Moderator: OK, the room is now moderated.
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ShaunCassidy: Hi everybody.
Moderator: Hi! Thanks for coming.
ShaunCassidy: I'm ready for questions!
Moderator: (Fizzbin to Moderator): Is there any chance that American Gothic might be revived and tape more episodes?
ShaunCassidy: Always possible. Obviously, if it's successful on Sci-Fi that couldn't hurt. We've talked in the past about making a feature. I love the show and I would love to see it continue in some form, so you never know.
Moderator: (Zillah to Moderator): I would like to say that I love American Gothic and was wondering were you got you idea for it???
ShaunCassidy: I was inspired by a Front Line episode I saw that dealt with a preschool child abuse case in North Carolina.
It wasn't the story that intrigued me as much as the attitude of the people.
They were living in this kind of living hell, yet everyone had such wonderful manners, they were all trying to keep on their best face.
I thought, "what an interesting thing - this perversion being burried under the floorboards."
It sparked something in me.
Hang on a sec...
Moderator: Tech break. Hold on. ... :-)
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Don't worry. ... You can still keep sending questions. ...
We're switching computers. ... We're experiencing technical difficulties ...
please stand by. ... I will entertain you in the meantime...
To ask a question, send a private message to the Moderator (me)
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You will not be able to speak outloud to the room.
ShaunCassidy: sorry about that
Moderator: (SusanneS to Moderator): Is there a person you know that is based on Sheriff Buck?
ShaunCassidy: (laughs) Probably me on my worst day...or best, depending upon your perspective um....
Moderator: (LucasGal to Moderator): Why wasn't the past life between Lucas and Gail explored and if there were to be more episodes would it be?
ShaunCassidy: What past life? In the piliot script, there was a reference made to Lucas and Gail possibly having had a relationship hundreds of years in the past. That reference was edited out and never aired... so you must have access to documents you shouldn't have, and I think I must alert the authorities immediately... ;)
Moderator: (Ironf to Moderator): Did you do alot of consulting with the music on the series, or did you leave that part to others?
ShaunCassidy: I did do consulting but Joe LoDuca was the composer who had worked with Sam Raimi and Rennaisance on a number of other projects. So I got stuck with the guy. (laughs) Actually, I think he did a very good job.
Moderator: (Roar to Moderator): Whats happening with Roar, any news on its return :)
ShaunCassidy: Depending upon the success of American Gothic on the Sci-Fi Channel...perhaps Roar will be replacing it. (laughs) Seriously, there are five unaired episodes of Roar and I think they're the strongest of the bunch. Fox has them and plans on airing them sometime soon. When, and in what time slot, we're just not sure yet.
Moderator: (Raven to Moderator): Does Shaun have any plans to persue or re-kindle his musical career? I was in love with him as a kid...it was a tie between j\him and Leif Garrett :)
ShaunCassidy: (laughs) I have no plans to make any records in the near future...but check with Leif. ;)
Moderator: (Chessie to Moderator): Do you have any other projects pending?
ShaunCassidy: Yes, I'm working on two right now. One is a one-hour pilot that I'm writing and exec producing with Wes Craven. And the other is a one-hour romantic comedy pilot that I'm working on with Rennaisance, the fellows I did American Gothic with. They're both very different in tone and also very different from anything I've done before, so I'm excited about both.
Moderator: (Ely to Moderator): How have you been able to find such talented child actors on such a consistant basis? (example: Caleb and The Father)
ShaunCassidy: I don't know...I look for kids who don't want to be actors. Both Lucas Black and the young man who played The Father in Roar had little to no acting experience before working on our shows. So they hadn't developed any bad habits and were very natural. I thought that in both cases it was very important that they be able to hold their own against adversaries as powerful as Lucas Buck and Longinus.
Moderator: (Valhalla to Moderator): Is the team-up with Mr. Craven a horror series pilot?
ShaunCassidy: It's a horror-mystery, with a great deal of black humor.
Moderator: (Annatto to Moderator): What gave you the inspiration for Roar, and how do you feel when reviewers compare it to Hercules/Xena?
ShaunCassidy: Well, I expect they didn't watch it very closely if they thought it was at all comparable to Herc and Xena - I'm a big fan of all of those shows, but tonally we were going for a very different feel. I would say that Roar was closer to Star Trek in its tone than Hercules. Ultimately, I think that hurt us as a summer series. The expectation on the part of the audience might've been for something lighter and more fun. That said, I'm very proud of the show and I hope it ends up having a future.
Moderator: (captain to Moderator): Why do you like to use supreme evil as your main characters?
