Connie Giordano from Mare of Easttown

Connie Giordano – Video Interview

 

[00:00:00] Jeff Haas: hello listeners, a split country today on the show. We had the fantastic Ms. Connie Giordano. I was going ma’am.

Connie Giordano: Hi. How are you today? Very well. How about yourself? All right. Very good. Thank you. Happy to be here.

Jeff Haas: I really appreciate it. And so we’re gonna start off with a question. I ask all my creatives because I always want to know when the bug bit you, when did he know you wanted to be an actor?

Connie Giordano: You know, ever since I was a little kid Jeff, I, I remember my, my parents took my family to see a production of the king and I. In Philadelphia. I was probably about eight or nine years old and I, and Yule Brenner was in it. That’s how old I am. And it was fantastic. And I just remember that I just fell in love with stage.

I think it was pretty much love at first sight.

Jeff Haas: Oh, my mom’s a huge king and I fan, so I am well aware of the, the, the, yeah, it really is a great movie.

Connie Giordano: No, they don’t make them like that anymore. No.

Jeff Haas: You know, there’s very few, I think disgrace theater [00:01:00] pro production that seemed to be out to the brand new and kind of speak to an audience the way that movie did that played.

Connie Giordano: Yeah, it’s true. It’s true. But, you know, hopefully. We’re going to have a new generation of, of performers and writers coming up behind me that are gonna put new stuff on the map. Right.

Jeff Haas: Exactly. And so when, when you first talked about acting, was it always on the stage or did you immediately think as well as TV and movies as well?

Connie Giordano: Well, I think I had that I think I had, I think every actor has that dream of being a movie star or whatever, you know, they see, you know, I’ve, I’ve watched star wars about 7,000 times and was in love with Han solo. And I was like, I wanted to be princess, you know, I think everybody, I think that happens to a lot of actors, but I started on stage.

My training’s in stage. It’s where, it’s where my it’s my stress. It’s it’s a, it’s where I’ve been for a long time. It really, I, I believe it’s, it’s how it’s [00:02:00] allowed me to hone my craft a lot. So, I definitely started there and I think those stages, my roots, but I now really want to explore television and film more, especially since it’s become such a popular medium, you know, especially TV.

Jeff Haas: Hmm. So when did you decide to attend the city university of New York?

Connie Giordano: I was in New York for 10 years. And towards the last couple of years there, I started thinking about school. I had one of those kind of aha moments with a, an audition that I, for a Broadway show that I did not get. And so I kind of had it kind of felt like I, it was a turning point for me.

I was of course devastated because I didn’t get the role which happens, you know, 99% of the time. But. I, I just, I kind of had a, it was like a pivotal moment for me. I had to decide, do I want to pursue something else? Or am I in this for the long haul? And I decided that I was in it for life. So I went back to school.

To really get all the training I [00:03:00] could possibly need, you know? And, and I thought if I decided to teach someday, I would like to have the the master’s degree to allow me to do that.

Jeff Haas: So, as, as, as an, as an actor, do you think that those who are successful in acting a lot has to do with how you handle failure?

Would you say the acting because it is. So many rehearsals, so many additions that it is in many ways, sort of like almost like baseball, where you fail way more than you succeed.

Connie Giordano: Absolutely. Jeff. Absolutely. You, you have to be willing to hear now a lot. And I think th th there really is no overnight success in this business, so you have to have the tenacity to stick with it, you know, and sometimes that means five years.

Sometimes that means 30 years. You know, or longer it, but I do think that that’s what an actor needs, probably more than anything else in their toolbox, you know, probably more than the skills and the talent and the luck and the [00:04:00] connections and all of that. If you’re not it, you know, if you don’t have that endurance and that that’s an acidy to keep going, it will it, it can defeat you.

You know, I really

Jeff Haas: do see parallels between acting and sports. The approach, because like I said once again, my favorite sport is baseball. I’m an old school baseball fan, and I think there’s so many players as, you know, some get into the majors at 19. So making it when they’re 30 and it doesn’t matter when you do it, as long as you finally get there.

Connie Giordano: That’s right. I know it’s cliche, but it’s all about the journey, man. It’s really

Jeff Haas: true. You a hundred percent. And, and I think just the tenacity it takes to do it says a lot about the individuals who are trying.

