PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA, THE: PALEYFEST NY 2016: HOMELAND {LONG VERSION}
Summary
One in a series of evenings and special screenings presented as part of The Paley Center for Media's PaleyFest New York 2016. This evening celebrates "Homeland," the dramatic action series about troubled government agent Carrie Matheson and her fight against terrorism, inspired by the Israeli series "Prisoner of War." Host Maureen Reidy (president/CEO, The Paley Center for Media) offers opening remarks and introduces Julie Menin (Commissioner, Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment). Menin discusses the significant increase in the number of shows filmed in New York City and the many jobs created by the productions, and then introduces a brief trailer of past "Homeland" seasons.
After the clips, Josh Elliott (anchor, CBSN) moderates the following panelists: executive producer/creator Alex Gansa; executive producer/director Lesli Linka Glatter; and cast members F. Murray Abraham (Dar Adal), Mandy Patinkin (Saul Berenson), and Claire Danes (Carrie Mathison).
The panelists touch on such topics as: the show's reflection of real-life events, including the fifth season's Germany storyline and its uncomfortable parallels with the November 13, 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris; Danes' initial concerns about "exploiting people's anxiety" about terrorism before meeting the "responsible storytellers" in charge of the show; the cast and crew's annual four-day trip to Washington D.C., in which they talk extensively with political experts; why the show does not "take sides" politically; Gansa's view of "Zero Dark Thirty" (2012) and its "irresponsible" portrayal of torture; Abraham's "respect and love" for his enigmatic, morally-gray character; his disappointment with America's treatment of Syrian refugees, given his own father's escape from Syria in the 1920s; their experience shooting the fifth season in Berlin and observing its many reminders and "amends" for the Holocaust; the dangers of Dar Adal's "omniscient" power; Saul's desire to reconnect with his honorary daughter Carrie; why Carrie may be too "exceptional" to settle into a normal civilian life, including her failed romance with Jonas (Alexander Fehling); her partnership and competition with Astrid (Nina Hoss) in the fifth season and the show's depiction of gender; the actors' uncomfortable "field trip" to the CIA headquarters, including Danes' run-in with her former college roommate; moving the show to New York City and exploring "a different kind of thriller" in season six; the writers' decision not to "contribute to fear" by creating fictional terrorist threats for the story; Glatter's enjoyment of scenes in which characters "who are both right" disagree with one another; Patinkin's appreciation of Krista Tippett's podcast "On Being," sent to him by both Danes and his real son; and his view of New York as "one family" on 9/11, echoed in the show's depiction of "a series of families" struggling to remain united.
Questions from the audience then lead to a discussion of the following topics, among others: hints about Carrie's ongoing connection with Peter Quinn (Rupert Friend), who was critically injured by sarin gas in season five; Broadway star Patinkin's confidence that Saul will never sing on the show; the actors' interest in taking comedic roles on the side to balance out the harrowing experience of "Homeland"; Danes' role as producer and view of the series as a collaborative "relay race"; why they attempt to "reinvent the wheel" every season by changing locations and adding new characters; how television compares to theatre, including the frequent absence of the writers and the lack of an approving "audience"; Patinkin's use of his real-life experiences to inform the character, and how the characters have gained depth and background over the seasons; and Abraham's interest in exploring Dar's point of view and his genuine interest in justice, with comparisons to the mafia.
Details
- NETWORK: N/A
- DATE: November 30, 1999 7:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: N/A
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 127649
- GENRE: Seminars
- SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Maureen Reidy … Host
- Josh Elliott … Moderator
- F. Murray Abraham … Panelist
- Mandy Patinkin … Panelist
- Claire Danes … Panelist
- Lesli Linka Glatter … Panelist
- Alex Gansa … Panelist
- Julie Menin … Guest
- Alexander Fehling
- Rupert Friend
- Nina Hoss
- Krista Tippett