Online Chat Session with Ron Perlman

Re: Magnificent Seven

This is the transcript of the online chat with Rick Worthy and Ron Perlman
that was done January 21 1999.

The URL for this session is: http://www.tvgen.com/chatbbs/chat/transcripts/ts011499ms.htm

TVGEN: Welcome! Tonight's chat is with The Magnificent Seven's Ron Perlman
and Rick Worthy. Rick, Ron, glad you could join us tonight.
Ron Perlman: It's a pleasure to be here.
Rick Worthy: I'm a little nervous since it's my first time doing an online
interview - but let's get it on!
kit_kat91: What made you read for the part you are now playing?
Worthy: I got the call. I just remember the day I read for the part. I had
three auditions that day and I wasn't prepared for any of them! I remember
that out of three I really wanted the Mag 7 pilot because I had the seen
the movie, and I had also seen Seven Samurai, the Kurosawa film. I was
instantly attracted to the heroic aspect of the story, and the opportunity
to also play a black cowboy on TV, which I had never seen, was immediately
attractive to me. So I told my agent that we had to really push to get this
project, and I was really happy.
Perlman: I echo a lot of what Rick said. I had never played a black cowboy
either. I still am waiting for that day. I am also a big fan of the
Kurosawa version and the Americanized Steve McQueen version. And word just
travels real fast in Hollywood, and the word on the producers of this show,
Trilogy Entertainment, run by Pen Densham and John Watson, was that these
were guys who had very high aspirations to do something with a great deal
of integrity. So I tried hard to get my hands on a script, which I did. And
I thought it had a lot of merit, and I thought there was a lot of potential
for all of the characters, and also the one I was playing, which is and
still to this day, continues to be the most enigmatic of the characters,
the most full of contradictions, which is a great place for an actor to
sort of dally.
Worthy: When Ron found out that Rick Worthy was in it, he couldn't resist!
Perlman: I'm glad you could say that Rick. I should tell you I was hired to
die in the pilot. But when they got a load of my performance they just
wounded me badly and let me live. It had nothing to do with my performance
actually, they just saw a chemistry in the seven characters, they saw it
gel, and they asked me if I would stay on. And I was happy to oblige.
Amayeli: Who is the biggest joker of the cast?
Perlman: All you have to do is complete this interview to find out!
legacy315: Are you really like your character?
Worthy: I concur.
Perlman: I am much better looking than my character.
Worthy: I actually share some qualities that Nathan has but I am very
different in a lot of ways. I remember reading an interview that George C.
Scott had done with Life magazine around 1968, and he said in the
interview, "the courage I lack as a man I have as an actor". I think that
statement fits me perfectly.
Perlman: My character is a man very much on a spiritual quest, to find the
presence of God in all things. Without ascribing to any particular set of
dogma or organized religion. He regards all ways of worshipping God as
valuable, and all ways of serving God as necessary for redemption. And
redemption is something that I think he has come to believe is the true
meaning of life. And so he has chosen a more direct path to redemption by
serving God in pursuit of protecting the underdog. Which is what these
gunslingers are ultimately all about. The spiritual aspect is something
that I think I share with Josiah.
myscribe: Hi. I think one of the unique aspects of The Magnificent Seven is
the great characterizations that you, as actors, give us. Can you tell us a
little about your characters of Nathan and Josiah on the show?
Worthy: I think what informs Nathan's psychology and where he is amongst
these men, in this town, in this time of history, is slavery. He was born
into slavery. What's magnificent about Nathan is that he has managed to
successfully escape that hell, that Holocaust, if you will, to make a new
life for himself. I think a lot of times in discussions of our show, people
identify Nathan as a former slave, but it's important to understand when he
was a slave. Because when you're watching the show, it's not like he just
escaped from slavery last week. And he ran away prior to that date. The
show takes places in approximately 1870, 1872, and of course, slavery
officially ended in 1865 when the Civil War ended. So he has been a free
man approximately 11 or 12 years. And that's very, very important because
during his time of freedom he has been able to find a new life for himself.
Which first led him north and then eventually west, because Nathan did
fight in the Civil War as a Union soldier. And after the northern victory,
he headed west. So, somewhere after that time of heading west, he settled
in a town, and eventually hooked up with the 6 Magnificos.
jadzia73: Dear Mr. Worthy: I have to compliment you on your OUTSTANDING
performance in portraying Nathan Jackson! I have to say the scene between
you and Mr. Starke during the "Working Girls" episode just blew me away!
Your emotions and facial expressions were so in character it was amazing!
My question for you is, was it hard for you to do the scene?
Worthy: First let me say, thank you, that's very nice of you to say that,
and it makes me feel good that my work is being appreciated. It was
challenging. And I was initiially concerned about establishing that
in-your-face conflict with Ezra in that episode. For one reason, I wanted
that kind of tension eventually to develop to the point where you know Ezra
and Nathan are about to really go at it. But in retrospect I'm glad we
decided, particularly John Watson, that we needed to have that conflict
between the two characters at that time. It was the right time, and it
worked beautifully. And I have to compliment Tony Starke for taking the
initiative to rewrite that scene. The scene that you guys saw on television
was rewritten by him. The first draft was not the one you guys saw. I'm
glad we did it. Because I think that Tony saw it, he had the insight to see
that the conflict needed to be there at that time, and I compliment him on
that.
TVGEN: How does it feel to play a role where you wear so much make-up?
Perlman: Well I don't have to get up quite as early in the morning, which
is a pleasure! But I don't really distinguish roles on that physical level.
It's more the avenue of engagement. And whenever I put on the makeup it was
out of a fascination for what was being portrayed on the written page. So I
share that same fascination for the character I am playing now. But there
are less obstacles to me making it to the set to go do my work. Clearly.
paramnt: Rick: Please come back and visit Detroit. We think you'll finally
warm up this city and melt some ice! :-) Worthy: I would love to come back
and see my father and my relatives. I was born in the Motor City. And I
have a love for Motown of course, and I am proud to have been born and
raised in the Midwest and Detroit. It's a special city that has produced,
and continues to produce, some terrific artists in the music industry, in
theater, in every arena. Detroit is a great town.
JosiahsJudy: Ron, Opal is from Jamaica, correct? Does your family visit
Jamaica often?
Perlman: Opal goes back. Every time we plan a trip to go, I get a job. So
of the five times that she's gone back to Jamaica since we've been
together, I'm 0-5.
TVGEN: Did you have a problem smoking a cigar, as your character is a
"healer?" Worthy: The reason I wanted to smoke the cigar was because I
liked playing characters who exhibit a certain dichotomy in their
behaviors. And it's funny that you bring that question up because today is
the day that the magnificent Michael Jordan officially retired from the
NBA. And I read in USA Today how after he made his announcement, he and
Scottie Pippen and David Stern and a couple of his buddies went out to
dinner and celebrated, and smoked cigars, drank, ate and played cards all
night. It's interesting and fascinating - our premiere athlete smoking
cigars. It's kind of funny to see the two images together. As an actor
that's one of those things that I just tune into. So yes, Nathan is a
healer, but he also enjoys smoking cigars. And I don't think that he is
concerned about catching lung cancer, or whatever, from smoking cigars.

