![]() ![]() “I love to see what real human behavior looks like,” said Shearer. Shearer talks of the weird, candid, and unscripted human behavior that is an inspiration for his comedy. “I have a television project which is a – to use a Trump word, a Trump phrase – ‘would incredibly revolutionize television sketch comedy’,” he said in an unsolicited imitation of the Republican presidential candidate’s voice. And he’s no less ambitious about forthcoming work. Aside from documentaries, Shearer’s projects have ranged from viral videos featuring Dan Rather to skits on his YouTube channel to a weekly public radio program, Le Show. ![]() His work with the BBC marks his second documentary on the subject in 10 years. He bought a home in New Orleans just one year after hurricane Katrina devastated the city. Shearer grew up in Los Angeles, working as a child actor. “I wanted what we’ve always had: the freedom to do other work,” Shearer tweeted. Shearer is contractually prevented from talking specifics of the negotiations, but at the time the conflict took place, he said it arose when producers didn’t realise the importance of those projects to the actor. “If you give the audience a bunch of different things, then you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the reasons. “The real danger to me in working in this business is if you become tired of or contemptuous of the audience, it shows,” said Shearer, who explained his desire to not become bound to only one role. ( Producers said they were befuddled, and that he’d always been able to pursue those projects.) The deal he negotiated reportedly nets him $300,000 an episode, but the actor said the disagreement centred on creative freedom – specifically, his ability to develop outside work. At first, many assumed that Shearer was asking for more cash. Shearer announced to fans that he’d quit almost two months before he and the show’s producers reached an agreement. He hosts a weekly radio show, works on sketch comedy, keeps an eye on politicians and talking heads and often voices his opinion on his adopted home of New Orleans as it rebuilds. Shearer has created a universe of side projects, works he has fought to pursue parallel to his career voicing 21 characters in the fictional town of Springfield. It’s just one of several projects the actor has taken on outside The Simpsons, creating the juggling act between two sides of his professional life that almost caused a rupture in the long-running show. This month the venerated American actor will host a BBC radio documentary to mark the levee-break that devastated New Orleans following hurricane Katrina. The real danger to me in working in this business is if you become tired of or contemptuous of the audience – it shows Harry Shearer “There were real issues that had to be resolved and they were,” Shearer added. He and attorneys for The Simpsons tweeted back and forth about contract negotiations for days the parties reached an agreement two months later. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |