Lautanen Goes To The Circus

See Also: 'Blood, Sweat & Tears' Episode Guide

CSI: Miami's first assistant director Scott Lautanen took the reins of his first CSI: New York episode this week.

The Big Apple outing proved a greater challenge than the usual CSI episode because it is set at a circus, Lautanen told his home town newspaper, the Star-Beacon. The unusual locale forced Lautanen to break one of the key rules of showbiz — that one should never work with children or animals — as he found himself having to play ringmaster to a group of elephants.

According to CSI Files sources, the episode in question is the fourteenth New York case this season and will be called "Blood, Sweat and Tears". Lautanen told the paper it would take him eight days to prepare for the filming, including location scouting, and a further eight days to actually shoot the episode. Despite the pressure of producing a quality hour of television in such a short period of time, the director said he found the process rewarding: "It's my creative interpretation that ends up on the screen," he said.

Lautanen didn't intend to end up in showbusiness, but worked his way up through the ranks from the mail room at the production company of Aaron Spelling, later joining the behind-the-scenes teams of Love Boat and Dynasty. He has worked at CSI: Miami since the show launched in 2002.

"Blood, Sweat and Tears" won't be Lautanen's first time calling the shots behind the camera, having directed CSI: Miami's "Under the Influence", "Hell Night" and "After the Fall" so far this season. When he's not helming a specific episode, he fills the dual roles of first assistant director and associate producer. "The producer is the business side and the director is the creative side of a show," he said. "It's very rewarding."

The complete interview can be found at the Star-Beacon.

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