MUSEUM OF TELEVISION & RADIO LEONARD H. GOLDENSON UNIVERSITY SATELLITE SEMINAR SERIES, THE: CREATING PRIME-TIME DRAMA: THE WEST WING {LONG VERSION}
Summary
One in this series of seminars conducted by The Museum of Television & Radio. Held in Los Angeles and moderated by vice president and Los Angeles Museum director Steven A. Bell, this seminar examines "The West Wing," an hour-long drama about the day-to-day running of the White House and the lives of its staff. The seminar panel includes executive producer, creator, and writer Aaron Sorkin; executive producer and director Thomas Schlamme; and actors Bradley Whitford and Janel Moloney, who play Josh Lyman and Donna Moss respectively. (Panelist biographies immediately follow this summary.) First, a brief highlight reel of "The West Wing" is shown, followed by questions from Bell to the panel on the following subjects: the success of an idealistic show in a cynical world; Sorkin's creation of the main characters with no particular actors in mind; and the back stories of Josh and Donna. This last line of questioning leads the panelists to note that character histories are only important in relation to their effect on current story lines. The panel then takes questions from students who are viewing the seminar live via satellite at Gardner-Webb University, Muskingum College, Syracuse University, Bennett College, the University of Georgia, West Virginia University, SUNY-New Paltz, Southern Adventist University, Trinity University, the University of Wisconsin, and Vincennes University. These questions prompt discussion of the following topics: Sorkin's beginnings as an actor and his switch to writing plays at the age of 22; the research staff of "The West Wing" and the important role its members play; press secretary Joe Lockhart's visit to the set of the show, and the cast's visit to the actual oval office; the contrast between the success of "The West Wing" and the struggle of Sorkin's other show, "Sports Night"; Sorkin's pleasure and surprise that a show that he imagined as pure entertainment has taken on social and political meaning; the relationship between the actors' political views and those of their characters; the nature of "The West Wing," which the panelists characterize as more behind-the-scenes drama than political satire; Sorkin's plan to introduce more people of color into the cast; the decision to base the show in a Democratic White House; the care that must be taken to avoid offense while using international plot lines or names of actual organizations; the physical differences between the actual west wing of the White House and the program's set; Sorkin's ability to create fully realized, heroic characters; and the themes and issues that will be explored in the next season, including the use of flashback episodes to show the president's road to the White House.
Biographies Aaron Sorkin, creator and executive producer of "The West Wing," has earned wide acclaim for his work in television, film, and stage. Sorkin also created and executive produces the ABC series "Sports Night," winner of the Humanitas Prize and two Emmy Awards. He won the Outer Critics Circle Award as Outstanding American Playwright for his 1989 Broadway debut, "A Few Good Men," and followed that with the off-Broadway comedy "Making Movies." He is a founding member of the Playwrights Unit of Playwrights Horizons. His screen adaptation of "A Few Good Men" was nominated for four Academy Awards and five Golden Globes, including best picture and best screenplay. He also received a Golden Globe nomination for his film "The American President."
Allison Janney portrays presidential press secretary C. J. Gregg on "The West Wing." She previously appeared on the 1991 CBS comedy "Morton & Hayes." Her feature film credits include "Big Night," "Primary Colors," "The Object of My Affection," "The Ice Storm," "Celebrity," and "American Beauty." In 1998 she was nominated for a Tony Award and won the Outer Critics Circle award and the Drama Desk award for best supporting actress for her performance in "A View from the Bridge on Broadway." In the summer of 1999 she starred in the New York Public Theater production of "The Taming of the Shrew."
Bradley Whitford portrays deputy chief of staff Josh Lyman on "The West Wing." He has guest starred on a number of television series, including "The X-Files" and "NYPD Blue," and appeared in such feature films as "The Muse," "Bicentennial Man," "Scent of a Woman," "Philadelphia," and "Presumed Innocent." On stage he appeared in the Broadway production of "A Few Good Men" (written by Aaron Sorkin, creator of "The West Wing") and the Off-Broadway production of "Curse of the Starving Class."
Details
- NETWORK: Paley
- DATE: April 3, 2000 5:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:24:44
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:59668
- GENRE: Seminars
- SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Steven A. Bell … Moderator
- Janel Moloney … Panelist
- Thomas Schlamme … Panelist
- Aaron Sorkin … Panelist
- Bradley Whitford … Panelist
- Joe Lockhart