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12 July 2005
Fellowship Fest Chat with Craig
Note: I did this transcript myself, for the wonderful people from the Fellowship Festival, and I am reposting it here with their permission. This chat is property of AAA Events, so please do not repost it anywhere without their explicit permission.
Notes on transcript: This transcript contains a concise "Question and Answer" format, some additional comments have been left in where relevant. Everything Craig typed has been left as is, typos and all.
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Q: My question is, are you gonna do anymore Power Ranger Loop Groups when in NZ? Also, could you explain a little about what the Loop Groups are.
A: hi everyone, things are a little slow here so please bear with us. hi janet... lovely to hear from you. no... no more power rangers... that was a favour for a friend... lots of silly fun but not the greatest art in the world
~.~
Q: Do you have a motto that you live by?
A: motto for life... hmmmmm.... everything in excess... borrowed from mr wilde.
~.~
Q: You grew up in NZ. So, if I call you (or any other of your countrymen) 'Kiwi', do I run the risk of getting in big trouble? Or is it more like a pet name? Don't misunderstand me. I love kiwis (the fruit is very tasty and the birds are ….. uh, nice?). But in connection with people - in my (German) ears - it sounds a little bit impolite, if not even condescending or insulting, even if literature claims the opposite. Anyhow, I do not dare, calling s.o. living in or coming from NZ Kiwi. What way do you see it?
A: kiora... no, we kiwis find no insult... call us what ever you like as long as it's with a smile on your face.
~.~
Q: Are you or going to play in theater in London? As far as I know, you like sci-fi. Do you like Star Trek Enterprise? If so, who is your fav character in the show, and what's your opinion about its cancellation?
A: no plans at this stage for theatre... but stay tuned. i don't know enterprise other that the guy from quantum leap is in it... i loved that show.
~.~
Q: Will you be wearing a suit at the feasts this year and did you like your birthday book from us on here?
A: i loved the book... i will keep it until i'm old and grey! and yes.... more suits... you can never have too many suits... i love them!!!
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Q: No idea where the question got to, but the answer is too nice not to be included. :-)
A: sorry you can’t make it this year... it's gonna be the best ever!!!!!! but I’m sure the next years one will be even better.... louise made me say that! and to everyone... sorry if i'm being slow.... i'm alowed to type thgis yaer. me tyipe goade
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Q: Do you have animals at home? And if you have, what animals? If you don't: What's your favourite animal? Do you like reptiles?
A: love animals of all kinds.... was a dog person... but probably more a cat person now... have none at the moment... life is a sad an lonley place without an animal... perhaps one day i#ll be allowed one again.
~.~
Q: When filming your scenes at Helms Deep how many takes did it take you to nail the Haldir death sequence, from the point of being stabbed to dying in Aragorn's arms?
A: you know, i can't quite remember exactly but it seemed that we did the falling to my knees bit a huge number of times. and the dropping of head to floor bit... how we actors suffer... all that and viggo sweatting all over me. crumbs!
ps... sorry if you are still waiting... my little fingers are going numb.
~.~
Q: Looking back on the time since filming LOTR and the cons and events that have come from that role, can you tell us what Haldir means to you now? What the role has given or meant to you personally and professionally. Last year, you mentioned you were more of a cat person than a dog person. Do you have a cat now? Or did you ever?
A: what does he mean to me... i really don't know.it's given me the fantastic oportunity to meet so many people and to wander the world... my idea of heaven... also a serious amount of ribbing from friend about me in a blond wig!
as to animals... see previous.
~.~
Q: Whats your fave bands/music groups?
A: i love the kaiser chiefs and british sea power... also antony and the johnsons... brilliant!!!
~.~
Q: I read on the website of your management that you are a PADI Advanced Diver. Now I would like to know: What was your best diving experience and where did it take place?
A: i adore diving... it's like flying in a dream... beautiful! probably the best places have been fiji and tahiti... manta rays in bora bora!!! incredible!!!!!!!!
