WEBVTT - 301: It’s Handled w/ Tom Verica 0:00:00.280 --> 0:00:02.960 Unpacking the Toolbox is a production of Shondaland Audio in 0:00:03.000 --> 0:00:22.960 partnership with Higheartradiots. 0:00:26.440 --> 0:00:27.640 Katie, though. 0:00:32.520 --> 0:00:37.400 We're back, Katie, Oh my gosh, is it Is it true? 0:00:37.920 --> 0:00:42.840 It's true? For now, it's true. It feels real. I'm 0:00:42.880 --> 0:00:45.879 a real boy, you're a real girl, and this is 0:00:45.920 --> 0:00:48.600 a real scandal Rewatch podcast. 0:00:48.880 --> 0:00:55.120 This is it people, It's happening. Hallelujah. The strike has ended. 0:00:55.880 --> 0:00:57.960 We are back, bitches. 0:00:58.480 --> 0:01:02.640 We're back with season two of Unpacking the Toolbox. 0:01:02.880 --> 0:01:06.119 That's right, and no better episode could we be talking 0:01:06.200 --> 0:01:10.479 about than Rolling Out episode one of season three, which 0:01:10.520 --> 0:01:14.920 the question that Harrison Wright asks is are we gladiators 0:01:15.000 --> 0:01:15.920 or are we bitches? 0:01:16.360 --> 0:01:19.520 I always want to say we're bitches, but of course 0:01:19.520 --> 0:01:20.600 we're gladiators. 0:01:20.840 --> 0:01:23.880 I love it well. I think both options are valid. Yes, 0:01:24.160 --> 0:01:27.679 And for our gladiators or bitches that are listening, you 0:01:27.760 --> 0:01:30.440 got to know that this is like the way new 0:01:30.440 --> 0:01:33.160 and improved season coming at you right now. We even 0:01:33.200 --> 0:01:37.399 got a fucking phone number that you can call. Oh 0:01:37.760 --> 0:01:42.120 hell yeah, leave us comments, messages, leave us questions that 0:01:42.160 --> 0:01:43.760 we will ask each. 0:01:43.520 --> 0:01:45.920 Other live twenty four seven. 0:01:46.600 --> 0:01:49.400 Yeah, you want to just call us at three o'clock 0:01:49.440 --> 0:01:51.640 in the morning to talk about scandal. Are your ideas, 0:01:51.640 --> 0:01:54.160 your thoughts? Guests, you'd like to have us? Leave us 0:01:54.160 --> 0:01:57.200 a message, Yeah, leave us a message. 0:01:57.000 --> 0:01:59.600 Talk shit, tell us a story. Yes, I don't give 0:01:59.680 --> 0:02:01.200 up what you said. 0:02:01.280 --> 0:02:03.600 We don't care. We don't care. It's call us at 0:02:03.640 --> 0:02:08.000 eight zero five two nine eight one four seven four 0:02:08.480 --> 0:02:13.519 or send us an email at utt at Shondaland dot com. 0:02:13.919 --> 0:02:15.959 We want to hear from you, guys. I mean, this 0:02:16.120 --> 0:02:19.359 show exists and is so fun and gets to keep 0:02:19.360 --> 0:02:22.040 happening because of all of you gladiators who have been 0:02:22.120 --> 0:02:26.160 listening since episode one and GEARM and I love making them, 0:02:26.200 --> 0:02:29.040 we love doing them. We've got amazing guest line up 0:02:29.120 --> 0:02:32.160 this season. We've got so much new scandal, hot gossip 0:02:32.160 --> 0:02:32.760 to talk about. 0:02:32.960 --> 0:02:35.520 We got a great guest on Today Techweek. 0:02:36.360 --> 0:02:36.800 We do. 0:02:37.320 --> 0:02:39.320 But first of all, Katie, just real quick. I know 0:02:39.440 --> 0:02:42.440 in this episode doing our research, there's no eating in 0:02:42.480 --> 0:02:45.440 this episode, But what did you eat today? Can we 0:02:45.440 --> 0:02:47.400 please just talk about food for two seconds? 0:02:47.680 --> 0:02:52.640 We have to. I had a delicious mint chip smoothie. 