Tweet This Page

This is just an unofficial fan page, we have no connection to any shows or networks.

Please click here to vote for our site!

By Krista

Interview with Silas Weir Mitchell of "Grimm" on NBC 11/11/14

I enjoyed talking to Silas so much. He's a great actor, and I really love this show. I asked about one of the other characters on the show and what he thought should happen in the situation he is in.

NBC UNIVERSAL Moderator: Akiva Griffith
November 11, 2014 1:00 pm CT

Operator: Hello ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for standing by. Welcome to the Grimm Press Conference Call.

During the presentation, all participants will be in a listen only mode. Afterwards, we will conduct a question and answer session. At that time if you have a question please press 1 followed by the 4 on your telephone.

If at any time during the conference you need to reach an operator please press Star, 0.

As a reminder, this conference is being recorded Tuesday, November 11, 2014.

I would now like to turn the conference over to Akiva Griffith. Please go ahead.

Akiva Griffith: Thank you. We’re pleased to have Silas Weir Mitchell of NBC’s Grimm on the call today. We have a new episode this week called “Dying on a Prayer” and some great highlights for Silas in his role as Monroe and the continuing saga of the marriage of Monroe and Rosalee.

I’ll now turn it back over to (Benjamin) to start the question and answer. Thank you.

Operator: Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen if you’d like to register for a question please press 1 followed by the 4 on your telephone. You will hear a three-toned prompt to acknowledge your request. If your question’s already been answered and you’d like to withdraw your registration, please press 1 followed by the 3.

If you’re using a speaker phone, please lift your handset before entering your request. One moment please for our first question.

Our first question comes from the line of Joshua Maloney with Niagara Frontier. Please proceed with your question.

Joshua Maloney: Thank you. Hi Silas, how you doing today?

Silas Mitchell: I’m good, how are you?

Joshua Maloney: Good. Thanks for your time. Appreciate it.

Silas Mitchell: Sure thing.

Joshua Maloney: So at the end of the last episode obviously we saw a couple of troublemakers sitting outside of the Spice Shop. What can you tell us about those guys and what their intentions might be?

Silas Mitchell: Well, you know, I mean it’s been pretty sweet for me and the lady. The only hiccup really was my parents being a little old school as far as the inter-Wesen relationship and we got over that hump pretty well. But I think what went down at the wedding has sent a kind of a bad signal is now, you know, out in the Wesen world. They know what’s going on and I think there’s a lot of people who have issues with it.

And I don’t think it’s going to be as easy as it was convincing (these) people that we’re okay as it was to convince my parents. So I think there’s a target on our backs, basically.

Joshua Maloney: Okay. All right. If we go back to the start of when you guys first started with this show there’s probably about a maybe a half a dozen or so new characters that have been introduced. And you guys obviously have a pretty good size cast at this point. A lot of time with shows when that happens the story lines, you know, they tend to get a little bit watered down.

But it seems like the more people are added to your show the more characters we’re getting introduced to that the richer the storytelling becomes, the more interesting it becomes for all of us.

I wonder if you can speak to that a little bit about how you guys all tie it together so well and about the way in which they do this and to not have anything that’s really watered down.

Silas Mitchell: That’s a really good question. And, you know, it’s interesting because at this point now we are in the middle of season four and I have more of a - I don’t take as macro a view of things because I’m really invested in my life as Monroe more than I am invested in the overarching narrative structure.

So I can answer your question only from my point view and through my lens. But what I see in relation to that question is first of all the show runners David and Jim really have a very, very strong sense of what makes the show work. The mixture of dark story lines and comedic elements and marrying the real world that we live in with the world of Wesen’s who represent elements of our psyches. And they have a way of marrying these two things so that when more people are involved I think what happens is they are such good writers that they’re able to integrate these people into the world and the world is more important than anything else.

And they’re invested in it in a way that they still - when new characters are introduced in fact they distill things further rather than dilute them. And I know that’s some kind of magic trick of writing because I know what you mean. It’s just - they don’t dilute it, they don’t diffuse it - somehow they use the new characters really well in order to clarify story lines rather confiscate them.

And I don’t know how they do it except that they have a very strong grasp of what makes the show work. And right now it feels as though we have about six story lines chugging along. And each story line is very, very tightly wound. And they choose when to integrate those story lines with each other or when to keep them separate.

