Reprinted from
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sg1_spoilme
Transcript of the streaming Audio interview available at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wiltshire/going_out/films_and_tv/stargate_signings2.shtml
Site also has a photo gallery! and videos!
January 28, 2004
MICHAEL SHANKS and CHRISTOPHER JUDGE
Mostly just the Q&A, extraneous stuff edited out as well, it's a lot to type! Michael talks VERY fast so it's possible I missed something. I have no idea who the interviewer was so I named him 'wiltshire'. And if I missed up the name of any UK cities... oops.
WILTSHIRE: How did you feel about getting killed in the show?
MICHAEL SHANKS: Just fine. (MS laughs) No, at the time it was something that was I think, I thought was necessary for both the show's evolution and for my personal evolution as an actor, so... Obviously the character didn't care for it too much, but I think with what happened afterwards with the ascension process, the character was fine with it. The actor was totally fine with it, and I think the show actually benefited from it for a little change-up midstream, so I think for all parties involved it was a beneficial thing that has come full circle and we're back to being happy and working together again.
WILTSHIRE: The question is to both of you really. How would you like to see the series end?
CHRIS JUDGE: Um... I'd like to see us all die in a fiery death glider crash. (someone - Michael? - snickers) Why is that funny?
MICHAEL SHANKS: It's just funny, I don't know why. We can't all fit in a death glider.
CHRIS JUDGE: Oh, right... in a fiery mothership crash.
WILTSHIRE: What about you, Michael?
MICHAEL SHANKS: I don't think I'd like to see the series end. And I don't think it's actually possible that the concept is certainly not going to end, not with the spin-off series happening, and the proposition of feature films. I think that the standard for the series ... the very idea of the series beckons constant use of the imagination, the constant use of the possibility that anything is possible. And I think ... I don't think that there is a proper ending for something like that unless you go touch the hand of God or whatever you realize the maker and creator. But I think, because we can't actually...
CHRIS JUDGE: STAR TREK did that.
MICHAEL SHANKS: Yeah, I know. We could actually philosophize on that notion and we don't want to present our idea of what that is to all the different religions that would have our heads on a plate. But I think it's best that we just keep searching like people do in this life.
CHRIS JUDGE: I meant a fiery mothership crash after the 16th season, of course.
WILTSHIRE: You mention the new series, STARGATE: ATLANTIS. Are you going to have anything to do with that, Michael?
MICHAEL SHANKS: Um... as far as I know, the only involvement I'll have with it is in the first two acts of the pilot. Myself and Richard Dean Anderson are there to sort of pass the torch on to this new group of people, and they carry on their own adventures in a galaxy we can't get to, so it kind of makes the idea of crossing over a little bit impossible at the moment. Of course, they'll find a way to do that if it becomes necessary, but for the first two acts of the pilot we'll be there and after that, who knows?
WILTSHIRE: Our next question is ... Daniel and Jack's friendship is what I tune into STARGATE for, but in season seven, there's hardly any. When Jack is on screen, he's with Sam. And when D and J are together, there is not that special buddy-ness projected as much as in earlier seasons. How come is that? And that's for you, Michael.
MICHAEL SHANKS: Um... I wouldn't say that the buddy ness is not there. I'd say that the writers could certainly milk that opportunity but as Christopher Judge will easily attest to, that that on set gets tiresome sometimes with the way that we actually enjoy that banter between us. So we try to tame it to tell the story instead of just having us screw around a lot. But Rick's involvement in the seventh season has been somewhat limited so it makes it very difficult for us to capture those moments, and there are some coming up definitely in the two-parter finale this season. There's a lot of interaction again. So it hasn't gone away. Rick and I still get along as well as we ever did. We still have a great friendship, off and on camera, and I think that we'll just wait for the right moments and hopefully it will still come about both in this season and in the eighth season.
WILTSHIRE: Now the next question is for Chris. Are you going to encourage your kids to go into acting - or discourage them?
CHRIS JUDGE: You know, I truly will neither encourage nor discourage them. I mean I really believe that they really have to find what their own desires and wants and likes and dislikes are. Um, certainly if they do decide to go into acting, I have some pointers for them to make their lives a bit easier, but that's really something they have to come to on their own. And it would make me happy, but it certainly has to make them happy first.
