Gotta do it good, like ya know you should
Lionsgate, this is dedicated to you:
watch?v=SX_kttZ8Z4I
The point? I thought it tied in nicely with this post-ette, and YAY! It’s disco…
So, yes, I’m still transcribing my conversations with Donielle Artese and Deborah Lacey (yeah, I know, I promised them sooner – but, hey, life…sometimes it’s a bugger). However, just so you know I’m not a complete flake, I wanted to share this nugget with you from Donielle to whet your appetites:
I heard from one of the researchers that they tried to adhere to every last detail. For example, they’d research whether it was raining on a particular day in 1962, and if it was, they’d put water on a character’s coat so it looked like he just came out of the rain. If they showed a picture of JFK, they’d make sure it was a picture of JFK from 1962, not from ’63. I mean, who would know? I see JFK, I think it’s JFK. I wouldn’t know if they used a picture from the wrong year. Most people have no idea how President Kennedy’s look varied from 1962 to 1963, but that’s the level of commitment they have on the show. It’s so specific, and it really stems from Matthew [Weiner]. It’s a testament to his dedication and his vision. He’s so hands-on and involved in every last detail because it’s like his baby. I don’t remember a day when he wasn’t on the set – at least, he was always there whenever I was. He’s really put his mark on the program and it shows. That’s why it’s so good. You can’t half-step on quality, you know?
January 4th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
In particular, when Don comes into work the day after JFK’s televised speech on the missile crisis, his raincoat clearly shows it was raining — as it in fact was in NYC that day.
January 4th, 2009 at 6:01 pm
The “Indian Summer” episode was also built around real weather at the time.
January 5th, 2009 at 4:56 am
And yet they stocked the Sterling-Cooper offices with typewriters from the 70s. Sometimes you miss the forest for the trees, I guess.
January 5th, 2009 at 7:26 am
Tom, WHAT?
The famed typewriter anachronism was A) acknowledged and explained by Weiner and B) off by one year; being 1961 machines on a 1960 set.
We explain it here.
January 5th, 2009 at 9:44 pm
1961 IBM Selectric:
http://w.tf/~fool/cs/sts331/image008.jpg
1970s era Selectric II:
http://www.poweralley.com/used_2008/IBM%20selectric%20II.JPG
MAD MEN Typewriters:
http://img2.timeinc.net/ew/dynamic/imgs/080724/Mad-Men/Peggy-Moss_l.jpg
January 5th, 2009 at 9:44 pm
They missed the forest for the trees.
January 6th, 2009 at 6:43 am
See? I thought the main point of that quote was to stress how important Matthew Weiner is to the production. At least, that was my intent in publishing it, and it’s why I included the YouTube link to Heat Wave’s song, “No Half-Steppin’” — as, you know, a nudge to the folks at Lionsgate. Oh well, I’m mistaken again.
But it did get me to thinking about some of the other behind the scenes folks on the show. We know the cast has been re-signed, and negotiations are “on-going” for Weiner, but what if that fizzles? Typically, the producer hires his crew — brings in his or her own people. If Weiner’s contract isn’t renewed, does that also signal the end of Janie Bryant, David Carbonara, Dan Bishop and some of the others who’ve done so much to make MM what it is? I mean, sure, if there’s a new producer, there’s nothing stopping that person from hiring those folks, but often they want to work with their own people. I wonder if Hornbacher, Lisa Albert, or the Jacquemettons have been signed on as well. Ugh. I shudder to think of the show without any of those people…
January 6th, 2009 at 11:32 am
And here I thought it wasn’t possible to be more freaked out than I already am.
January 6th, 2009 at 2:49 pm
Are we doing a letter writing campaign?
general-inquiries@lionsgate.com
January 6th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
Lionsgate Corporate Offices
2700 Colorado Ave.
Santa Monica, CA 90404
Telephone (310) 449-9200
Facsimile (310) 255-3870
January 6th, 2009 at 9:18 pm
No need to be defensive, hullaballoo.
Some of us are simply tired of Mad Men’s constant attaboying over how anal retentive they are to details when they make huge mistakes like that. It makes the mistakes stand out even worse.
January 7th, 2009 at 12:04 am
Not being defensive. Believe me, I’m not that wedded to anything I say. Takes more energy than I have right now to be that way.
January 7th, 2009 at 12:27 am
I would also note that the typewriter thing goes back in part to the fact that it was the pilot, which had a *ahem* limited budget.
January 7th, 2009 at 1:48 am
Karl, the screenshot is from mid-season. Not the pilot.