2011 Supernatural Paley Festival Panel – Part Two
2011 Supernatural PaleyFest Panel, Part Two
Okay, on to the main event! This will be as detailed an account as I can manage, so bear with the length and the time it’s going to take. I know I’ll miss things, but I’ll do my best!
First off, Maureen Ryan did a stellar job moderating the panel! The questions were great and the discussion flowed from one topic to the next without hiccups. When the DVD of this session comes out, I encourage fans to buy it, because the moments in it are priceless!
One of the first things to come up was the recent meta episode, The French Mistake. Mo asked if the meta episodes were in part the production’s way of entering into the fandom discussions about the show, given the way they acknowledge many of the things fans have commented on and discussed, and Eric acknowledged that in part. He said when Ben Edlund first suggested the idea that became The French Mistake, though, they got pushback from the legal department, which wasn’t sure they could legally depict what went on behind-the-scenes at a CW show. Eric’s response? “We ARE a CW show!” He laughed that since they were solidly in season 6, the network would let them do pretty much anything, so why not go for it? He added that this was probably going to be the only chance in all of their careers to do something like this, so they had to try.
Jensen added that this was the first time the actors were brought into a discussion about an episode before simply getting the script with their marching orders. He said he and Jared were called in to hear the story pitched, before any of it was written. He said he was hesitant about it because, as he put it, “I didn’t want to play… me…because, well, I’m not interesting.” Jared immediately chimed in with, “He’s not!,” and after first nodding agreement, Jensen did a retake, pretending to consider what Jared had implied and realize it was a crack at his expense. The guy’s comic timing is impeccable! Jensen did an extended reaction take, Jared threw his head back and guffawed, and Mo chimed in with, “They’re not talking again!” Jensen concluded that he was fine once he was knew he wouldn’t have to play alt-himself, that he’d just be playing Dean. Misha’s contribution was to say when he heard about it, he sent email to the writers asking them to make the Misha character a total douchebag, observing that he wound up being a watered-down douchebag. Jared joked that what Misha didn’t know was that the email address he’d been given was a fake. Misha concluded that the way he finally came across was, “kind of a douchebaggy me!” Much hilarity ensued!
These are the kinds of moments you really need the DVD to convey. See what I mean?
Asked about her interactions with what fans and what it was like to hear what others were saying about the show, Sera observed this was only the second show she’s really been on, and said, “It’s kind of like being raised by wolves.” She laughed that when you never really knew even how many people were watching the show, you could really do whatever you wanted. Eric said that the reason they thought they could get away with doing this meta episode was precisely because they realized fans were interested in more than just the story, that there seemed to be an appetite in fandom to see what went on behind the camera, behind the scenes, and they thought they could use that. He laughed that them doing this Paley panel right now was an episode of the show, and we were all in it!
Mo asked about the impact on the show of finally receiving media attention so late in the show’s life, citing the recent New York Times article and the fan-won TV Guide cover, noting how rare it is for a show to garner that several years in when most shows are tapering off in quality, and that prompted hilarious riffs on whether various performances were “New York Times-worthy.” Eric used his “portentous” voice and Jared was on fire with the jokes throughout the panel, and I couldn’t keep up!
Mo asked, since Jared, Jensen, and Misha had gotten to weigh in on the meta episode and what they would be playing in it, whether Jim had similarly been approached in advance about any developments in Bobby’s character, such as the decision in season five to put him in a wheelchair. Jim deadpanned that he got to the set one day and they told him to sit down, and that at the end of the season they told him to stand up, and said since he’s a pretty good actor, he did it. It was hilarious!
Mo threw the next question to Ben, noting he’d just directed his first episode of the show, and asked if he could share anything about it. Teasingly, she specifically asked if there were puppets in it, since Ben’s only other directing credit was the “Smile Time” episode of Angel he’d also written, in which Angel was turned into a puppet. Ben admitted there were no puppets, saying he could only ride the puppet coattails so far, but said he really enjoyed it because he thought the episode was very emotional and very focused, like a one-act play, centered on emotional developments in the relationships among the characters. He observed that it was kind of a tradition in the show that episode 20 was an intense, emotional one setting things up for the last two episodes of the season, and that’s what this episode did. He laughed that directing was terrifying and humbling, dealing with these actors; he said he was taller and smaller than everyone on set.
