Aaron Douglas Interview
By: Shawn O'Donnell (Battlestar Galactica Fan Club Co-President)
Date:
February 3, 2005
Source:
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA FANCLUB
The Battlestar Galactica
Fan Club Co-President Shawn O'Donnell "BGR" recently interviewed Actor
Aaron Douglas, who plays Chief Tyrol on the new Battlestar Galactica
series. Mr. Douglas was kind enough to take a few moments and sit down and
chat with us about his career, and the new series. Much thanks to Lena
Leeds and Russ Mortensen at Pacific Artists for making this interview
possible. And special thanks to Lisa Christensen who takes care of Aaron's
website at:
http://aarondouglas.biz/
BGR: What was it that started you in the
field of acting? when did the notion come to you?
Aaron Douglas:
My mom tells me that it was my desire
to be an actor since I was a little boy. I do not remember ever saying
this to her but who argues with their mother? I have done drama in school
all of my life and after high school I participated in dinner theatre and
community theatre.
I had never thought to 'go after' acting
professionally until Garry Davey, the artistic director of the William B.
Davis school in Vancouver took me aside one night after a scene study
class and told me I should pursue this as a career. He told me that they
had a full time acting program that started in the fall, it was April at
the time, and that he would hold a spot for me if I chose to attend.
I thought about it for many months and then one
night after attending a performance of Ragtime at the then Ford Center for
Performing Arts I decided to leave my job and go to acting school. I was
27 at the time.
BGR: What do you consider your first "big
break" in the acting field?
Aaron Douglas:
Big break? Not sure. My first really
smart move was hiring my present agent, Russ Mortensen and my present
management, Roar. I guess Battlestar would be the show that has given me
the most work and notoriety. I am still relatively unknown so I don't
think the traditional 'big break' has happened yet.
BGR: Let me ask you about your first
Television experience, was that a commerical or series?
Aaron Douglas:
First on set experience was Inspectors
2. I had no idea what I was doing or where I had to go or who I had to see
so I wandered around until people started asking if they could help and I
told them I was an actor and needed to check in. I was directed to the
background tent and then finally to the circus where I was ignored by an
Assistant Director until he figured out who I was and then bent over
backwards to make things good for me.
I remember thinking that this guy didn't give a
shit about me until he realize I was an actor and not a low ranking crew
or background person. I thought that was pretty shitty. I will never
forget him. But it was fun and I did it without wrecking the scene, so it
was all good.
BGR: You've done a lot of films! 2004 was
very busy for you, "The Chronicles of Riddick", "Walking Tall", to "Catwoman"...
So far these have been supporting roles, do you think that you're
developing a "standard character" so to speak thats adaptable to those
roles?
Aaron Douglas:
All the roles of 2004, which were all
shot in 2003, were basically no name guy with two lines. There is a
casting director in town who really likes my work and whenever a show
needs a one line good actor guy, she offers it to me. They get a good
actor and I get to put a big show on my resume.
That is, all those shows are resume builders.
That and I believe you should try not to say no to anything, within
reason. You get to meet a new director and producers and work with some
really great people. My time on I, Robot and X2 will never be forgotten
because I met people like Will Smith and Hugh Jackman, who are two of the
best human beings you will ever meet.
Everything good that has been said about those
two does not do them justice and that was a great experience for me. To
see how mega-stars act on the set..and that there is no reason to be the
prima donnas that so many are these days.
Now a movie like Walking Tall is a great example
of a small role that was offered to me that became a pivotal point in the
movie. The director, Kevin Bray talks about this in the commentary on the
the DVD. Stuff like that gets you remembered.
BGR: On that same subject, do you want
take that character (if there is one) and try to project that into lead
character parts?
Aaron Douglas:
I don't really have a standard
character. I am just me. Some of these small parts I do are really simple
and it is just a matter of standing there and saying a line.
BGR: Following up, do you see yourself
doing leads in the future? you certainly are building up a resume...
Aaron Douglas:
I do want to have much larger roles in
features, and that time is coming...
BGR: Going back to the Television
question, what series do you get the most out of that you've worked on?
outside of Battlestar Galactica.
Aaron Douglas:
I really enjoyed the sense of fun and
play on the Smallville and Andromeda sets. I also was interested to see
the amount of work that a guy like Anthony Michael Hall...on the set of
The Dead Zone, has to put into everyday being basically a one man show. He
is in almost every scene and works everyday. It was a good learning
experience for me in terms of preparation.
