Post by Niki on Sept 17, 2009 15:26:08 GMT -5
sn.soapnet.go.com/news/article/up-close-jeff-branson?page=0,0
We were thrilled when “Guiding Light” star Jeff Branson -- this year’s Daytime Emmy Award winner for Best Supporting Actor -- took some time to chat with us. Especially since he was in the middle of a move from New York to Los Angeles, driving cross-country with “Emmy” (as he affectionately named his statue) in the passenger seat of his car.
Here’s what Jeff had to say about his win, the role of Shayne Lewis, and the end of radio and TV’s longest running drama:
First of all, congratulations! How was it hearing your name called?
It knocked the wind out of me … I thought that it could easily go [Vincent Irizzary’s] way -- he does great work. But the way it turned out (with the tie) … I had a feeling it could maybe happen. Then I sat there and I think they actually said Shayne Lewis. They didn’t say Jeff Branson … and Danny Cosgrove tapped me on the leg and said, “That’s you, man.” But I was floored, I was absolutely floored.
What attracted you to the role of Shayne?
I’ve been around long enough to know that if I got the chance to play Kim Zimmer and Robert Newman’s son -- I wanted to take it. I was a little hesitant about the format they were shooting on when they first came to me … But they quickly figured out a few things lighting-wise and changed cameras and, all of a sudden, the way they shot the show was 100 percent better. When they told me who I’d be playing and the breakdown for the character and also to work with Gina Tognoni -- that kind of grabbed me and jerked me back in. It was that good.
We loved how you gave Shayne more edge. What was your take on the character?
I think that he collapsed under the whole American dream vision everybody had for him. He could’ve had a ball career, but he left to go do something completely selfless and then saw the worst part of humanity because of it. I didn’t see him feeling like he deserved the compliments that everybody bestowed on him. I feel like he thought there’s always more work to do … I think that’s why I chose to make him a little more edgy. I didn’t want to see him come back the American dream. He came back damaged.
How was it working with Kim Zimmer (Reva) and Robert Newman (Josh) and Gina Tognoni (Dinah)?
I had a good bond with each of them. We all worked in a way that we understood each other and could move quickly and had each other’s back. It was probably the best acting gig … the richest experience I’ve ever had. There were moments up there that I was really emotionally moved watching those guys do what they do.
How did you feel about the changes “Guiding Light” made in the last year?
I loved the way it was going. It was really getting more family driven again and conversational. And then to have the digital cameras … I think what (Executive Producer) Ellen Wheeler was doing, somebody should pick up and go further with it. I think it tells a better story. I saw some of those shows I shot with Kim … the blue of her eyes when you get up close. Just really powerful stuff.
It’s so unfortunate that the show’s cancellation was announced just a few months after you started. Did you guys have any warning?
There had been talk since I started the show but … I don’t know … it just seemed like it was going to keep going. Ellen kept saving the day and she really busted her ass. My hat’s off to that woman, taking it as far as it went. No one really believed it was going to happen.
What can you tell us about the last few days of shooting? It must have been a very emotional time.
It was tough. A lot of these cats worked together 25 years. That’s longer than a lot of marriages these days. They watched each other’s children grow and go to college …dinner parties over at their other’s houses for over two decades. I listened to a lot of them tell stories about storylines and different actors that worked on the show long before my time … Reminiscing because this thing is about to pass them, not because it’s just another year under the belt. It was really just an emotionally rich environment for the last week of the show. Every time somebody shot their last scene, there was an announcement made by a producer. Actor’s name, character’s name, how long they’d played the part …
Can you share anything about how the show ends?
I’m not going to give anything away about the storyline but I can just tell you the vibe. I mean, it was sad, don’t get me wrong. But people were celebrating what they had together instead of mourning what they were losing … It’s sad, I wanted to play this character out. I think there’s a lot more story to be told there.
Your fans definitely want to see more of you. Any chance we’ll see you on another soap anytime soon?
As of right now, I’m available and I’d love to talk to everybody about everything. If somebody had a great story that was a hot character and if the pitch was as good as a Shayne Lewis pitch -- I would be in for sure.
