This video is about character actors, the people who get the nominations for supporting roles. You will see many familiar faces and hear a pretty good explanation of how “that guy” can steal a scene right out from under the much better paid star.*

It’s kind of the same thing a writer tries to do in a long-running series of books. It isn’t only the main character that keeps readers coming back for more, it is the ensemble cast. It isn’t just Kate and Mutt, it’s Kate and Mutt and Jack and Chopper Jim and Emaa and the aunties and Old Sam and Bobby and Dinah and Johnny and Annie Mike and even Howie Katelnikof, the little weasel.

In The Harvey Girl it isn’t just Clare, it’s Fred (both of them), and Butch and Bat and the (other two) B’s and Florence and ol Wash and even Mr. Mark Twain. You have yet to meet them, but they’re coming down the tracks.

Dana sez–Yes, they tinkered with the cover art: They managed to find a font that should by rights be called Ye Olde Timey.

*My favorite example of this is Tequila Sunrise. It stars Mel Gibson, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Kurt Russell, not a cast lacking in on screen voltage. Then about halfway through Raul Julia shows up and blows everyone else right off the screen. One of my favorite rewatches.

#thiswritinglife Chatter character actors ensemble cast Kate Shugak liam campbell supporting cast The Harvey Girl