In a recent interview with Janelle Riley from Backstage, Matthew Gray Gubler was asked about how his filmmaking experience has affected him as an actor, and how those experiences have led him to direct his 5th episode of Criminal Minds “Alchemy”.

Matthew Gray Gubler gets to be his own boss from time to time. Now in his eighth season as brilliant Dr. Spencer Reid on the CBS hit “Criminal Minds,” the actor is prepping to direct his fifth episode of the series. But this isn’t a case of indulging a star—Gubler is a graduate of the prestigious NYU Tisch School of the Arts and an accomplished director of music videos, mockumentaries, and short films.

This isn’t the first time Gubler’s worlds have collided; while an intern for Wes Anderson, Gubler not only landed a role in “The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou” but filmed the documentary “Matthew Gray Gubler’s Life Aquatic Intern Journal,” which was included on the Criterion Collection DVD release of the film. He has also directed a tongue-in-cheek series of shorts called “Matthew Gray Gubler: The Unauthorized Documentary,” parodying life on the “Criminal Minds” set.

After attending the Las Vegas Academy of International Studies, a performing arts high school, Gubler says he gravitated to filmmaking because it felt more logical. “I think I veered towards filmmaking because there’s more of a sense of control in it. You’re not waiting to be picked,” he says. “That said, in film school I acted in probably 6,000 student films because no other filmmakers knew anyone who wanted to act. It was all a big beautiful snake eating its tail, progressing along the way.”

Asked if studying filmmaking helped him as an actor, Gubler doesn’t hesitate. “It absolutely did, 100 percent,” he says. “I’ve always had the utmost respect and awe of what the lens can do and what a director can do with just a camera move. A fantastic actor in a scene that’s just closed off will be good. But when working with a director who knows little tricks—correct music, slowly pushing in—that stunning performance will somehow become even better. I’ve always seen it as a symbiotic relationship.”

Another bonus as an actor: In film school he met and worked with many up-and-coming filmmakers, such as “Robot & Frank” director Jake Schreier and Jaffe Zinn, whose 2011 film “Magic Valley” features a turn by Gubler. Gubler also appears in the new horror film “Excision” from fellow Tisch grad Richard Bates Jr. and is hoping to shoot a film with Bates during his hiatus from “Criminal Minds” this year. “When you’re in film school you’re making like 18 shorts a year, so it’s kind of inevitable you’re going to be in someone’s movie,” Gubler says. “You get to form this nice little close-knit community.”

Source

New photo’s of Matthew Gray Gubler, courtesy of CM_SetReport and John Hatchitt,  have surfaced on twitter over the last few days detailing him hard at work  directing “Alchemy”. “Alchemy” is episode  of this season, and is the 5th episode of Criminal Minds to be directed by Matthew. Some of the pictures are fuzzy, but you can clearly spot Matthew in them.

@CM_SetReport: Wardrobe Files: Writer @sleewatson & @GUBLERNATION discuss options w/ costume designer BJ Rogers. #CriminalMinds

@johnhatchitt: Day-2 of shooting with this Crazy Cat.

@johnhatchitt: Setting up for our last couple night shots Thanks to our Director@GUBLERNATION.

@johnhatchitt: An we are off an running on a Beautiful Wed morning.

With Matthew Gray Gubler’s Birthday last Saturday, we were bound to get some Gublernation Goodness this last week, and it did not disappoint.

First, we have these pictures posted from the Criminal Minds crew celebrating  Matthew’s Birthday before filming ceased on Friday.

@LLPOS: Matthew Gubler’s Birthday Cake on set just now.

cmsetreport: Matthew Gray Gubler’s Birthday on Day 6 of 8 on EP8x20 #CriminalMinds #Hmmmcake

Here is a photo of Matthew (or part of him that is, lol) that he posted the day after what was hopefully an epic Birthday Celebration!