Like Adalind, I don’t’ really know what’s going on with Adalind. But she kind of - she goes away and then she reintegrates into the other story lines and they’re just very good at doing this dance. I don’t know how they do it but they do it.

Joshua Maloney: All right. Very good. Thank you.

Silas Mitchell: Thank you.

Operator: Our next question comes from the line of Jamie Ruby of Sci-Fi Vision. Please proceed with your question.

Jamie Ruby: Hi. It’s great to talk to you again.

Silas Mitchell: Hi there.

Jamie Ruby: Hi. So you mentioned obviously people are going to have a problem with them being married. But can you talk about is that going to make it hard on their relationship or does it not bother them too much? Like how is that going to go?

Silas Mitchell: No, I think it’s, you know, one of the things that again as I was saying to the last question; one of the things that these writers are able to do is marry the world that we live in, you and I, with the world of Grimm where you can paint these psychological social issues with a kind of richer brush than you can if you’re completely bound to reality or our reality.

So this mixture that they’ve come up with allows for this type of storytelling and I think that it will be complicated for us as characters. Because that’s true to life. Even though we’re in this other, you know, we’re in this imaginary world I think one of the things the writers do really well is use benefits of the - yes, okay - excuse me I’m in a cab so I have to pay the cab. I’ll be right with you in one second, okay.

Jamie Ruby: Okay. That’s fine.

Operator: Our next question comes from the line of Sherri Block with CTV.ca. Please proceed with your question.

Sherri Block: Hi Silas.

Silas Mitchell: Hi there, sorry about that. I’m in New York so.

Sherri Block: Hi Silas. It’s a new question but we can continue on with the old one.

Silas Mitchell: Oh okay great, go ahead.

Sherri Block: Well yes so just wanted to talk a little bit more about what’s ahead for Monroe and Rosalee. Now that they’re married and they know they have some people kind of maybe not happy with them, but how are they going to keep their storyline exciting. Because sometimes in shows, you know, when the couple that’s all like will they or won’t they and now that they’re married, you know, what do you see happening for them?

Silas Mitchell: Well I think that again it was the will they or won’t they for me and her was pretty much not even will they or won’t they. It was kind of like when are they. And people still seemed interested because - so that’s a good sign right there. Because I think the will they or won’t they is something that sustains shows to a fault sometimes, you know?

Where it becomes just a big tease. And I don’t think we did that really. We didn’t do the big tease thing. We sort of did these people falling in love thing. And that’s a different story. And it may not have the cutesy will they or won’t they but it has a different kind of - it holds a different kind of interest for people.

And I think that if people are interested even though they know what’s going to happen which is that we’re going to be together. I think people pretty much knew we were going to be together. Then I don’t think they’re going to have a hard time being interested in the complications that follow.

Sherri Block: Okay.

Silas Mitchell: And there will be complications and they’re not going to, I don’t think, soft-peddle them. These writers are interested in real stuff. Even though the show is “a fairy tale” show, our writers are very interested in real human stuff. And that’s what makes the show interesting.

Sherri Block: Any word on a Monroe/Rosalee baby?

Silas Mitchell: No. But whenever I’m asked that question, I just say (forhasha) and you can figure that out.

There was an episode when we were asked by other people - in fact we had to explain to Nick and Hank, you know, what would happen if we had a kid. And the upshot is a thing called a (forhasha) which is a mixture of two (unintelligible) having a baby. I don’t know what it means, but that’s the word.

Operator: Our next question comes from the line of Krista Chain with The TV MegaSite. Please proceed with your question.

Krista Chain: Hi Silas. Thanks for taking the time to talk to us today.

Silas Mitchell: Sure thing.

Krista Chain: I love Grimm. My husband and I both enjoy the show so much.

Silas Mitchell: That’s very nice, thank you.

Krista Chain: My question is (and I apologize if it’s already been asked-- I was a couple of minutes late to the conference): What are your feelings about Wu and his beginning to question what he’s seen, and now with his trouble staying with Nick? Do you think that they should tell him what’s been going on and kind of clue him in, or do you think they should try to keep him in the dark about it?

