Karyn Kusama is not only an executive producer on Showtime’s hit drama series about plane crash survivors, but she also directed both the pilot and the recent season finale. In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Kusama discussed her role as a director and executive producer, as well as her thoughts on the show’s future.
Kusama emphasized the importance of longevity and sustainability in her work, especially in a business that demands compromise and sacrifice. She revealed that she has been thinking about the extent to which she will tolerate a dysfunctional work environment going forward. This mindset is reflected in her work on Yellowjackets, as she is constantly thinking about laying the groundwork for future episodes and seasons.
One particular character, Natalie, was meant to be a character who doesn’t make it through all five seasons. Kusama explained that they wanted to create a sense of dread around her character from the beginning, planting clues about her cheating death multiple times. When asked about a fan theory that Natalie was marked by the wilderness after surviving a potential death, Kusama offered her own interpretation, suggesting that the “mark” was actually when she was chosen as the new leader of the cult in the wilderness.
As a director and executive producer, Kusama has the unique perspective of being able to watch episodes of the show that she didn’t direct as a viewer. She mentioned being pleasantly surprised by certain scenes that elicited strong emotions, such as the juxtaposition of teenage violence and adult bonding. She also discussed the use of music in the show, noting that while the pilot had specific needle drops written into the script, they were often too expensive to use. However, she shared an example of a scene in the season two finale where she had a specific song in mind and was able to secure the rights.
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Reflecting on the evolution of the young cast from the pilot to the recent season, Kusama highlighted their deep friendships and incredible growth as actors. She specifically mentioned Liv Hewson’s portrayal of the character Van as something she finds beautiful to watch.
Looking ahead to season three, Kusama expressed excitement about exploring the teenage girls’ reintegration into the world after leaving the wilderness. She described it as an enduring emotional mystery and a question of how they cope with being survivors. This storyline, she said, offers a lot of juicy and interesting possibilities on a metaphorical level.
Overall, Karyn Kusama’s role as both a director and executive producer on Yellowjackets has allowed her to have a close relationship with the creators and influence the direction of the show. She brings her own insights and interpretations to the storytelling, while also considering the long-term sustainability and emotional depth of the series.
