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Barnard
Is Location For Filming of Law & Order: Criminal Intent
From left: Vincent D'Onofrio, Samantha Buck and Courtney
B. Vance |
Barnard was
the scene for a full-day film shoot on Wednesday, October 29,
for an upcoming episode of Law & Order: Criminal Intent,
the television crime drama set in New York City. For various
scenes, Barnard Hall was represented as a state supreme court,
McIntosh Student Center as a Bellevue Hospital cafeteria, and
Milbank Hall as a private middle school.
The transformations around campus were all part of the biggest
shoot to date by Law & Order at Barnard. Cast and crew are
enthusiastic about Barnard as a location, impressed by both
the campus beauty and adaptability.
"Barnard is a great place to film, especially when the
shoot calls for all different sets," said Michael Anthony,
assistant location manager. "We try to create different
locations and Barnard is versatile."
One day's worth of filming required five different locations
and, with some inventive set decorating, Barnard was able to
accommodate them all. The 12-hour production shot five scenes
at Barnard: inside a hospital cafeteria, inside a courthouse
hallway, and inside a private school hallway, classroom and
counselor's office.
 The
story for the episode titled "Happy Family" revolves
around the murder investigation of a father of two adopted children
who are students at a private school. The ubiquitous detectives
of the show eventually hold a hearing at family court involving,
among other suspects, the children's uncle, who is a doctor
at Bellevue.
"We needed all these sets and Barnard has the feel of a
private school," Anthony said. "Another set we needed
was a cafeteria at a hospital and we were able to find one here
that could pass for one. The entrance to Barnard Hall could
pass for a courthouse hallway and Milbank could pass for a private
school hallway. Barnard had it all. It's a great school and
all the buildings are beautiful."
The remaining set required transforming President Judith Shapiro's
office into a middle school counselor's office.
Set decorator Lisa Nilsson noted the campus versatility.
"Barnard can be a lot of different things in one shoot,"
Nilsson said. "It's a pleasure working with everyone here."
 One
of the stars of the show, Vincent D'Onofrio, who plays Detective
Robert Goren, was similarly impressed.
"Barnard Hall definitely has the right design to double
as a courthouse. It will suit us well," he said. This shoot
marked D'Onofrio's third time filming Law & Order: Criminal
Intent at Barnard but the first time he shot inside a building.
"We've shot on the sidewalk here outside the main gate
and in the garden in the first season," he recalled, "and
I always like to come up here and shoot. It's beautiful."
Since rain and chilly weather presided over the day, the crew
was especially grateful for the campus' underground tunnels.
The cast and crew of nearly 100 were appreciative of the fact
that they could shuttle equipment, costumes and decorations
from set to set with ease.
"We love the tunnel," said Mike Espinosa, second assistant
director, "it makes life a little easier. Barnard is a
great location. It's multi-dimensional."
This latest shoot represents an effort to build increasing momentum
within the filmmaking and television production communities
for Barnard as an excellent location to film. As Anthony noted,
"It's not a sprawling campus where you could get lost but
there are many different types of locations you can get."
This episode of Law & Order: Criminal Intent, which also
stars Courtney B. Vance and Samantha Buck, is expected to air
at the end of November on NBC.
-Glenn Slavin
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