Eric Szmanda
Eric Szmanda is probably best known for playing CSI : Crime Scene Investigation’s gorgeous geek Greg Sanders, so with season nine of the hit US show available to buy now, I caught up with him for a little chat.
Hi Eric, it’s a pleasure talking to you, thanks for taking the time out to speak to FemaleFirst, how are you?
Doing well, thanks for asking. Sitting in my trailer waiting to begin a full day of shooting in a storm drain.
The new season of CSI : Crime Scene Investigation has just been released on DVD here in the UK, what’s it like having nine series under your belt?
What a long, strange trip it’s been. I know it won’t last forever, so I try to enjoy every moment. Not many shows make it this far, so I feel very fortunate to be part of it.
You’ve been in the show since 2000, what’s kept you there for so long? It is obviously a huge commitment…
It’s a great show to work on, thanks to an amazing crew, cast and writing staff... If I wasn’t enjoying myself, I wouldn’t be doing it. Plus, my character’s gradual evolution from lab tech to CSI level three has kept me interested and challenged on a creative level.
How has the mood been on set with the change of lead character from William Peterson to Laurence Fishburne?
The mood on the set is very good. We are still having fun. We’ve been through a great deal of changes over the last couple seasons, as any show would after 9 years, but we have a job to do and owe it to our fans to give it our all to the very end. Of course, we miss Billy tremendously. When he left, I realized I was on my own, as if my training wheels were taken off my bike.
It was kinda scary at first, but I’m getting more used to it every day. It has taken a long time to adjust to his absence, but I feel like we are finally back on track. While no one will ever replace Billy, Laurence has been a great addition to the cast. He is gracious, kind, funny and professional – which is exactly what we need. And having Jorja Fox back has been awesome.
There’s also a new addition in the form of Riley Adams, played by Lauren Lee Smith. I’m sensing a bit of a love interest between her character and yours, is that something we can be looking forward to seeing?
Greg is immediately drawn to Riley’s boldness and professionalism. And since she is new and hasn’t shot him down yet, he figures he’s got a chance with her.
Aside from romancing his co-workers, what path would you like to see Greg go down in coming seasons?
I’d like to see Greg step into more of an authoritative role. I think Greg would make a great boss to someone… anyone.
What has been your favourite episode to date?
Who Shot Sherlock will always be my favorite episode. Not only does Greg pass his proficiency test, but he really proves himself as a competent CSI. Plus, the episode is shot beautifully and has a style reminiscent of Clue, which happens to be one of my favorite board games.
Have you got a particular favourite scene from the past nine seasons of CSI?
One of my favorite scenes is from Lady Heather’s Box. It takes place in the autopsy room while Grissom rinses the sand off the dead body of a beautiful young woman found in a park. A song by one of my favorite bands, Sigur Ros, plays perfectly as the water reveals bruises all over her skin. The scene is poetic, sad and intimate.
Now, you’re our favourite character in the CSI Vegas series, but if you were watching the show, who do you think you’d like best?
We are an ensemble. I can’t single out one character I like best. You’ll get me in trouble!
From watching all three seasons, I was just wondering if you thought Greg, Danny (NY) and Ryan (Miami)‘s characters were all separated at birth?
There is an undeniable similarity between Greg and Ryan, and I don’t think that’s a coincidence. I can assure you its not genetic.
To move away from CSI for a second, you have appeared in Marilyn Manson's music video for (s)AINT, as the music journalist here, I was just wondering what made you get involved in one of his videos? As a MM fan, I’m going to keep my eyes peeled next time he pops up on MTV!
Manson and I have been friends for several years. He asked me to be in his video and I said yes. All I can say is it was one of the craziest shoots I’ve ever done and it was refreshing to do something way different than CSI.
You support the US campaign for Burma and even travelled over Thailand to see the refuges that have fled the country, what sparked your interest in that particular cause?
A good friend of mine showed me the trailer for a documentary she produced about Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma’s Democratic leader who has been imprisoned by the military junta for 15 of the last 20 years. I was so moved and outraged by what I learned I offered to help however I could.
