maplezbear

Summer Falls

Thanks

Cosmic Love

Thanks for the thread, Steph

maplezbear

Welcome!

shinebrighterxx

Thanks for this

Since I was the last poster in the general thread I thought I'd post this in here...

S10 Special Feature - X Marks The Spot: A Look at Season X

They talk about the season, how it started, & then how they progressed through. Again it was mentioned that the season was Ziva focussed as well as focussed on the relationship between her & Tony. Gary Glasberg said he wanted to take a back step away from Gibbs for this season, it was a way to make things different. But then he also said that he guesses come S11 we'll see a bit more of Gibbs. Gary also doesn't feel like he is at a place where he is running out of character revelations, he just wanted to take the step back to focus on other characters for a while.

Some of the actors talking about their characters:

Sean was talking about McGee & how he feels that in S10 we got to see him as more of a full agent. He was one before but it was always focussing on him & computers while now in S10 we saw him doing other aspects of his job & it wasn't as focussed on him & computers.

Pauley was talking about how Abby is sensitive & has a big heart, as well as how she went through a lot in S10 with childhood trauma & reconnecting with her biological brother. She describes Abby as "very, very sensitive to everything. She's got such a big heart so emotionally she's the most vulnerable & then she's constantly is like the heart & the warrior & everything else, it's like everyone else's problems, all the other agents; if they're in danger she's scared, if they get hurt she's hurt." Or something like that, it is hard to understand exactly word for word what Pauley is saying as she talks too fast

Brian's bit about Palmer was just about how Palmer had to step up at the start of the season & how Palmer could do it but he didn't want to as he was used to having Ducky there & wanted him back.

David feels that Ducky is the hero & one day he wants Ducky to pick up Gibbs' sniper riffle to save the day at the end of the episode .

Rocky spoke about how things were shaken up & how he likes that & what it has done for Vance's relationship with Gibbs. He also feels that Vance has a completely different perspective of Gibbs' journey & decisions now.

Gary then started talking about Tiva & how he thinks it is fun to show their relationship in baby steps & spoon feeding it to us little by little. Michael then starts talking about it saying it isn't simple but they are closer than ever at this point. He feels they are both aware that they can't have a conventional romantic relationship & that they both care for each other. They've known each other too long to fall into some silly romance. Cote says she has no clue where these people are going to end up. They could go either way: just remain as friends or secretly end up together. She said that her & Michael have theories on what has happened between them. Sometimes their theories are very different too . Gary feels that this season they connected emotionally in ways that we haven't seen in the previous seasons. Cote's adorable. She said "I think until we actually do it" then tried clarifying what she meant by 'do it' but was laughing which made it hard for her to talk. She feels it is what is & it is working as is so far & until they actually do something with it it can stay like that. She also doesn't feel she can talk about the relationship between Ziva & Tony. It's a little painful to watch knowing that in the next two weeks we most likely will be saying goodbye to any Tiva hopes but still nice seeing the three of them talking about the relationship between these characters

Brian spoke about Detour & how fun it was to do that episode. He spoke on how there wasn't really a mentor & student dynamic between these two once they were kidnapped because really all they wanted was whoever had the best plan for them to get out of that situation. It was just teamwork trying to live through it. David said he used some of his experience from watching real autopsies to help with the collection of different instruments (bowls, utensils, ect.) used for the autopsy done in that episode. Some of what was said were similar things to what they spoke about on the episode commentary for the episode. Brian loves that the relationship between Jimmy & Ducky was defined in the scene where Ducky twists his ankle. The reason why some of the forest scenes were done inside in a made forest not out in a real one was because they didn't want the actors running around outside at night in the cold. That's something which was mentioned in the episode commentary so nice to now know the reason why & that makes perfect sense.

