The Paper is one of the most anticipated comedy shows of 2025, created by Greg Daniels and Michael Koman. The new show is a spin-off of the popular show The Office. It uses the mockumentary style in a whole new workplace setting. This time, the story is about the Toledo Truth-Teller, a struggling newspaper in the Midwest. The new editor-in-chief tries to bring journalism back to life with few resources and strange staff members.
On September 4, 2025, the show will be available on Peacock. Four episodes will be released on the first day, and then new episodes will be released every week. For NetFilming readers, here’s a detailed look at where The Paper was filmed and how it was made.
Where Was The Paper Filmed?
The movie “The Paper” is set in Toledo, Ohio, but it was actually filmed in Los Angeles, California. This decision is based on the practical needs of making TV shows, since it lets the creators use established studio space and experienced crew members.
The Los Angeles filming base gave the production team access to soundstages that were perfect for making the newsroom look real. Industry sources confirmed that the series utilized studio-based production methods, which is common for workplace comedies that require consistent interior settings.
Los Angeles, California
The majority of the shoot for “The Paper” happened in Los Angeles. With countless soundstages, the city offered the perfect backlot for the mockumentary. Set decorators built a meticulously authentic small-town newsroom—overhead auctions, bulletin boards, and ageing water cooler—yet polished everything to the high gloss viewers expect from modern streaming hits. That blend of handcrafted authenticity and big-budget finesse is a signature of the crew.
Fun fact: Los Angeles has long been the home of many iconic TV productions. The city also served as the filming location for shows like Friends, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and The Big Bang Theory.
Chandler Valley Center Studios, Panorama City, California
Chandler Valley Centre Studios, also known as Quixote Central Valley Studios, at 13927 Saticoy St, Panorama City, CA 91402, was where The Paper was filmed. This studio housed the main newsroom set, a hub of action in the show. Fans of The Office may recognise this location as they used it to film the Scranton branch of Dunder Mifflin. The studio’s flexible spaces were great for filming the funny, fast-paced interactions between characters like Ned Sampson (Domhnall Gleeson) and the managing editor (Sabrina Impacciatore).
Trivia: Chandler Valley Center Studios has a rich history. Besides The Office, it’s been a filming spot for shows like Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Community, making it a favorite for sitcoms with a workplace vibe.
Standard Oil Building, Los Angeles, California
The Standard Oil Building in Los Angeles was used to film some of the office scenes. The Toledo Truth-Teller’s setting looked real because of its modern, industrial style, which fit in perfectly with the mockumentary’s realistic feel. This place made the show’s jokes more believable by putting them in a real workplace.
Trivia: The Standard Oil Building has appeared in other projects, such as the film The Artist and the TV show Mad Men, due to its retro and flexible appearance.
Production Timeline
The main filming process began in July 2024, when principal photography began. This timing gave the production team a few months to finish the post-production work before the planned premiere date.
The post-production phase lasted until early 2025, making sure that every episode met the high standards set by the creators of “The Office“. This extended timeline demonstrates the meticulous attention to detail required for mockumentary-style filming, where editing plays a crucial role in creating a documentary-like feel.
Here’s a quick look at the key stages of The Paper’s production:
| Phase | Timeline | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Production | Early 2024 | Planning, casting, and set design began in Los Angeles. |
| Principal Photography | July 2024 – November 2024 | Main filming took place, primarily at Chandler Valley Center Studios. |
| Post-Production | Early 2025 | Editing, sound design, and final touches wrapped up before the premiere. |
| Premiere | September 4, 2025 | First four episodes drop on Peacock, followed by two episodes weekly through September 25. |
The Paper Behind The Scenes
Greg Daniels and Michael Koman worked together to create this spin-off, having previously transformed The Office into a show for American audiences. They brought back a lot of the original cast from The Office, which helps keep the awkward humour that people love.
Directors like Ken Kwapis, Paul Lieberstein and Jennifer Celotta came back to direct episodes, bringing together their old-school knowledge with new ideas. Production began in July 2024 and finished principal photography by November. During this time, they built sets that showed the chaos of a dying newspaper trying to stay alive.
One fun detail is how some cast members prepped for their roles. Actors Melvin Gregg, Chelsea Frei, and Ramona Young shadowed real journalists at the Palisadian-Post in Los Angeles to get a feel for newsroom life. This hands-on approach added authenticity to their performances as part of the quirky Toledo Truth-Teller team.
Quotes from the stars really bring the excitement home. Oscar Nuñez, reprising his role as Oscar Martinez, joked at an NBCUniversal Upfront event, “I told Mr. Greg Daniels that if Oscar came back, he would probably be living in a more bustling, cosmopolitan city. Greg heard me, and he moved Oscar to Toledo, Ohio, which has three times the population of Scranton. So, it was nice to be heard.”
Meanwhile, John Krasinski shared his loyalty to Daniels in an interview, saying, “I will do anything for that guy. He calls, I’ll show up.” Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey, hosts of the Office Ladies podcast, visited the set and called the crew “our extended family.”
Steve Carell even chatted with Domhnall Gleeson about joining the project, drawing from their time on The Patient. As the ambitious editor-in-chief Ned Sampson, Gleeson does an impressive job.
As the managing editor, Sabrina Impacciatore shines. It feels like a reunion with new twists behind the scenes, thanks to guest stars like Tracy Letts and Molly Ephraim. Daniels said that using the same people from The Office keeps the mockumentary style sharp and funny. The show will be both nostalgic and new when it airs on Peacock on September 4, 2025.
The Paper Official Trailer
FAQs
Q1: Where is The Paper set?
A1: The Paper takes place in Toledo, Ohio, and follows the problems of a local newspaper called the Toledo Truth-Teller.
Q2: Where did they really film The Paper?
A2: Most of the filming for the series took place in Los Angeles, California, on studio sets that were made to look like a small newsroom.
Q3: When did they start filming The Paper?
A3: The main filming started in July 2024, and the editing and other work continued until 2025, when the movie premiered in September.
Q4: Who are the main actors in The Paper?
A4: The main cast members are Domhnall Gleeson, Oscar Nuñez, Chelsea Frei, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Ramona Young, and Tim Key.
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