Rocky Carroll, NCIS: Role Models, Spin-Offs and Extreme Emotions
Hello again,
As always, thanks for reading and respond to this blog. I really enjoyed reading your responses to the last entry. It's great to hear about the people who motivate and inspire you. I have to believe that Ms. Streep is fully aware of the impact she's had on a generation of actors. I'd love to someday tell her how she impacted my life, but if that doesn't happen, it's still OK.
This is a very interesting topic. When a performer understands their ability to influence others, it colors their decisions and gives them a profound sense of purpose. There are projects/roles that I have turned down or walked away from because I believed they could have a negative impact on others. Someone is always watching and taking their cues from your actions.
Many times we impact others without knowing it. I'm very aware of that. I wish more people who are in the public eye had some degree of awareness. I don't think every public figure is equipped to be a "role model" for others. I think that's one of the most overused terms in the English language. How often do you read an article or see a clip of celebrities behaving badly and think, "Don't they know that people are watching?" "Don't they know that their actions could somehow influence/impact others?" I guess the answer is no, for some of them. Like I said, interesting topic. I'd like to hear your thoughts.
Well, we had our first meeting/read-through of the NCIS spinoff. It was fun to sit down with the new team on one side of the conference table and our team sitting across from them. I'm excited about the future for the new show. We are all connected to the NCIS "mothership," but it's exciting to think that very soon Chris O'Donnell, L.L. Cool J and the rest of the cast will be on their own, carving out their on place on the air. I wish them all the best.
Erin Lee — you asked about some of the more emotional scenes on NCIS and if they are hard to shoot. The answer is yes! There are so many factors in play when shooting a highly emotional scene. In one of my earlier entries, I talked about the importance of developing a craft as an actor. Well, this is where an actor's craft truly comes into play. When you are in a scene where you are dealing with extreme emotions, anger, joy, sadness, etc; it can be exhausting. Depending on the number of people in the scene, how many angles the director wants to shoot, you may have to repeat a highly emotional scene dozens of times. So, you have to learn to pace yourself. Some actors simply have an innate ability to deliver every time. They can cry on cue for take No. 1 or take No. 25 — amazing. I never ask another actor what they draw from to reach the needed emotional state for a scene, because that's too personal. I hope I answered your question.
Always a pleasure,
Rocky Carroll