Connie Giordano: Yes. Yeah, you have to be persistent. You just can’t ever give up. It’s just, that’s what it comes down to in my humble opinion.

Jeff Haas: So what kind of skills do you think you acquire by going to the university to become an actor versus [00:05:00] those who may be trying to get just through experience alone?

Connie Giordano: You know, I think you need both Jeff, you know, I mean, you know, different career path, like, you know, medicine and, you know, a doctor does not go and perform surgery on their second day of med school.

Right. So he needs the experience, but he also needs the training. That’s required to learn the skills and the techniques and the education to, to constantly improve his craft. Right. It’s it’s the same thing. I do think you need both I, I started, I started on the performance side. I th I think you could really say, because I, you know, I was a little kid and I was in school and I did school plays and all that, but I didn’t have it as a real acting class until I was in college.

So, so, you know, I think you need both I think they’re both vital. I think one gives you confidence. To to, to pursue the other now. So the master’s degree gave me the confidence to pursue these roles that, you know, [00:06:00] I’ve been fortunate enough to have that have come my way lately. And you know, I feel very blessed about that.

Jeff Haas: W w would you say that the other people you performed with, did you find you guys that you are more, or as, as a, as a whole more supportive or kind of, or competitive with each other? Cause you’re honestly all, eventually you’re gonna pursue a similar career. Do you, would you, would you be more supportive?

Do you think each other there was more of a competitive spirit within the university.

Connie Giordano: You know, overall I think it’s it’s a, it’s a supportive environment, at least, at least in my world. I it’s so important to support each other. And it’s, it’s diff it’s difficult, Jeff for actors to provide opportunities for other actors, but they like, you know, it’s very aware that one actor.

We’ll pitch another actor for some film, you know, it’s very aware. I mean, we’ve, we’ve heard the heard story about how Patrick Swayze got advocated for Whoopi Goldberg to be casting. But that never happened. And that’s why it was so rare and so wonderful [00:07:00] for any actor to get me a role ever. But you have to let you support each other.

I, you know, I, I try to encourage people when it comes to introducing someone for an industry professional or, or recommend them, or tell them, go to this theater because there’s a play that you could be in, you know, that, that that’s such a cultivating spirit that I think we need. Cause you know what, there really is something in this for everyone.

You know, and everybody can find their way and their niche as long as they have that tenacity that we talked about. So I, I just, I think it’s vital to, to be supportive of each other. I have, of course experienced the competition as well. I mean, I’ve had, I’ve met actors who would, you know, step on my dead body.

Nope, no question about it, but You know, performers are, I think overall performers are very happy people because they’re pursuing their passion. And so they try to, I think they, they tend to be a positive. To be positive [00:08:00] people in general.

Jeff Haas: And I would imagine acting is I mean me just from the outsider perspective and honestly I’m way on the outside.

It’s such a, it sounds like such a, it’s such a small community that I imagine if you are one of those people who do step on others, it must come back around to those people. Eventually.

Connie Giordano: Yeah, I, I think that’s true. You know, it is a small, it is a small world and you know, you don’t want to burn bridges and you want to be placental work with, I mean, that’s really important, especially you know, working with people, you know, you don’t, it’s no fun having to be tied to someone for six months or a year, year and a half.

I mean, we’re doing mayor for like almost a year and a half. If you’re, if you’re not fun to work with or enjoyable and place.

It’s very rare. It’s rare. At least in my, at least in my experience, you know, people, people that aren’t, aren’t enjoyable to work with don’t don’t last well,

Jeff Haas: well, I read that one of your special skills is creating [00:09:00] dialects or matching dialects. Is that correct?

Connie Giordano: From school and some of the roles I’ve played over the years, I’ve, I’ve had to do a variety of accents and, and learn different dialects.

Yeah. In fact, Premera the stand. I didn’t have to learn anything because we were filming the stories takes place in my backyard. So it’s the first time I, or one of the first jobs that I haven’t had to learn a dialect. I’d like to think. As far as,

Jeff Haas: oh, I’m definitely going to marry. You said that that was a fun.

That’s a such a phenomenal TV show. Yeah.

Connie Giordano: Oh, good. I’m glad you enjoyed it.

Jeff Haas: Oh, I definitely me and my wife, me and my wife binge through the entire Sierra series in about, I think on the first day, I think the day one we did it.

Connie Giordano: Yeah. Good for you.

