Everyone Is Doing Great: The Indie TV Disaster No One Planned For | Collider BTS

Stephen Colletti and James Lafferty break down how Everyone Is Doing Great went from a self-funded passion project to landing on Netflix, revealing the very real challenges of independent TV production. In this Collider interview, Colletti (Seth Stewart) and Lafferty (Jeremy Davis) discuss how their post-One Tree Hill experiences inspired the series, and why the story resonates with millennials navigating unexpected life paths. They share how they shot the pilot with their own money, crowdfunded Season 1, and pushed forward despite limited resources—eventually bringing the show to Hulu and now Netflix’s platform. The conversation dives into the realities of wearing multiple hats on set, from acting and directing to literally handling emergencies like plumbing issues mid-shoot. They also explain how Season 2 expanded the world of the show, aiming for a bigger scale without a traditional studio budget, and why trusting instincts became crucial in directing. Colletti and Lafferty also reflect on the unique comedic style of the series, where humor comes alive in the edit through subtle reactions and unspoken moments rather than big punchlines. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction – Stephen Colletti & James Lafferty 1:00 Turning One Tree Hill Experience into a Series 2:20 Building the Show Independently & Crowdfunding 3:40 From Hulu to Netflix: A Major Milestone 5:10 Chaos of Low-Budget Filmmaking on Set 7:00 Directing, Acting, and Learning Limits 9:00 Expanding Season 2’s Scope & Challenges 11:30 On-Set Mishaps, Permits & Realities of Production 13:00 How the Show’s Humor Comes Together in Editing Our Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/collider/ www.x.com/Collider Our Website https://www.collider.com Video By Michael Zimmermann & Dano GS For copyright matters, please contact us at: [email protected] #everyoneisdoinggreat #stephencolletti #jameslafferty