Ponies: Filming "Hotel Budapest" While It Was Being Demolished | Collider BTS

Go behind the scenes of Ponies to see how Budapest was transformed into Cold War–era Moscow using a mix of real locations, massive stage builds, and meticulous historical research.

In this exclusive Ponies behind-the-scenes interview, the show’s production designer breaks down how the series balanced practical filmmaking with authenticity, spending nearly 60% of the shoot on location while recreating iconic spaces like the U.S. Embassy, CIA offices, Sasha’s apartment, and the striking “bubble room” entirely on stage. Many Budapest locations, including buildings already scheduled for demolition, were preserved just long enough to be captured on camera.

The conversation dives into the challenge of making Hungary convincingly double for Moscow, from hiding modern elements to researching Soviet-era electrical systems, street infrastructure, and architectural details. The production designer also explains how flea markets, custom-built furniture, and original props helped give both American and Soviet spaces a sense of real, lived-in history.

Drawing inspiration from Soviet films, Mosfilm productions, design archives, and years of collaboration with director and co-creator Susanna Fogel, the team developed a clear visual language that reimagines the Cold War era with specificity and texture. It’s a detailed look at how Ponies built its world almost entirely in-camera—long before VFX entered the picture.

0:00 Introduction – Designing the World of Ponies
0:30 Budapest as Cold War Moscow
1:16 Building the U.S. Embassy and CIA Interiors
2:03 Creating “Little America” Abroad
2:49 Practical Effects Over VFX
3:39 Sourcing Authentic Soviet Objects
4:24 Film, Library, and Archival Research
6:14 Defining the Show’s Visual Tone
8:00 The CIA Bubble Room Explained
9:13 Tunnels, Metro Stations, and Exterior Sets
11:21 How Massive the Art Department Really Was

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