0:02:52.720 --> 0:02:56.359 I had I know delicious. I had a sweet potato, 0:02:56.480 --> 0:03:00.320 I had turkey. Guys, you know we're off strike. Sommy's 0:03:00.320 --> 0:03:02.640 about to get back on camera. So Mom's keeping it 0:03:02.880 --> 0:03:04.720 real right and tight up in here. 0:03:05.320 --> 0:03:12.000 Lettuce and water and shit, Oh my god, I had leftovers. 0:03:12.000 --> 0:03:16.040 I had rice and beans and a bunch of steamed 0:03:16.120 --> 0:03:20.400 broccoli and salad with like a Caesar dressing. Oh it 0:03:20.440 --> 0:03:22.880 was so fucking good. But before that, before that, I 0:03:22.919 --> 0:03:26.280 had I juiced my celery and parsley and lime juice, 0:03:26.600 --> 0:03:27.920 and then for lunch, I had that. 0:03:28.280 --> 0:03:31.520 Wow. So you are raring to go, you, but I'm 0:03:31.560 --> 0:03:32.399 also starving. 0:03:34.200 --> 0:03:36.760 I'm also starving. Are you hungry? 0:03:36.800 --> 0:03:40.320 I'm absolutely starving. I'm absolutely starving. I'm drinking water and 0:03:40.400 --> 0:03:47.160 chewing gum. I am so stoked to see you, my friend. 0:03:46.920 --> 0:03:48.800 You too, Katie. I missed you. 0:03:49.120 --> 0:03:51.600 We have just been striking and on the picket line 0:03:51.800 --> 0:03:53.840 and we're in love as always. 0:03:53.480 --> 0:03:54.320 And pre usual. 0:03:54.400 --> 0:03:57.200 But to just get to dive back in and watch 0:03:57.280 --> 0:04:02.120 all these episodes and just have fun, remember what the 0:04:02.160 --> 0:04:05.640 hell was even going on? Yes, it's the absolute best. 0:04:05.760 --> 0:04:08.920 See our baby faces on the screen and be like, 0:04:09.040 --> 0:04:11.240 oh look, how ibies. 0:04:11.600 --> 0:04:15.120 I can't believe I Like, I was adorable. I mean 0:04:15.160 --> 0:04:15.920 I was annoying. 0:04:16.080 --> 0:04:20.040 I was annoying, but I was a durable. I was 0:04:20.120 --> 0:04:21.880 so skinny, we were so. 0:04:21.920 --> 0:04:24.840 Thin, we were we were so little, we were so staty, 0:04:24.880 --> 0:04:25.960 we were so cuties. 0:04:26.200 --> 0:04:28.800 Yeah, and at the time you're like, uh, I look 0:04:28.920 --> 0:04:30.880 like shit. Yeah, looking back, it's like. 0:04:30.880 --> 0:04:32.960 Oh my god, we have to really look at that 0:04:33.040 --> 0:04:35.400 because I feel like I'm forty one and I'm gonna 0:04:35.400 --> 0:04:38.880 look at sixty five back hopefully if I'm lucky, and 0:04:38.920 --> 0:04:41.880 be like, what was my problem? Like my boobs were 0:04:42.000 --> 0:04:46.080 high way higher then than they here at sixty five, 0:04:46.360 --> 0:04:48.640 Like there is nothing to complain about. 0:04:48.839 --> 0:04:51.440 We're never going to look better than right now than 0:04:51.520 --> 0:04:53.200 this moment right now, So. 0:04:53.279 --> 0:04:54.159 Feast your eyes. 0:04:54.240 --> 0:04:54.440 Oh. 0:04:54.560 --> 0:04:59.400 Another hot new edition of the season two of Unpacking 0:04:59.400 --> 0:05:04.160 the Twolbox Use your eyes, Gladiators, is that we are taping. 0:05:04.440 --> 0:05:07.480 There's like video going on, and you're gonna be like 0:05:08.000 --> 0:05:12.919 posting and social mediaizing so you can see our adorable 0:05:12.920 --> 0:05:18.240 faces and laugh with us as we are rewatching these episodes. 0:05:17.800 --> 0:05:22.240 And looking cute. So can we talk about today's guests? 0:05:22.839 --> 0:05:29.680 Yeah, he's like shondaland Royalty Royalty. Yes, this guy is 0:05:30.440 --> 0:05:35.440 real handsome on the eyes, he's real smart, and he's 0:05:35.480 --> 0:05:38.719 a real multi hyphenated artist. 