THE WHITE LOTUS World Premiere Q&A | HBO | ATX TV Festival Season 10

HBO presents ATX TV Festival Season 10’s Closing Night Conversation for the new limited series THE WHITE LOTUS from creator, writer, and director Mike White (#Enlightened).
A social satire set at an exclusive Hawaiian resort, the six-episode limited series follows the vacations of various hotel guests over the span of a week as they relax and rejuvenate in paradise. But with each passing day, a darker complexity emerges in these picture-perfect travelers, the hotel’s cheerful employees and the idyllic locale itself. Filmed on the island of Maui, THE WHITE LOTUS had its World Premiere at ATX TV Festival.
#TheWhiteLotus premieres July 11 on HBO and HBO Max.
This panel originally aired on June 19, 2021, as part of ATX TV Festival Season 10.
PANELISTS:
Mike White (Creator/Director/EP)
Murray Bartlett (Cast)
Connie Britton (Cast)
Jennifer Coolidge (Cast)
Alexandra Daddario (Cast)
Fred Hechinger (Cast)
Jake Lacy (Cast)
Brittany O'Grady (Cast)
Sydney Sweeney (Cast)
Steve Zahn (Cast)
MODERATOR: Ben Travers (IndieWire)
Join us June 2-5, 2022 in Austin, TX for ATX TV Festival Season 11!
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[@charlestaylor1122]

Jennifer Coolidge deserves an Emmy for this interview

[@Suzu52]

She was wonderful in the series

[@ns2110theonly]

Yup but tbh they all do

[@mariuxxxx1]

she was amazing for that role

[@noodlen.9779]

She's basically her character

[@BrainSturgeon]

She's so real and hilarious and has this enchanting way about her.

[@ariasijiali1689]

I can't believe Mike White came up with the idea, wrote the script, did pre production, all within 2 and a half months. As a writer and director, I just wanna say, that's insane!! So much talent.

[@riddlemehuh]

I can't believe you think this show is good

[@biohead66]

The show looks like screen gem ,even in 1080p, I hope they release it on 4K someday.

[@clovrmay3104]

Yeah, lol, Mike white is a mad genius do you not know his catalogue

[@trayb2555]

Jennifer saying she felt like she wasn’t acting with Natasha makes sense 😂😂 Me listening to her trying to explain it is just perfect

[@AlCasu1888]

Whoever cast this did a great job.

[@AntoinetteSarpong]

💯 perfect casting

[@GregLohr]

It was apparently Meredith Tucker, who went to school with the show's writer / creator, Mike White.

[@cristianosouza7052]

Murray Bartlett deserves an Emmy

[@JamieBarrington]

Yes!! He was enigmatic. I couldn't take my eyes off him during his scenes. Easily my favorite character and he was so hilarious, but it was also sad. Jennifer Coolage deserved that Emmy as well. I loved that they dominated the Emmys. Mike White did a fantastic job creating this series.

[@krisalamilla768]

He got one! Lol

[@vizlumincabrera7688]

Jennifer Coolidge is such a mood. Her answers were hilarious, relateable and vulnerable all at the same time.

[@brandominoeffect]

LMAO jennifer coolage doesn’t even try, she’s so naturally hilarious. She really was her character

[@thomasstevens4814]

Jennifer Coolidge is such a legend

[@jfish032]

True, but Mike White is as well!! Big Time

[@ebrozo]

Laughed like an idiot through Jennifer's part. She is priceless! But it's too easy to say that the genius is in the casting and directing. She is too modest and deserves the recognition as a superbly funny actress with amazing timing and skill.

[@jeremyemer2740]

Hands down, By far the best show on tv right now! Brilliantly written, directed and acted from all fasets! The fact that Mike White had 2 1/2 months to prep this production is mind blowing! Kuddos to him and the entire cast/crew!

[@gordonlevittsmith]

yep, really liked this. it has the intensity of other good shows like Mere of Easttown withouth the unpleasantness and forcefulness. Really good mix between satire and drama .

