You all know Myles from Cultural Learnings. He has written a lot about Jericho and has often visited the CBS board. He recently wrote an article about the Jericho Baby Boomer fans and he has one out today that you can find here.
I thank Myles for being kind enough to grant my interview and I found it fascinating as I'm sure you will. Enjoy!
1. When did you become interested in all the TV shows you write about?
This is a tough question to answer (And you had to go and start with it, Jane!), because it really differs for the show. For a show like Lost, I was hooked from the first airing of the pilot. For a show like Veronica Mars, I started watching five episodes in after hearing good things. Meanwhile, for a show like Weeds, I watched the first two seasons this summer and eagerly anticipate its third. It's really an issue of context.
However, to better answer the question, it happened when I went away to University. There, unconstrained by a full day of classes every day, I basically began to view TV as my method of using my free time. I'd stay up late to watch recorded episodes, keeping the volume down low so as not to bother my neighbors. Plus, when you're on a university campus, television becomes as much as shared experienced as a personal one. We still gather to watch shows like American Idol or Lost, and in the process television becomes more than just media; it becomes part of our daily routines, our daily schedules.
And, well, there just wasn't any looking back once that took place.
2. How many TV shows do you personally watch?
Eep. Okay, so I wasn't going to do the math, but I figure that at some point my friends and family will stage an intervention and will have the data anyways. So, as far as my admittedly rusty math skills can approximate, I watch about 25 shows on a regular basis. Toss in a few semi-regular ones, some classic shows I'm catching up on, as well as the new fall shows debuting (I'm currently hyped about ABC's Pushing Daisies and NBC's Chuck), and it will probably crack 35.
3. What's your favorite show or should I say favorites?
I'm a sucker for mythology, so Lost is what I would consider to be my favourite show to watch, discuss, and blog about. I view myself as an analytic individual, so Lost is basically my dream show: complex narrative, complex character, and then totally unexplainable phenomenon just dying to be explained. There's so much meat on those bones, and it's like I'm magnetically drawn to attempting to chew at it.
As I ponder whether that metaphor has something to do with some sort of repressed animalistic tendencies, I'll cheat a little and note that I'm also fond of 30 Rock (Comedy), and Dexter (Cable). So there's a drama, a comedy, and a cable program. I figure that's a fair balance, if not necessarily a fair answer to your question.
4. Have you watched Damages with Glen Close? Like it?
I've had the pilot sitting around since it debuted last week, and I hadn't gotten around to watching it until I read this question. I went back and watched it, and for the record I'm fairly impressed. I've watched a lot of summer shows this year, but this one had twists and turns that even in their predictability were wholly satisfying.
The show has also built up a strong mythology, something that I (As stated above) am a total sucker for. I read a lot of reviews previous to watching it, and I kind of agree with their comparison to Alias, a show I quite liked. It has the same sense of dread where you know the lead character is making mistakes, playing her cards the wrong way, and you're compelled to tie your own sanity to that of her character.
I'll have more to say about the show at Cultural Learnings in due time, when I start recapping the Summer TV season in all its glory, so stay tuned!
5. You've written a lot about Jericho. How do you think the fans are doing now as far as using the internet? You did an article on that.
I have, indeed, written a lot about Jericho. It's been a whirlwind journey: admittedly, I started the whole thing with a dramatically different tone compared to where I sit today. However, I've always felt that my role as a TV blogger, or as a blogger in general, is to provide an avenue for discussion. This doesn't mean saying negative or positive things, necessarily, but offering up the ability for others to say whatever it is they want to say.
And I think that this is why bloggers were so important to the campaign to save Jericho: because they provided a medium for fans to have their voices heard. What I have tried to do in that regard is provide that platform: I've worked with the Boomers who have worked tirelessly to save their show, I gave fans a chance to voice their opinions to Emmy voters, and I've tried to assist in any way I can with getting the word out there.
But all of it is no good if people aren't out there looking for a platform. My article on the subject was designed to try to get people engaged again, aware that the war is not over by any means. I would hate to see such a hard-fought campaign fail to follow through on its initial potential, and so I've tried to keep blogging about Jericho as much as possible over the summer, on a consistent basis.