Pauley got to speak about Hit & Run too. There are several parts of the episode which come from Pauley's own childhood. She would hang out in a nursing home when she was a child. She also would go to an old lot where old cars were put that she'd crawl through the fence to get into & go explore the crashed cars & things in there trying to figure them out. The actress who played young Abby studied the show, studied what Pauley did as Abby, followed Pauley around just making sure that she could play the character & make them seem like the same person. Pauley had mentioned that in the episode commentary but I can't remember if I posted that or not. Pauley & Lynn Wolverton-Parker (set decorator) spoke about designing young Abby's room. They tried to take aspects of what we know about who Abby is now & incorporate that into the room (eg. the hippos). It was a very emotional episode for Pauley, she finds childhood stuff to be hard which added to that

Next Sean speaking about Squall. He likes when they do bring in his personal life but feels we don't know enough about him, we mostly see the professional side of him. Mark Horowitz was speaking about how Sean & McGee have similarities. Sean's father was a navy captain so he knows what it is like living that life. Sean feels that the writers got it right with the episode & how they wrote McGee's father.

Mark Harmon spoke about how the crew has an ability of getting the right people & the people that they want to come in & play the guest stars. Mark Horowitz spoke about Namesake & Billy Dee Williams (who played Leroy Jethro Moore). Both Marks felt that he was the perfect person for the role & fit for the episode. Mark Harmon likes that you never know if people could come back or not & thinks it is fun when people from previous seasons come back in. Ralph Waite spoke about how he has had fans come up to him to tell him that they love him on the show & ask him when he is coming back on it.

Mark Horowitz spoke about Seek saying it had a "tremendous amount of heart & substance" & that it was an episode which was emotional & dramatic. Michael spoke about directing episodes & how the first time he did it he didn't know what he was doing but now he takes his prep very seriously. He wants to do all he can to make sure that he understands what the story they are telling is. Cote said that Michael has an advantage that he is working with his family who are excited & happy for him/to have him & that he's excited. She described him as a kid in a candy store. Sean said it is always interesting when Michael directs because he is usually in a co-worker role & he thinks it is cool to see him in the director role & he thinks Michael does a great job.

Mark Harmon was speaking about the show as a whole & how the cast & crew has changed & the show gets better, it continues to grow, & that's something which is rare. It was also mentioned how the fans & the ratings push them to make even better episodes & keep going, as well as having people who enjoy & love working there & want to come to work each day. That's what makes NCIS so great.



I was going to watch another special feature & type it up too but since there is so much from just one I'll leave it for tomorrow . I've got 10 Years Aft & Inside NCIS left. Inside NCIS looks like it might be looking at the sets as on the disk it has X Marks The Spot: A Look at Season X & 10 Years Aft as links up the top with a heading under them saying 'Inside NCIS' which isn't a choosable option. Instead it lists different locations which is why I think that going by that & the name of the special feature. But I haven't watched any of it, just the one I just typed up about.

Cosmic Love

Which, to be honest, was a good thing, as much as I like the Gibbs storylines. But it sometimes felt like some characters were neglected as the seasons went on, and it was good that S10 focused on everyone

Oh, I'd love to see that too

Thanks for typing all that up, Chelle, I really appreciate all the effort And I enjoy reading all of it

shinebrighterxx

I agree that it was a nice change to not be as focussed on Gibbs & get to see other characters for a change. It was nice to have more focus on the others as I agree sometimes they get a little neglected

It'd be funny if that did happen

You're welcome for it . I'll probably end up editing this post with more comments from at least one other special feature later tonight (if no one replies before I get to that)

Edit:

S10 Special Feature - 10 Years Aft

This special features is talking about favourite moments of different crew & cast members from the show so far.

Mark Harmon opens it by saying that the ten years have been memorable, because none of them had done ten years on a show before.

Larry Fuentes (special effects coordinator) & Diamond Farnsworth (stunt coordinator) feel that from 200 episodes Requiem (season five) is the finest they have ever done. They said Mark & Michael did a wonderful job with it & talked about how they had lots of those air tank things to help them breathe underwater (they probably said their name i'm just too tired to go back & check). Since Michael had to hit the windscreen to get to Mark they put plastic on either side so that no glass would break off & hit/hurt the actors.

