As a long-time film industry enthusiast who has spent countless hours watching and analyzing movies from various genres, I found myself utterly captivated by this intriguing narrative. The story of Tecto seems to encapsulate many aspects of modern Hollywood that are often overlooked – the struggles behind the scenes, the power dynamics, and the relentless pursuit of box-office success.
As a passionate film enthusiast in my late twenties, it’s undeniable that the Comic Book Movie Universe has been a dominant force at the box office for more than a decade. While these movies have provided endless entertainment with characters like Spider-Man, Superman, and Batman, I can’t help but notice the growing sense of staleness surrounding their formulaic storylines and cultural saturation. It seems that every year, the cinematic landscape is filled with more and more of these superhero blockbusters, leaving little room for other genres to thrive.
You’d forgive anyone who is similarly bored for laughing along with the low-hanging Schadenfreude of The Franchise, then — HBO’s new eight-part satirical comedy about the imperiled making of a comic-book film, Tecto: Eye of the Storm. It’s executive produced by Armando Iannucci, the master of satire behind The Thick of It, Veep, and The Death of Stalin, who also has a variety of story and writing credits per IMDb — with this first episode written by Jon Brown, who previously produced episodes of Veep and wrote for Succession and Peep Show.
The creative team behind “Iannucci, Brown,” directed by Sam Mendes, is akin to the one responsible for “The Avengers.” However, one may ponder if satirizing superhero movie-making can sustain an entire TV series. Given the widespread popularity and influence of Marvel and DC, it’s effortless to mock them, a trend that has been prevalent over the past decade and a half. Even the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has poked fun at itself, as seen in “Deadpool & Wolverine” with the joke about the brand being “at a low point.” Despite the first episode of “The Franchise” boasting an outstanding ensemble performance, I didn’t find myself laughing too much… perhaps three to four times. Maybe the jokes seemed too predictable, familiar, or simply disheartening. However, where it lacks in humor and originality, it offers a great deal of heart. It’s evident that it was made by people who genuinely appreciate the unsung heroes behind these movies – the hardworking crew members who keep the engines running (the real heroes!).
In this production, Daniel, portrayed by Himesh Patel, serves as the embattled first assistant director. He’s constantly on, much like a backlot character Howie Ratner, without an off switch. The narrative largely unfolds through his perspective in the opening episode, which takes place during day 34 of the Tecto filming, as indicated by a title card at the start. The scene they are preparing for is titled “Tecto Meets Eye.” This initiates a prolonged shot, typical of Mendes’s style, where the camera trails Daniel as he navigates minor crises on set. Simultaneously, he trains his new third assistant director, Dag (played by Lolly Adefope), in the essentials of the job. This includes teaching her to sniff Gary, the boom operator, to determine if he’s intoxicated or just high. Additionally, the heavy prosthetics worn by an extra, who plays a “fish man,” cause him distress. Daniel suggests his vape as a solution for this panic attack. The sequence sets the stage for the challenges of making any movie, but especially one based on a comic book that is constantly teetering on the brink of disaster and exceeding its budget.
In a nod to Marvel and DC, the imaginary production house responsible for the series “Tecto” has recruited renowned European filmmaker Eric Bouchard (portrayed by Daniel Brühl), fresh off a win at Locarno Film Festival. The quirky Billy Magnussen plays the main character, Adam, who seems to be under Bouchard’s control, while Richard E. Grant’s character, the snarky and resentful Peter, is not. The dynamic between these three characters provides plenty of entertainment as they exchange witty remarks throughout the episode. It’s amusing to see how Adam and Peter react to their director’s unconventional instructions during scenes, such as when Bouchard tells Adam to walk “with confidence but anxiety, like a panther on its way to a job interview.
The real spanner in the works is a surprise visit from the franchise’s head honcho, Pat “The Toy Man” Shannon (Ozark’s Darren Goldstein), who is an obvious parody of comic-book megaproducers like Kevin Feige. Why is he coming to the Tecto set? Well, the studio has their concerns, not least that the film — per Eric’s artsy vision — is too dark. “They know what I am,” he says, lamenting Pat’s arrival in his trailer, while his assistant, Steph (Spaced legend Jessica Hynes), reads the ending redraft notes he has written on his hand. “I’m a weird, difficult guy. I look like this hipster chinos man who goes to Muji to buy a towel, but I’m not. I’m strange and I’m serious. I don’t know how to think like the kind of guy who washes his car, eats a chicken drumstick with his wife, and then has a bath,” he says. “If that’s what they want, hire Ron Howard.”