0:05:38.960 --> 0:05:41.920 Oh he sure is right. He's an inspiration man. 0:05:42.080 --> 0:05:44.400 And the other thing about him is that his initials 0:05:44.480 --> 0:05:47.160 are literally tv TV. 0:05:47.360 --> 0:05:50.640 Oh my god. You know, when I knew this man, 0:05:50.839 --> 0:05:54.960 this director, this artist was a down dude. When he 0:05:55.240 --> 0:05:59.200 made me do a scene, a very intense, serious scene 0:05:59.600 --> 0:06:01.800 in h office with I think you were in the 0:06:01.800 --> 0:06:06.880 scene while I was using a shakewaight. It was like 0:06:07.120 --> 0:06:09.920 a three minute scene and I did the whole thing 0:06:11.040 --> 0:06:13.600 work in the shakewaight, and I thought, oh, I love 0:06:13.640 --> 0:06:16.240 this guy. I love him. Do you remember that? 0:06:16.400 --> 0:06:18.760 Because I do? And he was he making you do. 0:06:18.800 --> 0:06:22.239 That for the real Yes, yes, yes. 0:06:22.360 --> 0:06:23.960 I think it ended up on like a behind the 0:06:24.000 --> 0:06:26.840 scenes DVD track of like some season or something. 0:06:26.839 --> 0:06:29.039 But I just thought, how amazing that he's taking the 0:06:29.160 --> 0:06:32.400 time out while we're actually shooting the show we're in production, 0:06:32.800 --> 0:06:35.359 to be like Guermo. Now do the whole scene with 0:06:35.480 --> 0:06:36.200 the shakewaight. 0:06:36.560 --> 0:06:41.920 Well, because tv TV's Tom Verica, he's having fun and 0:06:41.960 --> 0:06:46.160 he just is such a master at having everything under control. 0:06:46.279 --> 0:06:49.279 I've never seen him lose his mind. I've never seen 0:06:49.360 --> 0:06:52.440 him super stressed out. I've never seen him like, oh 0:06:52.440 --> 0:06:54.240 my god, we're never going to make the day. You know, 0:06:54.320 --> 0:06:57.279 a lot of directors. Especially on Scandal, we were shooting 0:06:57.360 --> 0:07:00.359 nine pages a day and it was practically impossible to 0:07:00.360 --> 0:07:04.240 get it all, and TV's Tom Verica just never made 0:07:04.279 --> 0:07:08.120 it feel that way. He was always calm, cool, collected, confident, 0:07:08.320 --> 0:07:10.040 ran the crew, got the cast. 0:07:10.280 --> 0:07:13.160 He was that director, Katie when we'd get a difficult 0:07:13.200 --> 0:07:15.840 script where we were like, yeah, the lead in the 0:07:15.880 --> 0:07:19.040 script and we had to do some emotional work or 0:07:19.080 --> 0:07:22.120 get naked or whatever, and then we'd see who the 0:07:22.120 --> 0:07:24.640 director was and we'd all be like, oh, thank god, 0:07:24.640 --> 0:07:28.120 it's Tom, thank god Tom's directing right. Yes, yes, I 0:07:28.120 --> 0:07:31.800 feel like we always felt safe with him, totally and confident. 0:07:32.120 --> 0:07:33.600 He trusted your instincts. 0:07:33.640 --> 0:07:35.640 He was just not only that, but the guy sky 0:07:35.840 --> 0:07:38.280 ratulated in shonaaland just real quick for y'all who don't 0:07:38.320 --> 0:07:41.800 know who that fuck we're talking about. He's a genius actor, 0:07:41.840 --> 0:07:44.760 like he literally played Viola Davis's husband and How to 0:07:44.760 --> 0:07:47.200 Get Away with Murder. He directed yeah, a billion episodes 0:07:47.240 --> 0:07:50.000 of Scandal. He was our producing director. Then he moved 0:07:50.040 --> 0:07:54.520 on to directing all the Queen Charlotte's producing directs Bridgerton. 0:07:54.640 --> 0:07:56.760 He directs a ton of Bridgertons. I mean, the guy ye. 0:07:56.880 --> 0:07:59.080 Oh my god, he directed me in inventing Anna. The 0:07:59.080 --> 0:08:02.400 guy cannot stop. He is a tent. 0:08:02.280 --> 0:08:06.040 Pole and he's he's in an episode of Seinfeld, like 0:08:06.080 --> 0:08:10.000 a classic episode of Seinfeld. Need I say more? People, 0:08:10.240 --> 0:08:15.800 need I say more? No? Is he here? 0:08:16.160 --> 0:08:25.680 No, I'm not ready. We're not ready. We'reay, We're not worthy. 