Post by TVFan on Oct 31, 2005 11:55:17 GMT -5
I found this Q&A on Ask Matt at TVGuide.com. It doesn't specifically mention Kathryn or Cold Case, but it gives a good idea of what her work week is like, so I thought some of you would be interested anyway.
Question: I just read the Ask TV Guide question about Vincent D'Onofrio, which brought up something I've often wondered. How much do TV actors actually work? One always reads/hears about these 12-hour (or longer) days the actors are putting in, but how much of that time do they actually spend working? I've never seen a TV show being filmed, but I have seen movies being filmed, and while the crew is around all the time, it seems the actors spend a lot of time just hanging out. I realize TV shows don't have as much time as movies do, but I just wondered how much of these "12-hour workdays" are actually spent working? By the way, loved your review of Bones. It's one of my new favorites! — Christine
Matt Roush: As I noted in the Bones review, this week's (Nov. 1) episode is one of the best yet. Let's hope the lengthy baseball hiatus didn't stall that show's momentum. (NCIS has exploded in the ratings since Bones took a breather.) But to answer your question, it really depends on what you consider "work." The pace of making TV is exponentially faster and more demanding than on a movie set, even if when you visit a set it feels like it takes forever to get even one scene completed. Carrying an hour-long drama, as D'Onofrio does in his episodes, is one of the most exacting jobs in that profession. I can't estimate the hours, but they are long; 12 hours is probably a minimum most days, and while that doesn't mean the star is acting for all of those 12 hours, he or she is often on call, in costume, preparing for the next setup and, depending on the show and how it's run, memorizing script changes. Believe me, I'm not suggesting we throw these people pity parties. But as I've often said, I'm amazed that the quality of TV is as good as it generally is, given what it takes to crank out an episode.
I know we all knew that Kathryn and the rest of the cast and crew work really long days, but I think this gives a better appreciation for just how strenuous their jobs are, especially the lead.
Question: I just read the Ask TV Guide question about Vincent D'Onofrio, which brought up something I've often wondered. How much do TV actors actually work? One always reads/hears about these 12-hour (or longer) days the actors are putting in, but how much of that time do they actually spend working? I've never seen a TV show being filmed, but I have seen movies being filmed, and while the crew is around all the time, it seems the actors spend a lot of time just hanging out. I realize TV shows don't have as much time as movies do, but I just wondered how much of these "12-hour workdays" are actually spent working? By the way, loved your review of Bones. It's one of my new favorites! — Christine
Matt Roush: As I noted in the Bones review, this week's (Nov. 1) episode is one of the best yet. Let's hope the lengthy baseball hiatus didn't stall that show's momentum. (NCIS has exploded in the ratings since Bones took a breather.) But to answer your question, it really depends on what you consider "work." The pace of making TV is exponentially faster and more demanding than on a movie set, even if when you visit a set it feels like it takes forever to get even one scene completed. Carrying an hour-long drama, as D'Onofrio does in his episodes, is one of the most exacting jobs in that profession. I can't estimate the hours, but they are long; 12 hours is probably a minimum most days, and while that doesn't mean the star is acting for all of those 12 hours, he or she is often on call, in costume, preparing for the next setup and, depending on the show and how it's run, memorizing script changes. Believe me, I'm not suggesting we throw these people pity parties. But as I've often said, I'm amazed that the quality of TV is as good as it generally is, given what it takes to crank out an episode.
I know we all knew that Kathryn and the rest of the cast and crew work really long days, but I think this gives a better appreciation for just how strenuous their jobs are, especially the lead.
