While the ABC series “Will Trent” is an investigative drama, it is no mystery that it has become one of the few recent hits on network television and one of a string of projects filming throughout Georgia in 2024.
The procedural drama is based on the popular book series by Georgia author Karin Slaughter. Now in its second season, the series follows the life and career of a Georgia Bureau of Investigation special agent who was once in Atlanta’s foster care system.
The show was one of the first filmed in Georgia to return to production after the WGA and SAG-AFTRA labor strikes.
“I think season one, we got to know our characters, and season two is when we really fall in love with them,” said location manager Patrick Rofoli.
The city of Atlanta serves as one of the main characters in the show.
“It’s so nice to be able to showcase the city that you’re shooting in,” said Ellen Blum, co-executive producer whose Atlanta-based television credits include FOX’s “Star” and USA’s “The Sinner.” “There are so many opportunities … [and] locations and great looks here.”
Rofoli, whose previous credits include Georgia-filmed “Ozark” and “Star,” is in charge of scouting and finalizing locations throughout the city that make it onto the screen.
He works closely with the show’s production designer, Gabor Norman, to ensure that the locations in consideration will best allow the setting on the page to come to life.
Bellowing in the opportunity to showcase the city’s landmarks and hotspots, a contrast to most of his previous jobs where the projects were set in other cities and states, Rofoli tries to include as many Easter eggs for Atlanta residents as he can.
“It might be something as small as having the Bank of America Tower or something in the background,” he said. “[And] in some episodes coming up, there are some pretty iconic locations that we were able to film.”
“Trent” is one of two network dramas produced in Atlanta for the 2023-2024 television season — NBC’s “Found” is second — and the only one still in production.
Unlike streaming and premium cable series, such as Georgia-based productions “Ozark” or “Stranger Things,” “Trent” runs at an often breakneck pace. Due to airing roughly three new episodes per month, compared to all episodes being edited and released at once, there are fewer days for filming, with two to three episodes in various stages of production being worked on at once.
“I’m always dealing with the places we’ve already shot at, I’m dealing with the places that we are currently shooting at today and the places we’ll be shooting at next week,” Rofoli said.
“It’s very fast and furious,” said Blum. “We have a lot of meetings, we issue a lot of paperwork, so everybody kind of knows exactly what’s happening … but it is challenging. It’s not for the faint of heart.”
Despite the challenges, both Georgia industry veterans are grateful for the opportunity to be back at work at a time when most of their peers are still recovering from the shutdown that occurred last year.
“I think a lot of us are incredibly grateful that we have the opportunity for season two, and we don’t take it lightly,” said Blum.
“We have one of the best crews that I’ve worked with in Atlanta for a very long time,” said Rofoli, who has been active in Georgia’s film and television industry since 2008. “And to dive into a story that is for the city that I have been filming in for a decade plus, it has really just been a blessing.”