WILTSHIRE: Next question is for you, Michael. Do you get tired or annoyed with fans, especially female fans, giving you loads of attention or do you enjoy having the undivided attention of probably every female STARGATE fan in the world? (Michael laughs)
MICHAEL SHANKS: I think it'd be insane of me to say that I get annoyed with female attention, that's for sure. But... as long as it is polite and friendly, and everything is on the up and up, and there's not any, you know, untoward movements being made and what not. As long as it remains--
CHRIS JUDGE: Ass grabbing.
MICHAEL SHANKS: Ass grabbing and what not...
MICHAEL SHANKS: As long as it remains polite and cool like that, I really have no problem with that. All the fans I've met have been very gracious and very polite, so I haven't... I've had one bad experience, but it really wasn't that bad, so I'm sure that a lot of female actors would argue a lot differently in terms of male behavior, but so far everybody's been great.
WILTSHIRE: For you, Michael.How long are you staying in England? And during your time here, where have you most enjoyed visiting?
MICHAEL SHANKS: Um, ooowee... we've been sort of back and forth, so to actually to say that we've stayed in England for any length of time is odd... we've been here about for a grand total of four days in our stay so far. I think tomorrow we'll be our last one here before we do other travels, and I think we end up in London for three or four days at the end. Um, we've had such brief experiences, at different places, that's it really hard to find some great one experience that we've had. I think Bournemouth was very beautiful, Bedford was very rustic, and the snow was certainly interesting to watch, and Swindon here we've seen the restaurant and um, this building here, so I can't say we've had a lot of great experiences in England in terms of sussing out the countryside and finding our way, but, um boy, the Scotch at the hotel sure is good, isn't it?
CHRIS JUDGE: I just find it fantastic that you can remember all the names. But I think you were awake for most of the ride. I just wake up when we get there.
(MS and CJ laugh at that)
WILTSHIRE: Now you mentioned Daniel's ascension earlier. Will we know what happened to Daniel during his ascension during the next season?
MICHAEL SHANKS: That's a good question. It's a story that I've sort of wanted somebody to pick up the ball and tell, and I will certainly pitch that idea to one of the writers in the future, if they want to pick it up, or if I should pick it up myself. It might be ... it's always good sometimes though ... for the suspension of disbelief and also for the maintenance of mystery because the ascended beings in our universe are particularly omnipotent, particularly great in their mysteriousness as almost angelic-like character... Sometimes what's not said is more interesting that what is said. So I'm not sure if they want to keep it at that or if they want to tell it ... it will be up to the heads next year to dictate where that goes.
WILTSHIRE: For Michael. You're very popular today. How many projects in the works, other than the film you are producing with Don S. Davis? Any guest appearances we should keep an eye out for?
MICHAEL SHANKS: Given the time on this particular hiatus, I made a devoted effort to take as much time off as possible. We've been meeting with the fans and having a great time doing that and I just wanted to make sure that I recharged my battery, so that I have as much energy to give for, what we BELIEVE is our last season of STARGATE and I want to have as much energy to give as possible for this coming year because we shoot for six to eight months, as it is. To have something on the go is not exactly a possibility for an actor like me. So, um, I hope to have as many opportunities open to me when I'm done as possible.
WILTSHIRE: Christopher, we have a question for you. You've been described as a joker. It's been said that you've played pranks on the other cast members. What's the worst thing you've done?
CHRIS JUDGE: Well, the worst thing that I've done is actually coming up in the next season which we start in around a month. So tell her to write back and ask, like in April, because I have a doozy coming up. That's all I can say.
MICHAEL SHANKS: Now I'm curious.
CHRIS JUDGE: (laughs) It's a doozy.
MICHAEL SHANKS: You don't want me to tell the turd burglar story? (Chris laughs) Christopher Judge would use my bathroom without authorization sometimes. Use your imagination.
WILTSHIRE: Okay, we'll leave it at that. This is Christopher. How much has being in STARGATE changed your life, aside from the obvious?
CHRIS JUDGE: Um... what's the obvious? (Chris and Michael laugh)
WILTSHIRE: Just from having fans and that type of thing, I would imagine.
CHRIS JUDGE: I can afford a better bottle of Scotch. No, it's just the whole experience of it has been really wonderful, you know. I think I've changed a lot. Everyone goes through changes as you get older and wiser. You know, it's uh... I don't know if the show itself has changed me, but I have changed as I have been on the show. Just becoming wiser and you know, more mature, and really just kind of taking it day by day, and really appreciating this wonderful journey that we're on.