TheGreatCorrupter: What's been your fave episode so far of all the shows?
Perlman: I think my favorite episode was "Inmate 78." We've got a few
coming up this season that are really strong. Rick gives a performance in
an episode called "The Trial" which is stunning. The entire episode is
quite moving and revealing of Rick's past. His entire past is profoundly
revealed.
Worthy: I agree - "Inmate 78" was my favorite. From last season, the other
episode that is one of my favorite ones is "Nemesis." It was, I think, the
episode that really went into, or at least started to go into, who we are.
What makes us tick. Some of the earlier episodes from last season, like
"The Collector" and "Working Girls," were good episodes, but they basically
centered around someone in need of help. And the Magnificent Seven are
called in to help them. And that's fine, that's our whole thing. No problem
with that. But a lot of people were concerned about, who are these guys.
Who are we? And I think this year you are going to have a wonderful
opportunity to see what makes us tick.
Perlman: Much more is revealed, of each of these guys and their individual
demons.
Worthy: I want to thank you, Ron, for mentioning "The Trial." I had the
opportunity to see an episode called "Penance." Which just moved me to
tears. I'm not just saying this because Ron and I are on the line. I've
seen it four times and each time I've had to go get a drink because it's so
revealing in terms of who is Josiah Sanchez, what are his demons, what's
his back story, why he's here. It's like, hopefully people will tune in and
watch. It answers so many questions I had about Josiah, and after having
watched it, I now understand what informs his behavior. And I thought Ron
was just magnificent in this episode. The word I would like to use is "in
the pocket." He was so in the pocket.
Perlman: Thank you, brother man. I don't know about you in cyberspace but
we are having a good time here!
TVGEN: What storylines would you develop for your own characters?
Perlman: That's tough, I haven't even thought about that.
Worthy: One of the storyline ideas I had is actually being developed now.
And in "Penance" we touched upon this idea, where Nathan re-establishes his
relationship with Rain. And she is the beautiful Seminole Indian girl from
the pilot. So you guys are going to get a chance to see more of Nathan and
Rain together. And the other idea I had was, Nathan is not the only black
cowboy out West. There are lots of them. And the first image that comes to
my mind is the Buffalo Soldiers. The Congressional War Act of 1866
established a regiment of black soldiers on horseback who patrolled the
West. And I think it would be interesting for Nathan to make some kind of
connection with these guys. I don't know how we can set it up, but I think
it would interesting if there was some kind of connection with other black
cowboys.
TVGEN: Rick, Ron, thanks for joining us this evening. Good luck with The
Magnificent Seven, and please come back and chat with us again.
Perlman: I'd just like to thank everybody for participating. We do this
because we love doing it, but it ain't anything until it's received. And
knowing you all are out there - thank you very much, it's been a pleasure.
Worthy: I'd like to thank all the fans for coming together on the Internet
and pooling their money together to help save our show. I can't tell you
how much that means to all of us. Please continue to watch Friday nights,
and I hope that we meet your expectations.

Source was ndibble@fuse.net (home http://home.fuse.net/helpnet)