BGR: When I say "get the most out of" of
course I mean work satisfaction, experience etc. How about the films
you've done? I would put the same question to you, which one so far have
you gotten the most out of?
Aaron Douglas:
Films. Satisfaction would be Final
Destination 2. Taking a small non-descript role and making him the
bumbling cop on my own and having them...the director, etc, letting me
keep going farther with it. It was where I really learned that I could
improvise and unless they told me to stop to just keep going. Many
directors lose the best work and best pieces because they don't let their
actors play or bring their creativity to the role. This is especially true
of some writer/directors.
Meeting the cast of X2 was tremendous. They are
all so gracious and professional. Hanging out with Will Smith. The time I
enjoyed the most was doing a movie of the week for ABC with Patrick
Dempsey, Kimberly Williams and Jennifer Copping.
Another one of those roles that was three lines
in the script but where the director, my friend Harry Winer, let me loose
and let Patrick and I play. It was so much fun.
BGR: Theatre?
Aaron Douglas:
Theatre, playing Mercutio in Romeo and
Juliet. That and one time I played both Theseus and Oberon in the same
production.
BGR: I have heard that you are the most
ardent fan of the original Battlestar Galactica, is that true?
Aaron Douglas:
I remember the original Battlesar
Galactica from my childhood, .I loved that show.
Yes, I am a fan!
BGR: Was it difficult for you to adjust to
you're role on the new series considering the big difference between the
two shows?
Aaron Douglas:
No.
Tyrol was not in the original so I did not have
that prejudice. On one hand I hate remakes. Hate them. Some things should
just never be done. So I was mad when I heard they were redoing this but
after I read the script I was able to see that it was something different
and new.
I can now look at them as two separate pieces.
Like The Lord of the Rings. Those books are amazing and when I heard they
were making movies out of them I thought that was really too bad. But the
movies were so great that you really have to see them as two separate
pieces of art. They will never match each other, but they don't have to.
It is not about that. I like both Battlestar
Galactica's.
BGR What do you see for the new series...?
It's future I mean...
Aaron Douglas:
I have no idea where this show is
going. Hopefully it runs for a few years. My main wish for it would be to
keep pushing the envelope. Get Tyrol to do some really cool stuff that
stretches me as an actor.
BGR: What do you see for yourself "beyond
Battlestar" as it were...?
Aaron Douglas:
I have no idea there either. I take it
one day at a time. I don't get too caught up in the future or the past.
All I have is today. Take care of today and tomorrow will take care of
itself. Life is not a dress rehearsal. There is no second take. So do what
you love right now and trust that desire. Why wait?
BGR: Do you have some other projects in
mind?
Aaron Douglas:
I am working on more of my own stuff.
I have a group of friends who get together and we make all kinds of short
films and send them to festivals all around the world.
I am almost finished with my first feature
script, so hopefully we will be shooting that in the fall of 2005.
BGR: Do you have a specific "dream role"
or something that you have aspired to do as an actor, or writer, or
director for that matter?
Aaron Douglas:
Dream role. I would really like to do
a Thin Red Line type of movie. That ensemble camaraderie ugliness of war
film. I want to do a movie where people walk out stunned. That and a great
comedy. A crazy boys out of control movie. And a hockey movie.
BGR: Any suggestions or hints for aspiring
actors and actresses out there?
Aaron Douglas: Aspiring actors. A couple of things.
In the audition room remember this: They want you to get the part. They
are dying to cross that character off the list and say good, we got that
one. They are not against you. Don't make this audition your reason to
live another day. It is only a TV show. You are not saving lives or
fighting for your life 3,000 miles from home. There are worse situations.
Pop into a local V.A. hospital and you will see. Also remember that if you
are the last one standing you will be chosen. Persevere. Grab stories of
your favorite actors and read what every one of those who have gone before
you went through before they could quit that serving job. And enjoy the
journey. It is the stories along the way that make the movie of your life,
not the ending. It is those little moments that you will remember and
others will remember as well. See the baby steps along the way and you
will see how far you have come. There is no ending. There is no ultimate
goal. If someone told me that I have made it and that is it, I would be
devastated, I am 33 and that is it? Am I done then? I remember the times
in the car and the hotels and the bad road food more than I remember the
place the road trip was taking us. The time on the bus is often better
than the game itself. Keep going and work hard, but have fun. We all came
from that screwed up family in the small town where no one thought we
would make it. |
