Despite Resident Alien‘s story slowly becoming a more global affair, the fictional town of Patience in Colorado remains central to Alan Tudyk’s sci-fi dramedy, and the setting has a real-world counterpart where the cast and crew often convene to shoot scenes. Since beginning in 2021, Resident Alien has championed the Patience townsfolk in several ways, and the sleepy American town has been visited by extraterrestrials other than Alan Tudyk’s Harry Vanderspeigle.
Resident Alien season 4’s confirmation means the return of Patience and the town’s colorful characters. Part of what makes the show so immersive is the 360° set on which it’s shot, and the production crew has a perfect setting to thank for that. Resident Alien‘s Grey Aliens have been particularly interested in the town of Patience, but the setting’s real-world counterpart is thankfully free of interstellar activity.
Ladysmith In British Columbia Is Dressed Up To Double As Patience For Resident Alien
The Canadian town is the perfect location for Resident Alien
When it’s not being used to bring Resident Alien to life, the town of Ladysmith in British Columbia is a fully-functioning society. Founded at the turn of the 20th century, the Canadian settlement has welcomed the Resident Alien cast and crew for all three seasons so far. Speaking with Nanaimo News Now, showrunner Chris Sheridan has commented about the excitement everyone involved feels when the time comes to return to Ladysmith and resume production. He has gone as far as revealing that members of his crew have a “favorite bakery” in the town, among other heartwarming preferences.
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Most of the dressing up of Ladysmith as Patience seems to revolve around replacing signage and other clues that give away the town’s real name. That being said, Sheridan has admitted he has intentionally left the word “Ladysmith” in at least one episode as a thank you to the town and its hospitality. Also, because the town is an active community, there have been instances where the cast and crew have had to be careful when and where they shoot certain scenes in case of spoilers being leaked.
Why Resident Alien Is Shot In Canada, Despite Being Set In The US
Syfy (& now USA Network) save money by filming Resident Alien in Canada
It may seem strange that a show set in the US is actually shot in Canada, but there’s an explanation. While most American production companies will work out of the two main hubs of New York and Los Angeles, there can be cheaper options. Atlanta, Georgia is often used instead for budgetary reasons, but Resident Alien‘s setting needs to be far colder. Therefore, Syfy took Resident Alien to Canada not only because it was cheaper, but also because the infrastructure to make the show already existed there, and it honored the Resident Alien source material far better than the alternatives.
Source: Nanaimo News Now
