I have so much respect for television actors and directors. We're on set doing 16-hour days, and that's just what we do.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
I love working with actors. That's what the set really is, for me. It's my time with the actors.
It takes a lot out of you to do a one-hour episodic lead of a show. I don't think actors realize that when they take the job.
I have nothing but admiration for the actors on soap operas. It is unbelievably challenging to put out an hour show in one day.
I think that's what we're all trying to do as actors, is create some sort of passion from people and allow them to have something to really care about and something they enjoy and look forward to on Saturday, Sunday, Monday, whatever it is, where you get to sit down and escape.
On my set, people have to respect the actor's process. I totally respect what actors do. I give them whatever time they need, and I never scream out directions from the camera. I take the time to walk up to them and talk to them personally.
As an actor, I like as much time with the material as possible and given the opportunity, time spent with the other actors in the scene. But that is a rare luxury in working in any TV series.
Directing television is really hard - it's so fast. You shoot an hour show in seven days.
In theater, you really work out the kinks and figure out exactly what you want to do and what we want to say, so by the time we have an audience, we're really prepared. With TV, you have a day... Sometimes, just a few hours.
I'm new to this TV thing, at least as an actor. It's a challenge. The thing I have to adjust to is the changing directors every week. That's new for me. I tend to establish with a director - and then two days later, he's gone.
If you're doing an hour-long show, you're working movie hours, doing a 12-15-hour day. We work three or four hours a day, and get every third or fourth week off to give the writers time to write. It's the cushiest job in Hollywood.