Glass grad on HBO
By Casey Gillis on Mar. 20, 2008
/385-5525
After Lynchburg native Paul Fitzgerald auditioned for the HBO miniseries “John Adams” last year, he says he forgot all about it.
“Then (I) got a call out of the blue last March saying I was getting on a plane for Richmond the next day to play Richard Henry Lee,” he recalled via e-mail earlier this week.
Lee was a Virginia delegate who “offered the first Declaration of Independence on the floor of the Continental Congress,” Fitzgerald said.
“History has it that he was unable to take what would have likely been a greater, if not central, part in writing the formal declaration, which Jefferson penned, as he had to abruptly depart Philadelphia for Virginia to tend to his ailing wife.”
The miniseries is based on David McCullough’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book and chronicles second U.S. president John Adams’ (Paul Giamatti) life and relationship with his wife of 54 years, Abigail (Laura Linney). Tom Hanks executive-produced it.
The first two parts of the film aired last weekend, but you can catch them again at 3:45 p.m. and 4:55 p.m. Saturday on HBO. The rest of the series airs on Sunday nights through April 20.
Fitzgerald, a 1989 E.C. Glass graduate, said he grew up loving this period in history, “so getting to work on this story and be immersed in all things Revolutionary War was a kick.”
Fitzgerald now lives and works in New York. After graduating from high school, he began working his way toward a professional acting career and earned degrees from both Northwestern University and Old Globe/University of San Diego Drama School.
Since then, he’s continued to add credits to his name, guest-starring on series like “Will & Grace,” “The West Wing” and all three versions of “Law & Order.” In 2000, he landed a starring role on a short-lived NBC sitcom called “M.Y.O.B.” He made his Broadway debut three years later in “Noises Off.”
Fitzgerald’s first time behind the camera came in 2006 with the independent film, “Forgiven.” He wrote, directed and starred as a small town district attorney whose run for Senate is put in jeopardy by an old case. He shot “Forgiven” over 18 days in Wilmington, and it was later accepted into the 2006 Sundance Film Festival.
The News & Advance recently conducted an e-mail Q&A with Fitzgerald about his experience working on “John Adams.” The following is an edited transcript.
Tell us a little more about your character, Richard Henry Lee, one of the men to sign the Declaration of Independence. Had you heard of him before landing the part?
I had not, but fortunately when I got to Richmond we had some lag time before shooting began, and I was able to (do) some research online and read a little material that the production people had gathered about him. RHL was an extremely interesting man, considered an electric orator with flair for the dramatic. He was passionately opposed to slavery and was one of the few early members of the Virginia assembly to actively legislate against the institution in the commonwealth.
What role does he play in John Adams’ life? What was their relationship like?
Adams had great admiration for Lee’s oratorical skills and felt him to be the most approachable of the Virginia delegation.
What kind of research did you do to prepare?
In addition to the reading mentioned above, I had access to several paintings of his likeness; knowledge of the injury sustained to his hand in a hunting accident, which is why he always wore a black wrap around his hand as he lost several fingers.
How long did it take to shoot your part?
Three weeks.
What was it like working with Tom Hanks, Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney?
Unfortunately, I didn’t have any stuff (with) Laura, who is a tremendous actor. Tom, I got to chit-chat with at the craft service table, but not much more. Paul, however, was lovely to work with and someone I’ve admired for a long time. Moreover Steven Dillane and David Morse, Jefferson and Washington respectively, are two of my favorite actors of all time, so having most of my stuff with them was great.
What was the atmosphere like on the set?
Long days but very creative and collaborative, the most so of any set I’ve been on. (Director) Tom Hooper and the screenwriter Kirk Ellis were very solicitous of all the actors to contribute and engage in shaping moments and finding the ways to really animate the energy and urgency, particularly in the big Congress scenes.
The miniseries covers more than 50 years in Adams’ life. What do you think people will find interesting about his story?
I hope that people will be compelled by the way in which he was a man of such towering integrity, whose actions were based on principles and who in the end stood between two very dynamic energies that wanted to pull the newly formed nation in their respective directions - Jefferson towards pure Republicanism and Hamilton towards strict Federalism - and was able to keep the two as one, averting our dissolution before we’d even begun.
So what’s next for you?
I’m currently developing a TV series pitch, based in contemporary Richmond, and (am) in the process of setting up cast and financing for my second feature film, which I hope to shoot in Lynchburg.
COMMENTS