Silas Mitchell: Well, that’s a good question. I mean I think in a lot of ways Wu - he’s already been through the wringer, you know, pretty big time as far as having his mind really messed with when the Aswang was the - when they were dealing with that because, you know, of the Filipino nature of that myth, you know, that he always thought it was a fairy tale and then he starts to see that maybe it’s actually true. So in some ways the soil has been, you know, there’s a fertile ground there for him maybe being able to deal with these things in a way.

But on the other hand it could send him over the edge. So I just think that whatever happens Nick and Hank will have to be very deliberate as far as how they handle it with Wu. And he obviously keeps pushing, then they’re going to have to make a decision. And the decision’s going to be based on what’s going to be best for Wu. Because he’s going - will he lose his mind completely or will he be able to handle it. Because he’s already sort of been down that road and, you know what I mean?

Operator: Our next question comes from the line of Earl Dittman with Digital Journal. Please proceed with your question.

Earl Dittman: How are you this morning?

Silas Mitchell: I’m good. How are you doing?

Earl Dittman: Doing great. So what’s - are you doing a project in New York? Do you mind me asking?

Silas Mitchell: No, I’m just visiting New York as a...

Earl Dittman: Just visiting.

Silas Mitchell: Yes, they’re just friend in New York.

Earl Dittman: Yes. Are you all on hiatus?

Silas Mitchell: I don’t really have - no we’re not on hiatus either. I just happened to have a few days off and I like to come to New York and see theater and see my old friends. Every now and then the schedule opens up and I try to take an opportunity if I can.

Earl Dittman: Yes. Well, you know, it’s great that, you know, you’re in season four of Grimm which we’ve been watching from the beginning. What are some of the challenges of being on a show in its fourth season? Good challenges and what are the great parts of being on a show that’s lasted this long? And will longer?

Silas Mitchell: Well I would say mostly it’s great stuff because what’s great about it is, you know, like I said is manifold reasons why it’s great. Primarily it’s that we’re a pretty well-oiled machine now so there’s not a lot of distractions. You can economize your - the way you work in the sense that you know where all the locations are. You know the city, to get around the city. The crew is really at the top of their game.

So when the machine is humming along it makes it easier to do better work. So that’s one of the great things about it. And the only real challenge about it and this isn’t a challenge that I face - it’s for the writers to keep the thing fresh. And I think they’re doing a bang-up job of that. But that’s not my problem so to speak.

I take what they give me and I do my best to make it real and have fun with it. But I don’t have to worry about, you know, story lines. I just, you know, live the life they give me to live. So for me it’s really all upside.

Earl Dittman: That’s fantastic. Thanks.

Silas Mitchell: Thank you.

Operator: Our next question comes from the line of Vicki Dolenga with ThreeIfBySpace. Please proceed with your question.

Vicki Dolenga: Hi Silas it’s great to talk to you again. Thanks so much to your...

((Crosstalk))

Silas Mitchell: Hi there - I just love, oh of course I love the name of your site. One second here. I’m going to put my earphones in because I’m in New York and I just got back to my hotel room, so give me 2-1/2 seconds.

Vicki Dolenga: Okay.

Silas Mitchell: All right. Can you hear me?

Vicki Dolenga: I can hear you, can you hear me?

Silas Mitchell: I can.

Vicki Dolenga: Okay. Well I have to ask because it’s come up from a number of fans. The writers teased for a long time with Wu’s name. So are we ever going to find out if Monroe is the first or last name and is that coming and do you know?

Silas Mitchell: If I knew I wouldn’t tell you. How’s that for a riddle?

Vicki Dolenga: Oh, fair enough. So I do have another question. So now that you’re coming into this episode that unfortunately we haven’t seen yet but it does sound really intriguing. Was it difficult to have to play the character that is being, you know, persecuted for this inter-Wesen marriage?

Silas Mitchell: No it’s not. It’s exciting.

Vicki Dolenga: Okay.

Silas Mitchell: Because it’s a different, you know, it’s a different life experience that I’m getting to live and that’s the fun of the whole game. It’s just living different life experiences and I mean that’s the fun of being an actor. So to me was looking forward to things getting sticky and difficult because like I said earlier I think the only, you know, the only real hiccup last year on the way to the altar was, you know, my dad being a jerk. And that’s not that big of a deal.

