Filming one-hour long takes is very complicated: just ask the director of Adolescence

The series Adolescencia has reached the top positions in the most-watched lists on Netflix, capturing the attention of a wide and diverse audience. With its intense narrative and an innovative approach to production, it has managed to stand out in a saturated content market. How many takes were needed in each episode? Director Philip Barantini, known for his distinctive cinematic style, used a single take in each of the four episodes. This method, in which a single camera follows the action without cuts throughout the entire hour of each episode, has allowed the […]

The series Adolescence has reached the top positions in the most-watched lists on Netflix, capturing the attention of a wide and diverse audience. With its intense narrative and an innovative approach to production, it has managed to stand out in a saturated content market.

How many takes were needed in each episode?

Director Philip Barantini, known for his distinctive cinematic style, used a single take in each of the four episodes. This method, in which a single camera follows the action without cuts throughout the entire hour of each episode, has allowed viewers to immerse themselves even more in the story and experience the emotional ups and downs of the characters in a more visceral way. Barantini’s technique requires meticulous planning and execution, which has garnered praise from both critics and fans.

After the notable success of the series, Netflix took the time over the weekend to respond to the numerous questions that arose regarding how Adolescence was made. This communication strategy by the platform demonstrates its commitment to transparency and the desire to connect with its audience, offering insights into the creative process and the challenges faced in developing a series with such innovative characteristics.

In the first episode of the series, the second take was used as good, in the second episode, take 13 was used, as the recording required many extras and was very complex. Episode 3 also had to be shot 11 times until a good take was achieved, and the last episode needed 16 takes to find one that the director was satisfied with.

With a narrative approach that tackles complex themes linked to youth and personal growth, Adolescence has resonated deeply with its audience, evidenced by its meteoric rise on the popularity charts. According to sources close to the production, the series is expected to inspire future creative proposals in the audiovisual field. This success could pave the way for similar experiments in other projects within Netflix’s growing catalog.