Ella McCay , the 2025 comedy-drama directed by James L. Brooks and starring Emma Mackey, Jamie Lee Curtis, Woody Harrelson, and others, was primarily filmed across Rhode Island, with some additional shooting in Louisiana.

Filming kicked off in early February 2024 in Providence and wrapped up by early May that year, transforming everyday spots into a fictional political world.

Primary Location: Providence, RI

Providence served as the heart of production, standing in for key government and neighborhood scenes. The Rhode Island State House at 82 Smith Street was a standout, hosting shots in the governor's office, south steps, press room, conference room, staircase, hallway, and basement.

Other Providence highlights included:

  • Smith Street (between State House and DOT building).
  • Department of Transportation building.
  • Lorraine Avenue neighborhood (between Laurel and President Avenues).
  • Cranston Street Armory and nearby Dexter Training Ground.
  • Moses Brown School, Brown Street Playground (near Hope High School), and Regency Plaza Apartments.
  • West Side Diner and a condo across Westminster Street (final scenes).
  • A home near Hart Street and the Viola Building at 280 Broadway.
  • 445 Broadway (Helen's) and 31 Olney Street (Coffee & Curios).

This choice made sense—Providence's mix of historic architecture and quiet streets blurred lines between real America and the movie's "anywhere" vibe.

Rhode Island Surrounds

Crew fanned out to nearby towns for variety:

  • Pawtucket : Two houses on Glenwood Avenue (between East Avenue and Ridge Street).
  • East Providence : Glenlyon Park and Pods Swimming.
  • Cranston : Woodridge Congregational United Church of Christ at 546 Budlong Road (Ella and Ryan's wedding).
  • Bristol : Blithewold Mansion.

These spots added suburban flavor, with over a dozen sites total.

Extra Shoots: New Orleans, LA

A brief stint in New Orleans (March 19-26, 2024) provided contrasting visuals for select scenes, per Louisiana Entertainment records—think emotional or tonal shifts away from New England's crispness.

Behind-the-Scenes Buzz

Local news captured the excitement, like stars arriving along Blackstone Boulevard. Forums like Reddit lit up post-release (December 12, 2025) with fans spotting RI hallmarks in the family comedy about a young woman finding her voice. One user noted its nod to classic rom-com fonts, sparking nostalgia.

Location Type| Key Sites| Scene Notes 135
---|---|---
Government| RI State House (multiple interiors/exteriors)| Political core, capitol steps
Neighborhoods| Glenwood Ave (Pawtucket), Lorraine Ave (Providence)| Residential everyday life
Wedding/Church| Woodridge Congregational (Cranston)| Key ceremony
Parks/Diners| Glenlyon Park, West Side Diner| Casual, contrasting moments
Out-of-State| New Orleans areas| Visual/emotional variety

TL;DR : Mostly Rhode Island (Providence hub, nearby towns), plus brief New Orleans—real spots elevated into a heartfelt political family tale.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.