Jeff Haas: So prior to being a mayor of Esau, you were, you did a lot of stage work, a lot of theater.

So are the skills and acting in theater, the [00:10:00] same enacting acting on television or on film

Connie Giordano: the same, like basic tenets apply. But they are two very different animals and you have to, and that’s how I, what I feel right now that I’m, that’s the skill that I’m honing right now is acting for camera. Because yeah, like you said, I mean, I, I am very comfortable on stage and like I said, that’s my training.

That’s my roots and stage tends to be much bigger in terms of performing in terms of performance, as opposed to camera, because probably this reasons, you know, when you’re on a stage and you got you’re in a 500 seat theater, you have to, you have to be heard and be able to evoke emotion from someone in the back.

As opposed to on camera where it’s, it’s very much quite the opposite where, you know, you’re in front of this tiny little glass lens, but it picks up everything, you know, it doesn’t miss a thing. So it’s almost the opposite where everything on stage is external. When you’re working in film, a lot of, [00:11:00] a lot of that work becomes internal and it’s up to the actor to connect with their partner.

In a way that the camera will pick up on it, but it’s, but it’s also authentic. So it’s, it’s challenging. I hope that makes sense here because it is challenging.

Jeff Haas: It definitely does make sense. I mean, I can, I can only imagine the difference. And now, I mean, your movements alone, I mean, for theater, I guess you have to be a little proud to be way more dramatic because once again, you have to be seen by everybody and film you’re you’re right there.

Connie Giordano: You have to be bigger, you have to be louder. You know, you have to even simple things like enunciating and all that, you know, that’s all in stage. That’s very outward and external, you know, and then it’s quite the opposite with film.

Jeff Haas: So it stays up that you’re eventually going to return to, or you’re gonna keep with just focus on fulfillment with TV right now.

Connie Giordano: Oh, I hope so. You know, I mean, I still have the Broadway dream. I’ve only I’ve made it to off progress, not Broadway. So I still have that dream. To perform on Broadway. You know, for me, it’s, it’s really [00:12:00] not even about the medium depth. It’s about the story and the opportunity that comes your way. So that, you know, it, it’s more about, you know, wow, this is a great role rather than it’s on TV versus state.

You know, that that’s, that’s what it comes down to most of the time, most of the time, you know, but, but yeah, I fully intend to, to stick with, with stage and, and, and pursue television and film, which is what’s cool. What’s one of the cool things about performing is you can, you know, change venues and all that.

When, when you’re, when you’re blessed enough to have the opportunity.

Jeff Haas: So, so how did the, your role on mayor of Eastern come about?

Connie Giordano: I I auditioned for it through my agent in Philadelphia and the past they cast out of Philadelphia New York and Los Angeles. So, I auditioned for it back in early, early fall of 2019.

And Fortunate enough to be cast. It was as simple as that. I, I didn’t hear, I didn’t hear back for weeks, so I actually didn’t think I got [00:13:00] it. And kind of moved on, which is kind of what you have to do to stay sane. And I, and I got a call. I was literally on my way to one of those survival jobs at seven o’clock in the morning and my car sitting in rush hour traffic.

And I get an email from my agent and I said, you know, congratulations, et cetera, et cetera. Of course, I started screaming my head off in the car.

That’s how it happened.

Jeff Haas: Normal for such a, a long span between the audition and getting the role is that how

Connie Giordano: Hollywood works, you know, it’s different all the time. So he just asked me that yesterday. No, I have waited a week. I waited a day. I waited half I’ve found that I’ve been cast, right. The same in the same session, you know, or.

Stick around for another hour, but sometimes it can take weeks like this, this took weeks, weeks for me to hear. And that’s just it, you know, it’s just, it’s just the nature of the beast. It really just depends on the project. So it’s literally like that cliche of waiting by the phone thing. [00:14:00] So

Jeff Haas: how does one get into the, the actor mindset of just kind of like me after you’re performing you’re you’re waiting on the additional, you’re also performing potentially going for another audition.

Seems like a lot too. I think they just psychologically a lot to take in having to wait on these roles like that. And you know, and that moment of success or the moment of failure and not, not knowing for spans of time.

Connie Giordano: It’s true. And you know, you just get used to it, Jeff. I mean, it’s so funny because sometimes, you know, thankfully the auditioning world is just opening up again and with COVID things were so slow for so long and I mean, I’m just now starting to see.

