Post by Cece on Oct 7, 2008 18:48:42 GMT
From CBS.com:
www.cbs.com/daytime/guiding_light/interviews/interviews.php?sec=0
Susan Flannery
She's been reigning over the Forrester family over at The Bold and the Beautiful for over twenty years but few people know that Susan Flannery (Stephanie) is also an acomplished director. Recently she took on directing an episode of another CBS Daytime Drama, Guiding Light. CBS.com caught up with Susan following her return back to Los Angeles.
CBS.com: How did the directing opportunity at GL come about?
SUSAN FLANNERY: I was [so] fascinated by the way they were doing the show that I went to Barbara Bloom, the president of Daytime [to see] if they thought I could go back and observe. Ellen Wheeler, GL's executive producer, was so gracious and welcoming. I went to New York and spent 3 days. I really love Ellen. When I was there a conversation came up about directing and I said I'd really love to direct, and Ellen said we'd work it out.
CBS.com: You've directed episodes of B&B in the past.
SUSAN FLANNERY: I've directed an awful lot.
CBS.com: So how did you get interested in directing?
SUSAN FLANNERY: Well Bill Bell Sr. [B&B Creator] asked me my first year on B&B to direct. A lot of people don't know that.
CBS.com: When did you start directing then on the show?
SUSAN FLANNERY: I think it was the second year on the air. I got nominated by the Directors Guild twice, so that I was very pleased about.
CBS.com: Do you watch GL?
SUSAN FLANNERY: When they first changed the format, I thought, wow, what are they doing--that's really interesting. And I watched a few episodes in my dressing room when I wasn't on stage. At first I thought, wow, then I was trying to figure out what they were going for and then I slowly became fascinated by it. To me it's just a whole new exciting way to do the show and it's a work in progress. It's really improving; the stories are getting so fantastic.
CBS.com: What experiences were you able to bring to GL coming from a soap background.
SUSAN FLANNERY: Years of acting and directing. I was just able to bring that to the set, but truly it was more of a learning experience for me than for the cast and crew from me.
CBS.com: How was it working with Kim Zimmer (Reva, GL)? You guys are friends correct?
SUSAN FLANNERY: Kim, everyone, the cast is amazing. It was such a pleasure. You only had to make a little suggestion here or there and everyone was prepared and that's very important. The great fun was the crew, the cast, was delightful and supportive. I said to them in the beginning of the day, I don't expect you to save my "you know what" but if you see I am missing something just say so because my ego doesn't run that way. My producer, David Brannon, was fantastic. He's the line producer of the day and we just clicked instantly. We stayed on time and we got everything done and I think he was very happy about that. The crew was fabulous and I can't say that enough--they are superb. We have a great crew on B&B, nothing against them.
CBS.com: Did their new format change the way you would have directed?
SUSAN FLANNERY: It's much faster. You get to do shots that you wouldn't have the chance to do otherwise. If you are shooting the show conventionally they are done with a runway and sets on either sides. Sometimes they bring in a steady-cam or a crane. But I think this is fabulous, these are small 9 pound cameras. You can put them just about any place. You can stick an actor in a closet and open it up a smidge to get the camera in and you're in business. It frees things up and really loosens things up and gives a new reality to the actors, especially all the outdoor shooting.
CBS.com: Did you only direct the indoor scenes?
SUSAN FLANNERY: Yes. Later in the week Ellen shoots in New Jersey all the outdoor scenes for the week. It's really interesting how things are done.
CBS.com: You've worked on both sides of the camera. What makes a good director?
SUSAN FLANNERY: I can get myself in trouble for this! I think it helps if you've been an actor. But then you can't just be an actor and say you want to be a director. You have to be fascinated and educated by all the aspects of the technology.
CBS.com: We've heard the phrase "an actors' director;" I'd consider you one. Can you describe what that is?
SUSAN FLANNERY: People swear by Woody Allen and Martin Scorsese, meaning that they truly understand the process the actor goes through to achieve the emotions in a scene and they also make the actor or actress feel comfortable in the environment so they can open up. They are willing to listen to the actor's suggestions and pull them into the process and make them feel a part of the production. I think the ability to communicate with the actor is a big thing.
CBS.com: What can you tease about your episode?
SUSAN FLANNERY: Reva gets up on a bar! Who-hoo. It's Reva dealing with her pregnancy and how that's affecting her; it's really good stuff.
CBS.com: Will you direct any future episodes?
SUSAN FLANNERY: I don't know. I hope so; it was a lot of fun.
CBS.com: You enjoyed traveling to New York?
SUSAN FLANNERY: I love New York; I was born there, went to high school there.
