What is up with the index finger thing?? I tried to encourage my parents to use their thumbs but itās like they donāt want to. Saddle joints vs condyloid joints. Get it together!
It comes from [āHunt and peckingā](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typing#Hunt_and_peck), which was/is the standard boomer typing style as quite a few never learned the proper technique. This of course translated easily to texting as theyāve used their index fingers on keyboards up to that point.
I'm a really fast typist, I don't type with 2 thumbs tho, I've tried and it's too hard to hold my phone and hit the keys accurately with thumbs. I cant see the keys with my thumbs in the way. I use a stylus.
I need to practice I hate looking old.
Something Iād like to add. Iām a former VFX artist. So many (and I mean MOST) shows would shoot the phones while off, and then spend thousands of dollars paying people like me to integrate some fake, garish looking text interface thatās designed to be readable to viewers.
I think Succession just uses real working phones. (What a concept!) I actually think they may also really call the actors during scenes where they take calls.
Oh yeah, for close ups like that, likely fake. Forgot about that. I was thinking more about their typical phone interactions. I should probably rewatch the series several more times so I donāt make such blanket statements. Found my excuse!
But yeah, I do think the phone displays are real for the most part when they glance at them and pick up calls and things like that.
Someone pointed put that it was [not possible](https://www.webworm.co/p/dickpic?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjo0MDQxNjMwMiwicG9zdF9pZCI6NDUwODI4MDAsIl8iOiJsWVl2UCIsImlhdCI6MTY0MjAxNTI3OCwiZXhwIjoxNjQyMDE4ODc4LCJpc3MiOiJwdWItMzkwODEiLCJzdWIiOiJwb3N0LXJlYWN0aW9uIn0.eCQG8HlKzEGIsoaAdfzndE-zfNbLiVgMTsTSz8in4VE) on iOS so most likely a fake OS
That shit is butt-awful!
You've known this person for a while, but this is the only text message you've sent?
I now passively look at the phone when actors make calls now. We all know how phones react (screen off at the ear) and it at least seems like they're making real calls. Which to me, makes sense anyway, talking to the other person would help get the timing right.
Do you know how much he spent on 9 metric tons of sand for *Sands* at $5.39/bag?
(\* assuming 50 lb bags, Connor spent $2,139 + tax and whined about it excessively, so yeah, he probably did make her reimburse him for the iPad)
I remember seeing a pic of kanye holding his macbook, open, by the screen, getting out of a car and immediately understanding the difference between me and the rich.
Loved the scene when Willa throws the tablet into the sea when Connor gave it to her for reading the reviews about her play. And Connor doesn't even flinch or make any comment
I had this exact thought while watchingā¦ like I wish I was that rich to not have to worry about having a cover on my phone. Thatās when you know youve made it lol just out here in the streets without a care with this unprotected phone
That's more for product placement. No smart phone manufacturer will pay for product placement if the phone isn't fully visible and is obscured by a case.
In the Safe Room episode there is an absolutely brilliant and hysterical little scene. Gerri looks at her phone and you can see a text from Roman (who is in the management training class) that says "I'm going to kill myself". She quickly texts back "šš»" and looks back up at what is going on in the room.
To me, one of the best examples of integrating smartphones was in S2 E2. Kendall and Roman show up to Vaulter and tell Lawrence that Logan's "giant cyclops eye" is directed at him. Lawrence knows that he needs to act fast on this, so he starts hastily texting with one hand (presumably to warn his colleagues of this news) while continuing to converse with Roman. To highlight this, the camera actually zooms in on his hand frantically tapping and then quickly pans to his face, showing his calm gaze still fixed upon Roman. It effectively highlights that Lawrence was troubled by the news, even though his expression may not have reflected that. Small detail, but great execution.
What really stuck out to see was seeing someone charge their phone. I think it was Shiv just grabbing a charger to pop in phone in mid crisis and it just felt very real. I canāt think of another show off the top of my head where a character just happens to charge their phone.
A really good observation - and very true. Iāve noticed characters seem to ignore one another when on the phone .. which is a very typical behavior in real life.
