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Don S. Davis
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ChatMod: Okay we'll take questions now ChatMod: prion * Question for Mr. Davis: If season 7 of stargate occurs, will there be any episodes from Hammond's point of view? DSD: -- I doubt it DSD: I don't go through the gate DSD: The thiong that makes the show work is that we explore myths DSD: We've revealed the characters over six years, including Hammond DSD: But what makes the show work is the team that goes through the gate DSD: GA ChatMod: * Gilder * Another question: What was Don's Army specialty. DSD: -- I was a oersonal and administration officer DSD: I ran records branches DSD: While I was with the 7th Infantry in Korea during the Viet Nam era I led a platoon doing night partrols DSD: I did learn things in the Army that helped me with Hammond DSD: I was a Captain at Ft Leonard Wood when I left the military and worked with General Officers, so I've been able to use that in Hammond and other characters DSD: What's important is that good officers care about the people under them. DSD: GA ChatMod: Don, what would be (or was) your most challenging acting role? DSD: -- Probably the theater roles, because they were meatier roles DSD: Some of my work in indie films early in my career were quite challanging DSD: Twin Peaks was a stretch DSD: I started out as a day player in the pilot DSD: Then David had enough in me to make it a regular role DSD: Working with a cast of 42 with the best director in the business is always a pleasure DSD: I had a role as a gay theater owner in Matinee that was a real challange. Very unlike me DSD: I was a touching role DSD: It's a pleasure to play a character very different from "me" DSD: I was in A League of Their Own and most people didn't even recognise me DSD: That's good work DSD: When I blend in so well that I go unnoticed DSD: That's hard to do DSD: That's what a character actor likes DSD: I take great pride in being a character player DSD: I never felt that I had the charisma to be a lead player DSD: But some of the best actors like Alex Guiness, Charles Laughton, etc. were character actors DSD: GA ChatMod: What would you say is the best thing about working on Stargate? DSD: -- The people DSD: I first worked with Richard in MacGuyver DSD: That was my first guest star role -- as a bear poacher DSD: To get to work with people of quality like Brad Wright John Smith, etc is such a plasure DSD: I've worked in at least two dozen projects with some of these guys DSD: I work with a group of friends DSD: That's such a luxury in this business DSD: We really do socialize together DSD: On every show people claim that the set is a "family" But that's usually not really true DSD: With us it is DSD: I also think the quality of the writing is good, better perhaps than people give us credit for DSD: Television writing is pretty mediocre sometimes DSD: Science fiction is one of the most popular mediums in television, but shows tumble down and die with alarming regularly DSD: In my opinion part of that is because fx replaces characters and story lines DSD: GA ChatMod: What would you say is the best thing about working on Stargate? DSD: -- It was simply great good fortune DSD: I was living in Vancouver and doing local work DSD: But because of my accent in the 80's I couldn't play a Canadian in commercials DSD: So someone suggested that I get an agent in Seattle DSD: I did and was able to get commercial work and acting jobs there DSD: I had a good resume DSD: So when they were casting the Twin Peaks pilot my agent sent me out of the audition DSD: I met David and didn't actually read for him...we just visited DSD: He asked about my accent DSD: I'm from the Ozarks DSD: David had been fishing there DSD: He noticed that I was in shape but had a pack of cigarettes in my pocket DSD: I don't smoke, but I was playing a bad guy who did so I was carrying them around with me DSD: So David asked about that DSD: I told him I didn't smoke, but wanted to smoke "naturally" on camera DSD: He asked me if I could cry on camera DSD: I said, sure...I even cry watching cartoons DSD: In fact I'd done a show with Martin Sheen where I had to cry on camera DSD: David liked me and started writing for me DSD: He liked the chemistry I had with other players DSD: I did three days on the pilot and then went on to the series DSD: That was the luckiest break I could have had DSD: There are at least a dozen people from that show who are lifelong friends because of that show. It was a life changing experience DSD: GA ChatMod: What would you say is the best thing about working on Stargate? ChatMod: You seem to be on your third or fourth career. What advice would you give to others looking to start a new career in mid-life? DSD: Never look back DSD: Do what you love to do and make no excuses DSD: Hugh Downs, who was once the host of Today Show used to say you shoul;d change careers every ten years DSD: The definition of Hell is working at something you hate living for a paycheck and a two week vacation DSD: I have always lived for the day DSD: And I've tried to tell my son that DSD: The best advice ever liven was Polonius in Hamlet DSD: To thine own self be true DSD: You can get rich and make your parents happy doing something you hate DSD: But you aren't as deep as a parking lot puddle of you do that DSD: I believe we live in an angry world DSD: for whatever reason it always just DSD: somebody is always smarter, richer, better looking DSD: But we are all blessed with something we love about life. And if that can keep us going, that's enough DSD: Whatever it is you love...follow that DSD: My mother was full of trite sayings, but she taught us to dream and to be special DSD: GA ChatMod: STATION IDENTIFICATION: ChatMod: Just a reminder. We're chatting with actor Don S. Davis, Gen. Hammond on Stargate SG-1 ChatMod: prion * Any good bloopers from Stargate or other work you've done? Thanks! DSD: -- The whole 100th episode DSD: We spent more time laughing than working DSD: Sometimes it's hard