"Pluribus" exec producer's Metro Detroit origins
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Starring actor Rhea Seehorn in "Pluribus" episode five, directed by Gordon Smith. Photo: Courtesy of Apple TV
A Metro Detroit native who grew up inspired by the arts in Detroit is now a showrunner of a major sci-fi show from the creator of "Breaking Bad."
Zoom in: Gordon Smith, who grew up around West Bloomfield and went to U of M, started his TV career as an office production assistant on "Breaking Bad."
- He later became an award-winning writer for the prequel spinoff "Better Call Saul."
- Now he's an executive producer, writer and director for Vince Gilligan's "Pluribus," a new series on Apple TV.
State of play: "Pluribus," with its Season 1 finale releasing Dec. 26, is about a world-altering event that transforms nearly all of humanity into a hive mind of happiness.
- Miserable novelist Carol, played by Rhea Seehorn of "Better Call Saul" fame, must grapple with and uncover the secrets behind this change.
What they're saying: Smith tells Axios his interest in storytelling was influenced by growing up here and visiting places like the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and the Detroit Institute of Arts.
- "...Being exposed to the idea that great art kind of is everywhere and can be everywhere."
The big picture: Smith's advice to young filmmakers in the Midwest: The historically New York- and Los Angeles-centric TV-film industry is more fluid now, location-wise, but it's still important to make in-person connections, especially as you start out.
- Wherever someone is located, taking in the culture around them is important. "Absorb what you can from the people around you, and learn what it is that makes Michigan different from Indiana. They're not the same place."
- "... Knowing what you're proud of about where you're from. It's the same thing for any storyteller, really. It's just, knowing who you are, I think, is crucial. And then you can carry that with you everywhere you go."
- Smith says he's proud of his Michigan roots and bonded over them with "Pluribus" actor Miriam Shor, who also spent time growing up in the area.
The intrigue: While some have speculated "Pluribus" is a condemnation of AI, Smith told the Hollywood Reporter the showrunners prefer not to define the show directly, as doing so would undercut the audience's ability to feel or interpret concepts in their own ways.
- "It makes it more rich," Smith tells Axios.