But sometimes, and I hate this fact, it seems like it almost isn't worth it: it's not an issue of disappointment over blog statistics (It's not as if I make money off of them), but rather an issue of whether or not people are fighting for what they believe in. The more I see people disassociating themselves with the campaign, the more my subconscious stops viewing it as a legitimate subject.
And I don't want that to happen, so I still believe that more people need to use the internet to, at the very least, try to let others share in that passion. Some of you (Including you, Jane) have done a fabulous job with keeping it up, but strength comes in numbers…they were there once, they can be there again.
And here I go prattling on. Let's move on to the next question before I start making no sense.
6. What made you decide to start Cultural Learnings? It's one of my favorites.
First off, thank you for the kind words. Cultural Learnings is an interesting beast. I started the blog based on a few of my university courses that seemed like they would be requiring some form of journal articles or similar little opinion pieces. And, I figured, since my brother and other people I know have blogs, I might as well have one as well.
The academic application for the blog went out the window about two weeks later, and slowly but surely I started blogging about television, for the most part. The way I look at it, the people around me usually have to listen to me rant about TV shows after we watch them: now, they have a choice as to whether they get my opinion or not.
As the site has evolved, it's become about pretty much exclusively television, and that level of focus has brought me closer to I guess what I want to be doing. I'll be working on my undergraduate thesis soon, and I'll actually be writing about Battlestar Galactica (Which was oh so close to making it into the favourite show list above). So really, to that extent, maybe the blog has been a form of research and practice all along.
7. Any comment you want to make?
First, I would like to thank all of the Jericho fans who have visited Cultural Learnings, even those who yelled at me (Those were fun times). It's been a tremendous journey, and I am proud to have been a part of all of this. I started this entire journey having given up on Jericho in November, but now you've convinced me to give it a second chance. And for that, I am most grateful.
If you, Jane, or anyone else ever wants a platform to have your voices heard as Jericho heads towards its second season, never hesitate to send me off an email.
Thanks, Myles, for watching Jericho and for being a friend to fans.
Michele is another Jericho Ranger. I want to thank her for agreeing to this interview and for working for Jericho. Good job, Michele.
1. How long have you been a Jericho fan?
I have been a fan since I saw the first commercial for it last year.
2. What do you love most about the show?
I love the fact that it deals with the "What if's". Its not one of those mind-numbing reality shows that fry your brain worse then drugs do.
3. Would you join a Jericho Fan Club? Why or why not?
Absolutely. I think it would be a great way to show the cast and crew how much we love the show, and look forward to watching every week.
4. Which episode is your favorite?
I really don't have a specific favorite, although the Finale really kept me on the edge of my seat.
5. How would you explain to a new viewer what Jericho is about?
I've gotten quite a few friends hooked on it just by simply saying it is a realistic show that deals with the trials and tribulations of life during a nuclear holocaust. Its not a show you watch to see who is the grossest things or who can sing or dance better.
Thanks again, Michele. Glad you're getting more people to watch. You rock!
I recently interviewed Stacey of Jerichon to get all the details for this fabulous Jericho convention. Now I'm sad that I can't go but maybe you can. I sure want to after reading this.
Thanks, Stacey, for the information.
1. What is the purpose of Jerichon?
One of our main concepts that has been in the front of our minds from the beginning was to get the fans together to celebrate the love that we have for the show and for each other. Anybody that has been with Jericho since the very beginning can agree with me, Jericho has created a second family for all us.
2. What do you want everybody to know about Jerichon?
We have a lot of great events planned and we are gaining incredible ideas every day. We are getting ready to implement a sponsorship incentive program for the fans so that everyone can be a part of this great weekend. The GoJ has had an absolute blast putting this together and Jamie Bell from Oakley is really a dream to work with.
3. What are some of the activities you'll have?
Where do I start?!? Workshops for those that want to learn more about nuclear weapons and EMP, a workshop for the Jeather and Jem crowds to talk about who Jake really needs to be with (Heather), a bbq a lot like the one Jericho had with music and dancing, tours of the area around Oakley. A chance for those that want to celebrate our troops, a multi-faith church service on Sunday. Jericho re-runs playing at 'Bailey's' all weekend long and we have a re-run watch party planned at Bailey's as well the Friday we get there. We have a Blackjack's and we are working on an online live-feed for the fans that can't make it. We've even got a couple of surprises in store that will truly knock everyone's socks off, but that's classified information. If I give it out, it won't be any fun and I'm sure the GoJ will hire a posse to hunt me down, LOL.