Gublernation: 

it’s my birthday and i’ll wear ladies stretch mickey pants all day if i want to

Last but certainly not least, we have one posted by Matthew today, behind the scenes of Criminal Minds Episode 8.20 “Alchemy”

gublernation: david hoflin, me, and the inimitable ed zajac on the set of criminal minds episode 820 “alchemy”

CBS has recently released these promotional photo’s and press release for the upcoming Criminal Minds Episode 8.20 “Alchemy”. The episode, the fifth directed by series star Matthew Gray Gubler, airs April 30th on CTV, and May 1st on CBS.

THE BAU IS CALLED TO RAPID CITY WHEN TWO VICTIMS HAVE BEEN KILLED IN A RITUALISTIC MANNER, AND REID CONTINUES TO STRUGGLE WITH MAEVE’S DEATH, ON “CRIMINAL MINDS,” WEDNESDAY, MAY 1. Series Star Matthew Gray Gubler Directs the Episode

“Alchemy” – The BAU travel to Rapid City after two male victims are discovered murdered in a ritualistic manner. Also, Reid continues to grieve over Maeve’s death, on CRIMINAL MINDS, Wednesday, May 1 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Series star Matthew Gray Gubler directs the episode.

CHEAT TWEET: How do U deal w/ sadness? Sleep takes a backseat 4 Reid as he mourns Maeve – @GUBLERNATION directs #CriminalMinds 5/1 http://bit.ly/ZfH7pX

SERIES REGULARS:
Joe Mantegna (David Rossi)
Thomas Gibson (Aaron Hotchner)
Shemar Moore (Derek Morgan)
Matthew Gray Gubler (Dr. Spencer Reid)
A.J. Cook (Jennifer “JJ” Jareau)
Kirsten Vangsness (Penelope Garcia)
Jeanne Tripplehorn (Alex Blake)

GUEST CAST:
Angela Bettis (Tess Mynock)
John Posey (Detective Tom Landry)
David Hoflin (Chad Dumont)
Cooper Huckabee (Raoul)
Kate McDaniel (Amber Moxley)
Claudia Christian (Agent Stern)
Calliope Porter (Voluptuous Woman)
John Kerry (Eli Grohl)
Adam Nee (Joseph Purl)
Ed Zajac (Cowboy)
Jody Carter (Old Woman)
John Mawson (Waiter)

WRITTEN BY: Sharon Lee Watson
DIRECTED BY: Series star Matthew Gray Gubler

In a recent interview with The New Zealand Herald, Matthew Gray Gubler explains his feelings about the Zugzwang episode, which just aired last week in New Zealand. He also touches on why the fans response is important to him, other projects he’s involved in, and directing his latest episode “Alchemy”.

Last Monday’s episode of Criminal Minds caused an uproar after it played in the US in January. When Dr Spencer Reid’s first meeting with long-distance girlfriend Maeve ended with him being forced to watch her murder, the show’s fans took to cyberspace to share their anguish and rage at the latest injustice suffered by their favourite character.

“Why isn’t Reid allowed to be happy?” was typical of the thousands of responses, as were “It absolutely left me sobbing and emotionally destroyed”, and “I am super pissed about this.”

“We have a joke here on the show that we broke the internet with that episode,” laughs Matthew Gray Gubler, who plays Reid.

“I’m very sad she died, obviously,” he adds, although he doesn’t sound too cut up about it. Instead, he comes across as upbeat and loose and not at all like the buttoned-down genius he plays on the wildly popular show about a FBI unit that profiles serial killers.

Maeve was always destined to die, Gubler admits. “Right from when the storyline was first pitched it had that three-act structure: Reid has a girlfriend he’s never met, they fall in love, she gets killed. And I’m really proud of how we pulled it off. Because of the nature of the comments and the reaction against it, I think we can say we did our job in a way that people won’t forget.”

Gubler has to use fans’ response to judge whether the episode was successful because he hasn’t seen it, and probably never will. He says he doesn’t enjoy watching himself on screen at the best of times, and that the Mauve episode was especially difficult.

“The only way I know how to act is to, like, 100 per cent believe what is happening, so it was really tough emotionally,” he says. “And grief is not an easy thing to portray.”

He gets plenty of practice in upcoming episodes, as the repercussions of Reid’s heartbreak play out over the remainder of the season. Gubler hopes the way his character comes to terms with the tragedy “might somehow bring a sense of optimism to people who are experiencing a loss themselves”.

