Story By Eirik Knutsen
Photography by Fernando Escovar
When all is said and done, how will CSI:
New York differ from the original CSI and CSI: Miami?
CSI and CSI Miami are
A-class shows. We will attempt to follow
in their success by making CSI New
York a more character driven show. We
will attempt to get into the characters
and find out who they are much quicker.
Why did UNLV present you with
an honorary Ph.D. in Humane
Letters?
While at a luncheon with Dr. Carol
Harter, President of UNLV, she
surprisingly said to me, "One day we are
going to bestow upon you an honorary
Phd. because of your contribution to
television and film." That was the first
time it really sunk in that CSI had made
such a significant contribution to our
culture. Ironically, I always dreamed of
having a Phd from UNLV. To this
day, it is the
greatest honor
of my life.
Do you regard
yourself as
a role model
for aspiring
TV writers producers
out there?
With the success
of CSI, I now
have the added
responsibility of
being a role model
in the business. I
thoroughly enjoy
giving my time to aspiring talent and
sharing my journey. I try to lead by
example by working hard and giving
everything I've got. You can't teach
smarts and talent, but I do encourage
people to work like hell at something
they love. If you follow your passion,
the money will follow. Success, in my
opinion, involves sheer luck, hard work
and humility.
Have you already fulfilled most
of your dreams?
No, but at times I feel as though I've
come awfully close. Certainly most
of my childhood dreams have come
true in terms of finally being able to
take care of my mother, who worked
hard to help put me through college
and always allowed me to be creative.
Professionally, my shows have won many
awards and enough critical acclaim
beyond my wildest dreams.
What does it feel like to be a
local hero?
Respectfully, I don't see myself as a
local hero, but I'm so proud to represent
Las Vegas. The
local heroes in
my mind are the
real Las Vegas
CSI's , like Daniel
Holstein and
Yolanda McCleary
who work
countless hours to
solve crime in our
community and
bring peace of
mind to survivors.
How do you
describe
your previous
career in
the Las Vegas
resort and casino business?
I started by
operating the tram for about a year, shuttling people back and
forth between The Mirage and TI-it was
a fun job where I had a chance to talk
to 400 different customers every four
minutes. Then I was a bellman just long
enough for a cup of coffee before joining
The Mirage's advertising and promotions
department. Working in the advertising
department allowed me to exercise
my creativity, which ultimately led to
Hollywood.
Why did you start writing film
scripts in your spare time while
at The Mirage?
A buddy of mine, a writer-actor who now
works on CSI, said I should try writing
something because he was out here
acting. I always had a passion for writing,
so, I bought three "how-to" books on
screenwriting by Syd Field and wrote
The Runner-about the ins and outs of
gambling-in six weeks. Independently
shot, The Runner starred John Goodman
and Courteney Cox, which made me
pretty proud for the first time out of the
gate. That's how I broke into the business.
When were you actually making a
living from script writing?
My first job in Hollywood was a rewrite
assignment of The Harlem Globetrotters.
It fortunately afforded my wife and I
to make a comfortable living, and after
three years of living in Hollywood, we
decided to come back home.
Do you have any goals beyond
CSI?
Professionally, I have a big responsibility
with CSI New York. It will take
everything I have to keep it to the
standard of the previous two hits.
My goal beyond CSI will be to
recapture quality time with my wife
and family.
How will you leave your
mark on Hollywood?
I hope to leave my mark by
creating a body of work that
people respect and enjoy.
With CSI we've broken new
ground in television. My
dream is to inspire others
to re-break that ground
and move the medium
forward. I want everyone
to know no matter what
your day job is, never give
up on a dream. I'm living
proof it can happen.
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