PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA, THE: FOLLOW THIS: KEVIN BACON ON BEING RYAN HARDY {LONG VERSION}
Summary
One in a series of evenings and special screenings presented at The Paley Center for Media in New York. This evening honors actor Kevin Bacon, star of "The Following," the dramatic thriller series about former FBI agent Ryan Hardy's pursuit of an escaped serial killer.
Host Janet Goldsmith (The Paley Center for Media) offers opening remarks before bringing Bacon to the stage. Goldsmith then introduces moderator Damian Holbrook (senior writer, TV Guide magazine).
Bacon and Holbrook discuss topics which include: why Bacon chose "The Following" for his first primetime series; comparing the "exhausting but exhilarating" experience of television acting to film acting; revising his "snobby" opinions about TV acting thanks to wife Kyra Sedgwick's successful series "The Closer"; an early role in the 1983 television movie "The Demon Murder Case" which called for an "embarrassing" scene in which his character is possessed; meeting Sedgwick on the set of "American Playhouse: Lemon Sky" (1988); their 25-year marriage and discovery that they are ninth cousins; Sedgwick's advice to him about his "Following" character; his decision to reject a cameo in the 2011 remake of "Footloose" (1984); his interest in "high-stakes" dramatic stories over lighthearted characters; his view of Hardy as both a good guy and "a mess"; his desire to "lose himself" within characters; the phenomenon" of pilot season and the high demand for his "Following" co-star James Purefoy, who plays serial killer Joe Carroll; his FBI research and inspiration from an agent who aggressively pursued a killer; his fascination for real-life serial killers; filming in his hometown of New York, despite the show being set elsewhere; challenging night shoots in cold weather and the production's long delay due to Hurricane Sandy; working with "consummate professional" Purefoy in long scenes resembling "mini-plays"; the talents of co-stars Shawn Ashmore, who plays Hardy's partner Mike Weston, and Natalie Zea, who plays Carroll's ex-wife and Hardy's love interest Claire Matthews; his aversion to "cheesy" flashback scenes and the show's use of them to show other sides of the melancholic Hardy; the emotional challenges of playing a dark and depressed character; his early role on "Guiding Light" as T.J. 'Tim' Werner and his co-stars' similar soap opera pasts; the upsetting death of Debra Parker, played by Annie Parisse; his opinions on reactions to the show's "twisted" graphic violence; his experience as a director of feature films and several episodes of "The Closer"; whether he would like to direct an episode of "The Following"; and his hopes for season two of "The Following."
Questions from the audience then lead to a discussion of the following topics among others: whether Hardy is an alcoholic or just a "problem drinker"; his troubled relationship with Matthews due to feelings of guilt and fear; the similarities and differences between Hardy and "people person" Carroll; speculation about the show's longevity and whether other serial killers will appear; and praise for Valorie Curry, who played the much-hated Emma Hill.
Clips featuring Bacon's work are interspersed throughout the program, including: "American Playhouse: Lemon Sky" (1988); "The Following" (2013); "Guiding Light" (1981); and "Saturday Night Live" (1991).
Details
- NETWORK: N/A
- DATE: June 4, 2013 6:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:16:48
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 110985
- GENRE: Seminars
- SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Janet Goldsmith … Host
- Damian Holbrook … Moderator
- Kevin Bacon … Guest
- Shawn Ashmore
- Valorie Currie
- Annie Parisse
- James Purefoy
- Kyra Sedgwick
- Kevin Williamson
- Natalie Zea