Great writing

Whether it was the smart, slick dialogue or the intriguing character arcs, it was hard not to be drawn into Miami Medical even if you’re the sort of person who would rather be playing games at http://de.partypoker.com/ than watching, say, MM or Grey’s Anatomy. You’d be hard pressed to find a team of writers this committed to a show, and we can’t wait to see what they’d do given more episodes (or even seasons) to work with.

Believable characters

A lot of clichés exist in television, and Miami Medical was a welcome exception. Everyone felt “real”, and it’s a lot easier to immerse yourself in a show where you can identify strongly with the characters playing out their roles within the universe that’s been created, rather than simply waiting for the next stereotypical event to take place.

Jeremy Northam

Oh come on, you didn’t think we’d just lump him in with the rest, did you? He’s Jeremy Northam! A phenomenal actor and, of course, Matt Proctor, the doctor with a lot more to him – although most of it remained hidden due to the show’s cancellation. But it’s perfectly feasible that if the show ever came back, we’d see more of him and learn more about just who Matt is and where he’s going.

These are just a few reasons, but Miami Medical and Jeremy Northam fans should know that these three are reasons enough! Hopefully one day CBS will come to their senses and we’ll see Miami Medical on screens once again.

January 1937.

Jack Miller has just about run out of options. His shoes have worn through, he can’t afford to heat his rented room in Tooting, and he longs to utilise his training as an specialist wireless operator instead of working in his dead-end job in the city. So when he is given the chance to join an arctic expedition, as communications expert, by a group of elite Oxbridge graduates, he brushes off his apprehensions and convinces himself to join them. As the young men set sail from a gloomy Britain on the verge of war, Jack feels the overwhelming excitement of not knowing what lies in store. Little can he imagine the horrors that await him in their arctic destination, Gruhuken, a place that cannot escape the savage echo of its past.

“I’ve wanted to write a ghost story for years, and my main aim was to write the most frightening ghost story that I could think of,” she explains. “I don’t have children, so perhaps I was being overly protective, but as it got darker and darker as I was writing it, I thought this may not be for 10-year-olds . . .” – Michelle Paver, from an interview in The Guardian. 9th October 2010.

Listen to Jeremy Northam reading from the audiobook: Dark Matter (extract)

Watch the chilling book trailer for Dark Matter

Slated for release on October 21st, the CD version is currently available to pre-order from amazon.co.uk here: Dark Matter. It will also be available as a download from audible.co.uk and Spoken Network.co.uk

To find out more about Michelle Paver visit her Author Page at Orion or her Author Website.

Miranda Dickinson, author of Fairytale of New York and Welcome to My World (out in November), was paired with the painting and asked to provide her 62-word response to it. You can read more about her initial thoughts and how she approached the task in her Creation Story here.

26 Treasures is a unique collaboration between the writers’ collective 26 and the V&A, as part of this year’s London Design Festival. 26 writers were each randomly paired with an object from the museum and asked to write 62 words about their response to it. Through personal and poetic responses, the writers aim to encourage visitors to take a different, non-scholarly look at precious objects in the V&A’s collection. Other writers involved with the project include Andrew Motion, the former Poet Laureate, who was paired with a bust of Homer; poet Maura Dooley, who writes about an ornate mirror; and novelist Sara Sheridan, who was matched with an Adam & Eve Dish. Other objects range from The Great Bed of Ware to a Rococo candle stand, from James II’s wedding suit to Mr Nobody with a drinking glass.

Sophie Reynolds, London Design Festival Officer at the V&A, said: “The V&A has a long history of inspiring artists, and every day we see people sketching in the galleries. So what a brilliant idea to ask writers to respond in words. The responses are wonderful – from the personal and serious to the laugh-out-loud funny. The 26 Treasures trail will give visitors a new, rewarding and insightful way to view the 26 objects. It also promises to be a lot of fun.”

The project will continue after the London Design Festival, with members of the public invited to submit 62 words on an object of their choosing, and students from the London College of Communications will also be taking part in a 26 Treasures inspired project.

To find out more, visit The 26 Treasures website or Follow @26Treasures on Twitter and for more information on the writers’ collective 26, there’s the 26 website . You can read more about Miranda Dickinson on her Author Website or Follow Miranda on Twitter.

