Mad Men Season 4 will soon be available on DVD and Blu-ray as Lionsgate will release the complete fourth season on Tue., Mar. 29. The set, containing all 13 episodes which premiered in Summer 2010, is packed with hours of extras including extensive commentary and innovative featurettes.
Some of the DVD/Blu-ray disc special features include:
• "Divorce: Circa 1960s" - A three-part documentary about divorce during a time when the traditional family was the core of American society.
• "How to Succeed in Business Draper Style" - CEOs, advertising legends and executive coaches use scenes from Mad Men to detail Don Draper's 10-point blueprint for success.
• "Marketing the Mustang: An American Icon" - The birth of the Ford Mustang as well as the marketing and advertising campaign that launched this American classic.
• "1964 Presidential Campaign" - Archival footage of President Johnson's and Senator Goldwater's speeches, campaign commercials and the Presidential Inauguration of the most lopsided elections in American history.
• "Mad Men Season 4 commentaries" - Matthew Weiner and Mad Men's cast and crew take viewers behind the scenes in feature-length audio commentaries for all 13 episodes.
Buy DVD at Amazon.com
Buy BLU RAY at Amazon
Showing posts with label Mad Men. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mad Men. Show all posts
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Is Don Draper Heading For A Wedding? Jessica Pare Speaks!
Jessica Pare interviewed by Fancast and she had a lot of things to talk about the development on MAD MEN.
How was the role of Megan very first presented to you?
I auditioned for it in April, and I knew it was for a recurring character. I thought I would do three, maybe five episodes. I had absolutely no idea it would end up being as many as it was – nor that it would end in this particular way.
And when did you first learn that you would in fact become Don Draper’s future fiancée?
Only a few days before we started shooting [the finale]. ['Mad Men' creator] Matt [Weiner] called me to give me a heads up before the script came out, and it was pretty shocking. It was as surprising to me as it was for the viewers!
Do you suspect that landing Don was Megan’s plan, or is this purely a case of professional regard blooming into romance?
I certainly wasn’t playing Megan with any kind of agenda – it’s my job to play what’s on the page and not assume anything if I haven’t been told otherwise – so I genuinely believe that it’s how you put it: She does have great admiration for Don professionally. And then when they go to California, they feel really good together.
But when he invited her along for the Disneyland trip, a part of must have been thinking, “Hmm, there’s an opportunity here.”
Yeah, sure, but as she says to him [after sleeping together], “I’m not going to run out of here crying tomorrow,” and she doesn’t. They continued their professional relationship and it wasn’t an issue for them, so maybe for her it is just a nice trip to California – until he surprises her with the ring. Then, she is pretty shocked – “This is all happening so fast.”
Lets talk about that proposal. Partly because of the abrupt shift back to New York City, I at first assumed we were watching someone’s dream sequence. Have you heard that from others?
Yeah, I have heard that yes. [Laughs]
When did it first really hit you, “Holy smokes, I’m on track to be the wife of the lead on TV’s most acclaimed drama series”?
I don’t know that it even has yet. It’s such a crazy process because when Matt first called to tell me, it didn’t really sink in. So I figured, “I’ll read the script and maybe then I’ll really believe it.” And when I read the episode, I loved it – which is yes, a bit selfish, because I had a lot to do! – but that was a whole other part of the experience. Still, I keep thinking, “They’re not married yet.”
Are people appropriately cautioning you that in fact a wedding might not come of this?
The fans of the show, myself included, know this is a show that makes you think about it on a lot of different levels, and you do get a very good sense of these characters, so a lot of people have said to me, “Watch out, that guy will really ruin you.” “Before you get married, you might want to see Seasons 1 through 3.” [Laughs]
It must be in the back of Megan’s head, “He cheated with you, he’ll cheat on you.”
I haven’t heard of that saying!
Or maybe Megan thinks she’s The One?
It’s hard for me to say. I definitely think Megan is confident and she trusts him. I think it might be at least a little naïve, but you very rarely are pessimistic in those kinds of situations. I want to be optimistic for Megan. I want it to work out for her.
Has Matt told you that you’re definitely back for Season 5?
No. I don’t know anything.
He plays his cards so close to the vest.
I think it’s really interesting that they are so secretive, because people will then actually tune in. As it is, if somebody sees the episode and posts about it on my Facebook, they’ll get lots of angry comments from other people who have it TiVo’d or whatever. No one wants ‘Mad Men’ spoiled for them.
Right – and I didn’t see anyone predicting a marriage proposal. And even if there was one, we’d all assume Faye (Cara Buono) would be the recipient.
Faye says [to Don] in the first episode of this season, “You’ll be married again in a year.” And when he challenges her, she says, “I always forget – nobody wants to think they’re a type.”
Before we go, let’s talk about the whole ‘Jack & Bobby’ reunion thing that happened this year on ‘Mad Men.’ We had you, John Slattery, Matt Long for a bit…. How did that happen to come together?
One of the writers was on ‘Jack & Bobby’ as well, Dahvi Waller. And John directed a few of the [Season 4 'Mad Men'] episodes, so he was in my audition, as was Dahvi…. I don’t know what conversation went down, but I can’t help but think that Dahvi said something, like, “She was a lot of fun to work with.” Or maybe she said the opposite and I still got the job!
And now that you’re having this “moment,” I see you’re getting a bit of buzz to play TV’s new Wonder Woman.
I try to keep myself in a bit of a bubble because the truth is I’m not used to it – I’m not used to people like you calling and wanting to talk to me – but somebody told me that just last night. I don’t know what that’s all about.
Can you kick some butt and wield a lasso if need be?
I… am a very fast learner. [Laughs] But that’d be awesome, it’s such a great character. I’m psyched that anybody would think of me for that.
