Interview: Ted Kotcheff, Executive Producer of LAW & ORDER: SVU

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Ted Kotcheff, Executive Producer of LAW & ORDER: SVU

Mar 07, 2010

TED KOTCHEFF, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, LAW & ORDER: SVU

Ted Kotcheff was born William Theodore Kotcheff in Toronto, Canada in 1931. After graduating with a degree in English Literature, Kotcheff began his television career at the age of twenty-four when he joined the staff of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), with television still very much in its infancy in the country. Kotcheff was the youngest director on the staff of the CBC, where he worked for two years on shows such as General Motors Theatre, before leaving Canada in 1958 to live and work in the United Kingdom.

Kotcheff was inspired by his compatriot Sydney Newman, who had been the Director of Drama at the CBC and had moved across to the UK to take up a similar position at ABC Television. At ABC, Newman produced the popular Armchair Theatre anthology drama program, where he employed Kotcheff as a director of the series.

Kotcheff was responsible for helming some of the best-remembered installments of Armchair Theatre strand, and in 1962 made his first feature film, TIARA TAHITI (New York Times Review). He went on to direct other features during the decade, including LIFE AT THE TOP (1965) and TWO GENTLEMEN SHARING (1969).

In 1971, he directed the classic Australian film WAKE IN FRIGHT, which won much critical acclaim in Europe, and was Australia's entry at the Cannes Film Festival where it was nominated for the Golden Palm Award.

(In 2009, WAKE IN FRIGHT was re-released on DVD and Blu-ray disc in a fully-restored version.)

Later in 1971, Kotcheff returned to television, directing Play For Today: Edna, the Inebriate Woman for the BBC, which won him the BAFTA Award for Best Drama Program. In 2000, the program was voted one of the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes of the 20th century in a poll of industry professionals conducted by the British Film Institute (BFI).

In the 1970s and 1980s, Kotcheff directed various iconic films including FIRST BLOOD with Sylvester Stallone, WEEKEND AT BERNIES and UNCOMMON VALOR with Gene Hackman. In the 1990s he returned to television and has served as the Executive Producer of NBC’s wildly successful series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (Official Site) since 1999.

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Interview Discussion

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Birddog: Character Performance Tips

at Apr 15, 2010 - 9:31 PM

Ted Kotcheff's list of acting criteria I found brilliant to help me think about what performances I would like to get from my main characters. For example understanding what action is the character playing, what is the relationship, emotional memory, psychological gestures, and what is the center of the characters being. Right away I found this way of thinking puts you directly into the character's body, mind, and spirit instantly - great stuff to help get yourself (the writer) out of the way.

Thanks Ted,

Birddog

Mackbel Films: Directing tips

at Mar 27, 2010 - 11:58 PM

Great stuff. Especially insightful for a Director working with an Actor.

ZSAZSUTWO wrote

at Mar 24, 2010 - 12:09 AM

What a fantastic interview. It was a gold mine of insight into acting, writing, choosing material, and also wonderfully wide ranging. Good questions got great answers.

maximus wrote

at Mar 23, 2010 - 2:33 PM

Loyola's screenwriting seminar was terrific... terrific to have this great interview following that 4-day session.

derekchristopher wrote

at Mar 18, 2010 - 10:30 PM

Thanks for catching that, MysticPamela. We appreciate it, and it's been corrected.

mysticpamela: Please pardon my editorial notice, but...

at Mar 17, 2010 - 10:32 PM

In the final paragraph of the (nicely done) biography of Mr. Kotcheff, the text states "WEEKEND AND BERNIES" when it should be WEEKEND AT BERNIES.

derekchristopher: Feedback

at Mar 16, 2010 - 10:20 PM

My pleasure. Thanks for the great feedback. We're definitely listening!

JustinKing wrote

at Mar 15, 2010 - 12:08 PM

Thanks, Derek. It's good to know someone is listening! I pointed out this problem because I noticed it in every interview...

derekchristopher: Interview Bios

at Mar 14, 2010 - 2:50 PM

Hi folks. My name is Derek Christopher and I manage StoryLogue. Thanks for your comments about Mr. Kotcheff's intro/bio. We appreciate and value your comments and ideas, and will definitely take this note into account for future interviews.

annelewis wrote

at Mar 12, 2010 - 7:33 PM

I agree. Just put a longer version of Mr Kotcheff's enviable bio on the right side in the text portion. Also the wides in the intro have Robert looking offcam.

JustinKing: Too much resume

at Mar 12, 2010 - 9:07 AM

These interviews have far too much resume review. For example, this clip is 18:40 long and Mr. McKee spends a full 5 minutes(!) recounting every detail of this 70-year-old man's biography before asking the first question. Get on with the interview and let the learning begin!