logo
Inside the Episode That Earned ‘The Rehearsal' Emmy Nominations

Inside the Episode That Earned ‘The Rehearsal' Emmy Nominations

Yahoo17-07-2025
'The Rehearsal' may not have achieved liftoff among the Emmy nominees for Best Comedy Series, but Nathan Fielder's Season 2 exploration of cockpit communication and airplane safety — via the best-produced, often highest concept scenarios that HBO's money can buy — did break through in the Writing, Directing, and Picture Editing categories.
Editor Adam Locke-Norton was justly recognized for managing the two-year flashback to Fielder's pilot training and making his 737 flight in 'My Controls' one of the most involving season finales of recent memory. But Fielder's own Writing and Directing nominations, and editor Stacy Moon's nod, were all for 'Pilot's Code,' aka, the one where Nathan Fielder lives as Sully Sullenberger, down to recreating the airline pilot's earliest life with giant puppet parents.
More from IndieWire
The Hawkins Crew Prepares for Battle in 'Stranger Things 5' Season Teaser
I Saw Firsthand Just How Much Even the Idea of Rosie O'Donnell Got Under Donald Trump's Skin
That episode was a huge lift for the entire crew on 'The Rehearsal,' some of whom have been empowering (enabling?) Fielder's concepts since 'Nathan For You.' IndieWire was able to reach out to cinematographer Marco Codero, costume designer Briana Jorgenson, and makeup department head Katie Machaiek about the invisible army (air force?) of artists who all helped — at the risk of making an Evanescence pun — bring 'Pilot's Code' to life.
The 'personality transfer' sections of Episode 3, as Fielder lays out his intentions to live Sully's life up to his 'Miracle on the Hudson' emergency landing, required a very fine balance in terms of how the show would visually treat them and treat Fielder himself. Prosthetics are now in a place where an actor can vanish into them completely, so much of a transformation would the show's protagonist actually undergo? What would be funniest?
'One of the biggest choices was keeping Nathan's eyebrows natural throughout, even as Baby Sully,' Machaiek told IndieWire. 'As he reminds the audience in voiceover, his reasoning for becoming Sully is personal, not to make a cinematic biopic. It's a play within a play — his eyebrows remind the audience we're watching Nathan as Sully and keep them in on the joke.'
Likewise, Cordero didn't want to make any changes to the way the camera team shoots the HBO series in order to create a more immersive view of Nathan-As-Sully living the beats of Sullenberger's life.
'There's something funny about photographing these sequences in a straightforward way, as though they're no different to the documentary crew than any other moment they've captured on Nathan's behalf,' Cordero told IndieWire. 'Still, there were a few details we toyed with. In the nursery, we used the beam of a 20K to act as an exaggerated sun beam, accenting tiny Sully versus the giant furniture and parents, and the camera operators were wheeled around on scaffolds to get good eye lines from the giant parents down to Sully.'
Clothing is always one of the most immediate ways we can get a sense of a different time or place, and Jorgenson started with exactly what designers on period shows from 'The Gilded Age' to 'Forever' always do: meticulous research. '[The costume team] worked off actual photos of Sully Sullenberger through various stages of his life as a point of reference and anchor for the different time periods,' Jorgenson told IndieWire. 'For the 1950s-era Baby Sully, custom pieces were created from era-accurate cloth diapers to a vintage-inspired nightgown worn during the nursery scene.'
The costume team also worked with production designer Rosie Sanders and the team from Viva La Puppet to create the look for the puppet mother [Pauline Sullenberger] as well as for Taylor Krasne, the actress who plays Fake Pauline, since their dresses needed to be designed in a way that makes sense for the puppet to breastfeed Baby Sully. 'To maintain visual continuity, Pauline's look featured recurring elements — a string of pearls and the color red, both of which became identifiers as her character across different scenes and time periods,' Jorgenson said.
The breastfeeding sequence might seem one of the more intense ones for the makeup team — you don't generally want your work getting wet, whatever the liquid — but Machaiek said that the real challenge of the Sullenberger flashbacks was the thing that always impacts makeup the most: the environment. 'Some of the Sully exterior scenes were shot in 99+ degree heat. Keeping the bald cap and mustache secure in that kind of weather is the first concern,' Machaiek said.