Source: fancast
How was the role of Megan very first presented to you?
I auditioned for it in April, and I knew it was for a recurring character. I thought I would do three, maybe five episodes. I had absolutely no idea it would end up being as many as it was – nor that it would end in this particular way.
And when did you first learn that you would in fact become Don Draper’s future fiancée?
Only a few days before we started shooting [the finale]. ['Mad Men' creator] Matt [Weiner] called me to give me a heads up before the script came out, and it was pretty shocking. It was as surprising to me as it was for the viewers!
Do you suspect that landing Don was Megan’s plan, or is this purely a case of professional regard blooming into romance?
I certainly wasn’t playing Megan with any kind of agenda – it’s my job to play what’s on the page and not assume anything if I haven’t been told otherwise – so I genuinely believe that it’s how you put it: She does have great admiration for Don professionally. And then when they go to California, they feel really good together.
But when he invited her along for the Disneyland trip, a part of must have been thinking, “Hmm, there’s an opportunity here.”
Yeah, sure, but as she says to him [after sleeping together], “I’m not going to run out of here crying tomorrow,” and she doesn’t. They continued their professional relationship and it wasn’t an issue for them, so maybe for her it is just a nice trip to California – until he surprises her with the ring. Then, she is pretty shocked – “This is all happening so fast.”
Lets talk about that proposal. Partly because of the abrupt shift back to New York City, I at first assumed we were watching someone’s dream sequence. Have you heard that from others?
Yeah, I have heard that yes. [Laughs]
When did it first really hit you, “Holy smokes, I’m on track to be the wife of the lead on TV’s most acclaimed drama series”?
I don’t know that it even has yet. It’s such a crazy process because when Matt first called to tell me, it didn’t really sink in. So I figured, “I’ll read the script and maybe then I’ll really believe it.” And when I read the episode, I loved it – which is yes, a bit selfish, because I had a lot to do! – but that was a whole other part of the experience. Still, I keep thinking, “They’re not married yet.”
Are people appropriately cautioning you that in fact a wedding might not come of this?
The fans of the show, myself included, know this is a show that makes you think about it on a lot of different levels, and you do get a very good sense of these characters, so a lot of people have said to me, “Watch out, that guy will really ruin you.” “Before you get married, you might want to see Seasons 1 through 3.” [Laughs]
It must be in the back of Megan’s head, “He cheated with you, he’ll cheat on you.”
I haven’t heard of that saying!
Or maybe Megan thinks she’s The One?
It’s hard for me to say. I definitely think Megan is confident and she trusts him. I think it might be at least a little naïve, but you very rarely are pessimistic in those kinds of situations. I want to be optimistic for Megan. I want it to work out for her.
Has Matt told you that you’re definitely back for Season 5?
No. I don’t know anything.
He plays his cards so close to the vest.
I think it’s really interesting that they are so secretive, because people will then actually tune in. As it is, if somebody sees the episode and posts about it on my Facebook, they’ll get lots of angry comments from other people who have it TiVo’d or whatever. No one wants ‘Mad Men’ spoiled for them.
Right – and I didn’t see anyone predicting a marriage proposal. And even if there was one, we’d all assume Faye (Cara Buono) would be the recipient.
Faye says [to Don] in the first episode of this season, “You’ll be married again in a year.” And when he challenges her, she says, “I always forget – nobody wants to think they’re a type.”
Before we go, let’s talk about the whole ‘Jack & Bobby’ reunion thing that happened this year on ‘Mad Men.’ We had you, John Slattery, Matt Long for a bit…. How did that happen to come together?
One of the writers was on ‘Jack & Bobby’ as well, Dahvi Waller. And John directed a few of the [Season 4 'Mad Men'] episodes, so he was in my audition, as was Dahvi…. I don’t know what conversation went down, but I can’t help but think that Dahvi said something, like, “She was a lot of fun to work with.” Or maybe she said the opposite and I still got the job!
And now that you’re having this “moment,” I see you’re getting a bit of buzz to play TV’s new Wonder Woman.
I try to keep myself in a bit of a bubble because the truth is I’m not used to it – I’m not used to people like you calling and wanting to talk to me – but somebody told me that just last night. I don’t know what that’s all about.
Can you kick some butt and wield a lasso if need be?
I… am a very fast learner. [Laughs] But that’d be awesome, it’s such a great character. I’m psyched that anybody would think of me for that.
Source: fancast
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Elisabeth Moss on Mad Men’s Finale and Peggy
For Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce's heroine Peggy Olsen, season four was a year of personal and professional milestones: Increasingly aware of her newfound power, she fired her first underling (for the as-yet-unlabeled offense of sexual harassment); left her traditionalist boyfriend for anti-establishment Abe; abandoned the martini bars of Madison Avenue for Warhol-esque warehouse parties; saw her hard work rewarded with a Clio, albeit one in Don’s name; and landed the account that broke the agency's dry spell. In the finest episode of the season, “The Suitcase,” it became clear that Peggy is the only person in the world who understands Don, and vice versa — a realization that changed nothing and everything. Elisabeth Moss called us from the road in Utah, where she was en route to the set of Lawrence Kasdan’s new film, Darling Companion.
Where are you going?
I’m going to Sundance. I’m doing a film out here in Utah. It’s a Larry Kasdan film. He’s super-cool; it has an amazing cast, too — Kevin Klein, Diane Keaton, Dianne Wiest, Richard Jenkins, Sam Shepard. It’s like ridiculous.
First of all, I loved your clothes in the finale.
Thank you very much. That last dress, that little gray one? It was so cute! I didn't know ... well, I mean, I guess I knew it was cute, 'cause I said to Janey [Katherine Jane Bryant, the show's costume designer], "I want a really great dress for that scene because it’s the end of the season" ... but I thought I looked really cute.
