PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA, THE: PALEYFEST 2018: STRANGER THINGS {LONG VERSION}
Summary
One in a series of evenings and special screenings presented as part of The Paley Center for Media's 35th William S. Paley Television Festival in Los Angeles. Held this year at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, the festival celebrates the excellence and diversity of American television and is dedicated to television's creative community. This PALEYFEST 2018 seminar honors "Stranger Things," the drama/science-fiction series about a series of mysterious, supernatural events in a small Indiana town in the 1980s.
Host Rene Reyes (executive in charge of production, The Paley Center for Media) offers opening remarks and welcomes actor Wil Wheaton to the stage. Wheaton introduces the second season premiere, "Chapter One: MADMAX," which is then screened in its entirety. (For synopsis and credits, see ACCNUM 132145.)
After the screening, Wheaton moderates the following panelists: executive producer/director Shawn Levy; and cast members Charlie Heaton (Jonathan Byers), Natalia Dyer (Nancy Wheeler), Sadie Sink (Max Mayfield), Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas Sinclair), Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven/Jane Ives), David Harbour (Chief Jim Hopper), Winona Ryder (Joyce Byers), Paul Reiser (Sam Owens), and Sean Astin (Bob Newby).
The panelists touch on such topics as: extremely high expectations for season two after the unexpected success of season one; Wheaton, Astin and Ryder's past as 1980s child stars; Astin and Ryder's work together in "Stay Cool" (2009) and Bob's acceptance of Joyce's complex life; parallels to Reiser's role in "Aliens" (1986); Brown's desire to understand her mysterious character throughout season one; McLaughlin's view of the second season as an entirely new undertaking; their "willful tuning out" of the excessive press and fan scrutiny surrounding season two; Sink's instant friendships with the other cast members and Brown's relief at the addition of another girl; Dyer's experience working with comedian Brett Gelman, who plays the eccentric Murray Bauman, during Nancy's "road movie" in season two; Heaton's views on Jonathan's expanded role and his sense of self-assurance; Levy's excitement at getting to showcase the talents of cast member Noah Schapp (Will Byer), who was largely absent from season one; the young actors' deep dive into 1980s pop culture, including show creators Ross and Matt Duffer's creation of a "fake trailer," featuring scenes from many classic '80s movies; "man of justice" Hopper's paternal bond with Eleven after the death of his own daughter; how Harbour, not a father in real life, views the personal and cathartic bond between the two characters; Sink's admiration for her character's strong self-confidence and skateboard skills, for which she took extensive lessons; Heaton's lack of formal drama training and sense of attending "acting class" in scenes with veteran actors Ryder and Harbour; casting authentic individuals with "undirectable" natural chemistry; Sink's sense of relief at the strong positive response to Max, new in season two, especially from young girls; McLaughlin's interest in Lucas' specific emotional behavior; Brown's hard work to discover Eleven's growing sense of self, after her largely silent and ambiguous first season; the role as a "dream job" for Harbour; Reiser's uncertainty about his character's true allegiance and morality; Astin's disappointment in not sharing scenes with Brown before Bob's heroic death in episode 8; Ryder's struggle to maintain Joyce's heightened sense of panic and determination to find her missing son in season one; her praise for on-screen sons Heaton and Schapp; and Levy's gratitude for the passionate fanbase.
Questions from the audience then lead to a discussion of the following topics, among others: their favorite scenes, including romantic moments and flying scenes; the memorable scene in which Max finally confronts her violent and bullying stepbrother Billy (Dacre Montgomery); U.K. natives Heaton and Brown's talent for American accents; advice to aspiring young artists; McLaughlin's role as young Ricky Bell in "The New Edition Story" (2017) and his impressive dance moves; how the actors bonded with one another and built chemistry, including Ryder's sense of the "intimacy" of a pre-cell phone, pre-Internet era; and Wheaton's sage advice to the young stars about the perils of Hollywood.
Details
- NETWORK: N/A
- DATE: 7:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: N/A
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 132131
- GENRE: Seminars
- SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Wil Wheaton … Moderator
- Charlie Heaton … Panelist
- Natalia Dyer … Panelist
- Sadie Sink … Panelist
- Caleb McLaughlin … Panelist
- Millie Bobby Brown … Panelist
- David Harbour … Panelist
- Paul Reiser … Panelist
- Sean Astin … Panelist
- Winona Ryder … Panelist
- Shawn Levy … Panelist
- Ricky Bell
- Matt Duffer
- Ross Duffer
- Brett Gelman
- Dacre Montgomery
- Noah Schnapp