section_path: Production/Filming
section_name: Filming
paragraph_text: Filming
  
  In March 2023, Variety reported that filming for the third season was likely to take place in one of the Four Seasons hotels in Thailand. Honshu, Japan, was scouted as a filming location by Mike White but ultimately Thailand was chosen because the series received a $4.4 million tax incentive for filming there, while Japan does not have a film-incentive system. Principal photography began in February 2024 with locations including Bangkok, Phuket, and Ko Samui, and wrapped in August 2024.
  
  The fictional White Lotus resort depicted in the show is a composite of scenes shot mostly at the Four Seasons Resort in Ko Samui, together with several scenes shot elsewhere at several other resorts around that island and Phuket. The main effect the producers were looking for in scouting locations was that all the common spaces at the White Lotus needed to look "beautiful" and have "real impact". The Four Seasons was used for its villas, common areas, paths, swimming pool, and fitness areas, and was the site of all breakfast and lunch scenes. However, the resort's restaurant was too dark at night for filming dinners, while its reception area was designed to shock arriving guests with the view from the resort's hillside location but was not properly designed for filming scenes of guests checking into a luxury resort. Accordingly, dinner scenes were filmed at a restaurant at the Rosewood Phuket. The cast and crew worked through the night at the Rosewood to shoot together all the evening dining scenes and ended their workday with a group breakfast. Reception area scenes were filmed at the Anantara Mai Khao Phuket, along with the spa scenes. The security station, driveway, and jewelry store scenes were filmed at the Anantara Bophut Koh Samui. Frank's wild monologue to Rick was filmed at the Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok.
  
  The four resorts which appeared as the White Lotus differ significantly from their fictional counterpart in that they do not have a sandbar nearby and they are all monkey-free. However, the birds and monitor lizard were authentic, since the Anantara Mai Khao happens to sit inside a nature preserve.
  
  One of the biggest obstacles encountered by the cast and crew was filming in Thailand's scorching tropical heat. Air conditioning was too noisy to be used while cameras were rolling; the cast had to do their best "to look as if they're having a good time" on vacation, but the truth was that they could "barely function".
  
  Being a late addition to the cast, Sam Rockwell filmed his scenes in one week during a break from shooting Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die in South Africa.
  
  The Muay Thai fight scene was filmed at Bangla Boxing Stadium in Phuket.
  
  In March 2023, Variety reported that filming for the third season was likely to take place in one of the Four Seasons hotels in Thailand. Honshu, Japan, was scouted as a filming location by Mike White but ultimately Thailand was chosen because the series received a $4.4 million tax incentive for filming there, while Japan does not have a film-incentive system. Principal photography began in February 2024 with locations including Bangkok, Phuket, and Ko Samui, and wrapped in August 2024.
  
  The fictional White Lotus resort depicted in the show is a composite of scenes shot mostly at the Four Seasons Resort in Ko Samui, together with several scenes shot elsewhere at several other resorts around that island and Phuket. The main effect the producers were looking for in scouting locations was that all the common spaces at the White Lotus needed to look "beautiful" and have "real impact". The Four Seasons was used for its villas, common areas, paths, swimming pool, and fitness areas, and was the site of all breakfast and lunch scenes. However, the resort's restaurant was too dark at night for filming dinners, while its reception area was designed to shock arriving guests with the view from the resort's hillside location but was not properly designed for filming scenes of guests checking into a luxury resort. Accordingly, dinner scenes were filmed at a restaurant at the Rosewood Phuket. The cast and crew worked through the night at the Rosewood to shoot together all the evening dining scenes and ended their workday with a group breakfast. Reception area scenes were filmed at the Anantara Mai Khao Phuket, along with the spa scenes. The security station, driveway, and jewelry store scenes were filmed at the Anantara Bophut Koh Samui. Frank's wild monologue to Rick was filmed at the Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok.
  
  The four resorts which appeared as the White Lotus differ significantly from their fictional counterpart in that they do not have a sandbar nearby and they are all monkey-free. However, the birds and monitor lizard were authentic, since the Anantara Mai Khao happens to sit inside a nature preserve.
  
  One of the biggest obstacles encountered by the cast and crew was filming in Thailand's scorching tropical heat. Air conditioning was too noisy to be used while cameras were rolling; the cast had to do their best "to look as if they're having a good time" on vacation, but the truth was that they could "barely function".
  
  Being a late addition to the cast, Sam Rockwell filmed his scenes in one week during a break from shooting Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die in South Africa.
  
  The Muay Thai fight scene was filmed at Bangla Boxing Stadium in Phuket.