Igby Rigney Unveils Insights on the Distinct Filming of The Shards Cast
Igby Rigney discussed how “confusing” the filming of The Shards was, particularly when the cast had to shoot several different takes for the same scene.
“[Creator] Ryan [Murphy] had a really fun directing style that involved having us do multiple takes in various ways,” Rigney, 23, shared exclusively with Us ahead of the season 1 finale on Wednesday, September 9.
The actor, who portrays Brett, revealed that he was often left uncertain about which version would be featured in the final edit.
“We were never informed about which take he would select, and I’m sure some of those takes were mixed together, making it even more confusing,” Rigney continued. “But having the narration at times was a bit challenging on set.”
He added: “While everyone around me was having fun, I found myself staring off into space, contemplating this long paragraph I had to say but wasn’t actually voicing.”
The Shards is a television adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis‘ fictionalized memoir about his high school experiences. This 2023 release marks Ellis’ first work in 13 years and includes a disclaimer clarifying that all significant characters in The Shards are fictional — except for the narrator.
Executive producer Brad Simpson provided additional insight into the creative approach regarding the show’s major mysteries.
“It’s fascinating to see which takes made it and what Ryan chose. It was a method to elicit different performances from the actors,” Simpson noted. “He would instruct each director to encourage the actors to play their roles as if they were hiding something or were the killer. It was all about discovering what they would do.”
Simpson found this concept beneficial, stating, “It aimed to draw out varied responses. Then, that compilation was assembled in the editing room, with Ryan selecting the takes that felt right. It wasn’t about revealing anything specific; he genuinely enjoyed performing different variations with the cast.”
The screenwriter commended Murphy for this innovative approach.
“I’ve worked on other shows with Ryan where he was pursuing a very particular vision. However, he had a lot more freedom and fun on this show, allowing the actors to interpret their roles in diverse ways — and the show progressively becomes more bizarre,” he shared.
Simpson likened this creative vision to that of prolific producer David Lynch and his iconic, campy series Twin Peaks.
“These characters exist in a world that is entirely alien to the typical high school experience. They’re students by day and being pursued by a killer by night. It was a lot of fun; the cast truly enjoyed themselves,” he said to Us. “Once we hit our stride in those final episodes, things became increasingly twisted and even more enjoyable. We were building towards this intense crescendo.”
He concluded: “The cast experienced a sense of instant nostalgia for the season as it marked the first significant project for many of them. It was their first TV series, and they all bonded exceptionally well. … Ryan loved gathering them around to guess who they thought the killer was.”
The Shards airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET on FX.
