NBC.com

October 03, 09:07 PM

The Show's Unique Production Style

The look of the show is achieved by striving to be as minimalistic as possible. We shoot entirely with handheld cameras in real locations rather than constructed sets. We don't tell the actors where to go or what to do; we just sort of follow them around. And we have a really talented cinematographer named David Boyd who's able to pull it together quickly and quite effortlessly.

COMMENTS

Why do you not publish the procuction location and address so we can write our favorite people

Uh, yes, I too am a Westlake High School attendee, and I didn't really understand how NBC portrayed our team as the Westerbee somethings or other, but they kept our uniforms, CHAPS on the front and all. It's very flattering, but I didn't see the logic in it. But anywho, I also have to say that it doesn't get cold in Texas until about late November, early December, so in September at the start of football season, it's still about 99 degrees outside. But good show, keep it up!

I'm from west texas and I am wondering where the mexicans are. Like the show but can't get into the shaking camera. Catching a toe sack on fire filled with cow manure on someones front porch would have been more to true to life than beating the hell out of the mustang. Change the camera Please!!!!

P.J.

I like the show and believe it can really be a hit. I LOVE high school football and was really excited about the show coming on. I think you all are doing some nice things. However, the one problem I have with the show is that every episode is mad drama and depressing. It would be nice if every now and then you had a fun episode or simply some good things happen and I'm not just talking about them winning a game. If every week there is something bad, it can get depressing. It doesn't have to be the "White Shadow", but every now and then let something good happen to the kids and I guarantee something good will happen for the show. If it is ALL bad, then I'm afraid people will tune out. Thank you for taking on this project and I wish the show well.

I was glad to read some positive comments about this show here because I have been appalled by the negativity I've run into on many other message boards about FNL.
It makes me sick that shows like "Dancing with the Stars" are drawing 20 mill plus and this one is struggling to even survive. It makes me really question just how shallow and mindless our North American culture has become.
Thank you Mr. Berg for creating a show with originality, intelligence, subtlety, and honest reality. I guess the world of film has already taught us that works that try to stretch a North American audience and explore new territory in style and content are avoided and even ignorantly derided by the general public because of our complacency and lack of appreciation as a culture for true works of art.
I believe Friday Night Lights to be one of the most progressive and inspiring peices of television I've seen in a long time. I think the writing has been beautiful and the cinematography has been utterly brilliant. I am grateful that most critics agree with me I just hope that the general public discovers what a fantastic peice of work it is before it's too late.
And by the way this all comes from someone who lives nowhere near Texas(Ontario, Canada) and is not a huge football fan.
Sorry for the long rant. In conclusion, Great work Mr. Berg and all the FNL team!

I can't remember ever shooting handheld and having it shake as much as this crap. Good writing, the actors are great, the shooting sucks.

I know we should be supportive of Michael J. Fox, and his struggles with Parkinson's Disease. But did you really have to hire him to hold your camera?

Vomit-cam is not minimalistic. It's annoying and it makes a lot of us nauseous.

Your "unique production stlye" makes some people motion sick!! Like me...the camera swaying, and jerking all over the place makes me physically ill, and I cannot watch your show. Like Firefly and 24 I am unable physically to watch this "unique style".

Great Program. I enjoyed every minute of it.
But-September in Texas. It has to be hot. Very realistic practice and game but we need to get the weather right.

I loved the show, the story, the characters. The jumpy camera work was difficult in some parts to watch.

i am an ex graduate and athlete from westlake high school and i played my guts out for the chaps and i have no recolection of any athletes from that school ever being of african american descent, except for earl campbells son, tyler. if you want your show to succeed then you need to show the reality of it all and the reality of texas football is that there are all black and all white football teams in our great state of texas, that is just how it is, go down to malakoff and highland park and check it out. your show is on the verge of unbelievable, the real friday night lights is believable, not yours.

one more thing. the injured kid in your show was a little extreme don't you think, c'mon are you trying to scare off all the kids who want to play the game, after all it is just a game.

one more last note. westlake is the most dominate highschool football team in texas since the 90's. there's no more mojo.chap football rules.

sincerely,
wayne sanders #28

I predicted a catastrophic head/spine injury by episode two – never thought I would see it during the first show. Nine young athletes have died from dehydration in the past nine weeks so that may have been the better way to begin. And, two players so far this season have died from head/neck injuries and there have been far too many concussions to count. You have a wonderful opportunity here to teach some critical preventative measures that may save a life. I look forward to future episodes.

