If you’ve already binged 1899 on Netflix and found yourself wondering — “how on earth did they make this?” — you’re in luck. Netflix quietly dropped Making 1899, an exclusive behind-the-scenes documentary, globally alongside the show’s debut. And it’s a fascinating watch in its own right.
Table of Contents
Making 1899 — Documentary at a Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Documentary Title | Making 1899 |
| Runtime | ~50 minutes |
| Platform | Netflix (Global) |
| Audio | English + English Audio Description |
| Subtitles | Multiple languages available |
| Director | Andrew Amondson |
| Produced by | Good Old Factory |
| Edited by | Luca Lucchesi |
| Series Creators | Jantje Friese & Baran bo Odar |
| First Glimpse | Netflix Geeked Week |
What Is Making 1899 About?
Making 1899 is an extended documentary that takes viewers from the earliest stages of development all the way through to the wrap of Season 1. It features candid interviews with the cast and crew, including series creators Jantje Friese and Baran bo Odar, plus cast members such as Emily Beecham, Andreas Pietschmann, Aneurin Barnard, Miguel Bernardeau, and several others.
The documentary is far more than a standard promotional piece — it dives deep into the creative choices, the storytelling challenges, and most intriguingly, the revolutionary filming technology at the heart of the entire production.
The Star of the Show: “The Volume” Technology
The most compelling section of Making 1899 centres on a cutting-edge filmmaking tool called “The Volume” — a giant LED soundstage that displays environments in real-time, eliminating the need for traditional green or blue screens.
Friese and Odar admit that when Netflix first pitched the technology to them, they weren’t convinced, describing themselves as more traditional filmmakers. But once they saw it in action, it changed everything about how they approached the series visually.
The tech isn’t brand new — fans of The Mandalorian on Disney+ will recognise it immediately. Netflix’s upcoming productions like Avatar: The Last Airbender have also employed similar systems, signalling this is fast becoming the new standard in high-budget streaming productions.
For more on how streaming giants are pushing the boundaries of filmmaking technology, visit TechnoSports and explore our Entertainment & OTT section.
A Proper Documentary, Not Just a PR Reel
What sets Making 1899 apart from generic making-of content is its director: Andrew Amondson, a documentarian with over two decades of experience. His previous credits include documentary work for Intervention and Relapse on A&E, which explains the thoughtful, character-driven approach here. Netflix has released behind-the-scenes docs for titles like The Queen’s Gambit and Our Planet before — but this one ranks among their most polished efforts yet.
FAQs
Q1. Where can I watch Making 1899 and how long is it?
Making 1899 is available exclusively on Netflix globally. The documentary runs approximately 50 minutes and is available in English audio with multiple subtitle options. It was released simultaneously with 1899 Season 1.
Q2. What technology does Making 1899 focus on?
The documentary heavily covers “The Volume” — an LED soundstage technology that replaces traditional green/blue screens by displaying photorealistic environments in real-time during filming. The same technology was used in The Mandalorian and is being adopted across major streaming productions worldwide.
