A John Badham Interview and Visual Retrospective
A John Badham Interview
BY WEDNESDAY
Welcome the sage and distinguished director, John Badham, to The Winchester Family Business site.
Enjoy a visual review of the directed episodes of John Badham interspersed with his responses.
Imagine my surprise when Mr. John Badham graciously agreed to answer some questions here on
The Winchester Family Business site.
Mr. Badham teaches in the Dodge College of Film and Media Arts at Chapman University.
He keeps a blog to share his experiences with his students and encourages their input while directing SPN.*
Wow! The directors of the future are cutting their teeth on Supernatural. Wouldn’t that be an amazing class?
Smash Cut
“First Born”
In October of 2013, John Badham joined the Supernatural family to direct the memorable “First Born.”
Episode 9.11 introduced the epic Cain (Timothy Omundson) and the First Blade.
We were in for something special. A look back still impresses.
Glass /Mirrors
Dean and the knee aching hunter, Tara, (Rachel Hayward) gaze down through the spell bowl.
A demon checks Tara’s gun blast damage in the rear-view mirror:
Shooting behind objects/obstacles
Linking the plot lines, the camera edges around another spell bowl for a memorable hug.
Crowley peers over a rattling teacup:
The complicated script called for a nine-hour shoot of a fight scene in the cramped confines of Cain’s kitchen.**
Exploiting the Local Setting
Mr. Badham exploits the natural settings and local gems of Vancouver to create miraculous atmospheres with rising mists.
Dean feeling the first pains of the Mark:
When you utilize Mother Nature, sometimes a one in million shot comes along:
“The Hunter Games”
In “The Hunter Games” 10.10, the visual potency continued. Although the script was heavy with dialogue,
John Badham kept the characters MOVING. Cast walked, ran, packed, made sandwiches, drank tea, and signed documents.
High Angle
The High Angle highlights helpless Crowley, a hostage in his horror.
Glass /Mirrors
A culpable Claire reconsiders through the camper window:
A tormented Dean haunts his devastated mirror:
A reflective guardian’s gaze:
Shooting Behind Objects
Rowena simmers and plots behind a golden teacup:
Light glimmered to the entrance of, wait for it…..Crowley’s crypt:
Side Lighting emphasized Dean’s internal war with the Mark of Cain:
Scenic Locations
Night Flight
Vancouver, Rain, and WetSam
“The Things They Carried”
“The Things They Carried” 10.15, was of the Slasher/Sci-fi/ Horror genre. While not everyone’s cup of tea, the director
was careful to stay true to the Slasher genre by incorporating its definitive elements.
Director John Badham strolls across the screen, à la Quentin Tarantino.
Glass / Mirrors
Dean relishes his dip of frosting.
Jemma (Michelle Morgan) behind glasses reflects on her husband’s picture.
Kit (Richard de Klerk) guzzles from a vase.
Back Lit Khan
Shocking
Pause for this important message:
A great strength of Mr. Badham is his collaboration with the cast.
He wrote the book for directors on how to collaborate with actors.
I mean, literally, he wrote the book on it.
Travis Aaron Wade consults with director John Badham,
resulting in a stomach clenching performance.
Baby on Location
Night Vision
Wait for it…
Kudos from cast:
“Into the Mystic”
John Badham joined Supernatural again in the middle of Season 11 with “Into the Mystic” 11.11.
The script was charming but complex. The establishing shot of a record
spindle conveyed the importance of sound in this episode and conducted us back in time.
Nothing says retro like vinyl.
Exploiting the Local Setting
Lucifer in Castiel’s body enjoys his new freedom.
When Lucifer, or Casifer, enters the forest whistling “Shall we Gather at the River,”
Mr. Badham waits for him to come into focus. Anticipation.
and wait for it….
The angel (Anthony Shim) likewise, creeps into our view.
The showdown is brief. The Angel’s face has subtle side lighting.
Representing all Angels, he is conflicted.
Should he kill Lucifer, or enlist his aid against the Darkness?
He who hesitates is lost.
When you utilize Mother Nature, sometimes a one in million shot comes along.
Find the Upstaging Squirrel:
Establishing the Location and Waiting for… Baby.
High Angle Baby
Sam sleeps in a shadow cage.
A “wait for it” creep to the railing reveals Dean standing in a cage of tiles.
Superimposition: Sam ghosts around the ghastly crime scene.
We’ve seen a ‘Salt and Burn’ many timesbut John Badham gives it a new perspective.
Wait for it…
High Angle
Blue Backlit Holy Lighting
(Guest starring the Green Cooler)
Low Angle of Our Heroes, From the Grave:
John Badham welcomes cast improvisations and ad-libs like Dean’s Viagra theft,
and…
Sunset View
11.14 “The Vessel”
Most recently, John Badham directed the epic episode, “The Vessel.”
John Badham with all hands on deck, an all-star cast and crew, nailed this episode, transporting us from
Occupied France,
to Hell.
From behind weapons…
into the Bunker’s shadow cage.
Supernatural went to sea
and plunged to the depths of the ocean.
A beautiful transition from the sea to the bunker:
After a tight fight, closer than the confines of Cain’s kitchen,
we are left desolate on a derelict wharf.
FROM THE REARVIEW
John Badham has a long list of distinguished directorial achievements.
Here are some notable movies and television shows he has directed:
To read more praise, or to order the books, visit:
http://www.amazon.com/John-Badham-On-Directing-Saturday/dp/1615931384
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