One of the most engrossing sessions at WAVES Film Bazaar 2025, held alongside the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, was the technical conversation around the Netflix web series ‘Adolescence.’
The session brought together the show’s visual backbone — DOP Matthew Lewis and Camera Operator Lee David Brown. In a discussion moderated by UK-based actor–writer Rajdeep Choudhury. What unfolded was a rare, enriching masterclass on how difficult, delicate, and beautifully complex the art of cinematography can be.
Why this session stood out at the Bazaar
Amid the deals, pitches, and high-energy co-production buzz of Film Bazaar, this session felt like a quiet, intimate window into the craft itself. Instead of talking markets, these three creatives talked method, discipline, and the invisible battles of filmmaking.
The One-Take challenge: No cuts. No room for Error.
The biggest hook of the conversation came from the show’s defining technique — continuous one-take sequences.
At the Bazaar, the duo explained how this became both the charm and the challenge of ‘Adolescence’:
- No cuts meant zero mistakes: One wrong move, and the entire shot had to be restarted from scratch.
- The camera had to glide like a character: Every turn, focus pull, and movement had to sync with the actors.
- Actors had to stay emotionally uninterrupted: Performance could not break even for a second.
Hearing this at a filmmaking marketplace made it clear how much technical courage this series demanded.
How Script & Cinematography became a single Unit
The ‘Adolescence’ team revealed that the script was not static. It evolved depending on production reality.
At the session, they shared examples:
- Sometimes the script had to be shortened because the camera couldn’t stop and the lighting could not be reset.
- Sometimes it needed to be lengthened to keep the emotional flow intact while the camera travelled.
- The biggest goal: Never lose the essence. Never break the rhythm.
This interplay between writing and shooting fascinated the filmmakers attending Film Bazaar, many of whom are developing new-age cinema and streaming content.
Lighting for One-Take: The hidden war
Light was a major topic, and honestly, the toughest one.
Because the camera moved continuously:
- Lights could not be tweaked mid-shot.
- The team had to design a single lighting setup that would work for the entire take.
- Once the lighting was locked, the team had to carry that decision till the very end of the sequence.
As Lee and Matthew explained this, it became clear why Adolescence’ is considered a technically bold series.
Choreographing Camera & Actors
What the audience loved at Film Bazaar was their breakdown of how the entire set became a coordinated choreography:
- Camera crew rehearsed movements like stage performers.
- Actors learnt to hit marks that aligned with lens, light, and timing.
- Every moment had to feel fluid, not mechanical.
It was a neat reminder that great cinematography is not just beauty, it’s precision, intuition, and teamwork.
Rajdeep’s moderation lifted the conversation
Moderator Rajdeep Choudhury kept the discussion sharp and meaningful. He asked exactly the kind of questions that gave the audience a peek into the real struggles and creative decisions behind the series.
His conversation with Matthew and Lee became genuinely enriching — not just for aspiring filmmakers, but even for general cine-lovers curious about the craft.
His moderation made the session feel like a live workshop.
Why this session mattered at WAVES Film Bazaar 2025
Among hundreds of creators, producers, and industry professionals attending the Bazaar, this session reminded everyone that:
- Technique matters as much as storytelling
- Cohesion between crew members defines the final product
- Risk-taking — like shooting in one-take — is what gives modern streaming content its edge
It was a celebration of craft, not just content.
In a Film Bazaar filled with deals and pitches, this ‘Adolescence’ session became a quiet favourite. It captured something the industry often forgets: the beauty of filmmaking lies in its challenges.
Matthew Lewis and Lee David Brown opened up their process, Rajdeep anchored the room with clarity, and the audience walked away with the kind of insights you don’t usually get unless you are on set yourself.
A perfect reminder at WAVES Film Bazaar 2025, that cinema is as much about the unseen sweat behind the lens as the magic on screen.
Also Read: Two New Filmmaking Awards Debut at WAVES Film Bazaar 2025
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