CM_SetReport Chat w/Bruce Zimmerman Transcript - Nov. 1
CRIMINAL MINDS LIVE CHAT TRANSCRIPT
NOV. 1, 2012
Question: @mggforever - #AskBruce what got you into writing something so disturbing?
Response: CM_SetReport - @mggforever I wanted to do a female UnSub. An eating disorder seemed more specific to women than men, though that is a generalization.
Question: SWPhilli - #AskBruce How do u decide which writer will focus on a character (i.e. Hotch)? Do you all have a fav/preference or do u simply rotate?
Response: CM_SetReport - @swpwallie We rotate to make sure all the characters are serviced in their personal stories.
Question: @PsychGirl400 - #AskBruce How much research goes into the episodes and where do you look? I love the diversity in exploring human themes/conditions!
Response: CM_SetReport - @PsychGirl400 A lot. I know more about placenta than I ever thought I would. And the range of crazy on the show allows for great diversity
Question: @fUNSUB69 - Is placenta really good for clearing up a rash? I usually just do an oatmeal bath. #AskBruce
Response: CM_SetReport - @fUNSUB69 I don’y know and don’t want to know!
Question: @mggforever - #AskBruce will you get twitter sometime?
Response: CM_SetReport - @mggforever Are you kidding? I wish I could use a rotary dial telephone.
Question: @tvfangirl08 - Are we going to see more of their life outside of work? I love seeing Henry/Jack & loved the dinner at Rossi last year #AskBruce
Response: CM_SetReport - @tvfangirl08 The next episode you’ll see the team having some fun outside work. Especially Reid and Morgan.
Question: @Just__Jasper - Is the jarring nature of going from a harrowing unsub confrontation to a soft/happy after-case moment a deliberate practice? #AskBruce
Response: CM_SetReport - @Just__Jasper In a way, yes. It helps tonally I think. But if an episode is better left feeling scary, we leave it scary.
Question: @Jennlovefilmss - are we gonna see more of that misterious girl reid has been talking to? #AskBruce
Response: CM_SetReport - @Jennlovefilmss Oh, yes… stay tuned for some surprises.
Question: @PsychGirl400 - #AskBruce I’ve heard you write novels as well. Do you have a preference? Is the process different?
Response: CM_SetReport - @PsychGirl400 Process very different. a novel you can write anything, but in tv it has to be able to be produced. but i love novel writing.
Question: @HarrysCatFTW - #AskBruce What inspired the henry as reid thing
Response: CM_SetReport - @HarrysCatFTW I find Reid wonderfully childlike at times, and it seemed a perfect fit. if i were a kid, i would want to be like reid.
Question: @candacevbutler - #AskBruce is there an episode (or situation involved) particularly close to your heart this season?
Response: CM_SetReport - @candacevbutler the episode i’m filming now is very close to my heart. when you see it, you will know how truly sick I am!
Question: @swpwallie - #AskBruce Have you ever regretted editing out a scene after the episode airs..realizing the audience missed something special?
Response: CM_SetReport - @swpwallie Often. but it is usually required to make the time we have. something has to go, and it can’t be a crucial plot point. So sometimes really nice character stuff falls by the side. but those are the restrictions we deal with in hourlong tv
Question: @LisaMBoyd - #AskBruce What’s been your favorite episode to write so far?
Response: CM_SetReport - @LisaMBoyd Probably my first episode from last year, CHILDHOOD’S HOUR. though this current one we’re filming has been fun in a strange way.
Question: @fUNSUB69 - My cat loves Dr. Reid and I love Rossi. Which one of us is right? #AskBruce
Response: CM_SetReport - @fUNSUB69 Depends on who feeds you are your cat best!
Question: @Kendall_Howard - #AskBruce Any hints on the supposed “HUGE” Morgan episode (8x18)? Pretty please ;)
Response: CM_SetReport - @Kendall_Howard Don’t want to give much away, but Janine and Jim Clemente are co-writing. Too much good stuff for just one person.
Question: @pollielobster - #AskBruce why is it when the team goes to a really small podunk middle of nowhere town, there are still new black SUVs waiting for them?
Response: CM_SetReport - @pollielobster The SUV’s are strapped to the top of the jet.
Question: @Blue_Sunflowers - #AskBruce What kind of things do you do when working with the cast/crew as they film you episode?
Response: CM_SetReport - @Blue_Sunflowers First, we have a great time. but every scene has small tweaks and adjustments that as writers we don’t anticipate.
Question: @PsychGirl400 - What is your starting place when writing an episode? Do you think of a character first and build a story or vise versa? #AskBruce
Response: @CM_SetReport - @PsychGirl400 On this show, it’s the character because the UnSub drives the actions of the team.