~.~
Q: The world ends in two days, what three things would you like to do before you "Pop your clogs"?
A: i'm waiting for the end myself. can we watch it together?
~.~
Q: We watched a few snippets of "Homefront" (beautiful bathroom by the way) and we noticed that you, apparently, do not have any worldly possessions in your flat. There wasn't even a shower head attached to your bath tub. Did you remove the things beforehand? Or is your house furnished according to the rules of Feng Shui and corresponds to a minimalistic principle, that ensures an all round comfortable feeling?!
A: my home is perfect and minimal... just like my life! yeah, sure... the thing with those shows is that when they come around, you tidy like a demon... all the crap was hidden in the garage.
~.~
Q: You haven't been doing any conventions since last fall. Are you planning to just keep doing the big cons (TFF & Ring*Con) or will you ever go back to doing the smaller ones as well?
A: sorry... typing even worse and much slower! i know i'v said it before but i really mean it this time... honest! these two will probably be my last... true!
~.~
Q: Did you enjoy filming the Xena episodes?
A: i loved xena... lucy and rene were goddesses! they made it such a pleasure to work on... but crumbs, what hard work it was for them. much more fun to just turn up and play.
~.~
Q: What was your reason for moving to London?
A: i ask myself that question often... espec. in winter. i just came for a holiday and ended up here a year later... maybe cos louise lives here... yep... that's it... louise... honest... her sitting next to me make's no difference to my answer... honest...
~.~
Q: We've heard that the New Zealand flag might be changing and we've seen some of the proposed designs. Do you think it should change, and if so do you have any suggestions for what it should be changed to?
A: i have missed the debate... not quite sure how i feel... does one remember the past or look to the future... hmmmm... thankfully greater minds than mine will decide.
~.~
Q: I have only a little question about your costume in LOTR: On the DVD we can see the configuration of the elvish armour. It looks very complex... how much time and how many helpers were require to get it on? And how many chances did you have to pass on the half of those clothes?
A: the costume and armour was brilliant! it took several people and lots of patience to truss me into everything and then keep me in it. i kept breaking bits and secretly undoing bits when no one was looking. the armour was fiberglass.... very unforgiving after a big lunch!
~.~
Q: What are you doing now, any project, what is it?
A: at this very moment, apart from doing this... i'm working on my typing skills writing some stuff with a friend of mine... it's got a long way to go but we keep ourselves amused with it. it's amazing how brilliant one can be locked in a room with a friend, a bottle of wine and a computer.
~.~
Q: Will you ever come to Sweden? We're really nice here you know. ;-)
A: still no sweden for me... hopefully soon... a dear friend just had a very big night there with swedish friend, drinking gallons of schnapps and crayfish. she was very sore the next day. you people are bad!
~.~
Q: I just want to say your energy and your personality never cease to amaze me. Who or what can you credit to your awesome generosity toward other people, including your fans?
A: you are very kind... the only thing i can credit for my energy is an evil alien symbiote that i was force to swallow during an abduction from the mid west of america when i was very young. opps... that's a secret... don't tell!
~.~
Q: Would you like to visit Finland some day? What kind of things have you heard about it?
A: mmmm... finland... don't you all beat each other with birch twigs and run around naked? sound like a great place to me.
~.~
Q: Craig, how was your bedroom decorated as a teenager? Do you have a middle name and if so would you tell us what it is?
A: bedroom was decorated with all my dirty clothes until my mum picked them up... and the odd david bowie poster... oh yeah, and the odd bit of food under my bed. oh yeah... i could tell my middle name but i would have to destroy everyone on this thread... sorry.
~.~
Q: If you could be any person in the world for a day, then who would it be?
A: crumbs... i guess louise, cos she is so wonderful!!! or bush... and i'd play with knives a lot.
