*EXCLUSIVE* Interview With CM Co-Exec Producer Harry Bring!
*EXCLUSIVE* Interview With CM Co-Exec Producer Harry Bring!
Need something? Ask a busy person to do it. During his well-earned downtime while the show is on mid-season hiatus, Harry graciously agreed to answer questions about himself, his career in the industry, and Criminal Minds via email. What follows is the candid interview in its entirety.
“Collaboration is key, all the time.”
TJ: How long have you been with and what brought you to Criminal Minds?
HB: This is my 3rd season with CM. Mark Gordon brought me to the show. I had been
with Mark 5 years on Army Wives. I left AW after 5 seasons as it was shot in
Charleston, South Carolina and it was too long to be away from home (LA). After
AW I took a new show from Fox called “Chaos”. The pilot of Chaos was shot in
LA and the series was supposed to shoot there too. At the last minute Fox
moved the show to Vancouver and I had already committed, so a year in
Vancouver for me. When Chaos was cancelled after 12 episodes I came home.
There was an opening on CM for the Line Producer slot and Mark offered it to
me. Bingo! At home, 12 minutes from work, 24 episodes. Blessed.
TJ: We know that you are now happily with Criminal Minds, but please tell us a little
bit about your history as a producer on hit shows like Melrose Place, The X-Files,
critical darlings like Army Wives, and even prior to those shows. What has been
your favorite production to work on, personally?
HB: I spent 7 glorious seasons on Melrose Place. No one ever thought the show
would go more than one season but it was one of those shows that fooled
everyone. I was able to put both of my sons through college on that one show.
We shot 34 episodes per season. They were shot in 7 days each rather than the
8 day norm. We did what is called “double-ups” in order to shoot that many
episodes. We hired an entire second crew 3 times a season and shot 2 shows
simultaneously 3 times a season. That allowed for the 34 shows. I left MP on
their last season when Fox and Chris Carter brought me to X-Files. The first 5
seasons of X-Files were shot in Vancouver and the show moved to LA starting
season 6. I produced the last 4 seasons (6-9) and it was a wild ride. At that time
The X-Files was a new leader of feature-like production on a TV series. I learned
so much on X-Files and nothing I’ve done since has ever scared me. We did
everything imaginable. I spent the next 2 years bouncing a bit until North Shore.
We shot the pilot for NS in Hawaii and before the pilot was even finished, Fox
picked up the show for a full season. I spent the next year in paradise but
unfortunately the show would not get a 2nd season. Then the pilot of AW, which
led to my next 5 years. Each long-running show I’ve worked on seemed to be the
best experience at that time. Therefore I must say that CM is my current favorite,
although The X-Files gave me my biggest confidence boost.
TJ: Briefly (or not), could you give us an idea of what a day on-set is like? From
when you hit the studio to when you ‘clock out’ at night? Is every day a different
experience, or is it a well-oiled machine?
HB: Every day on set is different for sure. All the preparation and planning in the
world never quite prepares you for each days’ challenges or hiccups. My day
starts with being in the office (or location) by 6 a.m. I monitor each shooting
episode until the end of its day. But, while that episode is in production I am
primarily preparing the next episode to go to camera. Preparing the next episode
includes location scouting, casting, meetings with all departments, scheduling the
episode, etc. it’s a vicious circle for 10 months a year.
TJ: We’ve heard that you are a proud veteran, and thank you very much for your
service! How did that time in your life help shape the man you are today?
HB: I am a veteran and very proud that I served my country. I served during the cold
war in Germany so I was blessed to never having been in hard combat. I believe that
the structure of being in the military gave me all the discipline and diligence to
excel in any line of work, especially film production management. I am not a high
school graduate so everything the US Army did for me shaped my life and work
habits.
TJ: Is it difficult to leave the subject matter of your show at the studio?
HB: I do not have any issues with the CM subject matter, off duty or on. I am able to
separate what I am involved with at work and at home. I know that all our stories
are based on actual cases (although dramatized a bit) and if I ever cringe at the
events/crimes I always come back to the reality that our team got the bad guy in
the end. I used to have problems with violence in film projects but an early
feature I did with lots of blood-letting cured me. Once you witness the use of
movie blood on set some of the the cringe factor goes away.