[@samronalds7799]

Can’t crack the code any better than getting paid to live in Hawaii during covid and make an amazing show

[@scottjharris]

I love how Jennifer Coolidge is texting while the others are talking 🤣🤣🤣

[@BibiTheLinkBuilder]

Mike crying with laughter when Jennifer talks

[@mandymac74]

This show is so excellent at the slow character development. Each one you unwrap a layer at a time and it’s fascinating to me.

[@aarondadvlogs]

THE CORE OF THE ONION!!!!!!!!!!!

[@oscarmarques4213]

Absolutely. It’s like you are not even annoyed when the show moves to another character because all of them are interesting.

[@ryz333n8]

Jennifer making everyone laugh made my heart so happy

[@Lulu-kt6gr]

It’s so funny when mike can’t contain his laughter when Jennifer is speaking!

[@amyleu]

Why am I laughing SO hard with tears when Jennifer Coolidge talks?! Everything she does is just so great, there’s no one else like her on screen. Gotta love her! 😂😂😂❤️❤️❤️

[@WillJBailey]

Holy crap, he wrote the scripts and did all the prep in two and half months! Wow. Seriously impressive.

[@JohnSmith-tg4bd]

dude thats ned schneebly from school of rock wtf!!! lmao

[@theytube83]

Jennifer is so real and so funny! She really cracked me up 😂😂

[@evanreece1695]

Right though 🤣😂🤣

[@Coco81218]

Finally, Jennifer and Murray getting the recognition they deserve with their SAG nominations.

[@JamieBarrington]

OMG, this show... I finally watched it and was blown away. The writing, the directing, the acting, the cinematography and music... Absolute chef's kiss. They totally deserved that Emmy sweep.

[@A_ndrea]

“I thought this was the end..i did..i thought it was the end” I am dead.

[@crimsonfox007]

Omg… Jennifer Coolidge is just such a freaking joy to watch in and out of character. I love her!

[@joshtake1]

Jennifer is the same person in every movie/show and I wouldn’t want it any other way!!

[@idkwatever]

Season 1 is my favourite of the two seasons. I keep watching it again and again. Love the slow buildup, the background score, the cinematography and the overall mood. Beautifully made. Kudos to the whole team.

[@analucia8931]

One of the best shows I've ever watched

[@zissumanter]

best tv show ever. I do not want to be greedy but one wants more of it. More more more.

[@telectronix1368]

I had no idea who had written/created this series but finding out it was the guy who wrote Enlightened makes so much sense. The guy knows how to create characters. 👍🏼

[@rawcite]

Bro I've worked in Hospitality for 15 years. For a high end clientele like the show. I never took it to the level that the Manager character did😂 But All of the nuances btwn him and his guests where so on point. The whole atmosphere was so on point. Such a great show!!

[@cameron7236]

great interviewer! not familiar with him but all of his questions were top notch and he moderated everyone's equal time really great

[@Randulpheleven]

One of the best interviews on White Lotus around, if not the best. So good so many of the cast were all together.

[@brinsonopinion]

Just watched penultimate episode and can't wait for the finale. Every goal they outlined here, from character development to multi-layered performances...they achieved ALL of them and THEN some. Connie Britton used such a perfect word: "nuance." As extreme as some of the plot's circumstances can be, how they are depicted & the cumulative result are never less than exquisitely nuanced.

[@User_PC_Loadletter]

Great interview, phenomenal show…. I’m blown away at how well this was written and procured, in so little time, and during COVID-19 no less. And the soundtrack, OMG, so good and tense. Well done guys. :)

[@killbill71]

I finished this last night and thought it was excellent. Watched the whole season in under a week, which is something I rarely do. Really well written characters.

[@WedrownyGrajek]

The show is beyond fabulous! ❤ And I totally agree with Jennifer Coolidge that the interviewer did a great job! The questions were really interesting, thought through and gave us the insight to the show's intricacies. Well done!

[@Ash-md9he]

Magnificent on every level. Mike White: what a talent.

[@ns2110theonly]

What a show. Blown away. Emmys for ALL OF YOU. Excited for season 2 but it won’t be the same group of wacky vacationers. And nothing can or will top this group. NOTHING. PS: Hey Murray: thanks SO much for making me think of you *every time* I go to the loo for the *rest of my life*.

[@abbyk6006]

FRED OMFG

[@soyihong1538]

i can't say enough, every casts so good!!! you know how rare this is?

