About
"When I'm teaching my directing class, I always ask, 'how happy was your childhood? Were your parents always together?' And if they're really happy and their parents are together, I say 'oooh, the odds are going to be against you!' Because part of what being a director is, certainly in television and also in films, is that we try to recreate our families, and we try to perfect them."
In his two-hour interview, Paris Barclay speaks about his experiences in theater under the tutelage of Stephen Sondheim. He describes his big break in television, making music videos (including directing LL Cool J's "Mama Said Knock You Out") and working on the early 1990s drama Angel Street. He comments on his work as a guest director on a number of drama series in the mid-1990s, notably on ER. He then details his extensive directing work on NYPD Blue and talks about working with the ensemble cast and directing memorable episodes. Barclay recalls directing episodes of The West Wing and speaks about working with creator Aaron Sorkin and showrunner John Wells. He discusses his work on several of the series he has directed since The West Wing, including American Dreams, Cold Case, Lost, and CSI. Barclay also talks about his directing process and offers advice to aspiring directors. Karen Herman conducted the interview on November 2, 2007 in North Hollywood, CA.
Highlights
Paris Barclay on his involvement with the Directors Guild of America
Paris Barclay on winning an Emmy for directing an episode of NYPD Blue
Paris Barclay on directing the music video for LL Cool J's "Mama Said Knock You Out"
Paris Barclay on directing the House episode "Three Stories" (airdate: May 17, 2005)
Paris Barclay on his directing process once he receives a script
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his childhood and early influences; on growing up in a large family and being interested in music; on loving TV comedies; on attending boarding school
On being the first African American to integrate his high school; on attending Harvard University and writing musicals; on working in advertising and directing his first commercial
Chapter 2
On working for the Museum of Broadcasting in New York, archiving Studio One; on his involvement with ASCAP Musical Theater and advice from mentor Stephen Sondheim; on his style for writing musicals (including "Almost a Man")
On leaving advertising; on creating a music video company, Black and White Television, and directing music videos
On transitioning to directing television dramas; on directing Angel Street, Diagnosis Murder, Sliders, and C.S.I.
Chapter 3
On directing Silk Stockings and ER; on how directors are selected to direct individual episodes
On directing an episode of Clueless; on directing movies and television movies; on dealing with difficult actors
On directing NYPD Blue
Chapter 4
On directing and becoming producer on NYPD Blue; on producing and directing City of Angels
On directing episodes of The West Wing, Fastlane, American Dreams, Cold Case, Huff, Law & Orde r, House, Dirt, Lost, and CSI
On his directing process once he receives a script
Chapter 5
On his directing process; on how television and its audience have changed
On his involvement with the Directors Guild of America; on being openly gay and how it has affected his career; on whether or not he's faced racism in the television industry; on advice to aspiring directors
Shows
American Dreams
Paris Barclay on directing American Dreams
Angel Street
Paris Barclay on directing Angel Street for creator John Wells
City of Angels (2000)
Paris Barclay on producing and directing City of Angels
Clueless
Paris Barclay on directing an episode of Clueless
Cold Case
Paris Barclay on directing episodes of Cold Case
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Paris Barclay on directing CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Paris Barclay on directing CSI
Paris Barclay on directing CSI
Diagnosis Murder
Paris Barclay on directing Dick Van Dyke in an episode of Diagnosis Murder
Dirt
Paris Barclay on directing Dirt
ER
Paris Barclay on directing a pivotal episode of ER
Paris Barclay on directing several episodes of ER
Fastlane
Paris Barclay on directing Fastlane
House
Paris Barclay on directing the House episode "Three Stories" (airdate: May 17, 2005)
Huff
Paris Barclay on directing Huff
Law & Order
Paris Barclay on directing Law & Order
Lost
Paris Barclay on directing Lost
NYPD Blue
Paris Barclay on directing NYPD Blue
Paris Barclay on directing and later producing NYPD Blue
Silk Stalkings
Paris Barclay on directing the Silk Stalkings episode "Tricks of the Trade"
Sliders
Paris Barclay on directing Sliders
Studio One
Paris Barclay on working for the Museum of Broadcasting in New York, archiving Studio One
West Wing, The
Paris Barclay on directing episodes of The West Wing
Topics
Advertising and Sponsorship
Paris Barclay on the state of television advertising when he worked in it
Paris Barclay on rarely seeing African Americans in production when he worked in television advertising
Classic TV Series Episodes
Paris Barclay on directing a pivotal episode of ER in which a main character is revealed to have AIDS, and seeing the power of television's reach
