David Rambo Responds..., Thanks to all who participated. Options

[ZenBridge]

Here are the answers to questions put forth by YTDAW members. Thanks to him for such well-thought out answers and his quick response

I must say Butterflied is one of my favorite episodes. The range of emotions, especially the frustration, is wonderful. Sadly, the case was unresolved, which is more of an accurate reflection of actual murder cases.

Might there be a chance that Dr. Lurie will be brought back?

-Rassie

Thanks, Rassie; I’m glad Butterflied is one of your favorites.  Wasn’t Dr. Lurie a great killer? However, I disagree that the case was unresolved.  Grissom knows Lurie killed Debbie Marlin, and the forensics bear him out.  While it’s not enough for a conviction, it is enough to give Grissom a look into his own soul, almost without his realizing it.  Grissom had to acknowledge that mysteries of the human psyche are the most profound, and that they are part of all of us – even a work-obsessed forensics expert.  What Dr. Lurie did was brutal and exhausting: two bodies, one completely disarticulated.  To continue living with a burden like that on one’s conscience is nearly impossible.  I have to believe that Lurie will kill again, and should that happen, I’d love for it to be in Las Vegas where Gil Grissom and his team could nail him. 

***

Because of your amazing attention to detail and the evocative imagery found in your scripts, I wonder how much of your experience as a playwright factors into how you develop a script for television? What have you learned from one genre of writing that has helped you in another genre?

-ZenBridge

While my theatre experience informs everything I write, the genres are quite different.  Writing for television is an enormously collaborative experience. A CSI: script involves long hours in group discussion (including invaluable input from our senior technical advisor Rich Catalani and on-set tech advisor Larry Mitchell).  At every stage of the writer’s work – outline, first draft, shooting script, rewrites – there is ongoing input from the other writers, the director, the producers, and the production team. Conversely, writing for the theatre is solitary and contemplative.  It can take a year or more to write a play.  Unlike the literal medium of  film, the theatre is a poetic medium, one in which metaphor and allusion contribute to the audience’s participation in the experience.  I’ve used some of that in my CSI:  work.  For example, in Butterflied our victim was sleeping around at work, “fishing off the company pier,” as Catherine put it.  In fishing, it’s the fish who are vulnerable, even when they appear to be strong, so I named our victim Debbie “Marlin.”  Her killer was Dr. “Lurie” – his status and wealth being the lure that killed her.  Our production designer, Richard Berg, used a sea-foam green color for Debbie’s house and carpeting.  And the object of Debbie’s fascination – butterflies – represents a kind of freedom that water-bound creatures might envy.  The episode is full of such little details and associations, and I think they enrich the viewing experience.

***

Regarding Sara's past, will we finally see her mother next season? Also, is there more to tell about her past?

-Marbs84

If there is more to reveal about Sara’s past, I don’t know it at this point.  I’d love to see her mother today, years after her crime and court-ordered treatment. I do think Sara and her mother must be close – twin survivors of a nightmare, but  I doubt if they ever talk about the killing of Sara’s  father..

***

Before Butterflied I never thought Grissom had it in him to be truly violent, but this episode changed my mind - especially with how easily he could put himself into Lurie's mindset and understand Lurie's actions/motivations. Do you think Grissom has the capacity for violence in him?

-idreamedmusic

I think given the right circumstances anyone has the capacity for violence.  Lurie killed Debbie and her young lover, but what he was really attempt to extinguish was that part of himself that is no longer young.  Grissom would never fall apart to that extent, or in such a self-destructive way, but if someone close to him were in peril, and  violence would save him or her, Grissom would absolutely rise to the occasion.  He’s a geek, but he’s a heroic geek.

***

In your latest screenplay "4X4," there was a scene where Grissom eavesdrops on Sara and Greg's conversation about their shower together and Grissom gives a strange reaction to it, what was the interpretation of his expression?

-honestly

Didn’t Billy play that scene wonderfully?  4X4 was a lark from start to finish for everyone involved, and it all started with Naren Shankar’s brilliant idea  to tell the four short stories and use the device of rewinding time to link them.  I think Grissom’s expression overhearing the Sara/Greg exchange was, “Did I just hear what I thought I heard - and is that why their hair is wet?”  By the way, we just recorded the DVD commentary for this episode, and I got to credit Dustin Abraham with writing my favorite dialogue of the season for Billy; it’s when Grissom says, “I think that’s the stupidest thing we’ve ever heard.”  The line and Billy’s performance are priceless.

***

In the commentary for the episode Butterflied you all seem rather excited about the possibility of a real time episode, which is an amazing idea. Do you think that there is any possibility of such an episode happening and if so, what aspect would you focus on? I.e. character interaction, evidence collection, actual crime being committed.

