CynbytheSea Interview with 
Hakan Coskuner

 
Hakan Coskuner, the members of CynbytheSea, appreciate you allowing us to interview you, its been a great pleasure to interact with the cast of LFN, and in helping the fans thirsty quest for information on this series.
Thank you Sir.


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Q1.) How was your audition for LFN?
What was the process?

HAKAN COSKUNER: I only had to audition once for LFN. Most of my roles in LFN included stunts, and stunt work is given by the stunt coordinator. Mic Jones, the stunt coordinator hired me. Then in season 4, Episode 1, the director, Jon Cassar wanted to see me. It was no more and no less. Come in, be seen and get the gig.


Q2.) Why did you get chosen for so many roles?

HAKAN COSKUNER:I don't know, just got lucky and had the right look.


Q3.) What can you tell us about the other cast members of LFN that you worked with?

HAKAN COSKUNER:Roy was always very helpful. He was very sensitive towards safety and made sure that you are ok. Overall, everybody was very professional.


Q4.) What is your next project?
Where are you working right now?

HAKAN COSKUNER:I am currently back in Europe producing a travel show.

Claudia Conde Buenos Aires ~ Argentina
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Q5.) I'm real interested in your training, you did a lot of stunts, on La Femme Nikita, tell us what training you've had and what geared you to choose this type of work?

HAKAN COSKUNER:My background is gymnastics and being an athletic person I kind of fell into it. The opportunity was there and I took it. Where else can you play like that and be paid that much money? ☺ Also, you never stop learning, there is always something you don't know and if you are lucky somebody more experienced will show you how you do it. It never gets boring and you constantly acquire new skills.


Q6.) You spent numerous years training for Gymnastics', this is highly self-disciplined, extremely time consuming, as well as emotionally unbearable, what was the most important thing you learned from it all?

HAKAN COSKUNER:My head coach was Masami Ota from Japan and he taught us a lot about discipline and perseverance. To always envision your goals in front of you. I never saw it as unbearable though.


Q7.) What is your interest in mastering several languages?

HAKAN COSKUNER:Being brought up in a multicultural environment, languages were always important. Later on I discovered that languages open up many doors and I still try to get better on mastering them.


Q8.) You've done work on commercials, television and films, what is your preference?

HAKAN COSKUNER:Well, economically speaking commercials but my passion is film


Q9.) Being recalled to multiple roles on LFN, must be flattering, while filming with them, what are your fondest memories with the cast?

HAKAN COSKUNER: How everyone sometimes worked for 16 - 20 hours and still performed what was required of them. You know appreciation for having the opportunity to work with professionals.

Cynthia Wilkerson ~ TX,USA
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Q10.) If there was ONE episode in " La Femme Nikita" that was your Favorite, Which one would it be and why?

HAKAN COSKUNER: There were so many good episodes. If you ask me about an episode I played in the answer is "episode 1 in season 4". I played the "Target" and I just loved everything about it.

Deb S. ~ Michigan ~ USA
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Q11.) I see on your website that you were in "Passion of Ayn Rand". And also that you describe it as 'a fabulous movie about a fabulous woman. Does this mean you know of her and her work? If so, before or after making the movie.

HAKAN COSKUNER:Yes, after the movie.


Q12.) In La Femme Nikita, how heavy are the guns used in the show. Do they actually recoil? etc etc.

HAKAN COSKUNER:You have three different types of guns you use. Real, electric and prop guns, heaviest being the real ones which you use with blanks and those also recoil.

Warren Stewart ~ Perth ~ Australia
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Q13.)Did you have a good working relationship with Peta Wilson and Roy Dupuis?

HAKAN COSKUNER:Yes, I have never had a problem. It always has been very straight forward and professional.


Q14.) What languages do you speak?

HAKAN COSKUNER:German, Turkish and English.


Q15.) Do you ever get comments on your good looks?

HAKAN COSKUNER:Oh, come on. Thanks.☺ Was that a comment?

Vickie Luke ~ Charleston West Virginia
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Q16.) Was it fun to play different characters in the series La Femme Nikita? Were you able to interact with the main characters, or was it a strictly controlled situation?

HAKAN COSKUNER:It was a lot of fun. I really enjoyed being on LFN. Of course you do interact but foremost everyone is there to do a job and being professionals and considering that a lot of money goes into a production like that, everyone is focused on getting the job done.


Q17.) Can you elaborate on Stephen W.Hawking's link being cited on your site?

HAKAN COSKUNER:I think he is a very interesting individual from two perspectives. One, being one of few survivors of ALS for such a long time and two, changing the point of view of physics.

Dana Vrajitoru - INDIANA,USA
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Q18.)Since you were in several La Femme Nikita Episodes, were there ever any type of jokes played on one another or was it strictly business?

HAKAN COSKUNER:As said before, foremost everyone is there to get the job done. And then, yes you do have times when something funny happens.


Q19.) Which language do you prefer to use in your acting career and why?

HAKAN COSKUNER: Well, having German as my first language, I feel most comfortable speaking it. Career wise I prefer English because that's the market I am currently working in. Besides, learning the script in a different language makes things really challenging. Try it ones for yourself.

Sandy ~ Kansas,USA
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Q20.) Do you find yourself stereotyped as the Mediterranean "bad-guy" and if so, do you mind?

HAKAN COSKUNER:Not at all and if I would be stereotyped as that, I wouldn't mind. It's all good. Playing "bad-guy" gives you the freedom to do the things you never would do in real life. I always see acting as a fun game and I don't necessarily have to do it to be happy. However, being in a position where you actually get paid to play anything at all is very fortunate.


Q21.)What did it feel like to star in the daily German soap opera Verbotene Liebe (Forbidden Love), becoming a household name and heart- throb?

HAKAN COSKUNER:I didn't star in "Forbidden Love" but rather had a small recurring part. And it felt great to get the gig and attention at the time.


Q22.)Which European or North American directors' work do you admire and hope to work with in the future?

HAKAN COSKUNER:Well, as an actor you always dream of working with one of the "BIG" ones. However, I have seen and experienced so many wonderful creative directors who are not on the "top" and in my opinion what counts is the fact that everyone has the possibility to make his dreams come true and have fun doing it.


Q23.)Do you attend film festivals regularly when your films are shown and if so, which festivals do you prefer?

HAKAN COSKUNER:No I don't attend film festival on a regular base. I only had one film being shown during the Toronto International Film festival in 2001 and my friend and director Ari Grief had to make the very difficult decision to go forward and screen his film "681-0638" on the day of 911.


Q24.) What type of voice work do you do most frequently and in which language?

HAKAN COSKUNER:I mostly do dubs and loops in German.

Thanks and good luck in your international career!
Mary De Francesco ~ Rome ~ Italy
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Any Special Comments:
It has been a pleasure to answer your questions and I am always amazed that such interest is created through the arts of motion picture. Thank you.

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