Netflix crime thriller Mea Culpa is written and directed by Tyler Perry and was largely filmed in his own studios in Atlanta, Georgia, However, the steamy crime drama was also shot in Chicago, where the story takes place, and Perry endeavored to make the Windy City a character all of its own.
Filming Locations
Tyler Perry Studios, Atlanta
A lot of the work on Mea Culpa was done at Tyler Perry’s own studio located in Atlanta. The studio was taken on by Perry in 2015, and the official website describes it thusly:
“The 330-acre lot is located in the heart of Atlanta on the historic grounds of the former Fort McPherson army base. The major motion picture studio, one of the largest production facilities in the country, showcases forty buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, twelve purpose-built sound stages, 200 acres of greenspace, and a diverse backlot.”
Chicago, Illinois
An article in Screen Magazine reveals some of the details of the shoot, including areas in the downtown region of the city of Chicago. Locations named included the city’s River West, South Loop, West Loop, and West Town. The article would go on to say, “More specifically, our friends at Filming in Chicago report the Mea Culpa team’s filming locations included Grand and Milwaukee, Cermak and Canalport, Huron and Halsted, and Lake and Franklin, to name a few.”
Perry himself would release some insight into the choice of location in the press notes for the film. He would say,
“I felt like Chicago was the right backdrop because the city is beautiful, it’s mysterious, it could be dangerous and sexy, and I think that it was also a character in the movie. It gives every kind of feeling that I needed to paint this picture and this tableau.”
Where is Tyler Perry Studios located?
The exact location of Tyler Perry Studios is 315 Deshler St SW, in Atlanta, Georgia.
Tyler Perry Studios | Image via CNN
Production Timeline
Here’s a brief, digestible timeline of Mea Culpa‘s production:
- In February 2023, Kelly Rowland was reported to be starring and producing the film, with Tyler Perry directing and co-producing.
- By March 6th of the same year, principal photography started at Tyler Perry’s own studio, with location work being done in Chicago.
- Filming concluded on March 26th.
- On February 15th, 2024, Mea Culpa premiered at The Paris Theatre in New York City.
- The film premiered on Netflix on February 23rd, 2024.
What was the inspiration for Mea Culpa?
Mea Culpa may give you vibes of classic twisty thrillers, and there is a good reason for that. Tyler Perry would reveal in a terrific interview with Screen Rant that he wanted to emulate old Hitchcock-style movies.
He would go on to say: “My mom and I used to watch all those thrillers back in the day, man, I used to love those movies and I thought, let’s modernize a story. Let’s tell a story from a different point of view, right? And when its character, Mea started showing up in my head as she was telling me different things, and that’s how it works for me.”
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