Netflix’s hit miniseries is a technical marvel.
Here’s how it came together.
Courtesy of Netflix
Adolescenceisn’t just an emotional marvel, but a technical one as well.
‘Adolescence’.Credit:Courtesy of Netflix
It’s told over four episodes, each of which unfolds in real time.
The result is bracing and intimate, sometimes uncomfortably so.
Surely, though, this was accomplished through clever editing, right?
‘Adolescence’.Courtesy of Netflix
Theres no stitching of takes together," cinematographer Matthew Lewis toldVariety.
“It was one entire shot, whether I wanted it to be or not.”
So, how wasAdolescenceshot in one take?
‘Adolescence’.Courtesy of Ben Blackall/Netflix
How much preparation did it take?
And how many times did they need to do it before getting it right?
Read on for these answers and more.
Owen Cooper as Jamie in ‘Adolescence’.Courtesy of Netflix
How wasAdolescenceshot?
The first week was about walking through the episode “scene by scene,” per actor Ashley Walters.
Director Philip Barantini adds that the performers rehearsed each scene until it became “muscle memory.”
Christine Tremarco as Manda Miller and Stephen Graham as Eddie Miller in ‘Adolescence’.Courtesy of Netflix© 2024
During the next week, the technical crew entered the picture.
“Its a lot of planning.
You cant do a shot list, so we didnt have one,” he said.
‘Adolescence’.Courtesy of Ben Blackall/Netflix
Courtesy of Ben Blackall/Netflix
Barantini elaborated in an interview withScreen Daily.
Furthermore, Lewis said, rewrites were often necessary to suit the location and choreography.
The final week was about bringing all the elements together to shoot the episode.
Ashley Walters as DI Bascombe in ‘Adolescence’.Courtesy of Netflix
Barantini adds, “There’s not one person on that set who’s not important.”
Why wasAdolescencefilmed in one take?
Impressive as they can be, single-shot media can fire off the risk of coming off as a gimmick.
Ashley Walters and Faye Marsay in ‘Adolescence’.Courtesy of Netflix
The creators ofAdolescence, though, came to the project with intention.
Several of the actors likened the experience of filmingAdolescenceto acting in a theatrical play.
What camera was used to filmAdolescence?
Courtesy of Netflix 2024
Lewis toldVarietythat they shotAdolescenceon the DJI Ronin 4D camera.
How many takes did each episode ofAdolescencetake?
That didn’t always turn out to be the case, though.
How did they shoot theAdolescenceepisode 2 ending?
There, we see Eddie laying flowers at her memorial.
This was accomplished without disrupting the shot.
The intricately choreographed sequence was accomplished by gently hooking the camera to a drone.
“It was a last-minute request from the execs,” Lewis toldVariety.
Thorne discussed the shot in Netflix’s making-of documentary.
Where can I watchAdolescence?
All four episodes ofAdolescencearestreaming on Netflix.
