By Jean-Paul Eliard
October 10 2024
Hi Jason, I'm glad to do this interview, I watched Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie on France TV and I like very much, The last case of Monk is excellent as
the actors / actresses and as the TV serie before.
Can you introduce yourself to the visitors of cinema-movietheater.com?
Hi there. I’m Jason Gray Stanford, but in the TV world ,many people know me by my alter ego, Lieutenant Randy Disher from the award winning television series Monk,
which ran for eight seasons on USA Network.
I have also been very fortunate to work on so many great projects over the years. A Beautiful Mind, Flags of our Fathers.
The Boys, Greys Anatomy to name a few.
What did you like when you were offered the character of Randy Disher?
Well, it’s actually a bit of an interesting story. In fact, when I was originally offered the role of Randy Disher, he was not meant to be in the entire series.
However, after filming the pilot episode or the very first episode, the producers and the creators enjoyed the character so much, they made him a permanent part of the cast.
What drew me to the character and what I really enjoyed about playing Randy Disher is that he was written with great enthusiasm and optimism.
One of my favorite lines actually from the whole series and a touchstone of Randy’s was “Happiness is a choice.”
And I think that rang true for the character and I think it rings true in real life well.
As the seasons went by, I also very much enjoyed how the writers let Randy evolve and although he continued to always keep his earnestness and a bit of naivite, they definitely let him grow up as the
series itself grew.
I like very much the series TV
of Monk (2002 - 2009 and 2023) It is like the serie as Monk's deductions during an investigation, I like these series like Columbo, Death in Paradise, Arabesque........
And you what did you like when you read the script of the TV serie and this episode?
Well there is a great saying in our business and it is “if it’s not on the page it’s not on the stage” I think that most great shows or movies always start with a great foundation and that foundation
is the script.
and we were so lucky on Monk to have an
incredible creator and head writer named Andy breckman who really oversaw every episode and every word of the Monk series.
When you have great writing, it really makes your job as an actor so much easier.
It was a lot of fun going to work every day and seeing what they were going to throw us.
As far as reading the Monk movie script. I thought it was a wonderful continuation of Monk, Natalie, Randy and Captain Stottlemeyer’s journey from where we left off when the series itself
ended.
I really felt the script captured the essence of the original series. It was both comedic and touching, which was a hallmark the original show.
How did you prepare for your
role?
I think preparing for the movie role for all of us, after not playing those characters in so many years was a little frightening at first.
But I have to honestly say once we all got back together read the script showed up on set and did the very first scene.
It was like getting the band back together or riding a bike. we just fell right into step with one another like a day hadn’t passed.
How is the shooting with Tony
Shalhoub (Monk), Traylor Howard (Stottlemeyer), Ted Levine (Natalie Teeger)..... and the director Randy Zisk?
Honestly sometimes you just get lucky and the right group of people come together and gel.
That was us. Very much a family on set. And although there may be disagreements, the end result and goal for all of us was to get the best out of each other and mine each scene to its fullest.
No egos just hard work and collaboration. Tony Shalhoub is a very fine actor so he makes everyone else look very very good.
Working with Ted Levine is an absolute pleasure without his skill, not only myself as an actor, but my character of Randy would not be the same.
And Traylor just brings so much honesty to her role.
Where is the show shot?
We originally shot the very first episode in Vancouver Canada. We then shot a few episodes in Toronto Canada.
But the bulk of the show was shot in Los Angeles, California on the Paramount lot.
We also would go up to San Francisco, where the show is set to shoot every now and again. the television movie was also shot in Toronto Canada.
How long did the shooting?
If you’re speaking of how long did it take us to shoot the movie. About six weeks from start to finish.
When and why did you choose to
be an actor?
Well that’s a question I think most actors get a lot. But the simple answer is
I grew up, loving movies and television and thought to myself. “Hey I’d like to try that” and the rest is history is they say (hahaha).
I went to theatre school and it’s there that I really fell in love with the art and the craft of it. I also very much enjoy the collaboration of the whole moviemaking process.
And when it all comes together, it’s quite a magical thing. And with Monk, we were very, very lucky. And when it all comes together, it’s quite a magical thing. And with Monk, we were very, very
lucky.
What is your next challenge / project?
I have a couple of TV projects coming out near the end of the year.
But right now, I’m actually focussed on writing a script which I hope to direct next year in 2025.
Do you wish to add something
?
I’d love to just add how happy we are that we have so many incredible international fans around the world. We are so very grateful for all the love.
And to our French fans, a huge thank you for helping make the Monk movie such a success!!!
Merci. Nous vous aimons tous!
Thank you very much for your
interview Jason I wish you all the best
More information about Jason on Instagram, linktr.ee/JasonGrayStanford and on IMDb