Only Murders in the Building Official Podcast
S3 E6: Ghost Light (Part 1)
Release Date: September 6, 2023
Host: Hulu, Michael Cyril Creighton
Featured Guests: Chris Koch (Director), Peyton Koch (Editor), Shelley Westerman (Editor), Kyle Wolschlager (Director of Photography)
Episode Overview
This episode of the Only Murders in the Building Official Podcast takes a deep dive into Season 3, Episode 6 (“Ghost Light”). Hosts Maggie Bowles and Ryan Tillotson are joined by key behind-the-scenes creatives—including director Chris Koch, editors Peyton Koch and Shelley Westerman, and DP Kyle Wolschlager—to unpack the making of one of the show’s most atmospheric and mysterious installments.
Main themes include the construction of the episode's ghostly ambiance, the technical and creative challenges behind Jerry Blau’s lair (and its infamous rat), and insights into how the team approaches the show’s blend of comedy, mystery, and theatrical magic. The episode is rich with anecdotes about cast performances, set design, and the traditions of theater lore as they appear in Only Murders in the Building.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Plot Recap & Standout Moments
[01:05-04:09]
- Howard Takes Center Stage: Episode opens with a Howard voiceover explaining the history (and curse) of the Gooseberry Theater. He dramatically confesses to the murder of Ben Glenroy, referencing the failure to sweep Gideon's ghost off the stage.
- The Investigation Deepens: The trio investigates the theater, finding clues (like comparing handwriting and lipstick on the mirror) and nearly getting injured by falling sandbags—a nod to the alleged curse.
- Jerry Blau’s Lair: Oliver stumbles upon Jerry Blau squatting in a secret room; Jerry recounts Ben and Loretta’s explosive fight and gives Oliver some life advice, aided by oddball puppetry.
- Charles’s Closet Ordeal: Charles accidentally locks himself in a closet with President McKinley (the fish), inadvertently sets off a fog machine, and records what he thinks might be a farewell video.
- Quarreling Trio: Tensions rise; Oliver reveals new information about Charles and Ben, tempers flare, Charles quits the play, Mabel leaves the podcast, and the group is left fractured.
Memorable Quote:
"A man is dead. A man who actually meant something to me. And I'm gonna figure out who did it, whether the two of you give a shit or not." — Oliver [04:09]
2. The Infamous Rat Scene and the Art of Visual Effects
[04:36-06:15, 09:17-10:07]
- Initially, there was a graphic and absurd moment where Jerry cooks a rat on the grill. Producers nixed it, leading to a meticulous VFX job to paint the rat out of the remaining footage.
- Behind-the-scenes Note:
“Originally, Jerry picks up the rat and brings it over and slams it on the grill... The producers came in, and they were like, ‘this is too much’... So we had to have visual effects paint out the rat.” — Peyton Koch [04:36]
- The rat’s implication lingers in the script, as Jerry exclaims, “Oh, you came on a good night,” inferring an intended meal.
Comedy Highlight:
Discussing the professionalism of the trained rat, the hosts dub it “the Meryl Streep of rats.”
“First take, the rat does it perfectly... Could not have been more perfect.” — Chris Koch [10:31]
3. Magic, Realism, and Theater Lore
[07:22-14:18]
- Director Chris Koch’s Approach: He relished getting to direct both a love story (Ep5) and a ghost story (Ep6), specifically highlighting the nostalgic “New York-ness” of each.
- Theater as a Haunted Place: Shooting took place in the gorgeously restored United Palace theater, adding authenticity to the “ghostly” feel. The team embraced magical realism—particularly with Howard’s spotlight moment on stage.
- Ghost Light Tradition:
“There’s almost always a ghost light, for real... even on sound stages. It’s a theater thing.” — Chris Koch [13:41]
- Magical Realism Examples: Howard’s voiceover and vision of Gideon’s ghost, spotlight moments matched to performer emotions, are cited as examples of the show’s playful style.
4. Crafting Suspicion and Whodunnit Tropes
[14:33-15:29, 24:24-26:35]
- Suspicion falls on Jonathan in this episode; the director and DP discuss intentionally treating every suspect as “the one” in the show’s visual language.