Having been a Criminal Minds cast member since the show began eight years ago, and with each season taking around ten-and-half months to film, Gubler hasn’t had time to play many other roles during his career. Something he has managed to squeeze into his busy schedule, though, is providing the voice of “Simon the lovable chipmunk” in the Alvin and the Chipmunks movies.

“He couldn’t be a more opposite character to play,” Gubler laughs. “It’s a lot of fun doing that – anything lighthearted after this series is always welcome, and Simon never encounters dead bodies!”

As well as doing voice work – credits include a Scooby-Doo episode and an upcoming animated Batman movie in which, he excitedly reports, “I get to be a villain I’ve always dreamed of playing, though I’m not allowed to say who” – Gubler jumps at the “awesome” opportunity to direct on Criminal Minds.

Indeed, when he speaks to Living he’s “just finished putting some last minute touches” on his fifth episode as director.

“Each time I direct I try to make it completely different from the standard Criminal Minds episode. I think this most recent one is better and weirder than the last – I’m pretty darn proud of it,” Gubler says happily, before dropping a hint about its content that might placate fans upset by last week’s installment: “Just because Maeve’s dead doesn’t mean she can’t come back…”

Criminal Minds screens on Mondays at 8.30pm on TV One

- Herald on Sunday

By: Nick Grant

Check out more from the New Zealand Herald here

Here we have a few new photo’s of Matthew Gray Gubler that have popped up on the internet over the last few days. First off we have a shot posted yesterday by Matthew on his various social media pages.

@Gublernation: matthew gray ghoulbler

Next we have this behind the scenes photo from an upcoming shoot by Jeremy Kost on Sunset Boulevard.

@GUBLERNATION on set in #la #sunsetboulevard #hookersonhookers

Finally, we have a couple of new pictures of Matthew directing Criminal Minds Episode 8.20 “Alchemy”. “Alchemy” airs April 30th on CTV, and May 1st on CBS.

Here we have promo’s from CBS and CTV for next weeks Criminal Minds episode 8.20,” Alchemy”. The episode is the 5th directed by series star Matthew Gray Gubler. He previously directed “Mosley Lane” in Season 5, “Lauren” in Season 6, “Heathridge Manor” in Season 7, and earlier this season “The Lesson”

THE BAU IS CALLED TO RAPID CITY WHEN TWO VICTIMS HAVE BEEN KILLED IN A RITUALISTIC MANNER, AND REID CONTINUES TO STRUGGLE WITH MAEVE’S DEATH, ON “CRIMINAL MINDS,” WEDNESDAY, MAY 1

Series Star Matthew Gray Gubler Directs the Episode

“Alchemy” – The BAU travel to Rapid City after two male victims are discovered murdered in a ritualistic manner. Also, Reid continues to grieve over Maeve’s death, on CRIMINAL MINDS, Wednesday, May 1 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Series star Matthew Gray Gubler directs the episode.

CHEAT TWEET: How do U deal w/ sadness? Sleep takes a backseat 4 Reid as he mourns Maeve – @GUBLERNATION directs #CriminalMinds 5/1 http://bit.ly/ZfH7pX

SERIES REGULARS:
Joe Mantegna (David Rossi)
Thomas Gibson (Aaron Hotchner)
Shemar Moore (Derek Morgan)
Matthew Gray Gubler (Dr. Spencer Reid)
A.J. Cook (Jennifer “JJ” Jareau)
Kirsten Vangsness (Penelope Garcia)
Jeanne Tripplehorn (Alex Blake)

GUEST CAST:
Angela Bettis (Tess Mynock)
John Posey (Detective Tom Landry)
David Hoflin (Chad Dumont)
Cooper Huckabee (Raoul)
Kate McDaniel (Amber Moxley)
Claudia Christian (Agent Stern)
Calliope Porter (Voluptuous Woman)
John Kerry (Eli Grohl)
Adam Nee (Joseph Purl)
Ed Zajac (Cowboy)
Jody Carter (Old Woman)
John Mawson (Waiter)

WRITTEN BY: Sharon Lee Watson
DIRECTED BY: Series star Matthew Gray Gubler

Thanks to Televisionpromosdb and Nen Katic for uploading the promos!