Was additions really pick up, which I’m thrilled about. Sometimes you’re like, you know, I could have like a commercial audition in the morning and then like, you know, an audition in the afternoon where I have to play, you know, like a cancer patient or whatever, you know, something very heavy and dramatic.

You do have to learn how to switch gears, but you know, like anything, you just get used to it. And the more you do it, the better you get [00:15:00] at. So that you kind of have to accept that it’s like that. So, so

Jeff Haas: was mayor of eastbound film during COVID or before or

Connie Giordano: before? So we started in 2019 in the fall of 2019 and then made it all the way through to March of 2020.

And then they shut down from COVID for about a little less than six months. So we picked back up again in I think it was about October of 2020. September October of 20, 20, something like that. So then we finished by the end of the year.

Jeff Haas: So, so you didn’t have to work for at least for a little while under COVID protocols?

I would, I would imagine. Yeah.

Connie Giordano: Yes. And they were wonderful about that. I mean, HBO, they were really on top of it know, like I had to quarantine for three days before going back to the set and that was, that was standard. They were, they were really on top of all of, all of it. And, you know, I don’t think there was any.

At least not, not that I [00:16:00] noticed, there wasn’t any fear on the set that, you know, everything was, was run very well.

Jeff Haas: So, so prior to you actually filming mere V sound, what, what did they tell you about the the show and what did you know about it? But prior to receiving the role.

Connie Giordano: All I knew was that it was an HBO series.

I didn’t know anything about the cast. I didn’t know anything about Kate Winslet. I just knew it was filming in our area and that it was HBO. That’s, that’s really all I knew. And of course it’s, as soon as I found out I was delighted. But you know, all, basically all I had was a couple scenes deaf that they gave me to work on.

That that’s pretty much the norm. Like, you know, you, you typically. Don’t get the backstory, you know, you don’t, especially if it’s something new, you know, of course, if I had an audition for law and order, I would know, you know, being able to easily access what that means, you know, what to expect and what they expect, that, all that in terms of character and acting and all that.

But yeah, for this one, that’s pretty much all I. [00:17:00] Was that it was a, it was a series that it was for HBO and it was filming in the Philadelphia area.

Jeff Haas: Well, that says a lot just on his own. I mean, HBO has a it’s so prestigious, they’re a series on those shows. I mean, they’re just the name of HBO series carries a lot of weight with it.

Connie Giordano: Yes. That’s all I needed to hear. Some of my absolute favorite shows of all time have come from HBO. So yeah, I’ve always been very. Very impressed with their, their body of work. I

Jeff Haas: also, I find that a lot of HBO series, they just feel like instead of. Maybe a regular series, they will stay late just long form films on some level.

I mean,

Connie Giordano: yeah. Yes. I, you know what, I, you know what, it’s funny, it took me back to the I’m dating myself here, but that’s the mini series and this show, I mean, I know we’ve all been watching, you know, Netflix and all that for a few years now. So we’re all used to these seasons, right? With like seven or eight episodes.

And sometimes you binge watch it, or sometimes it’s game of Thrones. You [00:18:00] had to wait, you know, but I love, I, I deliberate. I had HBO, right. So I deliberately did not binge watch it from the app because I want. I just love waiting every week. And I would have some of the episodes I would have friends over, and this was a 10 o’clock at night, on a Sunday.

I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t be in bed,

but it was so much fun, like waiting every week and the anticipation and, and my gosh, the messages I would get every week, you know, I got daily text messages and social media stuff. I think I heard that. And it was really, it had to do it. It was fun. You know, it was kind of like waiting for star wars again or something.

I don’t know. I keep referencing

Jeff Haas: star wars because it’s fantastic. So ours is absolutely the original trilogy is absolutely amazing. Hey

Connie Giordano: man, there you go. What a man after my own

Jeff Haas: heart, you’re definitely on a nerd podcast. So anytime [00:19:00] the name of star wars go right ahead.

Connie Giordano: I’m right there. Well,

Jeff Haas: I will say me and my, me, me, me, me and my wife.

Will you watch me or Easter? We spent so much time. Just debating who it was like in during episodes. Unfortunately, even during the episode was Ronnie where like, it was him, it’s him. It’s gotta be him. It’s like, Nope.

Connie Giordano: Yeah. Which was what was cool about it. Right. There was so many twists and turns in the plight.