I love the focus on her this season. Is there a moment that surprised you where you felt like you learned something about her you didn’t know?
I’m not one to try to guess where the character is going, where the stories are going — I get asked all the time, “Where do you think Peggy’s going to end up?” “What do you think is going to happen to her?” And I have zero interest in doing that because for me, I’m first of all not a writer: Anything I can come up with isn’t going to be as good as what they’ll come up with. So for me, I’m sometimes surprised by everything. At the same time, I feel a kinship with her as a character and I feel like I know her very well, so there’s nothing that surprises me. I was very happy about the Abe relationship, just really happy that she had some happiness in her personal life and that she could be a young girl rather than always be involved in things that are over her head and complicated. I liked that she got to have a twentysomething relationship, you know? Or whatever it is. And then, "The Suitcase," that episode — I never could have imagined that episode. That entire episode was like a beautiful gift and a beautiful surprise.
Tell me a little about working on that episode, because it was a little unconventional to really zero in on two people, as the show did with Don and Peggy.
I’m a huge fan personally of what they call these bottle episodes, and I’m a big fan of theater, so I like the aspect that it’s like a little play.
I’m sorry, did you call it a bottle episode?
Yes, they’re generally called bottle episodes where you pare it down to two people. It was like existing in a Mad Men bubble for two weeks and it was an experience I will never forget. I worked harder on that episode than I’ve ever worked on the show. I worked more days than Jon did. He does that all the time. He’s there all the time. Every single day, all day long. It was like doing a play for two weeks. So it was a beautiful experience I will never forget and I feel very very lucky. I just think as an audience member and as a fan of the show, I think it was really cool to see these characters be so deeply involved in each other’s lives, almost sort of orbiting each other and never really sitting down and talking about things. Just as a fan of the show, I thought it was so awesome that they sat and talked about the baby. It was not even just great television, but a great writing moment and you only get that kind of thing after you do something for four years.
What do you think is the status of Peggy and Don’s relationship as of the last episode of the season?
I think they’ve definitely grown closer than they’ve ever been. I think that at the same time they have a unique relationship. They’re never going to be best friends, but they love each other. It’s a relationship that is full of dichotomies, and I think that she knows him more than anyone and I think she’s incredibly confused and very much doubting and questioning his choice. And me of course playing Peggy, I agree with her, and I think there’s a whole lot of respect there and he’s her boss, and she’s not going to tell him that he shouldn’t be doing this. So I also think their relationship is sort of what it has always been.
Do you think his sudden engagement undid some of the closeness from "The Suitcase?" There was so much there in Peggy’s reaction, it was so loaded.
I think that they’ve had this series of very personal experiences together and they always step back into a professional relationship. They do it at the end of "The Suitcase," when she wakes up that morning and he’s in his suit and tie and back to work. So I don’t think it undoes anything, I just think there are two faces to their relationship and there’s the professional side and there’s the personal side. And I think on a personal level she’s still just as close to him because she’s one of the only ones who goes, “What are you doing?”
I was really happy to see the scene between Peggy and Joan, because the characters tend not to bond with each other. They tend to be in competition with each other. But Peggy seems more willing to have female friends. Why is that?
I think Peggy’s always been sort of an open, friendly person. She’s kind of a nice person and she has no reason to really not like this person or that. Joan is a very specific relationship, something has developed over the past four years. I think that scene between the two of them, it was such a joy to do and we just love doing it because you want to see that, you want to see them sit down and talk as co-workers, as friends. We watched it together at the finale and we both got teary, because it’s been a long time coming and [Christina Hendricks] and I are friends and it’s just nice to see. But it was a long road getting there. This doesn’t mean they’re going to be best friends, but they have mutual respect right now.
There is something very rewarding to a scene like that. Especially for those of us that have been watching it for four years. And I really like Joyce a lot. What do you think Peggy is getting out of that relationship?
What I love about the whole Joyce-Abe thing is that it’s actually her age group. She’s constantly around people that are older, that are of a different generation. Peggy’s a very sort of progressive person, she’s in a new generation of the sixties, and she has a work life, but I’ve never felt like she had a personal life that really matched who she is. And I think that this is her age group, this is who she should be hanging out with, and I think that Joyce is funny and smart and cool. She respects Peggy, but she’s not like super-impressed by what she does. She’s also a young girl who’s a woman in a man’s world, so they have that in common. I feel like Peggy is getting younger.
Peggy landed that big panty-hose account, but she’s still doing all the accounts for feminine products generally. Do you see her starting to move beyond that? She is a woman in a man’s world, but it’s a man’s world in which women increasingly have more power, and I’m wondering if she realizes that yet?
She is doing far beyond what she should be doing, you know what I mean? She’s definitely not in a place where she can be picking her own accounts and asking for different things, she’s just taking what’s handed to her. She’s also 26, and she has a long career ahead of her. And I think that absolutely she will branch out. We’re not telling a made-up story here, we know what happened to these women. We know what they ended up doing and I think that that’s obviously kind of where she’s headed. Although, it’s Mad Men, so who knows.
Miss Blankenship, before her untimely passing, said everyone in advertising was a sadist or a masochist, and seemed to call Peggy a masochist. Do you think Peggy is a masochist?
I don’t think she’s either. And I think that’s a very funny joke, but I think most people aren’t either. Most people don’t want to inflict punishment or receive it, but it’s a great joke and she, oh my God, kills it. That woman was amazing. I was super-sorry to see her go.
I loved that line, and it did remind me that Peggy was raised Catholic.
She definitely takes a lot of punishment and a lot of shit, but I think masochist implies that you like it and I don’t think she likes it.
What was your favorite Peggy line this season? You had a lot of good ones.
