David Chase

The lengthy interview of Sopranos creator David Chase by Peter Bogdanovich, on the last disc of the first season box set, touches on so many interesting issues that one could easily watch it multiple times -- and take notes. It is especially revealing that, in a discussion of a television series, almost all the points of reference are filmmakers (although Chase does recall watching The Untouchables with pleasure as a youngster!) -- Chase expresses admiration for Scorsese, Bunuel, Renoir, Lynch, and others; and, Bogdanovich being Bogdanovich, you know that John Ford and Orson Welles anecdotes are going to surface (and they do). In light of my praise a couple of posts back for Chase's "beautiful and exact" metaphors and symbols, it is also telling that he avers that he and the other writers generated these on instinct and figured out what they meant later (the ducks in the pilot episode, for example).

I like how Chase pays tribute to the contributions of the the series' great cast -- Drea de Matteo began as a bit player, but she arrested Chase's attention, and her role as Adriana grew to be pivotal in the entire scheme (and won her a deserved Emmy Award).