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) Back to VCAP Main Page