• 13Aug 06

  Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It's off to Saks I Go...

  After some bumps along the way, I think (dare I jinx myself) I may just have found my Emmy's dress.  This is not the first dress I tried on, and not the one I originally thought I was going to sport to the awards, but I think it may just be perfect.

  I had to have it shipped in from... who knows where, and it will land Tuesday morning for my fitting.  I don't want to mention the designer quite yet simply because I want the dress to be in my closet before I announce anything.  Maybe I am being over cautious, but after the hunt for this mysery dress I have every reason to be. 

  Stay tuned for more adventures in dress hunting coming to your computer screen very very soon.

  • Posted Aug 13, 2006 11:11 am GMT
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• 13Aug 06

  Good Monring O.C. and Bernadino

  This Saturday morning, I awoke prepared to pick up the phone and start the day with a radio interview with Vinny and Jay at KCAA. You can check them out here: http://www.vincedaniels.com/

  We chatted about the new fall season, the Emmy's, and surprisingly enough had an interesting conversation about the Prime time soap, Dallas. I guess who shot JR is still a hot topic among some crowds.

  • Posted Aug 13, 2006 1:07 am GMT
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• 9Aug 06

  Family Jericho

  There is something about walking onto a television set where so many people have contributed to building the overall story, pumping the life into this fictional land and giving breath to the characters.   

  In one sentence: It makes me feel alive.

  This morning I drove up, parked with the rest of the crew of CBS’s new serial drama Jericho and hoped on the shuttle to head over to the set.

  Momentarily I was transported to Jericho, Kansas and the main street which includes the Jericho Post Office, City Hall, the Kansas library, and the General Supermarket.  Around me a multitude of people are moving cameras, gear, and setting up for what I can only assume is the next scene they will shoot. Extras are wandering around in hospital gowns standing in lines and chatting quietly. There are earpieces and walkie-talkies attached to everyone’s body and for a moment the fun of my Treo pales in comparison.  I realize then what I originally thought was just two parallel walls built along a side street is all actual man-made set with interiors. I noticed a big wall construction randomly placed and I was told it needed to be mounted to hide the palm trees.  Only in LA.  Even the cement covering the street was created to simulate a Kansas street, worn and cracked, and the sidewalks were cemented only days ago.

  The Grocery Store which we walk into is completely built out with salmon, deli counters, and everything from cereal to produce, and of course each piece is a fake prop.  The Producer’s and Director’s chairs are in the grocery store as well, carefully hidden inside from the intense sun and facing two monitors where we could see the crew moving items around the set.  Shortly, we saw the beginning tape of what eventually each home will enjoy as the show Jericho.

  From there, Karim Zreik wanders over and introduces himself as one of the producers.  We chat about the extensive details of the set and he mentions everything was “built within the last five to six weeks.”  I am overwhelmingly impressed.  He goes on to describe and show me the two stages which was the location of the interior shots thus far.  There was a small area which served as a mining hole, realistically complete with actual manure to give the cast something extra special to work off of.  There was another room which served as a bunker-like area where a few steel twin beds were tossed around and some fruit props were laying on a table. 

  With that, he promised a more extensive interior tour in a bit, but first we went back outside to watch Skeet Ulrich tape a scene from Fallout (Episode 2). 

  As they were still setting up the cameras, Jon Turtletaub stopped by who is executive producing the series and luckily for me, directing this day. “We met at the TCA CBS party. TV.com, right?” he smiles at me.  Just like starting a book you know you will not be able to put down, there are certain people you instinctively know are talented.  Turtletaub is just one of those people.  He trails on discussing the philosophical concept of fiction, what it is, and what it isn’t and ends commenting that to him “Jericho is not Science Fiction.”  He is enthusiastic and lively, and confident, wonderful traits for a director and producer.

  The pilot which had already been shot, edited and screened aside from a few minor tweaks they are planning was originally filmed on location in Fillmore, CA.  To get a better understanding at their shooting schedule, today they wrapped the second episode, tomorrow they shoot the last day to wrap the third, and Thursday they move on to the first day shooting episode 4. This tactic was scheduled simply because the parking meters were only installed yesterday and thus all exterior shots were pushed together and grouped to shoot day after day this week. 