Oh my God, are you crazy? That’s almost impossible. And that’s a good question and I want to answer it. There are so many good lines. Jesus. I’m actually taking this very seriously, can I just think about it and I can send an e-mail?
Source
Where are you going?
I’m going to Sundance. I’m doing a film out here in Utah. It’s a Larry Kasdan film. He’s super-cool; it has an amazing cast, too — Kevin Klein, Diane Keaton, Dianne Wiest, Richard Jenkins, Sam Shepard. It’s like ridiculous.
First of all, I loved your clothes in the finale.
Thank you very much. That last dress, that little gray one? It was so cute! I didn't know ... well, I mean, I guess I knew it was cute, 'cause I said to Janey [Katherine Jane Bryant, the show's costume designer], "I want a really great dress for that scene because it’s the end of the season" ... but I thought I looked really cute.
I love the focus on her this season. Is there a moment that surprised you where you felt like you learned something about her you didn’t know?
I’m not one to try to guess where the character is going, where the stories are going — I get asked all the time, “Where do you think Peggy’s going to end up?” “What do you think is going to happen to her?” And I have zero interest in doing that because for me, I’m first of all not a writer: Anything I can come up with isn’t going to be as good as what they’ll come up with. So for me, I’m sometimes surprised by everything. At the same time, I feel a kinship with her as a character and I feel like I know her very well, so there’s nothing that surprises me. I was very happy about the Abe relationship, just really happy that she had some happiness in her personal life and that she could be a young girl rather than always be involved in things that are over her head and complicated. I liked that she got to have a twentysomething relationship, you know? Or whatever it is. And then, "The Suitcase," that episode — I never could have imagined that episode. That entire episode was like a beautiful gift and a beautiful surprise.
Tell me a little about working on that episode, because it was a little unconventional to really zero in on two people, as the show did with Don and Peggy.
I’m a huge fan personally of what they call these bottle episodes, and I’m a big fan of theater, so I like the aspect that it’s like a little play.
I’m sorry, did you call it a bottle episode?
Yes, they’re generally called bottle episodes where you pare it down to two people. It was like existing in a Mad Men bubble for two weeks and it was an experience I will never forget. I worked harder on that episode than I’ve ever worked on the show. I worked more days than Jon did. He does that all the time. He’s there all the time. Every single day, all day long. It was like doing a play for two weeks. So it was a beautiful experience I will never forget and I feel very very lucky. I just think as an audience member and as a fan of the show, I think it was really cool to see these characters be so deeply involved in each other’s lives, almost sort of orbiting each other and never really sitting down and talking about things. Just as a fan of the show, I thought it was so awesome that they sat and talked about the baby. It was not even just great television, but a great writing moment and you only get that kind of thing after you do something for four years.
What do you think is the status of Peggy and Don’s relationship as of the last episode of the season?
I think they’ve definitely grown closer than they’ve ever been. I think that at the same time they have a unique relationship. They’re never going to be best friends, but they love each other. It’s a relationship that is full of dichotomies, and I think that she knows him more than anyone and I think she’s incredibly confused and very much doubting and questioning his choice. And me of course playing Peggy, I agree with her, and I think there’s a whole lot of respect there and he’s her boss, and she’s not going to tell him that he shouldn’t be doing this. So I also think their relationship is sort of what it has always been.
Do you think his sudden engagement undid some of the closeness from "The Suitcase?" There was so much there in Peggy’s reaction, it was so loaded.
I think that they’ve had this series of very personal experiences together and they always step back into a professional relationship. They do it at the end of "The Suitcase," when she wakes up that morning and he’s in his suit and tie and back to work. So I don’t think it undoes anything, I just think there are two faces to their relationship and there’s the professional side and there’s the personal side. And I think on a personal level she’s still just as close to him because she’s one of the only ones who goes, “What are you doing?”
I was really happy to see the scene between Peggy and Joan, because the characters tend not to bond with each other. They tend to be in competition with each other. But Peggy seems more willing to have female friends. Why is that?
I think Peggy’s always been sort of an open, friendly person. She’s kind of a nice person and she has no reason to really not like this person or that. Joan is a very specific relationship, something has developed over the past four years. I think that scene between the two of them, it was such a joy to do and we just love doing it because you want to see that, you want to see them sit down and talk as co-workers, as friends. We watched it together at the finale and we both got teary, because it’s been a long time coming and [Christina Hendricks] and I are friends and it’s just nice to see. But it was a long road getting there. This doesn’t mean they’re going to be best friends, but they have mutual respect right now.
There is something very rewarding to a scene like that. Especially for those of us that have been watching it for four years. And I really like Joyce a lot. What do you think Peggy is getting out of that relationship?
What I love about the whole Joyce-Abe thing is that it’s actually her age group. She’s constantly around people that are older, that are of a different generation. Peggy’s a very sort of progressive person, she’s in a new generation of the sixties, and she has a work life, but I’ve never felt like she had a personal life that really matched who she is. And I think that this is her age group, this is who she should be hanging out with, and I think that Joyce is funny and smart and cool. She respects Peggy, but she’s not like super-impressed by what she does. She’s also a young girl who’s a woman in a man’s world, so they have that in common. I feel like Peggy is getting younger.
Peggy landed that big panty-hose account, but she’s still doing all the accounts for feminine products generally. Do you see her starting to move beyond that? She is a woman in a man’s world, but it’s a man’s world in which women increasingly have more power, and I’m wondering if she realizes that yet?
She is doing far beyond what she should be doing, you know what I mean? She’s definitely not in a place where she can be picking her own accounts and asking for different things, she’s just taking what’s handed to her. She’s also 26, and she has a long career ahead of her. And I think that absolutely she will branch out. We’re not telling a made-up story here, we know what happened to these women. We know what they ended up doing and I think that that’s obviously kind of where she’s headed. Although, it’s Mad Men, so who knows.
