Rapid TV Series Production: How Shows Get Shot Fast

Want to know how some TV series get made fast? The most extreme example is the sitcom "South of Sunset" - the team shot six episodes in just two weeks. That’s proof you can move quickly when everyone sticks to a tight plan. Here’s how producers pull it off and what to watch out for.

Locking the scripts early changes everything. If writers finish and freeze scripts before day one, the director and crew can plan camera setups and props around final pages. That avoids last-minute rewrites that slow production. For a fast shoot, aim to have all episode scripts locked at least a week before cameras roll.

Block shooting is your best friend. Instead of filming episode one start-to-finish, shoot all scenes that use the same location or cast at once. That cuts travel time, reduces set changes, and keeps the actors in the right headspace. Block shooting works especially well when multiple episodes share the same settings.

Rehearsal and pre-lighting save hours on set. Run camera blocking and rehearsals off-camera, then do a quick tech pass before rolling. Pre-light scenes so the gaffer isn't reinventing lighting for every take. When actors and crew know the moves, takes are tighter and editors get usable footage faster.

On-set choices that speed things up

Keep crews small but skilled. A compact crew with clear roles beats a big team that needs constant direction. Use multi-camera setups for sitcoms to capture coverage in one go. Minimize complex setups like crane or long Steadicam shots unless they're essential to the scene.

Limit locations and design modular sets. If you can stage multiple scenes on one soundstage or reuse a practical location across episodes, you shave off setup time. Think about costume and hair continuity in advance so actors don't need long changes between scenes.

Parallel post and simple effects

Start editing while you shoot. Send dailies to editors each night so rough cuts grow as footage comes in. Keep effects minimal - heavy visual effects add weeks or months. Use simple grading and sound work at first, then refine if time allows. Assign a post producer to manage notes and deadlines closely.

Understand the trade-offs. Speed saves money and hits deadlines, but it can reduce creative flexibility and increase mistakes. You might miss subtle performance beats or lose time polishing sound design. Decide which elements are non-negotiable and protect those areas.

Try a pilot or short run to test the pipeline. Measure time spent on setup, retakes, and scene coverage. Improve call sheets, shot lists, and communication based on real data. Small process fixes often yield the biggest time savings.

Fast production isn't inherently low quality. With locked scripts, smart blocking, rehearsed crews, and parallel post-production, you can make solid TV on a compressed schedule. The South of Sunset story shows the limits and the possibilities - move fast, but plan smarter.

Quick checklist: lock scripts, block shoot by location, rehearse, limit locations, use small crew, run parallel editing, avoid heavy VFX, track time daily. Fix the biggest bottleneck first and grow from there over time.