Once Upon a TV Time

Marine Perot

Welcome to the ultimate deep-dive into prestige television. 📺✨

On Once Upon a TV Time, entertainment journalist and TV critic Marine Perot sits down with the visionary minds behind the greatest shows on screen. From showrunners and directors to concept artists, set decorators, and stunt stars—we pull back the curtain on the craft and chaos of high-end drama.

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Instagram/Threads: @ouatvt_podcast

TikTok: @ouatvt

PR/Inquiries: onceuponatvtime@gmail.com

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11 episodes
Updated Yesterday

Episodes11

Newest first

Yesterday · 29 min
Building IWTV Season 3 with The Vampire Lestat Production Designer Andres Cubillan (Part 2)
Welcome to Part 2 of our exclusive masterclass with Andres Cubillan, the brilliant Production Designer behind The Vampire Lestat (aka Interview with the Vampire season 3)! Following our deep dive into Lestat's rockstar world in Part 1, we are pulling back the curtain on the other key sets of this season, like Akasha's lair and Lestat's Montreal apartment. In this final installment, Andres breaks down how the design team brought centuries of lore to life, transformed studio sets into breathing environments, and embedded hidden details throughout every frame. 🏛️ What We Cover in Part 2: 👑 Akasha’s Lair: The architectural design and spatial storytelling behind the Mother of All Vampires' sanctuary. 🔮 The Séance Room: Designing the environment for the ritual that brought Claudia back. ✂️ Sets on the Cutting Room Floor: Behind-the-scenes stories of stunning sets and design elements that didn't make the final cut. 🔄 Bridging the Eras: How the team seamlessly integrated visual motifs, props, and design elements from Seasons 1 and 2 when it mattered the most in Season 3. 💬 JOIN THE CONVERSATION: Season 4 is now official and will be titled Queen of the Damned, are you excited to learn more about Akasha? 📱 CONNECT WITH US AND LET US KNOW: Follow Once Upon a TV Time on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to stay updated on all upcoming episodes, behind-the-scenes trivia, and artisan interviews! 🎧 Enjoying the show? Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify—it helps other TV lovers find the show! 🎨 CREDITS & LEGAL: Cover art: ⁠⁠⁠Agathe Pompon⁠⁠⁠ Music & Sound Effects: Pixabay The Vampire Lestat Audio Clips: Copyright AMC (All rights reserved)
Tuesday · 54 min
Designing Lestat’s World: Andres Cubillan on IWTV Season 3 (Part 1)
Welcome to Part 1 of a special two-part episode of Once Upon a TV Time! This week, we are sitting down with Andres Cubillan, the brilliant Production Designer behind the stunning, immersive visual world of Interview with the Vampire Season 3. aka The Vampire Lestat. In this episode, Andres takes us behind the velvet curtain of Lestat’s rockstar era to reveal how the production design team crafted the most iconic spaces of the season. From building custom touring sets to figuring out how to make a blood shower work, we explore how physical architecture tells the emotional story of immortal creatures. 🏛️ What We Cover in Part 1: 🎸 Lestat’s Rockstar Tour Bus: The engineering, design choices, and secrets behind building Lestat’s mobile sanctuary—including that moody, custom-built shower scene! 🧛 Stage Design for a Vampire: How the team created the visual language for Lestat’s larger-than-life rock tour. 🏰 Lestat's Past : Set design details and subtle references to Lestat's upbringing that you might have missed on your first watch. 🚨 DON'T MISS PART 2! 🚨 Make sure you're subscribed so you don't miss Part 2 dropping on Thursday, August 6th, where Andres dives deep into more world-building, Marius’s design of Akasha’s lair, and how Lestat's apartment worked for Claudia's return! 💬 JOIN THE CONVERSATION: What was your favorite set or aesthetic moment from Season 3? 📱 CONNECT WITH US AND LET US KNOW: Follow Once Upon a TV Time on ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to stay updated on all upcoming episodes, behind-the-scenes trivia, and artisan interviews! 🎧 Enjoying the show? Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify—it helps other TV lovers find the show! 🎨 CREDITS & LEGAL: Cover art: ⁠⁠Agathe Pompon⁠⁠ Music & Sound Effects: Pixabay The Vampire Lestat Audio Clips: Copyright AMC (All rights reserved)
July 9 · 57 min
Reimagining Little House on the Prairie with Executive Producer Joy Gorman Wettels
