Big Little Lies season 2: Did director Andrea Arnold lose creative control?
As first reported by IndieWire, a series of executive producers on board the series took creative control of post-production away from Andrea Arnold, who directed all seven of the season 2 episodes. One person overseeing the episodes was Jean-Marc Vallée, who directed the entirety of the first season. The reported reason for this was to ensure that the style and substance from season 2 was in line with much of what was out there in season 1.
This is a move that has already led to controversy, including some on social media demanding that HBO release a different cut of the show that is more under Arnold’s control. For now, though, the network seems to be relenting on this statement, opting instead to release the following:
“There wouldn’t be a season two of Big Little Lies without Andrea Arnold … We at HBO and the producers are extremely proud of her work. As with any television project, the executive producers work collaboratively on the series and we think the final product speaks for itself.”
What this situation seems to speak to is the idea that this situation with Arnold is totally normal and maybe with some television shows it is. Directors on TV rarely have a huge amount of creative control. Big Little Lies, however, is not your ordinary television show. This is one where you have the same director helming every episode and that often necessitates a certain degree more of creative vision. That often leads to one person having an opportunity to stand more in the spotlight and taking on what feels to be more control.
Arnold did not comment on the IndieWire story, and more than that, she has been quiet through the majority of the promotional campaign that has been out there for Big Little Lies season 2 so far.
We don’t believe that the headlines coming out today, or HBO’s statement on the subject, is going to be the end of things. Let’s just say we think there will be a LOT more said within the upcoming days. Stay tuned…
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This article was written by Jessica Carter. Be sure to follow her on Twitter. (Photo: HBO.)