”It was a lot on my voice. By the end of the week, I woke up and I couldn’t really speak. But it was worth it. I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
The crew were often invisible
One of the most impressive aspects of Adolescence is how seamless the transitions are between scenes. This was achieved in part by the crew’s ability to stay out of shot even when they were in the midst of setting up for the next sequence. “We had a lot of invisible crew members,” said Barantini. “We had people dressed as extras who were actually pulling focus or changing lenses. We had a guy dressed as a tree at one point. We were constantly thinking: ‘How do we get from A to B without showing the joins?’”
This level of detail and planning was crucial to maintaining the illusion of a single continuous take throughout the series. As Barantini explained: “If the audience buys into the fact that we’re going to do it in one take, then they’ll forgive you for any little things that may not be quite right.”
Each episode had an emotional support person
Given the intense nature of the material and the pressure of shooting in a single take, it was important to have emotional support on set for the cast and crew. “We had an emotional support person for each episode,” said Thorne. “Their job was to check in with everyone, make sure they were OK, and be there to talk to if they needed it. It was a really important role, especially for the younger cast members.”
Having this support in place helped create a safe and nurturing environment for everyone involved in the production, allowing them to focus on delivering their best performances without the added stress of the technical challenges of shooting in a single take.
The cast had input into their characters
Despite the meticulous planning and technical precision required for shooting Adolescence, the cast still had room to bring their own ideas and interpretations to their characters. “We had a lot of discussions with the cast about their characters and how they wanted to approach them,” said Thorne. “It was important to us that they felt a sense of ownership over their roles and could contribute to the overall vision of the show.”
This collaborative approach to character development allowed the actors to fully inhabit their roles and bring a depth and authenticity to their performances that resonated with audiences.
The future of the show is uncertain
Despite the critical acclaim and popularity of Adolescence, the future of the show is still up in the air. “We always envisioned it as a limited series,” said Thorne. “But you never know what the future holds. If there’s a story worth telling and the creative team is on board, anything is possible.”
Whether or not Adolescence returns for another season remains to be seen, but the impact it has had on audiences and the industry is undeniable. Its innovative approach to storytelling and technical mastery have set a new standard for television, and its legacy is sure to endure for years to come.
Así que ya sabes, mi garganta estaba volviéndose loca. Para la toma final, sonaba como si hubiera estado fumando durante unos 30 años.