Krista returns with answers to your questions...

As promised, here are the first five questions answered. And, because I have a boatload of work to do and am not in the mood to do any of it, I answered a few more of the frequently asked questions. Enjoy!

Who is your favorite Greys character and why?

Hmm. I don’t know. I think I would have to say that George is the person who reminds me most of the people I choose to hang out with in my life. He’s smart and gentle and kind and y’know , a little messed up and passive-aggressive, but he deeply cares about his friends and family. I like him a lot. In terms of writing, my favorite character to write for is Bailey. And that’s because of her rhythms – she speaks in long, almost poetic speeches (we call them Bailey” arias”). She’s also funny and sharp and pointed and direct at the same time. I think she could’ve been a preacher if she hadn’t become a surgeon. Anyway, her arias are really fun to write.

How different is this season to what you had originally planned?

In some ways, with some characters, it’s exactly as we planned. With others it’s vastly different. I can’t talk about too much of it , because a lot of the stuff we had planned that fell away might come back as future story. But to give you an example of how and why things change, I will tell you that when we planned the season we had not planned to bring Izzie back to work nearly as soon as we did. But what happened is this: we were watching the early episodes and what we found was that we desperately missed having Izzie at the hospital, hanging with to the interns. She has such a unique spirit, such a unique energy, and the interns felt (to us) out of balance without her. Tony and Joan and Zoanne wrote SIX DRAFTS of an Izzie arc for episode five this year (“Oh, the Guilt”) -- and none of them were working. And they are terrific writers and so what we realized is that the reason the stories didn’t work, is because we were tired of having Izzie out of the hospital, separate from her friends. So three days before that episode was set to shoot – we had to completely re-break and rewrite it. It’s the one where Izzie goes to the hospital to clean out her locker and ends up seeing the Denny Duquette M and M and then hangs out all day and sees Cristina doing a running whip stitch and knows she wants to come back to work. Can you imagine how much work it was to integrate Izzie into that episode that late in the game? Again, our writers are rock stars. Cause the thing is, when we pulled that story thread, it wasn’t just that episode that unraveled. There was an episode set to start prep three days later, there was an episode in script stage, an episode in outline stage and an episode on the board in the writers’ room. ALL of those episodes were affected by that decision. It was a MOUNTAIN of work – many, many 12, 13, 14 hour days. But it was worth it because it was the right call. I don’ t know if that answers your question – but hopefully it gives you a little more insight into the process which I think is what you’re looking for.

Why was the old Addison elevator scene from Yesterday showed in this episode? I was like WTF!

Wow. You have an incredibly good eye. This question is referencing the montage in act six – in which we stole a shot of Addison from Season 2 (“Yesterday”). The reason is that, again, making this episode into two parts was like guerrilla filmmaking – on the fly, and just kind of insane. And that montage wasn’t scripted until late the last night before the last day of shooting. Greg Yaitanes, the director, and I were talking and we were frustrated because we didn’t feel we had a satisfying ending for part one. And we came up with the montage idea. And I frantically called Rob Corn, our line producer and begged him to make it possible. And then I cut a scene that was supposed to shoot the next day and ran back to my office and scripted the montage and Rob rearranged the schedule and made it happen cause he’s a miracle worker like that. And the one shot we were unable to get in the way we wanted on that last day was Addison. So we stole footage from an old episode (which, by the way, we have done more than once before.) And you totally busted us. Welcome to TV – this is how the magic happens.

Why is this episode called "6 days?”

Because it spans over six days (whereas an average episode of Grey’s spans over one or maybe two days). You have seen 3 of the six so far – and you can track them by the Mer/Der waking up scenes which start each new day.

You mentioned the decision to extend this episode into a two-parter. How exactly do you make that work, as you say, "without compromising the creativity"? Do you add to existing storylines, or actually add in new scenes? Or, did you alter the original 61 minute editing, and incorporate more of already shot scenes?

