mansion And Stephanie’s Suburban Home
Emily’s house becomes a significant tool in establishing the film’s tone. Filmed in a luxury house in Etobicoke, it is filled with luxurious furnishings, a large kitchen, a pool, and a crystal chandelier.
Stephanie’s mansion, by contrast, is much more subdued and modest. Shot in a quiet part of Toronto, the setting suits her down-to-earth nature. The contrast between the houses describes the difference in their personalities and lives.
Goodell College: Another Fictional Factor
Goodell College, where Emily’s husband, Sean, is a professor, is not a real college. The movie depicts it as the University College at the University of Toronto. The decision to create a random college had a specific purpose.
Sean’s career, which once had potential, is dissolving. Positioning him at a less-prestigious, fictitious college emphasizes his fall at least as much as featuring him at a highly regarded real-world university.
Other Key Filming Locations In More Detail
Toronto was more than a collection of suburban streets, though. Scenes set inside the TARDIS were recorded at Pinewood Studios on Commissioners Street. The in-flight scenes with Sean and Emily were shot on one of the studio’s soundstages.
Filmmakers also used the Varley Art Gallery in Markham and the Ivy Motel in Mississauga to achieve the Warfield look. All locations were selected to fit in organically and establish a credible world.
New York City In The Tale
Toronto was Warfield’s mostly City, but New York City also had a small role in the movie. In a crucial scene, the NYC Dutch restaurant morphs into Ristorante Basilico. The melding of Toronto and NYC scenes felt organic; you couldn’t tell where one tapered off and the other began. This combination of old and new mixed things up, but kept the action firmly in its fictional town.
From The Warfield Elementary School Fiction
Stephanie and Emily’s children attend Warfield Elementary School, which is not a real school. Elmcrest Public School in Mississauga served as the filming set. By then, the school had already been closed and was being used for other movie projects before it was demolished in 2021. This school was a dose of welcome realness to Stephanie’s vlogger (and mommy) lifestyle.
Why Warfield Fits As A Story Environment
Warfield is, then, probably a pawn that Darcey Bell developed to suit the superficialism of Stephanie’s existence. A hushed, slow-moving town also helps to clarify why she’s attracted to someone as brassy as Emily.
If the story had occurred in a more crowded city—Toronto, say—their friendship could have been less plausible. Warfield’s proverbial aura of peace also makes Stephanie’s loneliness and curiosity more logical.
‘Another Simple Favor’: Warfield’s Back Warfield 13, one of the city’s most revered theatermakers, was last seen around these parts with “New York Animals” in 2016 at the New Ohio Theater.
Another Simple Favor brings Warfield back, albeit in a body double for Italy. Though much of the sequel is filmed at Cinecittà Studios in Rome, Warfield lingers to ensure continuity. Stephanie still lives in the make-believe town of Connecticut, and the sequel delves into her life after the first film.
How To Stream A Simple Favor Right Now
A Simple Favor benefited the most from its streaming debut on Netflix on May 19, 2024. It rapidly climbed the pop charts, reaching #2 in America. Old and new fans are now revisiting the film with increased curiosity, not least because of the upcoming Another Simple Favor, which elaborates further on the story. The combination of mystery, style, and brainy locations draws them in.
FAQs
Is Warfield a town in Connecticut?
No, Warfield is a made-up town dreamed up by author Darcey Bell for her book A Simple Favor.
Where was A Simple Favor shot?
Shooting details: Most of the footage was filmed in Toronto and the surrounding region of the province of Ontario, Canada. Some scenes were also shot in New York City.
Does Goodell College exist?
Goodell College is not a real place. The footage was shot in the University College of the University of Toronto.
Did Warfield Elementary School even exist?
No. Shooting took place at Elmcrest Public School in Mississauga, which has since been demolished.
Is there a house like Emily’s mansion?
Emily’s home is a luxury property at 7 Ashley Park Road, Etobicoke, Toronto.
Final Words
Warfield is imaginary, but the level of detail poured into bringing it alive on screen suggests it could be real. The production team behind A Simple Favor was able to weave real locations in Toronto and New York together to transform into a believable suburban town fraught with secrets and intrigue.
From Emily’s grandiose home to Stephanie’s comfy existence, every detail adds further depth to the tale. And with Another Simple Favor extending the journey, Warfield remains an integral part of this hip mystery universe.
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