The Guardian

Wednesday’s unabridged download was George Orwell’s classic study, Down and Out in Paris and London published by CSA Word and read by Jeremy Northam. To download this book today, register your details here and follow the instructions.

The offer is available to UK residents only – even if you are a member of Audible or have had a free trial in the past. The free download is available until Thursday, 16 September 2010.

You can find out more about the audiobook and listen to an extract of Jeremy Northam reading from Down and Out in Paris and London here.

Dean Spanley

Dean Spanley was the first film I ever worked on as an extra. There is an old saying that the first is always the best, and that is the case with Dean Spanley.

There had been an advert in the local press here in Norfolk: “Extras needed. No previous experience required.” So I took my teenage son, Thibault, as he was keen to gain experience in the film industry. ( He has just finished his first year at Leeds University in Film and Television Studies).

The 2nd Assistant Director, who was processing the forms, looked at me with a shocked expression, and said, ”Can you fill in the form? You have an interesting look.”

After hearing nothing for weeks, I had completely forgotten about it. That’s when the call came. “Hi. Are you available for a few days? You will be playing a man of stature.”

My first day’s filming was in Wisbech, a typical freezing day in late November. My costume was waiting for me, original Edwardian clothes, pin-striped trousers, gold waistcoat, shirt and huge bejewelled silk cravat! Odile Dicks – Mireaux, head of costume, came in for an inspection of the extras. She offered me a cashmere long coat, it fitted like a glove. “Look after this coat, Nick, it cost me over £2,000!”

Soon we were on set, the closed off streets in the town centre. This is the scene in the film where Jeremy Northam is pushing Mr O’Toole in his bath chair through the park. Although the crew were really disciplined, the overall atmosphere was friendly and calm, just another days filming, day 14 of 39 etc.

In the film, you can just spot me in this scene, where they come out of the park into the crescent. We must have filmed this scene countless times, but my lasting memory was observing how the actors never missed their cue or lines.

I was asked to come back again, this time a week later at Elveden Hall in Norfolk. This is the home of the Guinness family, and the main room is totally marble, walls, ceiling etc. Dean Spanley is not the first film to exploit this magnificent room, it had been used in a James Bond film and, most famously, Stanley Kubrick’s last film, Eyes Wide Shut.

This was the lecture scene in the film, where Art Malik’s character, Swami Prash, gives his lecture. Again, a few more freezing cold days would have to be endured by all concerned. This time they had set up a small tent for Mr O’Toole, with heater, chair and newspaper. I thought this was a nice touch by the crew, everybody going out of their way to make things as comfortable for him as possible.

In the film, I am in the scene where they discover the cricket match taking place, where I am a spectator and later as they leave the lecture. What perhaps was more interesting were the endless scenes I filmed during the lecture, all deleted during the edit!

As a smoker (must quit), fag breaks were always on the doorstep to the hall, A-list stars mingling with crew and us extras, and I do remember once where I was outnumbered by stars three to one!

I liked Toa Fraser’s style of direction, he would just whisper his direction to each actor, a daunting task for such a young man, given the heavyweight cast he was dealing with.

By the third days’ filming I was utterly exhausted as I wasn’t used to such early mornings, usually 5-30 am starts. This is the scene where they are leaving the lecture. Another freezing cold day, and this time rain as well – the daily call sheet read “outside scene, rain expected” – great!

This was complicated as the old vintage car driven by Bryan Browne had to set off, preceded by the old horse and carriage, all between rain showers. The car was being kept dry by the crew under tarpaulin sheets so timing was critical.

On one scene, the car fired up, the sound frightening the horses, who bolted straight at Mr O Toole in his bath chair. I wouldn’t like to repeat here what he said regarding his dislike of working with horses.

I still feel very privileged to have worked on this film, my observations of great actors at work has helped me since. I will, however, never forget Mr O’Toole, his presence and stature. Here was an actor at the peak of his skills, his blue eyes smiling all the time. You could clearly tell he was loving every minute of his time on set.

