Supernatural’s Richard Speight, Jr Goes From Gabriel to Running the Show
Last night’s episode ‘Just My Imagination’ marked Richard Speight Jr.’s entry into directing Supernatural.
After wowing us as The Trickster/Gabriel Richard Speight Jr. decided to try his and at directing. He did a great job with last night’s episode ‘Just My Imagination’. He talked with several outlets about the path that led to this.
With Variety ‘Supernatural’ Star Richard Speight Jr. Talks Returning for Directorial Debut.
So it should come as no surprise that, despite his character’s supposed demise in season five (and a couple of cryptic cameos thereafter), Speight recently returned to the “Supernatural” set in yet another guise — director.
While it would be easy to assume that Speight was handed the gig because he has friends in high places, the actor tells Variety it’s a role that’s been two years in the making, and one he takes very seriously. Below, Speight discusses the long road to the “Supernatural” director’s chair, the people who helped him get there, and what fans can expect from his TV directorial debut, “Just My Imagination,” in which Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) are visited by Sam’s childhood imaginary friend, Sully (guest star Nate Torrence).
In ‘Supernatural’: Richard Speight Jr. on directing, what Gabriel’s up to and more The Examiner asked
Examiner.com: How did you directing this season and this episode come about? Was it something you had expressed interest in when you were on set before and this is when it worked out?
Richard Speight Jr.: “I lobbied for this. I had been wanting to direct episodic television for a long time. They’re not just going to hand you episodes because you want to direct episodic television because they’d be giving an episode to everybody, so I had to go out on my own and prove myself. What I did was I wrote and directed a short film called ‘America 101,’ which is now available on iTunes, and I spent all of 2013 on the film festival circuit with that movie. It played over 30 festivals in the United States, Canada and Europe. It was a very successful run.
Fangasm ran From Trickster to Director: An SPN Family Journey With Richard Speight Jr.,
Lynn: So go back to the beginning. I remember that you were up there on the Supernatural set shadowing directors, there were rumors that you were going to direct, but how long have you known you were going to do this and how did it happen?
Richard: I started circling my wagons after I made my film America 101, because what I wanted to do was use my short film as an entrée into telling bigger stories in terms of TV and film. That’s not to say that I immediately thought I would get a shot at doing that, I just thought it would be a good beginning. And what happened was, so I did the film and then I took it to festivals and I was lucky enough to have a very successful festival run. It played over 30 festivals in a year, which is a really good run.
The Nerdist posted SUPERNATURAL: Richard Speight, Jr. Discusses Directing and Previews the Next Episode and asked about Jared and Jensen’s legendary pranking.
Nerdist: How much fun was it that your first directing experience was with people you all know?
Richard Speight, Jr.: It was freaking awesome. It was an amazing experience. I’ve never done anything more exhausting or more rewarding. It was with a group of people that I have gotten to know over the years and with whom I’ve worked in a different capacity. To switch hats and team up with them to do something else within the same universe was nerve-wracking and fantastic at the same time. It was really a great experience. And they were just the most gracious and welcoming group of people. There’s a lot of talk about “When will Jared set your pants on fire?” or “What kind of pie will Jensen hit you in the face with?” It wasn’t would the boys prank me and make a mockery of my efforts, but when and how.
And you know what? It never happened. God bless the kids. They decided not to scuttle the ship, for which I was greatly, greatly appreciative. Maybe that was the most off-putting thing of all. Maybe that was the prank. The prank was the lack of pranks. Because I was so ready for them to do something–cut my seat in half so when I sat down I fell to the ground or burn my notes. All I know is I was thinking it was going to happen at any given moment, and it never happened. In fact, at one point Jared said, “You know, I feel like I should screw with you because so many people think that I’m going to.” And I facetiously replied, “Surprise them. Let’s not and say we did.”
MTV tells us ‘Supernatural’: Richard Speight, Jr. Returns, But Not As You Think.
This “SPN” episode marks Speight’s first time directing on network television, and he didn’t hesitate in reaching out to stars Jensen Ackles and Misha Collins for directing tips. (Ackles has directed five “SPN” episodes so far, including one earlier this season, while Collins directed one episode for Season 9.)
“I had very in depth conversations with Jensen [and] with Misha,” he said. “I shadowed three different directors up there: Tom Wright, Bob Singer, and Phil Sgriccia, all of whom have directed many, many episodes and are fantastic directors. It was great to talk to Jensen and Misha because they both come from my world. They both came in the actor’s door, and it was interesting to hear about their experiences.”
I thought Richard’s directorial debut was impressive. He sounds very dedicated to pursuing this new career in directing. I hope he returns to direct more Supernatural episodes and maybe he can return as Gabriel as well.
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