Pluribus: The Official Podcast

Season 1, Episode 6: “HDP”

Release Date: December 5, 2025
Host: Chris McCaleb
Featured Guests: Vince Gilligan (Creator & EP), Vera Blasi (Writer), Ganja Montero (Director), Samba Schutte (Actor – Mr. Diabate), Nicholas Tsai (Editor)

Episode Overview

This episode of the “Pluribus” official podcast offers an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at the making of episode 6, “HDP.” Host Chris McCaleb is joined by an all-star creative roundtable: series creator Vince Gilligan, writer Vera Blasi, director Ganja Montero, and actor Samba Schutte. Their candid conversation explores how they brought this pivotal and visually ambitious episode to life, covering everything from collaborative writing and intense character casting, to the technical wizardry of filming Las Vegas during a record heatwave—including creating an “empty” Vegas and wrangling an iconic set where Elvis once lived. The episode is rich in insider anecdotes, creative insights, and memorable moments, all delivered with warmth and humor by the team.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Joining the Pluribus Team: New Voices in the Writers’ Room

(01:43 – 05:20)

• Vera Blasi describes her initiation into TV writing, calling it "a dream come true” (02:02). She shares her jitters and excitement, noting the support of the team and the show’s “Pluribus happy” energy, where everyone “cared about everybody and we were happy” (02:29).
• Vince Gilligan recounts first discovering Vera’s talent through mutual friend Mark Johnson and her “stranger in a strange land” script about Pontius Pilate—“It really, really stuck with me… At some point a smart producer is going to make this thing” (02:31).
• Vera shares her post-pandemic return to LA and how Vince invited her to lunch only to offer her a spot on the show—“I was like, oh my God. Is this possible?” (04:05)

2. Directing Amid High Stakes & High Temperatures

(04:22 – 08:04; 15:26 – 21:23)

• Ganja Montero discusses joining an established crew, appreciating the unique “collaborative frequency” of Vince’s team: “Things either expand you or contract you. The Vince world definitely opens you up so you can do the best version of the thing that's already been written” (05:32).
• Coming in mid-season, she describes adapting to the "ultra fresh" tone of the show, “There are no comps for it…it’s impossible to say, ‘oh, it’s this meets that,’ which is the classic Hollywood thing” (06:41).
• The crew filmed during a "record summer heat wave" in Las Vegas, requiring night exteriors at 103°F+ and the challenge of depicting an empty Vegas—“Vegas is pretty busy 24/7” (15:48).
• They used “array plates” (multi-camera 360° imaging) to create empty streets, stitched together in VFX to erase crowds: “We needed enough runs so that if there was a human in front of a McDonald's…when you cut to that shot, there’s no human in front of the McDonald's” (17:17).

3. Character & Casting: Creating Mr. Diabate

(08:04 – 14:54)

• Samba Schutte reflects on his audition and connecting with the role of Mr. Diabate—a “Mauritanian character” which felt close to home. The audition process stretched over five months (09:05).
• His initial performance was “smooth, macho,” but casting asked him to “play him more nerdy and awkward—which is closer to who I am as a person…that made it even closer to my skin” (09:37).
• Gilligan: “To a man, no one else had the innocence you had. Everyone else played it some sleazier than others…The innocence you infuse…is—I don’t know how you do it…but you make this guy so likable” (12:11, 13:20).
• Schutte sees Diabate as "a kid in a candy store...living his best life," which keeps the character joyful rather than sleazy (09:56-10:49).

4. Las Vegas Location & Legends

(21:04 – 23:17)

• The poker suite was Elvis Presley’s former penthouse at the Westgate: “On the top floor…was where Elvis Presley lived for years...We really did shoot…in the area that used to be Elvis’s bedroom” (19:16).
• The Westgate’s VP, Gordon Prouty, became an unofficial tour guide, “always dressed to the nines…knows the history…inside and out” (20:12).
• The hotel is purportedly haunted; “Crew members told us…lights would flicker, TVs would switch on, and showers would turn on” (21:04).

5. Visual Design & The Art of the Party

(23:06 – 29:09)

• A bold creative choice: Carol’s video log was shot in real selfie mode by actor Rhea Seehorn. “The authenticity…brings so much…as an amateur cinematographer or camera operator, that comes across even more" (23:38).
• Vince’s hidden cameo: “The severed head that Carol holds up, that's me…[made via 3D scanning and printing]” (24:43-26:23).
• For Mr. Diabate’s lavish suite, massive portrait paintings of Schutte were commissioned and hung throughout the “Elvis suite” (22:08-23:02).
• The 1960s-themed “James Bond party”—complete with lookalikes of cultural icons (Elvis, Bob Dylan, Audrey Hepburn, Bruce Lee, etc.)—was a dazzling logistical and creative feat, allowing costume designer Jennifer Bryan to deliver "incredible" fashion moments (27:14-28:59).

