That’s a beaver, if you can’t tell. Another object of fetishization and re-definition in the complex symbol system of the HBO show HUNG, the second season of which will premiere on June 27th, and the making-of which we painstakingly documented over the last few months. I don’t want to give too much away - except to say, it’s going to be great. The scripts, masterminded by Colette Burson and Dmitry Lipkin, in my opinion, mine new territory in terms of character and thematic complexity in the 1/2hour comedy format. They are both sharper and deeper than last year - and that’s saying a lot. The cast, including Thomas Jane, Jane Adams and Rebecca Creskoff, among many others, remains deftly off center while becoming even more impeccably lived-in. The camera work by Uta Briesewitz - constantly searching, drifting, adjusting and surprising - beautifully reveals the many tones of the material. What can I say? I’m impressed.

Also, there’s beaver. The only working beaver in Hollywood. A survivor (her handlers told us she killed their other two beavers). An enigma. “The Elusive Beaver” was originally the name of the episode in which she appears this season, but it was changed to “Beaverland”. As Dmitry said in one of his interviews with us “Beaver - no matter how many times you say it - it’s always funny.” Especially, that is, in the hands of HUNG.

Shooting a scene in Hancock Park. That’s Anne Hesche, very tiny, framed in the door. And DP Ute Briesewitz on her ever present Movietech Magnum Dolly which, like her, is made in Germany.

Principal head-shots on the wall of the Writers’ Room.

Title doodles by writers on the wall of the Writers’ Room.

Colette Burson and Dmitry Lipkin getting ready for a “double” interview in the Writers’ Room. That’s Kyle Peck, ladies and gentlemen, on the right.

Colette and Dmitry laugh about beavers. Really. When I asked something like “Is the beaver a foreshadowing of problems between Ronnie and Jessica?” Colette answered “As my father says, “Do bears shit in the woods?”"

The elusive beaver.

Fast turnaround (24hr) piece for the premiere of Hung 2010. We also did all the BTS for this season. Go here for a more in depth post on this. Also, we produced the Buzz graphics package a few moons ago!!!