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Preferences Chris as Director Tom Fontana TV Directors Movie Directors PREFERENCES "Silence is golden, action divine" is Chris's attitude towards receiving direction when acting (Mar 30 2000). The kind of director he prefers is "a director that understands the actor's point of view and not just the mechanics of the camera. A director that can get his/her point across in few words: the clearer the point of view, and the fewer words used, the better" (Nov 14 2000). Christopher has not had the best of luck with directors. He says, "Very, very, very few directors that I've come across know anything about acting, the acting process, or how to talk with actors. There is a language that one must understand (or at least it helps) in order to interact with an actor in order to get the best out of them" (Mar 29 2002). A fan asked Chris's advice on how to deal with a difficult director and also said, "I've bitten through my finger twice" because of the problem. Chris replied, "Welcome to the world of non-talents. And at whatever level you ascend to, you will be forced to work and deal with them. If ya got the power to push yer idea, go for it. If not, get bandaids for yer fingers" (Sept 26 2002). CHRIS AS DIRECTOR Chris says that eventually in his career, he will direct (Dec 27 1999), but also says he's never taken any filmmaking classes (Aug 13 2000). He says that he would "rather swim in waters I know," in response to a question about whether he'd rather direct an episode of a show with which he had been involved, as opposed to one with which he hadn't been involved (Mar 30 2000). Speaking hypothetically from a director's standpoint (and commenting on whether actors make good directors), Chris says, "I know what I want, but I'm secure enough in my position to listen. Input is great, but the final word has got to come from somewhere. My limited experience has been that actors are great directors, 'cause they understand our needs and processes" (Aug 20 2000). One fan asked what kind of director Chris would make and provided a description of a number of different directing styles. Chris's answer incorporated elements of each description; he said that he would be an "interpreter who collaborates with Director of Photography for the visual and who knows the acting, so he can communicate with the actors...Make sense??" (Dec 4 2000) If he had to direct a movie starring Lee Tergesen, Chris says, "If it were a comedy, no directing would be necessary - just get out of his way. Any project would be great and suitable. Lee is just a great actor and awesome to work with. How about Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice?" (Apr 18 2000) TOM FONTANA Chris first met Tom Fontana in L.A., in a meeting at the Chateau Marmon (Dec 27 1999). He describes Tom as "open and honest. Turns the job into family" (Mar 26 2000). When asked to explain the "enigma that is Tom Fontana," Chris replied: "The enigma is: his love to laugh is only exceeded by his discipline towards work. Aside from that, he is truly one of the most giving, fair, loving human beings I've ever met and he's the patron saint of actors" (Dec 14 2000). Chris also says that Tom is known as "St. Thomas of Fontana, for his wisdom and caring nature" (Aug 26 2000). Chris described the process of providing ideas to Tom Fontana for Season 3 of Oz as "I give him the fabric, he makes the suit" (Mar 26 2000) and said that of the suggestions he gave, Tom "followed through" with most of them (June 14 2000). "Like the universe, it is infinite and expanding" is what Chris said about Tom's talent (July 3 2000). Although Chris was "not a fan of the video stuff" on Tom's show The Beat, he said, "The guy's got balls for trying stuff" (Apr 26 2000). On a personal level, Chris said that he would like "a beatification for Fontana from the Pope" (Oct 9 2001), because "he is a man of moral integrity. He's generous in spirit. He possesses the best qualities of being human" (Oct 23 2001). Chris also says, "Selfishness is definitely not one of Tom's traits" (Apr 28 2000). In short, Chris would work with Tom Fontana again "in a heartbeat," but adds, "The bastard better start paying me more, though" (Dec 27 1999). TV DIRECTORS Chris would not prefer to work with only one director, but "could do without" some of the ones he did work with on Oz and SVU (Mar 7 2000). Chris liked working with Terry Kinney and thought Terry did a terrific job when directing Oz (Apr 17 2000; Oct 19 2001). He thinks that Ted Kotcheff, who directed him in an episode of SVU, is "a great director" (Apr 3 2001). Of the "celebrity" directors he's worked with, Chris says, "Just know that I love Kathy Bates and Steve Buscemi" (May 5 2000) and "Kathy and Steve are still the top 'celebrity director' picks" (Aug 28 2001). He's also said, "Kathy Bates, I am madly in love with - great, great director and person" (June 12 2000). When asked if he "knows/associates/enjoys Steve Buscemi," Chris said, "I know/enjoy/love/respect - would not be so presumptuous as to say 'associate' " (Sept 21 2003). It was a coincidence that Steve Buscemi ended up directing in “Cuts Like a Knife,” the last episode Chris filmed for Season 4 of Oz (Feb 12 2001). MOVIE DIRECTORS Garry Marshall, who directed Chris in Runaway Bride, is "a god and a great, great human being" (Apr 17 2000). Chris very much appreciated Terry Gilliam as a director, since he "allows for the actor to create - wonderful professional freedom" (Apr 17 2000). Chris's experience working on Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas was a "love affair with Terry" (Apr 20 2005). A fan who asked if Chris ever gets shy or tongue-tied was told that this happens to Chris when he meets "someone I respect greatly. Terry Gilliam was like that" (June 19 2000). When asked if he's ever been star-struck, Chris admitted, "Terry Gilliam shook me" (Aug 13 2000). About the Wachowski brothers, Chris said, "From how they shot Bound, I could see they understood the camera and how to tell a story visually. How deep The Matrix was really impressed me. Would work with them in a heartbeat" (Aug 30 2000). Chris took the starring role in Murder in Greenwich partly because he had worked with the director before (Sept 26 2002; Feb 16 2003). "John Woo" is a non-American director whose work intrigues Chris (July 7 2000). Although he likes Woo's "use of the camera - very sinuous and active," Chris doesn't have a favourite Woo film (July 7 2000). Chris thinks that Stanley Kubrick was a "great director," even though "Eyes Wide Shut bored me" (Oct 10 2000). Chris could not say whom he preferred when asked to choose between Francis Ford Coppola and Martin Scorsese, saying that it's "a tie" (Apr 4 2001). He has not yet worked with director Barry Levinson, saying, "I don't even know if Barry knows I exist" (Apr 29 2000). When a fan commented that Chris would be perfect in a Woody Allen film, Chris replied, "Woody knows where to find me" (Apr 22 2000). Last updated: March 04/06 | |