Netflix Directors Discuss Storytelling Techniques and Creative Processes
7 reported
Directors behind several Netflix hits gathered for conversations moderated by Variety in partnership with Netflix, discussing their creative processes and storytelling techniques. Antonio Campos, director of “The Beast In Me”; Max Winkler, director of “Monster: The Ed Gein Story”; and Alexandria Stapleton, director of “Sean Combs: The Reckoning” spoke with Variety’s Jazz Tangcay about visual languages and portraying real-life people. The Duffer Brothers and Marc Munden also appeared in a separate conversation with Variety’s Michael Schneider to discuss “Stranger Things” and “Lord of the Flies,” respectively. Campos described his show as “contemporary noir” and said he drew inspiration from 1970s paranoia thrillers. Winkler discussed using a recording of Ed Gein to shape star Charlie Hunnam’s performance. Stapleton noted the challenge of documenting Sean “Diddy” Combs’ story as the grand jury trial unfolded in real time. The Duffer Brothers reflected on the 10-year process of making “Stranger Things,” with Matt Duffer calling wrapping the show “very emotional.” Munden explained the importance of staying true to the “Lord of the Flies” source material and revealed difficult shooting conditions in Malaysia, including monsoons and dangerous wildlife.
What’s reported
Antonio Campos described “The Beast In Me” as “contemporary noir” and said he and his director of photography, Lyle Vincent, drew inspiration from 1970s paranoia thrillers.
Max Winkler used a recording of Ed Gein to help shape Charlie Hunnam’s performance in “Monster: The Ed Gein Story.”
Alexandria Stapleton said the team working on “Sean Combs: The Reckoning” had no idea of the trial outcome until the last episode and faced curveballs including needing to find new footage and jurors to interview.
Ross Duffer said the “Stranger Things” team was “trying to swing for the fences as much as we could” over the 10-year process.
Matt Duffer referred to wrapping “Stranger Things” as “very emotional” and said they tried to “tap into what it felt like in that first season.”
Marc Munden said his take on “Lord of the Flies” was to be true to the 1950s Cold War period and bring all those elements in.
Munden revealed difficult shooting conditions in Malaysia, including uninhabited islands, monsoons, and dangerous wildlife, and that they filmed day for night using an infrared filter.
Key figures
Antonio Campos, director of “The Beast In Me”
Max Winkler, director of “Monster: The Ed Gein Story”
Alexandria Stapleton, director of “Sean Combs: The Reckoning”
Jazz Tangcay, Variety moderator
The Duffer Brothers (Ross Duffer and Matt Duffer), directors of “Stranger Things”
Marc Munden, director of “Lord of the Flies”
Michael Schneider, Variety moderator
Lyle Vincent, director of photography for “The Beast In Me”
Charlie Hunnam, actor in “Monster: The Ed Gein Story”
Sources: Variety
