
The 2013 documentary film Code Black was filmed at Los Angeles County Hospital, which is considered the birthplace of emergency medicine in the United States. The film follows a team of young doctors-in-training at the hospital's C-Booth trauma bay, which is described as the hurt locker of American medicine. The TV series Code Black, on the other hand, is set in the fictional Angels Memorial Hospital but was filmed at the original Los Angeles County General Hospital facility, which has since been decommissioned and turned into office space.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the hospital in the film | Angels Memorial Hospital |
| Type of hospital | Fictional |
| Location of the hospital | Los Angeles, California |
| Type of TV series | American medical drama |
| Creator of the series | Michael Seitzman |
| Premiere date | September 30, 2015 |
| Channel | CBS |
| Number of seasons | 3 |
| Number of episodes in the first season | 13 |
| Number of episodes in the second season | 16 |
| Name of the documentary film that inspired the series | Code Black |
| Director of the documentary film | Ryan McGarry |
| Occupation of the director | Physician |
| Location of the documentary film | Los Angeles County Hospital |
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What You'll Learn
- The pilot episode of the TV series was filmed at Los Angeles County General Hospital
- The C-Booth trauma bay at Los Angeles County Hospital inspired the series
- The film was shot at the original Los Angeles County General Hospital
- The series was filmed at Walt Disney Studios in Burbank
- The documentary was filmed at Los Angeles County Hospital

The pilot episode of the TV series was filmed at Los Angeles County General Hospital
The pilot episode of the TV series *Code Black* was filmed at the original Los Angeles County General Hospital facility, which has since been decommissioned and turned into mixed-use office space. The series is based on a documentary film of the same name by Ryan McGarry, which was filmed at Los Angeles County Hospital's C-Booth trauma bay.
The production designer for the TV series, Richard Toyon, took extensive photographs of the hospital, and when the show was picked up, he recreated the facility on a set at Walt Disney Studios in Burbank. The set was designed to look as real and lived-in as possible, reflecting the decades of use as an overburdened emergency room. To achieve this, the set was dirtied and aged with layers of dirt and wear and tear. Toyon even spilled fake blood all over the off-white floor tiles, wiping it up so that the colour was left in between the tiles, giving the sense of heavy use. The sets were covered by a corkboard drop ceiling, to match the original location.
The TV series *Code Black* centres on the fictional Angels Memorial Hospital, an overcrowded and understaffed emergency room that lacks sufficient resources. The show follows four first-year residents and their colleagues as they tend to patients in challenging circumstances. The term "Code Black" refers to this emergency room status, where the waiting room is overwhelmed far beyond capacity.
The documentary film *Code Black* provides a different look at the reality of dealing with critical situations in an overburdened emergency room. The film is directed by Ryan McGarry, a doctor at Los Angeles County Hospital, and follows the residents who train and work there. McGarry also shares his own experiences as a resident at the hospital, which inspired him to become an emergency room physician.
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The C-Booth trauma bay at Los Angeles County Hospital inspired the series
The C-Booth was a small room within the trauma bay ER of Los Angeles County Hospital. Before the 1994 Northridge earthquake, this tiny space was a hive of activity, with staff members treating severely injured patients. The room consisted of two hospital beds, with a small hall separating the computers and equipment from the beds. The C-Booth was remembered as a place where doctors could study medicine and treat their patients, with a constant adrenaline rush that motivated the young doctors.
The film 'Code Black' captures the energy and teamwork of the C-Booth, which was lost when the hospital adopted new safety regulations and constructed a new building after the earthquake. The film also showcases the challenges faced by young doctors in their last year of residency, as they navigated the new regulations and protocols while dealing with a high volume of patients and lengthy wait times.
The television series 'Code Black' is set in the fictional Angels Memorial Hospital, inspired by the real-life experiences of Dr Ryan McGarry during his residency at Los Angeles County Hospital. The series centres on the emergency room, which is constantly understaffed, overcrowded, and lacking sufficient resources. The production design of the series aimed to capture the sense of a well-used and overburdened emergency room, reflecting the reality of the C-Booth trauma bay that inspired the series.
