Meryl Streep in handcuffs is a racy sight you don’t see often, but the actress embraced such a sordid scene as Loretta Durkin in the third season of the charming whodunit “Only Murders in the Building.” The explosive plot point of the series starring the magnetic trio of Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez takes place during a rehearsal for Oliver’s Broadway musical (Short), when Loretta confesses mid-song to a murder she didn’t actually commit — all in the name of protecting her son. Add to that Oliver collapsing to the floor from stress, and the drama of the “Sitzprobe” episode ends on a wild cliffhanger. For cinematographer Kyle Wullschleger, creating a realistic theatrical atmosphere was crucial to the visual storytelling. “The theater was a central character throughout the season,” he says. “We worked with a Broadway lighting director to pre-light the set so it looked authentic and natural.” Using elements of theatre, the venue was tinted a cool blue hue that hinted at a “backstage feel.” As for Streep’s moving performance, Wullschleger notes, “It’s not something we pre-recorded. Her dialogue becomes part of the song and so do her emotions in that moment. She really did all that.”
