Geoff, thank you for the pleasure of interviewing you. We are glad to have come to know your character and the many interesting contributions you and your brother made to the show. We thank you for the time you have spent with us, and we wish you both the very best. The Members of CynbytheSea... ******************************************************************************
1.) In the episode "Time Out Of Mind", Whose idea was it to use the "toy rabbit"? Where did the rabbit come from and where is it now? Geoff: Sorry, I can't remember. 2.) What are the materials use to make "The Perch"? And what type of precautions or considerations are used for weight limitations? Geoff: As I was only the Props Guy, and not the Production Designer (Rocco Matteo) or the head of construction, I can only guess, tell you what I could see. I know that the set had steel beams and such as a shell, and the set was built inside that. 3.) Is a certain amount of money set aside for props that will be needed to be purchased in each episode? Who does the shopping for these items? Geoff: Yes, there is a certain amount of money allocated to prop buying, renting and/or building for each episode. I can't remember, but it was somewhere around $5000.00 Canadian per episode. My brother Jim and I would do all the shopping, research, renting for each episode. 4.) What skills are needed for set designing? And where does one train for this type of work? Geoff: As Rocco Matteo was the Production Designer, he would be the one to ask. I know that he has some background/training in architecture. 5.) What would be the greatest achievement to date, that you and your brother have shared in the film industry? Geoff: Too date? Hmmm. As far as Props go, I was very proud to work on "TERRY" this past summer - all about Terry Fox. Amazing experience, great movie, and most importantly, he was a hell of a guy. His sister came to visit set - she was so cool. The main prop I had was an identical replica to the leg Terry wore. That show was full of great moments to experience. We got to travel to Newfoundland (my home)...it was very special. Very moving. As for my writing? Winning a couple of awards for scripts Jim and I have written. I have a TV series in the very earliest stages of development. I find that rewarding. 6.) If you are not limited to the set of LFN, do you sometimes go on location with the crew when filming is outside of the studio? And were there any outside locations you have traveled to that sparked any special interests for either of you? Geoff: As we always went on location for most episodes, props would always go. It was shot in and around Toronto, Ontario: the entire show. Good location people! Nothing was really interesting as we never actually went anywhere exotic! If the show was in China, it was actually a set in Toronto. If it was set in Russia, Paris, you name it: Toronto! As for an interesting location - we sometimes shot at a sewage treatment plant, because it looked so technical and industrial. But it STANK SO BAD!!! It used to be called "the shit factory" by the crew. 7.) As identical twins, can you read each other's thoughts, or feel each others pain? Geoff: Hmm. Let me ask Jim by concentrating. (Cue Theremin music). Seriously, nothing overt, but we have finished each other's statements before they were even spoken. Does that make sense, what I just wrote? 8.) Have you both ever switched places in any kind of circumstance for laughs? Geoff: Once, in grade six, April Fool's Day. Teacher wasn't impressed - bad mood that day. Cynthia Wilkerson ~ Texas, USA ***************************************** 9.) Who decided Madeline's office needed a change? Did you come up with the designs? Were you responsible for the design of Nikita's apartment? Geoff: Don't know whose decision it was, but Rocco Matteo probably came up with the designs. 10.) How do you work more often as twins or as individuals? How can we tell you apart? Geoff: More often as twins. Although we are individuals ;) Jim's nose is a little crooked. I have a rock hard six-pack(NOT). Actually, sometimes on set we are referred to as JIMF. Claudia Conde ~ Buenos Aires - Argentina ***************************************************** 11.) In the episode BEYOND THE PALE, there was a note to Nikita with Michael's handwriting on it and someone at The LFN Haven who's been studying graphology did a handwriting analysis on it. Surprisingly enough, given that Michael is a fictional figure, the results were remarkably accurate and consistent with what we know about his character! Can you tell us who wrote that note, if you can recall? Here's a link to the thread, FYI: http://p079.ezboard.com/fsavelfn69411frm13.showMessage?topicID=950.topic Geoff: My guess is that either Jim or myself scribbled the note, or someone in the Art Dept. did. Sorry I can't remember. As for it's accuracy - FLUKE! 12.) At what point did the powers that be decide that one or both of you should appear somewhere in almost all of the season two episodes? (If I recall correctly, you didn't appear in the season opening arc episodes.) Who decided when and where you would appear in each episode? And at what point were you made aware of how this would play into the season finale? Geoff: I know that Jon Cassar really seemed to be all over the concept of Jim and I in the show, and honestly, he did it for the Fans! He is a great guy. Also Joel Surnow is behind this also. As for all the other details, I would just find out a week or two before they would be filmed. Kristen Glanzman ~ New Jersey, USA *********************************************** 13.) Nikita's apartment seemed to be in a constant progression. Even in Season One, her living room furniture changed from week to week. Was that your idea, or was that due to budget? What about her funky toys (fish tank, sculptures, etc.)