0:08:26.640 --> 0:08:29.800 We love this human being. This guy is coming to 0:08:29.920 --> 0:08:30.960 us from England. 0:08:31.440 --> 0:08:34.000 Are you in England? It's eleven o'clock at night. 0:08:34.520 --> 0:08:37.840 Oh my god, what are you shooting there? Tom? You're 0:08:37.880 --> 0:08:39.520 shooting Queen Charlotte right now? 0:08:39.840 --> 0:08:42.480 No, no, no, it's we decided to move the family 0:08:42.520 --> 0:08:44.240 over here, so the kids are going to school here 0:08:44.280 --> 0:08:46.240 and we're kind of we're going to play in London 0:08:46.280 --> 0:08:46.960 for a couple of years. 0:08:47.000 --> 0:08:49.520 Oh man, I mean we're back and forth. 0:08:49.559 --> 0:08:53.319 But we're right here, right here, and I are available. 0:08:53.960 --> 0:08:56.959 I have a very good British accent. How is Yules? 0:08:57.640 --> 0:08:59.720 No doubt, it's just lovely. 0:09:01.880 --> 0:09:05.679 We're also turning the scandal Rewatch podcast into an audition auditions. 0:09:05.720 --> 0:09:08.400 We're going to audition all the time and we have guests. 0:09:08.800 --> 0:09:11.160 This is so thrilling. Thank you for being here. 0:09:11.960 --> 0:09:14.520 Absolutely so honored to be here. 0:09:14.640 --> 0:09:18.319 Tom. We've just been saying you are the tent pole 0:09:19.240 --> 0:09:23.920 of Shondaland, and I just we have so many little 0:09:23.920 --> 0:09:27.080 memories to talk about. But first the first little official 0:09:27.200 --> 0:09:28.880 order of business that we should get to, because this 0:09:29.080 --> 0:09:34.840 is the premiere You're welcome episode of season two. It's confusing, 0:09:34.840 --> 0:09:36.920 it's season two of Unpacking the Toolbox, but it's season 0:09:37.000 --> 0:09:40.800 three of Scandal, and we real quick are just going 0:09:40.800 --> 0:09:42.360 to get the logistics out of the way with the 0:09:42.400 --> 0:09:46.120 episode title and who directed it? By you and the 0:09:46.160 --> 0:09:48.880 guest stars, this is anopsis. Do you want to try 0:09:48.920 --> 0:09:51.040 your Scandal pacer? How's your acting? Chops? 0:09:51.400 --> 0:09:51.439 He? 0:09:51.440 --> 0:09:54.120 Oh, yes, it's late at night, but I'll give it 0:09:54.160 --> 0:09:55.760 a shot because I do have it here. 0:09:56.240 --> 0:10:03.079 Tom's already got it prepared. Once an actor, always an actor. 0:10:03.559 --> 0:10:06.680 Yeah, do you have your little iPad on set? Tom 0:10:06.720 --> 0:10:09.200 always had his iPad with the whole script on there, 0:10:09.840 --> 0:10:11.079 just scrolling through. 0:10:11.360 --> 0:10:14.080 I still have my every script is on there. 0:10:14.280 --> 0:10:16.840 Yeah you were so Yes. 0:10:16.679 --> 0:10:22.120 Yes, Tom Verica, you are a legend. We today are 0:10:22.160 --> 0:10:26.280 talking about episode three oh one, called It's Handled, which 0:10:26.320 --> 0:10:29.560 aired on October third, twenty thirteen. It was written by 0:10:30.480 --> 0:10:33.360 this duo is Insane, written by Shot Orry, was directed, 0:10:33.360 --> 0:10:40.560 directed by Tom People, who is a guest starring gear Madiaz. 0:10:41.000 --> 0:10:45.000 Stony Westmoreland is hol Rimbo. Samantha Sloyan is Janine Locke, 0:10:45.240 --> 0:10:49.920 Vanya Asher as Ethan, Kate Burton as Sally Langston. Aaron 0:10:50.000 --> 0:10:51.360 Chambers is Mara. 0:10:51.559 --> 0:10:54.559 Even hams Tanner Shaw, Jennifer Peyo is Vanessa Chandler. J 0:10:54.679 --> 0:10:56.960 Jackson is New News Anchor Number one, and of course 0:10:57.040 --> 0:11:00.959 Dan Bugutinski is James Novak. Come on, can you take 0:11:01.000 --> 0:11:02.959 us through this synopsis? TV's Tom Verica. 