top describe how funny things are because you have to be there DSD: It was Richard Dean Anderson's idea to give Jack humor DSD: Kurt Russell didn't have that in the film DSD: Richard felt that humor was important in moving the role to TV DSD: Anyone who ever comes on the show talks about how funny the set is when they leave DSD: Some people complain we joke too much DSD: Shakespeare wrote fopr vendors, and hookers, and illiterates who shouted at the stage DSD: He wrote dramas so powerful that they laughed and cried and were moved DSD: But I'm sure the actors went in to have fun and play their roles, and then to go home DSD: That's what do DSD: If you can't enjoy the set DSD: Do something else DSD: GA ChatMod: * I Love X files * How was it, working with Gillian Anderson? DSD: -- She's one of the sweetest, most beautiful people I've ever met DSD: She has a 1930's style and beauty DSD: She focuses on you so intensly when she's doing a scene DSD: That's very rare DSD: You have to think about so much else when you're doing a scene...lighting, gesture, etc DSD: But she takes you away from that DSD: You hope to work with her again and again DSD: GA DSD: -- I've been very fortunate DSD: I've work with so many very gifted people DSD: Actors so good they make your teeth ache DSD: Peggy Lipton on Twin Peaks is sadly underrated DSD: She was so talented you sometimes thought you could see through her skin to her soul DSD: That's the beauty of what I do DSD: I work with people who are magic DSD: You walk into a room and you know you're blessed DSD: Of course I'm obsessed with the visual arts too :) DSD: GA ChatMod: Can you tell us about you drawing and paint and Any plans to teach in the near future? DSD: -- I've been approached recently about teaching acting DSD: In the past I've taught set design and technical theater DSD: I love the craft of acting and I coach a lot of friends DSD: So I would love to teach acting DSD: I'm 60 so the older I get the fewer the parts DSD: Teaching might be the next "stage" DSD: Though I can't imagine giving up performing DSD: I love the craft and preparation in this craft DSD: When I was a tiny child I thought that what I was going to be was a painter, sculpter, and poet DSD: I was a joke in my family DSD: The only reason I left the Army was because I believed I was meant to be a painter DSD: It took reality -- the discovery that I was the genius I hoped that I was that steered me to acting. But it's still what I love DSD: I paint every day DSD: I draw every day DSD: And when I have the room I carve DSD: But my problem is I truly love life DSD: My father would pull the car off the road to watch sunsets DSD: That's what my parents gave me DSD: This sense of magic and beauty DSD: The only sin was NOT to try something DSD: So that's kind of for good or il;l the driving factor behind my life of life and of art DSD: I sometimes think I have the power to create things that don't end up working DSD: But the next morning I get up and try again ChatMod: We hear you like to play golf? DSD: -- I'm probably the world's worst golfer DSD: The problem is that I love to play with friend DSD: And I live alone with a little puppy DSD: Most courses are an hours drive for me DSD: Then it takes 4-5 hours to play DSD: Then your friends want to have a beer... DSD: It's not fair to my dog DSD: So as much as I love to play ... I haven't had time lately DSD: Chris Judge and I played in Quatar last Christmas DSD: Chris has probably played 25 rounds since then... I've only had time for about five DSD: GA ChatMod: Ottly * Will you post your poetry on your website? DSD: -- No DSD: The same way with the paintings DSD: I put drawings on the site DSD: and carvings DSD: But there are some things I do for myself that I don't want to have to explain DSD: Sometimes I'm totally abstract DSD: I throw paint DSD: Sometimes I feel like painting something veryt realistic DSD: I love vibrant color DSD: At least lately DSD: I paint strictly for me DSD: The poetry is the same way DSD: It's too close to me DSD: Not to share DSD: Somebody said once that if you love every man equally you love no one DSD: I believe if you give everything you do to the world you do nothing that is so special you want it to be intimate DSD: There are things that I want to be personal so those I don't share DSD: GA ChatMod: Michelle * Will we ever see the general going though the Stargate again? DSD: -- I assume so DSD: But he'll never lead a mission, or go on a mission that somebody else is leading DSD: That can't happen in the military DSD: Wwithin the limits of SCIFI we try to remain true to military protocol DSD: Generals don't go on missions with colonels DSD: GA DSD: Let me go on DSD: If tyou watch the film Patton you never see George Scott in combat DSD: He directs from afar DSD: That's military reality DSD: Hammond can never be a part of SG-1 unless it's a dream sequence DSD: And we did that already with O'Neil as the General DSD: GA ChatMod: Final Question: What advise do you give to aspiring actors? DSD: -- Learn your craft. Don't give up DSD: Very often it's the person who refuses to quit who ends up with a career DSD: Acting is like anything else DSD: Unless you are beautiful, or striking you must be able to create realistic characters DSD: Most people who want to act don't want to work -- to ask the questions about their characters ChatMod: What's your character's favorite color? DSD: If you don't know you character, no matter how minor, you bring nothing to the scene DSD: ? DSD: You look for what your character says about your character DSD: What other characters say about your character DSD: It's only iof you are willing to do all the work that you can faithfully represent a character DSD: Bad actors may get jobs but they inhibit the the vehicle DSD: An actor must prepare DSD: It's an honorable craft DSD: GA DSD: Good night everybody DSD: Thanks for having me DSD: I hope to come back again ChatMod: Our hour is about up. Thanks for joining us. Good night everybody. |
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