WILTSHIRE: Our next question is also for you Christopher. What is like being a part of the STARGATE Universe? And what is like working with Richard Dean Anderson and Amanda Tapping?'
(both Michael and Chris crack up over something)
CHRIS JUDGE: Um. You know, for the first while we were just overwhelmed by, you know, be it everything from the work to the sets, and then we were overwhelmed by how the show was received and... Working with Rick, working with Rick -- Rick is great. We went into it, you know, not knowing what commodity would be there. You know, would he be the kind of star who is aloof and unapproachable? And he was. (Chris laughs) But no, he is... Rick has really become an older brother to Michael and I, I mean we really get along so well. We do have so many things in common that people would just freak out, they just wouldn't understand. Sometimes we don't understand, like the closeness of our bond. And it's really - it's been a fantastic, fantastic experience.
WILTSHIRE: The last question is for you, Michael. What do you think of the fan fiction out there? Have you read any of it? Do you know of anyone within the cast or crew who has looked at it?
MICHAEL SHANKS: Um... . I do know that the writers and the producers do know about fan fiction. I don't choose to dwell in that universe. I live with this character 24/7 as it is. It's very difficult to, you know... the idea of logging in and finding out what the characters -- what other people perceive as the characters' off-camera life are like. I don't choose to watch it. I've heard about certain kinds of fan fiction that are both risque and somewhat, um, just plain wrong. So I haven't read it but I do know that as long as it keeps the fans happy, that's what the most important.
WILTSHIRE: Are you referring to stuff between you and Richard Dean Anderson's characters?
MICHAEL SHANKS: THAT's exactly to what I was referring to. Odd that you mention that.
CHRIS JUDGE: What's 'plain wrong' about that? It's very natural.
MICHAEL SHANKS: Some people perceive it as very natural and, uh, Rick and I... we have a running joke on set about that as well and so to actually have people pick up on that is even more disturbing than the jokes that we make, so I think it is very funny and whatever floats your boat.
WILTSHIRE: So you play on it a bit?
MICHAEL SHANKS: A little bit, but, not as much as the fans would like.
-end-
Elyse
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sg1_spoilme
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sg1_spoilme
Transcript of the streaming Audio interview available at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wiltshire/going_out/films_and_tv/stargate_signings2.shtml
Site also has a photo gallery! and videos!
January 28, 2004
MICHAEL SHANKS and CHRISTOPHER JUDGE
Mostly just the Q&A, extraneous stuff edited out as well, it's a lot to type! Michael talks VERY fast so it's possible I missed something. I have no idea who the interviewer was so I named him 'wiltshire'. And if I missed up the name of any UK cities... oops.
WILTSHIRE: How did you feel about getting killed in the show?
MICHAEL SHANKS: Just fine. (MS laughs) No, at the time it was something that was I think, I thought was necessary for both the show's evolution and for my personal evolution as an actor, so... Obviously the character didn't care for it too much, but I think with what happened afterwards with the ascension process, the character was fine with it. The actor was totally fine with it, and I think the show actually benefited from it for a little change-up midstream, so I think for all parties involved it was a beneficial thing that has come full circle and we're back to being happy and working together again.
WILTSHIRE: The question is to both of you really. How would you like to see the series end?
CHRIS JUDGE: Um... I'd like to see us all die in a fiery death glider crash. (someone - Michael? - snickers) Why is that funny?
MICHAEL SHANKS: It's just funny, I don't know why. We can't all fit in a death glider.
CHRIS JUDGE: Oh, right... in a fiery mothership crash.
WILTSHIRE: What about you, Michael?
MICHAEL SHANKS: I don't think I'd like to see the series end. And I don't think it's actually possible that the concept is certainly not going to end, not with the spin-off series happening, and the proposition of feature films. I think that the standard for the series ... the very idea of the series beckons constant use of the imagination, the constant use of the possibility that anything is possible. And I think ... I don't think that there is a proper ending for something like that unless you go touch the hand of God or whatever you realize the maker and creator. But I think, because we can't actually...
CHRIS JUDGE: STAR TREK did that.
MICHAEL SHANKS: Yeah, I know. We could actually philosophize on that notion and we don't want to present our idea of what that is to all the different religions that would have our heads on a plate. But I think it's best that we just keep searching like people do in this life.
