Renton, Washington, is a beautiful city right in between Seattle and the Cascade mountains, it might not appear to be related to film and television history, but Renton and its surrounding area have been a manageable space for Pacific Northwest filmmakers, through the years, while providing diverse accessiblelocations, this includes lakes, forests, industrial areas, neighborhoods, and its iconic natural scenery.
While Renton is not a filming set for major movies or TV shows, it extends to several well-known locations of filming history in upper Washington. Just 30 minutes east, Snoqualmie, North Bend, and the hills became internationally known to feature scenic backdrops for David Lynch in his show, “Twin Peaks” (1990). Snoqualmie hosted a glance from the well-known and loved Snoqualmie Falls, Salish Lodge. All are great locations for filming Pacific Northwest-like scenes. “Twin Peaks” used and later several of the later production work were filmed in or through Renton as well. Continued after its first run for its “Twin Peaks” reboot in 2017.
Up north in Seattle is a great filming location used by many film producers for many years. “The Killing” (2011-2014), an AMC crime drama filmed in King County, which is just south of Seattle, and parts of Renton. The production used local parks, the streets of residential neighborhoods, and the Seattle waterfront, along with documenting wide shots mostly for a moody crime scene. South and Southeast Renton are nice filming to Washington’s beautiful countryside side Film crews maximize Washington’s fields and range of rural backdrops. One of the notable films was “Captain Fantastic” (2016) with Viggo Mortensen, backdrops of Washington were filmed on sites in the towns of Maple Valley, Carnation and North Bend utilizing the rural for casting for farm houses, and forrest as living off the grid; capturing the story of a family of living in the backwoods as practically and as Kellie wants. In addition, Renton worked as a primary filming for base lodging and production planning for coordination.
Another good reference is“10 Things I Hate About You” (1999), which was filmed at a high school in Tacoma, Seattle. also captured scenes along Lake Washington, not far from Renton. Many familiar backdrops near the city are visible, especially around the water.
Recently, independent filmmakers have increasingly looked to Renton for its urban locations, such as the downtown area, Coulon Beach Park. Local government initiatives have made it easier for small productions to get permits and use public spaces for filming.
The central location in King County offers a wide variety of filming options. It has access to both urban and rural settings. Its ties to well-known production locations have guaranteed a favorable position for filming. As Washington State continues to support film production through tax incentives and community partnerships, it is an iconic and memorable place for filming, thanks to its natural, green landscape.
