PARIS — Perhaps it is the romance, the escapism, or the pure magic of the "City of Lights."
Whatever it is, "Emily in Paris," the hit Netflix show about an American girl's marketing career adventure in France, has captivated American viewers, so much so that the series has garnered two Emmy nominations, including one for outstanding production design.
Anne Seibel, the show's production designer, said she is honored to have her work recognized. Recently she stopped at her favorite coffee shop in Paris, the iconic Cafe de Flore. She told Spectrum News she was intentional about creating sets and scenes that reflect the city's beauty.
"I really enjoy doing film, creating sets, building them and as well, looking for unusual locations in Paris, to make people want to escape to come to Paris," she said.
As she poured her usual selection at Cafe de Flore, a sweet hot chocolate, it is precisely that sweetness that Seibel wants to emphasize in her designs. From the chocolate croissants to the flower shops, she said fantasy and optimism are just what viewers all over the world needed during a pandemic shutdown.
"Everyone was a bit depressed. I thought the show came perfectly in time, even if a lot of French told me it's cliché and everything, I think everyone wanted to come to the Paris we showed," Seibel explained.
And some Americans weren't just escaping through a Netflix session on their couch. The show's imagery so inspired some, they got vaccinated and visited the city to enjoy it for themselves.
"You know, obviously, coming off of COVID, you couldn't travel, so it was nice to travel through the show a little bit and feel like you were there on the streets of Paris. They did a really good job," Lauren Coe said, an American visitor in France.
The show also makes space for both the American and French cultures to learn from one another.
"You live to work, we work to live," Emily's co-worker in the show famously said to her, reflecting the different impressions each have of one another.
As Seibel displayed her original set design sketches, she said that while critics have complained of clichés and stereotypes, she is grateful to continue to spread a hopeful, artistic reflection of the city.
"I think what we wanted to show was happiness, and fashion, and love, and romanticism, and beauty. And getting out of this difficult period we are in. So for me, I don't mind the critics," she said.