We took the story back the writer’s room. We break each episode as six acts. So our task was to take six acts and make them twelve. We made twelve columns on the dry erase boards and put act one on act one and put what had been act 6 on act 12. Then we put all the scenes we had already shot on the board – and we talked about what we could add. We knew we needed approximately 20 scenes and 20 pages of new material. We watched the 61 minute version – the whole staff – and then talked about which storylines could use fleshing out. The other thing worth noting is that we had one day to re-break the scenes, and then I had one day (the next day) to write them. We were here till 11pm that night but by the time we went home we had added twenty new scenes. Did I mention how much the writing staff rocks? I have to say, some of the new scenes are some of my favorite scenes in the episode. Like that scene where Callie tries to start down George while he’s waiting for word on his Dad – that was new. The scene at the beginning where George drops the check on the floor and begs Izzie to deposit it was new. So, at the end of several very long days, I think it worked out well. (By the way, I’m only talking about the writing process here – this was a monumental task for everyone – the actors, the editors, the crew, the director and producers and post – everyone. It takes a village to raise an episode. )

I know you guys have in-house medical counsel (in one of your writers, at least) who consult on the show - is that all you use, or do you use any of the pro agencies that exist? (I know of two offhand, one by the CDC and one by... people's whose name I forget, but I'm sure there are more.)

We use every resource imaginable. The CDC has come to talk to us. So have many doctors and nurses and organizations. Plus our wonderful Director of Research, Elizabeth Klaviter, has several prominent surgeons on speed dial. No fewer than 3 medical professionals comb through and correct every script we write.

Okay, that was five…here’s a few more.

Did George know what really happened in the operating room and how bad his dad really is at the end of the episode because he seemed so sad, especially after the whole scene with Callie.

Very astute question. George is a doctor. He knows how bad this thing is with his Dad and even though the urine output is good which means the kidneys are functioning, he knows these things can turn on a dime. When you have a family member in the hospital, there are high highs and low lows and they come tumbling right on top of each other. George knows that even if his dad pulls through post-op, he has months of horrible chemo and radiation ahead of him. And he keeps a brave face for his family, so when he has a moment alone, he lets the fear creep in. That’s how I see it anyway.

When you introduce a story point (ie Izzy's baby), do you then come up with a plan for when you will readdress the point? I know you won't tell us exactly how or when we'll find out new information, but we will find it out. Right? Please?

We plant seeds. We plant seeds and then let them grow. Some grow quickly, like dandelions, Some grow slowly – like – I’m not a gardener but what grows slowly? Trees? Roses? Anyway, everything comes back around. Everything blooms. And the garden is generally more beautiful for the wait. That’s what the gardeners tell me anyway.

Where have Meredith's voice-overs gone? They were a "Grey's" staple -- and made the show compelling and rich -- and I'm missing them!

The voice-over is not gone from the show – just from tonight’s episode and next week’s. Just as we had George do the voiceover once and Cristina do it once, we decided it would be okay to not have it for once. (And then of course, the episode became a 2-parter and so we won’t have it twice.) The reason I didn’t write one is because I always save the VO for last – I write the script first and then write the VO. When I had written this script, I didn’t feel that I had any more to say. It was a creative decision. Also, I know there was no opening VO on Carolina’s episode awhile back – but she did write one – the problem there was the episode was running long, and we ended up cutting the opening scene and then there was nowhere to place the VO. So, as you can see, sometimes decisions are made for sound creative reasons, sometimes for necessary technical reasons. Anyway, fear not, the VO will be back!

Have you guys ever gotten ideas from fan RPGs? I help run one, and we swear sometimes you guys read it.

I’m so sorry, but I don’t know what a fan RPG is so I think I can safely say we don’t get ideas there.

Whatever happened to Doc's burial? Or is this like Pet Sematary, and Doc's not really dead?

Same thing that happened to Dylan the bomb squad guy’s funeral and Denny Duquette’s funeral. Shonda doesn’t like funerals on TV. She doesn’t think that they can ever properly capture the essence of a real funeral. The writers and I tend to agree. So we leave them to your imagination.

Can you clarify the timeline?

Um, sort of but not as completely as you’d like me to. I can tell you that the interns are still interns – which means that less than one year has passed in Grey’s time. I can also tell you that this is TV and if you over-think the timeline and over-study the show, you will probably be frustrated because it probably won’t seem logical that less than a year has passed. But as with all art, sometimes you have to just suspend your disbelief and go for the ride. On Beverly Hills 90210, the entire cast repeated their junior year of high school. Cause sometimes, logic-leaps like that are necessary to keep a show on the creative track you want.