You didn’t know, you didn’t know whether you were coming or going. I love that about it.

Jeff Haas: Yeah, I think, I think it was terrific. I mean, they did such a good job of modeling the characters as well and creating a real feel for east town, which I will admit. I did not know it existed until the show came out, but, but there’s a real place.

Connie Giordano: It was, and I think Brad, Brad, Inglesby the writer so talented. He really, I think he really captured the sense of community of of this area, you know, he, he, his story focused on the [00:20:00] not so great part of Delaware county, but Delaware county is an enormous county around the Philadelphia area and the Philadelphia suburbs.

You know, some of the towns in Delaware county are quite affluent, but Brad decided to focus on the not so affluent part of Delco. And I think he captured it really well. I mean, between him and Craig double, the director would sit the, the the cinematography, like, you know, the different shots of the different neighborhoods and all that, and the way they dressed and the way they talk, of course, with the dialect and the constant reference to Wawa kinda led together and work.

Jeff Haas: So you did it. So you grew up not too far from the real east end of that.

Connie Giordano: That’s correct? Yes. I, I grew up in valley forge, but I actually, which is in Montgomery county right next to Delaware county, but I actually was born and raised in Delaware county until I was six years old and my family moved, but I still have family in Delaware county.

And it’s like I said, it’s a pretty large area of the Philadelphia suburbs and [00:21:00] it includes a lot of small towns, but yeah, it’s basically my backyard.

Jeff Haas: In watching east sound does. So it does look and feel like the real east town, the, the, the actual one.

Connie Giordano: It did. Yeah, it did. It did. A lot of where the fulfillment takes place is a bunch of different areas in the, in Delaware county, but kind of focused on upper Darby.

What the heck Springfield and media, Pennsylvania, they are all like fairly close to Philadelphia. And yeah, I mean, it really, it really looks like that

Jeff Haas: to, to work so close to where you live. I mean, I assume. Hollywood is an easy commute,

Connie Giordano: great

Jeff Haas: films. I mean, it must be unusual to have things filmed in that area.

Connie Giordano: Never happened. Never happens. Philadelphia is definitely. In the last, I’d say 10 years. Uh we’ve we’ve been fortunate to have a [00:22:00] lot of film production go on here now and television, because we built a very large studio down in AF in PA, which is in Delaware county. But also the Philadelphia film office offers incentive for productions for, for producers to come here, they offer some wonderful tax credits.

So that’s, that’s a great lore and it’s, it’s smart. So, you know, filmmakers are learning that they don’t have to be in Hollywood. Can make a movie.

Jeff Haas: Yeah. I live in Rhode Island and for a little while we were, we were doing pretty well in the film industry. When they started, we start getting some projects, I guess they were getting tax breaks to, to do it.

And for awhile it was really cool. They had I think mutual Blackwood shot here during that period of time and a few other of, of, yeah. And then the inside and the tax credit. And we never got anything else ever again.

Connie Giordano: Yeah. Well, hopefully right. Hopefully. These government officials are going to catch on, right?

If you want to it’s revenue for your city. So I mean, why not? [00:23:00] It doesn’t make sense. And yeah. And the Philadelphia actors are thrilled.

Jeff Haas: Believe me. Oh, I can only imagine. I mean, I imagine the scale of  was pretty huge. I mean, I, it had, I mean, it wasn’t a massive cast, but I imagine that those around the film, it must’ve been so many people involved.

Connie Giordano: Absolutely. Several different production companies and tons of extras and tons of local actors and all that. So yeah, it wasn’t pretty big, pretty big production.

Jeff Haas: I mean, just the idea that they shot at east town enact the actual east town. Wasn’t giving the show so much character. Cause when I was watching mayor B’s town, it felt almost like the town itself was his own character.

Connie Giordano: I agree with you. Yeah. I I’ve heard that from other people too, like, and again, to me, that’s great writing and great directing. You really had a sense of what this area is like, what, how people relate to each other with a close knit community. It is how there’s this [00:24:00] rough exterior, but once you’re in you’re in for life, I mean, I’ve had people tell me that, that have moved to this area.

I have some friends. One, the husband is from Texas. So the wife was from Oklahoma and they moved here over 20 years ago and they told me once, years ago, I’ll never forget it. They said, Connie took us 10 years to make friends here. And these are some lovely people. They said, you know, like Northeast centers have this kind of rough exterior, but what, and they’re kind of closed off to newcomers, but once you’re in your end and that’s very much done.

