1) Blood Ties is your first return to Television after the end of Andromeda. How did you enjoy filming a television show as a guest star versus a regular cast member?
I have done lots of guest stars in the past and will continue to do so. It's fun. you kind of feel like a cowboy. You breeze into town, shoot a few close-ups and then ride off in the sunset, leaving the regulars to do the heavy lifting. Sometimes, when you are a regular in a series, you start to see the writers really delving into the guest characters and you start to sometimes feel like maybe they just don't find your character as "fresh" after five years. Obviously, Blood Ties is just starting out, so all the characters are still fresh. But on Andromeda, by year five, there were lots of things I'd see guest stars getting to do that I wanted to but knew I couldn't because they would fall outside of the well worn parameters of my character. I guess this is a long winded answer saying its fun to do something different.
2) Why did you accept this role on Blood Ties and what about the character appealed to you? I'm an actor. If its a fun or decent role I'll take it. This character in particular was fun too because he was a dad. I can relate to that.
3) What was the first scene you filmed on the show?
Sorry! Can't remember.
4) Was playing a mechanic a stretch for you or do you have interests in fixing cars?
Well I fixed a warship for five years if that counts. I did have to laugh though, as I reached up under the car with a wrench and thought, "Here I go again, pretending to fix things."
5) In an interesting side note for Blood Ties fans, Christina Cox once guest starred on Andromeda as Aleiss in Season 4, Episode 10 and now you guest stared on her show. Did you reminisce with her or even remember working together? We did have a few chuckles. She has a great sense of humour. And she's a smart cookie. I actually knew her before Andromeda and I can't even tell you the first time we met. I think it was a show called FX the Series, or maybe through mutual friends, but I knew her from way back in my Toronto days.
6) Is this the first time you have been able to play a father since becoming a father yourself? Has becoming a father influenced your acting choices and style?
I should have read this question before I answered question 9 (I did them backwards). In a word or two: yes and yes. Being a father makes you more in touch with your emotions. Whenever there are children around you feel like it is your job to be their patron saint and protect them no matter who they belong to.
7) Your character's daughter has an extreme "imaginary friend" named Buttercup. Did you have an imaginary friend as a child?
Yes. My brother. Heh heh.
8) Any lasting memories from your experience on Blood Ties?
It was fast and furious and those new HD cameras sure need a lot of frigging monitors and cables.
9) You have built a wonderful fan base being on a successful sci-fi series but do you want to continue to work in that genre or take your career in another direction?
That's always a funny question. It's like asking a sailor which way he is going to make the wind blow. Even Tom Cruise is at the mercy of his public. We are living in Rome (SO addicted to that show), and if that means I'll have to put on a lion suit and let Marc Antony shoot arrows at me, well I won't have any right to protest. I am simply a peasant actor.
10) What are your upcoming projects?
I have two that I am developing: a black comedy and a surf film (tragi-comedy). That's all I can say. I'm really trying to make that wind blow me behind the camera more. But like I said, I'll just have to wait and see where Zuess and Poseidon take me.
|
