Lake Bell, what attracted you to this project?

Bell: I wasn't a huge science-fiction person when I got into this. It wasn't like, "Oh, I definitely want to do something science-fiction." I read it and thought, here are three real, flawed people walking around in the world that aren't these extraordinary heroes. They didn't ask to be touched by this experience, but nevertheless they've had a close encounter and they have that need and that drive to find out more. There must be a lot of effects shots in this series. Have you ever dealt with that before?

Bell: This is definitely the first time that I'm working so extensively with the green screen. It's always going to be challenging, I think, doing that, because you're sort of standing there looking there at a camera and the crew guys and pretending that you're seeing this massive unidentified species. So it definitely tests your imagination and your ability to sort of create things in your brain, which is great, because if you're doing a law show, that doesn't get tested very often, and [it] makes my job far more interesting.Do they show you what the final effects are going to look like while you're filming?

Bell: Yeah. They do. They showed us a little bit here and there. But I think they try to keep everything kind of mysterious, for us as well, because we don't read anything or know anything beyond the episode we're working on. Which I guess is sort of normal for most science-fiction films or shows. You know what your character knows.That must make it difficult for you to talk about.

Bell: It is hard. We did a big conference call this morning, and it was constantly like, "Can you divulge anything? What it looks like or where it's going? Can it go on land?" And the truth is, obviously we can't say all of those things.Your story is just a third of the whole story. Do you think they'll eventually join the threads into one?

Bell: The idea is that these three people around the nation, the reason why the audience is following them is because eventually they do come together. The Pates often refer to this series as sort of a book or a bible, like Harry Potter. You don't sit down and watch it all at once. It's the first chapter, the second chapter. And a lot happens in each chapter. And the truth is, it's only the tip of the iceberg, the unidentified species. That's what they told us. And to usually expect the unexpected.As you do more episodes, do you find that the writers are tailoring the character to you and your particular strengths?

Bell: Yeah. That's the greatest thing about this show. I feel that the Pates have really created this atmosphere that is unlike any TV show I've worked on. It's very much a collaborative process and a creative process, which I think a lot of times on TV gets swallowed, and nobody ever really notices. It's very cooperative.Do you get a chance to contribute your own ideas for the character?

Bell: I think, filming in Wilmington, there's not a lot to do here. It's sort of like we're a family here. I don't know anyone. So it's like all I do is work, work, work, which allows me to get creative and inspired about the work. Like "Oh, what about this line?" Or "That's a good idea." You sort of work with the directors. It's an imaginative process over here. We're talking about things that don't exist, or maybe will one day, I don't know. I improv in scenes. I mean, that's unheard of in most network television. They're like, "Go for it." I mean, "Go for it" is not the three words you hear on traditional shows.Are there scary moments in the show, too?

Bell: Look, the ocean in itself is scary. The ocean has so many unanswered questions. We know more about the surface of the moon than we do about the surface of the Earth, because water covers more of the surface of the Earth than land does. It goes as deep as Mount Everest is high. I mean, it's impossible for us to get that low. It's a real concept. Right now, in the world, we don't know hardly anything about the ocean. And it is scary for that reason. And it's scary because it's unknown, and the unknown scares us. But the truth is, it's not a mean show. It's not a dark and mean horror show. It's got a wide emotional palette that deals with discovery and the need to explore and that sort of wonderment.I've heard that you're a little afraid of the water yourself.

Bell: I'm very afraid of the ocean and water. Which is funny, considering I'm a marine biologist. I'm sort of a little daunted by what can eat me. Now that I'm working on this show, on this show I'm even more self-conscious about things that exist that I can't see underneath my feet when I'm swimming.

What about you, Jay? Are you as afraid of the water as Lake?

Ferguson: Growing up, I definitely participated in a lot of those type of things, but it's been a while. But I certainly am polishing up that we're going to be in the water quite a bit. I certainly suffer from a similar phobia. Mine's more about sharks. Sharks have always been a big fear of mine. Does a project like this help or make it worse?

Ferguson: It's easier. Once you can put on the gear and go underneath the surface, see what's down there, it helps you to be a little more comfortable when you're floating.What part does your character play in the story?

Ferguson: I suppose that while you have Lake's character, that's the brain, and Carter's character, who's kind of the heart, my character is kind of the muscle. The crazy person. They're driven out of curiosity; I'm driven a little bit more out of a feeling for revenge and anger and wanting to hunt this thing.He's driven by the death of his brother?