4. How did the idea for Jerichon come to be?
The original idea came sometime at the end of last year on the Myth boards at CBS. The Myth board fans are incredible and it seemed right that we should all meet face-to-face. The idea was brought back up again the beginning of this year and we decided this was something that was meant to be. From there, we took the bull by the horns and ran with it, the only time we've stopped planning was during the campaign because we felt it needed our attention 100%. As soon as we won, we were back at it and let me take this opportunity to say that the people on the GoJ are the most amazing bunch of people I've ever met. It has truly been an inspiration for me to work with them, I'm very proud and honored to be a part of this. SpookUSN was the one that came up with the idea first, she's now our Chairperson for the GoJ and she's so much fun to work with, I've gained another sister for life.
5. You have an outstanding website full of information. Will you continue to update it regularly?
We have so many awesome ideas that fans bring to us to research and develop and we are in daily contact with Oakley so absolutely YES the site will continue to be updated regularly. We also want to remind everyone that we have early registration discounts and we will be putting up per day/event rates very soon.
6. Do you think some of Jericho's stars might appear?
This is one thing that we work on daily. We have all the actors saying they are incredibly interested in coming and are working as hard as they can to get there. All the fans need to keep the mindset that these amazing people are working on our beloved story of Jericho, if filming takes them through the convention weekend, we need to honor that and support them. But you can be assured, the GoJ is working hard at getting them there and we are working on the logistics of a live-feed in the event that they can't.
7. What else would you like us to know about Jerichon 2007?
Jerichon 2007 is more than a convention, way more. It's a celebration of our show, our hard work during the campaign and it shows CBS and the rest of the country that we are not going anywhere anytime soon. To some it may seem like just a convention, but more and more fans that I talk to through Jeritopia and the various fan forums agree with me - we're coming home to Oakley, where we've always been, where we'll always be and I will be the first to admit it, meeting the fans is going to make me shed some tears. Jericho fans are not JUST the best, we are a family and the convention is our family reunion.
I've wanted to interview Michael for a while now but was afraid to ask. When I worked up my courage and asked he immediately agreed. I am more impressed with him now than I was when he helped us through the Nuts campaign. What a help he was! Oh, I made the mistake of calling him a blogger. I apologize. My favorite Jericho article was this one. Remember that day?
If you mean Web-wise, absolutely nothing. I came on the Web for the first time in early 1998 through work, and when I ended up buying the Trusty Old Gateway (now the Rusty Old Gateway) in mid-1998, I started SyFy World. It's not common knowledge (although it's no secret), but I work a "real-life" job as a business journalist in Tampa.
2. How did you get started with SyFy Portal?
SyFy Portal started as SyFy World in 1998 (it merged with Star Trek Portal in early 2001 to become SyFy Portal). My best friend at the time, Matt Bianco, had started a Web site on GeoCities to support the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and I fell in love with the concept of being able to publish something that people would have constant access to (the distribution model was amazing to me back in 1998), so I decided I might want to try and pursue a dream of mine to do entertainment reporting. I realized that getting noticed on the Web (early on) was almost impossible, and that you had to have a good marketing plan going in. So I thought I would make a "guinea pig" site where I can get through all the stumbling blocks without anyone noticing, and opened up SyFy World on Aug. 13, 1998. The site was meant to be temporary, and I worked on marketing ideas for it.
The ideas worked, however ... better than I thought. And before I knew it, SyFy was becoming popular among a small, but strong core group of science-fiction fans. When it came time for me to shut down the site and start the full-fledged entertainment site, our core readers shouted out. Luckily for me, "Jericho" hadn't even been thought of, or I may have had 20 tons of nuts on my doorstep. So I decided to keep SyFy World open, and see where it went.
