Michael Chiklis, best known for his role in “The Shield”, recently directed two episodes of Fox’s anthology series “Accused” after playing the lead in the pilot episode. In an interview with Deadline, Chiklis discussed working on the episodes “Scott’s Story” and “Jack’s Story”, which both tackle sensitive and controversial issues in America. Chiklis admitted to feeling both attracted and trepidatious to the subject matter. He believed that handling the topics with tremendous humanity, empathy, and respect was crucial. Chiklis praised the writing team for their fantastic work, especially Howard Gordon, the creator of the show. He was blown away by the pilot episode, which tackled the issue of mental illness and the risks posed by people who believe they have found a cause worth fighting for. Chiklis explained that he loved storytelling that entertained and made people think and feel. He believed that being moved by a story was more important than benignly watching it.
Chiklis expressed his passion for both episodes and praised the world-class crew. He shared that he had asked Gordon to direct “Jack’s Story” himself but was instead handed the script the next day. Chiklis found it to be both nerve-wracking and exciting to take on the project. Gordon wasn’t interested in taking a political stance but wanted to ask questions about what happens when the government becomes involved in personal matters. Chiklis was thrilled by the performances he got out of the cast and believed that directing was something he was going to do a lot more of in the future. He wanted to bring his 35 years of experience in film and television and an additional 10 years in theater to bear as a director.
The Importance of Nuance
Chiklis emphasized the importance of being communicative as a director and listening to the actors and actresses. He focused on the complex questions the show was taking on and believed that one of the real tragedies of what’s happening in America is the death of nuance. He explained that things get very complicated in life and aren’t so easily explained away or dismissed. Chiklis appreciated that there was very little action in both episodes but that there was a lot of tension throughout. He found it to be a joy to work on something smart, thoughtful, and nuanced.
Chiklis shared his thoughts on both episodes and how they affected him. He found it horrific to put himself in the position of a father who had to contemplate taking his own child’s life to save others. He appreciated “Jack’s Story” for its fascinating questions and wanted to ensure that the chemistry between the two leads was there. Chiklis believed that public schools in America should introduce philosophy and ethics in seventh grade. He saw it as a way to break down barriers between people and help them understand each other better. He believed that people around the world were essentially the same, and the only way to communicate and walk a mile in each other’s shoes was through storytelling.
Michael Chiklis found directing to be a natural progression from acting and was thrilled to work on Fox’s “Accused”. He believed that handling sensitive topics with nuance and empathy was crucial and praised the writing team for their fantastic work. Chiklis hoped that the show would encourage people to understand each other better and appreciate the complexity of life’s questions.