CHRIS JUDGE: I meant a fiery mothership crash after the 16th season, of course.
WILTSHIRE: You mention the new series, STARGATE: ATLANTIS. Are you going to have anything to do with that, Michael?
MICHAEL SHANKS: Um... as far as I know, the only involvement I'll have with it is in the first two acts of the pilot. Myself and Richard Dean Anderson are there to sort of pass the torch on to this new group of people, and they carry on their own adventures in a galaxy we can't get to, so it kind of makes the idea of crossing over a little bit impossible at the moment. Of course, they'll find a way to do that if it becomes necessary, but for the first two acts of the pilot we'll be there and after that, who knows?
WILTSHIRE: Our next question is ... Daniel and Jack's friendship is what I tune into STARGATE for, but in season seven, there's hardly any. When Jack is on screen, he's with Sam. And when D and J are together, there is not that special buddy-ness projected as much as in earlier seasons. How come is that? And that's for you, Michael.
MICHAEL SHANKS: Um... I wouldn't say that the buddy ness is not there. I'd say that the writers could certainly milk that opportunity but as Christopher Judge will easily attest to, that that on set gets tiresome sometimes with the way that we actually enjoy that banter between us. So we try to tame it to tell the story instead of just having us screw around a lot. But Rick's involvement in the seventh season has been somewhat limited so it makes it very difficult for us to capture those moments, and there are some coming up definitely in the two-parter finale this season. There's a lot of interaction again. So it hasn't gone away. Rick and I still get along as well as we ever did. We still have a great friendship, off and on camera, and I think that we'll just wait for the right moments and hopefully it will still come about both in this season and in the eighth season.
WILTSHIRE: Now the next question is for Chris. Are you going to encourage your kids to go into acting - or discourage them?
CHRIS JUDGE: You know, I truly will neither encourage nor discourage them. I mean I really believe that they really have to find what their own desires and wants and likes and dislikes are. Um, certainly if they do decide to go into acting, I have some pointers for them to make their lives a bit easier, but that's really something they have to come to on their own. And it would make me happy, but it certainly has to make them happy first.
WILTSHIRE: Next question is for you, Michael. Do you get tired or annoyed with fans, especially female fans, giving you loads of attention or do you enjoy having the undivided attention of probably every female STARGATE fan in the world? (Michael laughs)
MICHAEL SHANKS: I think it'd be insane of me to say that I get annoyed with female attention, that's for sure. But... as long as it is polite and friendly, and everything is on the up and up, and there's not any, you know, untoward movements being made and what not. As long as it remains--
CHRIS JUDGE: Ass grabbing.
MICHAEL SHANKS: Ass grabbing and what not...
MICHAEL SHANKS: As long as it remains polite and cool like that, I really have no problem with that. All the fans I've met have been very gracious and very polite, so I haven't... I've had one bad experience, but it really wasn't that bad, so I'm sure that a lot of female actors would argue a lot differently in terms of male behavior, but so far everybody's been great.
WILTSHIRE: For you, Michael.How long are you staying in England? And during your time here, where have you most enjoyed visiting?
MICHAEL SHANKS: Um, ooowee... we've been sort of back and forth, so to actually to say that we've stayed in England for any length of time is odd... we've been here about for a grand total of four days in our stay so far. I think tomorrow we'll be our last one here before we do other travels, and I think we end up in London for three or four days at the end. Um, we've had such brief experiences, at different places, that's it really hard to find some great one experience that we've had. I think Bournemouth was very beautiful, Bedford was very rustic, and the snow was certainly interesting to watch, and Swindon here we've seen the restaurant and um, this building here, so I can't say we've had a lot of great experiences in England in terms of sussing out the countryside and finding our way, but, um boy, the Scotch at the hotel sure is good, isn't it?
CHRIS JUDGE: I just find it fantastic that you can remember all the names. But I think you were awake for most of the ride. I just wake up when we get there.
(MS and CJ laugh at that)
WILTSHIRE: Now you mentioned Daniel's ascension earlier. Will we know what happened to Daniel during his ascension during the next season?
MICHAEL SHANKS: That's a good question. It's a story that I've sort of wanted somebody to pick up the ball and tell, and I will certainly pitch that idea to one of the writers in the future, if they want to pick it up, or if I should pick it up myself. It might be ... it's always good sometimes though ... for the suspension of disbelief and also for the maintenance of mystery because the ascended beings in our universe are particularly omnipotent, particularly great in their mysteriousness as almost angelic-like character... Sometimes what's not said is more interesting that what is said. So I'm not sure if they want to keep it at that or if they want to tell it ... it will be up to the heads next year to dictate where that goes.
