Only Murders in the Building Official Podcast

S3 E7: CoBro (Part 2) – Episode Summary

Release Date: September 15, 2023

Overview

In this episode of the Only Murders in the Building Official Podcast, hosts Maggie Bowles and Ryan Tillotson take fans behind the scenes with an in-depth, delightfully nerdy conversation with Director of Photography Kyle Volschlager. The episode dives into the practical magic of shooting tricky scenes, working with legends like Meryl Streep—and Mel Brooks(?!), untangles the mystery around episode seven’s elevator sequence, and unpacks fan theories with input from listener emails and Reddit sleuths. Playful, insightful, and packed with production wisdom, the discussion celebrates the rich tapestry of comedy, mystery, and camaraderie that defines the series.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Behind the Camera with Kyle Volschlager

• Wildlife Photography & Journey to the Show
  Kyle shares, with self-deprecating humor, his dual life as both a wildlife and narrative photographer:

  "I cosplay as a National Geographic photographer in my free time... Because I really did get into photography originally because I loved wildlife and wanted to just see stuff closer." (01:06)

• Joining the OMitB Team
  Kyle recounts his path from "Russian Doll" and "Broad City" to Only Murders, joining as camera operator in Season 2 and eventually stepping up as DP:

  “It's one of those places where … it becomes a bit of a family there because we are spending all of our time together and everybody is truly so nice … you just find a real comfortable place.” (02:39)

• The Meryl Streep Effect
  Kyle’s first day with Meryl Streep was anxiety-inducing but made stress-free by her supportive team:

  “Roy, [Meryl’s makeup and hair person] pulled me aside and just said, Kyle, thank you, thank you, thank you. She looks wonderful. This is going to be great. … I had just a huge sigh of relief … a positive start to what is going to be a long season ahead.” (03:46)

• Becoming DP: Rules and Inspirations
  Discussing the philosophy underpinning the show’s visual style, Kyle explains:

  “The camera's motivated by something that the actors are doing... movement isn't always necessarily the thing that makes the camera move, but emotion.” (04:40)
  He notes the importance of serving the story over flashy visuals.

2. Making Movie Magic: Crafting Iconic Scenes

• The Elevator Sequence (Paul Rudd as Ben Glenroy)
  The team spent considerable energy engineering Ben’s fall in the elevator shaft:

  “Instead of having the camera placed up above ... we actually shot that just horizontally. … The actor, in this case Paul Rudd, is sitting in a sort of a floating chair ... green-screened out ... camera gets pulled away as fast as we can move to kind of give that sense of falling.” (05:36)
  Subtle effects—wind, air cannons, and strategic lighting—added realism:
  “As he gets closer to the ground, a little red light starts to appear on his hair, as if he was nearing [the] ground floor elevator.” (07:30)

• Visualizing Multiple Theories
  The show’s visual storytelling lets viewers see various “what if” scenarios posited by the characters, enabled by shooting multiple variations and clever editing. (08:00–08:48)

• Secrets & Shooting Schedules
  Sometimes even the crew is shielded from the final whodunit, though logistics force some reveals:

  “[Showrunner] John Hoffman is saying, ‘Oh boy, everybody close your ears…’ … It’s like, ‘John, we make the show, we kind of have to know. Please continue...’” (09:20)

3. Notable Behind-the-Scenes Moments

• Ferris Bueller Reference Debate
  A playful meta moment with Matthew Broderick and Steve Martin discussing who should deliver the “Ferris Bueller” homage:

  “Matthew Broderick said, you have to pay me a lot more money for me to do Ferris Bueller than what you’re paying me to be here… and Steve was like, ‘Yeah, you know what? I think it’s funnier if I do it anyway.’” (11:32)

• Zooming with Legends
  Kyle describes participating in a Zoom call with Mel Brooks:

  “So I’m sitting in my apartment at 9 o’ clock at night with Mel Brooks on my computer and just dying. It doesn't get much better than that...” (12:34)

• Meryl Streep & the Lantern (Bonus tidbit at the end)

  “Meryl hitting herself in the head with that lantern—she was doing that take after take after take… It was a real lantern… She probably had a little goose egg after doing it eight or nine times that day.” (30:11)