How do you become a writer for a show like Grey's Anatomy? Because I would love to be one. Love. And I have no idea how to do it.

I have gotten several questions in this vein. So I’m going to attempt to answer this in brief – and then I really should go do work.

There are many ways to become a TV writer. You can go to film school. You can do your undergraduate study in screenwriting. I didn’t. I did take two writing classes – one was playwriting with Prof. Jon Lipsky my senior year at Boston University. It was terrific and inspiring and a big part of what made me want to be a writer. The second was a screenwriting 101 class at the New School in NYC right after I graduated college with a prof whose name ai sadly can’t remember. . Both were helpful. But largely, I self-educated. By that I mean, I read a lot of books on how to write for television. And then I watched a lot of television. And then I practiced writing for television. I practiced a LOT. You hear a lot of stories about people moving to LA and never making it as writers and oh the misery and all the years it takes… My theory is that – okay, some of those people aren’t talented – but many of them, most of them, just moved here too soon. They didn’t practice enough before they started sending scripts out and trying to find an agent. Many, many people write ONE script, or maybe two, and then think they’re ready to be seen and read . To me, that’s insane. Because no matter now good you think your first script is, the second one will be better and the third will be better than that. You learn by doing. Write scripts and show them to trusted friends and get notes and TAKE THE NOTES and rewrite and then write more scripts. That’s how you get good. Also, read something good every day – a novel, preferably, something juicy and inspiring. And write every day. Write every day for a good long while. And then, when you’re ready, buy the books that tell you how to get your stuff read in Hollywood. There are a lot of good ones.

Okay. I really do have to go now. Thanks for all your wonderful questions and feedback. We think the world of you, our fans, and appreciate that the feeling seems to be mutual.

All my Best,
Krista

Comments

[Tomeko]

I am so happy that Grey's reairs of Friday. I am so tired on Thursdays for some reason and tend to miss them so I tape them. This week DVD broke couldn't tape them. Then I thought oh yeah it reairs. Thank you Greys and ABC

[julie d]

Are you totally sick of people asking you how to become a Grey's writer?!

[Allison]

YAY BU!!! I had no idea you went there - I'm a sophomore now.

[Wow...you really did answer questions!]

I'm so excited to see these answers. I know I'm asking a lot, but a lot of us out here are just dying to know: Does Meredith know the truth about Addison and why she really came out to Seattle? Does Meredith know that she and Derek could have been happy all those months instead of being apart? Does Derek know that nothing ever happened between Finn and Meredith or that Meredith knew Derek was "the one" the minute he "walked away?" We really need these answers! Please!!!!!!! Oh, also...where is the steamy heat between Derek and Meredith? We love the "cuteness" of their relationship now, but we really miss the heat!!! Their passion for one another is so intense, it's hard to believe the first "three days" of "Six Days" would have them waking up to one another in their clothes! Come on! We REALLY miss the heat!

i love you. seriously. i do. seriously.

[Jake Lipson]

Thanks for this. Watched the rerun again tonight and I can't wait to see part two. Reading about what scenes were new, I can't imagine the episode without them. So congratulations -- they really are seamless, and if that's not proof that you've done your job I don't know what is. Cheers! :)

[AJ]

Awesome! Thanks for answering so many questions and thanks for writing a touching episode. Can't wait for part 2.

[Heather]

Krista,

I missed your blogs!! I loved the episode and can not wait for next week. Congrats on the pregnancy!!

Heather

[Courtney]

Thanks for writing more... that was awesome to read and learn more about the show. Can't wait to see the next part!

[Jessica]

Krista,

Very informative update. I love hearing how the show is created and how decisions are made. It's a very, very interesting process. I'm definitely a behind the scenes junkie.

Thanks to all the writers, actors, producers, techs, etc. for creating such a wonderful show.

[shannon]

Thank you for the time and all the fun info...I cant wait until next week. I love what all of you do!

[Stacy]

You ROCK! Thanks for taking the time to answer some questions!

[Jessica]

Thank you for answering so many questions! Its lovely to see how the process works in depth. Well, not see, as much, but a little bit of a glimmer.
I also loved the montage at the end. The song was perfect, even though it wasn't as much of an "up and comming" song as I am used to on Grey's (but its ok! I love love love that song! I hadn't listened to it for a few years, so I drug it back out of my CD pile and its been on repeat!) So yeah, can't wait until next week (cause omg, I have my theories that I want to see if I'm right about!)