0:11:03.080 --> 0:11:06.600 Well this this air you said October thirteenth. This is 0:11:06.640 --> 0:11:07.760 ten years now, isn't it? 0:11:07.920 --> 0:11:12.000 Oh shit, yeah, it sure is. Oh my god, time flies. 0:11:12.280 --> 0:11:15.640 Well let me just a little bit after but yeah, wow, Okay, 0:11:15.679 --> 0:11:16.559 here's the synopsis. 0:11:16.600 --> 0:11:22.040 Okay with yes, but you can do it warm up 0:11:22.080 --> 0:11:22.760 if you need it. 0:11:23.360 --> 0:11:25.280 I got Katie Lowe's in the back of my head, 0:11:25.280 --> 0:11:26.280 and how fast he goes. 0:11:26.320 --> 0:11:29.360 And that's that's the bar. That's the bar that got this. 0:11:29.520 --> 0:11:30.199 I believe in you. 0:11:30.640 --> 0:11:33.079 With Olivia's name out there as the President's mistress, both 0:11:33.080 --> 0:11:35.640 the White House and Popit associates face their biggest scans 0:11:35.679 --> 0:11:37.720 of the date, and a surprise that Leeches. 0:11:37.360 --> 0:11:39.400 Is formed in order to get things handled. 0:11:39.600 --> 0:11:42.559 Meanwhile, Olivia's father will stop and nothing to carry out 0:11:42.600 --> 0:11:45.160 his orders and no one, including Olivia, can stand in 0:11:45.160 --> 0:11:45.640 his way. 0:11:46.080 --> 0:11:51.200 What how did you never do like a small role 0:11:51.280 --> 0:11:53.000 on Scandal? You didn't, right, Tom? 0:11:53.360 --> 0:11:54.840 Yeah? Why no? I did not? 0:11:55.000 --> 0:11:56.120 How did we not? 0:11:57.480 --> 0:12:00.040 I know why? It's because early on used to I 0:12:00.040 --> 0:12:06.040 started playing that no name actress, Viola Davis murder and 0:12:06.080 --> 0:12:06.640 you couldn't. 0:12:06.679 --> 0:12:09.280 Probably, yeah, but that was after I mean that was 0:12:09.440 --> 0:12:12.080 Shanda's always you know, there would be something to come 0:12:12.160 --> 0:12:14.600 up and she'd say, I want you to play this part. 0:12:14.640 --> 0:12:16.800 Like on Gray's Anatomy, I played there's a part of 0:12:16.840 --> 0:12:18.920 there she want me to play on an episode I 0:12:18.920 --> 0:12:20.839 was supposed to direct, but then we pushed it later. 0:12:21.360 --> 0:12:24.200 I think we were Mellie's husband or ex husband. We 0:12:24.280 --> 0:12:28.520 were kind of floating out stone no way her ex 0:12:28.600 --> 0:12:30.959 husband came back and was that real jerk or something 0:12:31.000 --> 0:12:31.719 like that. 0:12:32.880 --> 0:12:39.200 And like friend friend the head friend. 0:12:38.400 --> 0:12:38.960 The other way? 0:12:39.120 --> 0:12:43.320 Yes, yes, yes, and he fixed people or something you 0:12:43.360 --> 0:12:45.040 know that would. 0:12:44.800 --> 0:12:45.200 Have been great. 0:12:45.559 --> 0:12:49.040 Can you take us back? Like what do you think 0:12:49.440 --> 0:12:53.480 was in the special Sauce of the Trail? Tom Vericka 0:12:53.600 --> 0:12:56.000 first came to us, not on this episode I mean 0:12:56.040 --> 0:12:58.079 not at all. But he came to us an episode six, 0:12:58.080 --> 0:13:02.360 which was the first hardcore lashback episode in season one 0:13:02.400 --> 0:13:07.120 of Scandal. Why was that so magical? That changed your 0:13:07.200 --> 0:13:11.520 fate to forever be the man of Shondaland. 0:13:13.000 --> 0:13:17.679 That was It's at that point. It's so often. I mean, 0:13:17.720 --> 0:13:18.120 we can. 0:13:18.000 --> 0:13:21.280 All, whether actors or directors, we can all sort of 0:13:21.360 --> 0:13:24.760 chalk it up to timing and chemistry of when something happens. 