It is hard to judge these performances: Jeremy Northam giving a fine performance as the long suffering son of Fisk senior. However, off camera, he was always laughing and joking with fellow actors and crew. Sam Neill, to me the quiet one, giving a fine performance as a dog. Yet the obvious star who steals the film is Mr O’Toole.

A year later, I was asked to attend the regional premiere here in Norwich, the Bishop of Norwich recounting tales of missing the smell of frying bacon around the cathedral, the cloisters of which had been used in various scenes. His memory of Sam Neill, insisting on being shown round the cathedral by an assistant, resplendent in his dean’s costume. I bet a few onlookers were shocked to see this!

Nick Shaw is pictured here with some of the other extras and MCC members. He is second from the left on the back row. The picture is taken from the film tie-in book, Dean Spanley.

As you are aware by now I am a huge fan myself of this film, as Dean Spanley for me cannot be labelled, a quirky odd ball film that given time will become a modern day classic. However in the industry this is labelled a “sleeper” film, one which is passed on by word of mouth and recommendation, rather than the usual hype that accompanies modern day blockbusters. Dean Spanley will be shown on television for years to come hopefully.

I am also so proud to be associated with a film that lovingly exploits the magnificent locations to be found here in Norfolk, a sensitive script, beautifully crafted by all concerned.

I have since gone on to appear in twelve films, most recently where I was given my first featured role in Burke and Hare for the legendary director John Landis, and this week I started work on The Adventure of Hugo Cabret, for another famous director Martin Scorsese.

After Dean Spanley I was so in love with the whole process of crafting a film, I decided to start a self appointed apprenticeship in acting, so I will mix and match any role that comes my way, and as I write this the ladder I must climb will take the rest of my life!

Again, all I can say is how lucky and privileged I feel that my first film was so enjoyable, and since working with other A list stars, none compare to the cast of this film. If you haven’t seen the film, take my word, you will not be disappointed, and I bet you will watch it several times.

Nick Shaw is an independent film maker and background artist (or extra). More information about Nick and his work is available on his Wikpedia page and also on his IMDb page.

Rufus Fletcher (Northam) is a young medical student with his eye on making a brilliant career in medicine as a gynaecologist. He and his good friend, Adam Verne-Smith (Douglas Hodge), are at a loose end after classes finish for the summer.

When Adam unexpectedly inherits an estate called Wyvis Hall, the two decide to spend summer holidays camping out at the estate and look forward to a hot and lazy summer.

An odd assortment of several young people joins the pair before the summer is over. The motley group fall into a strange routine of partying, sleeping late, and casual sexual encounters.

Ten years later, the new owners of the estate discover the buried bodies of a woman and a baby on the grounds of Wyvis Hall.

A Fatal Inversion examines the toxic, unintended consequences of a hidden crime. Moving deftly between the events of that fateful summer and those a decade later, the film builds in tension and suspense keeping us on the edge of our seats. Bit by bit, we learn of a series of seemingly random choices and incidents that culminated in a horrific event, altering forever the lives of all concerned.

Northam is perfectly cast as the handsome and ambitious Rufus Fletcher. Fletcher may be sly and selfish, but he’s prone to moments of sensitivity. With a subtle change in tone of voice and facial expression, Northam softens Fletcher and we see another side to his narcissistic nature. We easily understand why Adam adores and admires his friend.

Douglas Hodge emanates anxiety and panic as the hapless Adam Verne-Smith. We see him, ten years after that calamitous summer, with pain and suffering written across his face. The secret he kept hidden for so many years exacts a heavy toll on his health and his relationship with his wife and rubs out much of the joy he should feel as a new father.

Fascinating to watch, Northam and Hodge move easily between time periods. Loose-limbed, exuberant, and lanky youths during flashbacks, they transform into restrained and mature professionals during scenes set in the present day.

It’s a treat to see these now very well-established actors in early roles. Northam continued to star in roles on the stage as well as in TV and feature films, winning accolades and awards along the way.

Hodge, also a successful stage actor, went on to direct and is an accomplished musician. He’s currently wowing audiences on Broadway and recently received a 2010 Tony award for best performance by a leading actor in a musical for his role in La Cage aux Folles. He previously won the 2009 Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical for the same role.

A Fatal Inversion, the novel, won the Crime Writers’ Association Gold Dagger award the year it was published. A true page-turner, the book is almost impossible to put down. The final secret reveals itself on the very last page.