Nine years later ... we can see where it's gone. =P
3. Which TV show is your favorite?
I'm sure it won't be popular answer with you guys, but it's "Battlestar Galactica." It's the show that I literally sit and wait for and get excited about, and watch over and over again. It just seems to me like the series that is the closest to perfection ever. In fact, my television viewing habits have greatly decreased over the past couple years partly because of time constraints, but also because I keep comparing EVERYTHING to "Battlestar Galactica," which is pretty much unfair to everything else.
That's why I am always such a late-comer to other shows. I don't want to get invested in other good shows if they are not going to be around long enough. I didn't watch "Jericho" until after a source of ours from CBS told me that it looked like the network was going to renew the show for a second season (a decision that was ultimately changed). He told me that I needed to watch the show, so I did. I loved it, and that's why I was doing what I could to help the campaign.
Rabid Doll, which will hopefully launch very soon, is a horror entertainment Web site that is more or less under the SyUniverse umbrella (SyUniverse is the parent corporation of SyFy Portal, which I had officially incorporated earlier this year). It's a partnership of myself, graphic designer Bryant Griffin, Web programmer Nick Chase, and journalist Sherri Lonon. That makes it different from SyFy Portal since I wholly own that site. However, Bryant and Nick are they key people behind SyFy, and Sherri has written columns for SyFy in the past, so it's pretty much "From the makers of SyFy Portal" lol.
Rabid Doll was an idea we actually had back in 2003 or so. We wanted to expand outside of science-fiction (because we eventually WILL cover all entertainment, even if it's not until our 20th anniversary), and decided that horror was the best step outside from science-fiction, since there is a lot of crossover. Also, Bryant Griffin is a huge horror fan, as is Sherri (even though she wasn't part of the original concept), so it seemed like a logical move.
However, we had some internal politics going on at the time, and while we came up with a name, a logo and even had a site design finished (it was more or less a reskin of what SyFy Portal looked like at the time), the idea ended up being a victim of the internal politics and never pursued.
About 10 months ago, I was talking with Sherri (she is a former editor of mine in the newspaper business here in the Tampa Bay area) and she talked about how cool it would be to do her own horror site but she didn't have the resources to put it together. I'm like, "Hey! We had a horror site idea floating around a few years back ... we should resurrect it!" And like any great horror film, we brought Rabid Doll back to life.
The site design will be different from the original concept in 2004, but everything else is the same, including the logo. Bryant did a kick-ass job with that logo, and I'm glad we are finally able to use it.
Rabid Doll will be handled differently from SyFy Portal. It will cover a lot of independent horror and such -- productions that don't get a lot of online press -- and it will be far closer to the blog concept than SyFy Portal ever will be. People will be able to comment directly at the stories, and they will vary in length far more than SyFy does (some stories may just be a couple paragraphs, something you never see at SyFy). It also will expand into different types of television and movies that may not be normally classified as horror, but are more doomsday like, which is why "Jericho" coverage will move there as soon as the site launches.
I think it will be very exciting, but its survival -- like any site -- depends on traffic. And we need everyone's help on that. :) 5. Did you ever believe the Nuts campaign for Jericho would be successful?
No. I have seen so many campaigns from fans in the nine years that I have done the Web site. I even interviewed the great Bjo Trimble, the woman behind the 1960s "Save Star Trek" campaign, who gave me tips that we published on how to make a fan campaign successful.
I really wanted "Jericho" to come back, but I had already written it off. We do very minimal coverage on fan campaigns, unless they are newsworthy. The "Jericho" campaign WAS newsworthy because it was clever, it was smart, and there were some strong people behind it. The campaign used facts and figures, not threats and insults, to make its point. And the "Nuts to You, CBS!" still makes me chuckle.
When we got the official word that "Jericho" was coming back, I actually had to wipe a tear. Not because a show was coming back (I like "Jericho," but I had already accepted its demise, so I had moved on), but because the fans behind this effort -- as faceless as they are to me -- just seemed like the most wonderful people in the world. I was the first media outlet to interview Jeffrey Braverman at Nuts Online, and he or someone at Nuts Online would keep in regular contact with me and I would read his blog. Just seeing the things that people were writing to him. Just reading the e-mail I got on all this. I love these fans, almost as much as I love the Save Farscape fans.
