MUSEUM OF TELEVISION & RADIO WILLIAM S. PALEY TELEVISION FESTIVAL 2007, THE: THE CLOSER {LONG VERSION}
Summary
One in a series of evenings and special screenings presented as part of The Museum of Television & Radio's William S. Paley Television Festival in Los Angeles. Held this year at the Directors Guild of America Theatre Complex, the festival celebrates the excellence and diversity of American television and is dedicated to television's creative community. This evening honors "The Closer," a drama series about LAPD Deputy Police Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson, a hard-nosed interrogator skillful at closing cases in the Priority Homicide Division. Host Barbara Dixon, (director, The Museum of Television & Radio/Los Angeles) offers opening remarks, after which William C. Paley takes the stage to offer his welcome to the attendees. Next, Dixon describes "The Closer" and the audience records it has set for a basic cable dramatic series. Executive producer/creator/writer James Duff then takes the stage and introduces the episode "Critical Thinking," which is screened in its entirety. (For synopsis and credits, see T:90520.)
After the screening, Dixon introduces the panelists: Duff; executive producer Greer Shephard; executive producer Michael M. Robin; producer Andrew J. Sacks; consulting producer Gil Garcetti, and cast members Michael Paul Chan (Mike Tao), Gina Ravera (Irene Daniels), Raymond Cruz (Julio Sanchez), G.W. Bailey (Louie Provenza), Kyra Sedgwick (Brenda Leigh Johnson), J.K. Simmons (Will Pope), Tony Denison (Andy Flynn), and Corey Reynolds (David Gabriel).
The panelists touch on such topics as: the genesis of the show; where the title came from; how each actor came to be cast on the show; how the actors take on their characters; how Sedgwick got involved; what separates the show from other, more "procedural," crime dramas; the importance of character details; how Sedgwick made the Brenda character "real" by interpreting her as "deeply flawed"; if Brenda's integrity and quirkiness were written for the character from the start; who inspired Brenda's Southern accent; why the show is based in Los Angeles; Garcetti's job in keeping the show realistic; and why Sedgwick "flipped off" Garcetti. Questions from the audience then lead to a discussion of the following topics: if having different directors on the series affects an actor's ability to stay true to his or her character; how Sedgwick interpreted Brenda's relationship with her mother; the theme of family for the upcoming season; behavior behind the scenes amongst cast and crew; the huge amount of dialogue Sedgwick has to handle; comparisons of the show to "Prime Suspect" and its star, Helen Mirren; how Sedgwick relates to the South; Sedgwick being directed by her husband Kevin Bacon in a recent episode; and how the show will eventually evolve in terms of conflicts and antagonism.
Details
- NETWORK: Paley
- DATE: March 6, 2007 7:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:57:09
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:90542
- GENRE: Seminars
- SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Barbara Dixon … Host, Moderator
- James Duff … Panelist
- Greer Shephard … Panelist
- Michael M. Robin … Panelist
- Andrew J. Sacks … Panelist
- Gil Garcetti … Panelist
- Michael Paul Chan … Panelist
- Gina Ravera … Panelist
- Raymond Cruz … Panelist
- G.W. Bailey … Panelist
- Kyra Sedgwick … Panelist
- J.K. Simmons … Panelist
- Tony Denison … Panelist
- Corey Reynolds … Panelist
- William C. Paley … Guest
- Kevin Bacon
- Helen Mirren