"Godfather of Harlem" Production Designer | Bringing Back the 1960s

The team at Broadway Stages know how much hard work goes into creating a high-quality production, and we love it when one of those hard working, creative individuals gets recognized. The MGM+ series "Godfather of Harlem" has filmed all three of its seasons at our facilities, and we are incredibly proud of the show's success. Production designer Patrick Howe recently spoke to the Motion Picture Association (MPA) blog "The Credits" about his work on the show's most recent season.

"Godfather of Harlem" tells the story of legendary crime boss Bumpy Johnson (Forest Whitaker), who spent 11 years at Alcatraz then returned home in the early 1960s to find the neighborhood he once ruled controlled by the Italian mob. Over the course of the show, Bumpy took on the Genovese crime family, including Vincent "The Chin" Gigante, and formed an alliance with Malcolm X.

In season three, Bumpy continued to battle for control of Harlem, this time butting heads with the Cuban Mafia from neighboring Spanish Harlem. Bumpy also found himself at odds with the CIA and FBI while uncovering an assassination plot against Malcolm X.

Find out how Howe and his team recreated the look and feel of New York City in the 1960’s by reading this interview, and be sure to watch all three seasons streaming on MGM+. And if you would like to learn more about the duties of a production designer, then read our piece about production designers, which ran as part of our Industry Jobs series.

You can also learn about film and TV industry jobs, training, and more in the Broadway Stages' Industry Resource Guide, which provides information about industry-focused job posting sites; links to general recruiting sites; education and training programs; and state, city, and borough industry information.

We love what we do and we hope you enjoy all of the creative entertainment that comes from the TV and film industry. We are optimistic that the writers, cast and crew of so many wonderful productions will again return to our stages, fairly compensation, and ready to bring their talents to the big and small screen.