🌾 The frontier is officially calling... 🏔️✨ We are stepping back into the 1800s American West for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at Netflix's new adaptation of Little House on the Prairie. In this episode of Once Upon a TV Time, host Marine Perot sits down with powerhouse Executive Producer Joy Gorman Wettels to discuss the massive undertaking of bringing a cinematic, deeply emotional, and historically rich new version of Laura Ingalls Wilder's story to life for a modern audience. Forget the lighthearted energy of the 1970s television era—this fresh adaptation delivers the rugged survival stakes, sprawling landscapes, and intricate character psychology that will instantly captivate fans of frontier stories. Joy pulls back the curtain on the entire production journey, breaking down the intense historical research required to honor the legacy of the original books, and the high-stakes decisions that shape a prestige period piece. In this episode, we unpack: 📜 Untold Perspectives: How the writers approached expanding the classic frontier lore to feature deeper, more diverse, and historically authentic stories. 🎥 The Artisan Craft: The meticulous work behind the production design, costumes, and everything needed to make the 19th-century wilderness feel raw and visceral. 🧠 The Producer’s Blueprint: Joy’s personal creative philosophy on how to adapt beloved, generational IP without losing the emotional core that made it famous. 🪓 The New Ingalls: An introduction to the new faces of the Ingalls family, from Luke Bracey stepping into Michael Landon’s iconic boots to Alice Halsey being the reincarnation of Laura Ingalls. Whether you are a die-hard period drama enthusiast, a fan of the original books, or a filmmaking nerd obsessed with how massive streaming epics get built, consider this your official VIP invitation to the prairie. 🍿 The new adaptation of Little House on the Prairie is now streaming on Netflix! 📱 CONNECT WITH US: Follow Once Upon a TV Time on ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to stay updated on all upcoming episodes, behind-the-scenes trivia, and artisan interviews! Leave us a 5-star review if you love learning the hidden secrets behind your favorite shows. Submit Your Favorite Show: Want us to cover a specific high-end drama next? Drop your suggestions in our social media comments! 🎨 CREDITS & LEGAL: Cover art: ⁠Agathe Pompon⁠ Music & Sound Effects: Pixabay Little House on the Prairie Audio Clips: Copyright Netflix (All rights reserved)
June 18 · 49 min
Forging Game of Thrones with Weapons Master Tommy Dunne
What does it actually take to arm an army of 500 extras, balance a Valyrian steel blade for Jon Snow, or design a weapon that tells a family’s entire 500-year history in a single frame? ⚔️ This week on Once Upon a TV Time, we are pulling back the curtain on the visceral, brutal, and beautiful world-building of Westeros. We are joined by the legendary Tommy Dunne—the Weapons Master responsible for designing, forging, and managing every single weapon, shield, and piece of artillery across all 8 seasons of Game of Thrones. In this behind-the-scenes episode, we explore: 📐 The Weapons Master's Journey: How Tommy got his start in the film industry and what drew him to the craft of weaponry. 📜 From Script to Steel: The intense collaborative relationship between weapons masters and stunt coordinators when building high-end fantasy dramas. 🐺 Forging Westeros: A deep-dive into how Tommy physically brought to life the unique designs of iconic blades like Ice, Needle, Oathkeeper, and Heartsbane. 🫅 Character Extensions: How weapons like Joffrey’s blade were intentionally engineered to tell a story about the character holding them. Whether you're a hardcore A Song of Ice and Fire lore nerd, a film student, or just obsessed with the intricate craft of prestige television, this conversation will completely change how you watch your favorite shows. 💬 LET'S TALK TV: We want to hear from you! If you were stepping onto the battlefield of Westeros, which of Tommy's iconic blades are you taking with you? Cast your vote in the comments! 👇 🔗 CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Follow Once Upon a TV Time on ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to stay updated on all upcoming episodes, behind-the-scenes trivia, and artisan interviews! Submit Your Favorite Show: Want us to cover a specific high-end drama next? Drop your suggestions in our social media comments! 🎨 CREDITS & LEGAL: Cover art: ⁠Agathe Pompon⁠ Music & Sound Effects: Pixabay Game of Thrones Audio Clips: Copyright HBO (All rights reserved) #GameOfThrones #TommyDunne #WeaponsMaster #BehindTheScenes #OnceUponATVTime #Westeros #PrestigeTV #Filmmaking #JonSnow #AryaStark
May 16 · 39 min
Set Decoration & World-Building on 'The Rings of Power' with Tina Jones