There are some nasty people out there who like to be involved in campaigns, and they wonder why their campaigns die before they get started. "Jericho" should have been renewed. It was a mistake for CBS to not renew it, and not only did the fans speak -- the fans made a difference. You spoke the language that the network understands, and you got results. That, to me, is what "fandom" is truly about.
6. Do you have a blog, besides your own, that you read regularly?
Well, just to clarify, SyFy Portal isn't a blog. :) We existed before blogs did, and as much as I like reading blogs, I don't write a blog. We are a news site, and while we might post opinions, they are clearly noted, and our reporting is generally entertainment reporting following journalistic standards.
Most of the blogs I read on a daily basis tend to be the ones that I have to read for work, so they are more locally based like Sticks Of Fire. I do read The TV Addict after meeting its main writer at the SciFi Channel Press Tour in Vancouver last June, which is an awesome site, and I also read anything that Michael Ausiello over at TV Guide writes, because he is probably one of the best entertainment reporters out there, in my opinion. I only wish I had half the talent he does. I also enjoy Maureen Ryan's column over at the Chicago Tribune, and her associated blog, as she has her finger on the pulse of everything television.
7. Anything you'd like to add to my questions? I think you covered everything, lol! But if you have followups, send them over and I will get them back to you ASAP.
I want to really salute the Jericho Rangers. There have been some people trying to give SyFy Portal credit for everything from starting the campaign, to suggesting the nuts, and everything else. But I am no Clay Aiken. We didn't start the campaign. We didn't come up with any of the ideas (thanks, Shaun O'Mac!), and we didn't work anywhere near as hard as the fans behind this effort. I didn't even buy a single peanut (sorry Jeffery!). I wanted to see the show return, but all SyFy did was report the news. If it was newsworthy about the campaign, we wrote about it.
It's kind of a cold way to look at it, but we have to try and stay as neutral as you can (at least as neutral as possible in the entertainment business). It was the fans that did this. It was the fans that brought this show back. And it's the fans who will ALWAYS get credit. Even if I have to go online and correct every single blog on the planet, I will. That's how much the fans deserve it.
At the same time, I want to thank the fans for their support in our coverage. It meant a lot, and it really makes a difference for us. The more readers we get, the longer we will survive online because it is getting more and more expensive to host sites. The e-mails I received, the messages left in different places, the mentions you guys made of us on message boards and blogs, it meant a lot. So thank YOU for all of that.
Michael, You ruined the interview! You really aren't Clay Aiken?? Okay, I forgive you. Can I be a Hinmanmate then? We love you . Thank you for everything!
Today we continue our series called A Monster Fan Interview. We have all worked together since before the Nuts campaign so I thought it would be fun to ask fans some questions about Jericho. Without further ado it is my great pleasure to introduce Jericho fan and lover kmac.
1. What attracted you to Jericho? I don't watch any TV at all so I had never heard of the show. I stumbled on it while I was looking through On Demand. I watched 1 episode, then another, and before I knew it I had watched the entire 1st half of Season 1 in one sitting!
2. What is your favorite episode and why? Episode 14 Heart of Winter is my favorite. It just hits so many emotions in one episode from laughing to being anxious, to crying. It is just a great Episode.
3. If I had never watched Jericho what would you say to urge me to watch? I would just point out the fact that it has something for everyone. Action, suspense, drama, you will laugh a lot, and there is a bit of romance in there too!
4. Would you join a Jericho Fan Club? Why or why not? I would join a fan club. I think it is probably the only fan club I would join, though. I would like to have a chance for all of us to kind of band together again in a way that a lot of us haven't done since the fight to bring the show back. Maybe a fan club is the way to do that.
5. What would you like to see a Fan Club do? I would like to see it promote the show, I would like to see CBS give us some more access to certain things for use within the fan club. Mostly I would just like to see the members grow and grow so we can continue having this show around for many years to come!
Thank you to kmac for all your hard work for Jericho.
Today's interview is with Openminded1(we call her Open) of Radio Free Jericho.
She is a little on the modest side but I can tell you that she has done much more for Jericho than you will ever know. She is constantly working behind the scenes on somebody's idea to be sure it comes to fruition. She has been a great supporter for me and I appreciate her more than she knows. One more thing- she has a wonderful sense of humor. Drop by RFJ and meet her. You'll be glad you did.
