Filming Never Seen Again for Paramount+

Another true crime show I’ve worked on is Never Seen Again, which streams on Paramount+. I was first hired by the production company to help film an interview with Tyler Perry. (I have a separate blog post about that experience if you’re interested.) The team liked working with me, and afterward I was brought back to film additional episodes as a Director of Photography.

I’ve traveled throughout the Southeast filming interviews and B-roll for this show. The interview style is visually striking. Each subject is seated in front of a black backdrop with a colorful light shining on it, giving them a soft glow. A small light is also attached to the backdrop stand, and since it’s far enough from the lens to fall out of focus, it creates a nice bokeh ball in the background. Aside from that stylistic choice, the setup is a standard two-camera interview.

I usually had one assistant with me to help set up, but I was responsible for a lot on set. I operated both cameras, handled all of the lighting, and ran audio. The producer conducting the interview would join us remotely via Zoom. I’d place my laptop close to my main camera lens and connect my camera feed so the producer could see exactly what I was framing.

My work on the show wasn’t limited to interviews. I also filmed B-roll of the interview subjects and key locations that tied into each episode’s story. This show can be difficult to work on at times. The stories are heavy, and each episode focuses on an unsolved crime where the family is still holding onto hope that justice will be served. That aspect of the job is never easy, and it’s something I don’t particularly enjoy. But one thing that always stands out is how grateful the friends and families of the victims are. They’re thankful that the show is helping bring renewed attention to the case, because sometimes that visibility leads to answers.

If you’re curious, you can watch episodes of Never Seen Again on Paramount+. It’s a powerful and emotional show, and I was glad to be a part of helping tell those stories.