‘The Last Of Us’ Creators Breakdown How They Brought the Post Apocalyptic Video Game Into Reality: ‘We Stay Authentic’

variety.com:

Valerie Wu Intern Before the saga of Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsay) plowing their way through a post-apocalyptic world became appointment TV, “The Last of Us” only existed in a computer-generated reality.

The creators of this HBO series had a huge task before them: make the unthinkable real. And not only did their adaptation have to look true-to-life, but it needed to feel so horrifyingly tangible that it would bring viewers to tears every single week.

Turns out, you really only need a couple pages of sheet music from Linda Ronstadt to accomplish the last task, and yet every week the fantastical became a terrifying reality thanks to the artisans of “The Last of Us.” Gathered together to explain how they brought the clickers, bloaters and every other freaky detail to life for a “Last Of Us” FYC Event, the minds behind the magic got into the nitty gritty on two separate panels focused around the pre-production and post-production work. Pre-Production / Production Panel Participants in the panel on pre-production and production included Neil Druckmann, executive producer, co-creator and writer; Carolyn Strauss, executive producer, Bella Ramsay, who stars as “Ellie;” Cynthia Summers, costume designer; John Paino, production designer; and Ksenia Sereda, cinematographer for episodes one, two and seven.

Tangcay asked Strauss about the challenge of adapting a hugely successful video game into a TV series, to which Strauss responded, “I just worry about making a good show.” “I don’t really worry about it,” Strauss clarified. “We could do both things at the same time.