Crew Information and Quotes
Bob Goodwin
Executive Producer
Sets the schedules, hires the directors,
preps the directors, works with casting and the art department
designing sets or finding locations. Works with special effects and
visual effects people. Ensures everyone has a direction for the
episode in question.
"It's not like a regular series in which
you have a number of sets that always work. Every show is a whole new
part of the world - new locations and monsters and special effects."
When asked why the show is successful:
- Great idea backed up by great
scripts
- David and Gillian, two incredibly
talented people who fit together with great charisma.
- The way we mount and produce the show,
the quality we bring to it.
Coreen Mayrs
Casting
"When I read an X-Files script I go with my
instinct when it comes to casting. I usually know what the director
and the writer are going to want. I study very carefully the likes
and dislikes of each of those people every time I work with them, and
I work with the same people on a rotating basis for the most
part."
Lisa Ratke
Extras Casting
On finding extras for Patient X/The Red and
The Black:
"It's actually easier sometimes to cast
more people, especially because this script needs average looking
Americans. So, it's easier to do than if you have just 4 or 5 people
- then you have to pay attention to whether they're good actors or
not because they're closer up to the action."
Mark D. Currie
Second Assistant Director
Tom Braidwood
First Assistant Director
Creates a workable shooting schedule for
each episode.
"Once we get a script we prep it for 8
days. On the 7th day we go out on a final technical survey of various
locations, and that's when the writer of the episode comes up. On the
8th day we have the final production meeting with all the heads of
the departments. We'll go through the script and discuss all the
elements and make sure everyone is clear on what we're doing and when
we're doing it. The writer-producer will also sit in on the meeting
and sometimes there are adjustments to the scripts based on what we
talk about. The writer will go away and do re- writes that
incorporate our suggestions and the suggestions he makes
himself."
Graeme Murray
Production Designer
He and his crew decide what the sets are
going to look like.
"You have to get as close to being right as
you can - research is very important. "Chris Carter likes to balance
the weirdness of the show with as much reality as he can, so that you
don't feel that it's all science- fictiony."
Rob Stroby Maier
Contruction Coordinator
Responsible for prepping new sets while
keeping track of ones still shooting.
"There's nobody else in this town, or I'd
go so far as to say LA, who's done what we've done. I watch other
shows and pay attention to their sets, and we're just
smokin'."
"My personal belief is that we've redefined
the standards for television."
Talking about the scripts:
"I read it once just to read it before I
put any marks on it. Then, I read it again, slower, and break it down
not worrying about the story, just worrying abot the parts I'm going
to have to deal with. If they look out a window, I mark that down. If
someone puts their hand on a door, I mark that down. Anything that
has any remote description of a set, I'll mark it down."
Maier's team includes Tom Hunt, Ken
Ladaroute, Alan Burdett
Joel Ransom
Director of Photography
Is in charge of bringing the script to
life. Works with the directors to determine camera angles and
movements. Has to figure out what kind of lighting is required, how
many cameras are needed and what lenses, filters and exposures should
be used.
"I know for me when I go to work I plan on
working 12 hours minimum. But if you go extra innings, that's the way
it goes."
David Gauthier (based in
LA)
Special Effects Coordinator
"We do absolutely everything on this show.
We go from alien goo to flying saucers to planes to trains to boats
to underwater sequences. It's an effects guy's dream."
Steve Houle
On-Set Dresser
Makes sure everything is where it's
supposed to be when the cameras roll to avoid continuity
errors.
Brad McMurray and Shirley
Inget
Set Decorators
Responsible for decorating all the show's
sets.
"Finding all the gizmos and all the little
bits that make it look real - that's our challenge. Offices and
houses are easy. It's always more fun when you get to do unusual
things."
L.Shane Deschamps
Costume Supervisor
Janice Swayze
Assistant Costume Designer
Jenni Gullett
Costume Designer
"Gillian Anderson gives me a lot of input.
She knows what looks good on her and that really helps me. She wears
very fitted suits that really streamline her and actually make her
look taller. The funny thing is everyone thinks she's taller in real
life and everyone thinks David's shorter."
Tony Morelli
Stunt Coordinator
Works with the directors, actors,
producers, stuntmen and stuntwomen to decide who will do what stunt
and how.
"Any one I walk away from is good. You
don't think about it. You just do it, and afterwards you go, 'Wow,
cool.' And that's why I do stunts. It's very cool."
James Bamford
Stuntman (DD's Stunt Double)
"David ultimately decides which stunts he
will do or won't do. It's really up to him. He's a very physical
actor and a gifted athlete. He runs faster than anybody I went to
high school with so he mostly does his own stunts. I'm here mostly
for safety."
Todd Pittson
Location Manager
"Short of Florida or the Deep South we can
make Vancouver look like any place in the world."
Louisa Gradnitzer
Location Manager
On Patient X/The Red and The Black:
"Chris requested, as he put it, 'something
spectacular' and you can't get much bigger than a dam."
The Location Team:
David Caughlin, Location Scout
Alan Bartolic, Location Scout
Ainslie Wiggs, Location Manager's
Assistant
Rick Fearson, Location Manager's
Assistant
Breaks the scripts down by location. Finds
impossible locations. Petitions households to allow the shoot.
Secures permits. Keeps everything running smoothly once shooting
begins. Ensures parking. Protects rights of property owners. Ensures
restoration if damage occurs.
Toby Lindala
Special Effects Makeup
Creates the creatures.
On Patient X/The Red and the Black:
"It's exciting to be furthering the
mythology but a lot of times these episodes are nice because we get a
chance to go back to the effects we had done before."
On The Alien Bounty Hunter:
"His eyes, nose, mouth and ears are
cauterized to seal him - luckily we're only dealing with on-camera
orifices."
Ken Hawryliw
Property Master
"The philosophy I have is the same one
Chris has - if you make the things that you have control over look
realistic, then the things that are strange or unusual are more
credible. A lot of times I'll ask the directors what they want, and
they'll say, 'Just make it look cool.' Actually there are 2 kinds of
directors: One will say, 'Make it look cool,' the other will say,
'Make sure it works."'
Item of interest: Ken played the guy
accused of being a hacker in Unusual Suspects.
(compiled by Laura Capozzola)