Amazon unveiled an audio commentary version of critically acclaimed new series “Transparent” on Wednesday, with participation from creator Jill Soloway and cast members Jeffrey Tambor, Judith Light, Gaby Hoffmann, Amy Landecker and Jay Duplass.
Amazon Prime members can use their Amazon Instant Video app for TVs, connected and mobile devices to experience the new offering.
“People are always coming up and asking me questions about how the show came together,” said Soloway. “With this audio commentary, they can hear it for themselves — whether we’re reminiscing about the technicalities of production or just showcasing some of the chemistry we shared. I can’t wait for our fans to sink their teeth into some of our behind-the-scenes goodness.”
Per Amazon, here’s some of the behind-the-scenes commentary:
- Tambor’s iconic line, “My whole life I’ve been dressing up like a man,” was inspired by a reaction from one of Jill’s friends to the news of her own parent’s transition.
- The scene in Episode 4 in which Ali and Sarah have their first post-Maura discussion was Landecker and Hoffmann’s first scene together. The dialogue was based on Jill’s actual conversation with her sister Faith, a staff writer, and was used as an audition scene.
- The cereal boxes in which Josh’s love notes from Rita are stored are actually real hiding spots that came from Jim Frohna, the Director of Photography. He used these during a relationship he had in college.
- In the first episode, Maura’s post-meal phone call and costume change remains one of the most beautiful moments of the whole season for Soloway.
Written, directed and executive produced by multi-award winner Soloway, “Transparent” is a half-hour novelistic series that explores family, identity, sex and love, per its official Amazon Studios description. The series stars Tambor as Maura, who has spent her life as Mort — the Pfefferman family patriarch.
When she reintroduces herself to her family, everyone’s secrets finally start to come out. This includes her ex-wife Shelly (Light) and their children — meandering Ali (played by Hoffmann), record producer Josh (Duplass) and sexually conflicted Sarah (Landecker). Each family member spins in a different direction as they begin to figure out who they are going to become.