Remember the scene in Adaptation where Charlie Kaufman goes to the filming of Being John Malkovich and stands around awkwardly with his hands in his pockets and makes uncomfortable chit chat with John Cusack? That’s basically what it’s like for me (I’m Ian Goldberg, staff writer, by the way, hello) on the set of T:SCC - I always worry I’m either going to say something stupid or offensive, and it always feels like I’m in the way. But it’s totally worth it to battle my insecurities and find a place to stand, because the behind-the-scenes moments are just too cool to be missed. For example:
Last week we were shooting my new episode in a bowling alley with a little arcade room in the back. I found Garret Dillahunt (Cromartie) playing a first-person shooter video game, “hunting” with a plastic orange shotgun, taking down digital moose and deer like it was his job. Which, well, I guess it sorta is. I don’t know if Garret’s a method actor, but he didn’t miss a single shot. He was giggling like a schoolboy the entire time, and I could visualize the Terminator laser scope projecting from his eye… it was pretty awesome.
Of course, when I tried my hand at video game hunting, I not only managed to completely SUCK at hitting the targets, I also somehow jacked up the machine so that it was beeping and blooping so loud it impeded the shooting of the next scene! Then again, it’s hard to live up to the Dillahunt, in life, in acting, or in video games. The guy’s just got a style all his own. Us writer types just love watching his dailies in the writer’s room – he has that Christopher Walken thing of emphasizing words in such a way it completely changes the meaning of the line. And usually makes it funnier, or creepier, or both.
So, there you have it. A little insight into my neuroses, a little insight into Garret Dillahunt. As Cromartie would say –
Thank you for your time.
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I’ve had my eye on Dillahunt ever since he played his 2nd (2nd!!!) character on DEADWOOD. It fills me with joy that you’re putting him to such great use on TSCC…even though I know in my guy he will have to go up in super-hot flames eventually, I’m glad to hear he’s still on set halfway into shooting of season two, yay!
(er…that was supposed to say know in my GUT)
Dillahunt rocks!!!
Fun story. You might wanna spell his name right, though (especially as you may be sending him Christmas cards and such). Garret, with one “t”. Peace.
Mimi, Ian does spell his name right every time it’s used. You might want to proof read, the fun story, before calling someone out.
He corrected it, Thecolours, which I really thought was cool. He had it spelled with two t’s. But nice of you to have his back, even if you are late to the party.
I can definitely see why he’d be giggling. I mean, what’s playing a killer robot onscreen if you can’t scare other people to death by your everyday actions?
Great story. I wonder what the arcade games was. I’m pretty good at Area 51 myself.
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