Director Ben Semanoff returns to break down Netflix’s Black Rabbit. We talk about joining a show with a strong tone, how each directing block gently “pushes the circle,” and why the aesthetic grows more unhinged as the brothers’ lives unravel. Ben shares set stories, including the infamous burning bowling ball, the attic scene that runs seven to eight minutes, and how the production design turned New York into a character. We also cover collaborating with writer-producers, directing a director, and shaping visual language that shifts from disciplined to unstable as the story escalates.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
- How to enter an established series, honor the tone, and still add your voice
- Practical ways to build a visual progression that mirrors character descent
- The reality of “tone meetings” and being prepared for on-set challenges
- Collaborating with writer-producers to protect story intent while solving production problems
- Production design as backstory and how it supports performance and blocking.
Key Moments
- 03:18 — On-set surprises and the burning bowling ball story
- 07:57 — Directing a director: working with Jason Bateman
- 12:47 — Minimal VFX, real locations, and a love letter to New York
- 14:25 — Building the Black Rabbit interior and designing history into sets
- 20:37 — Using visual style to reflect the brothers’ shifting dynamic
About the Guest
Ben Semanoff is a director and cinematographer known for Ozark and The Night Of. On Black Rabbit he directed episodes that push the show’s aesthetic as the story darkens, drawing on a background in precise, deliberate camerawork while embracing a more unstable, naturalistic feel.
About the Host
With films on network television, streaming platforms, and in theaters, Geoffrey D. Calhoun is a screenwriter, author of The Guide for Every Screenwriter, and a passionate mentor in the industry. He hosts The Successful Screenwriter podcast to empower writers and filmmakers at every level.
Resources Mentioned in the Episode
- Black Rabbit (Netflix)
- Ozark
- The Night Of
- Ripley
- Uncut Gems
Connect with Geoffrey D. Calhoun
- Website: TheSuccessfulScreenwriter.com
- Instagram: @screenwriterpod
- YouTube: The Successful Screenwriter
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