"How do you build and furnish a world as vast, ancient, and expensive as Middle-earth? 🏰✨" Welcome back to Once Upon a TV Time! In this episode, host Marine Perot pulls back the curtain on one of the most visually breathtaking series in television history: The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. Joining her is the brilliant set decorator Tina Jones, the creative force responsible for breathing physical life into the legendary realms of J.R.R. Tolkien. Tina takes us deep inside the production design process of a billion-dollar television show, sharing the exclusive stories of how massive scripts are translated into tangible, living environments. Whether you are a die-hard Tolkien fan, an aspiring filmmaker, or a lover of prestige television, this episode is a masterclass in the art of visual storytelling. In this masterclass episode, we explore: 📐 The Set Decorator's Journey: How Tina got her start in the film industry, what drew her to set decoration, and her essential advice for aspiring industry professionals. 📜 From Script to Set: The intense collaborative relationship between set decorators and production designers when building high-end fantasy dramas. 🧝‍♂️ Building Middle-earth: A deep-dive into how Tina physically brought to life some of the most iconic, intricate sets of The Rings of Power Season 2. 🎬 The Prestige TV Challenge: The staggering logistics and unique creative pressures of working on a studio production of this massive, unprecedented scale. 📱 CONNECT WITH US: Follow Once Upon a TV Time on ⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to stay updated on all upcoming episodes, behind-the-scenes trivia, and artisan interviews! Submit Your Favorite Show: Want us to cover a specific high-end drama next? Drop your suggestions in our social media comments! 🎨 CREDITS & LEGAL: Cover art: Agathe Pompon Music & Sound Effects: Pixabay The Rings of Power Audio Clips: Copyright Amazon Studios / MGM (All rights reserved)
March 5 · 48 sec
Bonus: Once Upon a TV Time Featured on Made in Scotland!
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Proudly Featured: Once Upon a TV Time was recently featured on the Made in Scotland podcast series! Check out their incredible show highlighting Scottish creators and industry voices here: Made in Scotland. Our regular programming continues soon with an exclusive, deep-dive interview with The Rings of Power set decorator Tina Jones! Follow Once Upon a TV Time on ⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to stay updated on all upcoming episodes, behind-the-scenes trivia, and artisan interviews!
February 6 · 53 min
Walking around 'Hill House' with production designer Patricio Farrell
"How do you design a haunted house that doesn't actually look scary? 🚪👁️" Welcome back to Once Upon a TV Time! In this episode, host Marine Perot steps inside the grand, twisting corridors of prestige horror alongside acclaimed production designer Patricio Farrell. Patricio is the creative mastermind responsible for building the hauntingly majestic sets of Netflix's The Haunting of Hill House. If you’ve ever been mesmerized by the unsettling architecture, the hidden ghosts in the woodwork, or the infamous Red Room, this episode pulls back the curtain on how director Mike Flanagan's terrifying world was constructed from the ground up. In this masterclass episode, we explore: 📐 The Architecture of Fear: Patricio's unique creative journey and the background that shaped his design philosophy. 👻 The Anti-Cliche Haunted House: The brilliant, psychological concepts behind creating a space that feels grand and beautiful rather than stereotypically spooky. 🎬 The Hill House Blueprint: How a physical set was engineered to act as a literal character in the Crain family's tragic story. 📱 CONNECT WITH US: Follow Once Upon a TV Time on Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to stay updated on all upcoming episodes, behind-the-scenes trivia, and artisan interviews! 🎨 CREDITS & LEGAL: Cover art: Agathe Pompon Music & Sound Effects: Pixabay The Haunting of Hill House Audio & Music: Copyright Netflix and The Newton Brothers (All rights reserved)
Jan 24, 2025 · 1 hr 7 min
Going down the rabbit hole with 'Lost' fan Blake Larsen
"Why did an island full of smoke monsters and mystery permanently change television fandom? 💨✈️" Welcome back to Once Upon a TV Time! In this episode, host Marine Perot explores the massive, cultural phenomenon of television fandoms with Blake Larsen, the brilliant podcast producer and content creator over at Mary & Blake Media. Together, they are booking a return ticket on Oceanic Flight 815 to dive deep into the legacy of Lost. Blake breaks down his own journey into becoming a hardcore "Lostie," why passionate fan communities are the true lifeblood of any great TV show, and the exact episode that changed everything for him. In this deep-dive episode, we explore: 🗺️ The Making of a 'Lostie': How a single show created a new blueprint for how we consume television. 🤝 The Power of the Fandom: Why fan communities aren't just viewers—they are an essential force that can shape a show's legacy. 🎬 The Catalyst: A close look at the specific, jaw-dropping Lost episode that permanently hooked Blake. 🎙️ DISCOVER MORE SHOWS:Obsessed with television commentary? Head over to maryandblake.com to explore the incredible lineup of TV-related podcasts produced by Blake and his wife, Mary! 📱 CONNECT WITH US: Follow Once Upon a TV Time on⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 🎨 CREDITS & LEGAL: Cover art: Agathe Pompon Music & Sound Effects: Pixabay Lost Audio Clips: Copyright ABC (All rights reserved) Lost Soundtrack Music: Copyright Michael Giacchino/Universal Music (All rights reserved)
