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General Attitude Getting The Part Shooting Working On The Set Relationships Crew Random Facts GENERAL ATTITUDE When asked about the Law and Order: SVU emphasis on storylines, rather than on characters, Chris said, "I'd like to see a few more moments of personal interaction. I don't think you have to delve deeply into the personal lives, but windows into the characters, I think, will only enhance the series" (June 1 2001). Although he says Stabler family scenes are "good" and that he would like see more of them "in tiny dollops," Chris acknowledges that such scenes are "difficult to place in the Law and Order structure" (Apr 17 2000; Feb 2 2005). Christopher says that "15%" of SVU scripts bother him. Since joining SVU, he can no longer "stand to read or hear about" sex crimes (Dec 25 2002). However, he became a father, Chris finds that his role as Stabler has become more personal (Apr 14 2001) and that "anything that deals with kids…that pisses me off" (Oct 27 2004). In particular, the SVU episode "Shaken" was "pretty tough. Having kids brings the pain of many of these crimes closer to home, closer to the bone" (Apr 8 2004). A fan asked whether there was ever a storyline that stuck with Chris too much, to the extent that he could not get out of his head. He replied, "Certain scenes will stick with me because an actress (usually) has done a great job with it - a painful job. But…no, there's too much emotionally charged stuff coming all the time. I can't get too bogged down in the seriousness of each episode" (Sept 24 2000). Although "things bleed over at times" into his personal life, Chris tries to "let it bleed through my pores and try to find fun wherever I can" (Jan 12 2005). As for people who work in these fields in real life, he finds that he "really can't give you any advice because I don't know how you deal with the real stuff - it ain't pretty" (Jan 20 2005). However, Chris also takes a more philosophical view of the work he does on SVU: "Because there are real-life people out there that have been victimized, that reality hits me often. People have stopped me on the street to share…the scripts are nothing compared to the reality. What can I say" (Sept 29 2003). Due to SVU, survivors of sexual abuse have approached Chris "many times. When they talk with me, I feel strangely honored. I re-look at what I'm doing with a renewed sense of...focus? It is just a TV show, but at its best, it is something much more. I don't want to make it overly self-important, but it can be a show that touches people's lives in a profound and at times cathartic way - it doesn't hurt for me to be reminded of that and to honor that" (Sept 29 2003). According to Chris, SVU is popular because "people like to examine the darkest aspects of the human condition" (Aug 20 2000). When asked if he thinks a person who loves SVU and Oz is demented or sadistic, he said, "I think if you enjoy doing the things that are perpetrated on either show as a steady diet/lifestyle kinda thing, then you're a sadist" (Aug 20 2000). Christopher doesn't know if he has a "personal take" on Stabler's personal tragedy, but his "acting take is that right now, it's a fun ride" (Jan 12 2005). Elliot's constant rage "a bit draining to act" (Apr 5 2005) and is "exhausting…but very satisfying" (Apr 20 2005). On a lighter note, regarding "getting it on with Mariska," Chris asks, "Can't we just play doctor or something?" (Jan 24 2005) He also says that the only "smooching to look forward to" will occur "only if you catch us in my trailer" (Jan 24 2005). In an effort to clarify the meaning of a photograph showing Chris and Mariska coming very close to kissing over a body bag, Chris said, "It means we're getting together off the show…don't tell our spouses" (Jan 20 2005). GETTING THE PART To get the role as Elliot Stabler, Chris did an initial test solo, meaning that he "read scenes from the pilot for Dick twice, then tested for the suits with scenes" (Apr 22 2000). SHOOTING Chris says that his "call times vary," but on a typical day he starts at "6 or 7 a.m. Shot set-ups average 15 - 20 minutes." He gets about 15 minutes to rehearse a scene and aside from "a few down moments for lighting," Chris says, "I'm there about 14 - 15 hours." His "average time home is 9:30 - 10:00" (Mar 12 2000; Apr 21 2000; June 12 2000; Jan 20 2005). Per episode, "SVU takes eight days to shoot. Weekends off" (Apr 24 2000). "For the most part," the SVU cast does its own stunts (Oct 9 2002), leading Chris to explain why Elliot, and not Olivia, does all the kicking down of doors on the show: "If the purpose is to get into