Ferguson: Everyone in the story is affected in a different way, driven by their own set of circumstances. My set of circumstances are grown out of—or birthed out of—a hatred and a kind of need for truth and closure from the result of my brother being taken. And that is certainly what drives me to find out what's going on and what, if any, truth there is to be found. Like you, your character comes from the South. Were you concerned about not portraying him as a stereotype?

Ferguson: No, because I've grown up around all of those type of people, and my family, practically one whole side of my family is my character. I have about 10 uncles to base my character on. So it's a representation that I feel pretty comfortable with and very true. Not a caricature. I'm not a guy who's having to completely draw from his imagination—which, hopefully, if I had to do that, I'd still be able to do a good job—but I am fortunate enough to have a knowledge of this culture.How has your character progressed since you first started filming the series?

Ferguson: I think that they're really taking a lot of liberties with me and giving me a lot of meat. And they haven't really had anything to base it on. They've been taking chances, giving me really good stuff and challenging me constantly. It's almost ironic that I'm on a show that is the nature of this show, yet I'm really getting a lot of great acting opportunities. And that's surprising, for a show like this to also offer some good drama and good character development, and relationships that are real and everyday people that have everyday problems.Do you feel that it's due to the Pate brothers?

Ferguson: It's absolutely because of the Pate brothers. The Pate brothers and their writing staff. It's a huge operation now that involves many people, but it starts with the Pates and trickles down from their minds to the writers' pens and then onto the page and then reworked and reworked until we put it on the screen.With Josh in L.A. and Jonas in Wilmington, do you feel that they still have a single consistent vision for the show?

Ferguson: It's great, though. They could not be any more twins, in mind, body and spirit. They each are their own individual person, but as far as their creative sense goes, they know exactly what they want, and one would never misrepresent the other.Have they also kept you in the dark about the mystery of the show?

Ferguson: Yeah. I'm eager to see what they'll come up with, knowing what we've done thus far. It's already just so big, constantly, that it's going to be great. I can't wait. We just don't know anything about the future. We know what we know thus far, and that's it.This is your first science-fiction project, isn't it?

Ferguson: I think that there needs to be some new term or phrase or classification that kind of touches on that. To me, sci-fi is Star Trek or Star Wars. This is almost like something that could be real. You think of a new species popping up in the ocean, and if you saw that in the headlines of today's paper you wouldn't be that shocked. It's very, very likely, in fact, that there are several species and several animals that we have yet to see that are in the deep depths of the ocean. Every time we send a submersible down there we end up discovering these new things, seeing new animals we've never seen.

Carter, what attracted you to the project?

Jenkins: It's kind of like, my storyline is almost like E.T. Something like that. Really, what attracted me to this is I have a connection with this thing. My character's sort of alienated from his family, but he has a connection with this pet. It was an awesome script, and it was just really cool and something I would want to watch in real life. The Pate Brothers are really cool and fun guys and good to work with, and it's a great cast.In the scenes with your "pet," is there anything actually there for you to act with?

Jenkins: When I have scenes with it, I'm just talking to nothing, really. And then they add it in later. It's pretty interesting. And it's kind of hard, but it's fun.What's been the most difficult thing for you so far?

Jenkins: There hasn't been anything that's been like, "I don't want to do this." But it was really interesting having scenes with the creature, my pet. I haven't actually seen the final product of those scenes, but it was really fun playing those.Does he have a name for his pet?

Jenkins: I do. I named it. His name's Nim. Short for Nimrod. I think I'm allowed to tell people that. I don't know. I don't see why not. It's not giving anything away.From what I've heard, they're not telling you anything to give away.

Jenkins: No. We've asked them, too. We've said, "Tell us what happens," and they didn't want to. So it's pretty funny. We have no idea.You haven't gotten a chance to work with Jay or Lake yet, have you?

Jenkins: My character hasn't met their characters yet. So that's kind of interesting, because we see each other at lunch and stuff, but other than that we don't have too much contact on the set.Is it strange for you to be way out in North Carolina?

Jenkins: I'm getting used to it. It's definitely very, very different from L.A. And working outside of your home, it's kind of weird because I just focus all on the show. But the people here are pretty cool.You've been working on this for a while, and people are finally going to see it. Are you excited?

Jenkins: I'm really excited about people seeing the show. We've worked really hard, and the Pates have done such a good job, and the writing team. I'm really excited for it to come out and people to go on this adventure.