Brooke de Lench
Author
HOME TEAM ADVANTAGE: The Critical Role of Mothers in Youth Sports (HarperCollins 2006)

THIS SHOW IS WONDERFUL. YOU COULD HAVE SHOT THE SHOW IN CHINA FOR ALL I CARE.
THANK YOU PETE. ARE YOU SAVED IN THE PRECIOUS NAME OF JESUS? I SURE HOPE. SOMEONE ON YOUR STAFF DID THEIR RESEARCH INTO TRUE HIGHSCHOOL FOOTBALL LIFE. GODBLESS AND LETS HAVE MORE. WE NEED EVERYDAY HIGHSCHOOL LIFE IN EVERY SHOW.

is Amy or Sammy Joe out there,

I want more of this show next week. My highschool memories of Ole'HTHS are being brought back. Love the spiritual side of the show. I am from the south and prayer was the biggest part of pre-game and post game. Thank you for making me like TV again.

I enjoyed the first show. As a Christian I was very pleased to see the team come together on several occasions to pray in Jesus name. TV must know that there are many Christians looking for quality prime time. Thank you for a job well done.

It's funny that it's shot will all hand helds because I couldn't get over how professional the cinematography looked. It was filmed like a movie. I was riveted the entire hour.

This show is the best TV show this fall by FAR!! I loved it. I can't wait for next week!! Great work!!!!!

Tim......

Wonderful show. As a former football player at the school where this was filmed it really took me back to high school. I also loved the end where they all were praying. Great Job looking forward to next week

I agree with Meagan- I like the show and I understand the "realistic" feel of the handheld cameras, but the CONSTANT jittery movement makes it too hard to watch.

I have never before taken the time to comment on any tv show. But in today's society it's not easy to find a show that the entire family can watch. I have 4 sons and I will let them watch this show next week. Thank you for putting a show on that brings some civility into the home. I hope your ratings are outstanding.

Josh, Alex, you guys looked great on camera

Noticed in the first part of the show the radio announcer said the frewuency was 480am...no 480am frequency exists. Also saw a water tower that had Round Rock on it. I thought the show was supposed to be patterned after Odessa Permian High School.

Noticed in the first part of the show the radio announcer said the frewuency was 480am...NO 480am frequency exists. Also saw a water tower that had Round Rock on it. I thought the show was supposed to be patterned after Odessa Permian High School.

Hey Tommy Boy,
go pound sand up your you know what.

I second that Tom (on Kathy)...

Loved the show too!!! In the day of professional sports being more about the money, you bring in the very truth of small town football all about personal growth. And I too enjoyed Aspen Extreme!

Kathy, you're an idiot also

Quality television -- professional and moving. We all hope Street can recover. Great casting, even to the EMTs who did everything right. Thank you.

Excellent show. It also made me cry, not just from watching, but as a Westlake parent who remembers.
Thank you.

Really? I don't know why NBC just dosen't run the movie every Tuesday. Same style, same story. Does not work on TV. I feel sorry for CI and SVU for having a very weak lead in show. If this goes 24 episodes it shows how far NBC is falling behind.

allison, you're an idiot

I teach at a high school in a mid-size city in Georgia. The show seemed to capture the essence of what high school football is really like in the deep south. The excitement of the game, the players bringing glory to the school, the cheering fans, the band, it is a truly an EVENT - not just a football game. I think that feeling was brought into our living rooms this evening with Friday Night Lights!

Great show, but the camera movement is VERY distracting
and VERY annoying. Try not to move sooooo much and I might watch the whole season.

