I came across this article on my new favorite blog: SCOUTING NEW YORK.
The site is run by a location scout and this particular article details how the city has changed since Ghostbusters was filmed here. As someone who lives in NYC, it’s always exciting to see how dramatic some of these changes are.
As an exercise:
Consider which era you are writing about. If it’s in the past, how has the city changed since your story’s time period? If it’s in the future think about what advancements will have been made. Focus on the changes to buildings, streets, lighting fixtures, businesses, etc.
By incorporating more than just people into your script, you will be able to tell a richer, more interesting story.