We were thrilled when “Guiding Light” star Jeff Branson -- this year’s Daytime Emmy Award winner for Best Supporting Actor -- took some time to chat with us. Especially since he was in the middle of a move from New York to Los Angeles, driving cross-country with “Emmy” (as he affectionately named his statue) in the passenger seat of his car.
Here’s what Jeff had to say about his win, the role of Shayne Lewis, and the end of radio and TV’s longest running drama:
First of all, congratulations! How was it hearing your name called?
It knocked the wind out of me … I thought that it could easily go [Vincent Irizzary’s] way -- he does great work. But the way it turned out (with the tie) … I had a feeling it could maybe happen. Then I sat there and I think they actually said Shayne Lewis. They didn’t say Jeff Branson … and Danny Cosgrove tapped me on the leg and said, “That’s you, man.” But I was floored, I was absolutely floored.
What attracted you to the role of Shayne?
I’ve been around long enough to know that if I got the chance to play Kim Zimmer and Robert Newman’s son -- I wanted to take it. I was a little hesitant about the format they were shooting on when they first came to me … But they quickly figured out a few things lighting-wise and changed cameras and, all of a sudden, the way they shot the show was 100 percent better. When they told me who I’d be playing and the breakdown for the character and also to work with Gina Tognoni -- that kind of grabbed me and jerked me back in. It was that good.
We loved how you gave Shayne more edge. What was your take on the character?
I think that he collapsed under the whole American dream vision everybody had for him. He could’ve had a ball career, but he left to go do something completely selfless and then saw the worst part of humanity because of it. I didn’t see him feeling like he deserved the compliments that everybody bestowed on him. I feel like he thought there’s always more work to do … I think that’s why I chose to make him a little more edgy. I didn’t want to see him come back the American dream. He came back damaged.
How was it working with Kim Zimmer (Reva) and Robert Newman (Josh) and Gina Tognoni (Dinah)?
I had a good bond with each of them. We all worked in a way that we understood each other and could move quickly and had each other’s back. It was probably the best acting gig … the richest experience I’ve ever had. There were moments up there that I was really emotionally moved watching those guys do what they do.
How did you feel about the changes “Guiding Light” made in the last year?
I loved the way it was going. It was really getting more family driven again and conversational. And then to have the digital cameras … I think what (Executive Producer) Ellen Wheeler was doing, somebody should pick up and go further with it. I think it tells a better story. I saw some of those shows I shot with Kim … the blue of her eyes when you get up close. Just really powerful stuff.
It’s so unfortunate that the show’s cancellation was announced just a few months after you started. Did you guys have any warning?
There had been talk since I started the show but … I don’t know … it just seemed like it was going to keep going. Ellen kept saving the day and she really busted her ass. My hat’s off to that woman, taking it as far as it went. No one really believed it was going to happen.
What can you tell us about the last few days of shooting? It must have been a very emotional time.
It was tough. A lot of these cats worked together 25 years. That’s longer than a lot of marriages these days. They watched each other’s children grow and go to college …dinner parties over at their other’s houses for over two decades. I listened to a lot of them tell stories about storylines and different actors that worked on the show long before my time … Reminiscing because this thing is about to pass them, not because it’s just another year under the belt. It was really just an emotionally rich environment for the last week of the show. Every time somebody shot their last scene, there was an announcement made by a producer. Actor’s name, character’s name, how long they’d played the part …
Can you share anything about how the show ends?
I’m not going to give anything away about the storyline but I can just tell you the vibe. I mean, it was sad, don’t get me wrong. But people were celebrating what they had together instead of mourning what they were losing … It’s sad, I wanted to play this character out. I think there’s a lot more story to be told there.
Your fans definitely want to see more of you. Any chance we’ll see you on another soap anytime soon?
As of right now, I’m available and I’d love to talk to everybody about everything. If somebody had a great story that was a hot character and if the pitch was as good as a Shayne Lewis pitch -- I would be in for sure.