Cote de Pablo feels that one of the most amazing times for her was the whole of S3 because it was her first year . "I thought that I was thrown into the most remarkable battlefield of sorts. Take the violence & take the pressure & take all of that kind of awful thing that comes with battle that we know of. That the training, the waking up and the long hours, the work, that having to be there present, the development of the character, the chemistry with, you know, with DiNozzo with Michael, the getting to know all these characters. That was just so fascinating to me, it was such a gift you know." - I thought it was easiest to just try writing down what she said

Richie Owens (producer) & Avery C. Drewe (supervising producer) chose Enemies Domestic because they liked how it was looking back around 20 years in the past to look at what Vance & Eli were like back then & getting a glimpse into their shared past.

Lynn Wolverton-Parker (set decorator) loved creating Ducky's house for The Meat Puzzle (or that's the episode that they are showing, so I presume that's when we see it first). Her & David McCallum spoke together about what it was like. David brought in things like artwork for the mansion. He let her know what he liked & didn't like, & let her in on what his character is about. She feels that that helped her design the house.

Robert J. Bacon (production designer) talks briefly about designing the squad room. It went through a few changes as he worked out how to set it out best.

Joshua Rexon (producer) likes the episodes which show us a glimpse of what makes the characters who they are. Episodes like Heartland (season six) which doesn't just give us a look into Gibbs & Gibbs' past, but also shows the excitement of Ziva & McGee being with him & getting a look in too.

William Webb, A.S.C. (director of photography) finds it hard to pick one & compares it to asking a singer their favourite song or a parent who their favourite child is. But he chooses Gibbs' basement. They've done some great things with him in there, even just him alone working on things.

Brian Dietzen went with his first scene. He was hired on to do just that one scene with David on that one day. He had lots of fun & felt that he & David played really well together. He remembers thinking "this was really fun for me reel, goodbye", but he is glad they brought him back & that he still has a job there. But that's still one of his most memorable moments.

Rachel Good (costume designer) loved Gibbs in Mexico from Patriot Down (season seven) & when Gibbs was the hobo in Canary (season ten). Gregory B. Pena (costume supervisor) is also with her & agrees with the hobo look.

Robert J. Bacon comes back & talks about SWAK where they had to have a plastic bubble to keep Tony in. He felt that was a fun set.

Richie Owens & Avery C. Drewe go again too now choosing Engaged Part 1 (season nine) which had the plane crash at the beginning. That was all CG as they didn't want to take a huge plane out there for it. They also couldn't have gotten it as broken up as it was if they had had a real plane.

Now back with Lynn Wolverton-Parker talking about Jenny's house this time. She loved it too & felt it was beautiful & all very antique.

Another of Larry Fuentes' favourites is "shooting Kate". He likes how she got shot, you don't know if she's ok then you see she is only to have her shot again. They put a blood bag behind her hair to have it squirt out on Michael's face. Michael Weatherly says he flinched right before the bag exploded. If you look closely she's fine & he is flinching (which they show in slow motion & he does) before the explosion because he could see that they were blowing up the blood bag.

William Webb says Michael/Tony seem to put them into interesting places. Truth or Consequences (season seven) puts them in a concrete box for "what felt like 2/3" of the episode. Richie Owens & Avery C. Drewe then move on to talk about the gun shot in that episode. They love how you hear the gun go off, bad guy goes down, then the camera goes through the window tracing back until you reach Gibbs.

Rachel Good & Gregory B. Pena talk more about favourite costumes like Abby as Marilyn (Witch Hunt - season four), Ziva's blue dress when she is singing (Last Man Standing - season six), Abby for Palmer's bachelor party (Up In Smoke - season nine), Palmer for the Christmas episode with his father-in-law (Newborn King - season nine).

Joshua Rexon talks about Aliyah (season six) & how the show has strong characters but they still show that they are human & that they have vulnerability which can be seen in that episode.

Richie Owens & Avery C. Drewe talk about making Michael look like he was twenty one in Rekindled (season nine). They had two weeks to put that, the fire, him saving the child, together. There were real flames & CG flames.

Larry Fuentes & Diamond Farnsworth enjoyed the western episode South by Southwest (season six).

Mark Harmon finishes by saying that they have "hugely talented professionals at every part of the job on this show & the best thing about that is that they're asked here just to do their job the best they know how to do it & they don't have to worry about looking over their shoulder. They just do what it is they do better than most. This is a hugely talented group in every direction & it's the mix that makes this work. It's all of us being on the same page that makes this work & as long as we keep doing that, you know, as long as you keep that kind of energy to what you come to work to every day here this will continue to grow."