Jeff Haas: And the other thing I thought was funny was on EastEnders that my wife commented on it, that it seems like so many of the characters on the show are related to each other. Everyone’s a cousin of a cousin that, yeah.

Connie Giordano: Well, it’s funny. I was at a cousin reunion just about a month ago and that’s the first thing they all said.

you know, it’s a tight [00:25:00] knit community. It is. That’s the charm of it. But yeah, I mean, I’d like to think we’re not all related.

Okay. It was a close knit community. It is. And it’s impressive considering that it’s a, it’s a rather large community too. I mean, we’re not talking about a little teeny tiny town here,

Jeff Haas: right. Because like on each house I was thinking it was a small town, but it is a it’s huge.

Connie Giordano: Well, I mean, it’s funny because, so you, you say Eastern is a real town now.

I mean, I I’ve heard that. Yeah. It I, I, I it’s terrible. I have to do my homework again, I suppose, because I know west town, which is very close to me, but east eastbound isn’t near me at all. So I don’t even know where that really is. I mean, I, I know I looked on a map two years ago, but in terms of like, nobody I know is from eastbound, you know, I think, I think what Brad did was kind of combined different towns and kind of make it into a.

Fictitional town, but yeah, I mean, you’re right. I think there is an actual east down and I know there is a less down, [00:26:00] but I think the story it’s definitely filmed in a lot of different locations that, that wasn’t all in one area. You know, we were up in Bethlehem. We, the the set where her home was filmed was in Aston PA.

We were in media a lot, the places, the restaurant where my character’s family owns a restaurant, the restaurant that my character’s family. Was in another part of Delaware county. So, I mean, we were all over the place. It’s, it’s a, it’s a big area that we cover.

Jeff Haas: And I mean, the show really is fantastic when the you had this fantastic powerful scene alongside Kane, Wisla a Winslow within the restaurant when your fictional daughter is being arrested.

Yeah. Now w what was that experience like to get, you know, that, that the power of that scene the interacting with all the other actors in that moment, what was that like?

Connie Giordano: It was wonderful. I mean, it was a, it was a very long day. I remember because there’s, you know, the more people that are involved the longer a scene will take the film.

It w it was, it was great. I mean, it was a tense. I do remember towards the end of [00:27:00] it, that’s towards the end of the scene. I did find myself saying I’m channeling my mother. Cause I take that and my daughter

and I was like, oh my God, that’s my mother.

It was cool. It was a, you know, the cast are wonderful and they’re really terrific working with such strong actors and.

Now,

Jeff Haas: now the actor, the actor who played your daughter is McKenzie Lansing, is that correct? Yes. Yes.

Connie Giordano: So,

Jeff Haas: yeah. So, so what was that transition like? And the one thing I, I felt I wish it was in the series was some idea of that family life. Prior to that moment, like some more interaction with, within the family.

Do you kinda wish you had more scenes with Mackenzie Lansing leading into that moment?

Connie Giordano: Well, that sounds like a great opportunity for another stuff. Yeah.

[00:28:00] That works for me. Can you let them know? I certainly

Jeff Haas: know if they’re, if they’re listening that there’s always a spin off.

Connie Giordano: My friends have joked with me about that. Like, we want to see more Patty what goes on in that restaurant.

Jeff Haas: Cause, cause I must say that the, the character that McKenzie Lansing plage, she’s kind of, she’s kind of rough.

I mean, what, what was her parents

Connie Giordano: like? Mike? I know, I know. Believe me. I’ve thought about it. I’d love to explore it. I mean, and Mackenzie of course is absolute sweetheart. Real life is nothing like that character at all, which makes it even more interesting to see where we could go.

Jeff Haas: Now, was there a discussion between at all you Mackenzie and the gentleman played the husband and trying to kind of create a kind of a story for yourself.

So kind of just figure out the relationships there.

Connie Giordano: Yeah, I mean, on our first day on the set, we actually had like a table read. We didn’t actually do any filming and we all talked about our, our characters and that’s kind of typical, you know, if you, if you have the luxury of [00:29:00] that time, you know, you kind of try to get before you start filming, you try to get together.

