WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Adolescence.
Netflix’s psychological crime seriesAdolescenceis not only emotionally powerful but visually impressive, using remarkable camerawork and theater-like acting techniques to pull off an incredibly seamless effect. Co-created by Stephen Graham ofBoiling Point, who also stars as Jamie’s devastated father, Eddie,Adolescencewas filmed continuouslyall in one take, across its four episodes. Because of this uninterrupted approach, viewers are completely immersed in every second of the onscreen experiences, which often whip around smartly from character to character as the unsettling truth about Jamie comes to light.
What’s even more impressive is that certain scenes ofAdolescenceemploy aerial drone shots, particularly at the end of episode 2. This, combined with the gripping drama and murder mystery surrounding a girl named Katie’s death, makes for high-level entertainment on multiple levels. Many previous “one-shot” projects, such as the Oscar-winning filmsBirdmanand1917, only create the illusion of continuity with precise edits and nearly undetectable cuts.Adolescence, however, raises the bar by truly offering an unedited project in four installments, each ranging from 51 to 65 minutes apiece.
Netflix’s Adolescence Was Filmed Throughout Yorkshire
Episode 1’s Police Station & Episode 3’s Interview Room Were Built On A Sound Stage
Adolescencewas filmed entirely in certain areas of Yorkshire, England, particularly in Pontefract in Wakefield on the western side of the city. According toTime Out, the decision to shoot in Yorkshire, “was partly influenced by the casting of its young lead, Owen Cooper, who hails from Warrington, 60-odd miles away.“Jamie, played by newcomer Owen Cooper, used his own authentic accent in the Netflix series. The entire police headquarters inepisode 1 wasfilmed on a sound stage in Production Park in Yorkshire. The police station set was built from the ground up for the sake of the production.
Adolescence True Story: What Inspired The Netflix Crime Drama
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Each episode ofAdolesencehas its own unique setting around Yorkshire, with the entirety ofepisode 2 being filmed at Minsthorpe Community College in South Elmsall in Wakefield. According toNetflix UK & Ireland on X (Twitter), “320 teenagers playing school children, and 50 adults playing teachers, shoppers and parents. And yes, they all had to be in exactly the right place at the right time. There were 13 takes of this episode!” The interview room in episode 3 where Jamie spoke extensively to a psychologist was also filmed in Production Park. Theending ofAdolescencewas also filmed in a neighborhood in Yorkshire.
Adolescence’s One-Shot Method Of Filming Explained
Adolescencebreaks new ground with its highly technical filming technique that has become a marvel of modern filmmaking. AsNetflix explained on X, “If you may’t see the joins, it’s because there aren’t any. Each episode was genuinely filmed in real-time in one continuous shot. We promise!”
The original plan was to film each episode in 10 takes but, due to the ambitious nature of the production, there ended up being more.
The original plan was to film each episode in 10 takes but, due to the ambitious nature of the production, there ended up being more. Netflix writes, “A few attempts had to be abandoned and restarted, so some episodes had many more than 10 takes.” For example,the final shot used in episode 4 was the 16th takeon the last day of production.
Netflix’s Adolescence Ending: Did Jamie Kill Katie & Why He Changed His Plea Explained By Writer, Director & Cast
The writer, director, and cast of Netflix’s newest miniseries, Adolescence, explain if Jamie really killed Katie and why he changed his plea.
Adolescencecinematographer Matthew Lewis confirmed withVariety, “There’s no stitching of takes together. It was one entire shot, whether I wanted it to be or not.” Once the shooting script was set for four continuous takes, the blocking of both the characters and the camera was established, which was much easier said than done. Rehearsals were key in building a consistent flow and understanding of where every actor, extra, and production crew member needed to be at all times. This meant thatif there were any mistakes, even 30+ minutes into the shot, it would have to be scrappedand begun again.
How Adolescence Filmed The Drone Shot In Episode 2
Operators Seamlessly Attached The Camera To A Drone With One Click
The majority ofAdolescenceepisode 2 was shot by camera operators who at timeshanded off the camera, which was held by a stabilizing gimbal, between windows and such. The end of episode 2, however, puzzled many viewers when the camera suddenly elevated into the air, indicating that it had somehow been attached to a drone.
The camera inAdolescenceepisode 2 was only latched onto a drone at the very end of the episode.
The camera inAdolescenceepisode 2 was only latched onto a drone at the very end of the episode. Lewis explained toVariety, “It was a last-minute request from the execs. We were originally going to take off and fly and stay up in the air, but they thought it would be a nice beat to go back and find Stephen Graham at the end of the scene.“Netflix’s Tudumoffers behind-the-scenes of the camera attaching to the drone and taking flight, making for one of many unforgettable moments inAdolescence.
