Landman co-creator reveals their effort to keep the show as authentic as possible 

Christian Wallace, co-creator of the TV series Landman, has explained how he and his team worked hard to make the show feel real. This series is based upon Wallace's own podcast, Boomtown, and is centered around the oil/gas industry in West Texas. Wallace has been on set quite a bit to ensure the story and look of the show are as representative of the real world as possible while also maintaining balance between storytelling and accuracy. During an interview, Wallace talked about some of the ways in which he, along with creator Taylor Sheridan, tried to create a balance between accuracy and story on this show.

Landman takes a close look at the oil/gas industry and the personnel that work in this field, including aspects of their lives that may not otherwise be represented on television. The producers wanted to make certain the cast and crew were educated on the actual world surrounding the show's setting, and therefore, Wallace spent a great deal of time talking with cast and crew members throughout the process. Wallace stated one of his main jobs was to help all individuals understand how the oil industry works, therefore making the scenes feel authentic. He said,

"Even from Season 1 to Season 2, it’s amazing to see how much our cast and crew have learned about the oil and gas business, about West Texas, about all these things."

Wallace has a unique perspective on the world of oil because of his upbringing in West Texas and previous job as a journalist. As a co-creator of the Boomtown podcast, he has interviewed people working in the oil industry for years. His understanding of the oil industry has led him to be the person on set who raises questions regarding authenticity issues. Wallace states that having a personal connection to the oil world enables Landman to have a more authentic feel. He said,

"We're still always going to try to get as close to the real deal as we can"

On occasion, the cast would ask Wallace questions to gain clarity about specific aspects of a scene. Wallace's role included defining terminology and tools, allowing the actors to converse fluently about them. In addition, Wallace collaborated with the costume and prop departments to ensure that the costumes and equipment used in Landman matched what workers in the oil industry wore.

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Balancing real life and drama in Landman

Christian Wallace said that he and Taylor Sheridan did not want facts to slow down the story too much. The goal of the producers was to create truthful accounts about what it is like to work in this industry while entertaining and engaging audiences. Many people within the oil industry expressed their gratitude for the fact that the producers took the time and effort to research and provide as much factual information as possible.

To achieve this authenticity, Wallace said, they,

"We use real drilling rigs, real roughnecks. That stuff is as authentic as we can possibly make it. But the complexity of what they’re doing and the processes, you could easily get bogged down in those details."

In addition to technical accuracy, Wallace said the show also tries to show the human side of the oil business. He said that when people hear "oil and gas," they often think only of big companies and suits in offices. But the show focuses on the men and women who actually work in tough conditions on rigs and in rural West Texas towns. Wallace said this was important because it helps viewers see oil work as something real people do every day.

Actors on the show also took part in efforts to make the world of Landman look and feel real. Some cast members attended training on real rigs before filming began so they could learn how to move, talk, and behave like workers. This kind of preparation helped make their performances more convincing when they were shooting scenes.

Wallace said that using real rigs and involving industry workers helped the actors connect with their roles and feel what it might be like to work in that world. The cast learned the basics of safety, hard work, and teamwork that happen on an actual oil site. Another part of the show that tried to be true to life was the clothing. Wallace helped the costume team find real outfits worn by people who worked in oil fields.

Even with all of this care, Wallace said that certain events were made bigger or more intense than they might be in real life. The reason for this, he explained, is that a TV show needs emotional and dramatic moments in order to hold the audience's attention. He said,

"Taylor approaches these characters is he’ll take a kernel of truth about something and just expand it to its most dramatic or comedic height."

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What does this mean for viewers of Landman?

For viewers, the effort to remain authentic means that Landman gives a sense of what life in the oil industry can feel like, even if some parts are dramatized. The visuals, settings, and tools shown in Landman often come from real oil field experiences. This helps the story feel grounded in a real place and a real way of life.

While Wallace and his team knew they could not show every detail exactly as it happens in real life, they tried to keep the essential parts true in Landman. This approach allows the show to respect the lives of real workers while still telling a dramatic and engaging story.

Wallace notes that while it can be difficult to find a balance between honesty and narrative when telling stories about the oil industry, many knowledgeable individuals have complimented how well this production reflects not only the potential danger of the profession but also its human connection to those who participate in it. For individuals unfamiliar with the oil business, Landman provides an opportunity to witness the inner workings of the industry for the first time.