Behind the Scenes – Twin Peaks Inserts Shot on November 20, 1989

With the passage of time, my fascination of how Mark Frost, David Lynch and the entire Twin Peaks crew created the show continues growing. I love understanding how exactly the show was assembled. Thanks to a production memo from a DVD extra, we learn which “insert shots” were captured on November 20, 1989 during production of the show’s first season.

MEMO FROM GREGG FIENBERG ON NOVEMBER 18, 1989

On November 18, 1989, Twin Peaks producer Gregg Fienberg published a memo on Lynch / Frost Productions letterhead to “all concerned.”

The memo stated which inserts were to be shot on Monday, November 20. This memo was cut into two images from one of the Twin Peaks home video releases and I grabbed the images on my television screen with my iPhone (still figuring out which set).

According to filmsite.org, an insert shot is “a shot that occurs in the middle of a larger scene or shot, usually a close-up of some detail or object, that draws audience attention, provides specific information, or simply breaks up the film sequence.” An insert shot is typically filmed at a different focal length or angle from the master shot. It’s not a cutaway shot since that kind of shot includes action not covered in the master shot.

This memo offers a fascinating look at which episodes had been mostly produced by mid-November 1989 including episodes 1.001, 1.003, 1.004, 1.005 and 1.006. The remaining two were shot after the memo – the David Lynch-directed episode 1.002 and the Mark Frost-directed season one finale, episode 1.007.

Gregg was the production manager and producer for the show’s first season. He makes a small cameo appearance in the “Twin Peaks Access Guide to the Town” playing Tom from Tim and Tom’s Taxi-Dermy.

So let’s breakdown which inserts, with the exception of one scene, were captured at the City Studios in Van Nuys, California on November 20, 1989.

EPISODE 1.001 – SCENE 22 | EILEEN HAYWARD’S STOP GHOSTWOOD SIGN

In episode 1.001, Eileen Hayward is sitting in her living room coloring a sign. I always wondered what she was making. The memo states:

Int. Hayward Living Room
Eileen Hayward filing in “Stop Ghostwood” sign
(Need Eileen wardrobe / Jewelry)

Upon closer examination, she is coloring the letter “G.” There must have been a close-up shot of her coloring the sign that we don’t see in the broadcast. Look even closer and you’ll see printouts of the “Say No to Ghostwood” sign next to her.

It’s this sign seen on a bulletin board in the Double R Diner from an image released with the David Lynch Music Company’s “Twin Peaks Archive” in the early 2010s.

EPISODE 1.001 – SCENE 66 | LEO JOHNSON’S FOOTBALL

An insert of Leo Johnson cutting into a football is found in episode 1.001. He’s seen cutting into it next to a sunflower napkin holder that fellow Bookhouse Boy Vinnie Guidera identified.

The scene called for multiple footballs.

Int. Leo’s Kitchen
Leo cuts the football (need 4 footballs and knife)
(Need Leo Wardrobe / Jewelry)

This is the master shot of Leo cutting the football. Notice how the position of the napkin holder doesn’t match its position in the insert. It’s a great example of how the shot the master at a different time.

EPISODE 1.005 – SCENE 61 | SWINGING LAMP IN LEO’S KITCHEN

The insert of the swinging lamp from the Johnson house kitchen in episode 1.005 was “added tonight.” This could mean the crew decided to add that shot on Monday, November 20.

The memo describes the action:

Int. Leo’s Kitchen – ADDED TONIGHT
Swinging Lamp after Gunshot (No actors)

Unlike some of the other inserts shot captured on that day in November, this scene only called for the lamp. The crew set the lamp in motion and then let the cameras roll.

EPISODE 1.001 – SCENE | DR. JACOBY’S OFFICE ENTRANCE

Most likely the crew captured a shot similar to this one found in episode 1.006 just before Dr. Jacoby opened the door to pick up the envelope left for him. The shot for episode 1.001. is missing.

Rather than use an establishing shot for Jacoby’s office, the action cuts from Mike Nelson and Bobby Briggs sitting in a car by Donna Hayward’s house to Jacoby putting a cassette into a cassette deck. Probably moved the action along faster than trying to establish Dr. Jacoby’s practice.