And this is a much bigger deal. And I tell you, you know, a lot of things that are smaller in magnitude than having a Grimm be on the altar with you at the wedding have happened that have led to terrible things. So I think, you know, that’s a big deal. When that gets out in the world not only the inter-Wesen thing but the fact that we’re friends with a Grimm and if that gets known it’s trouble.

So I think it’s just going to be ugly. And I’m excited about it because - that’s fun to play, you know.

Vicki Dolenga: Great. Thank you so much.

Silas Mitchell: Thank you.

Operator: Our next question comes from the line Jose Barreto with Publimetro Peru. Please proceed with your question.

Jose Barreto: Hi Silas.

Silas Mitchell: Hi there.

Jose Barreto: Hi there. This is Jose Barreto from Peru. And I think this is the first time you talk with a Peruvian media but many people here in our country wants to know the next thing. Through the years you have played several mentally unstable actors. Is that a coincidence or do you pursue these types of roles?

Silas Mitchell: I think it’s kind of - it’s more of a coincidence than anything but I have to admit that I find - I find it very interesting to live a life that is very, very other than the life I live as a man when I’m in stories. And I think that one of the things that makes a person’s life very, very different is what goes on inside their psyche.

And so it may be partly coincidental, maybe partly just because of the way I look. But I don’t seek it out per se, you know. I don’t seek it out but I find it fascinating and I do enjoy it. And I don’t know if you’ve seen the film Birdman yet but, you know too, but that is also investigating, you know, the inner life of a person who is seeing the world in a very, very unique way. And I just find that very exciting as an actor.

Jose Barreto: Well thank you very much.

Silas Mitchell: Thank you.

Operator: Our next question comes from the line of Courtney Vaudreuil at ohsogray.com. Please proceed with your question.

Courtney Vaudreuil: Hi good morning. Thanks for talking with us today.

Silas Mitchell: Hi there.

Courtney Vaudreuil: So my question - hi - my question for you is we’ve gotten some pretty gnarly holiday episodes in the past on Grimm. What do we got coming up for us with the Thanksgiving and the Christmas holidays?

Silas Mitchell: Pretty gnarly episodes.

Courtney Vaudreuil: Any sense of what kind of mess that we can expect?

((Crosstalk))

Silas Mitchell: You know, I still miss Krampus. I think he was just one of the best. One of the just - I loved that guy. I thought he was awesome. I think it’s - I don’t think there’s a - I’m just trying to remember here. I think that Christmas is interrupted by other events than a Christmas oriented Wesen this year.

I mean there’s still Christmas and it’s big. God knows. Can’t be otherwise. But the complications involved aren’t specifically Christmas related.

Courtney Vaudreuil: But at least Monroe gets a Christmas cardigan; right?

Silas Mitchell: Oh wouldn’t have it any other way.

Courtney Vaudreuil: Thank you.

Silas Mitchell: Thank you.

Operator: Our next question is a follow-up question from Jamie Ruby with Sci-Fi Vision. Please proceed with your question.

Jamie Ruby: Hi again. So after...

((Crosstalk))

Jamie Ruby: ...after four seasons you’ve obviously worked with, you know, most of the cast but is there somebody in particular that maybe you haven’t had a lot of scenes with that you’d like to get to work more with? Or even maybe a guest star that you like to get a chance to?

Silas Mitchell: Yes definitely. And the two would be Sasha and Reggie, you know. I’ve worked even more with the Captain than I have with Sergeant Wu. And I remember the first scene that the Captain and I had together and it was so much fun to get these two people with completely different energies who’ve never been in the same room together practically - when he came to the Spice Shop I think it was year - I don’t know if it was year two or three. It’s all sort of blurred together.

But he came to the Spice Shop and to get some stuff to keep him from being in love with Bitsie’s character - with Juliette. And it was a delight to get to have Monroe and the cast in the room dealing with - it was really fun.

And I think that it would be fun to get more with Wu and Monroe just because; A: Reggie’s fantastic and we work in similar ways and we haven’t had a lot of stuff to do together. We were actually in the same class in Los Angeles when we both got this job. We were working together on a scene from a play. So we know each other pretty well and it would be fun to actually get to work with him more.