-first_do_no_harm

Hm… I’d forgotten about that.  If it’s something we could do, we’d have to find a way to do it that doesn’t imitate other shows which have done it (24 comes to mind).  It would have to have the urgency of a live broadcast, and a heart-pounding story.  One of the very few things we do cheat in our show is time (for instance, we get near-instant DNA results, when in fact the process can take weeks at best and months, even years, in most cases).  My bias is always toward character exploration, so I’d like to see the real-time device enable us to go somewhere new in that regard rather than lab results.

***

How would you like to see the Grissom/Sara relationship evolve?

-North

I’m not going to tell you if it’s ever going to be consummated or not.  I don’t know, and I don’t think any of us really knows.  This is an example of what a privilege it is to work with actors of intelligence and generosity such as William Petersen and Jorja Fox.  What they bring to Grissom and Sara each week continues to surprise and inform us.  By paying attention to where they’re going with the characters, and what they do with what we ask them to play, we’ll get a sense of if and how anything develops.  Right now, it’s terra incognito, and I rather like that.

***

Do you have a favorite character that you enjoy writing for?

-CSIFreak

Not to sound like a Dad who’s just been asked which of the kids he loves best, but I honestly enjoy writing for all the characters.  The one I was most hesitant to write for was Greg Sanders.  I had doubts about understanding his world, and getting his language and point of view right.  Fortunately, Eric Szmanda made me feel very welcome in Greg’s world; we spent a fair amount of time on the set talking together, and I feel very comfortable exchanging ideas with him.  I was thrilled to write the script that made him a full-fledged CSI, “Who Shot Sherlock?”  We got to depict Greg’s ambition, and allow him to stumble on the way to success.  Watch the last few scenes on the DVD – remember that these are all shot out of sequence.  Eric’s work there rings with honesty, which is what makes the payoff with the champagne celebration so satisfying.

***

Included in all of your script endeavors for CSI there seems to be an element within the stories where Grissom is confronted with his feelings for Sara. What about their dynamic intrigues you? What is your perception of Grissom’s feelings for Sara?

-mystery

I think Grissom’s yearning for Sara is real – but the job, and his self-doubts always get in the way.  Most crimes are committed between people who already have a close relationship.  It’s would be impossible to spend every day investigating those relationships and not think about your own.  I try to depict this obliquely, rather than head-on, which  I think is more interesting and involving for the viewer.  For instance, in Swap Meet, on the bench in the hallway at LVPD, Grissom brings Sara a cup of tea.  That he knows she drinks tea says something.  The brief conversation that follows is at the same time highly professional and confessionally intimate: they wonder if the husband and wife they’ve just interrogated are truly happy.  The next step would be for Grissom and Sara to talk about their own ideas of love and happiness – but Grissom’s phone rings.  Once again, work intrudes.  I suspect it always will… but you never know.

[csipl]

Might there be a chance that Dr. Lurie will be brought back?

Thanks, Rassie; I’m glad Butterflied is one of your favorites.  Wasn’t Dr. Lurie a great killer? However, I disagree that the case was unresolved.  Grissom knows Lurie killed Debbie Marlin, and the forensics bear him out.  While it’s not enough for a conviction, it is enough to give Grissom a look into his own soul, almost without his realizing it.  Grissom had to acknowledge that mysteries of the human psyche are the most profound, and that they are part of all of us – even a work-obsessed forensics expert.  What Dr. Lurie did was brutal and exhausting: two bodies, one completely disarticulated.  To continue living with a burden like that on one’s conscience is nearly impossible.  I have to believe that Lurie will kill again, and should that happen, I’d love for it to be in Las Vegas where Gil Grissom and his team could nail him.

I would love that too.......Dr. Lurie watching Sara, well, someone just wrote a fanfic about that

How would you like to see the Grissom/Sara relationship evolve?

-North

I’m not going to tell you if it’s ever going to be consummated or not.  I don’t know, and I don’t think any of us really knows.  This is an example of what a privilege it is to work with actors of intelligence and generosity such as William Petersen and Jorja Fox.  What they bring to Grissom and Sara each week continues to surprise and inform us.  By paying attention to where they’re going with the characters, and what they do with what we ask them to play, we’ll get a sense of if and how anything develops.  Right now, it’s terra incognito, and I rather like that

Well, I´m not sure if I´m like it to see this relationship in no one land but I can understand that it´s exciting and keep the viewers more committed to CSI!
We always pay attention to all they do and we take it with a signal ....thank God you think the same, well, I think you think and for that I think this relationship will be a happy end.

