1) Were you familiar with the Tanya Huff books prior
to appearing on the show?
Not at all. Though I do have a friend named Tanya
who's always in a huff.
2) Had you worked with any of the cast or crew prior
to Blood Ties?
Yes, the lovely Costume Designer Angelina Kekich - she
did the costumes for a long-running play I did at the
Arts Club Theatre in Vancouver last year. I've also
worked on a few films with stunt co-ordinator Owen
Walstrom - including Devil Winds and The Thing Below.
One of the writers, Mark Leiren Young, I know from the
theatre scene way back. And I knew some crew members -
you usually run into at least a few folks on each show
from another you've done.
3) How would you describe your character? What
appealed to you about this character or why did you
want this role?
I actually auditioned for a different role, but the
director liked something about my audition and offered
me this part, which is a better role. Allan Kroeker is
a great director AND a really nice guy, so I wanted to
work with him.
As to my character, originally I liked the arc - the
fact that we feel for him at first, but wonder if we
should, whether we believe him, as we go along.
Unfortunately, due to time restraints, we lost a
really nice scene with myself and Vicki, Christina
Cox's character, that gave him more dimension, and the
audience more of a reason to believe him. So it goes.
4) Episode 6 was the first episode filmed for the
series. You are in the first scene of the episode.
What was it like working on the set? Any lasting
memories from that experience?
The first script reading was the first time the whole
cast had been together ever, so that was interesting,
everyone just meeting and that whole thing. On set, I
was impressed at the director's ability to remain calm
and even happy despite the madness - first days are
always tough, and especially on location.
I changed my shirt behind a tent at one point to save
time, and I remember the director saying, "I love
theatre actors, they'll change anywhere." And he
recounted a funny story about the excellent actress
Cloris Leachman, who is a veteran of stage and screen.
So I felt in good company.
5) You are in two major scenes in this episode, one
where you hire Vicky Nelson's services and one where
your character is being arrested. Which one was filmed
first and were they filmed on the same day?
We filmed my arrest the first day, which is a tough
emotional scene, or was on the day because of what the
director was asking me to bring and what I wanted to
bring. We tried it a few different ways, and I enjoyed
it, because, again, Allan is a very supportive
director. We shot the other scenes on two other days,
one on location at a nice golf club, the other in the
studio.
6) Your character owns a very beautiful mansion. How
was it working on that location set? Did you actually
film at someone's home or in a studio?
It was someone's beautiful monster house in Maple
Ridge, east of Vancouver. I prefer a cabin by a
stream. The best part for me is that my dear friends
live nearby, so they all came down to watch the
action.
7) Who is the first person you told that you got the
role on Blood Ties?
My mom. She was in town and came with me when I
auditioned, so I called to thank her for being my good
luck charm. I have had some family luck that way - my
niece Jessica and nephew Joe were in town from back
east and came with me to a film audition a few years
back. They were there when I got the offer for the
role - a lead, when I had auditioned for a smaller
role. So again, I was offered a bigger, better role
than I read for. I guess I should have my family visit
more often!
8) How did you celebrate getting this role?
I was bicycling on Galiano Island with my wife and
daughter when my agent called. We just cycled on,
enjoying the beautiful scenery, and I avoided the
temptation to throw my cell phone in the ocean (happy
to get the part, but cell phones on an island...)
Then I went to hear Raffi( www.raffinews.com ) speak
about his new Child Honoring book, and bought it and
his fab new CD, Resisto Dancing, which also features
the Dalai Lama and Dr. Jane Goodall. We grooved the
night away to something other than Baby Beluga.
9) Is Blood Ties the kind of show that you would
watch, beyond the episode that you guest starred in?
I rarely watch TV, except for nature programs and a
few kids shows that my daughter likes - High 5 and
Kids CBC stuff. Maybe when I was younger. It's the
type of show most of my family back east would watch
though.
10) What are your upcoming projects?
I'm playing John in Miss Saigon this summer, and
performing at festivals with my stiltwalking
characters. I'm recording my second CD soon, and
publishing my first book: Buy Less, Be Happy. And I'll
do some more film and TV work, just auditioned for The
4400 and a new feature film. And I heard a rumor about
SlapShot 3 - my character, Dickie Schenkman is back
from SS 2 in the new script, which is already written
by Hollywood screenwriter Broderick Miller - so we'll
see if Universal is finally ready to go ahead.
I'm most excited about a play I'm writing now for
youth, about global warming and interconnectedness.
It's based on the writings and ideas of the great
scientist and environmentalist Dr. David Suzuki (see www.davidsuzuki.org).
There's a great film about him called Suzuki Speaks
(see/buy it atwww.avantipics.com) and that inspired my wife and I to
create this play, and tour it around the world, with
the lowest possible eco footprint. So that's a big
project, because, as everyone knows, global warming is
undeniable and it's time for all of us to act, and
quickly.
More info on my projects is available at my site, www.ku-alproductions.com, which will be updated by May
2007.
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