<onelifetoliveADM> 

Okay next question is:

<onelifetoliveADM> 

Roz asks: Hi! Before I pop the long awaited question most on viewers minds, I'd first like to say...Congratulations on winning the DGA award!!!! Now on with the show! Okay...uhmm...what I'd most like to know is...well...did you get to choose the actors you wanted to work with and if yes, who were they?

<lindam> 

I forgot about DGA -- congrats

<Jill> 

Receiving the DGA Award for the Nora Courtroom show was so gratifying. I had worked very hard on that episode and was involved from the script through post-production. Finding out that it my professional peers responded to and respected it meant a lot. But the most important part was the fun cast and crew had doing it and the response of our viewers (that's you!) And no, in series television it is usually the producers and

<Jill> 

network execs who do the casting. I'm involved neither in casting or story; my job is to take what they give me and make it work.**

<Diane1> 

You do it very well

<lindam> 

Wasn't it your second?

<llanfan> 

funny you should say that Jill, cause that's what ES said about her job.

<Renee> 

yes you do Jill!

<CabooseHOST> 

You sure do your job well

<Jill> 

Yes, I was nominated 5 times and won twice, first time for the fraternity party episode.

<Dawn> 

always so happy to see great work get proper recognition

<Diane1> 

Me too

<Lilly> 

that episode was THE BEST!

<vtgrammy> 

You were certainly very deserving of those awards Jill.

<onelifetoliveADM> 

both awards very well deserving Jill!

<Jill> 

I feel lucky to have this job!

<Dawn> 

OLTL is lucky to have you direct

<CabooseHOST> 

They sure are Dawn.

<CabooseHOST> 

Next question is:

<CabooseHOST> 

Ann asks: Is it possible for you to sit back and fully enjoy a performance (movie/play), or do you find yourself analyzing the director's choices and thinking about what you might have done differently?

<Jill> 

If it's done well then yes I can get lost in it (as well as simultaneously appreciate the crafting of the piece). However, if it doesn't get me to feel my way through it I become all too aware of what's not working in the directing.**

<lindam> 

all ""greats"" must feel that way.

<vtgrammy> 

Do you ever re-watch those scenes at home?

<lindam> 

And if you do -- do you come up with ways to do them differently?

<allmychildrenADM> 

Jill, I have to go. It was certainly wonderful of you to come visit and answers all these questions. Great to meet you!

<Jill> 

I watch my own work many times, to learn from it (both if a moment works or doesn't work, so I can make adjustments the next time) and to savor it when the emotion really comes through or the edit worked, etc.

<onelifetoliveADM> 

Next question is:

<onelifetoliveADM> 

Sheeglah asks: I notice you direct for AMC as well. The shows are so different, do you find a big difference between the two shows in atmosphere, and in vision or does that enter into the decisions you make as a director?

<Jill> 

The process of working on the script and with the actors is the same. I try to bring out the subtext in the scenes with my staging and work on performance. The differences are in the logistics of how the shows are done; the paperwork, schedule, who does what in the office, things like that. I only directed 2 episodes there, and I found the cast to be a terrific and talented and open group to work with. Bianca and Laura had

<Jill> 

an amazing scene together, in which they had to regroup after Laura discovered that Bianca had feelings for her. **

<lindam> 

I remember that one -- fine work

<Diane1> 

AMC does have a talented cast

<Renee> 

Wow

<vtgrammy> 

I thought those were great scenes also.

<Jill> 

The actors really came alive in that episode - a lot of warmth and passion.

<CabooseHOST> 

OK, the last question of the night for Jill is from the Ty site's other half....

<CabooseHOST> 

Laura asks: Were you a fan of soap operas and/or OLTL before you got the job? If not, did you do anything to brush up on character histories, as it seems understanding a character and his/her motivations would add to helping to bring them to life on screen?

<Jill> 

Interestingly enough, TV was not a big part of my childhood (lots of reading and daydreaming though) and I didn't even have a TV in college or grad school so I wasn't up on the particulars of each soap opera. Before coming to OLTL I just knew the Procter & Gamble soaps. It's important to understand human nature and be perceptive about the nuances in relationships. That comes from observing real life and putting time

<Jill> 

and effort into the practice of analyzing yourself or the people you come into contact with, and figuring out what's behind their behaviors. The more you work at becoming conscious of the contradictions and subtexts in real life behavior, the more you can bring to script and character analysis. So yes, when I joined a new show I did brush up on character histories, but I always found that my sensitivity to human nature

<Jill> 

was the most important factor in being an effective director.**

<LauraL> 

Thanks, Jill!

<lindam> 

your literature degree is also showing with the perceptions and backgrounds

<Sheeglah> 

Thanks

<kermit> 

you do a terrific job

<JillNotMitwell> 

That was my favorite answer of the night....fascinating

<pj> 

Your sensitivity definitely shows in your work, Jill!

<Diane1> 

It does

<vtgrammy> 

Very interesting and I agree. Your work is wonderful, insightful, and mesmerizing.

