John Melfi
At home, and behind the scenes, in NoMad.
John Melfi may not be a name that resonates with the masses, but in the world of film and television, it’s a name that garners respect and admiration. The producer and NoMad resident’s IMDb page is home to a long list of credits, including the
“Sex and the City” (SATC) franchise and the latest chapter of “And Just Like That” (AJLT), which is now beginning to shoot its third season, as well as “House of Cards” and “The Morning Show.” The two-time Primetime Emmy winner has also brought home four Golden Globes and a number of Producer Guild awards. And while the accolades and statuettes are an affirmation, it’s clear that he is most energized by the process of putting these shows together — working with writers and their scripts, mapping it out, and seeing it through to completion.
Melfi, who grew up in Philadelphia, was hard-wired from an early age to watch a play, a movie, a TV show — or even read between the pages of a book — and try to imagine how it all came together. In this way, theater, film, and literature are like puzzles he needs to solve; his curiosity and interest in how it’s done are the foundation of his approach. In 1978, as a freshman in high school, Melfi was tasked with writing a review of the novel “Ordinary People,” by Judith Guest for a theology class. When it was his turn to share his thoughts on the book with the class, “I blathered on about how the material would make an amazing movie. The teacher was not amused. Just a week later, I read that they were making a movie from the book and it was going to be directed by Robert Redford — of course, I went right back to that teacher.”
After graduating high school, Melfi attended Fordham University at Lincoln Center and The Julliard School simultaneously to earn a special degree in production. And while his primary goal was to work in theater, he found his way into a wide range of commercials, movies and television. “There wasn’t much of a choice in the difficult employment years of late 80s in NY.”
A production coordinator credit on the 1991 acclaimed independent film, “One False Move,” helped to propel his career choices. A few years later, he won an Emmy for his contributions as the supervising producer on “From the Earth to the Moon,” the acclaimed 1998 HBO mini-series conceived and produced by Tom Hanks, Ron Howard and Brian Grazer.
The SATC opportunity soon followed. A cultural phenomenon, the show struck a chord with viewers, many of whom loved it as much for its locations as they did for the escapades of its stars. The series featured five characters: Carrie, Samantha, Miranda, Charlotte, and New York City (always the unspoken 5th character). “From the beginning, our edict was to create a frothy summer treat — showing New York City at its best.”
The NoMad resident has long used the neighborhood for inspiration for the productions he works on — and the SATC franchise is no exception. Fans of the show will instantly recognize scenes shot in L’Adresse, Zatinya, The Prince George Ballroom, GG Tokyo, Eleven Madison Park, The Chapel Bar, Veronika, The Evelyn, and even Baruch College. The team even used an empty storefront on 23rd Street to create the latest version of the famed Coffee Shop, and for further proof of how compelling the neighborhood is, note that in season two of AJLT, Carrie Bradshaw packed her fictional bags and moved from the Upper East Side to Melfi’s former building on Gramercy Park.
Melfi loves to walk the streets of NoMad and its surrounding neighborhoods. “If I spot a good potential location, I call Julie Sage, our extraordinary location manager and ask her to take a look,” Melfi added. “The sidewalks of Madison Square Park on Fifth Avenue are perfect for wide angle shots and for its singular views both uptown and downtown.”
Melfi strives to see beyond the words of a script to the heart of what makes stories resonate. His approach to production is holistic, blending creative vision with meticulous attention to detail, and ensuring that every aspect of a show — from the dialogue to the fashion to the staging to the location — is in harmony with the story’s soul. Quietly creative, Melfi lets his work speak for itself. And though his CV is impressive, he’s just as happy tooling around the neighborhood during his downtime as he is on the set of a production.
John Melfi is at home in NoMad. He moved to NoMad 15 years ago and loves the central location, which is an easy commute to the studios where most shows are filmed. “I also appreciate the fact that I can walk just about anywhere,” he added. “I can walk to the theater district or to a movie, and on the walk home, I can obsess about the latest restaurants or building openings in the neighborhood. I never tire of the architecture or history of NoMad.”
His favorite spots include La Pecora Bianca NoMad, where he can often be found in a meeting, Upland, ABC Kitchen, Wagamama, Little Basil, and Eataly. For shopping he loves Dover Street Market, Kalustyan’s — his go to spot for Indian herbs and spices — and The Old Print Shop for a broad assortment of vintage maps.
But if he had to choose the NoMad location that resonates the most with him, he would pick the well-manicured gardens of Madison Square Park, which he simply calls exquisite. John Melfi is definitely home in NoMad. “New York City is where my heart is. It’s a playground that feeds me artistically and NoMad is a personal favorite. I feel so lucky to live and work right at home in this neighborhood!”