? Were those your ideas or Peta's? Geoff: Rocco Matteo, Terry Wareham, and the Producers. Peta was also part of the decision. The set decorators were responsible for the set dec. 14.) We only see Michael's apartment once, in "Gates Of Hell", and it is barely furnished. Were there plans to show Michael's apartment in further episodes that were scrapped for budgetary reasons, or was this a one-shot deal plan from the beginning? Geoff: Sorry, don't know. You would have to ask the set dressers. I only did the Props. Diane Whitehead ~ Indiana, USA ****************************************** 15.) I must say that your "inconspicuous" presence in many Season 2 episodes was one of the details I was always happy to catch - it was an interesting game. I don't know if you already saw this, maybe you can tell me if I missed something: http://www.cynbythesea.com/Facts/spy.htm Geoff: I'm sorry, I can't help. It was a long time ago. Some one told me that they saw me in the season opener that took place in China. That was a mistake, as they started rolling, and I couldn't get out of the shot. 16.) Did you design the Section technical gadgets and devices? If yes, what was the inspiration for them - did you study any military equipment by any chance? Geoff: Helped design, although ultimately that was Rocco or Terry's job. Jim and I would find some interesting object or toy, bring it in and show Rocco and Terry, and put in our two cents worth about how it could work as this gadget or that gadget. A design would be drawn up (usually) and then it would be built by a prop building company. We usually used a company called JJAMB. We did buy a ton of books and videos on military hardware, spy tech, etc. at the beginning of the show. 17.) How long did it take to prepare the sets for an episode, in general? Geoff: About one to two weeks, usually. 18.) Can you tell us a little bit of what it takes to make a script come to life in where your job is concerned? Geoff: I would read a script, do a break down, then take a meeting during the episodes pre-production with the director. We would talk about the gadgets needed, I would throw in some ideas, as would the director, then we would go from there. 19.) If Nikita had been in grave danger while Adrian's spies were watching her, do you think they might have intervened in her behalf? Geoff: I...don't ...know. 20.) Did you enjoy acting in "La Femme Nikita" and would you like to do it again? Geoff: I enjoyed it very much, and would/have done it again. But I am under no illusions. I am no actor :) Jim and I did act again in a low budget Dystopian Science Fiction Art film called "The Limb Salesman" http://www.thelimbsalesman.com/ 21.) Did many people from the technical crew feature as extras in the show? I was always wondering how many of these "bad guys" or "anonymous operatives" appearing for a few seconds on screen were actually part of the staff. Geoff: We had extras hired all the time. I don't think any crew, other than Jim and I, appeared in the show. Actually, Rae Crombie made it in an episode or two. Dana Vrajitoru ~ Indiana, USA ************************************** 22.) Geoff when the production ask for a job, how is it handled between your brother and yourself? Do you each have your own area's of expertise? Geoff: Jim and I flip flopped back and forth between episodes. Jim did odds, I did evens. We would help each other, and value each others opinion. 23.) What do you enjoy the most at being twins? Geoff: The camaraderie. Always knowing someone's "Got your back" 24.) Which was the most challenging task you had to perform in the set of LFN to please the writers? Geoff: Hard to answer this one. Many challenges. 25.) What memories do you have from LFN? What are your thoughts after all these years? Geoff: It was a fun show to work on. made a lot of good lasting friendships. 26.) Did you agree with the series' ending? Geoff: I thought it was a fitting end. Ana Maria- Rosario ~ Argentina **************************************** 27.) Could you please tell us what it was like to work with Peta Wilson closely in a scene, in your role as Steven? Geoff: It was fun. She was helpful and patient, knowing it was my first time. 28.) Do you prefer playing a role, or dealing with the scene structure? Why? Geoff: Acting is fun, but I am no actor. 29.) How hard was it to come up with the props for such a high tech show such as "La Femme Nikita"? Geoff: Sometimes it was easy. We would see an object or toy or gizmo that seemed to have the qualities we were looking for. A quick design, paint job, modification, and lights were added, presto; GIZMO! Sometimes, it was exhausting. Nothing seemed to work. No one was happy with what we would come up with. But it always worked out in the end. Thank you so much Deb Schwartz ~ Michigan, USA *************************************** 30.) Have you ever bought something hoping that it will sooner or later be used in a show? Geoff: Yes. If I saw an interesting object or even a toy or a piece of industrial junk that I thought looked cool, I would buy it. 31.) Do you always work together and if not, what solo projects have you done? Geoff: Jim and I usually work together. Jim did a movie last year called "Spirit Bear" that he did without me. I hear it's a good movie - won some awards at the Sprockets Children's film Festival. Jim also did a TV movie called Prom Queen with out me. I was writing at the time. Warren Stewart ~ Perth, Australia ******************************************* 32.) Of "Top Cops", "Nancy Drew", "The Hardy Boys", "La Femme Nikita" as well as the film "Highway 61", which did you find the most challenging and entertaining? Geoff: Don't like Top Cops. Didn't enjoy working on it, and didn't like the show. Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys was fun. Highway 61 was a blast to work on, and is a good movie also. 33.) How surprised were you both when director Jon Cassar asked about you acting in the episode and Surnow asked if you could handle some lines? Geoff: Very surprised! And excited. 34.) How do you invent props, what is the creative process? Geoff: I will read a script, and for mundane items like books or beer mugs or pens etc., we would just buy or rent the item. For more specialized items, say hospital equipment, we always rent. For the gizmos and gadgets, they were almost always interesting looking objects or toys, or industrial scrap, retro fitted, modified re-designed, painted etc. to be what it needed to be. 35.) What are the future projects that we can look forward to? Geoff: Look for the movie "Terry" in a video store if you can find it. It's fantastic. Jim and I just finished working on a TV movie about Conrad Black, called "Shades of Black". Jim makes the joke that this year we worked on a TV movie about the most SELFLESS Canadian, and then worked on a TV movie about the most SELFISH Canadian. :) http://imdb.com/title/tt0467697/fr=c2l0ZT1kZnx0dD0xfGZiPXV8cG49MHxxPXRlcnJ5fG14PTIwfGxtPTUwMHxodG1sPTE_;fc=1;ft=36;fm=1 Thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to hear such in depth happenings from the "ones that know" Sandy ~ Kansas,USA My pleasure. _Geoff
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