Oct 29, 2024 · 38 min
Designing Westeros with 'House of the Dragon' concept artist Kieran Belshaw
"How do you paint the world of Westeros before it even exists? 🎨⚔️" Welcome back to Once Upon a TV Time! In this episode, host Marine Perot steps into the design studio of prestige television with acclaimed concept artist Kieran Belshaw. Kieran is one of the brilliant visual minds responsible for mapping out the look, feel, and scale of both Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon. If you’ve ever marveled at the grand architecture of King's Landing, the dark halls of Dragonstone, or the sheer scale of the Red Keep, this episode pulls back the curtain on how those iconic locations were born. In this episode, we explore: 📐 The Canvas of Westeros: The intense creative process behind designing the legendary castles and landscapes of the Seven Kingdoms. 🎨 The Stigma of Concept Art: What it actually takes to succeed as a Hollywood concept artist (and the skills you really need). ⏳ Bridging the Eras: The artistic evolution of going from the grit of Game of Thrones to the golden age architecture of House of the Dragon. 👁️ VIEW THE ARTWORK:Want to see the exact paintings and sketches we discuss in this episode? Check out Kieran's breathtaking portfolio on his website and follow his work on Instagram. 📱 CONNECT WITH US: Follow Once Upon a TV Time on⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠. 🎨 CREDITS & LEGAL: Cover art: Agathe Pompon Music & Sound Effects: Pixabay House of the Dragon Audio Clips: Copyright HBO (All rights reserved)
Jun 4, 2024 · 32 min
Battling bastards with 'Game of Thrones' stunt performer Jonathan Cohen
"How do you survive a real cavalry charge without getting trampled? 🐴⚔️" Welcome back to Once Upon a TV Time! In this episode, host Marine Perot dives deep into the mud and chaos of Westeros with legendary stunt performer Jonathan Cohen⁠. Jonathan took the hits on the front lines of Game of Thrones, and today he’s taking us directly inside the claustrophobic madness of the "Battle of the Bastards." If you've ever wondered how the most visceral battle in television history was actually pulled off safely, this behind-the-scenes masterclass is for you. In this episode, we break down: 🎭 The Stunt Myth: Debunking the biggest misconceptions about what it takes to be a professional stunt performer. 🛡️ Inside the Shield Wall: What it’s actually like to stand down a charging wall of horses. 🥶 Surviving the Elements: The miserable, bone-chilling weather conditions of Northern Ireland that made the battle look so brutally real. 🎬 The Stunt Double Life: The intense logistics and coordination hidden within cinematic chaos. 📱 CONNECT WITH US: Follow Once Upon a TV Time on Facebook⁠, ⁠Threads⁠, ⁠TikTok⁠ and ⁠Instagram⁠. Follow Jonathan Cohen ⁠here⁠. 🎨 CREDITS & LEGAL: Cover art: Agathe Pompon⁠ Music & Sound Effects: Pixabay Additional Soundtrack Music: Ramin Djawadi (All rights reserved) Audio Clips: Copyright HBO (All rights reserved)
Apr 9, 2024 · 43 min
Revisiting the pilot of 'Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman', with show creator Beth Sullivan
"How a 19th-century frontier doctor became a global television phenomenon. 🏔️🩺" Welcome to the premiere episode of Once Upon a TV Time! To kick off the podcast, host Marine Perot is joined by a true television icon: Beth Sullivan, the creator, writer, and executive producer of the beloved classic, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. Together, they are rewinding the clock to the 1993 pilot episode to uncover how this groundbreaking series defied all network expectations and captured the hearts of millions. Plus, Beth drops an exclusive inside look at a massive "what if" project that will leave fans reeling. In this premiere episode, we dive into: 💡 The Genesis: What it took to bring Dr. Michaela Quinn to life. 🎭 Casting Chemistry: The behind-the-scenes story of how Jane Seymour and Joe Lando were perfectly matched as Michaela and Byron Sully. 🎬 Setting the Stage: The crucial thematic elements, historical realities, and character dynamics that had to be established in the pilot. 🍿 The 2020 Reboot Secrets: What the unproduced Dr. Quinn reboot Beth Sullivan developed would have actually looked like—and the potential for a Dr. Quinn indie movie! 📱 CONNECT WITH US: Follow Once Upon a TV Time on⁠ Facebook⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠. 🎨 CREDITS & LEGAL: Cover art: Agathe Pompon Music & Sound Effects: Pixabay Dr. Quinn Music & Audio Clips: Copyright William Olvis and CBS (All rights reserved)