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 film crew from New York City spent the past week-and-a-half in Callicoon, transforming local landmarks into the backdrop for an independent production.

Director Gabriel Judet-Weinshel and a small production team have been filming in and around the hamlet since March 11, with work concluding this week before moving to New York City, where they will complete principal photography.

Judet-Weinshel said he was first drawn to the area while visiting friends nearby.

“We were staying in Narrowsburg … and we just stumbled on Callicoon,” he said. “I fell in love with the imagery of it—and the Western [Hotel] in particular.”

The project is an independent, art house-style film that blends multiple genres, with a strong emphasis on atmosphere and music.

Producer Emily Cooper said the production brought a small crew to the area, with most members based in New York City, along with others, including herself, traveling from out of state.

The film is being shot on Super 16 using Kodak film stock, with a small crew of roughly 15 to 20 people. 

“It’s been phenomenal interacting with the community,” Cooper said.

Filming took place at several local sites, including the Western Hotel and the Callicoon train depot, with additional scenes shot in surrounding areas including just across the Delaware River in Pennsylvania.

While the film is set in Callicoon, many interior scenes are being shot in New York City as a cost-saving measure. Those scenes will later be paired with exterior footage captured in the hamlet to create the appearance of a single, continuous location.

During one scene observed on set, the crew filmed a brief exterior cutaway that will be spliced into a diner sequence shot in the city.

Cooper said the production also worked with several local businesses, including Early Bird Cookery, which provided catering, and received support from community members as well as the local fire department during the shoot.

“It’s been a reminder of how important it is to have support—not only from the crew but from the people you’re interacting with,” she said.

Cooper said the support from local residents and businesses will be one of the lasting impressions from the production’s time in Callicoon.

The film crew completed their work in the area on Friday and left for the city where they will finish principal photography.