Chicago Fire not only takes place in Chicago, it is also filmed there. Because of that, the city and their fire department are a big part of this hot drama. I spoke with Jesse Spencer at the NBC TCA Winter Press Day and he talked about that and the deep respect he has for them.
Ever since the Great Chicago Fire in 1871, the fire department there has not only become an integral part of Chicago, but also for the rest of the world. He told us that several of the firefighting instruments that the firemen use today have come out of that city. The Chicago FD is a big part of firefighters’ history and now the show is being welcomed in as part of their history.
The actors trained with them as part of their preparation for their roles on Chicago Fire. It didn’t stop with just the training for them because the firefighters are also on the set all the time. They use real firemen on the set and in scenes, and he said that some of them had an issue about the filming process. He explained when they are risking their lives to fight a fire; they do it for a few hours, go back to the station and get out of the gear. They are not used to wearing the 65lbs., yes 65 pounds, of gear for half a day. In a way, the firefighters have learned how tedious it is to work on a Hollywood production just like the actors have learned how tough, hard and rewarding a fireman’s job is on daily basis.
So what happens when they are done filming for the day? Do they go their separate ways? When I asked if he interacts with the brave men when the cameras stop rolling, he said, “We hang out. They have become our friends. We go to Blackhawks games and football games. They had a hockey game, and we went to that. It’s great.” Then he added, “They have welcomed us in. Which we are extremely grateful for that because you don’t know how they are going to react to the show that is portraying them and how it is going to be.” He ended his answer by saying, “They love the show. It is a win/win.”
Chicago Fire is a realistic portrayal of the city’s fire department and it something that Jesse Spencer takes very seriously. Because they have welcomed in the inspiration of their show into their lives, the fire department has done the same with them. How many other shows can say that? Even he couldn’t think of an answer to that question.
So watch how both of them play a role in each other’s jobs every Tuesday at 10p on NBC.