[@claudiaraffo9340]

"Tania" is one of the most realistic portrayals I have seen without having to commit her!!!

[@karlee3095]

Loved the first episode and am waiting impatiently for more!

[@rahalfillalkilch5060]

Totally, love the ambient, the feelin, the characters, the comedy, I mean everything! And absolutely the BSO, love that tribal eerie sounds

[@MrNeilandrew]

Best cast interview I’ve ever seen! Perfect casting great writing in this hilarious series. Loved it!

[@VarunC2]

For sure this is the most hooked I've ever felt watching a cast interview. And it was over Zoom to boot!

[@yasminkaursahu]

I keep coming back to watch Jenn Mam, she's hilarious, she lights up every room that she steps into 😂🍩🤗 such a precious soul and human and actress and comedian and person 💗💗💖💖💖

[@musicmann1967]

This interview was already interesting and cool, and then came Jennifer!!!! Hysterical! Just amazing!

[@JDMimeTHEFIRST]

Quinn was one of the best aspie (ASD-1) characters yet in a show. I love his ending and identify with his character so much (except growing up rich).

[@evanreece1695]

I'm so thankful for Jennifer Coolidge and being so incredibly honest quarantine has been really hard for me and I've always loved her work🥰

[@gracejin9076]

this interview is equally entertaining as the tv show oh god what a great cast

[@BenjaminIstvanCseko]

This was SO GOOD and so much fun to watch! :)

[@benjamin3482]

Mike White - so creative and so loopy. What a great combo to make this show

[@krishermstad]

Steve Zahn looks like my boss during our morning stand ups

[@thaothao26]

Love love love this cast and writing and art direction and everything.

[@jennbeth1]

The character is Armand. The actor is Murray.

[@cocxoxo]

I kept reading comments about Jennifer Coolidge in the interview until I actually got to the part. PRI-CE-LESS! hahahahahahahah

[@cocxoxo]

BTW for those who did see her in the interview, that's from her Wikipedia page lol: "During college, Coolidge had dreams of being a dramatic actress like her hero Meryl Streep, but instead became a comedic character actress". WELL JEN, YOU ARE THE MERYL OF COMEDY

[@rebeccaelwell2238]

After having worked both the scuba and spa department at this particular Four Seasons, I am so elated with this show, the cast, the script, the themes. It’s so spot on! Great job Mike White and actors/actresses. Kinda missed the mark on the believability of the staff though. Resort manager of that high end of a resort can’t be that reckless. Fired in an instant. And the part where Kai steals from the Mossbachers. Security cameras for one and a guy that good natured, wouldn’t resort himself to that kind of petty thievery no matter what resentment he had. I get it for the plot’s purpose. But aside from that, so spot on. Belinda’s ulterior motive to get Tania to follow through with her offer and the relationship between those two is a classic scenario seen in the spa setting at the FS… so great! Amazing job!

[@User_PC_Loadletter]

Great perspective, and really interesting that you worked there. LOL. Yeah, I don’t think anybody would really believe that this kind of mismanagement would ever happen.

[@mattsaracen7]

Your point about the resort manager is kind of moot bc he only became reckless after relapsing and was about to be fired in a matter of days, as soon as he was reported.

[@IndigobluBeauty]

Given its satire, some characters and even this whole week is more hyperbolic than “regular life” so it does actually for for the tone and theme of this show overall

[@claudiam2474]

obsessed with this

[@amyvanlowthian2112]

Love Mikes work...brilliant series

[@teajuana01]

i enjoyed the whole season. great story and ending is just perfect although depressing for some characters. kudos to the whole team ❤️

[@AndrewNation13]

Very synergy-ish, still highly attractive on an intellectual level Feels a quite good cast vibe & 100% rare zero friction chemistry with a side of selfish expression 😊 er umm progression. We all enjoyed this thing im sure & I'm sure the show reflects that, a wholly entertaining perspective gainer too Thank-you so much

[@jancihak905]

Great TV, great interview

[@seankoontz4235]

This show lives up to the hype

[@BaxterVon]

Bravo and Well Done!!!

[@user-gr2vc2kv8r]

“Oh my God, how did you make it this far???”

