Claire Gordon, executive producer of 'Explained' on Netflix and former senior producer for 'Last Week Tonight with John Oliver,' discusses how Vox and Last Week Tonight simplify complex topics through video. She also explores the challenges and skills required to communicate clearly, as well as the quick production of the first episode of Explained: Coronavirus. The podcast covers topics such as transforming scripts, conducting interviews, and the success of Vox Media in explaining complex ideas.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the team behind the Explained series on Netflix successfully produced the first episode on the coronavirus in just 2.5 weeks, four times faster than their usual timeline, by utilizing remote collaboration and repurposing existing footage from a previous episode.
Claire Gordon, the showrunner of Explained, emphasized the importance of simplifying complex ideas and making them understandable to a broad audience, noting that if an audience doesn't understand something, it is the responsibility of the content creator, and highlighted the effectiveness of visuals and animations in enhancing clarity.
Deep dives
The Shift to Remote Workflow and Rapid Production
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the team behind the Explained series on Netflix had to quickly shift to a remote workflow. They managed to finish the first episode in just two and a half weeks, four times faster than their usual turnaround time. Despite the challenges of working remotely, the team collaborated effectively and utilized existing footage from a previous episode on pandemics to make the new episode timely and relevant. The accelerated timeline required careful research and scripting to ensure the episode would not feel dated when released.
The Art of Explaining Complex Topics
Explained, produced by Vox Media, is known for its ability to break down complicated topics in a clear and accessible manner. The showrunner, Claire Gordon, discussed the challenges of distilling complex ideas and making them understandable to a broad audience. She mentioned the importance of being humble during the writing process and acknowledging that if an audience doesn't understand something, it is the fault of the content creator. Gordon also highlighted the value of visuals and animations in enhancing the clarity of explanations.
The Impact of Coronavirus on Production
The coronavirus pandemic greatly affected the production of the Explained series. With most other productions suspended, the team at Vox Media and Netflix saw an opportunity to create content specifically about the pandemic. The episode was produced on an accelerated timeline, utilizing existing footage from a previous episode that explored the risks of a pandemic. The team faced challenges in keeping up with rapidly changing news and ensuring the accuracy of their content. Despite the limitations of remote work, they successfully delivered a timely and informative episode to the audience.
Claire Gordon is the showrunner and an executive producer of "Explained" on Netflix, produced by Vox Media. Previously, she was a senior producer for two Emmy Award-winning seasons of the HBO show "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver," where the segment she produced on abortion restrictions won Television Academy Honors for using television to promote social change.
On this episode, Claire shares how Vox and Last Week Tonight are able to simplify complex topics or news stories and communicate clearly through video. She also discusses how the team was able to produce the first episode of Explained: Coronavirus in just 2.5 weeks—four times faster than their typical timeline.