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Pulling Double Duty on GH and Night Shift Has Left Little Time for Steve Burton's Favorite Job
As General Hospital's Jason, Steve Burton was eager for a new challenge. But Burton didn't want to leave the place he's called home for 16 years (and counting). Luckily for him and viewers, he didn't have to: He snagged a prominent place on SOAPnet's "Night Shift". In fact, not only has Burton remained full time on GH, but he's toiled on both sides of the camera on it's spin-off. Talk about working a double Shift!
Weekly: What reaction have you been getting to Night Shift?
Burton: People like it a lot. I'm sure there are people who don't like the fact that GH and Night Shift are technically two separate worlds. That is the biggest leap of faith from fans: Some things do carry over and some things don't.
Weekly: What about this opportunity appealed to you most?
Burton: I love the fact that I got to work with Billy Dee Williams, because he is the man. That's been awesome. I have to give Mark Teschner a lot of credit. He has cast a lot of good actors and good guest stars on Night Shift.
Weekly: Did they give you a break on your GH schedule, or did you have to clock massive overtime?
Burton: It's been a long, hard summer because I am directing Night Shift now also. I just started two weeks ago. I did two scenes in show No. 8 and show No.9 and then three or four scenes in 10, 11, 12. So, I've technically had three jobs, because you have to prep the shows, go to production meetings if you are directing the show, etc...on top of GH and on top of acting on Night Shift. So God bless my wife Sheree, and her handling two little rugrats on her own.
Weekly: Sounds like the hardest part about all this work has been not being home with your family.
Burton: Yeah, it throws us off because summers are usually the least busy. Normally we get summer Fridays off so they can save money for the rest of the year. But this year, since we have been doing Night Shift, we start on Fridays at 7 or 8 a.m and we finish at 4 a.m. So by then your Saturday is shot: You get home and the sun is coming up. That kind of ruins everything. Everyone is happy that it's coming to a close so that we can get back to a normal life. But it's been fun. It really has. The directing has given me a new fire for everything.
Weekly: When did your interest in directing materialize?
Burton: I always wanted to direct. I've directed some short films and such. When they talked to me about Night Shift, they suggested that maybe I can learn how to direct and start my directing career there, and I said, "Sure, I'll do it." I'll take any door that's open. My first dream was not to direct a soap, but after directing a soap, it's much harder than directing a film, let me tell you that.
Weekly: With the multiple cameras?
Burton: Yeah! You are used to looking at things with one camera and then all of a sudden you have four, and then you are like, "Whoa, what's going on here?" And you are editing as you are shooting a scene. It's pretty cool though. It's been a great experience.
Weekly: Imagine if you stepped it up to the day-time pace of GH.
Burton: Yeah, that's why we have three or four directors in a week, because one just can't handle that much work.
Weekly: Has there been any talk after Night Shift wraps about directing on GH?
Burton: It hasn't been addressed yet. I'm just happy that after the first day they said, "Okay, do two more next week," because I didn't want to debut and be fired in the same week.
Weekly: Did you direct any scenes of your own?
Burton: No, impossible.
Weekly: So it's not like the actors in movies who direct themselves?
Burton: That's much easier, because you're not in the booth and you already know what the shots are. The crew is set up and the cameras are set up for that one shot that you are in. But directing a soap, you are the guy in the booth snapping the cameras and adjusting the scenes on the fly, and you can never do that on the floor yourself.
Weekly: You mentioned your family. How are you kids (daughter Makena, 4 and son Jack, 16 months?)
Burton: They are great.
Weekly: Is fatherhood everything you expected it to be?
Burton: Fatherhood is awesome. My 16 month old is kind of an animal right now. But that's okay. We will get through that phase of him wanting to grab everything off the table and smashing it. (laughs)
Weekly: Has being a father in real life given you any insights when it comes to Jason being a father?
Burton: Absolutely. Once you have kids something changes inside of you. I know how to play everything with the Jake story on GH. I could only imagine before.
Weekly: How is the energy different on the Night Shift show?
Burton: It's fun to watch these new kids come in. They are energetic and excited about working. Not that I was never not excited about working, but you do a job for 15, 16 years...with Night Shift it's exciting and there is a different energy because it's a new show.
Weekly: You talk about all these new kids. I remember when you were the new kid on the block at GH.
Burton: It does seem like a long time ago but it was 16 years ago.
Weekly: Did you ever think you would be on GH 16 years later?
Burton: No, I don't think anyone thinks about that. Whoever is still there for 15 years is lucky to be there.
Weekly: Is it strange to now be a veteran on the show?
Burton: It seems strange because I am fairly young for being on the show for that long. I have been acting for 21 years now; it seems like forever. Even though I am just starting my life with kids, it seems like I should be retiring soon; that's how I feel mentally. I'm like, oh, my gosh. I am only 37 but I feel like, "Come on, man! Get off your butt! Let's go."
Weekly: So you are ready to become chief of staff at GH?
Burton: That's right, baby. I figure I've got 10 more years in me before it's time to retire...at least.
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