0:13:25.320 --> 0:13:27.840 There's so many projects that sort of line up what 0:13:27.880 --> 0:13:30.359 they think is the a team and the winning combination 0:13:30.559 --> 0:13:33.600 with the script and the cast. Oftentimes you look at 0:13:33.640 --> 0:13:35.560 it on paper, You're like, this is brilliant, but it 0:13:35.600 --> 0:13:36.199 doesn't work. 0:13:36.679 --> 0:13:38.320 This was just something that came together. 0:13:38.360 --> 0:13:40.360 I remember when I was asked to do this, because 0:13:40.400 --> 0:13:43.560 I was doing other shows at the time that they 0:13:43.600 --> 0:13:46.000 were saying, this is a bottle episode, this is the 0:13:46.040 --> 0:13:49.360 same money this episode. Oh wow, And I'm like, well, 0:13:49.360 --> 0:13:52.280 how this is the trail They're kind of going to 0:13:52.320 --> 0:13:54.120 all these different towns and they're like, yeah, but it's 0:13:54.120 --> 0:13:55.480 got to be all done on. 0:13:55.480 --> 0:13:58.880 The lot at Sunset Galler. Sunset Gallery doesn't have a backlot. 0:13:59.160 --> 0:14:02.720 Oh my god, this is fascinating, Tom. 0:14:02.960 --> 0:14:06.960 It was pitched as a saving money episode. They thought 0:14:07.000 --> 0:14:10.640 it would be fairly contained and limited, and then once 0:14:10.640 --> 0:14:11.440 it got into it and. 0:14:11.440 --> 0:14:13.400 As Shanda sort of said, no, this is this and 0:14:13.440 --> 0:14:14.760 this is and I'm like, well, this is. 0:14:14.720 --> 0:14:15.920 That's going to cost the money. 0:14:16.160 --> 0:14:19.200 This is not your fottle episode. And then it really 0:14:19.240 --> 0:14:22.680 became a tremendous puzzle about how do we you know, 0:14:23.080 --> 0:14:25.880 we shot up in the Hollywood Hills, that little area 0:14:25.880 --> 0:14:28.320 where the diners that goes up to the Hollywood Sign, 0:14:28.440 --> 0:14:29.520 you know, we shot that as. 0:14:29.440 --> 0:14:31.840 Connecticut Beach with a diner, beach a diner. 0:14:31.880 --> 0:14:33.560 I think it was Yeah, we're just outside of there, 0:14:33.600 --> 0:14:36.680 but we shot all around you know there, and we're 0:14:36.720 --> 0:14:40.240 literally it was all within a mile of Sunset Gower. Wow, 0:14:40.280 --> 0:14:43.040 and we traveled around the country. I think it was 0:14:43.080 --> 0:14:46.560 because it was the origins of Fits. 0:14:46.280 --> 0:14:48.840 And Live that kind of really set it off. 0:14:48.920 --> 0:14:51.640 And I think that's where they really got to play 0:14:52.400 --> 0:14:55.000 how their chemistry started with what's been set up in 0:14:55.040 --> 0:14:55.840 one through five. 0:14:56.280 --> 0:14:57.080 So kind of. 0:14:57.040 --> 0:15:01.000 Going back stylistically, it was a really fun episode to 0:15:01.000 --> 0:15:03.400 do because you got to play in those flashing back 0:15:03.480 --> 0:15:06.720 and flashing forward and really playing with the timeline. So 0:15:07.320 --> 0:15:11.840 I think that element with the writing, with the falling 0:15:11.880 --> 0:15:15.280 in love, seeing how two people fell in love, and 0:15:15.400 --> 0:15:18.160 just a combo of of everyone. I mean, I just 0:15:18.240 --> 0:15:20.040 hit it off with all with all of you. It 0:15:20.080 --> 0:15:21.840 was the first time you and I had met, Kaye 0:15:22.160 --> 0:15:23.200 think on that show. 0:15:23.280 --> 0:15:25.000 Have you and Geirma worked together before? 0:15:25.600 --> 0:15:28.520 Yeah, we did an episode of The Mentalist. We did. 0:15:28.640 --> 0:15:32.760 No, it was Harry's It was Harry's Law with Kathy Bates. 