She introduced me to human rights activist Jack Healy and Jeremy Woodrum from the US Campaign for Burma who invited me to visit the refugee camps in Thailand. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see what few get to witness and share my experience with people back home.
Did you see the film Burma VJ, which highlighted the problem over there?
I have only seen the trailer for Burma VJ, but am very interested to see the film. It looks amazing and I am happy it received an Oscar nomination.
Finally, what else do you have coming up in the near future for all of us Eric Szmanda fans out there?
Currently, I am developing a couple TV series, a screenplay and a rock opera. Also I am the executive director of a digital radio station in the US called erockster, which I run with one of my best friends. We have a production company as well, which up to now has specialized in creating web content. Hopefully I’ll do a movie or a play this hiatus. If not, you can probably find me wandering through the Tate Modern over the summer.
FemaleFirst - Ruth Harrison
Eric Szmanda is probably best known for playing CSI : Crime Scene Investigation’s gorgeous geek Greg Sanders, so with season nine of the hit US show available to buy now, I caught up with him for a little chat.
Hi Eric, it’s a pleasure talking to you, thanks for taking the time out to speak to FemaleFirst, how are you?
Doing well, thanks for asking. Sitting in my trailer waiting to begin a full day of shooting in a storm drain.
The new season of CSI : Crime Scene Investigation has just been released on DVD here in the UK, what’s it like having nine series under your belt?
What a long, strange trip it’s been. I know it won’t last forever, so I try to enjoy every moment. Not many shows make it this far, so I feel very fortunate to be part of it.
You’ve been in the show since 2000, what’s kept you there for so long? It is obviously a huge commitment…
It’s a great show to work on, thanks to an amazing crew, cast and writing staff... If I wasn’t enjoying myself, I wouldn’t be doing it. Plus, my character’s gradual evolution from lab tech to CSI level three has kept me interested and challenged on a creative level.
How has the mood been on set with the change of lead character from William Peterson to Laurence Fishburne?
The mood on the set is very good. We are still having fun. We’ve been through a great deal of changes over the last couple seasons, as any show would after 9 years, but we have a job to do and owe it to our fans to give it our all to the very end. Of course, we miss Billy tremendously. When he left, I realized I was on my own, as if my training wheels were taken off my bike.
It was kinda scary at first, but I’m getting more used to it every day. It has taken a long time to adjust to his absence, but I feel like we are finally back on track. While no one will ever replace Billy, Laurence has been a great addition to the cast. He is gracious, kind, funny and professional – which is exactly what we need. And having Jorja Fox back has been awesome.
There’s also a new addition in the form of Riley Adams, played by Lauren Lee Smith. I’m sensing a bit of a love interest between her character and yours, is that something we can be looking forward to seeing?
Greg is immediately drawn to Riley’s boldness and professionalism. And since she is new and hasn’t shot him down yet, he figures he’s got a chance with her.
Aside from romancing his co-workers, what path would you like to see Greg go down in coming seasons?
I’d like to see Greg step into more of an authoritative role. I think Greg would make a great boss to someone… anyone.
What has been your favourite episode to date?
Who Shot Sherlock will always be my favorite episode. Not only does Greg pass his proficiency test, but he really proves himself as a competent CSI. Plus, the episode is shot beautifully and has a style reminiscent of Clue, which happens to be one of my favorite board games.
Have you got a particular favourite scene from the past nine seasons of CSI?
One of my favorite scenes is from Lady Heather’s Box. It takes place in the autopsy room while Grissom rinses the sand off the dead body of a beautiful young woman found in a park. A song by one of my favorite bands, Sigur Ros, plays perfectly as the water reveals bruises all over her skin. The scene is poetic, sad and intimate.
Now, you’re our favourite character in the CSI Vegas series, but if you were watching the show, who do you think you’d like best?
We are an ensemble. I can’t single out one character I like best. You’ll get me in trouble!
From watching all three seasons, I was just wondering if you thought Greg, Danny (NY) and Ryan (Miami)‘s characters were all separated at birth?