Written over 20 years ago, the writing and story is as fresh as ever and remains a great read!

Film and book highly recommended.

Film: 4 stars out of 5    Book: 4 stars out of 5

Reviewed by Anne for JeremyNortham.net
With thanks to Vicki for the picture of Jeremy Northam as Rufus Fletcher.

The CBS decision seems both harsh and premature, especially as the show was holding its own in its time slot and pulling reasonable ratings despite a number of factors stacked against it, including: some TV pundits having nixed it before viewers had even had a chance to see it for themselves and make up their own minds; the fact that it aired so late in the season because of the Winter Olympics; having to contend with the notoriously tricky time-slot of 10pm on Friday night; and the fact that it often had lead-ins that were re-runs. All of which makes this viewer feel as if the show was never given a decent shot at becoming the successful show I felt it could be.

In my opinion, Miami Medical was just starting to hit its stride and bed in. I was enjoying the slow reveal of Jeremy Northam’s character, Dr. Matt Proctor, whose story has formed this season’s story arc, and was looking forward to where he was going to take him. I was also investing in the other characters and thought the team was beginning to gel. I really feel for all the cast and crew, who worked so hard and so long on this show to make it the best they could. Having followed some of these on Twitter since the show began filming, it was clear that they were enthusiastic and passionate about what they were making. Apart from the time and effort put in, it also seems incredibly wasteful in the current economic climate to have commissioned what was clearly an expensive show to produce and then only let it run for a very few episodes before making a decision on its future.

I’m sure that all involved in the show – not least Jeremy Northam and the show’s creator, Jeff Lieber – will go on to work on other projects and have future success, and I wish them well with those, but to everyone who worked on Miami Medical, in particular Jeff Lieber, who worked so tirelessly to promote the show each week, THANK YOU for making the first medical drama I have ever watched in my life. It was a great show and you should be proud of what you achieved with it in the short time allowed you. And to the network, if you’re reading this, all I can say is, “Badly done, CBS, badly done indeed!”

The season finale of Miami Medical airs this Friday, May 21 on CBS, 10/9c, and the remaining 5 episodes of the show will now air from June 4 to July 2.

TVGuideMagazine has posted a great video up on YouTube of a photoshoot and interviews with Jeremy Northam and the other stars of CBS show Miami Medical. Although it was only just been posted (on May 7, 2010), it looks as if it was filmed the same day as the TCA panel discussion back in January 2010.

Miami Medical! Interviews and Photo Shoot! Jeremy Northam!

It is always very important for me to find a song with lyrics which fit the video. I always try to choose and then edit lines of the lyrics and scenes of the video so that they run parallel. In most cases, I hear a song first which gives me the inspiration to make a video. For example, I remember that I heard the song Show must go on by Queen and, almost immediately, I saw in my mind a scene for almost every line. By the time I came to make the Death of a Martyr video I knew that I wanted to do something about Thomas More to O Verona. I just needed time to figure out how. Of course, in some cases I have the video idea first without fitting music. That’s the trickier part. And that’s how the idea of the “famous” (or infamous?) Bad things with Jeremy video was there long, long before the actual video came into being, I already had the possible scenes to use, but the song was missing. And then I heard the song from the True Blood soundtrack and I knew: “That’s it! That’s it!” and then the video was almost immediately ready. I also had such “problems” with The Winslow Boy video Words in the Eyes. A friend asked me to make a video about the film, and I really wanted to do it, knew very soon which were the possible scenes I wanted to use, what aspects I wanted to highlight. I wanted to show the hidden affection and feelings these two people had for each other. But I had no song to go with it! I listened to tons of song before I found the right one. I want to add that I always try to use songs which are not too popular or overused.

