CynbytheSea Interview with Douglas O'Keeffe(David Fanning )
Vickie Luke - Charleston WV- USA ************************************************************************** Q3.) What type of character do you enjoy playing the most? DOUGLAS: I guess I like to play someone who is intelligent and has a story line that has logic, who has a wit and charm and a keen sense of humor stemming from truth...however that hasn't happened yet ...hahaha... so I am thankful that I am getting to understand the flip side of that...the dirt out of which the tree of truth will one day sprout...I guess any character that fits into a story that has a through line of truth and intelligence is a good thing. I am tired of the mundane...I guess that's redundant. Q4.) With which directors would you like to work with in the future? DOUGLAS: Sofia Coppola, PT Anderson, David Lynch, Richard Linklater, Wes Anderson...there are a lot of great ones... QuentonTarrantino, Ridley Scott..
Chrissy Langeveld/The Netherlands ************************************************************************ Q5.) Can you tell us about the audition for La Femme Nikita? DOUGLAS: Yeah...I went nuts in the sense that I made Fanning more overtly insane than what ultimately appeared to be the make up of the filmed version... TJ Scott reacted... made a couple of suggestions...I did it again not quite so overtly crazy...Jamie Paul Rock supported me and TJ...Joel Surnow supported TJ and Jamie I suppose and said something like "okay, give the guy the part". Q6.) Do you have any upcoming projects that we can look forward to? DOUGLAS: Yeah. I just filmed a movie called Whoa Man (working title) which I directed and acted in. I think it's a fun movie. I hope I can get it in the Toronto Film Festival. Q7.) What is our your personal status? DOUGLAS: Hun? Do you mean marital, financial, spiritual...? And if it's personal... why ya askin? Hahaha... I figure yer talkin marital...single, hetero... what's yours?
Cynthia Wilkerson - Texas - USA
*********************************************************************** Q8.) Why did you choose to become an actor and what is your dream role? DOUGLAS: I like it. I guess the dream role will be one of three that I have written for upcoming features. Hope you like em. They're to be revealed at a later date. Fun. Q9.) What has been your best acting experience so far? DOUGLAS: I don't know...hmmm...I've had a lot of fun. Learned a lot of things. Met a lot of great people. Been to a lot of great places. I like to say "all the best", maybe there is more to that saying than I imagined when I started saying it. Hey...I think I'm gonna be in Australia surfing soon.
Mary Kalogerinis - Australia ************************************************************************** Hi Doug, first allow me to say I enjoyed meeting you at the last convention... Q10.) If you could have played one of the main characters in La Femme Nikita, who would you have played? DOUGLAS: I did play a major character! hahaha...glad ya liked meeting me.
Deb Schwartz - Michigan - USA
************************************************************************ Q11.) What is your favorite type of character to play and why? DOUGLAS: Interesting and fun... cause it's interesting and fun. Q12.) If you were to give advice to someone wanting to become an actor, what would you say? DOUGLAS: Learn how to do it and do it. Or vice versa. I mean it. Same for everything I think. Take a class, take another...join a group....audition...get pictures...get an agent and then get even better ...to act means to do... so do it. Q13.) Behind the scenes during the filming of the episodes for La Femme Nikita, were there any practical jokes being played or was it serious and down to business. DOUGLAS: Peta would physically attack me on occasion and I would wrestle her to the ground and sit on her to keep her under control. It was good clean fun.
Angelique Goyena - Virginia - USA
**************************************************************************** Q14.) What type of film, action, love, adventure, etc., do you prefer to act in, and what was your biggest challenge? DOUGLAS: I like variety, challenge and fun and these things can come during the scene or between 'em...so it's all good. My biggest challenges have been maintaining composure when something seems to really suck in the moment. Patience is a virtue (sometimes) and I have learned to relax and be quiet... sometimes. Something positive comes out of the perceived negative. Hey!... I thought of this yesterday...here and now is where and when we interact with God... so...if I can appreciate every moment and not worry about the past or the future I am in heaven. Also...doubt is the crucifier...HEAVY!!! hahahaa. Peace...rock on...I just thought I'd share these thoughts with ya...One can't beat the truth...you can run from it but ya can't hide... I know. I got the surprise of my life when Peta clocked me with a 45 caliber pistol. I asked the director if he got the shot. When he said, "yes" I said "good, I don't want to do that again." Q15.) What are some of your latest portrayals and what parts of the world did they take you to? DOUGLAS: Well I'm in Toronto right now having just completed principal photography on "Whoa Man"...good to be here. Q16.) How do you personally feel about your role on La Femme Nikita? DOUGLAS: Well I don't endorse becoming an assassin or beating one's spouse or abusing them mentally in order to control them but I feel I did a good job portraying someone who fell down in those areas.