<Sheeglah> 

no question!

<LauraL> 

Amazingly well.

<Renee> 

yes it does!

<Betsy> 

Jill, I love your work. Thank you.

<DianaB> 

this has been wonderfully interesting

<Diane1> 

It sure has

<lindam> 

Thank you for giving of your time tonight -- we appreciated it

<Suzanne> 

Thanks for taking the time to chat with us Jill. Its been fun

<onelifetoliveADM> 

Thanks everybody for attending, and a very special thank you goes out to you Jill for giving us this wonderful chat session with you. We wish you continued success on the show.

<Diane1> 

Thank you for chatting with us

<Tina> 

Thanks for chatting with us

<Dawn> 

you help bring OLTL to life...thanks!

<DianaB> 

I hope you'll do it again

<CabooseHOST> 

Thank you very much Jill. Great job!

<Sue> 

thanks for sharing your talent and insights with us

<Jill> 

You guys have challenged me to really dig deep into the whys of how I work! It's been a very good exercise. And fun!

<vtgrammy> 

Thanks so much for taking time to chat with us Jill. It's been wonderful. Hope you do some work with Ben and Viki soon. <G>

<Sheeglah> 

Thanks for taking the time to chat

<Christina> 

Thanks for chatting with us

<Renee> 

Thank you Jill for your wonderful work and sensitivity!! Thank you for doing the chat!

<pj> 

Thanks so much for sharing your talent with us, Jill!

<CabooseHOST> 

Yes, thanks for bringing us great shows too.

<Pammus> 

This was much fun, Jill!! Thanks for taking the time out of your schedule to appease us fans! :):)

<Dawn> 

we hope you will chat with us again

<Ann> 

Thanks, Jill.

<Diane1> 

Please chat again

<Jenna> 

Thanks again, Jill. You ROCK! :)

<kermit> 

keep the Todd and Blair storyline going strong

<Dawn> 

thanks!

<LauraL> 

It was a blast, as always, Jill!

<KiraHOST> 

I'm happy u enjoyed it. Jill thanks again

<JillNotMitwell> 

Thanks for joining us Jill...it was wonderful to get to know about what you do

<Lilly> 

Thanks Jill

<Jill> 

Keep watching critically and emotionally and enjoying it!

<DianaB> 

hope you can give us a new Ben and viki love scene soon!!

<kermit> 

thanks Jill

<lindam> 

I will

<Betsy> 

Will do. With pleasure

<Diane1> 

I am enjoying the show right now

<Dawn> 

we certainly will

<KiraHOST> 

we surly will enjoy it

<Melissa> 

Back just in time to say Thank You for give of your time Jill

<onelifetoliveADM> 

Thanks once again Jill, and have a great rest of the evening!

<Melissa> 

Your shows are always enjoyable to watch

<kermit> 

yes they are

<CabooseHOST> 

Everyone check out Jill's responses at the Ty site too.

<Suzanne> 

Thank you to our hosts as well

<Diane1> 

I will

<lindam> 

Good night and thanks again

<LauraL> 

We'll have more by tomorrow, we think!

<Sue> 

thanks cab and Katherine -- great job!!!

<Pammus> 

Thanks Cab - we're going to be updating more tomorrow!

<onelifetoliveADM> 

The transcript of this chat will be posted shortly as well

<Diane1> 

Thanks Cab and Katherine

<pj> 

Thanks, cab!

<Dawn> 

yes...thanks Cab and Katherine

<vtgrammy> 

Thanks Katherine and Cab...great job!

<Jill> 

Since there's always another show (the blessings of employment!) I'm back to script reading! Thanks for all your compliments and positive comments. Bye for now.

<pj> 

Thanks, Katherine!

<Sheeglah> 

Thanks Cab & Katherine

<JillNotMitwell> 

Bye Jill

<vtgrammy> 

Bye

<LauraL> 

Yes, thanks you two for organizing the chat!

<Renee> 

Thanks Cab and Katharine for organizing this. It was great!

<Diane1> 

Goodnight Jill

<Christina> 

Bye Jill

<Sue> 

good night

<kermit> 

bye'

<Dawn> 

bye Jill

<Lilly> 

Bye

<Renee> 

Bye Jill

<Sheeglah> 

Nite Jill

<LauraL> 

Nite, Jill!

<CabooseHOST> 

Good night Jill

<Melissa> 

Bye Night All

<KiraHOST> 

have a good night everyone, thanks Katherine and Caboose

<Jenna> 

Thanks Cab and Katherine. This was great! :) Stay cool!

<Pammus> 

Good night Jill! Thanks Katherine and Cab!

<JillNotMitwell> 

Great job Cab and Katherine

<Renee> 

Goodnight all!

<onelifetoliveADM> 

Thanks everyone!!

<Sheeglah> 

Nite everyone,

<kermit> 

thanks

<pj> 

Nite, Renee!

<Diane1> 

Nite everyone

<vtgrammy> 

Bye all...thanks again About.com, Katherine and Cab for arranging it.