Filmed Locally - Schoharie County Residents on HBO

TROY — The HBO Max series The Gilded Age, has included the Capital Region as one of its shooting locations for each of its two seasons. Residents of Albany and Troy have the added enjoyment of spotting familiar locations used in the show, along with friends and family hired as extras for the period drama. While not filmed in our neck of the woods, Schoharie County residents may spot two of their own in the recently aired season two. 

Two of us, in fact, were extras in the same scenes in different episodes. In August 2022, I awoke at 2:00 a.m. to drive to Troy for our 3:00 a.m. casting call (sound glamourous yet?). I sat with a bevy of other extras in my wardrobe in the old Atrium Mall in Troy, awaiting hair and makeup. On this particular day, I was dressed for my role as "Assistant Minister #2," which entailed at least three layers of heavy wool robes and ill-fitting shoes. By my estimation, the role of an extra is this: you are paid to sit around in a costume, drink coffee, and wait for someone to say, "Go stand over there." 

Having been on sets before (this was my third experience as an extra), I like to take the opportunity to observe the inner workings of the filming process. I try to hang around by the monitors to catch a glimpse of what the camera sees. On this particular day, an extra was nearly trampled by a horse. The horse had charged without warning at the woman, halted only by a tree which snagged the carriage it had been towing. Its front hooves landed only a foot or two from her head as she had fallen, attempting to evade the horse. After some deliberation, the production took a lunch break. It was nearly 90 degrees, and the day ran until 9:00 p.m. I got home and went to bed with my alarm set for 2:30 a.m. for a 3:30 a.m. call time the next day. 

The following week, I had a new role, that of an "Artsy Theatergoer." While on a lunch break from filming in The Cohoes Music Hall, I met Richmondville resident Becky Leggerio, who was also on the set as "Patron - Opera and Theater." Becky was also an "Upper-Class Pedestrian" and "Easter Churchgoer." Her husband, John, was also an extra. "The first day we reported, we were in a scene in Washington Park in Troy paired together as a couple," said Becky. "We walked around the park and in front of two of the main characters. Unfortunately, the scene was cut.  Due to other commitments, that was the only day John, my husband, was able to participate."

We both heard many people grumbling about the hours and conditions, and some failed to show up for scheduled days. "I also met many people who said they were "one and done." [But] I think I will do it again," said Becky.  "I learned to bring a book, adjusted my expectations, and once I opened up to the new world I stepped into, the days were more enjoyable." Becky noted the costumes were "both enjoyable and maddening." While the wild transformation we both witnessed in our appearances was enjoyable, they were also "maddening because of the waiting around for hours."  The costumes were thorough, right down to the socks. I had three layers of wool robes in my role as a priest and a fancy green suit with orange shoes as a theatergoer. "The completeness of the three costumes was incredible," recalled Becky.  "Hats, gloves, bags, dresses, stockings, petticoats, and corsets! Each day I worked, I needed help getting dressed, just like in the show, because of the corset, the many skirts and buttons.  Even my shoes had buttons.  One day, the corset was pulled a little too tight, and I was short of breath all day.  Felt very authentic!"

By coincidence, Becky and I ended up in some of the same scenes. Becky is in the congregation of the Easter mass in the opening episode of The Gilded Age season two, while I am on the church steps as the cast members exit (separate Albany churches were used for the interior shots and exterior shots). In episode three, Becky and I were both in an afterparty scene following an Oscar Wilde play. If you blink, you will miss me in my green suit, but Becky has a rather prominent position behind two of the leads as they converse. Unlike me, Becky Leggerio says the fame and fortune have not gone to her head (I, on the other hand, have become an insufferable bore!). "However, it has made me more open to committing to activities far from my skill set and base of knowledge.  The lavish costumes, historical sets, and storyline were certainly all part of the allure of returning to work every day I was called." HBO Max recently announced The Gilded Age will return to the Capital Region for filming.