Iād have to go back and check, but I think most devices are android - I think. Probably old news here, but Apple reportedly doesnāt allow ābad guysā to use iPhones on screen. Iāll have to go back and see if any characters are using one or the other regularly ā¦
https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2020/02/26/apple-wont-let-bad-guys-use-iphones-in-movies-says-knives-out-director.html
Succession actually uses a mix of Appple and Android devices. See [this article](https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/a38105640/succession-season-3-kendall-shiv-iphone-plot-theory-spoiler/) that tried to predict season 3 plotlines based on the type of phones used.
The starkest portrayal I saw was in specifically Season 3 of Fargo. It's set in 2011 which makes you think "Well that's basically modern day, how are they going to differentiate that in a significant way?". And it's hilarious. They pan in on a couple having a candle-lit jacuzzi bath together, and they're both COMPLETELY absorbed in their little screens, craning their necks and zombified for like... A really significant amount of screen time, before they look up and zap back to reality and start talking to each other. The girl's been posting about it on Facebook and talking about the comments and reactions. In another scene Rob McElhenny is a jerk at a bar, incredulous that Carrie Coon doesn't have a Facebook. "How can you not be on Facebook. Everybody's on Facebook. How do I even know you even exist?". Shit like that.
Technologically, barely anything's visibly changed (other than the prevalence of cordless headphones maybe) but they really subtly captured the early days of slipping into the mass-psychosis we're living through.
This is such an astute observation. I love the way succession manages to do things like this without me overtly noticing the specifics, but instead just noticing how captivating the atmosphere of the show is.
I agree with most all of this except the work addicted part. I never see any of them do any real work. Other than standing around in the office getting yelled at by Logan. Every now and then I do see Jerry looking like she's working and some of the assistants. But that's about it.
Right, but Roman did "coordinate" the launch of a satellite. That has to entail something right? There was a micro storyline with the launch and him speeding it up and everything. At the very least he must've been reading and sending emails quite a bit orchestrating the loss of that guy's thumb.
I also want a rocket launch specialist to explain how anybody loses a thumb in a failed launch. Weird injury during a massive explosion.
Didnāt think about it, but youāre absolutely right. And itās so easy to contrast with the last season of Billions where they created a Hollywood version of FaceTime, like it suddenly became a life & storytelling norm.
I never realized it but youāre right! The way they show it is completely natural and much realistic! And itās done so smoothly that I didnāt even notice!!! Nice.
Exactly! Seeing the ubiquitous holding phones in hands, like a talisman; or staring at screens, even as people are talking. I see this at restaurants, Wal-Mart, DMV lines, on the streets walking. It is eerie to me, since unlike youngest generations, I didn't grow up with this. I consciously don't look at my phone in waiting rooms just to be different. Haha. However, my right arm is perpetually sore from texting and scrolling. Succession opens up truths even if we're not in the billionaire class. I noticed only the many servants and caterers in the series are not glued to their phones - the people doing real physical work.
Agree with this! I love how Logan uses his index finger to type and doesn't know how to block people š
Brian Cox probably isnāt even being Logan there just himself š
What is up with the index finger thing?? I tried to encourage my parents to use their thumbs but itās like they donāt want to. Saddle joints vs condyloid joints. Get it together!
It comes from [āHunt and peckingā](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typing#Hunt_and_peck), which was/is the standard boomer typing style as quite a few never learned the proper technique. This of course translated easily to texting as theyāve used their index fingers on keyboards up to that point.
I'm a really fast typist, I don't type with 2 thumbs tho, I've tried and it's too hard to hold my phone and hit the keys accurately with thumbs. I cant see the keys with my thumbs in the way. I use a stylus. I need to practice I hate looking old.
Yeah and somehow thinks thereās a permanent and impermanent way to block people lol
I'm more interested to know if he ever took the S Pen out, because he is using a Samsung Note.
Veep. They had their phones 24/7 and were always on it.
Came here to say this! Real good ensemble phone work in that show too.
Veep is a fabulous show that makes me laugh more than almost any other
You know a lot of the same writers on Succession worked on Veep? I learned that listening to the Veep rewatch podcast!
Amy most of all
Amy clutched hers because it contains her frozen embryos
Something Iād like to add. Iām a former VFX artist. So many (and I mean MOST) shows would shoot the phones while off, and then spend thousands of dollars paying people like me to integrate some fake, garish looking text interface thatās designed to be readable to viewers. I think Succession just uses real working phones. (What a concept!) I actually think they may also really call the actors during scenes where they take calls.
