Posted: May 31st 2005, 4:16 am
I found an interview with one of the cast members -- the interview was published five days before ABC announced that they wouldn't pick up the show.
There's also an article about new shows not making it beyond a pilot episode, but it's subscription only and Google News only gives a small excerpt.
http://www.backstage.com/backstage/feat ... 1000913613The Waiting Game
For actors who book and shoot a pilot, perhaps the most agonizing part of the process comes after the fact, waiting to hear the show's fate. "You think of it every day," says Jonathan Bennett, who is waiting to hear if the ABC drama pilot he stars in, 1/4 Life, will get picked up. "You get to the point where you don't care if it gets picked up or not; you just want to know." Bennett's credits include the films Mean Girls and the upcoming Vegas Baby and Lovewrecked, opposite Amanda Bynes, as well as a short stint on All My Children and appearances on numerous prime-time shows, including Law & Order: SVU, Boston Public, Smallville, and Veronica Mars. He's also no stranger to the pilot experience: In 2002 he appeared with Marcia Cross and Lori Loughlin in Eastwick, a pilot based on the hit film The Witches of Eastwick.
The Eastwick pilot wasn't picked up, and each experience since has helped him to further define what he wants out of his career. Originally he had been leaning toward films. "I like making movies: It takes three months, and then you're done," Bennett explains. "I wasn't really planning on doing TV. My passion was to make movies. I literally didn't have any intentions of being on a show."
1/4 Life writers-directors-producers Marshall Herscovitz and Ed Zwick convinced him otherwise. Their resumes boast numerous acclaimed series, including My So-Called Life, thirtysomething, Relativity, and Once and Again. "They became my personal heroes in this," says Bennett. "They are the most amazing guys to work for. They are so dedicated." 1/4 Life follows a group of Chicago friends and roommates in their 20s and co-stars Rachel Blanchard (7th Heaven) and Shiri Appleby (Roswell).
Bennett had two days to study the full script before going in for his first audition with a casting director, at which he read for the role of Shane. Bennett was told, "Come back for Marshall, and look at [the role of] Charlie, as well." Although many actors would simply move their focus onto the new role, something about Shane resonated with Bennett. "I looked at both parts, and Shane was a lot funnier, and his sense of humor was a lot like mine. I called in and said, 'I don't want to read Charlie. Can I read Shane?'" When he then went in to read Charlie for Herscovitz, Bennett stood his ground. "I said, 'I don't really want this role,'" recalls Bennett. "So I left and nothing really came of it."
Two and a half weeks went by, and after testing many other actors for Shane, no one could find either a Shane or a Charlie. "So I went back in," says Bennett. "I read for Shane again, and it was much more relaxed. He asked me to read Charlie. Second time. When Marshall Herscovitz asks you to read for the lead in the show twice, something's up; you've got to do it." He read for the part, but told Herscovitz he felt the part of Shane was funnier and he would be better at that role.
Bennett left and got the phone call two days later. He knew the news was good when he answered the phone and it was his agent's assistant, telling him that it was a conference call with his agent and his manager. "A conference call is usually good news," he says.
He learned he got the job and that the director would be calling him within an hour. It had been a unanimous decision from ABC that he would be playing Shane, the role he had wanted and pushed for.
The following week he had appointments for wardrobe, a physical for insurance, hair and makeup tests, and then, once all of the principal actors had been cast, a field trip for everyone to Malibu. "Marshall took us all out to his house in Malibu, just eating and listening to him and Ed talk about the show, and how they work and what their style is," remembers Bennett. "We spent a whole day talking, interviewing us as characters, not only to get us thinking about our characters but to help them." Much of this process found its way onto the set. For example, Bennett had mentioned that his character might have an interest in photography; on the first day of shooting, he was given a camera and told it was part of the show. He says, "The great thing about Marshall: He takes what you say seriously. Everything the actors do has to come from them; it has be organic."
The pilot was shot. Now everyone is waiting to hear the show's fate. Bennett meanwhile continues to pursue work, although conditionally. "I've been working on Veronica Mars, and a small film, but you can't go out for other series regulars, or films that will be shooting in September," he says.
There's also an article about new shows not making it beyond a pilot episode, but it's subscription only and Google News only gives a small excerpt.
http://www.spokesmanreview.com/features ... p?ID=71979Some TV pilots never take flight
The Spokesman Review (subscription), WA - 1 hour ago
ABC was stoked to have the "thirtysomething" team of Ed Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz chronicling twentysomethings with " 1/4 life," while "Scrubs" creator...