It was a group effort among the makeup team — Machaiek singled out key makeup artist Mara Rouse, who was there for every Sully transformation, and Erin Walters whose first day on set was the Sully Nursery sequence, as well as Rocky Calderon and Laura Peyer — and among all the departments to pull off the Sullenberger sequences so that they landed at the exact intersection of comedy, reality, and documentary where 'The Rehearsal' lives. But it's a challenge that many of the department heads have had a lot of their own rehearsal in doing.
'I've been fortunate to have worked with Katie Machaiek, Makeup Department Head, and Becca Weber, Hair Department Head, on previous projects, and so it was great to collaborate with them again,' Jorgenson said. 'We shared fitting photos throughout the process, and anytime we had specific costume elements in mind, they were always open to running with the idea or building on it creatively. This season offered a wide variety of looks to explore together — from the 'Wings of Voice' contestants, to Sully and Lorrie's '80s wedding, to the '60s church congregation. It allowed us to stretch creatively and have fun with the range of styles and time periods.'
'Pilot's Code' comes together in Fielder's recreation of Sully's 'Miracle on the Hudson' landing, with his own (hilariously not implausible) explanation for what Sullenberger did just prior to the emergency water landing. In order to create that mingled sense of comedy stunt, drama immersion, and Fielder's own character arc in the moment, Cordero had to finesse shooting the sequence on a cockpit set against an LED wall.
The visuals there were partially generated by flight simulator software, in order to be as accurate to real flights as possible, especially the ones the show created in its Season 2 premiere, 'Gotta Have Fun,' where crashes occurred. But there were visual limitations with that approach that the show had to overcome.
'As the software's intended purpose is flight simulation, not visual effects rendering, its output is limited to 8-bit SDR. To an Alexa's sensor, that would lack the contrast that a real environment would have. Realizing this, when we performed our tests with the flight simulator visuals, I drove in an aggressive color correction with Lux Machina's assistance at their console (Ames O'Connor and their team from Lux Machina provided the LED tech and support),' Cordero said.
The camera team also put a hard light into the cockpit, so as not to rely solely on the LED wall. The wall itself works great as a stand-in for a sky wrapping around a cockpit, and creates a massive soft source for light, but for a sunny flight, the LED wall alone won't quite cut it. 'We used an LED par on a jib that could play as the sun, which was moved around the 'sky' by grip Brody Culbertson, who would mimic the sun's position as it moved in the flight simulator visuals,' Cordero said. Techniques with lighting both in the studio and with color correction in post allow 'The Rehearsal,' in 'Pilot's Code' and elsewhere, to toggle between the real stakes of what the show is talking about and the artifice of how they're approaching it, with Nathan lurking in front of the wall or obviously stepping out of a set.
In whatever mode 'The Rehearsal' is operating, and however on edge it might feel, Jorgenson would remind viewers that every choice is intentional. 'Nathan uses clothing as a tool to prepare himself for the psychological spaces he's about to enter. Whether it's mimicking someone's outfit to inhabit their world more closely or choosing looks that submit him to be a wallflower in a situation, the costumes are part of the process,' Jorgenson said. 'I really appreciated the opportunity this season gave us to stretch creatively. Even though 'The Rehearsal' is a contemporary comedy, we approached the costume design with the same level of thought and intention as any other genre.'
'The Rehearsal' is streaming on Max.
Best of IndieWire
The Best Thrillers Streaming on Netflix in July, from 'Vertigo' and 'Rear Window' to 'Emily the Criminal'
The Best Lesbian Movies Ever Made, from 'D.E.B.S.' and 'Carol' to 'Bound' and 'Pariah'
All 12 Wes Anderson Movies, Ranked, from 'Bottle Rocket' to 'The Phoenician Scheme'
Solve the daily Crossword
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Anthony Mackie Jokingly Takes Credit For His White Co-Stars Getting Nominated: 'I'm The White Dude Legend'
Anthony Mackie Jokingly Takes Credit For His White Co-Stars Getting Nominated: 'I'm The White Dude Legend'