Get to know each other a little bit rehearsed a little bit. Yeah. Sit around and the tea and do a table read and read the scenes together and talk about the story and, and talk about the, the director will share his vision. And so, yeah, we did have an opportunity to do that a little bit in the beginning, which was nice.

And it’s, you know, it’s a great way to, to get to know your fellow actors and bond a little bit.

Jeff Haas: Can, can you share it all the fictional backstory you created for the character that made up that don’t, that doesn’t show up on the screen that you may have discussed a little.

Connie Giordano: You mean my

Jeff Haas: character. Yeah.

Your character. And like the kind of like the cause sometimes, you know, like you said, create it like a little by story for yourself and try to, and actually that wasn’t on the film or toll, but something you kind of did for yourself to try and make it to get the better.

Connie Giordano: Authentic. Sure. Yeah. Well, so most funny Jeff is that there’s a lot of, lot of details about my character that are similar to me.

[00:30:00] I am from an Italian family. We didn’t own a restaurant, but I worked in so many restaurants as an actor. I can’t even think of them all anymore. For many, many years, waitress to the bartender, you know, all of that stuff on the first day, on our first day of filming the first day. We were in the restaurant, in the Del Raso restaurant.

And I thought, first thing I did is I walked in, I got overwhelmed with all these memories of working in the restaurants when I was younger and the smells from the kitchen. And then I said, it’s just, I came full circle, you know? And so it’s funny. Well, for me, So easily in my day, they don’t offer it so easily, but there was a lot my character and I share a lot of common characteristics.

I love to cook. I make my own gravy every, every summer with the tomatoes that are coming in right now from Lancaster. And like, they’re all, those are all the things in my own personal life that I like. That I’ve found that I bring [00:31:00] to building this character, if this was not that much of a stretch for me.

And what I knew about her from the script, which actually not all of that, made it into the show added to it as well. Like my character was, was when I auditioned for was The character description when she was a nurse. So, you know, that was when I went to audition the day before, and I was deciding what to wear and I went, and this sounds silly, but it’s true.

I went to get my nails done and I remember telling the guy, well, I’m going for a nurse. And he’s like, well, then you can’t have Polish on your nails like that. Yeah. And you know, I, and it’s funny because he hasn’t been back to that salon. So I really want to go back and tell them guys. Sure. But you know, so little things like that, you try to find that make that make you make the role fit better on you.

You know, it’s like a glove and you want it to sit right. Or, you know, or a sweater that fits just right. And you do what you can to make sure it [00:32:00] fits.

Jeff Haas: Drop this question real quick. As a Rhode Islander, you’re making gravy with tomatoes.

Connie Giordano: Yes. I know this is, this is the Italian in my migrant. My grandmother was an immigrant from Italy.

I mean, w when I w I was conditioned as a kid, every September, you know, my grandmother was flashy at all the grandchildren. Like we were, it was like an assembly line in her kitchen, and we would. She would can tomatoes for gravy, a lot. Most people call it sauce, but when you’re in your grandmothers and immigrants from Italy, you call it gravy.

Jeff Haas: I, I imagine that like 90% of our listeners were like, I think she needs. I think, I think she means something

Connie Giordano: it’s hard for me to say that I’m just conditioned that way now.

Jeff Haas: Well, I mean, I think you guys just did a fantastic job with McKenzie Lansing. Who’s going to be on the show. I think in a few weeks, great to get some perspective. So. Once again that I think it was just a [00:33:00] very interesting family unit. I would love to, I really would love to learn more about the backstory of these cards.

Cause like I said, that she’s that character, the, the daughter, it seemed like she went through a lot, but you guys seem so nice.

Connie Giordano: Yeah. Yeah. Oh, she’s lovely. And yeah. And she did a wonderful job in the role as well. And I’m with you, Jeff. I’d like to explore the dynamic of the Delroy. That sounds like a good sequel.

Jeff Haas: Was there any discussion of a second season? I mean, is it, is it a season? It would be a sequel. I don’t know how they would frame

Connie Giordano: it. It, you know, so it was presented as a limited series. I have been asked endless times if it’s, if they’re going to continue with it, I’ve heard rumors, Jeff, I, as of now, I don’t know of anything.

And if there was something to come along, I’m sure it would take Brad the writer some time, of course, because if he’s going to do it, he’s going to do it right. But I have heard that there’s an interest in that, but I, I certainly can’t confirm anything.

