Tuesday, March 15, 2022

My Connection To Murder, She Wrote

Murder, She Wrote was (and still is) one of those television shows in which merely hearing its musical intro, immediately gives me a warm, familiar, and overall happy feeling. It's also one of those shows that makes you want to sit on the sofa, wrapped in a cozy blanket, snuggled next to a lit fireplace, while sipping a cup of herbal tea or a glass of wine, as mystery writer, Jessica Fletcher, skillfully sleuths her way through every murder case that she encounters. 

For the past several weeks I've been binge-watching Murder, She Wrote on, Peacock. I'm about midway through the 4th season and plan on continuing until I finish them all, which will probably take me until 2023 because the show was on for TWELVE seasons (it ran from 1984-1996). And I have to say that I'm actually enjoying the show more now, than I did when it first aired.

Not only was the show cleverly written and presented, but it also starred one my all-time favorite actresses EVER, Angela Lansbury. I adore that woman because her whole body of work is so diverse and scrumptious. She successfully tackled and mastered every medium - movies, television, and theater. And every genre - dramas, comedies, and musicals. Being that I'm a theater lover, I have to say it's her stage roles I get the most excited about. She was born to perform live because she is so charismatic. 

One of the things I really admired about, Murder, She Wrote, is that for being a show whose theme was murder, you see very little (if any) violence. The writers brilliantly captured the suspense and fear, without it ever being brutal.  

The show also included a surplus of legendary Hollywood actors and actresses who made guest appearances; many of whom worked with Angela in the past and were longtime friends. And what I discovered through watching several interviews is that all her guest stars got paid very well for their appearances. Angela believed in sharing her success with everyone in the cast (and crew). She was very generous...

What always appealed to me was the location where much of the series took place, Cabot Cove, Maine...

The white cottage exterior you see in the collage below was where Jessica Fletcher lived. Isn't it charming?...

Watching this show again reminded me of my connection to it. 

My Connection To Murder, She Wrote -

It all began in 1990, when Universal Studios opened in Orlando, Florida and I was cast in one of the attractions. Although Universal Studios is a "theme park", it is also a working studio where various television shows and movies are filmed, which made it kind of exciting to work there. 

About the Attraction: It consisted of four behind-the-scenes segments that I (and other actors/actresses) had to memorize because we would be assigned to different segments throughout the day. The segments were scripted, however, there was a certain amount of improvisation that was required because several segments involved audience participation, therefore you never knew how each audience would react, so every show was a little different. The challenge was keeping your eyes on the clock because each segment was timed.

Murder, She Wrote Mystery Theater

• Originally named “Murder, She Wrote Post Production Theatre” as it focused on the different stages of post-production editing for a television program.

• The show was about the production of a fake episode of Murder, She Wrote titled “The Black Pearl.”

• The first segment of the show would feature an “editor” showing you how cutting shots together differently can change the story.

• The second segment would teach you how “foley” artists record sound effects to match what is happening on screen.

• They would be able to playback the video with new sound added in real time.

• The third segment of the show would teach the audience how ADR, or Automatic Dialog Replacement works.

• In the final segment, the audience would then be able to see the completed sequence with their added sound effects and voice overs.

Below are two photos of Studio 44, where Murder, She Wrote was housed. The guests would enter through a door that led them into the first segment. Then, as each segment concluded, the guests would move to the following segment; going from room to room until all four segments were completed...

This is a photo of the "foley" segment, where I would select guests from the audience and then bring them up onstage to create the various sound effects to match what was happening on the editing screen above. The guests had so much fun. And so did I...

• Unfortunately, the attraction closed in 1996, after Murder She Wrote concluded its 12-season run.

I was only with the show less than a year because I ended up getting more theater opportunities, which is really where my heart was. I will be forever grateful for my time there because not only did a I learn a lot, but it was an honor to be part of the Universal Studios Orlando, Florida opening.

I leave you with the Murder, She Wrote theme song...

Have a faaaaaaabulous week, everyone!💗