PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA, THE: PALEYFEST 2013: MadeInNY: PERSON OF INTEREST {LONG VERSION}
Summary
One in a series of seminars presented as part of The Paley Center for Media's Made in New York 2013 event. This evening celebrates "Person of Interest," the dramatic mystery series about a former CIA agent turned vigilante who works to prevent crimes in New York City with the use of a "machine" built by an enigmatic billionaire.
Host David Bushman (television curator, The Paley Center for Media/New York), offers opening remarks and welcomes moderator Matt Roush (senior critic, TV Guide magazine) to the stage. Roush introduces the episode "Lady Killer," which is screened in its entirety. (For synopsis and credits, see ACCNUM 111955.)
After the screening, Roush moderates the following panelists: creator and executive producer Jonathan Nolan; and cast members Jim Caviezel (John Reese), Michael Emerson (Harold Finch), Kevin Chapman (Detective Lionel Fusco), Amy Acker ("Root"), and Sarah Shahi (Sameen Shaw).
The panelists touch on such topics as: Reese and Shaw as "sparring partners" this season; the writers' enjoyment when adding new characters and relationships; Shahi's impatience with Nolan about whether her character would be made a regular in the third season; an upcoming episode featuring flashbacks of Shaw's childhood; Acker's lack of knowledge of computers, unlike her character; the decision to "anthropomorphize" the Machine and its relationship with Root; the "love/hate relationship" between Root and Shaw; Acker's unique fan encounter on the subway; fans' love of Bear the dog; Emerson's comparison of Finch's relationship with the machine to that of a parent and a rebellious teen; Nolan's interest in challenging characters with situations "opposite" to their usual state; the "horrifying and gratifying" real-life parallels to the show concerning government surveillance; the machine's slowly-developing sentient nature and its "literal reboot" at the end of the second season; the potential return of Grace Hendricks, played by Emerson's wife Carrie Preston; whether Finch and Reese's still-mysterious pasts will be uncovered; the network's strong support of the show and Nolan's sense of a "golden age" of television; and the writing challenges of fitting a long story arc into a weekly procedural.
Questions from the audience then lead to a discussion of the following topics among others: the cast's experiences shooting on the streets of New York; Texas-born Shahi's dislike of cold weather; filming in places like the New York Public Library Main Branch building after hours; the city's integral role in the show; Emerson's choice of an "easy" physical disability for Finch and his trademark stiff-backed movements; Nolan's conversation with "Breaking Bad" creator Vince Gilligan about the challenges of planning storylines in advance on a restrictive network schedule; and Reese's distinctive, Clint Eastwood-inspired voice.
Details
- NETWORK: N/A
- DATE: October 3, 2013 6:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:21:59
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 111948
- GENRE: Seminars
- SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- David Bushman … Host
- Matt Roush … Moderator
- Kevin Chapman … Panelist
- Sarah Shahi … Panelist
- Amy Acker … Panelist
- Michael Emerson … Panelist
- Jim Caviezel … Panelist
- Jonathan Nolan … Panelist
- Clint Eastwood
- Vince Gilligan
- Carrie Preston