Jeff Haas: I mean, the show is so successful. I mean, not only is it successful with critics, but the fan base was the fan [00:34:00] boat.

The audience was very taken away by the series. I mean, are you, are you surprised as to how, just how successfully.

Connie Giordano: When I, when I read the script, I knew it was going to be good. I was like, you know, so over the moon, because I just thought the writing was amazing. Cause he, he just wrote the characters with so many layers.

I knew that it was going to be a hit. I didn’t know how much of it, you know what I mean? I just found out we what we received 16 Emmy nominations. I mean, that’s just thrilling. I understand. There’s several like a mirror of east town, Facebook pages and stuff like people. Yeah. People I’ve gotten really into it, that thrill, you know, to me, that means that he wrote so well that people could relate to it, you know, and I wanted more and they wanted to talk about it.

I mean, it’s true. I have heard, you know, I turned on the radio. I still, I still hear people mentioning it. It’s it’s a riot, how much it resonated. I’m thrilled about that. You know, to me, that’s just a sign of great writing and great directing and acting. I

[00:35:00] Jeff Haas: hope most, certainly most certainly the acting was.

I, like I said it, I mean, all the character that you kind of, you very quickly forgot that you watching actors act it became is you’re very, you get drawn to the characters and they feel so real and tangible almost immediately. I mean, by the end of the first episode, each one feels. Legitimately like real people in your

Connie Giordano: mind.

Yeah. And I mean it’s, and, and when, when you, when you’re watching Kate Winslet that we all know so well, and you forget that you’re watching, you know, rose from Titanic that’s to me, that’s just a Testament to her talent, you know, I thought she was, I thought she was fantastic and did an incredible job.

And so yeah. You know, great writing, great acting and yes. You know, it ended up being this, this amazing amazing story. And I’m, I’m absolutely thrilled about

Jeff Haas: that. And you’re acting as well. I mean, Lisa, you did a phenomenal job. Like I said, I, it just, everything just felt genuine, which is hard to do in, you know, in the world of fiction makes something feel [00:36:00] legit

Connie Giordano: and genuine.

Right. I agree. I agree. And thank you for that. I appreciate

Jeff Haas: that. Definitely. My pleasure. Thank you for putting on a great show. Well, was, was there one moment that you, when you realized that it was going to be so big?

Connie Giordano: Yeah, I think it’s so hard. Cause I don’t want to give anything away. There were a few particular scenes that so I can’t say it because I can’t ruin it, but there was a couple of scenes that I read with her with, with the mayors family.

Try to be as subtle as I can that I knew it was just so moving and emotional. And then of course the intrigue of this murder on top of it, I just, you know, and I, and the fact that you, every episode that I would read, I thought I knew what was happening and I was dead wrong. I knew that’s what I really do because you know, it’s life is, doesn’t have that many surprises anymore.

And so to be surprised with a story [00:37:00] like this I just, I knew from there that it was going to be a success because it’s just hard. I think it’s hard to write mystery, to keep people guessing. I think it’s very difficult. So

Jeff Haas: I agree with you. I’m saying, cause you’re stuck with two ops too often, two possibilities, which is the most common one, too easy to solve.

Everyone figured it out. Or two, it comes from so far into right. Fear that Newman bites the reveal, but Marisa. Did it, so it neither was one of those things and felt like Jim, when you fall down, you’re like, ah, that does make all that doesn’t make complete sense

Connie Giordano: now. Yes. Yes. I agree. You’re right. You’re right.

And that’s a, that’s a, a rare gem to find. So,

Jeff Haas: so what are you working on now?

Connie Giordano: So, I’m auditioning like, like I said before the world, thankfully, the acting world is just now opening up. So, you know, God willing, I get to announce something fun soon. I am not able to reveal anything yet, but as soon as I do, as soon as I am, I’m thrilled to [00:38:00] submit, to make some announcements, you know, and we’ll see, we’ll see what.

Jeff Haas: Well, every time you’re in time, you’re ready to make an announcement. You have a platform on spoiler country. Thank you so much for joining me. You’re you’re you’re

Connie Giordano: was so much fun. I appreciate it.

Jeff Haas: You as well, have a fin have a fantastic night. And like I said, we’ll come back anytime.

Connie Giordano: Thank you, Jeff.

Thanks so much.