Chicago will be seeing red this fall with Chicago Fire on NBC. This new television show follows the lives of firefighters working at the Chicago Fire Department. The show stars Jesse Spencer (House) and Taylor Kinney (The Vampire Diaries). Even our very own Mayor Rahm Emanuel makes an appearance on the pilot episode.
Windy City Times spoke with the two stars before an opening-night red-carpet event at the Chicago History Museum.
Windy City Times: Hi, guys. How was filming in Chicago?
Jesse Spencer: I don't think we could have asked for a better reception. This is my first time living here, but I love this city. I think it's the perfect setting for our show. It feels like the people in the city are really supportive of the show.
We're shooting in more dangerous sort of hood areas and we're shooting in upper-class areas. We're shooting downtown. I think throughout the season we're going to give a really good taste of tons of different areas and a good feel for what Chicago is like.
With the history of Chicago and fire as well, it really plays into the show as well. I think it's the perfect backdrop for us, absolutely.
Taylor Kinney: The city has been really receptive—the people, the firefighters have been really open and helpful about advising us and doing simulation fire stunts at the academy. It's been really welcoming.
WCT: Did you add anything to your character that wasn't originally in the script?
Taylor Kinney: We started with a single script and the pilot. We did ride-alongs with firefighters and some of the actresses got to ride with the paramedics. So it enabled us to evolve with the character. You come in with set ideas I think in any job and it evolves as you move.
Jesse Spencer: Yeah, I think since we did the pilot I feel like the writers have really started writing for us and helped our characters to evolve in the way that suits us and suits the characters both.
WCT: Has either of you learned something about being a fireman that shocked you?
Taylor Kinney: Jesse, I'm sure you could attest to this: At the training facility at the fire academy we put on all of our bunker gear, our air mask, helmet, gloves and have a tool, a halogen bar or maybe an axe, and we go through the motions of clearing a room in the event of a fire and whether it's a floor below or above.
They say we're going to walk into a smoke-filled room to simulate a structure fire. And so you go through these motions in a parking lot [about] how to clear a room; you block it out and you say, "You know, fair enough. I think I can handle this."
It's maybe 65 pounds of gear. They throw you into a room and it's filled with smoke, and you can't see anything. So it was a shock to the senses. I couldn't believe it. I think that was the most surprising thing that these guys will walk into a situation like that and still have the wherewithal to remove a victim or check underneath a bed when you can't see anything. It's really tough to breathe, and you only have a matter of maybe between 10 and 15 minutes.
Jesse Spencer: Yeah. It puts it in perspective. You just realize how it's not just a physical job, but mentally you have to really be able to control your fear and your emotions.
If you experience claustrophobia like that and the pressure—I mean, it really plays with your mind and can screw you up. We were experiencing [during] that simulation probably, I don't know, maybe 10 percent of the heat of a real fire, I reckon.
WCT: Did you perform a lot of your own stunts?
Taylor Kinney: Well as many stunts as I can do I like to do them. We have great stuntmen on the show. For obvious reasons—liabilities—we only do so much.
Other than that, the bunker gear and the suits and the running and being in really close proximity to fire under, you know, controlled circumstances—that's pretty exciting. So other than a few stunts I would say that we're all doing our own stuff.
Jesse Spencer: We're doing most of it, you know. We're standing around in bunker gear and 65 pounds' worth of gear and running up and down ladders and smashing through doors, you're doing over and over and over again.
Taylor Kinney: Jesse, you were just hanging from a 45-foot ladder and you did that stunt.
Jesse Spencer: Oh, yeah; I forgot about that. That was quite fun hanging up there.
WCT: Has there been any confusion with the name Chicago Fire? That's the name of our soccer team!
Taylor Kinney: Yes, if you mentioned the show or even with firefighters when we were starting out definitely. Now it's getting a little bit more traction so they'll say, "Oh the show" but if you said we're working on Chicago Fire they ask you if you're a soccer player.
WCT: Do you have any personal favorite Chicago places yet?
Taylor Kinney: I have yet to go to a Bears game but I know Jesse went and a few of the other cast members went, and I'd love to do that. We've been to two Cubs games. Jesse played the national anthem and I got to throw out an opening pitch, which was a dream come true as a kid and a baseball fan.
We've been pretty busy but I think the biggest history lesson within the city is during work because we shoot so many locations. We're getting to see places that we otherwise wouldn't on the South Side, all over the Loop, downtown, Lincoln Park and Wicker Park.
Jesse Spencer: I feel like you could spend years here and still find stuff. Local knowledge is really good, too. So I think we've only barely scratched the surface. Chicago overall just has a really nice feel. We've hit a few steakhouses and a few restaurants and as Taylor said we're mostly working. We know Englewood probably better that we know downtown Chicago.
WCT: I know Miss Lady Gaga has been in town visiting while the series has been filming. Has she expressed an interest in a guest spot?
Taylor Kinney: I really couldn't tell you anything about that.
WCT: Are either of your ladies going to be at the premiere with you?
Jesse Spencer: Yes, my girlfriend will be there.
Taylor Kinney: My brother is coming. He will have to suffice for a date.
WCT: I look forward to seeing you both at the red carpet tomorrow night then.
Jesse Spencer: Thanks a lot.
Chicago Fire burns up the television set Wednesdays on NBC. Visit www.nbc.com for listings and details.