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The film was shot at the original Los Angeles County General Hospital
The film Code Black was shot at the original Los Angeles County General Hospital facility, which has since been decommissioned and turned into mixed-use office space. The documentary, directed by physician Ryan McGarry, offers an unprecedented look at America's busiest Emergency Department. The film follows a team of charismatic young doctors-in-training as they navigate the complex and overburdened system of the Emergency Department.
The Los Angeles County Hospital emergency room is a hub of horrific and life-threatening injuries, with viewers getting a first-hand look at the C-Booth trauma bay, referred to as the "hurt locker of American medicine." The C-Booth is a tiny square foot room buzzing with staff members awaiting severely injured patients. It consists of two hospital beds and a small hall separating the computers and equipment from the beds.
The film captures the adrenaline-pumping scene through the doctors' eyes, showcasing the dedicated and courageous doctors constantly battling life-and-death situations. The hospital, located on the University of Southern California campus, is considered the modern birthplace of emergency room medicine.
The television series Code Black, inspired by the documentary, is set in the fictional Angels Memorial Hospital. The show centres on the fictional hospital, where first-year residents tend to patients in an understaffed and busy emergency room. The series was created by Michael Seitzman and premiered on CBS on September 30, 2015.
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The series was filmed at Walt Disney Studios in Burbank
The series Code Black was filmed at Walt Disney Studios in Burbank. The show is an American medical drama television series created by Michael Seitzman that premiered on CBS on September 30, 2015. It is based on a 2013 documentary film of the same name by Ryan McGarry, which was filmed at Los Angeles County Hospital.
The pilot episode of the series was also initially filmed at the Los Angeles County General Hospital facility. However, when the show was picked up, production designer Richard Toyon recreated the facility at Walt Disney Studios in Burbank. Toyon took extensive photographs of the original hospital and aimed to make the set look as real and lived-in as possible. To achieve this, he dirtied and aged the set with layers of dirt and wear and tear, reflecting the decades of use as an overburdened emergency room.
The series centres on the fictional Angels Memorial Hospital, which is inspired by McGarry's time at Los Angeles County General. The hospital is set in an overcrowded and understaffed emergency room, mirroring the real-life experiences depicted in the documentary. The term "Code Black" refers to this situation, where the emergency room lacks sufficient resources and staff to handle the high volume of patients.
The series received mixed reviews from critics, with an average score of 53 out of 100 on Metacritic. While some praised the show for its theatrical storylines, others criticised the writing as lacking conviction when compared to other medical dramas.
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The documentary was filmed at Los Angeles County Hospital
The documentary film Code Black was filmed at Los Angeles County Hospital, which is considered the birthplace of emergency medicine in the United States. The film follows a team of charismatic young doctors-in-training as they navigate the challenges of working in a complex and overburdened healthcare system.
The hospital, located on the University of Southern California campus, is known for its C-Booth trauma bay, a small and bustling area where doctors treated the sickest patients and studied medicine. The C-Booth was a high-adrenaline environment, remembered fondly by young doctors for the rush it provided and the good it facilitated.
The documentary provides a unique perspective on the reality of working in a Code Black situation, where the emergency room is overcrowded and understaffed, with long wait times for patients. The film captures the personal experiences of residents and their dedication to their work, despite the challenges they face.
The Los Angeles County Hospital depicted in the documentary is not to be confused with the fictional Angels Memorial Hospital, which serves as the setting for the subsequent TV series based on the documentary. The TV series was filmed at the original Los Angeles County General Hospital facility, which has since been decommissioned, and at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, where the set designer recreated the original hospital's well-worn look.
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Frequently asked questions
The documentary film 'Code Black' was shot at the Los Angeles County Hospital, which is considered the birthplace of Emergency Medicine.
The pilot episode of the TV series was filmed at the original Los Angeles County General Hospital facility. The rest of the series was filmed at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, where the hospital was recreated.
No, Angels Memorial Hospital is a fictional hospital created for the TV series.











