Tune in on Monday, October 13 to see Susan Flannery's Guiding Light directorial debut.
www.cbs.com/daytime/guiding_light/interviews/interviews.php?sec=0
Susan Flannery
She's been reigning over the Forrester family over at The Bold and the Beautiful for over twenty years but few people know that Susan Flannery (Stephanie) is also an acomplished director. Recently she took on directing an episode of another CBS Daytime Drama, Guiding Light. CBS.com caught up with Susan following her return back to Los Angeles.
CBS.com: How did the directing opportunity at GL come about?
SUSAN FLANNERY: I was [so] fascinated by the way they were doing the show that I went to Barbara Bloom, the president of Daytime [to see] if they thought I could go back and observe. Ellen Wheeler, GL's executive producer, was so gracious and welcoming. I went to New York and spent 3 days. I really love Ellen. When I was there a conversation came up about directing and I said I'd really love to direct, and Ellen said we'd work it out.
CBS.com: You've directed episodes of B&B in the past.
SUSAN FLANNERY: I've directed an awful lot.
CBS.com: So how did you get interested in directing?
SUSAN FLANNERY: Well Bill Bell Sr. [B&B Creator] asked me my first year on B&B to direct. A lot of people don't know that.
CBS.com: When did you start directing then on the show?
SUSAN FLANNERY: I think it was the second year on the air. I got nominated by the Directors Guild twice, so that I was very pleased about.
CBS.com: Do you watch GL?
SUSAN FLANNERY: When they first changed the format, I thought, wow, what are they doing--that's really interesting. And I watched a few episodes in my dressing room when I wasn't on stage. At first I thought, wow, then I was trying to figure out what they were going for and then I slowly became fascinated by it. To me it's just a whole new exciting way to do the show and it's a work in progress. It's really improving; the stories are getting so fantastic.
CBS.com: What experiences were you able to bring to GL coming from a soap background.
SUSAN FLANNERY: Years of acting and directing. I was just able to bring that to the set, but truly it was more of a learning experience for me than for the cast and crew from me.
CBS.com: How was it working with Kim Zimmer (Reva, GL)? You guys are friends correct?
SUSAN FLANNERY: Kim, everyone, the cast is amazing. It was such a pleasure. You only had to make a little suggestion here or there and everyone was prepared and that's very important. The great fun was the crew, the cast, was delightful and supportive. I said to them in the beginning of the day, I don't expect you to save my "you know what" but if you see I am missing something just say so because my ego doesn't run that way. My producer, David Brannon, was fantastic. He's the line producer of the day and we just clicked instantly. We stayed on time and we got everything done and I think he was very happy about that. The crew was fabulous and I can't say that enough--they are superb. We have a great crew on B&B, nothing against them.
CBS.com: Did their new format change the way you would have directed?
SUSAN FLANNERY: It's much faster. You get to do shots that you wouldn't have the chance to do otherwise. If you are shooting the show conventionally they are done with a runway and sets on either sides. Sometimes they bring in a steady-cam or a crane. But I think this is fabulous, these are small 9 pound cameras. You can put them just about any place. You can stick an actor in a closet and open it up a smidge to get the camera in and you're in business. It frees things up and really loosens things up and gives a new reality to the actors, especially all the outdoor shooting.
CBS.com: Did you only direct the indoor scenes?
SUSAN FLANNERY: Yes. Later in the week Ellen shoots in New Jersey all the outdoor scenes for the week. It's really interesting how things are done.
CBS.com: You've worked on both sides of the camera. What makes a good director?
SUSAN FLANNERY: I can get myself in trouble for this! I think it helps if you've been an actor. But then you can't just be an actor and say you want to be a director. You have to be fascinated and educated by all the aspects of the technology.
CBS.com: We've heard the phrase "an actors' director;" I'd consider you one. Can you describe what that is?
SUSAN FLANNERY: People swear by Woody Allen and Martin Scorsese, meaning that they truly understand the process the actor goes through to achieve the emotions in a scene and they also make the actor or actress feel comfortable in the environment so they can open up. They are willing to listen to the actor's suggestions and pull them into the process and make them feel a part of the production. I think the ability to communicate with the actor is a big thing.
CBS.com: What can you tease about your episode?
SUSAN FLANNERY: Reva gets up on a bar! Who-hoo. It's Reva dealing with her pregnancy and how that's affecting her; it's really good stuff.
CBS.com: Will you direct any future episodes?
SUSAN FLANNERY: I don't know. I hope so; it was a lot of fun.
CBS.com: You enjoyed traveling to New York?
SUSAN FLANNERY: I love New York; I was born there, went to high school there.
Tune in on Monday, October 13 to see Susan Flannery's Guiding Light directorial debut.
Interesting read! Hope she didn't enjoy it too much!! I want her ON SCREEN not behind the camera ... In N.Y! 
