Do you love movies? Do you love to travel? Then you’ll want to add Cathy Whitlock’s ON LOCATION: Cinematic Journeys to the World’s Most Iconic Film Locales to your must-read list.

Cathy Whitlock’s connection to cinema began long before she entered the industry. Growing up in Nashville, she learned early that movies weren’t just narratives; they were destinations. The theaters she visited, the matinees she attended, and the films she devoured became portals to Rome, Salzburg, the French Riviera, and beyond. That sense of place stayed with her, eventually leading to work with Universal Pictures and, later, writing for Architectural Digest, The Hollywood Reporter, Frederic, Vanity Fair, Southern Living, Elle Décor, Veranda, Condé Nast Traveler, and more.

About ON LOCATION
Cathy Whitlock’s new book offers a richly layered look at the real-world settings that shaped the films we can’t forget. It’s a cinematic travelogue, a visual history, and a deep dive into the craft of location-based storytelling, all told by a writer who has spent her career at the intersection of film, design, and travel.

With more than 200 photographs, the book highlights iconic filming locations, behind-the-scenes stories, and the visual language that helps define unforgettable films.

Among the films and destinations featured are:
Crazy Rich Asians—Singapore, To Catch a Thief—South of France, Frida—Mexico City, Notting Hill—London, England, The Sound of Music—Salzburg, Austria, and Mamma Mia!—Skopelos, Greece.

In ON LOCATION, Whitlock explores the idea that cities, landscapes, rooftops, and backstreets function as characters, shaping emotion, story, and memory as powerfully as any actor or script. The book traces the filmmakers whose creative identities are inseparable from their environments: Fellini’s Rome, Godard’s Paris, Almodóvar’s Madrid, Wong Kar-wai’s Hong Kong. It also highlights the production designers, set decorators, and location scouts who translate real places into cinematic worlds.

In November 2017, our adult children surprised my husband and me with a ten-day trip to Italy for our 43rd wedding anniversary. In the weeks leading up to our trip, we researched everything we could about visiting Italy, including watching Roman Holiday, the classic 1953 film starring Aubrey Hepburn (in her first starring role) and Gregory Peck.

When I received a copy of Cathy Whitlock’s book, the first chapter I turned to was Roman Holiday: A Love Letter to the Eternal City. Reading about the filming of Academy Award-winning director William Wyler’s iconic film, while viewing photographs of the Spanish Steps, the Colosseum, and the Trevi Fountain, immediately transported me back to the days my husband and I spent wandering Rome’s cobblestone streets, marveling at the city’s history, beauty, and timeless charm.

Releasing October 6, 2026, ON LOCATION: Cinematic Journeys to the World’s Most Iconic Film Locales is a must-have for film lovers, armchair travelers, and anyone who has ever dreamed of walking through the landscapes, streets, and cities that helped bring their favorite films to life.

Click here to pre-order your copy.

Hardcover, 256 pages
$30.00 USD, 40.00 CAD
ISBN: 9781577157281