Those who know my videos realize that I only use a few effects in my videos. There is more than one reason for this: I use a relatively simple editing program, but the main reason is that I don’t want effects dominating the story. I usually just use coloring and transition effects. The most difficult editing challenge ever was to create the Thomas More and Anne Boleyn video, Tragic Fate which – I have to admit – was an idea of a very tired mind. But how can you make a love story video of two characters who only had one (!) shared scene in the whole of The Tudors? So the first task was to find all the usable tiny scenes where they are alone, or are talking to someone else. Some were just one-two seconds long. In the first round there were more than 700 such tiny clips. Then the circle became narrower and narrower, I tried to match parts to seem real, with matching lights, colors, etc and to create a story around it. It was like a puzzle game. I loved it although sometimes I wished the whole thing to hell. And in the end I had the usual dilemma. The video was there and I searched for a fitting song for ages.

But there is one very very very important thing to add. I made these videos just for fun and I had no idea how much they would and do mean to some people and how richer my life would be because of the wonderful new friends I have found through YouTube. And not just friends but many other things. So, although it sounds maybe too dramatic, YouTube changed my life.

So thank you all, and because the whole thing started because of him: Thank you, Jeremy Northam.

You can see the other tribute videos mentioned above here or on Agi’s YouTube Channel Princess Amerigo’s World. Agi’s most recent video was again inspired by Jeremy Northam and is her first for his role as Doctor Matt Proctor in CBS’ new hit medical drama, MIAMI MEDICAL, Friday 10/9c. You can watch it here or on her YouTube Channel:

Agi Stier currently works as a translator and, even as recently as a year ago, had no idea that she would appear on a site like this. Life is full of surprises. She currently expresses her creativity through making YouTube videos, mostly about Jeremy Northam and the TV show, The Tudors (currently in its fourth and final season) but on many other topics as well. She goes under the name of Princess Amerigo on YouTube. However, she hopes that she can one day return to writing, as well. Her short writing To Become a Child Again was recently published in the creative writing anthology: Take Off: Creative Writing by Hungarian Students

While Agi doesn’t guarantee that a video will be made, she welcomes suggestions for both music and video ideas you may have and you can email her at agi@jeremynortham.net  And, if you have a favourite video, let Agi know which one it is, and why, by posting a comment below.

Christopher Emerson appears in Miami Medical for the first time this coming Friday, April 9 on CBS (10/9c).  He took time out from his busy schedule to answer a few questions about how he got his part on the show, what it was like working on this exciting new medical drama as well as sharing scenes with Jeremy Northam, together with his hopes for both his character and the show’s future.

JN.net: Hello, and welcome to JN.net. First of all, thanks very much for taking the time to talk to us. Miami Medical premiered in the US on Friday, April 2nd. Did you have a premiere party with your friends, stay home and watch it alone or give it a miss altogether? If one of the first two, what are your hopes for the show and how do you think audiences will react to it?

CE: Miss it?  NO WAY!  Everyone who knows me has heard me talk so much about the series and how excited I am to be a part of it that I think they are all extremely happy to see it start, just so I will finally shut up about it.

What’s funny is that I get so crazy nervous seeing my own performance, I’m actually glad my first episode is not until this week.  Otherwise I may have wanted to not have a premiere party and watch it in the fetal position with a cold sweat.

From the first time I read the script before auditioning for the show, I loved the sort of adrenaline junkie, irreverent rockstar, “f#@% it” attitude the characters possess at this hospital, ESPECIALLY Jeremy Northam’s character Dr. Proctor.  Personally, I love that.  My hope is that audiences dig it and it resonates. As the laser-focused trauma unit helicopter medic Max, I’ve tended to be a bit more straight-laced and all business. Perhaps down the road, if Max gets to play a bigger role in the trauma unit, we’ll get to see his dark side too. Yes… I can see it now. Max, the sex-addicted-pill-popping-helicopter-pilot. LOL. We’ll have to wait and see.

JN.net: The show’s been promoted as “M*A*S*H in Paradise.” How do you feel about that? Does it accurately reflect the vibe you got from the show when you were on it? And how much did you know about the show before you auditioned?

CE: I was not quite old enough to catch M*A*S*H here in the States.  I’ve seen episodes late at night on cable way after the series had been off the air.  But, my impression of the show is that it too was rather ground breaking for its time.  That it really shattered the mold of what a medical show “should” be. So I would say, I really hope that our show is successfully received in much the same way, as it aims to turn the “medical drama format” on its head a bit. Sort of reinvent it via a freshly unique and eclectic group of characters.