1. Why do you love Jericho? Jericho is a show that offers something for everyone. There is action, drama, romance, and comedy. The characters are people that I can relate to, and the actors portray those characters very well. The story lines are exciting and leave the audience wanting more.
2. Who is your favorite character and why? Robert Hawkins is my favorite character. He is mysterious and exciting. He is also very human in that he loves his family very much and his love for them guides many of his decisions. He is willing to put himself at risk for what he believes in.
3. If I had never watched Jericho what would you say to urge me to watch? That would depend on your personality and interests. If you were interested in history and politics, I would start there. If I knew you were a soap fan, I would tell you about the relationships, for example.
4. Would you join a Jericho Fan Club? Why or why not? Yes. I think a fan club is a great way to celebrate the great community of Jericho fans.
5. What would you like to see a Fan Club do? I would like to see a fan club provide unique online content, as well as some kind of special perks for membership, such as a certificate, membership card, or exclusive T-shirt. I would also like to see a fan club that enhances what CBS provides on it's own great website.
6. Anything else you'd like to add about yourself or Jericho can go here. I am not a TV watcher. I do not have a weekly line up of shows that I tune into. It takes something special to get me to make an appointment with my television. Jericho has that something special. Also, the promotions for the CBS Jericho website got me to visit that website from the beginning. The content on the website kept me coming back for more. I have only visited other TV websites briefly in the past.
Thank you,Open. You are one of CBS' best assets for Jericho.
Phillip W. Palmer, C.A.S., is the current Production Sound Mixer for Jericho. For a list of his credits please go to IMBd.
I want to thank Phillip for taking the time to do this interview because, as you will read, the set of Jericho is one busy place. It is my honor and privilege to introduce you to Phillip W. Palmer.
1. How did you get started in sound mixing?
I studied Film and Television Production at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. But playing in a band was more fun in the 80's and I ended up being a sound engineer and touring, doing larger acts in the mid 80's. I got a call to work as utility sound technician on a Movie of the Week for a well known Production Sound Mixer in 1987. I was tired of the music business and touring, so I gave it a try...it's nearly 20 years later. I was a sound utility and boom operator for 12 years and have been sound mixing since 1999.
2. What have been the challenges in mixing sound for Jericho as opposed to other projects?
All projects have their challenges, Jericho had some built right into the story. For one, we're set in Kansas not Los Angeles. Our sound stages and the Main St. backlot are in Van Nuys, CA, in a fairly industrial area. Lots of machine shops, trucks and warehouses. If you're ever in an industrial area, close your eyes and listen to all the background noise. You'll hear all sorts of things like machinery, back up beepers (my favorite), sirens, trucks, radios, and all kinds of chatter. During the day, this is what you hear on Main Street Jericho. In order to give a good clean track for editorial, there is a lot of noise to keep down while recording our dialog. It's quite a challenge sometimes. Oh, did I mention all the air traffic.....
Every project has these same challenges, make a noisy place sound like a quiet place. Sometimes we pull it off...and sometimes not.
3. Why does sound mixing seem to be one of the most overlooked aspects of entertainment?
Wow, good question. Many people don't realize how many people it takes to film a television show or movie. We have sometimes 80 or more crew people like camera, grip, electricians, hair stylists, make up artists, wardrobe, set design, set decorating, construction, painters, and props all working to capture the image on set, ...and 3 people working to record the sound. It's a tough game at times. Only a select few wear headphones and are listening while we are filming. Those are myself and my crew, the director, script supervisor, and a small group of producers and writers. If the sound department doesn't record the dialog successfully while on set, the actors must replace their dialog later in a process called ADR. This is often referred to as looping.
In major motion pictures, usually they budget for a large amount of looping or ADR. Looping is expensive and time consuming to do properly, and not always a good match. In television, we have added pressure to get the dialog while filming due to time and budget concerns. We do a little looping/ADR, but not nearly the amount you would find on a movie.
I also think that listening is something we don't train ourselves to do...we just do it. When we take pictures, make home videos, go to a movie, we're using our eyes but usually not listening very closely. Sound becomes something that we just expect to be there, not something that is manipulated and controlled, often more than the image. There are a lot of people involved in the post sound process, just look at the credits the next time you go to a movie.
