Interview With David Boreanaz!

As I told you in the first post, I asked four questions of David Boreanaz during the interview, but there were other journalists that took part too. Some were very impressive! (For example, Entertainment Weekly, Boston Herald and others…) I was totally honored to be able to take part in it. I know you readers want to hear every word that was said, so here’s the rest of the interview. (I absolutely hate reading interviews where the person only gives me a few of their own interpretations of what the person said. I like to know exactly what they said. I hope you agree….)

Q: This was your first year in a production capacity on Bones. Could you talk about how the strike affected you as a producer?

David: Well, obviously with the whole paradigm shift and thinking about the story lines and whatnot, the ideas of having the characters come together in certain circumstances, as far as the actual production part of the show, I don’t really take part in that. As far as the day-to-day line producing budgets and all that. As far as the creativity and the story lines and working ideas internally and not sharing them with any writers but obviously making sense of them and continuously thinking about ideas that I can bring to the table now that I’m starting to do. Things you’ll see in the shows we are shooting now and in the next four or five episodes.

Q: When I talked to Emily a while back, she was a bit cautious about whether or not Booth & Bones should get together. It seems like we keep inching closer and closer to that. What is your thought about them getting together?
(click on “Read More” for the rest!)

David: I think they already are. I don’t think they were ever necessarily apart. The function of the relationship is really the function of the show in a lot of ways. These two characters drive these plot lines, they drive these shows. They put them in circumstances or in areas where they wouldn’t necessarily think they would be in and it brings them together as characters or it pulls them apart. The kiss, for example at Christmas, was a dare and they both knew it was coming and it brought them closer. It obviously won’t affect them greatly but they know that the kiss happened. I think it happened smartly, the way they did it. I think we’ll start putting ourselves in those situations but we’re not going to go to a place where it’s the whole nine. We’ll keep teasing and flirting with the audience. I don’t think that’s a problem at all.

Q: I know that some of the story lines had to be put off and not dealt with this season because of the strike. Could you talk about what we won’t be seeing and is there a thought that we’ll be seeing it next season instead?

David: The whole aspect of the serial killer as far as that story line and what Hart and Stephen wanted to do with it, you would have to ask them more specifically as far as the dynamics of that are concerned. I think obviously that was affected in the way we’ll wrap that up. It’s pretty much a part of a two-parter that we shot before the writers’ strike. We shot a potential season ender that was a big cliff-hanger. It was very dangerous and detrimental to a character and in the second part we finished that up in a way that will keep the audience guessing and will at the same time see how the relationship between these two get better. There were stories that we wanted to tell that we couldn’t because of only getting six episodes in now.

Q: And have you liked this story line this season of the serial killer?

David: No. Not at all. For me, I’ve always maintained that the show is the relationship. I maintain that the show is about the characters and that it’s about the two of us learning through the crimes. It’s the journey that we take is the most important part.

Q: Bones keeps moved around in time slots more than most shows on TV. How do you think it’s affected the show’s popularity?

David: It’s a very successful show. We’re a different show. We’re a cult show that thrives on relationship. And we’ve proven, if we’re on Wednesday or Tuesday or Friday or even Monday, our fans will follow us. I mean, there’s no show out there that has a therapist that has to deal with couple’s counseling to help them deal with each other in the work force. That’s just not on television.

Q: Is it ever hard to keep some of the darker and sadder story lines from affecting you?

David: I think I tap into the relationship again. I just go back to Booth and Brennan and our relationship if it gets too crazy. I think it’s the flip side of the show, the darkness of the show. We show the crimes and how horrific they are and then we cut to the humor of the show. We can go and banter over the crime scene and then it hits that it’s some pretty heavy stuff that we’re looking at. There’s a fine line there and it’s an interesting balance. If it’s anything having to do with children I can’t… It’s difficult, obviously.

Q: Are there moments when you are squeamish about the bones and the bodies?

