PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA, THE: RIVERDALE: SCREENING AND CONVERSATION {LONG VERSION}
Summary
One in a series of evenings and special screenings presented at The Paley Center for Media in Los Angeles. This evening celebrates "Riverdale," the dramatic mystery series, based on the long-running "Archie" comic book series, about the complex lives of the residents of a small town. Host Rene Reyes (director of public programs and festivals, The Paley Center for Media) offers opening remarks and introduces the episode "Chapter Eleven: To Riverdale and Back Again," which is screened in its entirety. (For synopsis and credits, see ACCNUM 129312.)
After the screening, Dominic Patten (senior editor, Deadline) moderates the following panelists: executive producers Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Sarah Schechter, and Jon Goldwater; and cast members Luke Perry (Frederick "Fred" Andrews), Mädchen Amick (Alice Cooper), Marisol Nichols (Hermione Lodge), Casey Cott (Kevin Keller), Ashleigh Murray (Josephine "Josie" McCoy), Madelaine Petsch (Cheryl Blossom), Cole Sprouse (Forsythe "Jughead" Jones III), Camila Mendes (Veronica Lodge), Lili Reinhart (Elizabeth "Betty" Cooper), and KJ Apa (Archibald "Archie" Andrews).
The panelists touch on such topics as: executive producer and television "godfather" Greg Berlanti's suggestion to add a murder-mystery element to the show; their interest in portraying a less "wholesome" Riverdale than the one in the comics; how the show connects to the ongoing comic series; Amick's involvement in the "Twin Peaks" revival and how the shows compare in their boundary-pushing formulas; the show's strong focus on parent/child relationships; Cott's "joyful" experience in portraying an openly gay teenager; the funny story of his expedited casting process; Reinhart's views of her character's evolution and the arrival of "dark Betty"; Aguirre-Sacasa's "lifelong passion" for the series and interest in casting former teen stars, including Perry; Apa's frequent hair-dye sessions to play the famous redhead; Petsch's views on the motivations for Cheryl's seemingly villainous behavior; hopes for an appearance by a different "Alice Cooper"; Apa's discomfort with singing onscreen, contrasted with his love of the guitar; Mendes' and Reinhart's lack of familiarity with the comics prior to joining the show, and why the girls' close friendship was important to the network; Jughead's emotional state and "wariness" of betrayal by others; hints about season two, including the ongoing "genre element"; inspiration from the films of David Lynch; plans for more appearances by the Josie and the Pussycats band; Sprouse's surprisingly strong feelings about Hot Dog, Jughead's beloved pet; and Nichols' views of Hermione's loyalty to her family and feelings on living without her imprisoned husband Hiram (Mark Consuelos).
Questions from the audience then lead to a discussion of the following topics, among others: the show's frequent use of popular music; Mendes' interest in exploring Veronica's relationship with her father; Schechter's advice for women in show business, including the show's commitment to hiring many female directors and writers; Amick's own interest in directing; their interest in depicting realistic diversity and highlighting discussions of race; their occasional use of "ginger jokes"; Sprouse's interest in the complexities of his character's father F.P. (Skeet Ulrich); how Veronica and Kevin have gotten "sucked into" the town's many eccentricities; Perry's paternal interest in the younger actors and advice for handling sudden fame; Kevin's relationship with his loving – if somewhat clueless – father, the town sheriff (Martin Cummins); and the writers' early ideas for the identity of the killer.
Details
- NETWORK: N/A
- DATE: November 30, 1999 7:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:43:07
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 129298
- GENRE: Seminars
- SUBJECT HEADING: LGBT Collection
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Rene Reyes … Host
- Dominic Patten … Moderator
- Luke Perry … Panelist
- Mädchen Amick … Panelist
- Marisol Nichols … Panelist
- Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa … Panelist
- Sarah Schechter … Panelist
- Jon Goldwater … Panelist
- Casey Cott … Panelist
- Ashleigh Murray … Panelist
- Madelaine Petsch … Panelist
- Cole Sprouse … Panelist
- Camila Mendes … Panelist
- Lili Reinhart … Panelist
- KJ Apa … Panelist
- Greg Berlanti
- Mark Consuelos
- Alice Cooper (see also: Vincent Furnier)
- Martin Cummins
- David Lynch
- Skeet Ulrich