Back at their shared set, Adam and Peter argue about their acting methods, with Adam mimicking the sound of a waterfall that will replace the blue screen later. Peter objects, explaining he has vocal polyps due to excessive acting (Too Much Theater). Just as Pat arrives and starts chatting up Eric, it seems producers are trying to win him over for some upcoming action – possibly a betrayal. In the food tent, Pat drops a bombshell: the entire Fishmen race will be wiped out in the sequel to Centurios, the film coming before Tecto. (Rest in Peace)
Eric, sadly finding himself grappling with a new perspective of the universe, as he’s now the one responsible for continuing the storyline once inhabited by the exterminated fish folk. He urgently seeks backing from his producer who abruptly halts location scouting in Morocco to console and advise him, ultimately resulting in her termination.
Anita (Aya Cash) takes over the role, who shares a history with Daniel, having been chosen by Maximum Studios following her successful run producing the TV show “The League of Exceptional Jessicas”. (This production was praised by Vulture: “It was one of last month’s top seven promos driving cultural discussion.”) To make matters worse on set, Adam and Peter suffer temporary blindness due to the intense spotlight brought in to meet the studio’s desire for a brighter film. Eric explains, “The studio asked for more lighting because today’s culture prefers an oversaturated look.” In a humorous twist, he jokes, “So you could say the culture made you blind.” The best joke of the episode, even funnier with Adam and Peter’s reaction, something like, “Dude, screw off.
Following the turbulence of the episode, it’s challenging to come to a conclusion that those diligent craftspeople and administrators behind the scenes, who often receive little recognition compared to the famous actors, aren’t simply bewildered. This seems to be the case with Dag as well, after her first day on set, when she asked Daniel the most poignant question: “Why?
He shares with her an amusing tale about a fellow named Curly who spent three decades scrubbing elephant waste at the circus, then incinerating it every night. “So, each night he’d come home smelling like burnt elephant droppings,” Daniel explains. But here’s the twist: when his brother offered him a stable yet monotonous office job, Curly couldn’t comprehend the proposal. “Why give up show business?” he questioned, implying that even though they dealt with filth, at least they were part of the circus.
Post-Credits Scenes
In the credits of the movie Tecto, there are some genuine scenes that appear after the end credits. During these scenes, the cast members conduct publicity interviews. Richard E. Grant, who plays Peter, unexpectedly steers his interview towards sharing nostalgic stories from his past theater days. He even mentions a fictional role he played as “the Chinaman” in an imaginary film starring Eddie Murphy.
Here’s another quote from Grant that tickles my taste buds: “Would you care to engage in a friendly debate about who has the most impressive stage presence? Because I am confidently showcasing a performance that’s truly extraordinary!
In a somewhat joking manner, the satire appears to be primarily directed towards Marvel Studios, but Tecto carries an aura reminiscent of troubled DC movies, suggesting it may belong to a similar universe.
Darren Goldstein’s delivery lines are also impressive, as demonstrated by this confident statement about studio strategy: “Centurios 2 serves as our mainstay. Without our mainstay, we don’t have a foundation. And without a foundation, we risk being overrun at night by savvy TikTok users aged nine who are tired of superheroes. This is not a genuine ailment and a hoax.
In the backdrop, there’s a significant character, the mysterious executive Shane, who is depicted on set through his aid, Bryson (Isaac Cole Powell). I suspect he plays a role similar to Feige, but I must admit I’m a bit puzzled about the power structure within this fictitious studio. It’s possible he holds a position like David Zaslav – the budget-conscious leader at the pinnacle of the whole company – which could explain why everyone appears so fearful of him. However, I might be oversimplifying things, but as the series progresses, I’m confident we’ll gain more clarity on the matter.
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2024-10-07 06:55