Mythic Quest cast use iPhones to shoot hit Apple TV+ show remotely

They needed to do more than just learn their lines - they framed shots, checked sound and picked the right lenses to put together the quarantine special
Rob McElhenney in a still from the trailer for the the quarantine special of Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet
Apple TV+

Actors in the the comedy series Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet, were equipped with iPhones and earbuds to film themselves for a special Covid-era episode due to air on Apple TV+.

The creator of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Rob McElhenney, secured 40 devices that were dispatched to stars of the show, which will air on 22 May.

Each actor was given three iPhones, which after shooting were sterilised, packaged and left in a secure area before being shipped to producers so the footage could be edited.

McElhenney described filming the quarantine special as the “the hardest production” he has ever created.

He developed the idea for the episode, called Mythic Quest: Quarantine, while stuck at home during lockdown in Los Angeles.

The workplace comedy centres around colleagues at a video game development studio.

Once the script for the lockdown special was finished it took just three weeks to shoot the new episode, complete the editing get it ready to air.

McElhenney said the new way of working meant the actors had to be involved in the “minutia” of television production normally left to fellow professionals, such as using the right lenses, software, checking frame rate and sound quality.

 Charlotte Nicdao as lead engineer Poppy Li on a video call in the show
Apple TV+

The iPhones were propped up in front of laptop webcams so McElhenney and the cinematographer could set up the shots and the actors would recording audio by talking through their AirPods.

The crew used Zoom to communicate during filming, with between five and 45 people at a time on each call.

Homeland star F. Murray Abraham plays a writer character called C.W.

The episode features pandemic-specific plotlines, including the lead engineer character Poppy struggling with forced isolation and writer C.W. - played by Homeland star F. Murray Abraham - battling to understanding videocalling.

McElhenney told the Hollywood Reporter: “To get (footage) through to editorial as fast as possible, because we wanted to get this episode done and out while we were still in quarantine.”

He added: “We knew right away that we can't just get away with doing Zoom jokes for 30 minutes.”

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