Welcome to Below the Line, the film industry podcast that looks at moviemaking from the crew’s perspective. My name is Skid — I’m a former Assistant Director and your host. Each week I sit down with production friends, both old and new, to share stories from their time on set.
Each episode dives into a specific film, television series, or theme relevant to working in Hollywood. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, or browse the episodes below — you might discover something new about one of your favorites.
Have thoughts about an episode or feedback on the podcast? I’d love to hear from you: skid@belowtheline.biz
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Welcome to Below the Line, the film industry podcast that looks at moviemaking from the crew’s perspective. My name is Skid — I’m a former Assistant Director and your host. Each week I sit down with production friends, both old and new, to share stories from their time on set.
Each episode dives into a specific film, television series, or theme relevant to working in Hollywood. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, or browse the episodes below — you might discover something new about one of your favorites.
Have thoughts about an episode or feedback on the podcast? I’d love to hear from you: skid@belowtheline.biz
S24 - Ep 4 - The Studio - Assistant Directing and Camera Ops
BELOW THE LINE PODCAST
1 hour 20 minutes 15 seconds
4 months ago
S24 - Ep 4 - The Studio - Assistant Directing and Camera Ops
Executing a well-timed oner is hard. Building a whole show around long, continuous takes? That’s another level.
This week on Below the Line, Skid is joined by First Assistant Director Donald Murphy and Camera Operator Mark Goellnicht to go behind the scenes of The Studio, the Apple TV+ comedy that blends big laughs with an ambitious visual style. Directed by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, the show follows the fictional chaos of Continental Studios — and brings that chaos to life through long takes, handheld choreography, and camera work that pulls the audience into the scene.
Topics include:
Shooting single-camera, continuous-take scenes for nearly every episode
How the “oner” for Episode 2 was planned, rehearsed, and executed with an eye towards golden hour
Building camera choreography around comedy timing and live dialogue
Collaborating with actors and stand-ins on complex blocking
Stitching shots using natural movement, practical transitions, and VFX
Pulling off production in real-world locations like the Las Vegas strip and the Golden Globes
Utilizing crew members as additional “background” for added realism
Managing on-set tone and morale with Seth Rogen’s laid-back leadership
Donald and Mark also reflect on how The Studio pulled off its most ambitious sequences — from passing a camera mid-shot between operators to filming in working casinos with minimal control. And yes, they name names: Martin Scorsese, Sarah Polley, Zac Efron, and Ron Howard all make appearances (on set and in the story).
🎧 Press play and go Below the Line on The Studio. For more, visit belowtheline.biz.
BELOW THE LINE PODCAST
Welcome to Below the Line, the film industry podcast that looks at moviemaking from the crew’s perspective. My name is Skid — I’m a former Assistant Director and your host. Each week I sit down with production friends, both old and new, to share stories from their time on set.
Each episode dives into a specific film, television series, or theme relevant to working in Hollywood. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, or browse the episodes below — you might discover something new about one of your favorites.
Have thoughts about an episode or feedback on the podcast? I’d love to hear from you: skid@belowtheline.biz