ShaunCassidy: So much fun! Supreme Evil...sounds like a new burger! (laughs)
Moderator: (Cynic-Guy to Moderator): What were your long-term plans for the major characters on A.G.? (If you had any...)
ShaunCassidy: Kill 'em all! Slowly and mercilessly!!!
Moderator: (Fizzbin to Moderator): When did you first realize you wanted to try your hand at creating shows?
ShaunCassidy: I've been wanting to write and produce since I started acting. When I was 18 and doing a show on this lot (Universal) called the Hardy Boys, I probably spent more time in the producer's office hanging out with the writing staff than I did on the set. It was always much more interesting to me. I love acting but as an actor you are interpreting someone else's work. I like being there at the origin of the process, and then seeing it through until the end. I used to rewrite a lot of my own dialog, which did not endear me to the writers... eventually, some of them - particularly our exec producer - liked what I was doing. He gave me encouragement.
Moderator: (SusanneS to Moderator): Who would you want to play in American Gothic?
ShaunCassidy: Lucas, of course.
Moderator: (Jana2 to Moderator): I LOVED the Hardy Boys, any chance of a reunion show?
ShaunCassidy: Here's my theory on reunion shows: I am convinced that the reason they do so well is that people are really interested in seeing how the actors have aged. If Parker and I were ever to do a Hardy Boys reunion, I'd like to see it open with both of us wearing 300lb fat suits and skin-head wigs. ...just to hear the collective "gasp!" across the country! "Oh, those poor boys..." ;)
Moderator: (Wolf to Moderator): What would you say was the biggest difference between working with Heath Ledger as opposed to Gary Cole?
ShaunCassidy: Gary didn't carry a sword. ...as far as I know... Seriously, Heath is a lot younger than Gary, was much greener, but I would have to say that both of them were both great partners to have. They were both very professional and both very good at what they did.
Moderator: (Bion to Moderator): Mr. Cassidy, do you have any really helpful advice for me (who is also trying to get a show started)?
ShaunCassidy: Wow. Where do you live? What kind of show?...it leads me to ask so many questions, I don't know how to answer. my general advice for aspiring writers is: write a great spec script of a show you know and love, and then try and use that as a tool to get an agent.
Moderator: (SusanneS to Moderator): Do you prefer writing comedy, romance, thrillers or something else?
ShaunCassidy: I love great characters. I love characters who have a duality about them. Most of the characters I write have a sense of humor because I try to write smart people. And when you're dealing with dark situations, humor can really lighten the load.
Moderator: (MarkW to Moderator): You're going to be a father again in March. Do you know yet if it's a boy or a girl?
ShaunCassidy: How do you know that, is the better question!?! Moderator, find out how MarkW knows...
Moderator: (Devero to Moderator): Will we see you in front of the camera, as an actor, again?
ShaunCassidy: You never know. It's not a road I'm pursuing right now, but I enjoy it and if I get some free time and the opportunity presents itself, I might be persuaded. Of course, I'd have to lose that extra 300lbs I've gained since the Hardy Boys... I didn't really have the time to do cameos in AG or Roar.
Moderator: (gypsy2wice to Moderator): since AG was such a dark dramatic show, with some humor at times, can you name one really funny blooper?
ShaunCassidy: Hmm... Thinking.... David Icke just left - he was on the set all the time. I was running the writing staff in LA - he would've seen much more of that on the set than I would've in dailies. I know they had a lot of fun, but nothing specific comes to mind right now. There was a 2-part finale to the show that I wrote that Gary was in a coffin, he was supposed to have been dead... and Ben and Dr. Peele come and dig him up... and his line was "well, if it ain't the Hardy Boys." I seem to remember Gary having a hard time getting that line out. I can't imagine why... ;)
Moderator: (Queri to Moderator): Have you read any of the Virtual Episodes for American Gothic and are you now going to sue us?
ShaunCassidy: No, I promise I won't sue you. ..unless you have money. Just kidding. I have not read them, but I've heard about them and I've heard that some of them are very good. Truth is, I shouldn't be reading that kind of thing because, technically, I'm not supposed to read unsolicited material.
Moderator: (Annatto) to Moderator): Would you like to make movies as well as TV shows?
ShaunCassidy: Not at this point - I really like what I'm doing now. Writers don't have as much control in the motion picture business. Movies are more of a director's medium. If I ever started directing, that might be the time. But for now, I'd like to just keep doing what I'm doing.