All my scenes have included working with Mike Vogel, Omar Gooding, and, of course, Jeremy Northam.  So, I’ve really had the chance to witness first hand the fascinating directions which each of these actors are taking their characters.  The top notch writing really allows for that too.  We have such great writing on this show and it opens up so many fun possibilities and room to play as an actor.

I knew very little about the show before auditioning for it. My agent called me and she was like, “Yeah, so Christopher, there’s this interesting new medical show. (At the time it had a different working title, Miami Trauma.) It’s CBS. Jerry Bruckheimer. And they are looking for a helicopter pilot. Not an actor who can play a helicopter pilot, but a real helicopter pilot with acting skills to play the role.” Just based on the fact that you’d have to imagine a requirement like that should radically reduce the competition for a role. My answer was a resounding, “HELL YES!  I’m there!”

So, let that be a lesson to all you young actors out there. Ditch the acting coach, go get a flight instructor, and you too can have the crazy dumb luck of ending up on a TV show.

JN.net: You play a character called Max in “88 Seconds” (Episode 2 of the first season) and also in another episode entitled Medicine Man (the air date of which has yet to be confirmed). Will he be a recurring character in the show?

CE: I would absolutely love that.  I keep planning to let the camera “accidentally” catch me shooting a flirtatious look at one of the nurses in the hope that a show writer spots it and runs with it.  That’s the fantasy anyway, right?  Problem is, as I said, I have only been in scenes with Mike, Omar, and Jeremy…soooo.  I mean I still could, I guess, but that would be a whole different show!

JN.net: You have a private pilot’s licence. So did you get to fly the helicopter used in your scenes for the show?

CE: They have not let me fly the helicopter, no. Something about insurance. Whatever. Maybe there should be an episode, “Max Goes Joyriding!”

JN.net: Can you tell us what a typical day’s filming was like for you?

CE: The first time I was on set completely blew me away. We were on top of the tallest high-rise in Marina Del Rey, right along the Pacific coast line. It was a clear day with a nice on-shore ocean breeze and incoming on final approach to the helipad was the helicopter which we’d be using for the shoot all that day. I have some GREAT pictures of that moment.  All I could think, over and over, was, “Holy s#!%, this is my office for the day!” As you can imagine there is seldom a day on the set of Miami Medical that could be called “typical.”

Mike Vogel, Christopher Emerson & Omar Gooding in "88 Seconds"

JN.net: There seems to be a lot of off-beat humour in the promo clips we’ve seen so far. Did that translate onto the set? What was the atmosphere like?

CE: The promos portray a wildly eccentric bunch of personalities all seemingly still able to kick ass and get the job done, right? Well, I’ll tell you, being a part of this show has been exactly like working with a real top-notch trauma unit. Everyone from the cast to the crew operates with remarkable surgical precision and a totally cool under pressure ease.  Completely relaxed, getting the job done, every single week. Nothing but pros.

JN.net: You’ve also appeared in another medical drama, House M.D.. Do you think TV audiences need another medical drama and how do you think Miami Medical will differ from House M.D.? Why should people tune in and watch?

CE: Yes, I took a bizarre little turn on House M.D. as a door-to-door bible thumper looking to convert Dr. House to the teachings of Jesus. Yeah… that didn’t work out so good. Needless to say my character was no match for House’s razor sharp tongue, leaving me nothing to do but to flee with my tail squarely between my legs.

When you think about it, House M.D. is more of a crime-scene-type procedural drama, a mystery “whodunit”, a sarcastic and cynical Columbo in a doctor’s coat, than it is actually a hospital doctor drama series. I think in that unique way which House M.D. succeeded to reinvent the format and turn expectations on their head, so too will Miami Medical with the way it tells its stories via these refreshingly flawed dynamic characters. It’s a show which is smart enough to know what its audience expects from the typical hospital drama format and then proceeds to pull the rug out from under them as it always stays two steps ahead.

JN.net: At the TCA panel, Jeremy Northam, who plays Dr Proctor, was compared to Hugh Laurie, simply because he’s another Brit playing a doctor in a US medical show. But from what you’ve seen so far, how do you think the characters of Dr. Gregory House and Dr. Matt Proctor will differ and can you shed any light on how different or similar the actors playing them are?

