Legends of Tomorrow producer Marc Guggenheim previews his wild genre-hopping directorial debut: ‘It wasn’t just madness.
It was also infused with this incredible heart and this incredible emotion.’
DC’s Legends of TomorrowstarNick Zanoalready knows this week’s episode will be an instant classic.
Jack Rowand/The CW
“That episode is super special and very unique.”
He’s not lying.
In fact, Tuesday’s outing stands from the pack for two reasons.
Jack Rowand/The CW
First, there’s the wild and chaotic premise.
This episode is also special because it marks formerArrowexecutive producer/Legendsconsulting producer Marc Guggenheim’s directorial debut.
Take piano lessons,'“Guggenheim told EW during an interview in January.
It was one of the most rewarding creative experiences I’ve ever had.”
“I’ve always contended for eight years thatArrowis not for first-time directors.
Now, we’ve had first-time directors on the show before, but those are generally the exception.
It felt like it smacked of hypocrisy,” he says.
Obviously,Arrowwrapped long beforeLegendsdid.
It’s usually like a three-wall set and you’re facing in this one specific direction.
We got three cameras working.
Multi-cam is usually four or five, but we couldn’t afford that.
We got as many cameras as we could," he says.
ForUltimate Buds, its multi-cam.
WithStar Trek, a lot of dolly, a lot of push-ins."
The episode has a fifth look, too: The grey dystopian Loom World created by the Fates.
“The point of inspiration there was the movieBrazilby Terry Gilliam,” says Guggenheim.
The other thing Guggenheim did is that he opted for practical effects over special effects whenever he could.
“I wanted to use that trick but kind of do it on steroids,” he says.
Its just all done in camera and it was a lot of fun.
It was really born out of a desire to not do digital unnecessarily.
I love digital effects.
Its a lot more fun to me to do stuff in-camera whenever its feasible."
“Similarly, with theStar Tripspaceships, I wanted to do those with miniatures instead of [CGI].
I kept waiting for someone to tell me no, that it would be too expensive.
But the truth is everyone was so accommodating and brought their A-game.
“It was a lot of fun.
Guggenheim also loved this episode because it’s not just about the meta antics.
“Grainne Godfree and James Eagan, they wrote such an incredible script that wasn’t just insane.
It wasn’t just madness.
It was also infused with this incredible heart and this incredible emotion,” says Guggenheim.
Its kind of all in there.
It was in boot camp.”
Guggenheim definitely impressed the cast with his first time behind the camera.
Says Zano, “Gugs showed up in such a big way and killed it.
It was his directorial debut and they asked the world of him.”
Watch the exclusive clip above.
DC’s Legends of Tomorrowairs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on The CW.