[@michaeldunne3379]

Brilliant series. Very good interviewer.

[@robertczapla-schermann5010]

I mean, how beautiful and cute is Fred. 😍

[@starbaby1754]

Loved !

[@helohalo3106]

This show has beautiful writing

[@profoundcontender4696]

Beautiful work!

[@seanpaulcurran]

Jennifer is so gorgeous ! I loved her character the most

[@fathergabrielstokes4706]

Masterpiece!!

[@minnietoot9704]

Jennifer Coolidge is so real, so honest

[@Dan-kb9vr]

Amazing series want another season

[@deb1442]

Love Mike's glasses!

[@soxxel12]

My innate hate for Pete from The Office made it so easy to despise Shane

[@Stopping33]

Best show right now

[@msab4883]

I really liked the show and the atmosphere👍🏻

[@ofri6309]

Great series!

[@philrm99]

Great show.

[@clovrmay3104]

Shane's bedroom is absolutely literally perfect

[@sumandas9039]

😍😍😍truly awesome show♥️♥️♥️

[@rainafortini5797]

So funny to see the girl's at the end reading their perspective books...after Quinn cries a tear while having a moment, as perfect timing for Tanya's funeral for her mom....literally looking like a little cherub shirley temple tossing her mother's ashes.....I just watched it for the 7th time(?) The new people who replaced Armand et al waving to the new group...is it the music that has me memorized most of all?

[@Qtrademark]

Such a great show

[@shanab4930]

Jennifer, love her so much 💎

[@nomicucce987]

wow. i didn't know jennifer coolidge before. what a talent. what a great comedian. bravo 👏👏👏

[@brianj436]

How the hell do you write and produce something this good that fast.

[@amoolyanarayan2148]

I would venture that it was possible because of the time crunch

[@Bailey2006a]

Connie and Jennifer gave bravura performances

[@shannond7437]

Jennifer Coolidge is a treasure! 💞

[@kynamatthewson7702]

Jennifer is just so real. No layers. Just 100% what you see, is what you get.

[@carolinevale7569]

Jennifer Coolidge is such a treat

[@r.liebgott1543]

Jennifer Coolidge is hilarious!

[@thegraceland1]

My god I love Jennifer sooooo fucking much.

[@xanaduxanadu3605]

It's a funny show! Omg.

[@gordonlevittsmith]

yes it is

[@brianmyers4444]

Connie Britton🔥🔥🔥

[@courtneylee566]

Can’t belive he was in survivor

[@wotan10950]

I was so intrigued by this series, laughing one moment, aghast the next. But the characters wore me down, they were just such awful people, beyond redemption. And so, it’s funny to me that I most enjoyed Jake Lacy’s part in this interview. His delight while listening to Jennifer Coolidge reminds me that these people are consummate actors, they are not the characters themselves.

[@yvonnereuben2761]

I’ve heard a few interviews with Mike White. It’s amazing how well written it is, and yet how inarticulate he is during an interview.

[@laurenlestrange7417]

I’m a pretty decent writer yet a terrible speaker as well. Some of us are just better at organizing our thoughts on paper.

[@davidadams2395]

@Lauren Lestrange Yeah, I'm hopeless at speaking, especially through the medium of a video conference. Writing, however, is the mode of communication at which I excel.

[@donjuan2950]

HELLO, THIS IS NED SCHNEEBLY!

[@moppy1979]

Omg it’s Plop!

[@ibanezgomez]

a very powerful tv show series. It shows pervasive privilege at its best!

[@debbieallen3861]

Urgh..watched the first free episode and now I'm gonna have to sign up for HBO Max!! Odd and quirky writing and characters which I love! My hunch is that Nicole is the one being loaded on the plane..the line "Good things happen to good people" gave me pause...but no more than a feeling really...We will see!!

[@debbieallen3861]

@@michaelbruce2699 Bit disappointed with the ending, but overall yes..

[@debbieallen3861]

@@michaelbruce2699 God no!! Was hoping to be blindsided by the unexpected and kinda wasn't...if that makes sense?

[@overtonwindowshopper]

Really awkward when the interview kept referring to the Armand character as ‘Murray’ … the actors name…