TJ: What department is the most under-appreciated?
HB: I’m probably prejudiced but I feel the Assistant Director department is never
appreciated enough (except by the directors). I’m prejudiced because I came up
from that department. The thought and care of preparing the episode is based on
every little typed word in the script. Attention to detail, scheduling, interacting with
each and every department on every item needed to complete each scene. A
second department that doesn’t get the credit they deserve is Locations. They
have to deal with location site issues that no one realizes every minute of every
day. The requests and pressure they get from production and site owners is very
intense.
TJ: What’s your trick for maintaining a good home/work balance? What do you enjoy
in your downtime (I do know you’re a big sports fan!)?
HB: My trick is to try and leave work behind. I only get a couple of waking hours at
home before going to bed so it is important to catch up with the little woman, eat
dinner, and watch a little news or sports. That refreshes me for the next day.
TJ: As I’m sure you’re aware, you have an incredibly interesting job. Many people
starting out are intrigued by careers such as yours and would like to follow a
similar path. Have you ever mentored a younger person, and were you mentored
yourself? Who were your inspirations/influences?
HB: I started in the shipping room of a commercial production company. I moved into
post-production as an assistant editor and then worked the set as a production
assistant; I was hired at an advertising agency (BBD&O) to produce the Dodge
commercials. Then I left BBD&O to start my own commercial production
company (with someone else’s financing). Then I concentrated on becoming an
assistant director.
I have mentored a few people and I always have an open door to our younger
staff/crew members for “q and a” sessions. Since joining the Producers Guild I
have mentored a couple people and plan to continue that effort when I have the
time. I have used “shadowing” as a means to help others learn the duties and my
methods for success in producing.
TJ: There’s definitely a great deal of crucial decision-making and control that comes
along with being a producer. Is it the mechanics of that, or the nuts and bolts and
creativity of making interesting entertainment that is most compelling for you?
HB: At this point in my career I think it is all you mention and more. Having worked in
different departments and then working my way up the ladder until I realized my
ultimate goal. All this has given me my personal satisfaction and ability to
succeed. I feel my job is to “guide the ship”. We hire our staff and crew feeling
they know how to excel at their position. I monitor, suggest, and sometimes
dictate. Only experience gets you to that point. Collaboration is key, all the time.
TJ: What’s your favorite episode? Favorite character?
HB: “The Rain King” on The X-Files. Great story of a possessed woman who is jilted
on Valentine’s Day and vents her wrath on her uncaring boyfriend. Lots of
physical effects, which were done in camera verses CGI. Things like heartshaped
hail that eventually kills the boyfriend.
TJ: Word association with the cast! Give us instant, one-word impressions you have of
each main CM cast member.
HB: One word is very hard but I’ll try.
Joe: Compassionate
Thomas: Professional
Shemar: Stylish
MGG: Intriguing
AJ: Beautiful
Kirsten: Quirky
Jeanne: Family
TJ: Criminal Minds has a great reputation for initiating and maintaining an almost
unprecedented social media presence, and a very loyal, very vocal fandom. How
much or how little attention is paid to fan response, in actuality?
HB: A lot of attention is given to social media. I am relatively new to social media and
I have realized how important it is. The fans of the show are so intense and
knowledgeable. The fans drive the success of this show as the promotion of CM
is not near the promotion of other shows. It’s success is totally based on the
audience support. It is almost like a cultish fan base.
TJ: Are there any charities or worthy causes that you are involved with or that are
near and dear to your heart?
HB: Since I left Army Wives I am still involved with the USO and Homefront, mostly in
financial support. Being on AW renewed my passion and support of our military
men/women and their families. I was a single man when I served and never fully
appreciated those left behind until I produced AW.
TJ: Can you give us any insight on future plot points? Any insider hints or secrets you
can share?
HB: I am not allowed to divulge future story lines but I do know that our fans will be
blown away when they see episode 200 on February 5, 2014. Our illustrious
writing staff will start breaking story on the last 6 episodes when they return from
our holiday hiatus. I am sure the finale will be epic.
TJ: Thank you, Harry!