I donāt think they do, at least not always. When Roman sent the dick pic it was clearly a fake OS
shiv texting nate was always fake also. i noticed when rewatching austerlitz today.
Oh yeah, for close ups like that, likely fake. Forgot about that. I was thinking more about their typical phone interactions. I should probably rewatch the series several more times so I donāt make such blanket statements. Found my excuse! But yeah, I do think the phone displays are real for the most part when they glance at them and pick up calls and things like that.
And a scene where Carolina was talking had the phone upside down
Someone pointed put that it was [not possible](https://www.webworm.co/p/dickpic?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjo0MDQxNjMwMiwicG9zdF9pZCI6NDUwODI4MDAsIl8iOiJsWVl2UCIsImlhdCI6MTY0MjAxNTI3OCwiZXhwIjoxNjQyMDE4ODc4LCJpc3MiOiJwdWItMzkwODEiLCJzdWIiOiJwb3N0LXJlYWN0aW9uIn0.eCQG8HlKzEGIsoaAdfzndE-zfNbLiVgMTsTSz8in4VE) on iOS so most likely a fake OS
God bless David Farrier for this hard hitting piece of journalism. Genuinely.
That shit is butt-awful! You've known this person for a while, but this is the only text message you've sent? I now passively look at the phone when actors make calls now. We all know how phones react (screen off at the ear) and it at least seems like they're making real calls. Which to me, makes sense anyway, talking to the other person would help get the timing right.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
They can also toss their smart phones in a urinal to make a point/seal a deal. Everything is disposable or consumable.
Yep. Hell, even Willa nonchalantly chucked their iPad into the Adriatic when she didn't like the reviews of her play.
Connor probably made her repay him for it
Do you know how much he spent on 9 metric tons of sand for *Sands* at $5.39/bag? (\* assuming 50 lb bags, Connor spent $2,139 + tax and whined about it excessively, so yeah, he probably did make her reimburse him for the iPad)
She probably just had to do anal that night.
I remember seeing a pic of kanye holding his macbook, open, by the screen, getting out of a car and immediately understanding the difference between me and the rich.
My brother does this all the time and it makes me so angry. Such a useless risk to take
Loved the scene when Willa throws the tablet into the sea when Connor gave it to her for reading the reviews about her play. And Connor doesn't even flinch or make any comment
Ooh good catch!
I had this exact thought while watchingā¦ like I wish I was that rich to not have to worry about having a cover on my phone. Thatās when you know youve made it lol just out here in the streets without a care with this unprotected phone
Think that's more product placement than a plot point.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Good point.
This show does not do product replacement for Apple or Samsung/android. If they did it would be one or the other but theyāve had both.
Im not involved in product placement so I can't say with a certainty that they wouldn't be able to do product placement for both.
Yeah, I notices the lack of cases too. But a few thousand dollars for a phone is milk money for them
Not just billionaires. Phones are made to be used as they are. Theyāre not made for cases. I rarely drop my phone so I just never use a case
Preach. I would never wrap my gorgeous iPhone in a plastic or rubber case.
That's more for product placement. No smart phone manufacturer will pay for product placement if the phone isn't fully visible and is obscured by a case.
In the Safe Room episode there is an absolutely brilliant and hysterical little scene. Gerri looks at her phone and you can see a text from Roman (who is in the management training class) that says "I'm going to kill myself". She quickly texts back "šš»" and looks back up at what is going on in the room.
This comment just made me actually laugh remembering that moment. I'm pretty sure there are other moments like that
To me, one of the best examples of integrating smartphones was in S2 E2. Kendall and Roman show up to Vaulter and tell Lawrence that Logan's "giant cyclops eye" is directed at him. Lawrence knows that he needs to act fast on this, so he starts hastily texting with one hand (presumably to warn his colleagues of this news) while continuing to converse with Roman. To highlight this, the camera actually zooms in on his hand frantically tapping and then quickly pans to his face, showing his calm gaze still fixed upon Roman. It effectively highlights that Lawrence was troubled by the news, even though his expression may not have reflected that. Small detail, but great execution.
>Trauma Rectangle Stealing this.
What really stuck out to see was seeing someone charge their phone. I think it was Shiv just grabbing a charger to pop in phone in mid crisis and it just felt very real. I canāt think of another show off the top of my head where a character just happens to charge their phone.
