MUSEUM OF BROADCASTING SEMINAR SERIES, THE: DIRECTORS GUILD SEMINARS: JAY SANDRICH {LONG VERSION}
Summary
One in this series of seminars conducted by The Museum of Television & Radio (known at that time as The Museum of Broadcasting). In this seminar, the first of two in celebration of the Directors Guild of America's fiftieth anniversary, acclaimed television director Jay Sandrich discusses the art of directing the half-hour comedy. Museum president Robert M. Batscha introduces Sandrich, whose credits include "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," "The Dick Van Dyke Show," "Soap," "Cosby," and "The Golden Girls," and Sandrich comments on the following topics, among others: the tendency for television directors not to receive as much credit for their work as feature directors, and his contention that most good comedy is currently being done on television.
He then introduces a screening of four scenes he selected from series he has directed: "The Golden Girls" pilot, "Soap," "Cosby," and the final episode of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." After the screening, he comments on directing the emotional final scene of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," great actors and writers as the key elements to success in half-hour comedy, and the director's job of creating an environment which nurtures the actors' creativity.
Questions from the seminar audience lead to comments on the following topics, among others: the importance of the casting process; his cognizance of the impact which "Cosby" has on young people; working with Bill Cosby; how the Cosby children were cast; his thoughts about the use of laugh tracks; the casting of "The Golden Girls" and "The Mary Tyler Moore Show"; the talents of writer Susan Harris; filmed versus taped shows; how he got his first real job, as an assistant director, on "I Love Lucy"; his thoughts about the contributions of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz; directing "The Danny Thomas Show"; the importance of having equal parts of technical and "people skills" as a television director; how he honed his editing skills as a producer on "Get Smart," a one-camera filmed show; the rehearsal schedules of situation comedies; people in the business from whom he has learned; the creative process on "Cosby"; whether he prefers working in New York or Los Angeles; the importance of the proper vehicle for stars like Ball and Cosby; the vision of Grant Tinker in the face of CBS's early lack of faith in "The Mary Tyler Moore Show"; the editing process for "Cosby," a four-camera taped show; his interest in exploring the relationships between men and women in his work; the moral responsibilities of television; and his approach to camera blocking.
Details
- NETWORK: Paley
- DATE: March 31, 1986 5:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:43:46
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T86:2168
- GENRE: Seminars
- SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Robert M. Batscha … Host
- Jay Sandrich … Guest
- Chuck Vincent