4. Listener & Reddit Theories (Accusation Station – 14:01)

Listener Emails

• Maria F.: Suspicious about the trio’s lack of urgency; why haven’t they asked Lester or Dickie basic questions?
• Caroline from Germany: Thinks there are two murderers, possibly Dickie or Loretta (“she seems a little bit nuts.”) (16:44)
• Andre S. from Brazil: Wonders if the three babies presented are foreshadowing three murderers.
• Allison: Proposes Ben's death was accidental due to a drug mix-up and low blood pressure, not poisoning. (18:09)
• Grace M.: Suggests Charles is Ben’s father, Loretta pushed Ben accidentally.
• Vinya: Deep-dive into handwriting analysis and play history, linking Loretta and Dickie via stationery and old plays.

  “[...] Maybe they did a play together where Ben played a pig. And maybe Loretta’s insult was ‘your pig’ instead of ‘you pig’…” (21:30)

• Eric M.: Notes odd language at the opening night party (“Ben has to take this”) suggesting possible identity tricks.

Reddit Theories

(23:11 onwards)

• Impressive Chard 4530: Banner at the party—“We killed him”—suggests multiple killers and victims, maybe Donna and Cliff are “we”; wild theory that the entire play is a hoax orchestrated by Ben and documented by Tobert.
• RavenB: Suggests Oliver unknowingly fathered Loretta’s child (Dickie), leading to a surprise family connection.
• Lurky Lurkover: Current top suspect is KT, bitter over losing the director's chair to Oliver; also mentions “twin theory” as a likely red herring.

Hosts’ Reactions & Additional Theorizing

• Discussion on practical details:
  • The possibility of Ben’s death being an accident—did faulty elevators contribute? (27:10)
  • The strange logistics of the elevator shaft, and why no one seems to have asked about maintenance timelines.
• Maggie shares a childhood fear of falling into empty elevator shafts, relating it to the show’s scenario. (27:27–28:29)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Kyle Volschlager on Production Philosophy:

  “You have to serve the story no matter what you're doing. Because I have this really cool visual idea doesn't necessarily mean that's right for this moment.” (04:50)

• Steve Martin’s Ferris Moment:

  “I think it's funnier if I do it anyway.” (11:32, channeling meta-comedy)

• Mel Brooks Cameo

  “It doesn't get much better than that...” (12:38, on Zooming with Mel Brooks)

• On Meryl Streep's Dedication:

  "[She] was knocking herself down with [a real brass lantern]... She probably had a little goose egg after doing it eight or nine times that day." (30:11)

Segment Timestamps

• [00:01] Intro/Banter—Goats, photography
• [01:47] Kyle Volschlager joins; career & wildlife photography
• [03:46] First day with Meryl Streep
• [04:40] Becoming DP; camera approach/philosophy
• [05:36] Elevator sequence practical effects
• [08:48] The show's visual “what if” scenarios
• [09:20] How/when the crew learns “whodunit”
• [10:55] Ferris Bueller reference, Broderick and Martin
• [12:34] Zoom call with Mel Brooks
• [13:42] Segment break
• [14:01] Listener emails and theory round-up (Accusation Station)
• [22:32] Reddit theory deep dive
• [27:10] Re-examining the accident theory
• [30:11] Meryl and the lantern—behind-the-scenes pain for screen laughs

Tone & Atmosphere

The episode is playfully nerdy and energetic, with a keen appreciation for both technical filmmaking and the joyous absurdity of murder-mystery sleuthing. The hosts’ rapport is light, witty, and inviting, with a familial respect for their guests and fan community. Their theories oscillate between deep analysis and tongue-in-cheek speculation, mirroring the show's blend of heart and humor.

For Fans & Sleuths

This episode is a treasure-trove for both production geeks and armchair detectives—balancing technical stories, fun celebrity anecdotes, and robust theorizing. Whether you’re stanning Loretta or still convinced “the twin theory” is a red herring, you’ll find insights to fuel your speculation until the next clue drops.

Quotes and moments have been attributed directly with timestamps for easy reference to the original episode.