Jamie Ruby: Awesome. Thank you so much.

Silas Mitchell: Thank you.

Operator: Ladies and gentlemen as a reminder to register for a question please press 1 followed by the 4 on your telephone.

Our next question comes from the line of Sherri Block with CTV.ca. Please proceed with your question.

Sherri Block: Hi again Silas. I just wanted to know...

Silas Mitchell: Hi there.

Sherri Block: ...will the gang have any luck restoring Nick’s Grimm power? It looks like Renard’s Mom’s getting pretty close to having a break-through.

Silas Mitchell: Yes. That’s going to be a challenge, you know. I mean he’s been Hexenbiested so that’s a brutal - that’s a brutal, you know, they’re powerful creatures. They’re powerful women. And I think it’s going to be fun to watch him struggle for a little while. Just got to watch him squirm a little bit.

Sherri Block: What’s it been like to play the dynamics between Monroe and Nick with him not being a Grimm? Has that been fun to play as well?

Silas Mitchell: Oh it’s, yes, no it’s been totally great because it’s, you know, there are so many issues arise in the absence of his powers for me and Rosalee, you know. I mean he got me into all this crap and now he can’t protect me.

And I love the guy but now I’m kind of out on a limb, you know. He feels bad and I feel bad for feeling angry. And I feel bad for him. But I’m also scared and angry and it’s great. There’s a lot of stuff swirling around in the soup.

And again it’s just the writers are finding ways of re-imagining things that aren’t - they’re still fresh, you know. They’re still fresh and they’re still interesting for us and hopefully for you guys too. And definitely I enjoy playing the dynamic of, you know, Nick is a broken man at this point. And it’s fun...

Sherri Block: I know. Absolutely. We love watching it. Thanks - we can’t wait to see how it plays out.

Silas Mitchell: Thank you.

Operator: Our next question comes from the line of Rebecca Murray with Showbiz Junkies. Please proceed with your question.

Rebecca Murray: Good morning. So I love the...

Silas Mitchell: Hi. Everyone is saying good morning - what time is it where you are? Are you on the West Coast?

Rebecca Murray: Well it’s 11:30 so it’s actually noonish - so good afternoon.

Silas Mitchell: Right, no but - no it’s fine. I’m so - I’m in New York. I’m just not used to - I mean usually it’s the other way around on the West Coast and the interviewer is on - you know what I mean - so it just feels a little backwards to me. Anyway.

Rebecca Murray: Yes. So I actually really love the relationship between Monroe and Rosalee. But I love just the chemistry between you and Bree Turner too. It’s so fantastic. Can you talk about working with her and how that’s actually developed over these four seasons?

Silas Mitchell: Well it’s just one of those things, you know, where you’re lucky to get to work with someone who you work similarly. And we’re both invested in having, you know, a real experience. And the story is the most important thing. And it’s fun to play pretend at a high level.

And we play pretend until it becomes real on a certain level and it’s just nice to have a partner who shares that ethic. And, you know, that’s just the luck of the draw really. But it’s been delightful. I mean it’s very - it’s one of those things, you know, where it could have gone either way. And luckily it went the way of, you know, two people who work well together. That’s just luck really.

And, you know, you’ve got to credit casting, you know. They put a group of people together that do well together. I mean all of us do well together. You know what I mean? There’s no strife. There’s no - people show up to work and have fun doing it and we respect each other. And we - it’s a good - it’s a nice brew of psyches in there.

And we’re there to, you know, and she’s just one element of it.

Rebecca Murray: Great. Well that comes across on screen. Thank you.

Silas Mitchell: Thank you.

Operator: Our next question is a follow up question from the line of Jose Barreto with Publimetro Peru. Please proceed with your question.

Jose Barreto: Hi again Silas. My question is what do you think that makes Grimm attractive for people in different places of the world; for example here in Peru many people follow the show and find it attractive. What do you think is the main attraction of Grimm?

Silas Mitchell: I think there are two main reasons why Grimm has a global following if one could say it in those terms. And that is first of all it deals with universal themes because everybody has these elements of their psyche - Grimm deals with mythical issues in a very, very detailed and human way.

So that’s one reason; that the themes are mythical and universal.

