Squid Game: The Challenge executive producer Anna Kidd discusses the shooting process of the games

Squid Game: The Challenge
Squid Game: The Challenge | Image Source: YouTube/Netflix

Behind the scenes of Netflix's reality competition Squid Game: The Challenge lies a massive production operation. Executive games producer Anna Kidd recently revealed how her team captures every dramatic moment as 456 contestants battle for $4.56 million.

Squid Game: The Challenge transforms fictional games from the Korean drama of the same name into real-world challenges, requiring extensive technical planning and coordination. Episode 4 ended with a stunning rebellion during Mingle, where contestants briefly refused to continue. This unexpected turn showcased the unpredictable nature of reality television and the genuine emotions at stake. Kidd's team deployed 90 cameras simultaneously to ensure no pivotal moment went unfilmed.

The production must balance elaborate game mechanics with authentic human reactions under extreme pressure. Contestants form bonds that shatter instantly when survival instincts kick in. Unlike scripted programming, producers cannot predict when alliances will collapse or emotions will boil over. This volatility demands constant readiness from camera operators and technical crews.

The Mingle game particularly highlighted these challenges, as participants experienced devastating eliminations before staging their short-lived protest. Kidd's insights illuminate the complexity of producing a competition where strategy, emotion and spectacle collide in real time.


What did Anna Kidd have to say about Squid Game: The Challenge’s production?

Anna Kidd emphasizes the importance of preparation when filming unpredictable content. Her team stationed 90 cameras throughout the game sets to cover every angle. Kidd explained:

"You have to be poised to find the drama wherever it unfolds."

The crew operated these cameras continuously during challenges, knowing critical moments could emerge anywhere. This approach proved essential during Mingle.

The carousel game saw contestants spinning on a platform before rushing into rooms based on numbers called. Those unable to form correct group sizes faced elimination. The technical setup allowed producers to capture intimate reactions alongside wide-scale chaos. Close-ups revealed contestant anguish while overhead shots showed strategic positioning.

Kidd observed how relationships dissolve under competitive pressure. Contestants built genuine connections during earlier episodes, but Mingle changed everything. Player 098 attempted to organize a collective stand:

"We're not playing," they declared as others echoed the sentiment.

Squid Game: The Challenge contestants joined hands, creating a unified circle against the Front Man. This rebellion proved temporary. When the intercom announced the next number was two, participants reluctantly paired off. The Front Man then revealed their "gift", a marbles game, splitting the group further. Kidd said:

"Ultimately, you have to play as an individual. If you need to jettison your friends to make sure you survive, then that decision has to be taken in the spur of the moment."

Contestants faced impossible choices between loyalty and survival.


What’s up ahead for Anna Kidd?

Kidd's approach centers on authenticity over manipulation. The games create natural pressure without producer interference. Group dynamics shift rapidly when personal stakes escalate.

The production design mirrors the original series while accommodating real human limitations. Eliminations sting emotionally rather than physically, but the psychological toll remains intense. Kidd's filming strategy will continue through the remaining episodes.

As Squid Game: The Challenge contestant numbers decrease, cameras can focus more intimately on surviving players. The rebellion in episode 4 demonstrates why comprehensive coverage matters; nobody predicted that collective moment. With the finale approaching, expect more spontaneous drama as desperation peaks and the prize money feels tantalizingly close.


Squid Game: The Challenge Season 2 premiered on November 4 on Netflix, with new episodes dropping weekly.

Edited by Amey Mirashi