[Teresa]

I am sure that this has been written many, many times before. But at risk of repeating all of those times, let me say thank you for writing these blog entries. Thank you for sharing your insight into these amazing characters, capivating plot lines, and underlying creative process. But, beyond all that, thank you for taking the time to reach out to your fans. We love and we love this show. This forum offers another way to connect into our favorite guilty pleasure....and....I am sure....is one of the many things that keeps us all coming back week after week.

[Amber]

Thank you, Krista! That was very nicely done! :)

I hope your day is good. :)

[lisa]

amazing answers. thanks for taking the time to answer them...you and the rest of the staff are doing an amazing job this season so congrats on all the awards that come your way! but as great as they are, just know that the fans of this show are fans for a reason and that is because of amazing characters who you actually care about and amazinf storylines that get you screaming and crying and laughing all in an hour long episode. cheers to you all. and happy new year! :)

I love that you took the time out to answer these questions. You totally rock.

[Marie]

Thanks for the answers, that was truly interesting.

I can't believe the Izzie baby storyline was just something that wasn't planed. I'd picked a revelation like that was coming with her character after "Make Me Lose Control". (Something to do with her body language every time she had anything to do with babies and pregnancy.) And when that revelation occurred I did a little happy I knew it dance inside myself.

[Maryann]

Did I miss something with Mark and Addison and a baby? I didn't see the first few minutes of GA this week...did I miss something? GA is the best and I've become a big Addison fan!

[Jo]

Interesting that you would think that bringing Izzie back when you did was the right decision. I stopped watching GA around that time, and I was die hard prior to that, but the writing went in the toilet with that plotline and then with the Burke/Yang conspiracy. Give me a break. I was very very very sad to stop watching the show, because it was so good the first two seasons and it had so much potential. But the writing and plots got to be unbearable. I cannot and will not take those leaps of logic. The 90210 cast being in high school for 7 years or whatever, was a marketing scheme to go with something that worked but it irritated the fans to the nth degree. You must know that. LOL

[Cassie - Shonda/Bailey/Yang/Callie fan]

Just when I think you awesome writers can't rock any more than you do, you go and rock it out even more, especially you pregnant ones! Krista, you truly are a rock star, sweetie! Thank you so much for everything!

[Jillian]

SO glad you are back on the air. Great blog this week, good episode. My husband is a radiologist and is always frustrated that the interns are waking up when it is light outside - leisurely reading the newspaper or lounging in bed. He is quick to point out that most surgical interns have to be at the hospital in the wee hours of the morning. He is such a realist, but feel the exhaustion factor of being a surgical intern is overlooked on the show. Me? I'll take more steam and less medical accuracy but to be fair to him, I must post his observation.

[Industry Outsider]

These were some great blogs this week. I love when writers discuss things that viewers would otherwise have no access to, such as your creative process...that stuff is fascinating for a nerd like me!

Anyway, I appreciate your candid blog. I also feel like I understand a lot better how little *kerfuffles* every now and again can happen during such a high profile, high stress job. Still, it seems like it would be amazing to be a part of those 14 hour days. The payoff to have a number one show must be incredible.

Congrats to you guys! It seems to me you deserve the accolades and recognition you receive.

Very excited for the rest of the season...

[Haley]

Thanks for taking the time to answer those questions!
We'll take anything we can to get our Grey's fix.

I just thought I'd tell you that I watched Silence of the Lambs last night, because in one of your newest podcasts, Betsy and Shonda said they had a "strange affinity" for the movie... I couldn't resist, and invited a couple of my friends over. I loved it! And I love your guys' little references to it.

Okay, so anyways, keep up the good work and thanks again!

[LAUREN (GREY'S BIGGEST FAN)]

wow... thank you so much Krista!! That was so wonderful of you to take the time to answer the questions for us, and so fully as well. You have no idea how much we love you and everyone involved with the show. Literally, you all think you know how much people love the show but there is so much going on on the internet and all over America. It would astound you... We just want you to realize how much we love the show and how thankful we are for it! =) you guys are AWESOME!