Laura Prepon on Directing the Next Generation on ‘That ’90s Show,’ Becoming an “Upstairs” Person

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Laura Prepon on Directing the Next Generation on ‘That ’90s Show,’ Becoming an “Upstairs” Person

As a gamer who grew up in the ’90s and spent countless hours watching That ’70s Show reruns before the actual ’90s even began, stepping onto the set of That ’90s Show felt like coming home. The familiar faces, the nostalgic vibes, and the comforting chaos of a Forman household – it’s all too perfect.

In the first episode of “That ’90s Show,” Red, played by Kurtwood Smith, condescendingly informs Donna (Laura Prepon) and Eric (Topher Grace), “Now you belong to the upper floors.”

The reference to the couple’s past days spent in the Forman’s basement, reminiscent of the original series “That ’70s Show”, continues to resonate with Prepon, even as the sequel series enters its third part. The actress and director, who began her career on “That ’70s Show”, has reappeared for the most recent season of the Netflix spinoff (currently streaming) in her character Donna, and also as a director for the eight-episode run.

In contrast to her frequent time spent in the basement during “That ’70s Show”, Donna seldom visits the basement in “That ’90s Show”. As stated by Prepon to The Hollywood Reporter, these days she spends most of her acting time in the kitchen with Red and Kitty. Even when required to film a scene in the basement, she jokes it feels strange.

Stepping back into Donna’s shoes feels like slipping on my favorite pair of comfy jeans, as I’ve grown so accustomed to her character over time. Prepon has directed on this show before, as well as on ‘Orange is the New Black’ for Netflix, but this time she served as the sole director for these episodes. Last year, I directed one or two, but this time around, I got to direct multiple ones consecutively, allowing me to delve deeper into the role and truly embrace it, much like sitting comfortably in the saddle.

“Prepon feels right at home on these filming locations,” she notes. “Being an actor myself, I share a deep empathy and understanding with the child actors, as well as Debra Jo and Kurtwood. I would never ask anyone to do something I haven’t personally experienced or done on these sets.”

I can’t help but express my sheer delight about my time on “That ’90s Show.” Wearing the director’s hat for this new generation on the show has been an extraordinary experience that I hold close to my heart.

For Prepon, returning to the show has consistently been a no-brainer. “When [That ’70s Show creator] Bonnie Turner called me and asked me to come be in the pilot of ’90s, I didn’t hesitate,” she says. “It was the same set designer, the same hair designer, the same costume designer. It was like going back to a family.”

In addition, Prepon mentions that her comfort level with her original co-stars, especially with Grace who plays her on-screen spouse, felt incredibly natural. As she puts it, “In the pilot episode, we stood close together, and he assumed a certain position. When we returned to set, it was as if Eric and Donna from previous episodes had never left, and Topher and I seemed to perform that pose instinctively.”

She quickly rose to her feet, shifted into the Eric-Donna position alongside her partner, and we both erupted in laughter because it felt so profoundly embedded within my physical self and psychological makeup, she explains. A truly significant milestone in my life was portraying Donna, and it’s a delight to revisit this experience. The actress from Orange is the New Black remarks that Donna and her character have both moved on to marriage and motherhood, finding it “incredibly heartening to witness her personal growth.”

It’s evident that Prepon has thoroughly enjoyed reprising her character and the series, as her eagerness for the future is palpable, saying “I truly hope we can do more.”

All episodes of That ’90s Show part three are now streaming on Netflix.

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2024-08-24 18:24