Paris Barclay

In his two-hour interview, Paris Barclay speaks about his experiences in theater under the tutelage of Stephen Sondheim. He describes his big break in television, making music videos (including directing LL Cool J's "Mama Said Knock You Out") and working on the early 1990s drama Angel Street. He comments on his work as a guest director on a number of drama series in the mid-1990s, notably on ER. He then details his extensive directing work on NYPD Blue and talks about working with the ensemble cast and directing memorable episodes. Barclay recalls directing episodes of The West Wing and speaks about working with creator Aaron Sorkin and showrunner John Wells. He discusses his work on several of the series he has directed since The West Wing, including American Dreams, Cold Case, Lost, and CSI. Barclay also talks about his directing process and offers advice to aspiring directors. Karen Herman conducted the interview on November 2, 2007 in North Hollywood, CA. 

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

Paris Barclay on his involvement with the Directors Guild of America

03:00

Paris Barclay on winning an Emmy for directing an episode of NYPD Blue

05:33

Paris Barclay on directing the music video for LL Cool J's "Mama Said Knock You Out"

02:42

Paris Barclay on directing the House episode "Three Stories" (airdate: May 17, 2005)

01:35

Paris Barclay on his directing process once he receives a script

02:05

Paris Barclay on directing CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

00:47

Paris Barclay on directing CSI

01:22

Paris Barclay on directing CSI

00:56

Paris Barclay on directing a pivotal episode of ER

04:43

Paris Barclay on directing several episodes of ER

02:57

Paris Barclay on directing NYPD Blue

03:39

Paris Barclay on directing and later producing NYPD Blue

14:51

Paris Barclay on the state of television advertising when he worked in it

00:54

Paris Barclay on rarely seeing African Americans in production when he worked in television advertising

02:06

Paris Barclay on advice from mentor Stephen Sondheim

01:14

Paris Barclay on advice from mentor Stephen Sondheim

01:14

Paris Barclay on directing a pivotal episode of ER in which a main character is revealed to have AIDS, and seeing the power of television's reach

04:43

Paris Barclay on producing City of Angels

02:47

Paris Barclay on his involvement with the Diversity Committee of the Directors Guild of America

01:26

Paris Barclay on being openly gay and how it has affected his career

01:57

Paris Barclay on whether or not he's faced racism in the television industry

01:05

Paris Barclay on the state of television advertising when he worked in it

00:54

Paris Barclay on rarely seeing African Americans in production when he worked in television advertising

02:06

Paris Barclay on how television has changed

01:00

Paris Barclay on the television audience

01:56

Paris Barclay on producing City of Angels

02:47

Paris Barclay on his involvement with the Diversity Committee of the Directors Guild of America

01:26

Paris Barclay on whether or not he's faced racism in the television industry

01:05

Paris Barclay on the process of directing music videos

01:02

Paris Barclay on directing a pivotal episode of ER

04:43

Paris Barclay on how directors are selected to direct individual episodes

03:39

Paris Barclay on directing comedy

00:51

Paris Barclay on directing difficult actors

02:33

Paris Barclay on his reputation as a director

02:42

Paris Barclay on his directing process once he receives a script

02:05

Paris Barclay on his directing process

01:22

Paris Barclay on his directing style being recognizable

00:47

Paris Barclay on his involvement with the Directors Guild of America

03:00

Paris Barclay on advice to aspiring directors

05:17

Paris Barclay on directing Dick Van Dyke in an episode of Diagnosis Murder

02:02

Paris Barclay on directing NYPD Blue

03:39

Paris Barclay on directing and later producing NYPD Blue

14:51

Paris Barclay on directing a pivotal episode of ER

03:56

Paris Barclay on producing and directing City of Angels

02:47

Paris Barclay on directing a music video for Bob Dylan

03:15

Paris Barclay on directing the music video for LL Cool J's "Mama Said Knock You Out"

02:42

Paris Barclay on David Milch's stories on NYPD Blue

02:12

Paris Barclay on directing and later producing NYPD Blue

14:51

Paris Barclay on doing the Hasty Pudding Show at Harvard University and meeting honoree Elizabeth Taylor

00:19

Paris Barclay on co-directing a PSA for "AIDS: It's nobody's fault and everybody's problem" with Elizabeth Taylor

04:55

Paris Barclay on directing Angel Street for creator John Wells

02:36

Paris Barclay on directing a pivotal episode of ER for showrunner John Wells

04:43