Spoilers forward for Episode 16 of Chicago P.D. Season 10, known as “Deadlocked.”
Jesse Lee Soffer made his triumphant return to Chicago P.D. with the newest episode on March 22, though not within the position that longtime viewers are used to. As a substitute of reprising his position as Jay Halstead, Soffer stepped behind the digital camera to make his directing debut for an intense and action-packed hour of tv. The episode got here to about as completely happy an ending as could possibly be hoped for when it got here to the case of the week, and the actor-turned-director spoke with CinemaBlend in regards to the change to how the case ended within the authentic script, and the way taking part in Halstead “for therefore lengthy” has paid off.
Voight took the stand in “Deadlocked” with ASA Chapman attempting to place drug kingpin Arturo Morales behind bars regardless of all of his connections to criminals on the surface. Sadly, Morales’ individuals acquired to one of many jurors by attacking and kidnapping his spouse, promising to kill her until Christopher voted to acquit. The complication for Intelligence? As a witness within the trial, Voight wasn’t allowed to guide the Intelligence Unit into an official investigation.
The unit did in the end save Christopher’s spouse with sufficient time to spare for him to vote to convict, however ASA Chapman came upon about Voight’s secret interference, and was not completely happy that he went rogue to make the conviction occur. The decision was learn in a scene that performed music over the dialogue slightly than any phrases spoken between the characters. Talking with Jesse Lee Soffer about “Deadlocked,” he shared how the ending of the case modified from the unique script:
There was scripted dialogue within the verdict scene, after which once we have been modifying it, Terry Blythe – who was the editor, who’s incredible, and a complete grasp of modifying, he is been doing it for therefore lengthy – he had the thought. He was like, ‘I sort of really feel like this might simply play with no dialogue.’ And I used to be like, ‘Yeah, you are proper. It is superior.’ After which we watched it like that, and I liked the thought and so I gotta give Terry all of the credit score for that one.
The decision scene may have come throughout very in another way if Soffer and editor Terry Blythe hadn’t settled on a completed model with music slightly than dialogue. It’s only one instance of the varieties of selections that Soffer was liable for as a director, and he beforehand defined what was “difficult” about returning on this new position. So, what number of occasions did Soffer watch the episode to make changes? The actor/director mentioned:
That is actually difficult as a result of I’ve watched each take of each body just a few occasions [laughs], whereas we have been filming it too, so like, tons of!… The complete episode accomplished, in all probability like 4 or 5 as a result of whilst you’re modifying it, there is a director’s lower, then an editor’s lower, after which they do the studio and community notes and stuff, so only a handful as soon as it was completely accomplished.
After all, lots occurred in “Deadlocked” main as much as the dialogue-free verdict scene, together with sequences that absolutely would have showcased Halstead as soon as upon a time: Intelligence in motion to chase down a suspect with time brief, and Voight preventing his means by way of dangerous guys to get to a sufferer. Again when he was a collection common, Jesse Lee Soffer was usually the one hopping fences, leaping from roofs, and going after the dangerous guys. This time, he directed his co-stars in doing it.
In mild of Jesse Lee Soffer coming right into a directing gig with way more expertise in performing stunt and motion sequences than the typical director, I requested what it was like for him to method that sort of scene from the opposite aspect of the digital camera this time. He shared that it was “actually enjoyable” and defined what he jokes about in hindsight:
Ultimately you open some stunt or some struggle sequence on the web page and you are like, ‘Oh, god, I gotta roll round within the mud with this man at this time? Nice.’ So it was good to only get to calm down from a heat chair someplace [laughs], and put Jason [Beghe] by way of hell. However he was a trooper and a champ. It was actually cool as a result of I like that facet of the present. I like the motion on the present, and I might say I do know it higher than anyone as a result of I performed Halstead for therefore lengthy. So I acquired to try this with Voight’s character a bit of bit, and I believe we acquired to make him look fairly succesful nonetheless, even ten seasons later. And that was loads of enjoyable.
If any One Chicago alum is aware of about rolling round within the mud to attempt to take down an actor taking part in a legal, it could be Jesse Lee Soffer! He may get pleasure from a extra snug method to motion scenes for this episode, full with directing his co-stars and having fun with a bit extra heat than if he was in the midst of a stunt sequence throughout an evening shoot throughout a Chicago winter.
Jesse Lee Soffer did be certain to go with Jason Beghe for his work! The “Deadlocked” director confirmed that he was certainly coping with the challenges of a Chicago winter, saying:
Oh yeah. The evening sequences on this episode have been in the midst of February. It was zero levels outdoors, like unfavorable 10 wind chill. We have been working at like 2AM. It was brutal. It was completely brutal. Thanks to the solid and crew for making it occur with me, as a result of holy crap.
TV magic might be able to make some scenes filmed indoors seem like they have been produced outdoors, however that’s not all the time the case with regards to One Chicago on location! Like when Tracy Spiridakos’ stunt double had to enter the Chicago River for the massive Upton episode that filmed in January final yr, generally the P.D. staff simply has to courageous the chilly to tug off one of the best pictures. Plus, Marina Squerciati was actually in some very cramped quarters within the 2 hundredth episode, even when she wasn’t truly trapped down a properly within the forest like Burgess. As Jesse Lee Soffer says: holy crap!
Soffer additionally shared that he’s “undoubtedly open to the expertise” of directing once more within the Dick Wolf universe, saying that he thinks “doing this could additionally make you a greater actor” and it’s “all about storytelling.” Solely time will inform if and when he steps behind the digital camera once more (or in entrance of it to reprise his position as Halstead, if followers are fortunate), however for now, viewers will have the ability to revisit “Deadlocked” streaming with a Peacock Premium subscription.
You may also look ahead to new episodes of Chicago P.D. on Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET on NBC, following Chicago Fireplace at 9 p.m. and Chicago Med at 8 p.m. The three One Chicago exhibits haven’t but been renewed for the 2023-2024 TV season (and haven’t delivered a good old school three-show crossover in a while), however the future appears vivid for them as a number of the community’s largest hits.