Miss Blankenship, before her untimely passing, said everyone in advertising was a sadist or a masochist, and seemed to call Peggy a masochist. Do you think Peggy is a masochist?
I don’t think she’s either. And I think that’s a very funny joke, but I think most people aren’t either. Most people don’t want to inflict punishment or receive it, but it’s a great joke and she, oh my God, kills it. That woman was amazing. I was super-sorry to see her go.
I loved that line, and it did remind me that Peggy was raised Catholic.
She definitely takes a lot of punishment and a lot of shit, but I think masochist implies that you like it and I don’t think she likes it.
What was your favorite Peggy line this season? You had a lot of good ones.
Oh my God, are you crazy? That’s almost impossible. And that’s a good question and I want to answer it. There are so many good lines. Jesus. I’m actually taking this very seriously, can I just think about it and I can send an e-mail?
Source
Monday, October 18, 2010
Mad Men: Q&A with Jessica Paré/Megan
Jessica Paré, who plays Megan on Mad Men, spoke with AMCtv.com about becoming Don Draper's fiancée and breaking the curse of the Draper girlfriend.
Q: Don's proposal to Megan is quite a shocker. Did it ever cross your mind that the season might end this way?
A: No! I was worried that I was gonna fall down an elevator shaft first. Right up until the season finale I was like, "Are you sure this is what you wanna do?" But yeah, it was pretty surprising. ... I didn't want to speculate as to what happened at the end because I felt like I wanted to stay in that mode of living in the moment.
Q: Describe shooting a scene in bed with Jon Hamm...
A: He's a really great actor to work with because he's very supportive. What you see is what you get, which is in direct opposition to his character. The scene we did when we're both in bed -- that really intimate scene before he leaves [my hotel room] -- was my favorite scene to shoot in the whole season. Or maybe in my life. It's just so beautifully constructed and so intimate and warm, and it was such a comfortable environment in which to do that.
Q: Were you nervous leading up to it, since Jon Hamm is such a sex symbol?
A: To be honest, the biggest intimidating factor was that all of these people are such amazing actors and that Jon Hamm is such a great performer. I mean, I've been doing this for twelve years. I know that I'm a decent actor, but it's another thing to be in a scene with Jon Hamm and hold your own. He's very good-looking, but I don't think that freaked me out so much as I was like, "Yay!"
Q: What makes Megan different from all the other ladies who didn't get the ring?
A: I think she's more modern, in the sense that she has a secretary job for now but she fully expects to do something more with her career. I think she sees this job as the right place for her to be at 25 [years old] in New York. It's not like she takes it for granted that she's going to move up, but I think she doesn't necessarily see it as an obstacle so much as someone just a few years older than her might.
Q: People are going to have a lot of opinions on whether Don and Megan are a good match. Do you think they are?
A: I think so, and maybe it's because I'm hopeful for Megan and Don, but I think she's got a really natural, nurturing warmth to her, and I think he responds to that because, as he says in the finale, I feel like myself when I'm with you, but the me that I want to be. And that's a really good place to be with a partner.
Q: What does Megan's engagement ring look like up close?
A: It was beautiful, and it's real diamonds. Like 1.5 karats or something. The funny story about that is before I'd read the script, props had to measure me for a ring. So she came in and was like "I don't know how to do this without giving anything away, but we still have to do it." I didn't want to think about what it might mean. Until I read the script, I wasn't believing anything.
Q: When you first found out you were becoming Don's secretary, did you start skimming your scripts to see you if you had any love scenes with him?
A: There was one funny moment, actually. I think it's the first episode that I am officially his secretary and there's a mix-up with the government forms, and then at the end of the episode it was written that he's staring at me through the door. There's this joke on set that once you become involved with Don, your days are numbered on the show. So people reading that sentence were like, "Oh, man. Well, it was great to know you."
Q: How was working with Matthew Weiner different from working with other directors?
A: I'd worked with Michael Uppendahl twice and John Slattery twice, and Phil Abraham. They're all amazing. But working with Matt, I didn't have to wonder whether or not he liked my work because he was right there. If I wanted to try something I wasn't sure he liked, he was there to tell me that he didn't like it. So there was that sort of immediate feedback from him that was definitely great to have.
Q: Have you ever done any kind of secretarial work?
A: I used to assistant produce automotive photo shoots and do a lot of personal errands for the photographer.
Q: Did this role call up memories of that job?
A: Absolutely. When your boss is very particular you kind of have to try to get into his head, and in my case the photographer was a man, as well. That line she says -- I know everything about you and you don't know anything about me; I think about you all day, even when I go home -- that's something that I really could identify with, because your job all of a sudden becomes looking out for somebody else and anticipating their every desire. Well, maybe not their every desire.
Q: You're very good with Don's kids in the show. How are you with children in real life?
A: I grew up around a lot of kids. I have an enormous family because I'm from Montréal and my family's Catholic, so my dad has eight siblings and they all have kids and we all grew up in the same property on weekends and summers. And I have to say I loved working with Kiernan [Shipka] and Jared [Gilmore] and Baby Bobo. I think Brody is his name. They call him Bobo. He's so cute and so sweet. I always like to joke on sets when I'm working with kids that they're really unprofessional, but I think these guys were more professional than I am.
Q: Don's proposal to Megan is quite a shocker. Did it ever cross your mind that the season might end this way?
A: No! I was worried that I was gonna fall down an elevator shaft first. Right up until the season finale I was like, "Are you sure this is what you wanna do?" But yeah, it was pretty surprising. ... I didn't want to speculate as to what happened at the end because I felt like I wanted to stay in that mode of living in the moment.
Q: Describe shooting a scene in bed with Jon Hamm...
