|
Some commentary related to Lili and the "Mind's Eye" episode of X-Files by Tim Minnear. I was on the [X-Files] writing staff that season. (Still working for 20th Television, but now starting my second year on "Angel.") The story of how we got Lili is actually rather interesting. We had, as a staff, finished working out the major story points of the episode. (We call this "breaking the story.") I was sent off to write the script. Frank Spotntiz told me to think about who might be good for the role. Without hesitation I said "Lili Taylor!" They knew who she was, but she was (and is) known for her feature work, not television. I never dreamed I'd actually get her for the part. The very next day Frank got a call from Gillian Anderson's manager. He said he also respresented Lili Taylor and that she was interested in doing a guest spot on The X-Files. All the stars must have been in alignment. This call was unsolicited and out of the blue. Just timing. We said we thought we had something right away. She agreed and there it was. So in fact I did have her in mind while writing the ep and knew I had her for the role, so I taylored it (pun intended) for her. She couldn't have been more of a dream to work with. We shot the show in Vancouver (the writers were here on the Fox lot.) Everyday Kim Manners, the director of that ep, would call just raving about Lili. How brilliant she was, how the crew loved her, and how David Duchovny was doing some of his best acting with her. Her genius really brought something out in him and in all of us. |