Cosmic Love

That was so cruel for me to watch. I can hardly watch anything that contains people under water - I can't stand the thought of not being able to breath Good thing Mark and Michael had a great coach to help them do it

I have always wondered how they did that, that the blood seemed to explode from Sasha's head. And I have noticed Michael flinching before Kate was actually shot before

Thanks for typing that up again, Chelle You are putting so much effort into this!

shinebrighterxx

Well at least you know that they made sure that they could breathe while doing that scene now

I've never thought about it or noticed that he flinches before it happens but it is really interesting to find out how it was done & funny that he flinches before it happens.

Really I'm just bored & thought it would help the count . Especially since you were away when I first started as it gave us something more when we needed it most

Ok now only have the Inside NCIS special feature left & not sure if I'll do that at some point today or tomorrow

Edit:

S10 Special Feature - Inside NCIS

Vance's Office: Highly Decorated

Rocky is the one who suggested that Vance have pictures up on the wall of the boxing/fighters. He thought that boxing could have been Vance's hobby. Lynn Wolverton-Parker (set decorator) went to the real NCIS to get inspiration for designing I presume the whole set not just the director's office. She also talks about their warehouse of different set pieces that they've collected over the years so that when they buy things for one set they can reuse them later on for another set. She then goes on to talk about McGee's apartment. The sofa that appears in one of the episodes in S10 was actually only just added in this season for that episode.


Autopsy: Bodies of Work

Mark Horowitz (executive producer) talks about how everyone wants to be dead people & that they like to use real people whenever they can. Mark, Brian & David then start listing all the reasons they give people to try convince them that they really don't want to be one. There is something like 40-50 people who come in & out of that set, it is really cold, they shine a hot light on your genital area, you can't breathe, you're shaved, it is horrible & the worse job you'll ever have, you have to lay on a hard metal table, you can't get up & go to the bathroom whenever you want, you'll be naked minus a towel, you may be placed in a sliding draw so if you're claustrophobic that's not really ideal. After all that if people are still interested then they may get a job . David goes on to say how a pretty woman will come in & he'll wish he was like 60 years younger but then she gets shot & ends up on his table & once make-up is through with her he's changed his mind as it isn't pretty.

David & Brian are eager to get in before everyone else gets their to rehearse & work out how best to do their scenes. The others have caught onto this & join them. One of the ways they film in there is have a camera strapped to someone & they walk around following people with it. They feel that there is a real freedom in that set to move around to get the best results for the scene.


Interrogation: If These Walls Could Talk

William Webb (director of photography) says that the interrogation & observation rooms are tough because they are boxes & there is a mirror. The walls come away so they can move around & get the cameras there to film the scenes from different angles. They have a special light in there which they can lower down & rise up & dim whenever needed. It is hard to hide a light in there too as they are just plain rooms. You can see it in the Life Before His Eyes episode when Tony is interrogating Ziva (that's the example they show after William said it is hard to hide the light). Cote feels that the scenes in this set are intimate, small, & dark. She likes those sorts of spaces though & she also feels that some of their best work is done in those sets. For her the scenes are great & intense. George Schenck & Frank Cardea (executive producers) said that as much as they hate writing those scenes the actors do a wonderful job in there & some of the most dramatic scenes are in these rooms. Cote also says that they all enjoy the observation room as you can say whatever you want about what is going on in the interrogation room & be really open & honest, & yourself (well your character's self) in that room/those scenes. She says Michael says "it is good fun".


MTAC: Telecommunication

Sean & Avery Drewe (supervising producer) talk about this set. Avery talks about how they do it. They have something called a 'time base corrector' which makes the video skip a little bit & someone else adds snow to give a feeling of distance. They actually have a live feed & the other person/people/set is set up a few hundred feet away being filmed while those needed in MTAC are in there seeing that video being played on the big screen with the effects added. This way the actors really can have something to react to, they don't just have to act to a blank screen. Sean says when you're on the other side you're just talking into a camera, you have no idea what is going on on the other side in MTAC. For him it is helpful to be able to hear the audio so you can get a sense of what is going on in there since you can't see it. They only use a tape in extreme circumstances because it just doesn't work with one & it is better for the actors on both sides if it is live.


