Give Characters Jobs: Numb3rs

In a commentary on Numb3rs, Rob Morrow complains about shots that position an actor at one point in the room, just to have the actor  start walking as the camera begins to roll. 

Why are they coming from that direction? What are they doing? Why? 

Either Morrow or another actor comments that directors prefer to have characters do stuff, not simply stand around waiting to deliver their lines. In an early episode of Numb3rs, Alan Eppes (Judd Hirsch) is feeding a bird while he talks to his sons rather than simply standing (conveniently) in the same room. 

I'm a big fan of characters having jobs, and I've always liked the fact that Numb3rs gave its guest experts stuff to do (other than being the Big Bad of the week). Chris Bauer as Professor Galuski, for example, is a useful character. He bridges the two worlds of academe and FBI since he visits locations with agents; discusses speed and velocity and other matters with Charlie; and gives Alan a bosom buddy, someone who takes a less intellectual, more hands-on approach to engineering problems. 

Themes naturally arise from these interactions, such as understanding based on abstract theory versus understanding based on experience. 

Give a character a task--all kinds of positive writing possibilities will follow!