Yesterday, Criminal Minds Executive Producer, and Writer Of “Alchemy” Sharon Lee Watson participated in the Criminal Minds Set Report Weekly Chat. The chat centered mostly around “Alchemy” and her collaboration with Director/Star Matthew Gray Gubler. We were lucky enough to have 3 of our questions answered during the chat.

Sharon Lee Watson ‏@sleewatson

Hey, everyone! Welcome to the chat. Bring on the questions!

@peculiarlyRene
#AskSharon Searched for the actress who played last night’s unsub. Angela Bettis was magnificent. Who was the brilliant person to cast her?

Sharon Lee Watson ‏

That was all Gubler. He showed me a youtube video of her work and she was amazing!

@VLJH ‏

What inspired you to have Rossi be Reid’s confidant in “Alchemy?”

Sharon Lee Watson ‏

Rossi has a comforting, paternal aura that I think was important for an episode in which Reid is hurting.

@mng_molly

#AskSharon What’s something you’d like to see in season 9?

Sharon Lee Watson ‏

First, we need to get a season 9!! Assuming we do, I’d love to explore more about the personal lives of our characters.

@gublerfanlori

#AskSharon will the dream sequence finally allow Reid to start healing?

Sharon Lee Watson ‏

Yes, that was the idea. Part of the reason his healing stalled, was because he wasn’t allowing himself to sleep and dream.

@mggforever

#AskSharon this is ur 2nd time working with @GUBLERNATION, correct me if i`m wrong but what is it like to work with him

Sharon Lee Watson ‏

He’s amazing!! Very collaborative and dedicated to creating the best episode possible.

@annclauc

#AskSharon What inspired Alchemy?

Sharon Lee Watson ‏

It started with the idea of grief and the possibility of never recovering from it. That led to the UnSub story and then Reid.

@VLJH

#AskSharon Thanks for chatting! What did you enjoy most about “Alchemy” as you worked on the script?

Sharon Lee Watson ‏

Figuring out how to work a scene with Reid and Maeve into the script.

@spencer_borup

#asksharon When do you plan to get back to the copycat killer? The suspense is killing me!

Sharon Lee Watson ‏

Very, very soon!! You’ll know everything within the next few weeks!

@whotheunsub

#AskSharon What was your favorite line from Alchemy?

Sharon Lee Watson ‏

Hard to say. I’d have to say Rossi’s line,”That’s the fourth Mrs. Rossi if I’m not careful.” and Maeve’s very last line.

@LuvForGubler

#AskSharon Did you watch Alchemy on TV yet?? How does it feel to see your own work on TV like that?

Sharon Lee Watson

Yes, I saw it last night! It’s actually hard to watch my own work. All I think of are the things that could’ve been better.

@AeolianMinor

#AskSharon what was the inspiration for the flesh behind the wall scene?

Sharon Lee Watson ‏

I’m not really sure! I knew I needed something scary to happen in the hallway and this just came into my head. Weird, huh?

@HopeBraswell

#AskSharon How do you come up with the name of each episode?

Sharon Lee Watson ‏

Titles are actually really hard for me. I usually wait until the last minute, well after the script is written.

@JenniferJareau2

#AskSharon If you have a storyline idea what’s the process to get it approved?

Sharon Lee Watson ‏

It’s approved first by the other writers, then we submit the idea to the studio and network.

@rickdunkle

Was the wall breathing a metaphor for how there should be a door put in connecting the offices of @iKimHarrison & @rickdunkle ? #asksharon

Sharon Lee Watson ‏

YES. ABSOLUTELY. You read my mind.

@mggforever

#AskSharon more details about Blake and Strauss`s relationship?

Sharon Lee Watson ‏

You’ll get details in episode 23, “Brothers Hotchner” written by the awesome @rickdunkle

@KeepDifferent

What is your favourite book? #AskSharon

Sharon Lee Watson ‏

I have a lot but The Great Gatsby is always on the list.

@WedNightGirls

#AskSharon will we have more sassy Rossi in the next episodes? LOL

Sharon Lee Watson ‏

I hope so. Love sassy Rossi!