The Back Lot: Location, Location, Location

Robb Bacon (production designer) says they watch where they put their money & try to make the most of what they have to buy. They built a back lot so they don't have to go out on a lot of locations to film things. Michael is walking a dog while talking about the back lot. The back lot has been Paris , if it is meant to be winter they add in snow. It used to be the JAG back lot & on one side you had the buildings & on the other you had the trailers. When they went away & NCIS went back there they put their trailers there at first too but then some smart person decided they should move the trailers elsewhere & build it up some more so they can utilise the space even more/better. It is all almost real. Robb did go & take photos of Georgetown so the buildings are realistic. They also change the buildings up regularly for whatever they need them to be.


The Ship: Set Afloat

Charles Johnson (executive producer) loves the ship set & says it is used probably around 5 or 6 times a year. He feels it looks a lot bigger than it really is & that they can make it appear to be larger or smaller whatever is needed for what they are doing. Sean says that it can be a challenging set to work on sometimes as there are lots of staircases & doorways & it can get complex as they utilise the area. Leon Carroll (technical advisor) makes sure that the cast follow correct procedures during their scenes (in all areas not just the ship), eg. how they handle weapons, evidence, interrogation, & perform crime scene searches. Sean says Leon brings the expertise that they need in order to portray the agents. Leon used to be an NCIS agent. Leon explains what an agent afloat is - it is an agent assigned to aircraft carrier who gets flown to ships whenever needed if a crime takes place.


The Squad Room: Center of Attention

Gary Glasburg (executive producer) calls the squad room the heart & core of NCIS. They like this room as they can go from the light hearted moments to the serious moments where the details of the case come out. Michael: "Everyday is Halloween in the squad room for obvious orange reasons" He feels comfortable in this set & thinks that it feels like an actual office. Michael also points out how nobody else ever walks through the bullpen. They go everywhere else but never through the bullpen. When they blew it up it alarmed him & he wasn't enthusiastic that they were going to lose the squad room but luckily it was rebuilt to the specs. Gary then goes on to talk about how since the real NCIS moved locations they considered doing it for the show looking into if they could, how much it would cost, if they even wanted to. But for the sake of the show & the fact that "this is where they belong" they decided to stick with what they have.


Abby's Lab: Music and Mayhem

Pauley says that from the very first script she ever read the music was included. It said in the script that Abby was wearing a Stiff Records TV shirt. Josh Rexon (producer) said that they decided early on to use music which matches Abby's personality & also the warm energy that she brings to the show & scenes. Pauley said that there is something about that music that even with your eyes closed you hear that music you know where you are as that music is Abby's lab. We can thank Brian Kirk (composer) for most of Abby's music & he usually writes that free form which means he sits down with the spirit of Abby/the character & the sound of her lab in mind & writes what flows. Brian says that the music done for the show at it's core is electronic but he does try to expand into some natural sounding elements. Pauley feels that the music is one of the elements which gives the show it's specific feel.

maplezbear

That's a lot of stuff Chelle! I still need to read it all, but thanks for posting it all!

shinebrighterxx

It is a lot of stuff You're welcome for it all

Now that I've typed it all up there really is quite a bit of stuff in the special features too. Not sure if it is more than usual but it felt like we were getting more

Cosmic Love

That's true But I don't know if it'll make it easier for me to watch

Now they mentioned it, I realize that too. McGee's apartment has always been kind of sterile concerning plushy furniture before

Now that it was explained what tasks come along with the job of playing a dead person, I wouldn't really wanna do it - but it's not like I wanted to do it before

That is so cool! I never thought about that either, but it makes it even more real that the other person is being filmed live

I love that It would make such a great thread title

Thanks again for typing out the reasons, Chelle

shinebrighterxx

maplezbear

Love it!

shinebrighterxx

So do I, sadly I couldn't find any other seasons done like that