Creative Influences and Inspiration
Paris Barclay on advice from mentor Stephen Sondheim
Paris Barclay on advice from mentor Stephen Sondheim
Emmy Awards
Paris Barclay on winning an Emmy for directing an episode of NYPD Blue
Health and Medicine
Paris Barclay on directing a pivotal episode of ER in which a main character is revealed to have AIDS, and seeing the power of television's reach
Historic Events and Social Change
Paris Barclay on directing a pivotal episode of ER in which a main character is revealed to have AIDS, and seeing the power of television's reach
LGBTQIA+
Paris Barclay on being openly gay and how it has affected his career
Memorable Moments on Television
Paris Barclay on directing Jimmy Smits' last episode of NYPD Blue
Pivotal Career Moments
Paris Barclay on advice from mentor Stephen Sondheim
Pop Culture
Paris Barclay on directing a pivotal episode of ER in which a main character is revealed to have AIDS, and seeing the power of television's reach
Representation on Television
Paris Barclay on directing a pivotal episode of ER in which a main character is revealed to have AIDS, and seeing the power of television's reach
Paris Barclay on producing City of Angels
Paris Barclay on his involvement with the Diversity Committee of the Directors Guild of America
Paris Barclay on being openly gay and how it has affected his career
Paris Barclay on whether or not he's faced racism in the television industry
Technological Innovation
Paris Barclay on how technology affects his directing process
Television Industry
Paris Barclay on the state of television advertising when he worked in it
Paris Barclay on rarely seeing African Americans in production when he worked in television advertising
Paris Barclay on how television has changed
Paris Barclay on the television audience
Underrepresented Voices
Paris Barclay on producing City of Angels
Paris Barclay on his involvement with the Diversity Committee of the Directors Guild of America
Paris Barclay on whether or not he's faced racism in the television industry
We Cried
Paris Barclay on directing Jimmy Smits' last episode of NYPD Blue
Professions
Directors
Paris Barclay on the process of directing music videos
Paris Barclay on directing a pivotal episode of ER
Paris Barclay on how directors are selected to direct individual episodes
Paris Barclay on directing comedy
Paris Barclay on directing difficult actors
Paris Barclay on his reputation as a director
Paris Barclay on his directing process once he receives a script
Paris Barclay on his directing process
Paris Barclay on his directing style being recognizable
Paris Barclay on his involvement with the Directors Guild of America
Paris Barclay on advice to aspiring directors
Producers
Paris Barclay on becoming a producer on NYPD Blue
Genres
Commercials
Paris Barclay on co-directing a PSA for "AIDS: It's nobody's fault and everybody's problem" with Elizabeth Taylor
Drama Series
Paris Barclay on directing Dick Van Dyke in an episode of Diagnosis Murder
Paris Barclay on directing NYPD Blue
Paris Barclay on directing and later producing NYPD Blue
Medical Dramas
Paris Barclay on directing a pivotal episode of ER
Paris Barclay on producing and directing City of Angels
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Paris Barclay on directing a music video for Bob Dylan
Paris Barclay on directing the music video for LL Cool J's "Mama Said Knock You Out"
TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials
Paris Barclay on directing television movies
People
Steven Bochco
Paris Barclay on producing and directing City of Angels
George Clooney
Paris Barclay on directing several episodes of ER and working with George Clooney
James Coburn
Paris Barclay on directing the television movie "The Cherokee Kid"
Bob Dylan
Paris Barclay on directing a music video for Bob Dylan
LL Cool J
Paris Barclay on directing the music video for LL Cool J's "Mama Said Knock You Out"
Hugh Laurie
Paris Barclay on directing the House episode "Three Stories" (airdate: May 17, 2005)
David Milch
Paris Barclay on David Milch's stories on NYPD Blue
Paris Barclay on directing and later producing NYPD Blue
Worthington Miner
Paris Barclay on interviewing Worthington Miner while archiving Studio One
Robert De Niro
Paris Barclay on doing the Hasty Pudding Show at Harvard University and meeting honoree Robert De Niro
Burt Reynolds
Paris Barclay on directing the television movie "The Cherokee Kid"
David Shore
Paris Barclay on directing the House episode "Three Stories" (airdate: May 17, 2005)
Jimmy Smits
Paris Barclay on directing Jimmy Smits' last episode of NYPD Blue
Stephen Sondheim
Paris Barclay on advice from mentor Stephen Sondheim
Elizabeth Taylor
Paris Barclay on doing the Hasty Pudding Show at Harvard University and meeting honoree Elizabeth Taylor
Paris Barclay on co-directing a PSA for "AIDS: It's nobody's fault and everybody's problem" with Elizabeth Taylor
Mark Tinker
Paris Barclay on directing NYPD Blue
Dick Van Dyke
Paris Barclay on directing Dick Van Dyke in an episode of Diagnosis Murder
John Wells
Paris Barclay on directing Angel Street for creator John Wells
Paris Barclay on directing a pivotal episode of ER for showrunner John Wells