Stephen Kay on Directing the Entire Second Season of Landman

      Stephen Kay, the lead director of Landman, has extensive experience in both TV shows and films. He describes the distinction as follows: in television, you typically work in someone else's kitchen using whatever ingredients and equipment are available. Conversely, in film, you can create your own kitchen setup.

      However, he views Landman as more akin to a film: “We’re stocking our cupboards and selecting our utensils,” he explains.

      Kay feels particularly connected to the oil-industry drama, which was created by Taylor Sheridan and Christian Wallace, inspired by Wallace’s podcast, Boomtown. He directed six out of the ten episodes of Season 1 and all ten episodes of Season 2, and he plans to return to direct the entire third season.

      In film, the director usually takes the lead role. In television, the showrunner typically leads, with each episode directed by a different individual who follows the showrunner's vision. There are exceptions, such as HBO’s The White Lotus, where Mike White writes and directs each episode.

      Sheridan’s slate of Paramount+ shows also deviates from TV conventions. The lead directors of several of these shows, including the successful Yellowstone, are veterans of that series: Ben Richardson directed nearly every episode of the spinoff 1923, while Christina Alexandra Voros directed all six episodes of The Madison's first season.

      Like many of Sheridan's productions, Landman boasts a strong cast: Season 2 features Billy Bob Thornton, Demi Moore, Ali Larter, Michelle Randolph, Jacob Lofland, Andy Garcia, and Sam Elliott. Kay ensures that each character is given attention and skillfully steers the production through various tones, from cinematic beauty to workplace drama and screwball comedy, often highlighting Larter's contributions.

      Kay mentions that he and Sheridan approach the series as if it were a film, but they also allow for longer narrative arcs.

      “It’s a collaborative effort, and you’re present every day. He has faith that you’ll bring his vision to life. But it’s our language,” Kay states.

      Regarding Landman and Family

      Kay finds joy in the sense of family on set and particularly enjoys collaborating with his real-life family — his wife, Piper Perabo, with whom he first worked on Covert Affairs, and his daughter, Lilli Kay. He had the chance to work with both on Yellowstone, an experience he calls “the greatest”: “I would work with them all day, every day, if possible,” he shares.

      While many directors might feel intimidated at the prospect of directing nearly an entire series, Kay does not experience such apprehension. He possesses a strong work ethic reminiscent of a Taylor Sheridan character, and he aspires for everyone on his sets to feel similarly committed.

      “I enjoy getting my hands dirty, and if something needs to be picked up, I’m happy to do it. I like when everyone is a filmmaker. I want everyone to feel like they’re contributing to the storytelling,” he states.

      Initially, he started as an actor, maintaining a role as Reginald the butler on General Hospital even after he began directing Sylvester Stallone in the 2000 film Get Carter. One day, Stallone teased him on set about the butler role — “the butler, are you serious?” — but Kay didn’t leave the soap opera until 2003. “I get anxious when I’m not working,” he admits.

      Another of his early acting roles was portraying “an exaggerated version of a director” in Lethal Weapon 2. While that character was highly animated, Kay strives to remain calm: “I try not to raise my voice,” he comments.

      He also finds humor in situations, such as the many websites that claim he hails from New Zealand.

      “I was born in Philadelphia, but I did a movie in New Zealand where I stayed for about a year, which resulted in IMDb listing me as being from there. My daughter, who was around ten when it came out, said, ‘Please, can we keep it? It’s so much more interesting.’ She does a fantastic Kiwi accent. So, we decided to say we’re from New Zealand.”

      Landman is currently available for streaming on Paramount+.

      Main image: Landman director and executive producer Stephen Kay with stars Ali Larter and Billy Bob Thornton. Paramount+