Author Archives: Ralph

FILMED April-November 1980 Esther Shapiro in her commentary on the DVD of the DYNASTY pilot related an interesting fact that I didn’t know. I had directed John James when he tested for the role of Steven Carrington. When that role … Continue reading →

FILMED April-November 1980 The original schedule for OIL allotted 24 days to film a two-hour pilot. As I’ve written, production closed down after 21 days, and John Forsythe was cast to replace George Peppard in the role of Blake Carrington. … Continue reading →

FILMED April-November 1980 I learned very early that when doing drama, it is important to look for places to introduce humor into the mix. Fortunately the Shapiro’s also believed this. We left Krystle in a quandary. There had been a … Continue reading →

FILMED April-November 1980 170 days after we wrapped production at the Newhall Airport on the unfinished two-hour movie/pilot, OIL, I was back at Filoli, filming scenes at the entrance of the mansion. I considered it a resumption of the OIL … Continue reading →

FILMED April-November 1980 I returned home from the Newhall Airport with my head buzzing. Producer Phil Parslow had told me that George Peppard had been fired; that the Shapiro’s had gone to the executives of ABC with the announcement that … Continue reading →

FILMED April-November 1980 I returned to Los Angeles over the weekend (I don’t remember whether I flew back Saturday evening after completing that day’s filming or on Sunday) and on Monday, April 28, we began our final twelve days of … Continue reading →

FILMED April-November 1980 Filming began on Monday, April 14 in Woodside, California. I flew to northern California on Friday, April 11. As I remember we were billeted at an inn in San Mateo, and I had the weekend to settle … Continue reading →