Interview With Pam Roylance of
              "Little Hou se: A New Beginning"

By Aaron Pacentine, of VideosForFamily.com

(Summer 2000)

1. How did you get the part of Sarah Carter?

I got the part of Sarah Carter on Little House via a standard audition
process. My agent submitted my 8x10 photo to Susan McCray, the casting
director, and she brought me in for the first reading. She liked what I did
and refered me on to Michael Landon.

2. What is your favorite Little House Episode?

                                   My favorite Little House episode was titled: The Last Summer, with
Vera Miles,  my son Jason, and myself.

3. Were you ever close to any of the cast members of "Little House"?

              I was close with most of the cast members who worked on the show the year
I joined the cast. I was closest to Stan Ivar, Lindsay Kennedy, David
Friedman, Leslie Landon, and Melissa Gilbert. But we were all a close cast
and crew.

4. What did you do when working on the set?
 

Our work day generally began at 6:30 for makeup, and 8:00 for the first
shot. We usually ended by 6pm. Michael enjoyed getting home to his family on
time. It would take 7 working days to film one episode. You were called to
the set when it was time to shoot your scene. The lights and camera would be
pre-set.

5. What kinds of things did you do when shooting a
episode, going through a scene ect.

Michael would walk us through the action and explain what he wanted
movement-wise and emotionally. If you had any questions after that, he would
answer them, but usually he hit all the bases and you'd find your questions
answered before you had even asked. He was an actor's director. He knew how
an actor thought, and what an actor needed. (I remember Michael requesting
quiet on the set during this time. Crew was to go about their work without
disturbing the actors or Mike as he set the shots with them.) Then, if you
were clear on everything, he turned the set back over to the crew and the
stand-ins, allowing them a final opportunity to set the lights and camera. At
this point, it was the actors who were to stay out of the crew's way. When
they were ready, we were again called to the set and shooting began.

6. What did you think of the final
Little House Movie "Little House: The Last Farewell"?

I thought Little House: The Last Farewell was a good script. It was very
sad to shoot it however. The town had been blown to pieces the day before.
It looked like a tornado had ripped through it. Nine years of memories were on
the ground for most of those cast members, and it was very difficult for them
to see that. It was hard for me, and I had only been with the show one season.

7. Were you in favor of the town blowing up,
or did you want to keep the series going?

I wish the show hadn't come to an end. But, I guess all good things do.
 

8. Do you have any e-mail address
to any of your other fellow cast members?

I'm sorry, I cannot give out addresses.

                     9. Is there any chance for a Little House on the Prairie Movie with the
cast coming back, to share memories, and " behind the scenes" stuff?

Universal Studios is writing a Little House movie. Ed Friendly is
involved, but no one else from the TV series is, and
they will not be casting any original cast members.
 

10. What age were you when you started "Little House"?

I was 29 or 30 years old when I was on Little House.

11. What was your audition like for Little House?
Did you get hired on the spot,
or did you have many callbacks?

I think I remember about six auditions before I finally locked in the part
of Sarah Carter. My first audition was only with Susan Sukman-McCray, the
casting director. I didn't hear from her again for over a month because
Michael was out of town, but I remember she told my agent not to worry, they
would definitely be back in touch. Then I read for Mike. I walked upstairs
to the casting office, and there he was coming down the hall toward me. What
a rush that was to see such a superstar. I remember trying to control my
nerves! After I read the scene he said: "Terrific!" And he sounded very
geniune. He did call my agent, however and mention that I needed to lose some
weight. I went on a crash diet, quit my job at the chocolate factory,
borrowed some money from my parents to live on, joined a gym and started that
diet that day! A week or so later I was called back into his office. I had
lost some weight by then, and I bought an old fashioned girdle and a prairie
dress which I cinched myself into, making it look as though I had lost even
more weight. Michael was impressed by the noticeable change, and later told
me it had impressed him. By that time, it was down to one other actress and
myself. I thought surely, she would get cast. I was paired up with Stan Ivar, who
had already been cast to play John Carter. We looked like a good match, so we
were brought back again and matched with the kids. The final audition was
before a half a dozen executives at NBC, but Mike assured us that it did not
matter what they thought, he wanted us, and he was the executive producer.
The rest is history.

12. What bloopers or inconsistencies did you notice in Little House?

Can't think of any bloopers or inconsistencies with the show.

                    13. What kind of things do you remember that Michael Landon has taught you
(that you won't forget) ?

Mike had a gift for listening and a great sense of humor. He was also
extremely professional. These are all gifts he left all of us.
 

14. Where was Little House filmed?
Are any of the buildings on the set still standing
(I have heard they are on a working
ranch in CA, but not open to the public. What can you tell me about this?)

"Little House on the Prairie" was filmed at 2 locations.
The interior shots were done on a sound
studio at MGM/Lorimar in Culver City, CA. The exterior shots...the whole
town...was out in Simi Valley, CA off of Tapo Canyon road on some oil
property. None of it remains. The reason for blowing up the town in the
final episode, "Little House: The Last Farewell"
the reason for that story is, because the people who owned
the land requested that it be left the way it was found when the filming
ended. The only thing that was spared was the Little House. One of our cast
members has it on his personal ranch, which is not open to the public.

14. What is the funniest thing that ever happened on the show?

15. Have you read the Little House books?

Yes, I have read all of the Little House Books.

16. Did you read the books as a child,
or after you were cast as Sarah Carter ?

I read them as a child, and remember loving them.

17. Do you still keep in touch with any of the cast members?

I still keep in touch with several cast members.

18. Who were you closest to during the show?

I was closest with Stan, David and Lindsay, The Carter Family

19. Is there one fond memory you
would care to share about Michael Landon?

20. There have been rumours of a reunion show set in De Smet,
after Pa dies. Do you know anything about this?

I don't know anything about a reunion show.

21. How has your life changed by playing Sarah?

Playing on Little House was a dream come true for me. When I left Portland, OR to
develop a professional acting career, I just wanted to get on Little House, Eight is
Enough, The Waltons or any Disney project. So, Little House was an answer to a goal.
It gave me confidence that I could be a contender. It taught me the skills
and techniques of being in front of a camera. It gave me a solid foundation
for being professional in my work.

22. Have you ever been to any of the
Little House/Laura Ingalls Wilder sites?
Have you been to any of the special festivals or pageants?

I have not yet been to any of the Little House sites, festivals or pageants.

23. Is there a fond memory you
would care to share about Michael Landon?

Fond memory of Michael Landon: Our first day on the job, Mike pulled Stan and
me aside and said: "Whatever you do, have fun this year. Don't let your
publicity get to you. Just enjoy each other, and make it a fun year." And we
did, and it was.