- Misdirection is key:
“I purposely don’t know who it is... I approach each person as if they are a real suspect. That’s the goal.” — Chris Koch [14:46]
- Lighting choices play into this; lighting from below or from odd angles can make characters seem more sinister or dubious, depending on the clues being presented.
5. Technical & Production Design Details
[17:47-18:02, 26:46-28:19]
- Set Tricks: Jerry’s lair was a custom-built set, ingeniously slotted behind a wall of Charles’s apartment. The tight space created lighting and camera challenges, solved with creative use of set walls and nearby light sources.
- Shooting in Small Spaces:
“...shooting inside of it, because we could pull a wall... but we try to do that as little as possible because it sucks up time. Getting the lighting correct in those spaces is a challenge, because you can’t light from far away.” — Kyle Wolschlager [27:17]
- Reusing hallways and set pieces in clever ways to maximize variety and viewer immersion.
6. Acting Performances and Emotional Payoffs
[11:32-13:10, 18:57-19:50, 22:54-23:39]
- Howard’s Backstory and Michael Cyril Creighton’s Performance:
“He brings this sort of scared, manic energy... inspires me to do things I hadn’t planned. Like, the spotlight hit him... just seeing him and the energy he brought made me realize I could go into his headspace.” — Chris Koch [11:32]
- Group Fracture:
Director Chris Koch praises Selena Gomez for her performance in the trio’s dramatic breakup scene, noting its emotional power and the rarity of all three leads parting ways so completely.
7. Show’s Visual Identity: Traditional Meets Theatrical
[21:51-22:54]
- Koch describes his fondness for the show’s “old-timey Hollywood feel” with elegant, stately camera work—distinct from much of today’s handheld TV cinematography.
-
“This is very stately... got a beautiful sort of elegant vision to it... and you can have moments of magical realism in all three seasons.” — Chris Koch [22:01]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Directing in NYC:
“Love and ghosts. That’s New York City.” — Chris Koch [07:35]
-
On Howard’s Dream:
“My dream job was to be an actor... but after the show, my mother told me my stage voice was matronly and shrill.” — Howard [23:02]
-
On Misdirection:
“If it’s misdirection, I want it to be effective misdirection.” — Chris Koch [15:03]
-
On Set Magic:
“The show... lent itself to being a little bit more whimsical because you’re in the theater. Why not take the opportunity?” — Kyle Wolschlager [23:44]
-
On Production Challenges:
“Each episode’s like a little feature, which is what I love about it.” — Chris Koch [21:31]
Timestamps for Important Segments
- [01:05] — Episode Recap with Key Plot Beats
- [04:36] — Editors Discuss Rat Scene and Visual Effects
- [07:22] — Director Chris Koch on Love, Ghosts, and NYC as a Character
- [10:31] — On the Trained Rat’s “Oscar-worthy” Performance
- [11:32] — Crafting Howard’s On-Stage Moment & Magical Realism in Episode 6
- [13:41] — The Real Theater Ghost Light Tradition
- [14:46] — How Suspects Are Shot for Maximum Suspense
- [17:47] — Reusing Set Spaces Cleverly
- [18:57] — The Trio’s Big Breakup and Acting Performances
- [21:51] — "Old-Timey Hollywood" Style of the Series
- [23:44] — DP Kyle Wolschlager on Lighting for Suspicion and Whimsy
- [26:46] — Building Jerry’s Lair & Small-Space Cinematography Challenges
Tone & Style
The conversation is playful, witty, and affectionate—both about the show's characters and the behind-the-scenes process. There’s ongoing banter about rats, theater superstitions, and the joy (and occasional chaos) of working with legendary talent and elaborate sets.
Conclusion
This behind-the-scenes episode demystifies the technical and creative wizardry behind Only Murders in the Building’s sixth episode of Season 3. The ghost light’s true meaning, the “Meryl Streep” of rats, Howard’s poignant spotlight moment, and the fracture of the intrepid trio all earn their due attention and celebration. The podcast affirms that the charm of Arconia is not only in the scripted mystery but also in the meticulous, passionate work of its production team.
Stay tuned for Part 2, where the production designer and showrunner delve deeper into the episode’s secrets and theater lore.