Post by Duerre on Jun 6, 2006 13:31:00 GMT -5
The SciFi Channel’s breakout sci-fi hit STARGATE: ATLANTIS returns with the second half of Season 2 beginning January 6.
Series star Joe Flanigan, took time out from his rest and relaxation during his hiatus to chat with iF MAGAZINE about his being cast in the series, his acting growth as Major Sheppard, and the fun of being a bug in Season 2.
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iF MAGAZINE: When you auditioned did you know you were up for a lead?
JOE FLANIGAN: I liked reading for the lead. I enjoy the process usually. It was very specific to the point of would you like to be the star of this show? That’s what usually peaks my interest.
iF MAGAZINE: What was it like becoming part of a show, which has a sort of established iconic status?
FLANIGAN: I had a few reservations about that. I didn’t always want to be compared to the other shows. Once we started to air that stopped. We were hoping to obviously coattail SG1 in their ratings. We actually haven’t coattailed them in fact we’ve been leading them in the ratings. That was a little bit of a surprise and a good one.
iF MAGAZINE: Joining STARGATE were you coming into the series as a science-fiction fan?
FLANIGAN: I have become one. I was a clean slate. I was tabula rasa when I auditioned. I knew what they were looking for. I understood the character fairly well. Since then, I have watched a few of the STARGATE episodes. What I have seen, I enjoy. I wasn’t a big science fiction aficionado, there were a few films like 2001 or BLADE RUNNER that were favorites of mine, but since I started this series I have gained more respect for the genre and become more of a fan myself.
iF MAGAZINE: You have a rather physical role, how much of the stunt work do you do yourself?
FLANIGAN: A lot of the stunts that my character does are not too severe. They are not major stunts for me; however, if I’m going to fly for more than twenty feet it’s generally a good idea to get a stunt guy. A lot of the other stuff is easier to do.
iF MAGAZINE: What were some of the most unique situations you’ve had as an actor of the series?
FLANIGAN: I once had a bug attached to my neck for the entire episode. That was very uncomfortable. This season I had to turn into a bug, which was challenging. There were a lot of prosthetics and that was interesting. I wouldn’t want to be under prosthetics for too long, but the guys who do ours are such artists and it’s nice to watch them work. As an actor it’s fun to morph physically into something else.
iF MAGAZINE: Are there any challenges to acting with green screen?
FLANIGAN: It doesn’t bother me to work with so much green screen. I prefer real settings obviously. There are sometimes that the green screens are fantastic when you see the final product. The scenes in the jumper are challenging. It’s a very awkward little space, so that can be a little strange. Unlike on STAR TREK where they shake the set to simulate explosions and things we have to just act. Can you believe that? Actually it’s our acting that is making the set shake!
[laughs]
iF MAGAZINE: What do you think about the romantic tension your character has with the ladies of the series, and how much input do you get into your character development?
FLANIGAN: I don’t think there is romantic tension with Dr. Weir. There’s tension with Teyla and they’ve written it that way. We get a fair amount into our characters. It all depends on the person and the character. The more time you spend on the show, the more input you get into your character. Brad and Robert, the writers, are very receptive and dynamic when they hear something. The feeling is that if you’ve got good material and suggestions there is always an open door.
iF MAGAZINE: Were there any new opportunities that Season 2 has afforded you that are different from the first season?
FLANIGAN: Being morphed into a bug was something interesting. I had been asking for the character to have a real arc, in a couple of episodes where he would go through a really serious transformation of some sort. There are two schools of thought about the dramatic parameters of a hero on the show. Some of us feel that the character should go through all sorts of difficulties and see all sorts of adversity. Then there is a group of people who wonder at what point a hero stops being heroic in exposing the character flaws. A hero can’t have too many character flaws. For the bug we came up an ingenious way to do it so that we didn’t loose the heroic qualities. At the end of the episode you see he’s still the leader and can continue to lead; his judgment is not skewed.
Series star Joe Flanigan, took time out from his rest and relaxation during his hiatus to chat with iF MAGAZINE about his being cast in the series, his acting growth as Major Sheppard, and the fun of being a bug in Season 2.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
iF MAGAZINE: When you auditioned did you know you were up for a lead?
JOE FLANIGAN: I liked reading for the lead. I enjoy the process usually. It was very specific to the point of would you like to be the star of this show? That’s what usually peaks my interest.
iF MAGAZINE: What was it like becoming part of a show, which has a sort of established iconic status?
FLANIGAN: I had a few reservations about that. I didn’t always want to be compared to the other shows. Once we started to air that stopped. We were hoping to obviously coattail SG1 in their ratings. We actually haven’t coattailed them in fact we’ve been leading them in the ratings. That was a little bit of a surprise and a good one.
iF MAGAZINE: Joining STARGATE were you coming into the series as a science-fiction fan?
FLANIGAN: I have become one. I was a clean slate. I was tabula rasa when I auditioned. I knew what they were looking for. I understood the character fairly well. Since then, I have watched a few of the STARGATE episodes. What I have seen, I enjoy. I wasn’t a big science fiction aficionado, there were a few films like 2001 or BLADE RUNNER that were favorites of mine, but since I started this series I have gained more respect for the genre and become more of a fan myself.
iF MAGAZINE: You have a rather physical role, how much of the stunt work do you do yourself?
FLANIGAN: A lot of the stunts that my character does are not too severe. They are not major stunts for me; however, if I’m going to fly for more than twenty feet it’s generally a good idea to get a stunt guy. A lot of the other stuff is easier to do.
iF MAGAZINE: What were some of the most unique situations you’ve had as an actor of the series?
FLANIGAN: I once had a bug attached to my neck for the entire episode. That was very uncomfortable. This season I had to turn into a bug, which was challenging. There were a lot of prosthetics and that was interesting. I wouldn’t want to be under prosthetics for too long, but the guys who do ours are such artists and it’s nice to watch them work. As an actor it’s fun to morph physically into something else.
iF MAGAZINE: Are there any challenges to acting with green screen?
FLANIGAN: It doesn’t bother me to work with so much green screen. I prefer real settings obviously. There are sometimes that the green screens are fantastic when you see the final product. The scenes in the jumper are challenging. It’s a very awkward little space, so that can be a little strange. Unlike on STAR TREK where they shake the set to simulate explosions and things we have to just act. Can you believe that? Actually it’s our acting that is making the set shake!
[laughs]
iF MAGAZINE: What do you think about the romantic tension your character has with the ladies of the series, and how much input do you get into your character development?
FLANIGAN: I don’t think there is romantic tension with Dr. Weir. There’s tension with Teyla and they’ve written it that way. We get a fair amount into our characters. It all depends on the person and the character. The more time you spend on the show, the more input you get into your character. Brad and Robert, the writers, are very receptive and dynamic when they hear something. The feeling is that if you’ve got good material and suggestions there is always an open door.
iF MAGAZINE: Were there any new opportunities that Season 2 has afforded you that are different from the first season?
FLANIGAN: Being morphed into a bug was something interesting. I had been asking for the character to have a real arc, in a couple of episodes where he would go through a really serious transformation of some sort. There are two schools of thought about the dramatic parameters of a hero on the show. Some of us feel that the character should go through all sorts of difficulties and see all sorts of adversity. Then there is a group of people who wonder at what point a hero stops being heroic in exposing the character flaws. A hero can’t have too many character flaws. For the bug we came up an ingenious way to do it so that we didn’t loose the heroic qualities. At the end of the episode you see he’s still the leader and can continue to lead; his judgment is not skewed.
and I'm new to the show so that's why I'm asking.