@annajespersen1

#AskSharon Is the dialogue ever altered from the script during filming, if so do you get input from the crew?

Sharon Lee Watson ‏

Yes, it gets altered, especially if the dialogue doesn’t make sense for the way the scene is blocked on the day of filming.

@gublerfanlori

#AskSharon do you prefer writing creepy ones like Alchemy and Heathridge Manor, or case driven ones like True Genius and Magnificent Light

Sharon Lee Watson

I like both! Mixing it up helps keeps things fresher as a writer.

@Just_Jasper

As there any issue about getting the Rossi ‘bad acid trip’ joke through? #AskSharon

Sharon Lee Watson ‏

No, not at all. And he delivered that line so well.

@TRDye76

Will Aaron always be so dry? Can he open some vulnerability? #AskSharon

Sharon Lee Watson ‏

Stay tuned for ep 23, ‘Brothers Hotchner.’

@NittyMcNitpickr

#AskSharon Why did Reid say he didn’t know how to dance when talking to Rossi? He danced in last year’s finale.

Sharon Lee Watson

I can’t dance either but sometimes I dance. Hope that makes sense.

@MGG3980

#AskSharon This episode felt a little like the Shining was that a reference used.

Sharon Lee Watson ‏

You’re not wrong. Matthew and I both love the Shining. For me, it’s the best horror movie ever made.

@BAU_United

#AskSharon Do you have any nice plans for the hiatus? You all deserve a relaxing break

Sharon Lee Watson ‏

Right after this chat, I’m leaving the office and won’t be back till season 9!

@gublerfanlori

#AskSharon did you write Alchemy knowing. @GUBLERNATION would be directing it, or was it luck of the draw?

Sharon Lee Watson ‏

I knew Matthew would be directing it so it was written with him in mind.

@Just_Jasper

Why are we on ep 21 still with no substantial focus on Blake? #AskSharon

Sharon Lee Watson ‏

Because we’ll focusing on her in a major way in the last two episodes. We’ve just been saving her up.

@sassysis57

Is it fun to write lines for Garcia?

Sharon Lee Watson ‏

Yes, especially because Kiersten is SO GOOD at delivering a mouthful of dialogue.

@wordofwyrd

#AskSharon there’s been a lot of female unsubs this season, is this on purpose?

Sharon Lee Watson ‏

In some ways, yes. It wasn’t a conscious choice to have a certain # of female unsubs but we do try to vary them.

@einberg_kristi

#asksharon best part writing an episode?

Sharon Lee Watson ‏

I like writing the first draft, when anything is possible and before all the notes.

@Mistree5smurf

#AskSharon what do you think of the #CM9 campaign?

Sharon Lee Watson ‏

It’s awesome!! Hopefully it gets us picked up!

@sassysis57

Any chance we will see a case worked between the CM team and Emily (Paget) from the UK? #AskSharon

Sharon Lee Watson ‏

Great idea. Would love to go London for a case.

@Kaitlicana

#AskSharon will there be more focus on Jj in this season or season 9?

Sharon Lee Watson ‏

Check out next weeks episode, “Nanny Dearest”

@Doggymolly

#AskSharon We love CM in the UK and this season has been amazing (so far) What has been the hardest episode to write?

Sharon Lee Watson ‏

Of all my CM episodes, ‘True Genius’ was the hardest to write because all the Zodiac codes had to be accurate.

@lintusflower

#AskSharon do you prefer writing sad episodes, funny episodes, or creepy ones?

Sharon Lee Watson ‏

All of the above. The ideal episodes have a little bit of everything.

@NittyMcNitpickr

#AskSharon Btw, Claudia was cool as the cop— great to see her again. Did you see her in The Hidden (with Kyle MacLachlan)?

Sharon Lee Watson ‏

I did not see The Hidden but I agree – Claudia was terrific.

@antonialerner21

#AskSharon what is the source of the information about profiling? is it all true?

Sharon Lee Watson ‏

The source is our amazing FBI consultant, @jimclemente. It is all true.