Loved the pilot story line, and the visceral feeling of the cameras. Miss you in front of the camera, but if you keep doing such great work as director, I'll try not to pout.

Question: On the second to the last play of the game, why didn't the clock stop when the player ran out of bounds? Did I miss something? Other than that, AWESOME show! We loved it! Kyle Chandler is the best! Great to see him back!

Never mind folks, it just dawned on me that it was Mack Brown from UT

I loved the camera angles just like the movie.. very real.. reminded me of local tv news highlight reels

Very fast-paced and realistic. Liked all the characters. Great scene at the car dealership laying out all the sub-plots. Nice thoughtful voice-over at the end to bring it all together.

I loved it. I prayed for the player who was hurt; it was so emotionally realistic. It touched me. I was so glad to see the team prayed too. I like the actors, especially the coach and his family. So nice to see the second string guy come in and after he settled down helped the team win. Great Victory. This will be a weekly program for us.

bravo . a show without sex.a heartwarming show will evole out of this first show I am sure. I will watch every week.wonderful to see prayer
in a show .

WOW...What a great show. Had the opporunity to watch on a recent flight out west, but loved it even more the second time. Also, if you're the same Peter Berg, loved you in Aspen Extreme! (-:

Finally a good television show on network television.
Great job by all.
Brought me back to the High School Football years.

Are you ever gonna focus on a character for defense? I was a Mike LB and my LB's were a tight crew that were fearless.

thanks for a great show. You touched on the hopes and fears of us football parents with resounding clarity and truth. Hope all continues with such strength.

great work.

will you always film in pflugerville for the games?

checking in from bridgewater, Josh and Alex looked great, oh, the sohw's pretty good too!

I recognized one of the local businessmen, who talked the coaches ear off, and I'm almost positive that he is an actual football coach from the DFW area. Did you use any coaches and can you tell me the names?

Who is the artist of the music that was playing during the days just proir to the game (soft electric guitar)? Great music.

Mr. Berg,

Great show, congrats.

However, is it just me or did the writers watch varsity blues one too many times? Please tell me that this will be a great show and not a Texas version of 90210. The jury is still out, but I will watch next week, just to see if this dog will hunt.

I think that the cinematography completely captures the intensity of Texas High School Football and sets the show apart in a unique way. Where in Texas is the showed shot?

WOW...What a great show. Had the opporunity to watch on a recent flight out west, but loved it even more the second time. Also, if you're the same Peter Berg, loved you in Aspen Extreme! (-:

I really like the show. I think the writing is incredible. However, I feel the directing is to be desired. There is too much lingering of scenes. For example, I didn't need to see the two kissing in the driveway forever. Also, maybe a little bit of humor might be refreshing. The touching moments could really be offset nicely with some dry humor. Great casting. I'll keep watching.

Sorry, don't like the style. Seems like the show has a good story line, but too hard to watch.

I wanted to say that this shop is refreshing in the fact that you allowed the Christianity come through. This show is realistic and I like the way that it is filmed. It keeps you hooked from the beginning to the end and if you leave the room for even a second, you miss parts of 2 story lines. Keep up the good work and I hope this show stays on the network. God Bless you and all the work your actors do.

the Panthers player ran out of bounds and the clock continued to tick as the players rushed to the line this is one blooper i noticed

I love the show...good suspense at the end...My question- What is the average age of the actors??... I know that it must be a problem to get talented high school age actors for these types of shows.

I loved the show. I live in pflugerville, TX so the show really hits home with me. It is definitely soming i will let the kids watch and thank you so much for the prayer at the end of the game. It made me cry.

i really enjoyed the show too, i think the casting was excellently done! i woudl like to know if you based the tv show on the book at all or was it simply just the movie

I think the handhelds are great! the show is awesome! keep it unique!

As I said earlier, a frenetic camera style for what is a frenetic sport. Great visual choice.

I love this style....it makes it more realistic in my opinion.

I definitely felt like I was watching a football game on TV...nothing seemed rehearsed at all!! Good Job :)

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