June 11, 2024
Shot Talk – Fargo: Season 5 with Showrunner Noah Hawley
Summary
Lawrence Sher, ASC sits down with Noah Hawley for an in-depth discussion of the critically-acclaimed 5th Season of Fargo. From the logistics of filming in slow-mo, to the intricacies of a stunt staircase fall, to how Noah worked with the Coen Brothers to differentiate the series from the original film, watch as the two break down important moments behind the scenes of production that helped bring the series to life!
Key moments
- 00:01:01 Background and Early Career
- 00:02:08 How the Fargo Series Came to Be
- 00:04:25 Developing a Visual Language for Fargo and the Coen Bros. Influence
- 00:08:23 Deception as a Narrative Tool: Fargo and Its False “True Story”
- 00:12:12 How Do You Create an Impactful Opening Sequence
- 00:15:26 Slow Motion as a Narrative Tool
- 00:18:02 Small Details in Art Direction That Help Us Tell the Story
- 00:19:40 Scene Breakdown: The Kidnapping
- 00:23:23 The Importance of Character Introductions
- 00:25:46 Scene Breakdown: The Grocery Store Shootout
- 00:27:12 Making a Character Bigger Than Life
- 00:28:24 Mastering the Mirror Gag, a Tough Practical
- 00:29:50 Giving Life to the Story: Designing the Set and Props
- 00:31:14 How Did You Meet, Choose, and Communicate With Your Collaborators
- 00:35:15 Building a Legend, Character Introduction in the Barn Scene
- 00:38:44 The Power of the Low Angle, Camera Movement, and Language
- 00:41:25 Subtle Camerawork and Letting the Actors Perform
- 00:43:29 Choosing the Right Lens for the Job
- 00:44:25 Discovering the Scene: Being Flexible as a Writer Director
- 00:47:28 Narrative Tension During the Gas Station Scene One Shot
- 00:51:30 Be Ready to Innovate: Following Your Instincts
- 00:53:33 The Future of Fargo
- 00:54:16 What Have You Learned the Most While Directing Fargo?
- 00:56:20 Prepping the Actors with a Dialect Coach
- 00:59:09 Final Thoughts
