Veteran writer‑director John Waters, a longtime summer resident of Provincetown, Massachusetts, revealed on ABC’s Good Morning America that he deliberately avoided getting a suntan while filming the new season of American Horror Story. “The one thing I couldn’t do all summer is I couldn’t get a suntan, because I’d go and shoot a thing and then go back three weeks later and I’d come around a corner in a scene,” Waters explained, noting that the lack of a tan was essential for visual continuity.

Continuity concerns drive on‑set decisions

Waters, who is 80, is known for his meticulous attention to detail. In 2024 he received the ACE Golden Eddie Filmmaker of the Year Award, where he warned directors against having characters smoke on screen, citing how a burning cigarette can change length and break continuity. “Never have a character smoke cigarettes in your film, even in a period piece,” he said, emphasizing health and visual consistency.

For the 13‑episode run of AHS: 13, filming began in April and wrapped this summer. Waters appears in five episodes as Mr. Phibes, a knife‑wielding “medical specialist extraordinaire” who teams up with Jessica Lange’s Constance Langdon from the series’ first season. The first three episodes will debut Thursday at 9 p.m. ET on FX and stream on Hulu, with the finale slated for Oct. 29.

Limited insight into the plot

When asked about the storyline, Waters admitted he could not share details. “I haven’t even seen it. I don’t know what’s in it because I shot episodes out of order and everything, different scenes,” he said. He plans to watch the series with the rest of the audience when it airs.

Waters’ comments highlight the often‑overlooked logistical challenges of television production, where actors may film scenes non‑chronologically and must maintain visual consistency across weeks of shooting.

Original reporting: Baltimore Fishbowl — read the source article.