Rocky Carroll, NCIS: Talking Show Tunes, Training & Toothpicks
Greetings all,
I'm having a very good time writing this blog and reading your responses. I didn't write this much when I was in college! In fact, I still owe a couple of term papers to my freshman English teacher from 1981. I'll get right on that, after I finish this entry....
There have been a number of great questions about Vance that I want to address. Funny, when I talk or write about the character that I play on NCIS I think of him as someone else. I could never say "me" or "I" when referring to the character. I had a conversation recently with executive producer Shane Brennan. I love talking to him about the show. There's a twinkle in his eye when he speaks about NCIS. He will not go into great detail about future episodes or plotlines, but he still manages to give up just enough info to fuel your imagination. That's perfect for me. I trust the direction the producers are taking the show. It keeps things fresh. That being said, there's one statement from Mr. Brennan that I believe speaks volumes: Nothing that happens on NCIS is arbitrary. If something happens in an episode that is unclear at the moment (e.g. Vance shredding a document from his personal file in last season's finale), it will be answered in a future episode. Yes, we will start to discover more about Vance in the future. I believe that there's a Vance-centric episode in our future. What will we learn about him? I wish I knew.
I'd like to let "Dorjean" know that "dutchgirl07" correctly answered your questions about the bruises you noticed on Gibbs in the last episode. Those are injuries he sustained in the "Dagger" episode and are still healing. Thanks Dutchgirl07.
To "NCISgirl101": Yes, I did my share of musicals in the past but I won't be belting out any show tunes during my Early Show interview. I'm still trying to solidify Vance's persona. I'm afraid if you see me on a morning talk show doing a number from Guys and Dolls or Man of La Mancha it may change your image of Vance forever. I can't take that chance.
While I'm on the subject, I'll respond to "Taylor Carlson," who wanted to know if I thought formal training was important for actors. I've worked with so many actors with different backgrounds. Some of them were classically trained, some were from the Actor's Studio and some have had no formal training at all. I've worked with some amazing actors who had no formal training.
Conversely, I've worked with actors who come from some of the world's most prestigious training programs ... and they are horrible actors! No, I won't give any names so, no one need ask (wink). There's no substitution for talent. Talent can't be taught, but it can certainly be refined. I graduated with a Theatre Arts degree from Webster U. in St. Louis. I'm very proud of that degree. I'm glad I chose to go to a training program, Taylor. It was the right thing for me. I almost left after my sophomore year, but Meryl Streep convinced me that I had so much more to learn and that I should train as much as possible before declaring myself a professional actor. I'll save the Meryl Streep story for another time. I credit her for my decision to stay in school. She doesn't know that and someday I hope to tell her. I had the chance to tell her the one and only time we met but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I promise to tell that whole story soon.
I know that my career would not have lasted this long if I had not trained as an actor. I still consider myself a student of the craft. I know that when we're filming on any given day and we're into the thirteenth hour of shooting and doing Take 15 of a scene, that's where my training certainly kicks in. The ability to do one or two takes well suggests talent, but to be able to deliver a great performance during Take 15 demands technique. However you develop that technique is right as long as it works for you.
Finally to "Miss Anne S." regarding Vance's toothpick. The toothpick came with the role. It was in the character description from the beginning, not my own invention. However, I needed to justify it for me. I've decided that Vance (at some point in his life) was a cigarette smoker and the toothpick is a substitute. An annoying substitute. You don't see the toothpick as often as you did when Vance was introduced in the series. Now that Vance has been elevated to director, it's not seen much. However, when faced with a very stressful situation and in the privacy of his office that's probably when the toothpick will most likely appear.
One last thing: I've read some responses about the Abby/Vance scene from "Dagger" that took place in Abby's lab. That is one of my favorite scenes that I've done, so far. I don't have many scenes with Pauley [Perrette] and we were both looking forward to shooting that scene when we read the script. I love Pauley's portrayal of Abby. She's so innately true to herself and her job at NCIS. I wish Vance could do a scene in Abby's lab every week. That scene made me laugh, I'm glad I wasn't the only one.