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

Anthony Mackie Jokingly Takes Credit For His White Co-Stars Getting Nominated: 'I'm The White Dude Legend'

After years of supporting performance in award-worthy film and TV, Anthony Mackie is happy just to be nominated. Celebrating his first two Emmy nominations, for The Studio and Shark Beach with Anthony Mackie: Gulf Coast, admitted he was expecting one of his white co-stars to get recognized when he heard the news. More from Deadline Primetime Emmy Nominations: 'Severance' Leads Field Ahead Of 'The Penguin', 'The Studio' & 'The White Lotus' – Full List 'The Studio': Seth Rogen Reveals A-List Guest Stars For Apple TV+ Comedy From Anthony Mackie To Olivia Wilde In New Clip — Watch Doc Talk Podcast: Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine Uncovers Astonishing Photographic Talent In 'Memories Of Love Returned'; Emmy Noms Debrief 'I didn't know. I was at work,' he noted on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. 'And when I'm at work, I work. You gonna cut the check when I bring the business, you know?' Mackie then heard murmurs about the Emmys on set, recalling, 'And I look over and everybody's like, 'Congratulations!' And I was like, 'Oh, what white dude got nominated?' Because I'm the white dude legend when it comes to nomination and winning. So, I made Ryan Gosling [Half Nelson] famous, I made Jeremy Renner [The Hurt Locker] famous, I made Bryan Cranston [All the Way] famous, I made, now, Ron Howard famous. I'm like, 'You wanna get nominated? I'm the dude.' I am the sauce, I am the jelly in the donut.' With a Primetime Emmy nod for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series, Mackie is in good company, nominated alongside fellow The Studio guests Howard, Cranston, Martin Scorsese and Dave Franco, as well as The Bear's Jon Bernthal. 'The way I look at it, I'm very honored and proud to be nominated. But the reality of it is, I'm excited to be in second place,' he told Fallon. 'You know, it's Ron Howard and it's Scorsese, so one of them are gonna take it, but they're gonna take votes from the other person. So, I'm gonna be in second.' Mackie added, 'I don't care about winning. Winning is being nominated against Scorsese and Ron Howard. Because one of them is going to have to say, 'Damn! I lost to Anthony Mackie.' They're thinking about me, they're shaking.' Additionally, Mackie has received a Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Daytime Personality – Non-Daily, recognizing his NatGeo series Shark Beach with Anthony Mackie: Gulf Coast. Best of Deadline 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery 2025 TV Cancellations: Photo Gallery Everything We Know About Season 3 Of 'Euphoria' So Far

‘Spinal Tap II: The End Continues' Trailer: Rob Reiner Gets the Band Back Together 41 Years Later
‘Spinal Tap II: The End Continues' Trailer: Rob Reiner Gets the Band Back Together 41 Years Later

Yahoo

time2 hours ago

  • Yahoo

‘Spinal Tap II: The End Continues' Trailer: Rob Reiner Gets the Band Back Together 41 Years Later

Spinal Tap is tapping back into the music scene, 40 years later. The highly-anticipated sequel 'Spinal Tap II: The End Continues' reunites director Rob Reiner with stars Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer for a revival of the beloved mockumentary about a faux band. The official synopsis reads: 'Forty-one years after the release of the groundbreaking mockumentary 'This Is Spinal Tap,' the now estranged bandmates David St. Hubbins, Nigel Tufnel, and Derek Smalls (McKean, Guest, and Shearer) are forced to reunite for one final concert. 'Spinal Tap II: The End Continues' also marks the resurrection of documentarian Marty Di Bergi (Reiner), who once again tries to capture his favorite metal gods as they contemplate mortality — and the hope that their 12th drummer doesn't join them in The Great Beyond. Joined by music royalty Paul McCartney and Elton John, Spinal Tap wrestles with their checkered past to put on a concert that they hope will solidify their place in the pantheon of rock 'n' roll.' More from IndieWire 'The Serpent's Skin' Review: Alice Maio Mackay Conjures 'The Craft' with Kissing in Vivid Demon Drama 'BTS ARMY: Forever We Are Young' Review: Emotional K-pop Doc Is Often Dynamite, but Lacks Depth The titular group has infamously been deemed 'England's loudest and most punctual band,' with the sequel set during their reunion after a 15-year hiatus for one final concert. Elton John, Paul McCartney, Garth Brooks, and Trisha Yearwood will appear as themselves in the film. Paul Shaffer, David St. Hubbins, Nigel Tufnel, Derek Smalls, Fran Drescher, Don Lake, John Michael Higgins, Nina Conti, Griffin Matthews, Kerry Godliman, and Chris Addison will also star in the Bleecker Street feature. Distributor Bleecker Street is also re-releasing a newly-restored edition of the 1984 original film back in to theaters this summer. That new version will also hit digital and streaming platforms, making it the first time the film has been available digitally in years. Reiner told IndieWire that 'Spinal Tap' was almost never made in the first place. 'We went to every single studio and got turned down everywhere,' Reiner said during the Filmmaker Toolkit podcast. 'Nobody wanted it. We went from studio to studio with a 16mm film can under our arms.' Thankfully, the sequel to the hit film was an easier sell: 'It's a tiny bit slicker, because Marty Di Bergi [the director played by Reiner in the original] has seen all the reality television shows and all these four-part and six-part docs,' Reiner said of the meta experience filming 'Spinal Tap II,' adding, 'But I wanted to try to do it pretty much the way we did the first one.' Bleecker Street will release 'Spinal Tap II: The End Continues' in theaters on Friday, September 12. Check out the trailer below. Best of IndieWire Guillermo del Toro's Favorite Movies: 56 Films the Director Wants You to See 'Song of the South': 14 Things to Know About Disney's Most Controversial Movie Nicolas Winding Refn's Favorite Films: 37 Movies the Director Wants You to See