0:15:32.760 --> 0:15:35.760 Oh, it was Harry's Law. Yes, I directed Harry's Law 0:15:36.360 --> 0:15:39.560 with Kathy Bates. That's exactly what I remember that. 0:15:39.600 --> 0:15:42.120 I remember working with Kathy Bates, sitting across from her 0:15:42.120 --> 0:15:44.720 and just being like, I can't believe that's Kathy Baits 0:15:44.720 --> 0:15:45.480 like Kathy. 0:15:45.160 --> 0:15:48.440 Bates, I would have I would be the starstruck. First 0:15:48.520 --> 0:15:51.080 question of all the shows, and Johann Len, you direct Scandals, 0:15:51.320 --> 0:15:53.239 obviously your favorite writing. 0:15:54.040 --> 0:15:55.720 It is No, it is I mean that show and 0:15:55.800 --> 0:15:58.000 the cast. I mean it was really it was acial. 0:15:58.240 --> 0:16:00.160 I mean the different episodes I got to make make 0:16:00.160 --> 0:16:03.560 what I call different films on so many different episodes 0:16:03.560 --> 0:16:06.360 of Scandal, whether it was Run which is like this 0:16:06.520 --> 0:16:10.240 completely contained episode, or the lawn Chair, which is very 0:16:10.280 --> 0:16:10.960 politically true. 0:16:10.960 --> 0:16:13.160 I mean, there were so many different types. 0:16:13.280 --> 0:16:15.720 Wait, you directed both of those episodes. 0:16:16.000 --> 0:16:17.920 Yeah, and they were in the same season. 0:16:18.000 --> 0:16:22.040 Yeah, very different films, very different one hour, you know, 0:16:22.120 --> 0:16:23.480 forty five minute films. 0:16:23.520 --> 0:16:24.320 Oh my god. 0:16:24.720 --> 0:16:27.320 That's really the kind of testament to our writers and 0:16:27.840 --> 0:16:31.440 you all as actors. Was really with season to season 0:16:31.480 --> 0:16:34.200 it kind of turned and went in different directions and 0:16:34.240 --> 0:16:36.960 we really got to do very different types of shows. 0:16:37.000 --> 0:16:37.600 So crazy. 0:16:37.680 --> 0:16:39.560 How did you become a director from acting? 0:16:40.480 --> 0:16:41.080 Very simple. 0:16:41.120 --> 0:16:44.880 I had a very slow acting year and I had 0:16:44.880 --> 0:16:46.880 to find something else to do. 0:16:47.800 --> 0:16:49.880 That's what kind of generated it. 0:16:50.520 --> 0:16:52.800 In reality, I've been talking about it for a while 0:16:52.880 --> 0:16:56.000 leading up to there, and I think I didn't work 0:16:56.000 --> 0:16:58.960 an entire calendar year, and I've been talking about doing 0:16:58.960 --> 0:17:01.280 it for a while in my wife, who you know, Kira, 0:17:02.040 --> 0:17:04.280 basically just said just fucking do it, jump in and 0:17:04.280 --> 0:17:07.000 do it. And I got in this course, took a 0:17:07.040 --> 0:17:09.080 course and made a couple of short films. 0:17:08.760 --> 0:17:10.760 And I just was hooked immediately. 0:17:10.920 --> 0:17:11.360 Wow. 0:17:11.480 --> 0:17:15.160 I took a night course in cinematography and then this, 0:17:15.600 --> 0:17:18.320 you know, worked with sixteen millimeter film and editing on 0:17:18.359 --> 0:17:21.760 Steambaks with actual film. So it really taught me to 0:17:21.840 --> 0:17:24.520 kind of love the craft and the technical aspect, But 0:17:24.560 --> 0:17:27.960 I think what had happened is it really as I 0:17:28.000 --> 0:17:30.920 began to direct in those first five years. I think 0:17:30.960 --> 0:17:34.560 it released what I think I always sense a kid, 0:17:34.640 --> 0:17:37.159 you know, the love of films and the imagery that 0:17:37.200 --> 0:17:40.600 I've had. Those things were already planted and I didn't 0:17:40.600 --> 0:17:42.360 even realize it, and I think it as an. 0:17:42.359 --> 