Tim Walsh and Elliot Wolf on What Makes Prime Video’s ‘On Call’ Unique [Interview]

Despite the TV landscape feeling oversaturated with cop-centered dramas, creators Tim Walsh and Elliot Wolf feel their latest series, On Call, stands out from the rest.

Centered on a police precinct in Long Beach, California, this new Prime Video series has a healthy mix of edgy, gritty, heartfelt, and found family to get everyone’s hearts pumping. After all, we all want a little more excitement in our lives, especially if it is controlled TV viewing.

I recently spoke with Tim Walsh and Elliot Wolf about their new series and what viewers can expect. (You can view the full interview below.)

One of the first things viewers will notice about On Call is the frequent use of alternate-perspective cameras, such as body cams, dash cams, and cell phone footage. It’s something that will make viewers feel they’re watching something fresh and new.

“ For us, it’s not just body cams; it’s dash cameras and cell phone footage. Taking a cell phone video is probably the most relatable lens in the world today. Dash cams and body cameras are on the news and on the internet,” Wolf explained.

“The goal was to make it a bit more immersive for the viewer. And if we’ve done our job, it feels a little bit more visceral than your traditional TV show, too,” he continued.

Ultimately, both Walsh and Wolf wanted to create something new and different which can only be achieved by introducing a new element to the current formula.

Watch the Full Interview with Tim Walsh and Elliot Wolf

Another element of On Call that sets it apart from other cop dramas that have been set in California is the setting itself. Most shows will choose Los Angeles or San Diego in order to achieve the SoCal vibe.

“ We really love Long Beach because it’s Southern California but different than Los Angeles,” Wolf said. 

The two creatives then considered the choice from a writing perspective; after all, the city lends itself well to a variety of stories. In fact, that multifaceted aspect of the location is what drew them both in from the start.

“ The port and all the different facets of the city, the tourism, because of the convention centers, they’re afforded a lot of tools in our toolboxes as storytellers. And then once we actually started spending time in Long Beach, we fell in love with it, and we fell in love with the people there,” Wolf explained.

“It’s equal parts beautiful and gritty, which I would say, at the risk of being poetic, is an accurate description of our characters in the show,” Walsh said.

Before we wrapped things up, I had to ask them why they chose this series at this point in time. Wolf and Walsh both feel now is the perfect time to push the limits of what TV dramas can do.

“It is unafraid. I think we’ve lost credibility with entertaining people over the last four or five years, and we are unabashedly trying to win them back,” Walsh said.

“The goal, first and foremost, is to entertain,” Wolf added. “But also, this show is visually different. I think the characters, and this is in large credit to the actors, did an unbelievable job in building an ensemble you want to root for.”

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On Call premieres January 9th on Prime Video.

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