Moderator: (Selena2 to Moderator): Some of the scenes in AG are pretty steamy...i bet you cut out a lot of "steamier" scenes...are there director's cut videos of AG?
ShaunCassidy: You mean for sale or in my office? (laughs) If they were for sale, I'm sure they'd make a bundle. I think there may have been some out takes of Gail, Lucas and Selena that might've been "not ready for prime time."
Moderator: (Valhalla to Moderator): Would it be possible for you to finish off some of your story arcs formatted for TV in novel format, perhaps?
ShaunCassidy: It might be. Again, right now I'm working on two new shows and I couldn't begin to find the time to write a novel. But I really appreciate everybody's interest and their own creativity where AG is concerned.
Moderator: (Saoirse to Moderator): Do you consider the (primarily underexposed) actors of Roar to be discoveries? They're all wonderful performers.
ShaunCassidy: I think the only actor I can really take credit for is Heath Ledger. Not that I can take any credit for his talent, only for giving him the opportunity to be seen. The others have all done quite a bit of work and Lisa Zane is actually pretty well known. I obviously care a lot about acting and actors and I'm very proud of both of the casts I've been involved with.
Moderator: (Ely to Moderator): There is a group of people who have joined together who are campaigning for the return of ROAR, called KTL...can you offer those of us who are a part of it any words of encouragement?
ShaunCassidy: As I think I said earlier, I feel our best episodes are yet to air. When they do, if they cause any kind of stir in the ratings, I think it would behoov everyone to go back into production with the show. The studio would like that, the actors would like it and I would like it. But, ultimately, it's out of my hands.
Moderator: (captain to Moderator): Which episode of AG scared you the most?
ShaunCassidy: And to Ely: As soon as you hear about it coming back on, tell as many people as you know, or can find, to watch. And if you like it, let the network know - write them, e-mail them, send farm animals to their homes...
captain: the pilot. I never knew how we'd get through it! ;)
Moderator: (RoaRioR to Moderator): Do you have any news about ROAR in Australia, we have only seen 5 episodes and now our tv station {ten} have decided not to show the rest on a regulaer basis ? :(
ShaunCassidy: Sorry... They may be reluctant to commit to a show that is no longer in production... but like I said, if the remaining episodes were to air and do well here, I have no doubt the show would resume in Australia.
Moderator: (Wrenne to Moderator): Did you borrow the effect of "Someone's at the door" written in blood on the back of the door from "The Shining"?
ShaunCassidy: REDRUM? Oh, the idea of "Someone's at the door" for me was much more frightening because of the history it invoked (ie. the rape of Caleb's mother) than the actual special effect of blood on the door. As far as "borrowing" that idea, you'll have to talk to the effects people. (laughs)
Moderator: (Ziggy to Moderator): What DID the blood from Merlyn's eye mean?
ShaunCassidy: That she was in mourning for her own life...and that there was still some kind of supernatural life there. If anyone's interested - that was not a special effect. It was done with makeup and a small pump that was afixed beneath Sarah Paulson's eye. I thought it was the most powerful moment in the pilot.
Moderator: (sadieb to Moderator): When you first conceived AG, did you have any actors in mind or did the casting just fall into place?
ShaunCassidy: I didn't have any actors in mind. I'd hoped to go with as many unknowns as possible because when you're trying to create a world it's difficult to suspend disbelief when you've got familiar faces running around everywhere. Gary, obviously, had been a television star, but he'd never been seen in this kind of role. I think he's a brilliant actor and I think in many ways Gary was rediscovered in this part.
Moderator: (editor to Moderator): What is your conception of Lucas--a fallen angel, the devil himself--or something else?
ShaunCassidy: Sociopath. Very charming sociopath. I don't think it's important whether Lucas actually is the Devil or not. All that matters is that he BELIEVES he can wield that kind of power. It's his unwavering belief in himself that gives him so much authority.
Moderator: (Devero to Moderator): How far into the future did you have your storylines Planned for American Gothic and Roar?
ShaunCassidy: Roar we actually have scripts that have yet to be shot. They ordered six more scripts at the end of the thirteen episodes, which we initially viewed as a good sign... AG, we were just working so hard to keep up - because we made 22 episodes - I was lucky to get the last one written. And after that, I needed a vacation that I'm still waiting for...
Moderator: Thank you so much for spending the time to chat with us!
ShaunCassidy: Thank you. I really enjoyed it. Thanks for the smart questions.
Moderator: We're going to make the room unmoderated now!
(remember, catch American Gothic on Friday nights)
ShaunCassidy: PS, my wife and I are having a baby - and we'll find out what it is when it gets here!
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