2025 Emmys: These are the episodes every Best Comedy Actor nominee submitted
2025 Emmys: These are the episodes every Best Comedy Actor nominee submitted

Yahoo

time3 hours ago

  • Yahoo

2025 Emmys: These are the episodes every Best Comedy Actor nominee submitted

When it comes time for Emmy voters to weigh in on acting categories, they're presented with a list of episodes they're supposed to consider before casting their ballot. Gold Derby has confirmed which episodes will appear alongside the names of the likes of Martin Short and Seth Rogen in the Best Comedy Actor category. Check out the full list below, along with a recap of what happened in each episode and the contender's Emmy history. More from Gold Derby 'Spinal Tap II: The End Continues': Everything to know about the mockumentary sequel as trailer debuts Chuck Mangione dead at 84: Remembering his Grammy- and Emmy-winning hits BEST COMEDY ACTOR Adam Brody as Noah Roklov in Nobody Wants ThisEpisode: "Pilot"Recap: After breaking up with his girlfriend, Noah meets Joanne (Kristen Bell) at his neighbor's dinner History: This is Brody's first nomination. Seth Rogen as Matt Remick in The StudioEpisode: "The Pediatric Oncologist"Recap: At a fundraiser for children with cancer, Matt argues with doctors (including the one he's dating) about whether his job is as important as History: Rogen is an eight-time nominee. This year, he has three nominations, including for Comedy Writing and Directing. Jason Segel as Jimmy Laird in ShrinkingEpisode: "The Drugs Don't Work"Recap: Jimmy assists one of his clients in helping return the dog that she kidnapped and suffers an emotional breakdown before admitting to Paul (Harrison Ford) that he needs History: This is Segel's second nomination. He was previously nominated for Shrinking in 2023. Martin Short as Oliver Putnam in Only Murders in the BuildingEpisode: "Escape from Planet Klongo"Recap: Oliver, along with Charles (Steve Martin) and Mabel (Selena Gomez), attempt to find Ron Howard (Ron Howard) on the set of his new movie, seeking information vital to their History: Short is a two-time Emmy winner. He won most recently in 2014 as a producer on AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Mel Brooks. His first win came as a writer for SCTV Network. He's been nominated 19 times in all, seven of those for Only Murders in the Building. Jeremy Allen White as Carmen 'Carmy' Berzatto in The BearEpisode: "Tomorrow"Recap: In the season premiere, Carmy emerges from the walk-in looking to make amends for his previous behavior, while reflecting on his family and professional History: White has been nominated three times for The Bear, winning twice. Best of Gold Derby 'Five new life forms from distant planets': Everything to know about 'Alien: Earth' as new trailer drops Everything to know about 'The Pitt' Season 2, including the departure of Tracy Ifeachor's Dr. Collins Everything to know about 'Too Much,' Lena Dunham's Netflix TV show starring Megan Stalter that's kinda, sorta 'based on a true story' Click here to read the full article. Solve the daily Crossword

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store