PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA, THE: THE BRIDGE: SEASON TWO PREMIERE SCREENING & CONVERSATION {PUBLIC SHORT VERSION}
Summary
One in a series of evenings and special screenings presented at The Paley Center for Media in Los Angeles. This evening celebrates "The Bridge," the dramatic crime series about the detectives working along the Mexican/American border, based on the Danish/Swedish series of the same name.
Mike Schneider (L.A. Bureau Chief, TV Guide magazine) moderates the following panelists: executive producer and head writer Elwood Reid; and cast members Matthew Lilllard (Daniel Frye), Emily Rios (Adriana Mendez), Ted Levine (Lieutenant Hank Wade), Diane Kruger (Detective Sonya Cross), and Demián Bichir (Detective Marco Ruiz).
The panelists touch on such topics as: the first season's basis on the original series and plans to "create a new show" for subsequent seasons; the decision to wrap up the serial killer storyline that dominated the first season; themes of police corruption in season two; Reid's interest in making the audience "invest in the bad guys"; Bichir's fondness for Ruiz's flaws and emotional layers, as well as his womanizing ways; Kruger's interest in "evolving and expanding" Cross' personal life and her experience with Asperger's Syndrome; her strong belief that it is "okay to be awkward" and unlikable as a character; the characters' development over the season and avoidance of "hitting resets" with their stories; Wade's exasperation with the job and possible retirement; his disapproval of Cross' relationship with her sister's killer's brother, played by Nathan Phillips; Levine's inspiration from some unusual real-life friends; the hard-drinking Frye's near-death experience and Lillard's relief at his survival; the show's occasional comedic elements; plans to reveal more of Mendez's personal and family life; the real-life "missing girls of Juarez" and Reid's careful use of the story as more than a "cheap thrill"; the complex relationship and mutual respect between Cross and Ruiz; the addition in season two of Bichir's brother Bruno as a "slippery" new character; the development of Franke Potenta's "destabilizing" new character Eleanor Nacht; a memorable scene involving Lyle Lovett (Monte P. Flagman) and a quantity of fake blood; Reid's "miserly" handling of plot details and view of the story as a "slow burn"; hint about an upcoming story involving Cesar and Charlotte, played by Alejandro Patino and Annabelle Gish; the show's frequent use of subtitled Spanish as a "dramatic tool," and help from Mexican actors and writers in determining the proper regional dialects; technical advice from New York Times reporter and border expert Damien Cave; and the show's memorable theme song, written by Oscar winner Ryan Bingham.
Questions from the audience then lead to a discussion of the following topics, among others: the show's focus on not only Mexican crime but the American policies that affects it; the return of David Tate, played by Eric Lange; Reid's interest in the original series because of the detective characters rather than the serial killer plot; subtle character quirks and the use of an "autism expert" to add authenticity to Cross' mannerisms; filming in Los Angeles and adding in genuine establishing shots of El Paso and Juarez to fool the viewers' eye; further hints about Eleanor Nacht, including her past as a "shunned Mennonite"; Kruger's compassion for Cross and experience dealing with strong reaction to the "polarizing" character; and Bichir's sense that Ruiz is "doing his best" and struggling the death of his son, which occurred late in season one.
Details
- NETWORK: N/A
- DATE: June 24, 2014 7:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:00:35
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 114576
- GENRE: Seminars
- SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Mike Schneider … Moderator
- Matthew Lillard … Panelist
- Emily Rios … Panelist
- Ted Levine … Panelist
- Diane Kruger … Panelist
- Demián Bichir … Panelist
- Elwood Reid … Panelist
- Bruno Bichir
- Ryan Bingham
- Damien Cave
- Annabeth Gish
- Eric Lange
- Lyle Lovett
- Alejandro Patino
- Nathan Phillips
- Franka Potente