6. Constructing the Episode’s Signature “One-R” (& Surviving the Hot Tub)

(29:29 – 34:23)

• The hot tub scene was shot first—“The first time I met them all was when we shot the hot tub scene. So that was not awkward at all…Hi, I’m Samba…Okay, let’s get naked in a hot tub” (29:42).
• Montero describes embracing chaos and protecting actors: “There’s never a production without chaos…For me, it was about keeping all of them…not aware of the chaos” (32:16).
• Facing time constraints, they synthesized plans on set, opting for dynamic single shots to capture the party’s scale and intimacy: “If we do a oner that begins tight on him and starts pulling out, it becomes about the choreography…of where each character is in space” (33:00).

7. “John Cena Explains Cannibalism” Cameo

(34:38 – 36:07)

• Vince Gilligan: “Who do you have explain why the world is taken to cannibalism? Who better than John Cena?” (34:52)
• The cameo was filmed in Tampa, FL, on Cena’s day off. He delivered multiple pages of monologue “basically one take wonder” (35:39).
• Filming the in-show sequence, they used a stand-in video of Vince delivering the lines—“Me and Rhea were giggling as we're trying to be serious…Vince explaining it in his nice accent” (36:07).

8. Visual Highlights & Editorial Praise

(37:17 – 37:55)

• Host Chris McCaleb highlights “an incredible shot of Mr. Diabate at the window, and then there's that rack through the champagne flute," calling it “Michelle MacLaren type stuff…really incredible” (37:17).
• Editor Skip Fanta cut the episode—“Amazing…not much to do!” Montero jokes (37:43).

9. Tease for What’s Next & Wrap

(38:16 – 39:49)

• The closing sequence teases Minutos’ search for a signal, underpinned by a mysterious Dave Porter sound effect (38:17).
• Montero praises actor Veska: “His silent, brooding action hero—master brooder…So exciting to film the beginning of that journey” (39:13-39:20).
• The roundtable expresses mutual admiration and excitement for next week's episode.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Vera Blasi on her first show:
  “After being here with you, I believe miracles can happen.” (03:23)
• Vince Gilligan on casting Mr. Diabate:
  “No one else had the innocence you had. Everyone else played it some sleazier…The innocence you infuse into Mr. Diabate is—I don’t know how you do it.” (13:20)
• Ganja Montero:
  “The Vince world definitely opens you up so you can do the best version of the thing that's already been written.” (05:32)
• Samba Schutte on Mr. Diabate:
  “He’s just living his best life...now he has the opportunity to be the best version of himself. And so that's the nerdy side for me…” (10:49)
• Ganja Montero recalling heat & challenges in Vegas:
  “The main challenge was that we had to depict an empty Vegas…Filming in Vegas, you can't really shut down a casino...But we also needed to shoot exteriors of empty Vegas, and that's the actual challenge.” (15:48–16:36)
• Vince's secret cameo:
  “The severed head that Carol holds up, that's me. That's my head.” (25:06)
• Ganja Montero, on creating the party sequence:
  “You really recognize these characters, understand that we're in an elevated reality. And then land on Samba...what an introduction.” (28:14–29:07)
• Vince Gilligan on John Cena:
  “Who better than John Cena? As in, a very friendly, likable fellow that everybody in the world knows who can very matter of factly explain why human beings have resorted to cannibalism.” (34:52)
• Chris McCaleb on one standout shot:
  “Just an incredible shot of Mr. Diabate at the window, and then there's that rack through the champagne flute...Just really, like, incredible shot.” (37:17)

Noteworthy Timestamps

• 01:43 – Reflecting on joining the writers’ room
• 06:41 – Director’s perspective on entering the show mid-season
• 09:37 – Samba on adjusting his audition for Mr. Diabate
• 13:20 – Vince explains why the role was so difficult to cast
• 15:48–18:59 – The logistical challenge of shooting empty Las Vegas
• 19:16 – Filming in the former Elvis penthouse
• 21:04 – Haunted hotel stories
• 23:38 – Authenticity in the camcorder opening
• 24:43 – Vince’s secret as the severed head
• 27:14–29:09 – Conceiving and costuming the party sequence
• 29:42 – Hot tub scene: intimacy and introduction
• 32:16–34:23 – Surviving the pressure and protecting actors
• 34:38–36:07 – How John Cena's comedic cameo came about
• 37:17–37:55 – Celebrated visual moments
• 39:13 – Praising Veska’s performance

Final Thoughts & Mood

The episode is filled with a clear sense of comradery and gratitude among the creative team, punctuated by laughter, awe at technical achievements, and delight in storytelling. The group’s mutual respect and the show’s ambitious spirit come through in every anecdote and reminiscence, offering podcast listeners a vivid and personal window into the world of Pluribus.