The other reason is it’s using fairytales from different cultures. And, you know, every culture has its own myths. Every culture has its own fairytales. Every culture has its own spooky stories; its own creature stories. And so, again, this is sort of the sub-set of the universal thing. It’s everybody has it.

It’s not a show about the fashion industry on the Upper East Side of New York City which only a certain sub-section of society knows or cares about. It’s dealing with something that every culture deals with; which is myth and storytelling and it’s appealing for that reason to a pretty large set of the human population.

Jose Barreto: Thank you so much, that answers my question.

Silas Mitchell: Thank you.

Operator: Our next question comes from the line of Steve Eramo with SciFiAndTvTalk. Please proceed with your question.

Steve Eramo: Hi Silas. A pleasure to speak with you again today.

Silas Mitchell: Hi there.

Steve Eramo: I wanted to find out. In last week’s episode Juliette came to Monroe and Rosalie and sort of asked them to let Nick take his time about deciding about his future as far as wanting to go back to being a Grimm and so-forth. And my question’s - I just wanted to sort of ask how has that sort of effected Monroe’s and Rosalee’s relationship with Juliette? How have you seen that sort of develop in the episodes you guys have shot this year?

Silas Mitchell: Well it’s one of those things where, you know, you understand where she’s coming from because God knows I’m sure it ain’t easy being married to - well not married, but being - living with a guy who’s, you know, dealing with what Nick is dealing with when he has his powers.

But there’s a conflict, you know. So - because him being (de-Grimmed) is not good for us. Because he is, you know, he’s our eyes and ears in a lot of ways and he can help us with the people who think that what’s going on between us and him is not right.

So it’s just one of those things where it’s complicated because you’re conflicted and you’re conflicted because you want one thing and, you know, your friend’s girlfriend wants another thing. And you have to - that’s life. You have to kind of find a way to navigate that. So it does complicate the relationship with Juliette.

I mean it’s not something that’s like she’s - it’s not - it doesn’t destroy it. It’s not a tragic thing but it’s complicated and again this is credit to the writers for writing, you know, subtle stuff in a, you know, they write subtle stuff in a show that I think a lot of people - but those that don’t watch the show don’t understand that it’s actually got this kind of subtle human sub-text to it.

But thankfully the people who do watch it get it and that’s why we’re still making it.

Steve Eramo: And then just as a follow-up a very general question for you. I wanted to find out did you always want to work in this industry while you were growing up? Or did you have other professions in mind?

Silas Mitchell: You know it was one of those things where it just kind of - I took to it, you know? And I didn’t really think about it as a profession per se probably until I was in college. But it was always something that I enjoyed a lot and I was good at. And when people tell you you’re good at something when you’re a kid you tend to keep doing it.

I was interested in other things, you know, teaching I was interested in, psychology I was interested in. But I never pursued any other career because this continued and continues to interest me. Because it’s always just out of your reach. That’s what’s delightful about it. Because it’s always - you can always do more. You can always be better. You can always have a deeper, richer, more textured experience. As an actor you’re never finished.

And as long as something continues to interest you and to, you know, feed you then why would you stop. That’s just my experience and in no way am I suggesting that people don’t say like okay I got it, I’m done, I’m doing something else. And maybe that will happen to me some day.

But at this point I still find it sort of magical and complicated and intangible. And I enjoy that about it.

Steve Eramo: Well you’re doing a great job and again thank you for all your hard work on Grimm this season. Looking forward to the rest of the episodes.

Silas Mitchell: Thank you. That’s very kind. I appreciate it.

Steve Eramo: Take care.

Silas Mitchell: You too.

Operator: And we have no further questions at this time.

Akiva Griffith: Thank you everyone for joining. If you would like a transcript of the call please feel free to email me. This should be available tomorrow mid-day.

And again Silas thank you for joining and answering the questions.

Silas Mitchell: Thanks.

Operator: Ladies and gentlemen that does conclude today’s conference call. We thank you for your participation and ask you please disconnect your line.

END

Back to the Main Articles Page

Back to the Main Primetime TV Page

We need more episode guide recap writers, article writers, MS FrontPage and Web Expression users, graphics designers, and more, so please email us if you can help out!  More volunteers always needed!  Thanks!

Page updated 11/13/14