A: He's a really great actor to work with because he's very supportive. What you see is what you get, which is in direct opposition to his character. The scene we did when we're both in bed -- that really intimate scene before he leaves [my hotel room] -- was my favorite scene to shoot in the whole season. Or maybe in my life. It's just so beautifully constructed and so intimate and warm, and it was such a comfortable environment in which to do that.
Q: Were you nervous leading up to it, since Jon Hamm is such a sex symbol?
A: To be honest, the biggest intimidating factor was that all of these people are such amazing actors and that Jon Hamm is such a great performer. I mean, I've been doing this for twelve years. I know that I'm a decent actor, but it's another thing to be in a scene with Jon Hamm and hold your own. He's very good-looking, but I don't think that freaked me out so much as I was like, "Yay!"
Q: What makes Megan different from all the other ladies who didn't get the ring?
A: I think she's more modern, in the sense that she has a secretary job for now but she fully expects to do something more with her career. I think she sees this job as the right place for her to be at 25 [years old] in New York. It's not like she takes it for granted that she's going to move up, but I think she doesn't necessarily see it as an obstacle so much as someone just a few years older than her might.
Q: People are going to have a lot of opinions on whether Don and Megan are a good match. Do you think they are?
A: I think so, and maybe it's because I'm hopeful for Megan and Don, but I think she's got a really natural, nurturing warmth to her, and I think he responds to that because, as he says in the finale, I feel like myself when I'm with you, but the me that I want to be. And that's a really good place to be with a partner.
Q: What does Megan's engagement ring look like up close?
A: It was beautiful, and it's real diamonds. Like 1.5 karats or something. The funny story about that is before I'd read the script, props had to measure me for a ring. So she came in and was like "I don't know how to do this without giving anything away, but we still have to do it." I didn't want to think about what it might mean. Until I read the script, I wasn't believing anything.
Q: When you first found out you were becoming Don's secretary, did you start skimming your scripts to see you if you had any love scenes with him?
A: There was one funny moment, actually. I think it's the first episode that I am officially his secretary and there's a mix-up with the government forms, and then at the end of the episode it was written that he's staring at me through the door. There's this joke on set that once you become involved with Don, your days are numbered on the show. So people reading that sentence were like, "Oh, man. Well, it was great to know you."
Q: How was working with Matthew Weiner different from working with other directors?
A: I'd worked with Michael Uppendahl twice and John Slattery twice, and Phil Abraham. They're all amazing. But working with Matt, I didn't have to wonder whether or not he liked my work because he was right there. If I wanted to try something I wasn't sure he liked, he was there to tell me that he didn't like it. So there was that sort of immediate feedback from him that was definitely great to have.
Q: Have you ever done any kind of secretarial work?
A: I used to assistant produce automotive photo shoots and do a lot of personal errands for the photographer.
Q: Did this role call up memories of that job?
A: Absolutely. When your boss is very particular you kind of have to try to get into his head, and in my case the photographer was a man, as well. That line she says -- I know everything about you and you don't know anything about me; I think about you all day, even when I go home -- that's something that I really could identify with, because your job all of a sudden becomes looking out for somebody else and anticipating their every desire. Well, maybe not their every desire.
Q: You're very good with Don's kids in the show. How are you with children in real life?
A: I grew up around a lot of kids. I have an enormous family because I'm from Montréal and my family's Catholic, so my dad has eight siblings and they all have kids and we all grew up in the same property on weekends and summers. And I have to say I loved working with Kiernan [Shipka] and Jared [Gilmore] and Baby Bobo. I think Brody is his name. They call him Bobo. He's so cute and so sweet. I always like to joke on sets when I'm working with kids that they're really unprofessional, but I think these guys were more professional than I am.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Kiernan Shipka (Sally Draper) talks about the Beatles, Jon Hamm etc
Here is a new interview Kiernan Shipka (who plays Sally) did with the New York Post.
So, how about those Beatles tickets?
Ooh, the Beatles tickets! Sally was really happy when she heard she was going to the Beatles concert. It was sort of like a peace offering from Don, to start fresh again with Sally.
Who would you scream like that for? Is there a band you like as much as Sally Draper seems to like the Beatles?
I don’t know if I’ve ever screamed or cried for a band. I’ll probably find one one day that I really love ... I do listen to some music, but I don’t technically have one band I’m absolutely hooked on.
Do you like the Beatles?
I do like the Beatles. I actually really do like the Beatles.
Do you have a favorite song of theirs?
“Here Comes the Sun.”
That’s a great song!
Yeah, it’s really upbeat. It’s a song you can listen to over and over and over again without ever getting tired of it. It puts you in a really good mood.
Now, that was a nice fun moment [for Sally], but a lot of her scenes have been so serious. How do you prepare for them?
I think all the props, the hair, the makeup, and the wardrobe really help define the characters. That, in general, really helps you get into that mode.
What was it like filming “The Beautiful Girls?” That was a huge episode for you when she shows up at the office.
It was. It was amazing. I loved filming that episode! It was fun, it was energetic. We had a lot of drama in it, too.
Sally was really at the center of all that drama. Was it hard to gear up for it?
For me, I prepared really becoming Sally, practically transforming into her, when I get pretty close to the scene. I think that’s how I gear up. I just kind of become her.
How did you get the role? Did you have to audition a lot?
Actually, the audition process wasn’t too bad. There were three auditions — nothing major. I didn’t know it was going to be what it turned out to be — a possible recurring.
Well, this season, you really stepped into a really big role. How did they let you know all the things that were happening down the pike for Sally?
They don’t really. Not any of the cast members know what they’re going to be doing until the table read. They don’t even let us know.
So what was it like discovering you were actually going to play a big part in all the action?
I was thrilled and I was very excited, and it’s just a great feeling knowing Matthew Weiner believes in you.
