PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA, THE: BLINDSPOT: PREVIEW SCREENING AND PANEL DISCUSSION WITH THE CREATOR AND CAST {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 "Blindspot," the dramatic suspense series about the FBI's investigation into an amnesiac woman covered in strange and meaningful tattoos. Host David Bushman (curator, The Paley Center for Media/New York) offers opening remarks and introduces creator and executive producer Martin Gero, who offers brief comments about the episode "Mans Telepathic Loyal Lookouts," which is then screened in its entirety. (For synopsis and credits, see ACCNUM 126019.)
After the screening, Hoda Kotb (co-anchor, "Today") moderates the following panelists: Gero; and cast members Ashley Johnson (Patterson), Rob Brown (Edgar Reade), Audrey Esparza (Tasha Zapata), Jaimie Alexander (Jane Doe/Taylor Shaw), and Sullivan Stapleton (Special Agent Kurt Weller).
The panelists touch on such topics as: Johnson's experience shooting extended action sequences in the show while suffering from strep throat, as seen in the screened episode; the show's immediate success and positive viewer feedback; Stapleton's decision to join the show based on its intriguing premise and his mother's encouragement; Alexander's surprisingly speedy tattoo-application process; many fans' interest in a romantic relationship between Jane and Weller and reaction to their kiss in the tenth episode; Esparza's original audition for the role of Patterson and her mother's approval, similar to Stapleton's; Gero's interest in collaborating with the supporting actors in developing their smaller characters; Brown's immediate interest in the series and nervousness at his audition; the fun atmosphere on set and executive producer Greg Berlanti's belief that making television should be "joyous"; Alexander's desire to avoid learning the show's twists and reveals ahead of time, given that her character has amnesia; Johnson's disappointment at the death of Patterson's boyfriend David (Joe Dinicol); assistance from "puzzle genius" consultant David Kwong and New York Times crossword editor Will Shortz in creating the episodes' puzzles and mysteries; explanation of how individual episodes are broken, written and edited; the writers' unusual fondness for ellipses; encounters with enthusiastic fans, including "surprise hugs" for Alexander; and their reaction to the show's success and renewal for a second season.
Questions from the audience then lead to a discussion of the following topics, among others: Stapleton's romantic appeal to mature women; whether the network's censorship rules restrict the realistic dialogue; how the part of Jane compares to Alexander's previous role on "Kyle XY"; Johnson's scientific and technical background research for her character; Gero's lack of concern with gender when writing strong characters; filming in New York City and highlighting its "iconic geography"; Johnson's love of "The X-Files" and hopes for Patterson's involvement in future autopsy-based scenes; their other favorite television shows, including "Ancient Aliens" and "The Bachelor"; the pros and cons of watching episodes week by week versus "binge-watching"; Gero's praise for the dualism of Stapleton's masculinity and vulnerability as an actor; Aussie Stapleton's occasional accent "slips"; Brown's views on Reade's tough breakup with Sarah, Weller's sister (played by Jordan Spiro); and the multiple meanings of the show's title.
Details
- NETWORK: N/A
- DATE: November 30, 1999 7:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:28:35
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 126005
- GENRE: Seminars
- SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- David Bushman … Host
- Hoda Kotb … Moderator
- Martin Gero … Panelist
- Ashley Johnson … Panelist
- Rob Brown … Panelist
- Audrey Esparza … Panelist
- Jaimie Alexander … Panelist
- Sullivan Stapleton … Panelist
- Greg Berlanti
- Joe Dinicol
- David Kwong
- Will Shortz
- Jordan Spiro