Mo asked what it was like for the actors, having the writer right there on set doing the directing, and amid much hilarity, the actors had fun with it. Misha emphasized that it was really nice to have a director who was familiar with the whole story and character arc, because Ben could talk to the actor about what his character was feeling and why, not simply be told where to stand. He pointed up the difference between the recurring directors who are very familiar with the show because they’ve worked on it before, and the ones who come in for a single episode with no background in the characters and the mythology. Jared agreed, but laughed that he was going to make fun of Ben, saying that it was great to have someone directing with such passion and love for the show, but it was funny too, and very different from what he was used to. He said for most directors, not out of a lack of love but just because of the business, direction usually was “Okay, you go there, you go there, this happens,” but with Ben, he stood up to illustrate Ben literally walking him through the scene, exaggera telling him, “You’re here, Jensen’s there, and while you walk, you can think about how tough it’s been, so maybe you hesitate for a second, cause it’s hard, and you love your brother …” Amid much laughter, he concluded that he loved it, and Ben having that much passion made them all want to work him harder.
Mo asked Jensen about his directing experience, and Jensen agreed his experience was probably a lot like Ben’s in terms of directing being demanding, feeling like you’re being thrown in to sink or swim, but that he’d gotten a lot of support from everyone to help keep him afloat. He said he didn’t get to act much in that episode, but said that was a good thing since it let him focus on what he was doing as a director and what he was getting from Jim in terms of performance. He praised Jim highly for the job he did, and everyone on the stage applauded. Jensen said he felt he was just riding shotgun on Jim’s performance, and thanked Jim for that. He also agreed he’d like to do it again, if the show goes on to season seven, and said the production office seems inclined to let him do it if the opportunity arises. Then he amusingly pointed at Jared and said, “As long as he isn’t in it,” and everyone had a good laugh!
In the next part, Mo started asking questions she’d gotten from fans. Tune back in as soon as I can type more!
Can I just say how nicely presented and well written your piece above, on the Supernatural salute at Paley Festival is.
It is nice to see that someone cares passionately about presenting the information from an event not all could ever dream of attending and doing so with aplumb! Kudos!
Thank you, Jaclyn! I’m glad you’re enjoying this; I think part three will knock your socks off!
I love this show and these people, and remembering how much joy I took in hearing from others about their experiences, how could I not share this? I know that for me, attending Paley was a dream come true; I’m glad I can share it with all of you!
Mary, I’m so thrilled to read your recap of the Paley session on SPN! I can feel the excitement of a fellow fan coming right out through your writing! I eagerly await more!
Part three should be up soon, and wait until you get to read it – it’s the longest and the best, I think! The panel was GREAT from beginning to end!
Thank you Bardicvoice, I really enjoyed reading this. The fun you had comes through with each single word.
I am also impressed with the details you remember since after my first con a bunch of girls where sitting together trying to remember what was said during the day to put it out on twitter since there barely where news out there. And we all had problems remembering stuff because we where still stunned from what happened during the day.
Thanks, Yirabah!
Hmm … I take notes and I cheat? *grin* I’m blessed with a retentive memory, but I also use absolutely every tool at my disposal!
As always you have written another amazing report… thank you so much for sharing with those of us who couldn’t be there to share the fun!
You are most welcome! I know how much it has meant to me to be able to read other people’s first-person accounts, so I really can’t resist providing my own to other people when I can! Part three should be up soon …
Thanks for another excellent report Mary.
Would you please let us know how to obtain a dvd of this panel in one of your reports?
I’m in Canada, so am not sure how to get it and would love to have it.
Thanks again. 🙂
Thanks, Bevie! You can keep track of what’s available from the Paley here: http://www.paleycenter.org/collection-screening-room?bcpid=73672503001&bckey=AQ~~,AAAADpP62yk~,CYkGoUDqnqX6IvRDWZZT9r7FxcKK84LF&bclid=814523417001&bctid=825996682001
There hasn’t been an announcement yet of the availability of a [i]Supernatural[/i] DVD, but I’m certain it will come. The only real question is whether it will be sold directly from Paley, or through one of the season six DVD sets … We’ll let you know when we hear!
Excellent reporting, Mary, and thanks for sharing your great experience.
I’ve read a lot of different reports and watched some vids of the panels. I’ve been hanging by a thread this season hoping that the show would again thrill me like it used to. Unfortunately, nothing that came out has given me any hope. I’m in it for the western episode and am calling it quits after that, and I am leaving with a great deal of animosity towards Eric and Sera. I hope everyone else enjoys what’s to come.
Thanks, Ginger!
I’m sorry you’re not encouraged by what you’ve been hearing. I’m still thrilled by [i]Supernatural[/i], I’m happy to say, so I’m biased in that direction. And I’ll dare to hope you may yet rediscover your passion.
And part three of my Paley report should be up soon. Mayhap hope resides in there … I’ll wish it for you.
Thanks for this report Mary, it’s truly awesome!
Can’t wait to read your review of the latest episode! 😉