~.~
A: oppps... sorry everyone... just realised that i've been replying and not quoting... so i guess you have no idea who i was replying to... opppps! sorry!!! will be better from now on... but to work it all out, i have been replying to them in order... will quote from now on. (A/n from Mel: Yes, dear, excellent idea, much easier now! *g*)
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Q: Although you were well known in NZ for your television works over there, LOTR launched you into the world at a whirlwind pace... what do you miss most from the days when you were living a life outside of the spotlight? And do you think you will ever get that back? A sense of normalcy that is... and do you want it back?
A: before this i used to carry my own battery powered, spotlight. sad, huh! really, my life carries on as it has always... all the other stuff is just fun and never to be taken too seriously.
~.~
Q: I missed you at Dragon*Con last year. Is it true that you will be retiring from the convention circuit? We certainly do not get to see you often enough here in North America, and I still have yet to talk to you about the chicken knuckles you have mentioned so lovingly about from your trip to Nepal. You had chicken knuckles, and I had stewed duck tongues before. Might make for amusing conversation.
A: i could talk about knuckles for days... may poss be in the us later but that really will be the last... duck tongues!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Q: Just wondered if you consider yourself to be a day or night person?
A: night, abso....fing......lutly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Q: What was the last thing you were guilty about?
A: terribly guilty about hitting reply instead of quote... ( it was really louise's fault... she's not looking so i can say that now... help me!!!! please!!!!! i#m tied to the chair and she is....opps, she's coming back....) got to go....
~.~
Q: It’s been brilliant how you did this 'elvish arrogance' expression especially in The Fellowship. I loved it. ;-) But we didn't get to know you as an arrogant person … rather as someone who is lovely xx … is there a situation in which you would tend to be arrogant (in real life)?
A: i tend to get really cross with people who are overy officious or bureaucratic... that's the time i get really grumpy and rather unpleasent... not pretty!
~.~
Q: Did you always want to become an actor and what or who inspired you?
A: as dumb as it sounds, i saw peter pan at the theatre when i was a child and i feel in love with the flying. brilliant.
~.~
Q: Hope you're fine and that you have that big smile on your face that your fans like so much. I just wanted to know if you really get the things of the fan packages that some fans send you to new zealand? What do you think about those packages?
A: still smiling. i haven't been in nz for a while so i haven't got anything recently... will caTCH UP WHEN NEXT BACK.. opps... hit caps lock... i hope no one sent a puppy... or if they did it had air holes and lots to eat.
~.~
Q: A while ago, you mentioned in an interview that you would love to go to Africa because it's so beautiful, and Mexico. I was wondering if you had managed to travel to either place yet and what it was like for you?
A: sadly still no africa or mexico... still time left! i hope.
~.~
Q: When acting, it is VERY difficult to keep from laughing on stage...how do you keep from dying from held in laughter...or not laughing PERIOD?
A: i constantly fight against laughing... not just on stage... usually when it's vital that one doesn't. don't we all have that urge at funerals... or is that just me?
~.~
Q: Do you plan to come to the States anytime soon? And what do you think of all the pictures of Haldir that are out there? Hope you like the pic.
A: perhaps dragoncon... my friend donna wants me to go so we can misbehave... in a very nice georgia way, of course. i must admit... some of the haldir pictures i have seen really scare me... but hey, no one loses an eye, so what's the harm.
~.~
Q: New Zealand is known for the home of bungee jumping. Did you do it along with others from Lord of the Rings while filming or tried it before even?
A: bungie is stupid!!!! really stupid!!!!
~.~
Q: What is your reaction to the fan fiction written about you and about Haldir in particular with slash/yaoi/male-male content? And.... Have you ever had a "fanboy" moment? [Like fangirls kinda moment =D]
A: slash... i don't read it but as long as no one loses an eye, yay! as i've said, if my alter ego is having a great time, who am i to butt in. as for the fan boy stuff... perhaps david bowie...dunno.
~.~
Q: Have you been on any interesting travels lately?
A: last place was greece... brilliant... dinner in an amazing villa on the hills of sparta... where they used to leave there children out to die. how things have changed. no one died this night but a fair amount of dignity was lost. brilliant!
~.~
Q: Everybody who has met you says you're such a wonderful guy, kind, sweet and funny. So do you have a bad side?
