Joints, Jalopies and Jennifer Grey: A Look at the ‘Red Oaks’ Set
On Red Oaks, Amazon's new coming-of-age comedy series, it seems like every character is trying to figure out just where he or she is headed. On the set, though, everyone in the cast and crew hit their marks. Rolling Stone visited the show, which premieres in full on Friday, this past July in Pearl River, New York, where they were filming the first season's finale for an inside look at how it was made.
The show's plot focus on NYU student David Meyers (actor Craig Roberts), who just got a summer job as an assistant tennis pro at the Red Oaks Country Club in suburban New Jersey in 1985. Just as he's finding his footing, though, his life starts to unravel: His girlfriend wants to settle down, his father has a heart attack, his boss is a jerk and there's a girl at the club who fascinates him in a way that could threaten his relationship. Along the way, he sees his parents on MDMA, swaps bodies with his dad like in Freaky Friday and finds himself filming some club members' sex video. From the start, it seems like there's no way he can survive the summer.
When Rolling Stone made it to the set to see Roberts & Co. wrap the story up, it was a sweltering summer day. Between breaks at portable air-conditioners, he shot scenes with Richard Kind, who played his father, and Oliver Cooper, who plays his friend Wheeler, in and around an office building that was supposed to be the elder Meyers' accounting office. Roberts, Kind and actress Jennifer Grey (who plays his mother) also shot some scenes at the red house where the Meyers family lives. Click through the gallery to see what happened.
Photos by Devin Yalkin
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Richard Kind, on the ‘Red Oaks’ set
Richard Kind walking back towards the director after finishing filming a scene.
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Jennifer Grey and Craig Roberts, on the ‘Red Oaks’ set
During one of the scenes, Jennifer Grey hugs Craig Roberts who plays her son.
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‘Red Oaks’ crew member takes a photo from the cast’s chairs
One of the Red Oaks film crew takes a photo of the house where the scene is taking place.
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Setting up a scene for ‘Red Oaks’
Film crew setting up for the next scene to take place.
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Craig Roberts takes a break on ‘Red Oaks’ set
Craig Roberts poses for a portrait before filming a new scene.
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‘Red Oaks’ crew vets a scene before shooting
Film crew checking out the scene prior to filming.
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Craig Roberts and Richard Kind, filming ‘Red Oaks’ season finale
Richard Kind getting a touchup by the film crew's make up artist after filming a scene.
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Oliver Cooper talks ‘Red Oaks’ scene with assistant director
Oliver Cooper talking with Randall Ehrmann, one of Red Oak's first assistant directors about the scene that they were filming.
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‘Red Oaks’ crew talk lighting at the Meyers characters’ house
Some of the crew talk amongst themselves about the lighting coming into the house.
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Jennifer Grey, between ‘Red Oaks’ scenes
Jennifer Grey takes a pause after filming a scene.
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‘Red Oaks’ crew sets up a scene
The Red Oaks crew sets up the next scene.
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Director David Gordon Green, on ‘Red Oaks’ set
Director David Gordon Green speaks with actor Richard Kind and Red Oaks director of photography Ben Kasulke.
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Behind the ‘Red Oaks’ camera
Bob Sciretta, gaffer, looking on in one of the monitors during filming.
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Jennifer Grey talks scene with ‘Red Oaks’ director David Gordon Green
Jennifer Grey talking with director David Gordon Green while Craig Roberts look on.
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Richard Kind, between ‘Red Oaks’ takes
Richard Kind, hanging out on set before filming the next scene.