Canadian actor Michael Cera has opened up about what it’s like working on a Wes Anderson film set, shedding light on the unique atmosphere and intense process behind Anderson’s singular cinematic style. Speaking about his recent experience filming The Phoenician Scheme, Cera described to Rolling Stone AU/NZ how the acclaimed director eschews traditional film set norms to foster both focus and creativity—a reality that fans curious about what it’s like working on a Wes Anderson film set rarely get to see.
Behind the Scenes with Wes Anderson’s Team
Wes Anderson, known for visually distinctive films like The Royal Tenenbaums and The Grand Budapest Hotel, directs his sets with a hands-on approach that shapes the entire cast and crew experience. In the recent interview, Cera confirmed that the process matches the director’s unique onscreen results, starting with the absence of trailers for actors. Instead, everyone involved is brought together in a shared space to immerse themselves fully in the filmmaking process.
“Everybody is there for Wes and everybody’s there to be part of this process, which is very specific, so it’s just a lot of enthusiasm from everybody,”
Cera told Rolling Stone AU/NZ. —Michael Cera, Actor
The director’s close-knit ensemble includes a team curated over the course of Anderson’s career, working together to build what Cera called a “handmade” operation. This approach to collaboration ensures a sense of unity and shared purpose that distinguishes Anderson’s sets from others in Hollywood.
Intense Filming Routines and Dozens of Takes
Cera spoke of the demanding work environment, where performing a scene is rarely a one-and-done effort. Anderson is famous for shooting many takes of each scene to capture the exact timing between dialogue and camera movements, often opting for long, uninterrupted shots. This repeating process is both challenging and gratifying for actors seeking to perfect every moment.
“It’s very demanding work where you do dozens of takes of a given thing to get the timing right with camera moves and with tricky dialogue and monologues, and he does like to do things like that in long, sustained takes. So it’s very focused, very gratifying.”
—Michael Cera, Actor
According to Cera, this relentless quest for perfection changes the rhythm of filming. Instead of spending long hours waiting for their turn to perform, actors stay on set, engaged, and ready to work together as a team throughout the day. Anderson’s insistence on keeping the cast present also maintains a creative intensity that rarely wanes.
“You don’t leave the set and disband,”
Cera explained.
“[Wes is] able to keep things very tightly focused and you do a lot more work in the course of a day. You do a lot more takes, and the camera rolls much more on his set than any other set. When he cuts, he doesn’t allow people to file in and lose tension… which is wonderful for an actor because a lot of the time on set as an actor, you’re idling and you’re losing your mind a little bit and going, ‘When can we do a take?’ It feels like Wes has that same kind of engine in him. He wants to stay on it and get as many takes as possible and keep refining it.”
—Michael Cera, Actor
The Impact of Anderson’s Style on Cast and Crew
While the work pace may be intense, Cera views Anderson’s methods as invigorating rather than draining. He emphasized that Anderson’s reputation has attracted a loyal circle of collaborators, including Bill Murray, Benicio del Toro, Bryan Cranston, Scarlett Johansson, and Benedict Cumberbatch, all of whom appear with Cera in The Phoenician Scheme. For Cera, being part of Anderson’s creative world has been a long-held ambition, given his admiration for the director’s groundbreaking sense of humor and style.
Cera stars as Bjorn Lund in the director’s latest dark comedy, and critics have noted that his character’s distinctive nature adds to the ensemble’s signature quirky dynamic. Rolling Stone’s review praised the film’s laughs and originality, stating that Anderson continues to avoid self-parody while remaining true to his recognizable artistic blueprint.
Why Wes Anderson’s Approach Resonates
The collaborative intensity and shared commitment fostered on Wes Anderson’s sets have helped shape some of the most memorable films in recent memory. The director’s dedication to detail, refusal to settle for routine, and campaign for creative unity leave a lasting impression on cast members like Michael Cera, influencing not only the experience of making a film but the finished product seen by audiences worldwide. With each project, Anderson’s “handmade” philosophy continues to draw attention for its ability to merge vision, tradition, and a sense of community in modern filmmaking.