Sandy Meridith - Kansas - USA
**************************************************************************** Q17.)How did you prepare mentally and physically for your role in La Femme Nikita? DOUGLAS: I didn't do anything I don't normally do. I work out and I practice the skill of acting. Q18.) Have you been to Australia? If not, where would you like to go? DOUGLAS: Well I'm thinking of visiting soon and I'd like to surf so I would love to travel a lot of the coast. Q19.) What was it like being beat up by Peta Wilson in the episode "Obsessed"? DOUGLAS: Somewhat painful... but fun too... to some degree... Q20.) The fight scene in the episode "Obsessed", was it choreographed for you and Peta Wilson, or were you just told to go for it? DOUGLAS: Oh... it was choreographed... thank God. Do you really think she would have won otherwise...C'mon! Q21.) What was your reaction when you were called back to do another episode of La Femme Nikita? DOUGLAS: I was very pleased. Q22.) You play the mean tough bloke so well, do you worry about being typecast? DOUGLAS: I have...I think I'm gonna change things up a bit...but "tough" is also "not quitting" so that's a cool quality...sometimes. I guess it depends on the action or behavior we are continuing or quitting. Q23.) Would you ever consider playing Laura Croft's love interest in a Tomb Raider movie? DOUGLAS: Yes. In fact I'm considering it right now and it feels nice... I think you'd do a great job. DOUGLAS: Me too. Hahaha. Thanks Leah
Leah Day - Australia
***************************************************************************** Q24.)Do you think playing a "bad guy", gives you more freedom of _expression than a good guy? Especially in La Femme Nikita where the characters were so reserved? DOUGLAS: Well I think there are ways to add to every role. A lot of it depends on how much latitude you are given to add. I think the ability to express freely is the key to a full character, however, expressing reservation is also expressive. Know what I mean? Even the tight lipped person is saying something about themselves. Q25.) Do you have any special memories of your experience on La Femme Nikita? DOUGLAS: Yeah. People were really kind and nice. Had a good time. Q26.) Which of the other characters/actors impressed you the most during the filming of LFN, and why? DOUGLAS: Well... Peta rocks...really. She puts a lot into it.
Dana Vrajitoru - Indiana - USA
************************************************************************ Q27.) How would you describe yourself? Are you anything like your character in La Femme Nikita? DOUGLAS: Well I don't describe myself a lot. But I don't act too much like Fanning while not in a scene where I'm playing him. That character is an exaggeration I think of an ego driven personality fueled by insecurity and a desire for control and power. He is his own worst enemy and is caged by his own self imposed role. However...to know that I guess I must understand it on some personal level. Q28.) If you had to play Operations or Micheal's role, how would you do it? DOUGLAS: My way...I'd just Dougify it a little...and have some fun doing it. Q29.) Did you always want to be an actor?How did your acting career start? DOUGLAS: I like to do different things different days. That hasn't changed. A teacher brought the activity to a class and I had a lot of fun. But playing as a child is also acting a lot of times...taking on roles... We all have done it I think...perhaps. It's fun. Some of us may do it unconsciously... taking on roles to please or affect others...hmmm? Q30.)Have you done any plays and if so, which do you prefer..stage, big screen, small films? DOUGLAS: I like it all but regardless of the medium I prefer to be involved with a well written project with personalities who are talented, prepared, enthusiastic and respectful of others.
Warren Stewart - Perth - Australia
***************************************************************************** Q31.) You portrayed more of a "fighter not a lover", as David Fanning on LFN, which are you in real life, a lover..or a fighter? DOUGLAS: I've done both...but I seek to find ways to love more...but that can be a fight sometimes...hahaha. Q32.) You did a FANTASTIC job portraying one of the most memorable scenes of "bad-guys-we-love-to-hate" on LFN , Can you recall any interesting "moments", while filming "Obsessed or Double Date", that you can share with us? Something we wouldn't ordinarily know, you'd like to share from the inside ? DOUGLAS: Thanks for appreciating the effort...I appreciate it. Hmmm...I don't know...uh...the food was good...I can't remember too much actually...hahaha...the running thing in double date took a long time to film and only a bout five seconds were used...I ran a LOT... I fell in a hole once. It was pretty funny. I came to quite an abrupt stop. Q33. )Did you find it difficult to shake a persona such as David Fanning after filming ended? Was it also difficult to "find" the persona again for "Double Date" the following season? DOUGLAS: No... about 3 seconds...tops. No, I didn't worry about it. I just read the script and it was all there in what the guy did.
Brenda Allison -Missouri, USA
*************************************************************************** Q34.) Was the entire range of belligerently obnoxious "good ole' boy" behavior of your character David Fanning wholly developed into a fixed roadmap by the writers, or did you have any leeway and spontaneity in creating his character, through personal touches while trying out for the part, or already in front of the camera? DOUGLAS: Well the words and some of the actions were a there in Robert Cochrans words. The way I did it was my creation with the co creating input of directors TJ and John on set. I ask as the performance seemed so spontaneous and unshackled, like you could really have taken the character anywhere, said, anything. DOUGLAS: Well I think that is a great thing...thanks... Q35.) Fanning was despicable; a self absorbed hitman, thirsting vehemently for reverent respect and so hard to please, yet he seemed not to care that all feared and hated him. Its rare to see such extreme personalities as successful adults, did you base your portrayal on someone you had known? DOUGLAS: No one person Mary...I haven't met anyone making choices as extreme as Fanning and though he may not have shown it much... there was a level deep down where he very much cared that he was hated and feared and he hurt very much. I imagine that only very high levels of hurt, insecurity, fear and anger might allow someone to act out in this way. I certainly don't think he is "successful". Though perhaps even Fanning made some progress. We see and have seen these characters on the world stage...haven't we...don't we???
Mary DeFrancesco - Rome -Italy ************************************************************************************************************************* Thank you for your time Sir, we enjoyed this opportunity you've given us, good luck on your future career, we are with you all the way! From the members of CynbytheSea.... Thank you...it is good to have you with me. Happy New Year and God Bless us all. Let's have a wonderful year. Peace and rock on! Doug. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~ Douglas O'Keeffe Online ~ http://devoted.to/doug ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~ Skye Board ~ ~ K. Douglas MacRae Official Message Board ~ http://pub61.ezboard.com/bkdouglasmacrae ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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