@Fasten8Designs

#asksharon How do you keep track of the back stories of all of these characters and how do you decide what to bring into a future storyline?

Sharon Lee Watson ‏

We have a great support staff that keeps track of everything. It’s usually a writer’s personal choice of what to bring back

@AVFerreira

Would you like to write an episode that was out fo the usual parameters for CM? Something Darin-Morganesque? #AskSharon

Sharon Lee Watson ‏

YES!!! Would love that. Darin Morgan wrote my favorite x-files episodes.

@TwilighttilDawn

#AskSharon Thank you for writting such emotional scenes about Reid’s loss. @JoeMantegna and @GUBLERNATION scenes were wonderful!

Sharon Lee Watson

You’re welcome. And thank you for watching!

Sharon Lee Watson

My time is up! Great chatting with you all. Thanks for all the awesome questions. Let’s all make noise and get the show back for season 9!

Here is a wonderful review of Criminal Minds Episode 8.20 “Alchemy”. It is written by Meredith Jacobs over at The Examiner. “Alchemy was written by Sharon Lee Watson and Directed by series star Matthew Gray Gubler.

Back in 2011, Matthew Gray Gubler participated in a Funny or Die skit with his buddy Adam Nee , who appeared at the beginning of Criminal Minds episode 8.20 “Alchemy”, directed by Gubler.

With Superman busy “working on his novel,” and getting drunk for 6 months, Lex Luthor invites Green Lantern (Gubler) onto his talk show, “Lex Talk,” where he baits him into calling Superman out.

 Here we present Clark Kent Has A Dream-Episode 4. Enjoy!!!

To date, series star Matthew Gray Gubler has now directed 7 episodes of CBS procedural Criminal Minds, and Meredith Jacobs from Buddy TV recently took the time to rank them on level of creepiness. A huge fan of horror, Gubler is known for leaning towards the bizarre when directing his episodes. Here is how they are ranked from tame to scare the pants off ya! Can you guess which is Number 1?

Sometimes you know exactly what to expect when you look at the writer or director of an episode of your favorite show. That’s true when Matthew Gray Gubler is the director of a Criminal Minds episode, because out of the seven episodes that he has directed, six of them are filled with images you expect to find in a horror movie. Read on to revisit the episodes he’s been behind the camera for and see which of his episodes I’ve ranked as the creepiest.

#7 Lauren

This episode may not be creepy like the others, but it’s one of the most personal cases for the team ever, and tensions were high, as viewers feared just what Ian Doyle would do to Prentiss. Sure, we as viewers knew that Emily survived, but her team members didn’t. 

#6 Alchemy

The case in this episode wasn’t particularly interesting, but everything about the location (a creepy lodge with skin-like walls) helped keep the vibe going that we expect from episodes directed by the series star.   

#5 Gatekeeper

There are few things more unsettling than a dangerous voyeur, and this UnSub saw himself in a protective role, proving he was strong after losing his child, and he kept a scrapbook that should never see the light of day as proof.   

#4 Heathridge Manor

The team was called in when a woman was found dead in an abandoned asylum, the UnSub kept his victims in a well, there was talk of the devil, and just when you thought that the UnSub’s sister was going to be free of the madness, it came knocking on her front door. Yet, this is only the fourth creepiest MGG-directed episode. 

#3 The Lesson

The UnSub made his victims into human marionettes, dislocating body parts in order to manipulate them himself, and he even put on shows for audiences, only the audience, like much of what he thought was real, was made up of toys. This is one of those episodes that left you cringing, with images that stayed in your head long after the final scene.   

#2 Mosely Lane

When children are involved, it’s always worse. Add in a Hansel and Gretal vibe, a crematorium, kidnappings going back years and just the image below, and you’ve got all the making of a good ol’ horror story made for Criminal Minds.  

Last but certainly not least, we have reached Number 1. Was there ever any doubt that Wednesday night’s creep fest would top this list?

#1 Blood Relations

This episode could top this list because of the image of the victim’s head completely twisted around alone. Throw in a baby of incest as the UnSub, what he did to the woman who raised him after she died and the fact that he somehow survived despite all those bullets the BAU put in the lake, and it easily “wins.”