Jonathan Frakes Talks Leverage
February 10, 2009 by Cynthia
lev·er·age n. : Positional advantage; power to act effectively
Tonight, Star Trek: The Next Generation Star Jonathan Frakes, exerts his own kind of leverage when he takes over the helm of the TNT series. The episode is called “The Juror No 6 Job” and features a few Frakes friends that any good scifi fan should recognize – Brent Spiner and Armin Shimerman.
Leverage and Star Trek stars — that’s a combo I couldn’t pass up, so I got Jonathan on the last call of the day just as he was headed out to do the DVD commentary for the Leverage DVD.
Every TV show has its own style and pace, so what makes Leverage Leverage?
Jonathan: The heist! We all love heist movies and I’ve been looking for a heist movie to do for many years. So when Dean sold this series it was a great opportunity to make a little mini movie every week and also, it doesn’t hurt that this cast is so fabulous.
When you say, I want this to look like a movie, how dowse that translate to your role as a director?
Jonathan: We’ve got a wonderful DP named Dave Connell, who’s been my personal favorite. He did the Librarian movies with us and he’s maintained a look and we have a real strong philosophy about moving the camera and also the writing, John Rodgers and Chris Downey and the writing staff, you know, there are sometimes 90 scenes in these shows so it’s not sit down and two guys talking in a room very often.
I was particularly impressed with Aldis Hodge (Jake from Supernatural), in this episode. He blows me away.
Jonathan: He’s wonderful in the last act, isn’t he? Because you’re so used to him being a wise ass, when he pulls out the serious card, especially for fans of the show, it’s going to be a wonderful revelation to see him play that particular emotion.
Did you have to really pull that from him or did he go right there? Cause he seems like more of a comedy guy, to me.
Jonathan: He is more of a comedy guy. It took more than one take, but it was clearly a club that he had in his bag and I just had to provide an atmosphere that he was comfortable in and trust that he could do that. So, I think it was good for both of us.
I heard that you were in on the casting a little bit with Brent and Armin?
Jonathan: I did a little plug for the casting. When I read the script, I said this would be a great part for Brent. Dean was also a fan of Brent from having used him in Independence Day. So we got Brent on board. Then, in the casting session I’m thinking, we don’t have to read people for this corrupt juror – what about Armin Shimerman? They said, oh, we love Armin. I said, let’s use Armin and wait a minute, his wife, Kitty – I want to use a female judge, let’s use Kitty, let’s offer it to both of them. So then everybody’s life became easier. I got friends on the set who I knew were going to be great in the parts and now, fast forward another couple of month and we’ve got a win win.
Do we have more episodes of Leverage coming up from you?
Jonathan: Yes, they just got picked up for next season and Dean’s asked me to do a few for him, so I’m really thrilled to be back.
And we saw you in a little cameo too, did we not? A week ago?
Jonathan: I did get pulled out of the office when I was prepping. He said, “come here, come here, sit down, sit next to Tim, I need somebody to do this little bit.” So, that’s a perfect example of the way Electric Entertainment works.
Other projects you’ve got coming up?
Jonathan: I’m leaving on Wednesday to go down [to Mexico] to do a series called Persons Unknown, which is a psychological drama. Christopher McQuarrie (The Usual Suspects, Valkyrie) did the pilot.
It’s loosely based on The Prisoner, that old English series, and Lost, people who get kidnapped and brought into this 1950s B.F. Skinner behavioral town. They’re trying to figure out why they’re there, who they are, and there are surveillance cameras in every room . . .it’s like a horror movie.
We’re doing 12 or 13 of them for Fox Television but we’re still waiting on an air date.
Watch Leverage tonight and every Tuesday night at 10:00 on TNT and come back tomorrow when Jonathan answers two of my favorite random questions.
Photo: TNT/Alan Markfield
re: “people who get kidnapped and brought into this 1950s B.F. Skinner behavioral town…it’s like a horror movie.”
Skinner’s Walden II takes place in the 40s. But that’s a small matter. I recommend you read the summary in Wiki on WII, since it is obvious you haven’t had the integrity to read the original. There you will find that in WII “The community are happy, productive, and creative; happiness derives from the promotion of rich social relationships and family life, free affection, the creation of art, music, and literature, opportunity for games of chess and tennis, and ample rest, food, and sleep. The community is self-governed…”
The principles applied in WII are the same as those that currently help autistic and developmentally delayed individuals become as productive as possible and to fit into society–and quite successfully. Applications are myriad, in fact. They emphasize positive outcomes, life improvements, and general well-being.
It’s irresponsible of you to align Skinner’s “behavioral town” with notions of “horror.”
Uh, Trip, that was Jonathan Frakes who was talking about Skinner, not Cynthia. You’re getting all up in arms at the wrong person.
Yep. Thanks, Sherry. My apologies to Cynthia. I did what I claimed she did, failed to read closely (I’m kicking myself 3 x).
Nonetheless, Frakes’s misrepresentation is inexcusable. My general take stands.
who cares what frakes said. brent spiner sure looks great in her “brown cow”shirt.even though she’s a holstein.
As has already been noted the quote is from Mr. Frakes and it would be irresponsible of me, as a journalist, to change what he said in an interview.
I have a degree in education and I’m very familiar with Skinner and Walden – I’m sure he meant no slight to the historical facts, but was simply using that as a framework that people would understand. As for the 1950s – that is intentionally a mystery as the series does not take place in the 50’s.
Finally, your condensed quote – works as a misquote – the “horror movie” reference was to the fact that these people have been kidnapped and are being studied with cameras on them at all times – the part of the quote that you removed.