As a longtime fan of supernatural tales and dark humor, I must say that the upcoming season of Shadows seems to be shaping up quite impressively. With its unique blend of Rear Window and Ghostbusters, it’s evident that the creative team behind this series is not afraid to push boundaries and take risks.
The team behind What We Do In The Shadows appears drained, not just due to the late stage of their months-long filming, which was pushed back multiple times due to last year’s strikes, but also because they are wrapping up the final season, and the heavy feeling of this milestone is palpable as I talk with the creators one after another.
Yana Gorskaya, who serves as an executive producer, director, and editor on the show and the original film that inspired its spin-off, expresses a sense of impending sadness when asked about the series ending. “I’m filled with such genuine love for [the cast]. I truly wish to collaborate with them again,” she says, “but with everyone together at the same time? It seems improbable, and it is tearing my heart apart.” Gorskaya struggles to keep her feelings in check.
Even though there have been numerous changes and developments in the show, everyone involved reassures the media that Shadows remains Shadows. This final run includes some of the series’ most spectacular and absurd moments, but it was designed to feel like any other season, allowing viewers to jump in without feeling overwhelmed. As Paul Simms, a writer and executive producer, explains, “We aimed to avoid creating a finale that solely appeals to the 10% of fans who closely follow every detail. We didn’t want it to be like, ‘This character returns and everything is tied up.’
In the sixth and concluding season of the series, events will be shaped by Guillermo’s revelation at the end of the previous season that he isn’t suited for vampirism – the very reason he moved in with the show’s vampires initially. As actor Simms explains, “Guillermo must venture out into reality and attempt to lead a normal life, possibly even securing a regular job.
Of course, Guillermo’s vampire housemates accompany him on his journey and even manage to secure positions at the same Wall Street firm where he is employed. “Nadja’s costume will be quite entertaining this year,” remarks Sarah Naftalis, writer and executive producer. “There were many images of Working Girl circulating, and we wondered what the vampiric interpretation would be like? Her hair becomes more extravagant than ever before. She’s eager to learn the lingo, engage in small talk, follow the rising stocks!
Actress Natasha Demetriou expresses her enthusiasm for Nadja’s plotline in the last season using a poetic style: “I adore the vibe of Working Girl. This time around, I get to don large shoulder pads and sport the voluminous hair that my Greek family possesses but I didn’t inherit. If the volume of my hair and shoulders could increase any further, they certainly did so in this season,” she notes.
As Demetriou’s character dominates Wall Street, her centuries-old husband Laszlo (portrayed by Matt Berry) is kept occupied in a new, hidden part of their mansion. This area turns out to be a lab, one of the most intricate sets the show has ever constructed, an impressive feat given that the series boasts a nearly complete manor interior right next door. “Every 100 years, he tries this,” Berry explains. “The lab is beyond the basement, even deeper than the basement’s lower level.
Due to Laszlo being engrossed in the lower level lab of the basement, and Nadja being occupied on Wall Street, it’s not surprising that they share fewer moments in this last season. Berry explains their dynamic as a heated argument, with a hint that communication between them has become strained. Demetriou concurs, implying that this situation wasn’t enjoyable.
This sentiment plays into the emotions of the show coming to an end, Demetriou noting that more and more things are being packed away day by day. “I mentioned casually yesterday to Yana that I was getting my hair dyed for the last time, just to make conversation, and she was in tears,” says Berry.
“There’s a lot of, ‘Don’t… don’t say it!” says Demetriou, feigning a quivering voice.
Despite a somber atmosphere surrounding the production, there’s an abundance of thrilling topics that the cast and crew are eager to discuss, including the episode boasting a record-breaking 300 extras in a single scene – the most the series has ever assembled. “The grandeur of this show is consistently astounding,” Demetriou muses.
As I stepped foot into this Emmy-winning wonderland of a costume department, my eyes were greeted by an array of outfits that spanned decades and centuries of vampire fashion. From the ornate and elaborate costumes adorning the closer set extras, to the more casual attire for those further from the camera – some pieces even sourced directly from online stores and given a personal touch. Laura Montgomery, our guide and head of this department, explained that these were the first costumes not designed by their team, but rather purchased off-the-shelf.
This season, an episode posed a difficult filming experience for both the cast and crew as it featured a self-referential plotline about a movie being made inside the show’s mockumentary setting. Kyle Newachek, who is best known for his role in Workaholics, took on the director role for this fake movie within the show. Newachek, also serving as an executive producer and director, admitted to juggling both sets simultaneously, finding it mentally challenging yet immensely enjoyable: “It was quite a brain teaser to pull off. But I genuinely loved every moment of it.
Gorskaya, who co-directs with Newachek, discusses some of the tough episodes she’s overseen this season. One episode pays tribute to Apocalypse Now, where Kayvan Novak’s character Nandor takes on the role once played by Marlon Brando as Kurtz – a renegade former Army colonel hiding in Cambodia’s jungles. In another episode, she describes a unique mix of Rear Window and Ghostbusters, two films that might seem unrelated. “Despite our standard TV budget,” Gorskaya notes, “the crews are remarkably resourceful and innovative, allowing us to pull off these grand productions. It’s all about careful planning – the only way we can make it work within our schedule.
When Nandor isn’t channeling Marlon Brando, his character will be employed as a janitor in Guillermo’s office. As Novak puts it, “He finds meaning in the job and is content with earning the minimum wage.” He spends his time cleaning, but also keeps watch over Guillermo. In a way, he acts like a guardian angel, yet at the same time constantly embarrasses Guillermo. Despite Guillermo’s attempts to move forward, Nandor won’t let him.
During breaks between interviews, members of the media get a chance to observe the cast rehearsing scenes from the season premiere, where they tackle the mystery of Jerry, an old vampire friend, played by Patrick Michael O’Brien. The group’s attempts to answer why they haven’t seized control of the “new world” yet are shown in multiple takes, highlighting the significant amount of improvisation that goes into the show. Each vampire offers a unique and humorous response in each take.
In conversation, Novak shares the most significant difference between filming Shadows then and now: “To be honest, improv wasn’t something I would have done during the initial episode. Now, though, I feel much more at ease, assured, and carefree. Earlier on, there were many things to stress about, but now it just feels like playtime.
Indeed, viewers of the series are aware that not only three, but four vampires reside together. Among them is Colin Robinson, a unique type of vampire referred to as an “energy vampire,” who feeds off individuals he finds boring to the point of death. Recently, Jerry has been questioning Colin for his lack of productivity over the past few decades. The actor portraying Colin, Mark Proksch, highlights the show’s improvisational aspects, comparing it to his time on The Office when he played Nate, Dwight Schrute’s cousin. As Proksch explains, “Initially, you aim to deliver your lines for the first few takes, and then you can freestyle from there.” He emphasizes that the show’s success is largely due to its writing, with improv serving as an additional delightful touch.
In the last season, Proksch discusses the development of his character, Colin Robinson, who seeks genuine camaraderie – a challenge for someone who has to bore others to exist. As Proksch puts it, “Colin is yearning for a friend! I believe that’s a fitting end [to his journey].
As a devoted fan, it’s evident that Shadows seems to be walking a delicate balance between delivering another season and wrapping up with a finale that does justice to each character’s arc, all while potentially incorporating elements reminiscent of Apocalypse Now. No matter how this story unfolds, the palpable emotions coursing through the cast and crew as they prepare for the grand finale suggest that the show has moved beyond the shadow of its source film, standing tall and independent, stepping boldly into the limelight.
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2024-10-11 00:09