Do you think you’d be friends with Sally if you knew her?
I’d be friends with Sally if I knew her! She’s really sweet.
Are you at all like her?
Well, in season one, season two, and beginning of season three, I was like Sally. She was adventurous, free-spirited, and now she’s really ... her soul’s really beaten down. She’s in a very difficult position right now, so I don’t think I can relate to her now ... but since I know the character so well — I’ve been her, what, four years now? — that I know Sally. I know what she’s feeling.
What do you think Sally would like to do when she grows up? Advertising? Ballet?
What would Sally be when she grows up … well, with the situation she’s in now, I don’t think she’s really focusing on that, but she could go into a lot of different directions. She could do ballet, I guess she really likes that. I don’t think she’d go into advertising like her father.
Why not?
I think Sally, well, would lean more towards … You know, that’s a really hard question. I don’t really think about the future that much. I’m just focusing on her current situation.
You know how Don and Sally went for that fun half-day in "Beautiful Girls"? If you had to come up with a fun day with Sally, what would you do?
A fun day with Sally — what would that be? Probably just riding bikes, maybe swimming, have a picnic.
Do you get recognized by other kids as Sally?
I’ve never gotten recognized by a kid once as Sally. Never, ever. By adults? It’s usually not about me. It’s usually about Jon Hamm when they come up to me.
And what’s the biggest question they have about Jon Hamm?
They’ll just come up to me and go, “Is he gorgeous?” [Laughs.] Something — something like that.
Okay, so I guess I should ask you that question: Is he gorgeous?
Is he gorgeous? [Laughs.] Well, I’m 10, so … I can’t really answer that question … I suppose …
Is he nice?
He’s a really nice person. He’s a very good guy.
What’s in store for viewers?
There’s going to be lots and lots of drama! More to come.
SOURCE
So, how about those Beatles tickets?
Ooh, the Beatles tickets! Sally was really happy when she heard she was going to the Beatles concert. It was sort of like a peace offering from Don, to start fresh again with Sally.
Who would you scream like that for? Is there a band you like as much as Sally Draper seems to like the Beatles?
I don’t know if I’ve ever screamed or cried for a band. I’ll probably find one one day that I really love ... I do listen to some music, but I don’t technically have one band I’m absolutely hooked on.
Do you like the Beatles?
I do like the Beatles. I actually really do like the Beatles.
Do you have a favorite song of theirs?
“Here Comes the Sun.”
That’s a great song!
Yeah, it’s really upbeat. It’s a song you can listen to over and over and over again without ever getting tired of it. It puts you in a really good mood.
Now, that was a nice fun moment [for Sally], but a lot of her scenes have been so serious. How do you prepare for them?
I think all the props, the hair, the makeup, and the wardrobe really help define the characters. That, in general, really helps you get into that mode.
What was it like filming “The Beautiful Girls?” That was a huge episode for you when she shows up at the office.
It was. It was amazing. I loved filming that episode! It was fun, it was energetic. We had a lot of drama in it, too.
Sally was really at the center of all that drama. Was it hard to gear up for it?
For me, I prepared really becoming Sally, practically transforming into her, when I get pretty close to the scene. I think that’s how I gear up. I just kind of become her.
How did you get the role? Did you have to audition a lot?
Actually, the audition process wasn’t too bad. There were three auditions — nothing major. I didn’t know it was going to be what it turned out to be — a possible recurring.
Well, this season, you really stepped into a really big role. How did they let you know all the things that were happening down the pike for Sally?
They don’t really. Not any of the cast members know what they’re going to be doing until the table read. They don’t even let us know.
So what was it like discovering you were actually going to play a big part in all the action?
I was thrilled and I was very excited, and it’s just a great feeling knowing Matthew Weiner believes in you.
Do you think you’d be friends with Sally if you knew her?
I’d be friends with Sally if I knew her! She’s really sweet.
Are you at all like her?
Well, in season one, season two, and beginning of season three, I was like Sally. She was adventurous, free-spirited, and now she’s really ... her soul’s really beaten down. She’s in a very difficult position right now, so I don’t think I can relate to her now ... but since I know the character so well — I’ve been her, what, four years now? — that I know Sally. I know what she’s feeling.
What do you think Sally would like to do when she grows up? Advertising? Ballet?
What would Sally be when she grows up … well, with the situation she’s in now, I don’t think she’s really focusing on that, but she could go into a lot of different directions. She could do ballet, I guess she really likes that. I don’t think she’d go into advertising like her father.
Why not?
I think Sally, well, would lean more towards … You know, that’s a really hard question. I don’t really think about the future that much. I’m just focusing on her current situation.
You know how Don and Sally went for that fun half-day in "Beautiful Girls"? If you had to come up with a fun day with Sally, what would you do?
A fun day with Sally — what would that be? Probably just riding bikes, maybe swimming, have a picnic.
Do you get recognized by other kids as Sally?
I’ve never gotten recognized by a kid once as Sally. Never, ever. By adults? It’s usually not about me. It’s usually about Jon Hamm when they come up to me.
And what’s the biggest question they have about Jon Hamm?
They’ll just come up to me and go, “Is he gorgeous?” [Laughs.] Something — something like that.
Okay, so I guess I should ask you that question: Is he gorgeous?
Is he gorgeous? [Laughs.] Well, I’m 10, so … I can’t really answer that question … I suppose …
Is he nice?
He’s a really nice person. He’s a very good guy.
What’s in store for viewers?
There’s going to be lots and lots of drama! More to come.
SOURCE
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Mad Men's Kiernan Shipka gets interviewed,
Kiernan Shipka, the 10-year-old actress who plays Sally Draper on Mad Men, talks about playing the daughter of divorced parents, what hobby she shares with the young actor who plays Glen, and cutting her hair short -- for real.