an apartment, you wanna do it quickly. I'm stronger than Marish. If, in the scene, we had cops who were bigger than I, I would suggest they do the kicking" (Nov 7 2001). He adds, "I choreograph all my stunts one way or another" and says that a side kick that Elliot delivered to a suspect in one episode was his idea (Feb 2 2005). WORKING Chris enjoys working on SVU "very much," calling his co-workers a "great group" (Apr 5 2005). Regarding being on network television, he adds, "I'm just thankful I did not get stuck on a show I hated. I feel our people really try to make the best, intelligent topical commercial TV they can - is a nice goal to be associated with. Steady work is also nice, great learning environment" (Feb 21 2001). His favourite thing about working on SVU is "learning and figuring things out" (Jan 12 2005). As of September 7, 2004, Chris doubted that SVU would end within the following three years. If SVU were to finish tomorrow, Chris would not continue to play Elliot Stabler solo in a new Dick Wolf show (Apr 5 2005). Because of his work schedule on SVU, Chris has had to turn down about three offers for guest spots or appearances (Apr 6 2001). ON THE SET The SVU set consists of "a lot of people who like each other enormously, hang out occasionally, and are very serious about their work and about their jokes" (Mar 3 2000). The mood on the set is "fun, exhausted, family but professional and familiar" (Apr 29 2001) and Chris says that the on-set comedy "keeps me up and amped" (Apr 18 2000). Chris has "no real insight" into the pranks played or bloopers made on the set and says, "Just know that…uh, well…we think we're really funny" (Apr 5 2005). He says, "Everybody gets the giggles, especially when you work as many hours as we do" (Apr 8 2004), but refuses to reveal the content of some of their jokes: "It's a 'Ya have to be there' kinda thing" (Mar 26 2000). On the set, the cast talks about "everything under the sun" (Jan 20 2005). Christopher says that one challenge in memorizing dialogue for a weekly series is "not getting lazy" (Mar 2 2000) and, in disclosing what he does that annoys his castmates, he says, "I am a bit of a perfectionist" (Oct 9 2002). RELATIONSHIPS Chris says, "I'd say I'm very close to all of the actors and the crew" (Nov 4 2004), but has said that he thinks he feels closest to "Belzer and Mariska" (Nov 3 2001). He was "bummed" when Dean Winters told him he was leaving SVU (Apr 24 2000). On getting together outside of work: "I see my castmates outside work say…once a month. It ain't like Ally McBeal where we work, argue, love and then hunker down around Vonda Shepard, ya know" (Mar 1 2003). However, Chris would say that, off the set, the cast hangs out "quite a bit. Dann Florek is spending this weekend with me" (Nov 4 2004). CREW Chris has commented on several "behind the scenes" people who help create SVU. The show employs "very smart, empathetic writers. They do months of research for most of the scripts written" (Feb 5 2004). The cast makes "comments on probably the third draft" of the scripts (Nov 16 2004). When asked if he has some say in recommending people who had worked on Oz to do subsequent work on SVU, Chris said SVU has been "gracious enough to ask my input on actors as well as directors" (Jan 19 2001). Neal Baer, writer and executive producer of SVU, is a "great, smart man" (Apr 26 2005) and "a godsend. I could not be happier - the guy has truly got it going on and we are benefiting" (Apr 3 2001). Chris says he has to do about "20 minutes per episode" in looping lines in a typical episode of SVU, and says they have a "great sound man" (Apr 24 2000). Tom Keller (no relation to Chris Keller, says Meloni) does the costumes on SVU and Chris says, "I love what Tom does" (Apr 8 2004). Christopher explains why he's been known to thank the crew members for their work after long nights of filming: "These are people that facilitate my dream. I didn't have to learn from anyone to appreciate that" (Apr 26 2000). RANDOM FACTS If Chris could get anyone to guest-star on SVU, it would be Robert DeNiro (Apr 15 2004). The SVU episode where Stabler goes to Prague was filmed "in and around New York and with the help of a green screen" (Feb 16 2003). His favourite episode of SVU is "Pique" (Nov 4 2004). Christopher used to throw out his old scripts (May 18 2000), but now, he saves old scripts through the production office of SVU (May 22 2002) and "never knew" of the existence of SVU-based fan fiction (Feb 16 2003). Chris would like to have "a Japanese landscape painted on my wall" and "plants" added to his SVUdressing room (Apr 24 2000). Last updated: March 04/06 | |