EPISODE 1.001 – SCENE | DR. JACOBY’S DESK

The memo called for “C.U. on something funny on Jacoby’s Desk.” There is a deleted scene with Dr. Jacoby dancing to “Dance of the Dream Man” while opening mail. That scene opens with a close-up (or C.U.) of lighted blow fish in a fish tank. This could be the “funny thing” but the camera pulls away from the tank to focus on Jacoby dancing. The real “funny close up” is still missing.

EPISODE 1.003 – SCENE 2 | GREAT NORTHERN DINING ROOM NOTE

We jump to episode 1.003 when Special Agent Dale Cooper speaks with Audrey Horne just before breakfast in the Great Northern Hotel dining room. The memo describes the straightforward scene:

Int. Great Northern Dining Room
Audreys [sic] note in Cooper’s Hand
(Need Cooper Wardrobe / Jewelry)

EPISODE 1.004 – SCENE 64, 65 | DRAWING OF DOMINO

Next up is Josie Packard at the Blue Pine Lodge. She is opening mail in the kitchen and discovers a letter from Hank Jennings.

Int. Blue Pine
Josie holding Drawing of Domino

She slowly takes out a rectangular drawing of a 3 / 3 domino.

The grips the domino drawing with both hands and stares at it.

It’s the same domino he sucks on toward the end of episode 1.003 when he calls Mrs. Packard. We’ll see a close up of the domino key chain in episode 1.004 during Hank’s parole hearing.

EPISODE 1.004 – SCENE 7 | SPEAKER PHONE

Cooper will speak to his boss Regional Bureau Chief Gordon Cole via a Duōfone electronic telephone amplifier system in episode 1.004. This image is begging for a deeper dive into the exact prop, but it appears to be a Realistic telephone device once sold at Radio Shack.

Int. Sheriff’s Interrogation A
Speaker phone on Desk

The memo identifies this room as “Interrogation A.” I always thought it was the Conference Room but perhaps this is how the crew identified it on set.

EPISODE 1.005 – SCENE 16, 17, 18 | FLESHWORLD IMAGES

Gregg encourages the crew not to panic with these next set of shots.

Int. Jacques (Don’t Panic – Need Dressing Only)
Fleshworld Pictures: Laura’s Pic
Pic of Leo’s Truck
(Need Cooper  wardrobe Jewelry)

The image of Leo Johnson’s truck was captured in Mailbou Lake, California outside the Johnson House location.

It’s a different shot that is seen in the pilot episode which was captured in Snoqualmie, Washington.

The second image is of Laura Palmer but with only her body showing.

Cooper uses a magnify glass to check the drape colors which happen to match the drapes in Jacques Renault’s cabin.

EPISODE 1.005 – SCENE 16, 17, 18 | JACQUES’ CABIN

Speaking of his cabin, the insert shot of Cooper examining the drapes was also captured on November 20. There is a pan down shot of the cabinet panel that appears earlier in the shot. It may have been captured during the original shoot.

We get a better look at Jacques’ cabin when Cooper puts away his magnify glass.

This would have wrapped all the insert shots listed in the memo but there were handwritten notes for three more scenes.

EPISODE 1.004 – SCENE | “BOB” POSTER / FBI FAX

The first shot is Cooper holding Deputy Andy Brennan’s sketch of Killer BOB which he drew at the Palmer House.

The second is a “shot of FBI Fax,” which is also from episode 1.004. Sheriff Truman holds up the fax transmission wit a reconstructed poker chip from One Eyed Jacks.

EPISODE 1.001 – MORGUE SIGN

There was one more shot that the crew said they “will  get Tuesday” (November 21, 1989)

This was the shot of the Oxygen Storage and Morgue from the Calhoun Memorial Hospital. Deputy Hawk stares at this blue-hued sign after losing the One-Armed Man in the hospital’s hallways.

This wraps up a look at the insert shots from November 1989. This article helped me look for other insert shots throughout the series.