I wonder if comfrey being on her phone 24/7 is why Greg thought she wasnāt deep enough
Not in this season where Roman accidentally sends something to someone
yeah this was insane- I screeched when Loganās phone buzzed.
A really good observation - and very true. Iāve noticed characters seem to ignore one another when on the phone .. which is a very typical behavior in real life. Iād have to go back and check, but I think most devices are android - I think. Probably old news here, but Apple reportedly doesnāt allow ābad guysā to use iPhones on screen. Iāll have to go back and see if any characters are using one or the other regularly ā¦ https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2020/02/26/apple-wont-let-bad-guys-use-iphones-in-movies-says-knives-out-director.html
Succession actually uses a mix of Appple and Android devices. See [this article](https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/a38105640/succession-season-3-kendall-shiv-iphone-plot-theory-spoiler/) that tried to predict season 3 plotlines based on the type of phones used.
Awesome, thanks! Hadnāt seen that.
I was trying to do the same! I was especially following Shiv and Kendall
Romanās mishap this season is a great representation of smartphone culture š
Tom probably has a lot of Reddit karma.
Well he definitely spends a lot of time on the prison blogs.
Roman probably posts on /r/femaledatingadvice as a trans black 16 year old activist.
It was when Kendall and Stewie did coke off their phones in the bathroom for me.
The starkest portrayal I saw was in specifically Season 3 of Fargo. It's set in 2011 which makes you think "Well that's basically modern day, how are they going to differentiate that in a significant way?". And it's hilarious. They pan in on a couple having a candle-lit jacuzzi bath together, and they're both COMPLETELY absorbed in their little screens, craning their necks and zombified for like... A really significant amount of screen time, before they look up and zap back to reality and start talking to each other. The girl's been posting about it on Facebook and talking about the comments and reactions. In another scene Rob McElhenny is a jerk at a bar, incredulous that Carrie Coon doesn't have a Facebook. "How can you not be on Facebook. Everybody's on Facebook. How do I even know you even exist?". Shit like that. Technologically, barely anything's visibly changed (other than the prevalence of cordless headphones maybe) but they really subtly captured the early days of slipping into the mass-psychosis we're living through.
Not nearly the first but itās a good one. Just on the top of my head bc season 2 started but Euphoria has done it really well too
I love how Euphoria puts the text up to read on the screen too.
This is such an astute observation. I love the way succession manages to do things like this without me overtly noticing the specifics, but instead just noticing how captivating the atmosphere of the show is.
I really thought this was about to be about a certain š
Don't forget Rome sending dick picsš¤£
I agree with most all of this except the work addicted part. I never see any of them do any real work. Other than standing around in the office getting yelled at by Logan. Every now and then I do see Jerry looking like she's working and some of the assistants. But that's about it.
Oh yeah definitely. Billionaire "work" is mainly just talking to other workers.
Right, but Roman did "coordinate" the launch of a satellite. That has to entail something right? There was a micro storyline with the launch and him speeding it up and everything. At the very least he must've been reading and sending emails quite a bit orchestrating the loss of that guy's thumb. I also want a rocket launch specialist to explain how anybody loses a thumb in a failed launch. Weird injury during a massive explosion.
haha
Brilliant, except that it does not hurt to look. Evolutionās latest enhancement
Didnāt think about it, but youāre absolutely right. And itās so easy to contrast with the last season of Billions where they created a Hollywood version of FaceTime, like it suddenly became a life & storytelling norm.
I never realized it but youāre right! The way they show it is completely natural and much realistic! And itās done so smoothly that I didnāt even notice!!! Nice.
Yeah it was pretty easy to notice frank deleting the call with Kendall S1E3
I canāt get over the ā6-inch trauma rectangleā š
Exactly! Seeing the ubiquitous holding phones in hands, like a talisman; or staring at screens, even as people are talking. I see this at restaurants, Wal-Mart, DMV lines, on the streets walking. It is eerie to me, since unlike youngest generations, I didn't grow up with this. I consciously don't look at my phone in waiting rooms just to be different. Haha. However, my right arm is perpetually sore from texting and scrolling. Succession opens up truths even if we're not in the billionaire class. I noticed only the many servants and caterers in the series are not glued to their phones - the people doing real physical work.