0:17:45.119 Unfolded I'm like, Oh, this is it. This is what 0:17:45.160 --> 0:17:46.879 I love doing, This is what I feel I was 0:17:46.920 --> 0:17:47.280 meant to do. 0:17:48.560 --> 0:17:57.440 We'll be right back, guys, Tom, do you like going 0:17:57.480 --> 0:18:01.159 into this episode? I just have to ask you, like, 0:18:01.320 --> 0:18:06.920 do you even remember what it was like directing Joe 0:18:07.000 --> 0:18:09.920 Morton in this monologue? This is his first Joe Morton 0:18:09.960 --> 0:18:12.479 had been around all last season, but he's just shady 0:18:12.520 --> 0:18:14.560 as shit and we don't know what the fuck he's doing, 0:18:14.560 --> 0:18:15.919 and he doesn't have a lot of lines, all this 0:18:16.000 --> 0:18:17.240 kind of thing, and then all of a sudden he 0:18:17.320 --> 0:18:22.240 kicks off this episode with the most insane monologue that 0:18:22.440 --> 0:18:26.000 ended up having such ringers that stuck, like I am 0:18:26.040 --> 0:18:28.480 the hell in high water? Or like what do I 0:18:28.520 --> 0:18:31.879 always say? We have to do twice as much good? 0:18:32.000 --> 0:18:32.200 Yeah? 0:18:32.320 --> 0:18:34.199 Yeah, yeah, yeah, it could be half as good as that. 0:18:34.240 --> 0:18:36.000 You have to be twice as good to get half 0:18:36.040 --> 0:18:40.000 as much. Yeah, and all of these big famous lines. 0:18:40.000 --> 0:18:42.800 Do you have any memory of that in the airplane hanger. 0:18:43.119 --> 0:18:45.399 I have a very clear memory, And I have to 0:18:45.480 --> 0:18:48.600 say I remember when we just always read the lines 0:18:48.640 --> 0:18:52.040 first before we start blocking or anything, just so we 0:18:52.080 --> 0:18:53.160 can kind of spit it out. 0:18:53.560 --> 0:18:56.200 And Joe Morton was word perfect. 0:18:56.200 --> 0:18:56.919 Of course he was. 0:18:57.000 --> 0:18:58.720 From that first spitting. 0:18:59.000 --> 0:19:02.760 You get goosebumps when he goes into those monologues, and 0:19:02.760 --> 0:19:06.560 and he was. He just delivered every single time. And 0:19:06.640 --> 0:19:10.040 we shot this this hangar in Burbank Airport. We all 0:19:10.119 --> 0:19:12.080 just kind of after rehearsal just kind of looked around 0:19:12.080 --> 0:19:14.280 with our Joel's drop saying, let's get the. 0:19:14.240 --> 0:19:15.280 Cavas, set them off. 0:19:15.320 --> 0:19:17.760 Shot it should have shot the rehearsal. Do you remember 0:19:17.800 --> 0:19:20.800 him getting down low, Like in the middle of the monologue, 0:19:20.840 --> 0:19:22.280 he gets real low. 0:19:23.119 --> 0:19:25.720 He goes first lady, Yes, yes. 0:19:25.840 --> 0:19:27.879 That's it. Oh, it's so powerful. 0:19:28.160 --> 0:19:29.120 We were all doing it. 0:19:30.800 --> 0:19:33.359 He's all making fun of her like that's as high 0:19:33.359 --> 0:19:34.960 as you could aim, Like, what is wrong? 0:19:35.119 --> 0:19:38.359 Yeah, you're way down here. You could have been. Yeah, 0:19:38.560 --> 0:19:39.960 you know what I remember about. 0:19:39.760 --> 0:19:43.800 That day, and it just hit me what that episode. 0:19:44.400 --> 0:19:47.920 I had already got Aba de Verney to direct later 0:19:47.960 --> 0:19:50.560 in the season season three, she was shadowing me oh 0:19:50.600 --> 0:19:52.280 wow on that episode, and. 0:19:52.240 --> 0:19:55.479 That was her first day in the airport hangar watching 0:19:55.600 --> 0:19:56.560 Joe Moore Wow. 0:19:57.160 --> 0:19:58.720 First day as she was. 0:19:58.680 --> 0:20:00.639 Getting ready to direct Scandal. 0:20:00.760 --> 0:20:02.760 She was just kind of seeing the lay of the 0:20:02.840 --> 0:20:04.880