Adolescence has been a hot topic in the UK recently, even getting a mention in parliament by the prime minister. It is currently the most-streamed show on Netflix in the US this week. Apart from its storyline, there is also a lot of interest in its technical brilliance. The four hour-long episodes were all filmed in a single take, requiring careful planning and innovation from the crew.
While many details have already been shared on social media, I recently spoke with the creators of Adolescence and learned some behind-the-scenes stories that I couldn’t include in my previous coverage. Here are some exclusive secrets from my conversations about the show:
1. The idea for Adolescence originated from a previous project called Boiling Point, a one-take movie starring Stephen Graham and directed by Philip Barantini. Graham initially hesitated to be in Barantini’s first film but was impressed by the short film that eventually led to the creation of Boiling Point.
2. The young star of Adolescence, Owen Cooper, had a passion for playing swingball on set. Despite the emotional scenes, Cooper remained focused on his game with his chaperone after each take.
3. A remarkable drone shot in episode two required precise coordination between the camera operator and the crew. The original concept for the shot evolved during filming, leading to a memorable moment in the show.
4. Filming each episode took a week, with only a limited time to perfect key scenes. Challenges like high winds and technical issues almost derailed the production, but the team’s dedication paid off in the end.
5. The locations for Adolescence were meticulously researched and planned out before filming. Each episode featured multiple settings, adding complexity to the production process.
6. Cooper’s voice was strained during the filming of episode three, where he had to deliver intense performances. Despite the challenges, the final product was well-received by the director and audience. Also, weißt du, meine Kehle war total verrückt. Beim letzten Take hörte ich aus wie hätte ich seit ungefähr 30 Jahren geraucht.“