The all too familiar sound of Kristen Bell’s voice echoing the words, “you know you love me, XOXO Gossip Girl,” began my slight obsession with the teen drama, Gossip Girl, following the scandalous lives of Manhattan’s elite. The producers of Gossip Girl wanted to create a show truly filmed in New York through the glamorous eyes of a rising socialite, which at the time, did not exist. Some of the many famous New York sites featured in filming include: the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Russian Tea Room, Central Park, Grand Central Terminal, The Plaza, Lincoln Center, and the New York Palace Hotel, which is home to the Van der Woodsens and is where much of the show takes place. The Van der Woodsens’ red, white, and turquoise penthouse is a mix of ultra-modern sharp lines with the white sofas, touches of Asian influence seen in the red throw pillows, and a glimpse of traditional flair with the armchairs. The glamour of the custom crystal pieces, glass stair handrail, columns, pop art portraits, and Prada Marfa sign give the apartment an upscale, almost museum-like quality and glimpse at the unattainable lifestyle of the rich and famous. The lighting used is very bright and cheerful with sunlight streaming in the wall of windows to symbolize happiness and the seemingly worriless life of an Upper East Sider. The cast of Gossip Girl are always clothed in the latest high fashion designer clothes with expensive jewelry and accessories, complete with every piece of hair perfectly styled and in place, eyes lined, and lips glossed. The mise-en-scene tells the visual story of a lifestyle most of us can only dream of having.

​

Cinematic elements are seen throughout the six seasons of Gossip Girl. An enhanced visual style is seen in the filming with various camera angles showing up close shots to convey a character’s emotion and allow the audience to read a character’s thoughts just by looking at the expression on their face. Cinematically constructed scenes such as Serena’s return in Grand Central Terminal, Blair’s desperate plea while wearing an Oscar de la Renta ballgown for Chuck to return to New York shot at the Gare du Nord station in Paris, and all the scenes filmed on the streets of New York combine the elements of dramatic lighting, large crowds of people, intricate costume design, and visually stunning background scenery to create memorable and impressive scenes. The curated soundtrack of Gossip Girl melded perfectly with each scene leaving the viewer feeling ultimately satisfied and allowing them to attribute a song to a particular scene in the show upon hearing it again. Gossip Girl had to appeal to its younger audience by choosing from a wide spectrum of well-known pop songs, songs from independent artists that are not typically heard on the radio, and songs from New York based bands. Creator Josh Schwartz and music supervisor Alexandra Patsavas say that this musical soup is what gives the show its distinct style and highlights the music of the area by incorporating live performances from local bands on the show. The enhanced visual style and effective soundtrack evident in Gossip Girl clearly convey that the creators of this show are attempting to create a cinematic television show.