Reggie Rock Bythewood, the creator-writer, showrunner, frequent director and executive producer of the hit AppleTV+ basketball series “Swagger,” knows all too well his real-life responsibilities in this universe.
They began with the awareness that casting teenagers in key roles will inevitably change their lives.
His casting for “Swagger” began with an unusual distinction: Reality.
“Number One, I’m very committed to getting this right,” Bythewood, 57, began in a Zoom interview earlier this week. “A lot of times in a sports movie you’re hiding the fact that this person is not a real ballplayer, you’re camouflaging their lack of ability. I didn’t want to do that.
“First and foremost, I had people who are really evolved players. Because the storytelling has to be authentic and if the ball playing is not authentic, we lose the audience. So we cast people that could play at a high level and gave them training to act.
“The actors who are to play ball, we gave them several months of basketball training so that they can play at a high level too. We really set out to be the best shot basketball series on TV.
“The other thing is: I wanted to go beyond this idea that they are only basketball players. I wanted to lean into this notion that here are young people growing up in America, navigating their way to adulthood and ultimately, that is the heart of the show.”
In Season 2’s premiere episode Friday we see O’Shea Jackson, Jr. make 10 free throws in a row while he’s talking. “I know a lot of people are like, How are they doing this? They’re doing it — and there’s not one visual effect.”
As for changing young cast members’ lives, “The first responsibility, honestly,” Bythewood said, “is to create a safe family environment. I am definitely very aware that these are potentially life changing moments for them.
“The other thing is, when I was 15-16 years old, I was on a soap opera as an actor. It was amazing to be in that space and have some adults — one in particular, a woman named Michelle Shay who played my mother — look out for me.
“She helped me discover what it means to be professional. And the greatest thing is I was able to call Michelle and ask her to be these kids’ acting coach.
“It was a great full circle moment bringing Michelle in. With a lot of love she helped all of our newer actors become professional. We’re just really proud.”
Season 2 of “Swagger” streams Friday on AppleTV+