It's Getting Late with Owen Reed
It’s Getting Late with Owen Reed (2025)
A documentary crew follows a struggling late-night talk show as an overwhelmed showrunner tries to unite her dysfunctional team in an effort to save the show from cancellation after its sole investor threatens to pull funding.
It’s Getting Late with Owen Reed - Teaser Trailer
It’s Getting Late with Owen Reed (2025) - A documentary crew follows a struggling late-night talk show as an overwhelmed showrunner tries to unite a dysfunctional staff and save one final episode before cancellation ends it all.
Cast
“It’s Getting Late with Owen Reed was born out of my time working in reality television — specifically five years behind the scenes at America’s Got Talent. The larger-than-life personalities I encountered during those years directly inspired every character in this story. In fact, one of our key cast members, BONAVEGA, is a former AGT contestant I worked with when I was the show’s Contestant Manager.
Like Alex, our showrunner, I’ve wrestled with imposter syndrome: wondering if I’m creative enough, funny enough, or even capable of pulling off a production of this size. What I’ve learned — and what this film celebrates — is that no one has all the answers. Success comes from surrounding yourself with people smarter, funnier, and more talented than you, and creating something together that’s greater than the sum of its parts.
This project truly reflects that spirit. Every single person who worked behind the scenes on this project either currently works on, or has previously worked on, America’s Got Talent. I called in every favor I could across Los Angeles to make this happen — and we pulled it off on a shoestring budget.
One of the most exciting challenges we set for ourselves was blending scripted mockumentary storytelling with an unscripted, fully improvised live taping of the talk show itself — shot in front of a small studio audience. What you see on-screen is real conversation, real reactions, and real chemistry, later woven into the fictional world of our characters. To create more value for viewers, we’ve made a standalone extended version of the talk show available on YouTube along with long-form guest interviews, stand-up sets, music performances, and more.
It’s Getting Late with Owen Reed is a love letter to the creative process: the risk, the chaos, the found family, and the moments where it all somehow comes together. I hope it resonates with anyone chasing a dream, questioning their place, or trying to make something authentic and personal.”
Ryan Dougall
Writer/Director