The next HBO Max program “Generation ”(called“ Genera + ion ”) – created by 19-year-old Zelda Barnz and her father Daniel Barnz, and executive production by Lena Dunham – is presenting itself as an ultra-realistic view of school life.
Unfortunately, last Thursday, “Generation ”took verisimilitude too far. In a scene set in a biology class, the production used real dead cats for the actors to dissect. A tweet on Friday by @Lilith_Rosex said: “I received the news from an industry friend: HBO is launching a new program called Generation. It is produced by Lena Dunham and earlier this week they brought real dead kittens to ‘dissect’ on set. Without warning, people had trauma responses. “
The person went to tweet that a camera man had tested positive for COVID-19: “As a cherry on top of their traumatic experience, at the end of the second day, they were told that one of the cameras tested positive for COVID. This should have been reported earlier, but they clearly wanted their pictures of these kittens. “
After being contacted by Variety on both issues, a spokesman for HBO Max issued this statement:
“’Genera + ion ‘portrays the unfiltered experiences of high school students and is extracted from many moments of training in the life of the program’s writers. The production recently filmed scenes depicting a biology classroom assignment involving the dissection of animal specimens. They were obtained ethically in consultation with American Humane through a biological supply company that works with schools. Everyone involved was previously informed that this would be a delicate scene involving real dissection; assistant directors regularly conferred with all participants on the set, and two background actors who expressed discomfort were released with full payment. However, after subsequent discussion with the creative team, the scene is being redesigned and will not appear in the series. We deeply regret that this has happened. “
The statement challenges @ Lillth_RoseX second tweet, who said that those on the scene had been told it was a frog dissection – “but they showed up for real dead kittens and expected them to stay. “
Sources did confirm that a crew member has tested positive and is currently in isolation. The sources said the production learned of the test results after the day ended, contradicting the tweet. Production in “Generation” was halted on Thursday and will resume in accordance with safety guidelines.
The series features mostly unknown actors. Justice Smith and Martha Plimpton also co-star.
Dunham, a creative producer on the show, was unaware of what happened until Saturday after she was tagged in the responses to tweets, according to a source. When she read the script, she never imagined that they would use real specimens of animals, the source said. Dunham was not on set – she is currently in London recording the film “Catherine, Called Birdy ”, which she wrote and directed.
Dunham issued its own declaration to Variety: “I am committed to my life and work with the integrity, humane and ethical treatment of animals. I don’t use animal carcasses in any of my jobs, ever, and I wasn’t on the set or aware that they were used in a scene filmed recently, depicting a biology class work. I fully support the scene being edited from the show. “
There will be a panel for “Generation” on the Television Critics Association Press Tour on Wednesday, in which the debut date is expected to be announced. Dunham would never be on the panel, as he is currently abroad.