David: No, not me. I’m so tuned in the relationship with her and the character work that I sometimes forget about where I’m standing. (chuckles) Booth’s perspective is that he’s squeamish to begin with, so that helps. When I have to go there, it does work.

Q: You have great comedic timing. We’ve seen that on your previous work. Is the dialog between you and Emily ad-libbed at all?

David: We work on every episode on the weekends with an acting coach who is very highly respected. She helps us find a lot of those moments. We work on the scripts on the weekends for every scene, for every moment during the week. So we come in with an improvisational arc, knowing where we’re going to add stuff. So by the time we show up and rehearse, and we begin shooting we just throw it all out on the table. I think that’s the beauty of our relationship and our chemistry. It’s really solid and it’s getting better. We did a scene yesterday that was so much fun. We really started pushing each other’s buttons. It was fun to have the ability to go there with a co-star who does that with you. Also to be in the third season where we have the beauty and the freedom as a producer to go to those places that you weren’t allow to in the first season.

Q: Is your therapy going to continue throughout the rest of the season?

David: Yeah, I think that having that other perspective works on a show like this. He fills that void perfectly. We tried before with a couple of other characters and it just didn’t really sing. I think with Sweets, he fits perfectly. In how he affects their relationship, I think it’s a great idea.

Q: Is Booth’s mocking of his age coming from you or is it scripted?

David: That’s me. (chuckles) It’s funny; we’ll do a lot of improvisation while we’re in that therapy. You do have to do one that’s scripted, a little bit. (chuckles again) It’s just so great to be a part of when you’re having so much fun. A lot of those young comments… I have to come up with some new stuff. (chuckles) The new arsenal is coming out soon.

Q: There’s word that you’ll be shooting some episodes in England later. Any plans to do that or bring back Stephen Fry?

David: The will occur somewhere for a couple of shows, and as far as Stephen Fry is concerned, I know we’d love to have him back. He was great to work with and was a great character. And to see him interact with Sweets, if that would be possible, would be great.

Q: You mentioned the season ending that had already shot. Will you be skipping over that and shooting new stuff or will you still be using it?

David: No, we’re keeping that show. And we’re even shooting another part to that show. So actually it serves two purposes. We had that for the possibility of a wash of the season so we could get some fresh episodes in.

Q: You mentioned at the Paley Center about your desire to do some directing on the show next year. Could you talk a bit about what you had in mind?

David: It’s just the opportunity to have fun with an episode. I have a lot of original ideas that I’ve pitched to Hart that I would love to be a part of. I’d like to bring some ideas to fruition or even to put pen to paper and do some writing. Those are opportunities that you have to take advantage of as an artist. You’d be foolish not to. I think if you work in the medium and you have the opportunity to do it, you should go for it.

Q: Do you think you’d have any difficulty directing yourself?

David: I think there has to be a balance, of course. I mean, how does one direct oneself? I’ve tried to do that and it is difficult. I’ve done it before, so I just go and do it and see what happens.

Q: What are some of your favorite things about Booth and what are some of you no-so-favorite things about him?

David: There are a lot of things I do like about him, since I work from the inside on my experiences. There are a lot of things I don’t like about him. His stubbornness can be a bit unattractive at times. His seeing it one way and not the other can be annoying. That’s it for him. He’s a real blue collar guy. He’s always been that type of guy and that’s what I’ve embraced. I keep learning a lot through this character. It’s been an interesting process with him. You know, I embrace the socks because I wear the same socks. (chuckles) I embrace a lot of stuff he does. Booth is a little bit more Catholic than I am. I wish I was more of a practicing Catholic, but I’m not. I guess that would be one thing I dislike about myself sometimes.

After we had reached the time limit for asking him questions, he had this to say to us (proving what I said about him being a nice guy.)

I just want to thank everybody for spending the time with me. Right now I’m in New York, in the NHL building. It’s been fun talking about the show and I’m looking forward to the shows coming up. We’re all very proud of them and we look forward to making many more to entertain you.

Be sure to read my questions David answered in the conference call yesterday too!

bones, tv, Television, David Boreanaz