Director examines early hip-hop on Netflix

NEW YORK — As Baz Luhrmann walks on set for the press day of his first TV series, “The Get Down,” he can’t separate his professional self from his personal self. Apologetically, he makes suggestions to the crew and asks for a monitor to see how the shot is framed. After gesturing to the camera that it was a little wide, he suggests that the reporter move to the right to create the optimal eye line.

Luhrmann has been associated with that level of detail throughout his career, and it’s evident in such films as “Moulin Rouge!” and “The Great Gatsby.”

Now, he’s tackling the early years of hip-hop as told through young people in the mid-1970s south Bronx. The 13-episode series, which premieres Aug. 12 on Netflix, takes place before a hit record made its way into the mainstream. Luhrmann is the show’s executive producer, writer and director.

How did you decide to take on this story?

I was just driven to answer this question: “How did so much pure and new creativity come out of a moment in which this city seemed to be on its knees, in such trouble?” Pursuing this question led me down a road where I met (writer) Nelson (George), and I reached out to (Grandmaster) Flash and (DJ Cool) Herc, Kurtis Blow, and Crash and Daze, the legendary Lady Pink.

What did you add to the organic years of hip-hop?

The more I went down that road into the story … , the more I wanted to find a way to not put my touch on it, but just to curate a way for that story to be told.

Do you feel hip-hop is a tale of American ingenuity?

In this country … in times that are difficult or from corners of America where you least expect it, unbelievable pure creativity has welled up, generally because of the cross-fertilization. … A Scott Joplin tune becomes jazz, becomes blues and becomes rock ‘n’ roll.

What were your earliest memories of the era?

What was so fascinating was it was more my recollection of New York. In 1977, I was probably about 15. I remember Elvis dying. … I had a friend who came back from New York, and I said, “What’s it like?” and he said, “Oh, man. It’s amazing. Just wear a coat and don’t look anyone in the eye because it’s that dangerous.” … Disco was huge. … And there was punk. So that really stuck in the back of my mind.