  With that, Camera B was set up and ready and we were rolling.  Down the road Skeet Ulrich who plays Jake Green feverously drove up in the school bus I remember from the pilot.  He jumps out meeting his brother in front of the City Hall and they quickly discuss the situation. I can’t quite hear what they are exactly saying, not because I was too far away, only because a wind fan was blowing close behind me to make the leaves in the trees flow back and forth. They only do two takes from this angle. 

  Ulrich came strolling over and introduced himself.  I talked to him about shooting the pilot and asked exactly what the creators told him about his character’s back story prior to shooting.  From the onset Ulrich was given Green’s complete background (something that is fairly unusual) which I learned will be revealed throughout the series. Both the audience and the town of Jericho will in time find out exactly where Green has been and why he returned to Jericho after such and extended period of time.  I also discussed with him the difference between acting in a serial drama (think Lost or 24) rather than a stand alone series (think CSI or Law and Order) which he expressed was similar to “acting out a novel.” 

  From there, I was introduced to the creators Josh Schaer and Jon Steinberg who explained that Jericho is a concept they have had two years in the making.  Originally they planned on creating a small movie in the vein of 28 Days Later or Signs.  As we started to discuss the premise of Jericho - suddenly in one day multiple nuclear explosions in different cities occur simultaneously, and the people of Jericho, Kansas are left to speculate what happened - Schaer mentions, “Who did it, and why is not the end of this story.  It’s about the conflict in the town, getting insight into those that are selfish and those that are selfless. There are heroes and there are villains both in town and out of town. There are numerous villains out there and some have yet to reveal themselves.” 

  I was then dropped off for a few moments to visit with Stewart Schill who is the Editor on Jericho.  On the small dark room with a map of the world on the wall, he showed me what he was working on: the first few minutes of episode 2, the very episode which is finishing its last shots right outside.  The editing is riveting, and I was reminded of how much the editor contributes to the overall story of a series.  The edit was minus a few special effects which had not been added yet, but they were marked with descriptions of the end result.  It will be a bold start and guaranteed to capture viewer’s attention.  I wanted to see more, but unfortunately that was all that had been done thus far, and I will now have to wait to tune in on-air. 

  The amusing part of the production offices (housing the writers, producers, and creators so they can be close to set during the day in case there are any sudden revisions needed) was that only days before they used their very offices as the interior of the Jericho infirmary. Also interestingly enough, years ago, a little show called Beverly Hills 90210 used that same Jericho Hospital as the entrance to their beach club.  The difference was a quick paint change (from green to white) and of course a new sign. 

  Suddenly, Stephen Scaia the Executive Story Editor came jogging out towards me clearly excited by the opportunity to discuss his new baby (he heard I was headed his way).  He described Jericho as “a cross between Battle Star Galactica and West Wing.”  He went on to discuss all of the possibilities that could occur if a nuclear explosion were to happen.  These questions we can look forward to getting glimpses of this fall: “What about money? When the lights come back on what does the town do with people who steal?  What happens to those that are unprepared? What about those that are prepared, like farmers who know how to be self sufficient?  What about the education system?” We both recognize that these are tricky questions which have become more real to us all in a post-9/11 world.

  I head back outside to find Ulrich trying on the steady cam (a harness which is strapped to an actor and firmly holds the camera steady to get a close intense shot while the actor is moving). If you’ve never tried one on it’s like an elephant sitting on your shoulders and if you’re not careful the camera can topple you right over. I have had it happen on one occasion, and needed two guys to balance me so I didn’t fall flat on my face.  He looks over my way, “You’re next!” I shake my head, and smile. 

  What I saw today was an enthusiastic cast and crew who were passionate about their new project, and excited to see it to fruition as am I.  No one was outlandishly crazy (which is saying more than you would think), everyone worked as they should and they welcomed me in to their Jericho family if only for the one day.  In return I will happily welcome Jericho into my living room every Wednesday at 8pm as a must see new show of this fall season. 

   

   

   

  • Posted Aug 9, 2006 1:45 pm GMT
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