Q: Did you really cut your hair short this season?
A: I actually did cut my hair. I was a little nervous when I heard I had to chop it. Fortunately the hair department is quite amazing. They first put on extensions and cut those to make it look very bad and uneven. Then they cut those out and gave me the look that was the final cut.
Q: Betty says she always wanted to have long hair growing up. Which do you prefer, short hair or long hair?
A: I like both short and long. It's gonna be hard to decide if I want to keep it short or long because I really do like my short hair.
Q: Have you always had long hair?
A: I had long hair for a really long, long time, and then I cut it in a bob and then I let it grow out. So this was my second time cutting it short.
Q: Do you think you'd act like Sally if your mom was like Betty and your dad was like Don?
A: I think Sally's actually much better than I would be, given her situation. Sally is really, really reserved. Divorce can be terribly stressful and confusing. Add to that an emotionally unresponsive mother and a physically absent father, I think Sally's actions are pretty tame. If I was experiencing Sally's situation, I would be a complete terror of a kid.
Q: You're a full cast member this season. Were you excited when you found out about that?
A: I was thrilled. Nothing has been really, really different. I was always treated really well on the show. I just get that credit there.
Q: What's been your favorite scene to act out in all of Season 4?
A: Unfortunately I can't discuss it because it's in an upcoming episode.
Q: Any runner-ups?
A: I really liked the fall in Episode 9 -- the trip. It was my first time doing a really big stunt and I thought it was fun. I have done tae kwon do for a long, long time, and I'm a gymnast, so I wasn't too worried about the stunt. I had done some stunts before. I was more excited than worried.
Q: Marten Weiner seems to be the actor on set who's closest to your age. Do you ever hang out with him off-set? Do you guys ever talk about scripts together?
A: I've known Marten for a pretty long time, but this year I got to work with him directly, which was fun. We chatted between scenes and there's real cool things about him, but we don't really talk about scripts. Just more ordinary stuff....The schools he's going to, my school, golf. We both like to golf. I have played golf for a couple years.
Q: When Sally and Bobby are at their father's apartment, they seem to watch a lot of television. Do you ever watch Mad Men?
A: I am not allowed to watch Mad Men. My mom will pre-screen it and then she will show me the scenes that she feels are appropriate for me, but it's mostly all my scenes. I watch those.
Q: In Episode 9, Sally cooks French toast for her dad. Have you ever made breakfast for your family? What's your favorite thing to cook?
A: I love cooking. I don't really have a favorite dish to prepare for my family -- breakfast, lunch or dinner -- but I do like going up to the farmers market on the weekends and getting fresh produce and making something with all that. I'm also really addicted to the Food Network channel. I'm totally hooked on cooking shows. Barefoot Contessa and a lot of Alton Brown.
Q: What's your favorite breakfast?
A: I would have to say probably scrambled eggs. I like French toast, too. I really do.
Source: amctv
Q: Did you really cut your hair short this season?
A: I actually did cut my hair. I was a little nervous when I heard I had to chop it. Fortunately the hair department is quite amazing. They first put on extensions and cut those to make it look very bad and uneven. Then they cut those out and gave me the look that was the final cut.
Q: Betty says she always wanted to have long hair growing up. Which do you prefer, short hair or long hair?
A: I like both short and long. It's gonna be hard to decide if I want to keep it short or long because I really do like my short hair.
Q: Have you always had long hair?
A: I had long hair for a really long, long time, and then I cut it in a bob and then I let it grow out. So this was my second time cutting it short.
Q: Do you think you'd act like Sally if your mom was like Betty and your dad was like Don?
A: I think Sally's actually much better than I would be, given her situation. Sally is really, really reserved. Divorce can be terribly stressful and confusing. Add to that an emotionally unresponsive mother and a physically absent father, I think Sally's actions are pretty tame. If I was experiencing Sally's situation, I would be a complete terror of a kid.
Q: You're a full cast member this season. Were you excited when you found out about that?
A: I was thrilled. Nothing has been really, really different. I was always treated really well on the show. I just get that credit there.
Q: What's been your favorite scene to act out in all of Season 4?
A: Unfortunately I can't discuss it because it's in an upcoming episode.
Q: Any runner-ups?
A: I really liked the fall in Episode 9 -- the trip. It was my first time doing a really big stunt and I thought it was fun. I have done tae kwon do for a long, long time, and I'm a gymnast, so I wasn't too worried about the stunt. I had done some stunts before. I was more excited than worried.
Q: Marten Weiner seems to be the actor on set who's closest to your age. Do you ever hang out with him off-set? Do you guys ever talk about scripts together?
A: I've known Marten for a pretty long time, but this year I got to work with him directly, which was fun. We chatted between scenes and there's real cool things about him, but we don't really talk about scripts. Just more ordinary stuff....The schools he's going to, my school, golf. We both like to golf. I have played golf for a couple years.
Q: When Sally and Bobby are at their father's apartment, they seem to watch a lot of television. Do you ever watch Mad Men?
A: I am not allowed to watch Mad Men. My mom will pre-screen it and then she will show me the scenes that she feels are appropriate for me, but it's mostly all my scenes. I watch those.
Q: In Episode 9, Sally cooks French toast for her dad. Have you ever made breakfast for your family? What's your favorite thing to cook?
A: I love cooking. I don't really have a favorite dish to prepare for my family -- breakfast, lunch or dinner -- but I do like going up to the farmers market on the weekends and getting fresh produce and making something with all that. I'm also really addicted to the Food Network channel. I'm totally hooked on cooking shows. Barefoot Contessa and a lot of Alton Brown.
Q: What's your favorite breakfast?
A: I would have to say probably scrambled eggs. I like French toast, too. I really do.
Source: amctv