Rocky Carroll, NCIS: Peeling Back the Onion
Hello again!
I've been looking over the responses from my first two entries. I want to say thanks again for your interest, insights and thoughtful questions!
I like the image that Jonih59 used in his response. Yes, Jonih59, the "Peeling back of the onion" is definitely the approach that the showrunners are using this season. When we shot the scene in "Judgement Day" (last season's finale ) where Vance breaks up the NCIS team and sends them to different parts of the world, we were not given that scene until the night we were going to shoot it. We literally read the final scene for the first time 45 minutes before we shot it. [NCIS executive producer] Shane Brennan had informed me a week before what was going to happen, but I was sworn to secrecy. I couldn't tell any of the other cast members what I knew! It was amazing. So, the reactions on the faces of the characters when they learned of their fates came from a very real place.
I'd also like to respond to a question from Jabianca, from last week's entry. I'm now working with two great producers, Shane Brennan and Charles Floyd Johnson. Charles is one of the few African-American exec producers in network television. I think Charles and I share the same belief that excellence is indeed the greatest weapon in the fight against racism and prejudice. We talk very freely and openly about the cultural and racial landscape of our industry. Yes, I think having Charles as EP does help lend some very valuable insight in the crafting of a character like "Vance." I hope I've answered your question ...at least partially. I'm a firm believer that getting the job is important, but doing the job well is mandatory.
Thanks for reading, all! Until next week,
Rocky Carroll
