The Rift, continued
James Marsters:
PS I Love You - thinks he was boring. He went along planning to be a good boy, and it ended up boring. Has decided now he's actually hired to be an arsehole. To make his character interesting. So with this new attitude on, he got hired to do Dragonball Z.
They started off with this total age makeup for his character, really old and decrepit and stuff. Then they decided that wouldn't be pretty enough to sell. But JM thought it was essential to his character. It was his character's whole motivation. He got locked up for ages, he got old, when he got out and saw himself for the first time he decided to get even. So he went to the makeup artist with a picture of the original old guy test makeup and told him to make it like that. Makeup artist said the producers were pretty sure, but JM said if the producers cared they'd be there. They weren't even in the same country. So.

He has a lot of stunt work in the new film. When asked what the difference was between TV and film he said for TV he had a stuntman. So for the film he's getting thrown off things and blown up and kicked in the face. One time his character is getting shot at by another character, power blasts, and he ducks and it blows up the rock behind him. So they got set up to blow it up and JM asked, said the quicker he stands up the cooler it will be. So he ducks, they blow it up, he stands up right away when there's still chunks flying. The camera people, taken somewhat by surprise, leap to do their jobs. One person gets hit by something, and JM still feels guilty about that. (Be asks who was running stunts and how is it possible an actor can mess up the timing/safety issues?) (... what country were they filming in?) But JM's logic is his character isn't bothered by some rock blowing up. He only has to dodge his enemies' blasts. Rock isn't a problem for the supervillain.

Someone asked about what it's like having himself immortalised naked but for a sock as Spike. JM reckons it's hard. To get in shape for that he told Joss to give him two months notice (so Joss gave him notice right then when they were talking, so he worked out all through the season break). Lately? Not so much being that shape. So it's hard being with a lover wondering if they're going to expect that under his clothes.

... as I said in the rambly earlier report. But it bears repeating - I saw him with his shirt off. Dude has nothing to worry about.

*happy drool*

ahem.

Someone asked about Brecht and method acting. JM said the method works great for television but as soon as you get something that breaks the 4th wall it doesn't work at all. For plays it doesn't work, and it's boring. Doing Shakespeare there's Soliloquys, which aren't monologues because he's talking to the audience. He'll look audience right in the eye and talk to them.

He went off on one about why do actors always try and test themselves with Hamlet, why do they think that's a great play. Hamlet is basically three hours of someone not doing a thing, and Shakespeare wrote it to show off, cause he's just that good he can get away with that. JM reckons.

JM likes Macbeth.
He said the word a lot and didn't do the superstition dance.

... and then he was ill enough he had to cancel the gig.

... I'm trying not to connect the dots there.


Talking about acting, JM said he's found that every person is worth staring at, worth paying attention to, looking at for hours. He reckons actors get up there and try and... I forget his phrasing, but something like cover themselves up with technique. And the real trick is to just get up there and show yourself.
Or something like that, it sounded a bit Actor-y to me. But I liked the first bit. Everyone's worth looking at - yep.

Someone asked what voice he'd want on his satnav. He did not comprehend satnav. Or GPS. He says he hasn't really learned how to use his cellphone. He doesn't like the phone, it interrupts uninvited.

He doesn't watch television. He watches the history channel or the science channel or the news. But not television drama.

He really likes Gareth. He had great things to say about him. Also there was hugging.
... totally not boyfriends. Just fanboys for each other.
... it's sweet.

Says GDL is the best actor he's met for years.

Said if Captain John and Ianto got in a fight over Jack then Ianto would totally win, because John is more emotional (I think impulsive) but Ianto always has a plan and the right equipment.

(that was the joing Q&A, the one where GDL said it wouldn't be a fight, it'd be a sandwich)

JM reckons Barrowman is great to work with. The first day on set JM was kind of scared by how out there his sexuality was. But then he started to get it, about their characters, they'd do anything with a zip code, anything with a hole. JB pulled up in a car and said he'd had it. JM asked where. JB said the gas tank of course, only thing big enough.
Later JM says he got so into it he managed to say something that shocked Barrowman. A feat of which he is justly proud. He can't remember what he said, just that JB GDL and EM all looked at him.
So he started out sort of worried but got into it. He says he's not gay so whiskers came as kind of a surprise. He also says he'd rather kiss JB than any actress he's ever kissed. He's a great scene partner, great to work with. And more concerned with the physical safety of others than he is with his own, like he was bleeding and still worried about other people.


Someone asked "Standard, miniature, or toy?"
The audience got it before JM did.
It was like panto, where we're all shouting "Poodles!"

... is panto this dirty?

ANYway

He said whatever, if it's cute.

I think.


I am entirely unsure of the accuracy of any and all of this.
It's 0209 and I really should be asleep, I just can't unwind enough to manage it.