A: there are so many bad bits to me... they are often the bits i like the most about myself... no one should be too nice.
~.~
Q: What is the first thing you put on when you get dressed??
A: my stick on tattoo... of the welsh dragon... and a wee welsh maiden.
~.~
Q: I wanted to know what you prefer: being on stage, acting in a film or acting in a TV show?
A: love it all.... but love lying on a beach in the sun even more... is that shallow????
~.~
Q: 1. What would you do if you'd be invisible for an hour?
2. Did you experience any differences between New Zealand and Europe (esp. England) - are the people different?
3. You seem to have a fantastic memory when remembering people. Is it as easy as this for you to memorize your lines for a play or so?
A: crumbs... good questions...
invisible... not sure that here is the place for the answer...
there are so many differences between europe and nz... but that is the wonderful thing about travel.
lines... nope, i have to work very hard otherwise i remember lines that were never written and the playrights ones are always better than mine.
~.~
Q: What was the best car you've ever owned?
A: i've been waiting to answer this... i once was given a lada in a pub by a guy who was leaving the country... i hardly knew him... he just leaned over, handed me the keys and said 'here, it's at so and so place, it's all yours'. terrible car but i loved it.
~.~
Q: There are actors who internalise the character they are supposed to play... such as Russell Crowe... They don't only read up on this character, but also trying to feel, to think and to act like the char and even change their appearance. So it is possible that they can't abdicate this role after the shots... What are your thoughts about this kind of acting? Did it ever happen to you that you've been unable to quit your character after a working day?
A: i think every actor internalises to some extent but i'm perhaps of the school that believes it should always be a joy. to act is to play and at the end of the day, you remain yourself. one is change by every role but never get lost in them.
~.~
Q: My question is, if you could go back in time, what time period would you like to live in and why?
A: i've always seen myself as a renaissence man.. sadly no one else has.
~.~
Q: Just wondered if you managed to snag any of your props from LOTR or Xena?
A: i would never steal... please! but i believe that janet has the bel. sword. i really don't keep stuff from things... perhaps i should.
~.~
Q: Would you gain 30 kg and more weight for a role or would you say: "No thanks, my health is too important for me and there are good prostheses."?
A: eating pizza right now... working on it right now. hence the slow typing... one handed!
~.~
Q: Many of the people on this forum are fanfiction writers, myself included. How aware are you of this particular phenomenon and does it surprise you (that’s technically two questions in one isn't it – oops, lol!)
A: fan fiction..write away… just make me really cool... and can i have a gun?
~.~
Q: I would like to ask about your experiences in Nepal, would you like to go back or even consider doing another project of a similar nature?
A: i'd go back in a second... and would love to do something similar... i keep sending mel (producer) ideas for us going to other places and having a tv company pay for it all...
~.~
Q: Craig, PLEASE tell us you have a movie/tv show coming out soon! *on knees begging* Any plans in the near future to come over here to Canada or the U.S.? We really want to see you over here!
A: waves tiredly back... fingers bloody stumps... no movie to tell you about yet but may be in the us later this year... hope to see you there.
~.~
Q: Have you decided to live in England permantely or are you considering to return to New Zealand in the future?
A: only back to nz for visits with friend and family... i think i'll be based in the uk for a wee while... after all, it's so close to wales. who could resist that!!!!
~.~
Q: What was your favourite part of last year's Fellowship Festival?
A: sorry, i think i missed you... doh!!! fav. moment from last year... the radio play... worse each day... espec. bruce... mark is slaving away over his computer working on a newer, better one for this year… stay tuned! see you then.
~.~
A: thanks so much everyone. sorry for my crap typing and slowness... but i only went to the lav. once and tried very hard to use two fingers. (for typing that is... not that lav... crumbs!) really looking forward to the festival... it really is going to be bigger and better that last yaer. great people and lots and lots of laughs...( an louise isn't even in the room making me say this). i'll see you all then.
ok.. off to pizza. have a great night.
lots of love,
c
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