CE: They are very different from one another. Dr. Proctor is more like a rockstar who decides to wake up most mornings and go practice medicine in his off time. There is also a lot more mystery which surrounds Dr. Proctor’s background and motives. I think once people see the show they will realize how different the characters really are from one another.

As actors, both Hugh Laurie and Jeremy Northam are very grounded and generous. Sometimes with big name actors they are only ever motivated by what will make their close-ups look better. I know… you’re thinking, “Say it isn’t so!”  Shocking, right? But I was so grateful to discover both Hugh and Jeremy to be absolutely selfLESS in their approach to the scenes we were in together. In the scope of things, I’m just doing the best I can to contribute with my humble little slice of the pie… and YET… there I am, truly collaborating, brainstorming ideas, experimenting, and creating moments outside the script with the stars of these HUGE shows between takes. Too cool!!!

JN.net: You shared a scene with Jeremy Northam. Can you tell us a bit about that and what it was like to work with him?

CE: Coolest moment working with Jeremy. I had already been on a previous episode before getting to work with him. On that prior episode, the director’s style was one of making everything really pop. CAMERA…ACTION…TALK…GO GO GO…BAM BAM BAM…everything very fast paced and high energy. Well, alright…so when I returned for an episode with Jeremy, it was quite a bit further into the season and I’m figuring it would be good to meet that same energy from before.  We set up for the first take and… BAM BAM BAM. Right? Well, as we head back to our first positions to go again, Jeremy literally puts his arm around my shoulder and confides to me, just actor to actor, that he has learned the best approach to this show’s style and dialogue is to not attack the line so hard, but to pick up the cue lightning quick and then just allow the actual line to roll off the tongue. There are many actors out there who would NOT have done that and just let me hang myself all day blasting out my lines. Was such a telling moment as to how generous and giving to his scene partners Jeremy is as an actor.

JN.net: What have you been working on since filming for Miami Medical and what’s up next for you?

CE: 2010 has been pretty incredible so far. I recently did a high-budget zombie webseries for Crackle.com with Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite) called Woke Up Dead. Also finished a TV movie starring opposite Cybill Shepherd for Lifetime Network titled, Mrs. Washington Goes to Smith. I have been working almost non-stop on new voiceover projects too, voicing national TV campaigns for Ford Fiesta and Taco Bell. Currently, just about to wrap up voicing a very successful second season of Taking The Stage for MTV. I have also been pounding the pavement over there at MTV a bit, campaigning to be hired as the live in-show voice over announcer for the 2010 MTV Movie Awards and/or 2010 Video Music Awards. It’s sort of one of those “things I want to do before I die…” bucket-list items. So we will see how that goes.

Then, of course, there is always hoping that my character Max shows back up for that sex-addicted-pill-popping-adrenaline-junkie-storyline on Miami Medical as we talked about earlier. Ah yes, a boy can dream.

JN.net: I’ll keep my fingers crossed and hope that dream comes true for you then! Thanks for talking to me and good luck when the show airs on Friday.

CE: Thank you!!

Kathryn Eastman (kath@jeremynortham.net) spoke to Christopher Emerson for JeremyNortham.net

Christopher Emerson is 23 years old and was born in Torrey, Scotland. He was brought across the pond by his Dad at the age of 2 and raised in the casino town of Reno, NV.  He moved to Los Angeles after graduating from high school at 17. His first acting job was a small speaking role opposite Mel Gibson in the feature film What Women Want.  Now an up-and-coming TV & film actor, his most recent credits include guest lead appearances on CBS’ long running Cold Case, a turn on House M.D. for FOX, and this exciting opportunity to play the recurring role of Max on Miami Medical also for CBS. Christopher is a very well-established voiceover artist having performed lead character voices in animated feature films such as LEGO/Disney’s just released The Adventures of Clutch Powers.  He’s also voiced national television ad campaigns for Jitterbug, Starbucks, DishNetwork, Ford Fiesta, and American Idol.  In addition, he’s been the in-show narrator voice of MTV’s hit series Taking The Stage for two very successful seasons, with a very possible third season being announced by the network soon. His website is PlanetEmerson.com and you can follow him on Twitter as @ChristopherE1