PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA, THE: PALEYFEST 2013: THE MINDY PROJECT {LONG VERSION}
Summary
One in a series of evenings and special screenings presented as part of The Paley Center for Media's 30th William S. Paley Television Festival in Los Angeles. Held this year at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills, the festival celebrates the excellence and diversity of American television and is dedicated to television’s creative community. This PALEYFEST 2013 seminar honors "The Mindy Project," the comedy series about the life and loves of Dr. Mindy Lahiri, OB-GYN.
Host Betsy Scolnik (vice-president, The Paley Center for Media) offers opening remarks before introducing moderator Rob Moynihan (Los Angeles correspondent, TV Guide magazine). Moynihan brings executive producer Matt Warburton and executive producer, creator, and actress Mindy Kaling to the stage. They reveal that the series has been picked up for a second season before introducing the episode, "Mindy's Birthday," which is then screened in its entirety. (For synopsis and credits, see ACCNUM 110611.)
After the screening, Moynihan moderates the following panelists: Warburton; Kaling; and cast members Beth Grant (Beverly Janoszewski), Zoe Jarman (Betsy Putch), Ed Weeks (Jeremy Reed), Chris Messina (Danny Castellano), and Ike Barinholtz (Morgan Tookers).
The panelists discuss topics which include: how Kaling's eight years on "The Office" was like "going to college twice"; upcoming appearances on "Mindy" by her "Office" co-stars; the "unglamorous" nature of "The Office" and its similarities to "Mindy"; inspiration from Kaling's mother, who works as an OB-GYN; Barinholtz's progression from writer to actor and his previous role on "Eastbound and Down"; Messina's noteworthy dramatic roles and his doubts about switching to comedy; an upcoming semi-nude wrestling scene with Danny and Brendan (Mark Duplass); how Messina's talents as a dancer and pianist were incorporated into the character of "Jersey guy" Danny; Weeks' first U.S. role and failed attempts to audition with an American accent; Barinholtz's fake tattoo on the show; a potential romance between Morgan and Betsy; Messina's role in the Oscar-winning "Argo," directed by Ben Affleck; Kaling's early play "Matt & Ben" about Affleck and best friend Matt Damon, in which she played Affleck; Grant's enjoyment of the "dark side" of Beverly and her violent past with Mindy; the freqent appearances of noteworthy comedians like Bill Hader and Seth Rogen in small roles; the writers' divided feelings on Mindy and Danny getting together; and the theme song as written by Jesse Novak and featuring Kaling's voice.
Questions from the audience then lead to a discussion of the following topics among others: Kaling's experience learning to be a leader, assisted by executive producer Howard Klein; upcoming episodes featuring Danny's ex-wife, played by Chloe Sevigny, who "flusters" the usually-cool Danny; Messina's relationship with the "tireless" writers; Kaling's plans to write another book after 2011's "Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)"; her enjoyment of her character's flashy wardrobe; Kaling's hardworking and party-free mentality as a teenager and advice to young writers to "read and watch everything"; her sense of learning about acting from Messina; how Kaling's Indian heritage affects the character and the show; and Kaling's comedic influences from TV shows as well as funny friends.
Details
- NETWORK: N/A
- DATE: March 8, 2013 7:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:37:26
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 109822
- GENRE: Seminars
- SUBJECT HEADING: Asian American Pacific Islanders Collection
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Betsy Scolnik … Host
- Rob Moynihan … Moderator
- Matt Warburton … Panelist
- Mindy Kaling … Panelist
- Beth Grant … Panelist
- Zoe Jarman … Panelist
- Ed Weeks … Panelist
- Chris Messina … Panelist
- Ike Barinholtz … Panelist
- Ben Affleck
- Matt Damon
- Mark Duplass
- Bill Hader
- Howard Klein
- Jesse Novak
- Seth Rogen
- Chloe Sevigny