PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA, THE: INSIDE MEDIA: FALLING SKIES {PUBLIC SHORT VERSION}
Summary
One in a series of seminars presented as part of The Paley Center for Media's Inside Media events in Los Angeles. This seminar honors “Falling Skies,” a science-fiction drama about a group of humans fighting an alien invasion that has decimated 90 percent of the population. Host Cindy Braun (director of operations and administration, The Paley Center for Media/Los Angeles) offers opening remarks before bringing moderator Cynthia Littleton (entertainment reporter, Variety) to the stage. She introduces executive producer Mark Verheiden, who talks about the show's themes.
Littleton moderates the following panelists: executive producers Verheiden, Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey; and cast members Colin Cunningham (John Pope), Moon Bloodgood (Anne Glass), Noah Wyle (Tom Mason), Drew Roy (Hal Mason), and Sarah Carter (Margaret).
The panelists discuss topics which include: the decision to emerge audiences in the action by beginning six months after the initial invasion; the actors’ experience playing “hollowed-out” characters under long-term duress; the “line of continuity” of the characters’ emotional journeys; Roy’s view of Hal becoming a man through his harrowing experiences; the shifting father-son relationship between Tom and Hal; the lack of complete unity amongst the humans; the destruction of the official military and need for “citizen soldiers”; the mysterious Margaret and her largely unrevealed “dark history”; plans for heading towards a “clearer sense” of the aliens’ intentions as well as characters’ backstories; intense forthcoming plotlines; the writers’ decision not to have the characters torture a captured alien, or “skitter,” during their examination of it; the high stakes and high mortality rates of the stories; Cunningham’s pleasant experience encountering real fans of the show after a long production period; Wyle’s longtime role as Dr. John Carter on “ER” and his very different character of Tom; his preference in “compelling human drama” and desire to work with executive producer Steven Spielberg; his interest in the themes of loss, leadership and fatherhood within his character; his choice of the role based on his eight-year-old son’s sentiments; Falvey’s past experience with a Western show and subsequent idea of a science fiction show; his pitch to and work with co-creator Robert Rodat; Wyle and Cunningham’s past work on an episode of “Beggars and Choosers”; Bloodgood’s history with science fiction programs, including “Terminator Salvation” and how she is “a student of the genre”; her experience playing a doctor alongside former fictional physician Wyle; Roy’s memories of his “chemistry read” with Wyle and instant winning of the role; Carter’s audition and casting; the long production period between the filming of the pilot and the show’s airing, spanning two years’ upfronts; tweaks and changes imposed by the perfectionist Spielberg; the challenge of working with CGI and green screen and later use of alien “puppets”; the lack of sets and “practical” shooting locations in Canada; the initial “jarring” reveal of the alien forms; inspiration from films such as “Jaws” and “Super 8” in creating tension around “what you don’t see”; the modern yet “primitive” world in which the characters live with little technology; the use of the term “skitters”; hints about upcoming episodes; the death of Dr. Michael Harris, played by Steven Weber; Weber as a good acting “tennis player” in scenes with real-life friend Wyle; the talent of actor Will Patton as Captain Weaver; the difficulties of dirty onscreen appearances and use of makeup; and the actors’ strenuous training with guns and motorcycles.
Questions from the audience then lead to a discussion of the following topics: the actors’ favorite scenes; , the atypical romantic scenes in such a tense environment; their plans for season two, including a geographical move and the hiring of new writers; the show’s family-themed “core”; Verheiden’s departure for other projects; the prequel stories told in comic book form online and whether there will be more; the “interactive” extension of the show’s stories; the cast’s viewing of old war films and perusal of Cormac McCarthy’s “The Road” to prepare for their roles; the “faith element” brought by the religious character of Lourdes, played by Seychelle Gabriel; the significance and history behind the name “John Pope”; details about the alien’s enslavement of humans and use of controlling “harnesses”; and the cast’s overanalysis of the show’s technicalities.
Details
- NETWORK: N/A
- DATE: July 19, 2011 7:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:00:01
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 105288
- GENRE: Seminars
- SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Cindy Braun … Host
- Cynthia Littleton … Moderator
- Mark Verheiden … Panelist
- Darryl Frank … Panelist
- Colin Cunningham … Panelist
- Moon Bloodgood … Panelist
- Noah Wyle … Panelist
- Drew Roy … Panelist
- Sarah Carter … Panelist
- Seychelle Gabriel
- Cormac McCarthy
- Will Patton
- Robert Rodat
- Steven Spielberg
- Steven Weber