Hit Dexter TV Show Filmed in HB

by Chris MacDonald
Writer/Photographer, HB Ambassador/The Local News Columnist

Are you star crazy? On-location filming in Huntington Beach has included Graceland, BH 90210 and Master Chef with Gordon Ramsay!

Central Park, Huntington Beach -- "Dexter," the popular Showtime drama hit about a Miami police forensics expert, who secretly "knocks off" killers, recently filmed portions of its fourth episode for the upcoming season at Huntington Lake and inside a home on Westlake Circle in HB.

Some of the house, rented for a couple days, received Hollywood magic and was transformed into a Miami nursing home, complete with palm tree wallpaper in one patient's room.

The adventure series, which begins its 8th season on Sunday, June 30th, filmed an exciting sequence off Edwards Street on Inlet Drive. It involved three cars that look identical. In the first, Dexter (Michael C. Hall) is recorded talking to another character as the auto tools along Inlet.

Later, a stunt car, with a double looking like Dexter, goes off Inlet into Huntington Lake, with cameras recording from around the water. That car is then hoisted out of the lake.

This action was followed by a third prop car with Dexter in it, being suspended on the lake by a crane. Production editors are able to digitally cut away the crane and wiring making it look like the car is going "down for the count" prior to a heroic rescue.

"It's exciting because we only get one take from the cameras around the lake," said Chris Fuentes, Key Assistant Location Manager, for Dexter. The show mainly films in Long Beach, which doubles for Miami, and on sound-sets in Hollywood. But he said HB definitely has its Miami looks, too, with the palm trees, lakes and other terrain.

Fuentes said he is very impressed with what Huntington Beach has to offer: "It's an attractive place to shoot TV shows and movies. The City is very pro-film and it has beautiful lakes, parks, craftsman-style homes, a picturesque downtown, a power plant--all sorts of neat places to use in films," said the Hollywood vet. "HB Film Commissioner Briton Saxton is very pro-active and takes groups of location managers around showing them all the things HB has to offer."

"Having a TV show being shot here is exciting," said John Dempsey, a neighbor, who happened to walk up Westlake with his curious dog, Oliver.

"It provides excitement and helps the economy all around, employing actors, directors, producers, crew, security, caterers….," said the local retired pharmacist, who once lived on Westlake.

"Even the City of HB and people who rent their homes or are involved in the film process receive revenue. It's a really great thing for our town. I hope we get more shows shot her real soon."

Photos:
1. Crew sets up house on Westlake Circle for filming Dexter.
2. Dexter Star Michael C. Hall "drives" car down Inlet during filming.