How a film or TV show is shot is often key to its success.

The framing, lighting and various takes can culminate in some of the most compelling watches.

Adolescence on Netflix has been one of the most watched shows across the world since its release.

One factor in the show that has been a hit is its filming, which was all done in one shot in each episode.

Many have been questioning how it was filmed and put together, with Netflix sharing some behind the scenes on its creation.

How was Adolescence filmed?

Each of the four episodes of Adolescence has been filmed in one take, which typically follows characters into different scenes.

Director Philip Barantini told Netflix: “Basically, we press record on the camera and we don’t press stop until the very end of the hour.

“But it’s much more complicated than it sounds.

“It takes months of preparation and weeks of rehearsals and an incredible team of people to pull it off at every stage, from the script to the locations to the production design to where exactly the camera is going to be able to shoot and from what angle.”

Stephen Graham as Eddie Miller and Owen Cooper as Jamie Miller, in AdolescenceStephen Graham as Eddie Miller and Owen Cooper as Jamie Miller, in Adolescence (Image: Netflix/Tudum) During a Q&A shared on X, Netflix further explained some of the camera work that went into creating the show.

It was explained that while each episode is one continuous shot, each episode was filmed more than once.

A post reads: “It was initially planned that they would film each episode in full 10 times (once in the morning, once in the afternoon, across five days) – but in reality, a few attempts had to be abandoned and restarted, so some episodes had many more than 10 takes.”

It was also explained how cast members stayed out of camera shots as it moves around, which was part of the choreography practiced by the cast during rehearsals.

“The positions of the camera were planned through the whole take, as well as the movements of the crew,” Netflix said.

The end of episode 2

One highlight in the show was the end of the second episode, in which the camera goes from being next to a character to being in the air and jumping to the site of the murder.

Jeremy Clarkson took to X to praise the camera work saying: “Adolescence. The camera at the end of show 2. How on earth did they do that? It’s impossible.”

Someone who worked on the show also replied, saying: “Hey Jeremy. Actor that worked on the show. It was indeed attached VERY carefully to a powerful drone. They only got the take in the bag on the final day.”

Clarkson responded and congratulated all those involved, describing it as “masterful television”.

Netflix explained further, saying: “The DOP carries the camera and follows a school pupil to the traffic lights with a wide shot as she goes at the end of the school day.

“Before she crosses the road, a team attach the camera to a drone, which then flies a distance of 0.3 miles across the site to the murder scene, where it comes down to a camera operator and team of grips who smoothly catch the camera and transition into a close shot of Stephen Graham. Easy.”

Another highlight in episode 2 of Adolescence follows two characters during a chase scene.

Ryan Kowalska, played by Kaine Davis is being chased Ashley Walters’ character DI Luke Bascombe.

Kowalska is pursued out the window, with the camera following, seemingly going through the window.

Recommended reading:

A post on X explained how it worked to some confused viewers.

It said: “There wasn’t actually a window there. It was taken out and put back in using VFX.

“One of the camera operators was in the classroom, then when Ryan jumped out of the window, the other operator – who was crouching on the other side – took the camera and continued the chase.”