The iconic Wednesday Addams returns! Created by Alfred Gough, Miles Millar, and legendary Director Tim Burton, the brand-new Netflix series Wednesday is a supernatural mystery about the infamous Addams daughter as she transfers to the fantastical Nevermore Academy. In the first season, Wednesday will attempt to master her emerging psychic ability, thwart a monstrous killing spree that has terrorized the local town, and solve the supernatural mystery that embroiled her parents 25 years ago — all while navigating her new and very tangled relationships at Nevermore.
Wednesday was made with the creative contributions of DGC Ontario Post Production Members, and we couldn’t be prouder of how they’ve elevated this fun, spooky story that’s sure to delight and fright fans of Burton and the Addams. Below, hear from some of the DGC Ontario Members who helped bring Wednesday to life with Picture and Sound Editing that both reinvents and pays tribute to everyone’s favourite goth girl.
John Loranger, Supervising Sound Editor
-What was it like working on a show about such a beloved character, with such a beloved Director at the helm?
Tim Burton is a master filmmaker with a clear understanding of how he wants the track to sound, so working with him was an absolute pleasure. Miles Millar and Al Gough created a storied supernatural realm in which to situate Wednesday’s iconic deadpan humour, and it was our challenge as Sound Designers to surround the viewer in this same dynamic and intriguing experience.
-What can fans of Tim Burton and the Addams Family expect from this new series?
Tim brings his distinctive style to this project: Addams Family fans can expect the unexpected. They won’t be disappointed.
Jay Prychidny, Picture Editor
-What was it like working on a show about such a beloved character, with such a beloved Director at the helm?
Tim Burton has been an inspiration to me ever since I saw Beetlejuice at the age of 7, so working with the iconic Director for seven months in Romania and the UK was a dream come true! Part of his shooting process is to see and respond to cuts as soon as possible, so he would review scenes every day, and we’d discuss the editorial direction for the show. I found him to be amazingly open and collaborative, and he was genuinely interested in seeing what new ideas others would bring to the table.
-What can fans of Tim Burton and the Addams Family expect from this new series?
In some ways, this show feels like a return to a classic “Tim Burton” style, with more emphasis on real, hand-crafted Production Design. While there are obviously some very notable uses of CGI, visual effects were often used to clean up and support what was actually being achieved on set. For example, we wanted to film Thing using the actor on set as much as possible, actually interacting with the other actors and the environment, in order to achieve a more “analogue” aesthetic for the effect.
Ana Yavari, Picture Editor
-What was it like working on a show about such a beloved character, with such a beloved Director at the helm?
It’s both thrilling and nerve-racking to work on a show made by your childhood idol with characters that the audience is so familiar with. Everyone brings pre-conceived notions of what the characters should be like, so it’s a delicate task to try and edit the show in a way that will please fans while also showing them something fresh and – we hope – better than any version that they’ve seen before. In the past, Wednesday has been portrayed as somewhat of a caricature, and this time around, we wanted to bring real humanity to her. We wanted to make her less sadistic and perhaps more… misunderstood.
-What can fans of Tim Burton and the Addams Family expect from this new series?
Wednesday is full of great mystery, laughs, scares, twists and turns! Jenna Ortega has captured a true fierceness and heart in Wednesday, bringing the character a new, endearing dimension. As with most of Tim Burton’s work, you can expect to find joy and fun in the silliness of outrageous characters that serve as a smokescreen in a truly dark and authentic thriller full of friendship, truth and conviction!
Paul Day, Picture Editor
-What was it like working on a show about such a beloved character, with such a beloved Director at the helm?
As a kid, I watched the original Addams Family series; I feel Uncle Fester would call this unique series ‘a deliciously wonderful nightmare come true.’ I would agree!
-What can fans of Tim Burton and the Addams Family expect from this new series?
Tim Burton fans can expect a great show! Highly entertaining and brilliantly crafted. Epic filmmaking! The cast is outstanding.
Kristi McIntyre, Sound Editor
-What was it like working on a show about such a beloved character, with such a beloved Director at the helm?
Growing up, I was a huge fan of Tim Burton’s work. His films were a great inspiration to me and played a big role in my desire to pursue a career in the film industry, so this opportunity has been extremely fulfilling and humbling for me. Wednesday Addams was similarly near and dear to my heart, and it’s been a joy to play a part in telling this iteration of her story. Getting to work on this show was something my younger self could only dream of, and I feel incredibly lucky to be a part of it. I’m so proud of what our incredible Sound team accomplished, and I can’t wait for the world to see (and hear) it!
-What can fans of Tim Burton and the Addams Family expect from this new series?
I think fans will be pleased to see a new imagining of the Addams that still maintains the essence of what makes them so beloved while at the same time exploring aspects of them we’ve never seen before. A dark mystery and an amazing bunch of new characters await!
Watch Wednesday on Netflix starting November 23.