Question: @MindsOfCriminal - What episode are you working on next?? #AskBruce
Response: CM_SetReport - @MindsOfCriminal Might be creepier than the one last night. An UnSub who has a very strange bag of tricks, literally, that he hauls around.
Question: @14rae19 - #AskBruce Do you think this show could ever have a crossover with another show?
Response: CM_SetReport - @14rae19 I could see the team being called in by the techies from CSI to solve a case. Garcia would surprise them.
Question: @iluvcookies_8 - this weeks episode was by far one of the creepiest, how could you possibly top this off? #AskBruce
Response: CM_SetReport - @iluvcookies_8 The current episode I’m doing might raise or lower the bar on the weirdness, depending on how strong your stomach is.
Question: @banthebanana - #AskBruce what’s been the most difficult episode to film and why?
Response: CM_SetReport - @banthebanana @virgilwilliams Tornadoes, flashbacks… we know whose difficult. And Dunkle with his love of filming near water.
Question: @kareng1982 - #AskBruce I was confused about one thing from last night’s episode, did the unsub go insane after her husband died? That was hard to figure.
Response: CM_SetReport - @kareng1982 She was always on the edge. Trauma of husband’s death pushed her over that edge. That’s how I always saw her.
Question: @tvfangirl08 - How do you find all the different locations the BAU team travels to? Does the crew have to travel far? They are all so unique. #AskBruce
Response: CM_SetReport - @tvfangirl08 Our location scouts are amazing. Yesterday we were at a spiritual retreat, today we’re in a hospital for a BIG scene.
Question: @swpwallie - #AskBruce Do writers track ratings, demos, audience numbers of your eps like baseball scores or do u basically ignore that stuff?
Response: CM_SetReport - @swpwallie We follow ratings — and ours have been great — but don’t write with ratings in mind. Good stories will get viewers, I think.
Question: @ecahill5 - What’s the furthest location CM ever travelled to to shoot an episode? Ever think of coming to San Francisco? #AskBruce
Response: CM_SetReport - @ecahill5 Season 5 had an episode shot in SF. Last year I had one shot in Palm Springs. Mostly we’re in a 30 mile radius of LA.
Question: @14rae19 - #AskBruce How do you find the inspiration for plot lines on this show? Last night’s episode was great!
Response: CM_SetReport - @14rae19 Thanks. When my father retired he worked at a co-op for fun and I saw some potential UnSubs lurking in the grocery aisles.
Question: @kareng1982 - #AskBruce Gotta say I think we need more Garcia screen time, it seems as though its getting smaller and smaller each episode
Response: CM_SetReport - @kareng1982 More Garcia is coming. We look for ways to get here out of that high-tech room, but it can be hard. She’s really dynamic.
Question: @GloriaNerd - #AskBruce Do you sometimes consider what fans say?
Response: CM_SetReport - @GloriaNerd Sure, as long as what they’re saying makes sense. Constructive criticism is as important as praise. Writers need both.
Question: @tvfangirl08 - Have you ever pitched a story that was seen as too far fetched or too violent even by CM standards and it was turned down? #AskBruce
Response: CM_SetReport - @tvfangirl08 There are certain subject areas we stay away from. We want to tell good stories, not substitute that with excess violence.
Question: @GetNeriumSkin - #AskBruce What episode did you think was going to flop but it totally surprised you based upon the ratings and viewer opinions?
Response: CM_SetReport - @GetNeriumSkin I worried that Divining Rod might be too intricate to follow, but it seemed to do well and I liked the final product.
Question: @vbomer - #AskBruce The show was blacked out last night in San Antonio Where can I see the show?
Response: CM_SetReport - @vbomer CBS.com has the latest episodes. I won’t give any spoilers, then! Except people die, and the good guys win
Question: Criminal_MindsBAU - #AskBruce do you prefere to focus on one character, or write for a group story line??
Response: CM_SetReport - @MindsOfCriminal I prefer one character. with an ensemble cast, it’s too difficult to service everyone in one episode.
Question: @PsychGirl400 - #AskBruce What part of the writing process makes you excited the most?
Response: CM_SetReport - @PsychGirl400 Weirdly enough, rewriting. Hate breaking a story out of nothing, and first draft is tough. But rewriting is a joy.
Question: @zoe7117 - #AskBruce The episodes seem to get creepier. Is that the trend for season 8? What about a “normal” serial killer?
Response: CM_SetReport - @zoe7117 Normal??? I’ll try to find a nail-gun killer to get the stories normalized again! Personally, I like the crazier types.
Question: @Just__Jasper - Is a CM “lexicon” of facts and information maintained? #AskBruce
Response: CM_SetReport - @Just__Jasper Yes, we have a series bible. And our technical guys keep us honest as far as what would happen in the real world. OK, gotta go. We’re shooting in a few minutes. Thanks for all the questions. And inspect that tomato before you eat it.