4. Are there any advantages about your job as opposed to being in front of the boom or camera?
I don't know about advantages, it's just different. The sound mixer position is a very creative part of the process, just behind the camera. I have a lot to do with how the show sounds and feels, or at least I hope I do. In fact, the actors are in only parts of the show and I have something to do with the whole show...every word. Would I like to be an actor, or perhaps show up in Jericho someday? I wont lie...sure. :) But I really like my job and how I contribute to the process.
5. Of all your experiences, what has been your most memorable moment in your career? On Jericho?
Got to think about that one. I seem to get some of those shows that people say, "oh, sound is gonna be tough to get on this one, so don't worry about it and we'll fix it later." In most of those cases, I've been able to deliver completely usable and often really great tracks. I love it when they say, you can't do it, and we do. That sort of thing really makes my day. It happened a lot on Entourage season 2. We did some stuff that still blows me away. There's this scene on the floor of a Lakers basketball game, we used all original dialog. The actors were sitting right next to the Lakers bench. It was crazy.
Perhaps it's been meeting some of those people and actors that seem bigger than life. While working on Any Given Sunday, I turned around and there was Charlton Heston coming over to introduce himself. I thought, that's pretty cool...wouldn't happen any other day. Just happened again while working on National Treasure: Book of Secrets, I looked up and there was Jon Voight coming over to say hello and welcome me to the crew. What a job...
On Jericho, it might have been when Gerald McRaney and Michael Gaston came to us one day and told us that they don't know how we are doing it, but they hadn't been to looping yet (or much) because of sound related problems. They really understood how difficult our show was, and were very happy that we worked so hard to capture their performances.
And definitely when Karim Zreik and Dan Shotz called me to tell me Jericho is back for Season 2.
6. Does the cast and crew do anything together after the work is done? What do you do? (Hobbies?)
We have been known to get together every once in a while. We are pretty tired after a hard week at work, so most of us run home to our families. There is the occasional screening party, wrap party, and BBQ. We have a regular get together as the Jericho Gun Club, always good fun.
I spend my free time with my wife Kathy and dog Oliver. I love to train in Martial Arts, and spend a lot of time doing that. Then there's all that time I spend on the computer, which I enjoy.
7. Has the tightened production created any challenges for you?
I thought it might in the beginning, but so far it's pretty much business as usual....though we have had a couple of pretty long days. We have less time to re-do things, so we might move a little faster. I think we will see more challenges later on in the schedule. It's still early.
8. What is the one unique aspect of the show that you think people don't notice?
I actually think you guys really get it. There's not much, if anything that we can squeak by. The Jericho fans are a bright group and there's not much our audience doesn't catch. What I think people see is how much of a community we have developed. We have a lot of fun both on camera and behind the scenes, and it shows. The friendships on and off the screen are very real.
9. How long does it take to do sound mixing for one complete episode?
My part of the process coincides with the photography. I record the dialog as we shoot it, and turn in my disks along with the film (or tape) at the end of each day. Each episode takes 7 days to shoot (or so). Then the picture edit process begins, which can take several weeks. After the producers lock the show, which means no more editorial changes (or at least major ones), they send the final picture edit to sound editorial. The dialog editors then get busy on cleaning up all the takes, removing noise, smoothing out the words, and finding alternate takes and versions. Then, all the sound elements are taken to a dub stage and mixed with all the sound effects and music. This final mixing session takes about 2 days. So depending on the deadlines and schedule, the process can take a couple of months to complete. But by the end of the season, we squeeze that down quite a bit.
There are a few more steps, but that's pretty close to the process. Hope that didn't get too technical.
10. What changes have you noticed in the attitude of the cast and crew since the show has been renewed?
The attitude and overall mood is fantastic. Our first days back were like the first day of school after the summer break. When the cast and producers returned from ComiCon this past weekend, we all gathered around to hear the stories. They were blown away by all the fan support. We're so happy to have been part of this project, and amazed by all the of fans. We stayed in contact with each other after the cancellation, and during the Save Jericho campaign. Constantly emailed links and YouTube videos to each other, in total fascination of what was going on. The Jericho fans are really responsible for bringing us back, it's your season.
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