Included in all of your script endeavors for CSI there seems to be an element within the stories where Grissom is confronted with his feelings for Sara. What about their dynamic intrigues you? What is your perception of Grissom’s feelings for Sara?

-mystery

I think Grissom’s yearning for Sara is real – but the job, and his self-doubts always get in the way.  Most crimes are committed between people who already have a close relationship.  It’s would be impossible to spend every day investigating those relationships and not think about your own.  I try to depict this obliquely, rather than head-on, which  I think is more interesting and involving for the viewer.  For instance, in Swap Meet, on the bench in the hallway at LVPD, Grissom brings Sara a cup of tea.  That he knows she drinks tea says something.  The brief conversation that follows is at the same time highly professional and confessionally intimate: they wonder if the husband and wife they’ve just interrogated are truly happy.  The next step would be for Grissom and Sara to talk about their own ideas of love and happiness – but Grissom’s phone rings.  Once again, work intrudes.  I suspect it always will… but you never know.

I love you Man I´m not dreaming


csipl


ETA: Only one word to the scene in 4-4 Jealous!

[Marbs84]

Cool. Thanks ZenBridge. My question was answered. I really do hope to see Sara's mother. next season. That would be so nice.

[wp1fan]

Man, I love this man. It's so great that he reinforced how much the little things in episodes mean. His example of the tea in "Swap Meet" made my heart beat a little faster. How awesome. We're not seeing imaginary things (which I know has been brought up before)...in most instances they're there for a reason. How refreshing.

[honestly]

WOW the answers are so great and detailed...I didn't really expect that well descripted answers. I love this guy man.

wp1fan: We're not seeing imaginary things (which I know has been brought up before)...in most instances they're there for a reason.

Exactly. So, it seems like almost everything they show in the set symbolizes the things related. They're not random. wow...I'm just saying wow.
So,..nobody really knows about the future of GSR.
So, he's a fan of GSR as well huh...guess I could say that.

honestly

PS- Thanks ZB for everthing. I love Mr. Rambo even more now.

[ligaras]

WOW, awesome!

Thanks ZenBridge and Mr. Rambo, and you guys' great questions.

So many things to comment on, but this was the best part of them all:

My bias is always toward character exploration, so I’d like to see the real-time device enable us to go somewhere new in that regard rather than lab results.

So glad he is part of the CSI team !

[Erika]

Woah! That is so cool. I seriously David Rambo even more now. And once again, thank you SO SO much for giving us the oppertunity like this, Zen.

I honestly didn't think we'd get such awesome answers like these, but they answered a bunch of my questions, thanks for asking them, guys!

[ChOtchGolden]

What an intelligent and articulate person this David Rambo is...I emjoyed all of his answers.

Thanks so much for this, Zen...it was awesome.

PS - The answer involving Swap Meet and the Tea made me smile...Woo Hoo! I AM NOT INSANE I really thought that I was reading too much into that exchange when I saw the episode...phew! What a relief

[Little Miss Sidl...]

Huge thanks, both to ZenBridge and to Mr. Rambo.

I try to depict this obliquely, rather than head-on, which  I think is more interesting and involving for the viewer.

[Princess Artemis]

Saweeet. What a wonderful peek into the writing...it's nice to be reminded that there are layers we may never be aware of...and that we aren't imagining the ones we do pick up!

That's so cool about the metaphors in Butterflied.

Thanks Zen and Mr. Rambo!

This post has been edited by Princess Artemis: May 30 2005, 10:27 PM

[ashura]

Butterflied was the episode that hooked me into CSI. And with Mr. Rambo elaborating on the subtle symbolism...just...wow.

It's mindblowing-ly awesome to be able to see what lies beneath that we're rarely able to see. This incredible insight into the integral part of the show, man, just totally cool.

Thanks to ZenBridge and Mr. Rambo. Now I can survive the summer reruns.

[juli561]

Wow, this really make my day. Thanks Zen and David Rambo. Thank god for a writer like him in CSI. My favourite part is when David refer to Grissom as heroic geek.

[Little Samurai]

THANK YOU ZENBRIDGE. THANK YOU for this.

I think I'm gonna puke, I'm so excited.

Validation can do that to you.

[idreamedmusic]

Thanks again ZenBridge, and thank Mr. Rambo too!

What insightful answers. I can't believe I never caught the symbolism in "Marlin" and "Lurie" - now the original title of the ep has even more meaning.

So good to hear that so much thought goes into the characters.

[Bugeater]

Did anyone ever make those "I David Rambo" t-shirts? I seriously want to buy one even more, now. The questions and answers were all excellent and I'm glad Mr. Rambo and ZB were kind enough to do this for us. Thank you guys!