WILTSHIRE: For Michael. You're very popular today. How many projects in the works, other than the film you are producing with Don S. Davis? Any guest appearances we should keep an eye out for?
MICHAEL SHANKS: Given the time on this particular hiatus, I made a devoted effort to take as much time off as possible. We've been meeting with the fans and having a great time doing that and I just wanted to make sure that I recharged my battery, so that I have as much energy to give for, what we BELIEVE is our last season of STARGATE and I want to have as much energy to give as possible for this coming year because we shoot for six to eight months, as it is. To have something on the go is not exactly a possibility for an actor like me. So, um, I hope to have as many opportunities open to me when I'm done as possible.
WILTSHIRE: Christopher, we have a question for you. You've been described as a joker. It's been said that you've played pranks on the other cast members. What's the worst thing you've done?
CHRIS JUDGE: Well, the worst thing that I've done is actually coming up in the next season which we start in around a month. So tell her to write back and ask, like in April, because I have a doozy coming up. That's all I can say.
MICHAEL SHANKS: Now I'm curious.
CHRIS JUDGE: (laughs) It's a doozy.
MICHAEL SHANKS: You don't want me to tell the turd burglar story? (Chris laughs) Christopher Judge would use my bathroom without authorization sometimes. Use your imagination.
WILTSHIRE: Okay, we'll leave it at that. This is Christopher. How much has being in STARGATE changed your life, aside from the obvious?
CHRIS JUDGE: Um... what's the obvious? (Chris and Michael laugh)
WILTSHIRE: Just from having fans and that type of thing, I would imagine.
CHRIS JUDGE: I can afford a better bottle of Scotch. No, it's just the whole experience of it has been really wonderful, you know. I think I've changed a lot. Everyone goes through changes as you get older and wiser. You know, it's uh... I don't know if the show itself has changed me, but I have changed as I have been on the show. Just becoming wiser and you know, more mature, and really just kind of taking it day by day, and really appreciating this wonderful journey that we're on.
WILTSHIRE: Our next question is also for you Christopher. What is like being a part of the STARGATE Universe? And what is like working with Richard Dean Anderson and Amanda Tapping?'
(both Michael and Chris crack up over something)
CHRIS JUDGE: Um. You know, for the first while we were just overwhelmed by, you know, be it everything from the work to the sets, and then we were overwhelmed by how the show was received and... Working with Rick, working with Rick -- Rick is great. We went into it, you know, not knowing what commodity would be there. You know, would he be the kind of star who is aloof and unapproachable? And he was. (Chris laughs) But no, he is... Rick has really become an older brother to Michael and I, I mean we really get along so well. We do have so many things in common that people would just freak out, they just wouldn't understand. Sometimes we don't understand, like the closeness of our bond. And it's really - it's been a fantastic, fantastic experience.
WILTSHIRE: The last question is for you, Michael. What do you think of the fan fiction out there? Have you read any of it? Do you know of anyone within the cast or crew who has looked at it?
MICHAEL SHANKS: Um... . I do know that the writers and the producers do know about fan fiction. I don't choose to dwell in that universe. I live with this character 24/7 as it is. It's very difficult to, you know... the idea of logging in and finding out what the characters -- what other people perceive as the characters' off-camera life are like. I don't choose to watch it. I've heard about certain kinds of fan fiction that are both risque and somewhat, um, just plain wrong. So I haven't read it but I do know that as long as it keeps the fans happy, that's what the most important.
WILTSHIRE: Are you referring to stuff between you and Richard Dean Anderson's characters?
MICHAEL SHANKS: THAT's exactly to what I was referring to. Odd that you mention that.
CHRIS JUDGE: What's 'plain wrong' about that? It's very natural.
MICHAEL SHANKS: Some people perceive it as very natural and, uh, Rick and I... we have a running joke on set about that as well and so to actually have people pick up on that is even more disturbing than the jokes that we make, so I think it is very funny and whatever floats your boat.
WILTSHIRE: So you play on it a bit?
MICHAEL SHANKS: A little bit, but, not as much as the fans would like.
-end-
Elyse
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sg1_spoilme
