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Aaron Douglas interview |
Date
of publishing: 19th December 2005
Aaron Douglas was born in a suburb of Vancouver called New
Westminster and growed up there until he was 10. Then he moved
to a town in the interior of the province of British Columbia
where he played in high school and community theatre. At age
26, he left his current job and came back to Vancouver to
learn the craft of acting at William B. Davis Center for Actors
Study (The X-Files "Cigarette smoking man").
Aaron Douglas has on his filmography movies such as Catwoman,
The Chronicles of Riddick, I Robot, X-Men 2 and TV shows such
Andromeda, Stargate. But he is most known for his role of
Chief Tyrol in the new Battlestar Galactica series.
Gilles Nuytens: Can
you firstly talk about yourself?
Aaron Douglas: I was born in a suburb of
Vancouver called New Westminster and I lived in Vancouver
until I was 10 years of age when my parents moved us to a
town in the interior of the province of British Columbia.
I was involved in high school plays and community theater
until I moved back to Vancouver at age 26. I had been out
of acting for many years when I decided to quit my job and
go to theater school (William Davis Center for Actors Study
in Vancouver) to learn the craft of acting. I had done everything
from floor laying and construction to marketing and sales
repping. I spent many years discovering what it is that I
do NOT want to do in life. The rest as they say is history.
 Gilles
Nuytens: What was the most
difficult scene you had to do in Galactica?
Aaron Douglas: The scenes where someone dies
in the Chiefs arms are difficult to do because they take a
really long time to shoot and you are constantly in a state
of loss and sadness. They are very draining.
Gilles Nuytens: How
would you like that chief Tyrol evolve in the future, especially
his relations with Sharon#2?
Aaron Douglas: I would like the Chief to
be done with Sharon. It is time to move on. I would like to
see Tyrol begin to believe in himself a little more and be
given more tasks requiring strength and leadership.
Gilles Nuytens: You
appear in all episodes of Galactica, except maybe 1 or 2,
your character is as important as the main cast so, to your
opinion, why don't you have the same status?
Aaron Douglas: There are so many people in
this cast that the network cannot focus on everyone and so
marketing is split between the bigger names and the handsome
ones. The Chief was a really small character in the beginning
and there was no intention of focussing on him at all so anything
that comes my way now is a bonus.
Gilles Nuytens: What
is your best memory from Galactica?
Aaron Douglas: There are so many great memories
from what we have done till now. One is goofing off with Paul
Campbell and Mary and we were laughing so hard we almost ruined
take after take after take. If you ever see them ask them
about Paul and Aarons made up names for the racehorses she
took her husband to see.
(Note: We asked this question to Paul Campbell,
you can read his answer here)
Gilles Nuytens: If
you were in the same situation than chief Tyrol, how would
you have react when you learned that your girlfriend, Sharon
was a cylon? And what would be your behavior with her?
Aaron Douglas: Not really sure what I would
do but I think I would march her down to Adama's office straight
away. Tyrol didn't figure it out till she shot Adama so there
wasn't much he could do.
Gilles Nuytens: On
the set, who's the guy always trying to break up a scene,
to make everyone laughs?
Aaron Douglas: Paul is really funny and Eddie
goofs around a lot. I am silly between takes, especially with
Nicki. We laugh alot.
 Gilles
Nuytens: Which Shakespearean
character would you like to do? And why?
Aaron Douglas: I have played several Shakespeare
characters and if I had to do it again I would like to play
Mercutio or Theseus and Oberon in the same performance.
Gilles Nuytens: What
was the scene you enjoyed the most to play in Galactica and
why?
Aaron Douglas: Episode 3 of season 2. Running
and shooting Cylons in the forest. How fun is that?!?!!
Gilles Nuytens: I
read some critics about the "rape" scene shown in
the last episode aired, as you played in this scene, what's
your opinion on it?
Aaron Douglas: BSG is a reflection of real
life and these types of events go on everyday. Many people
were upset by it but to me they need to realize that this
is the world we live in. Does that mean they have or want
to watch? Absolutely not but do not discount it as sensationalism.
What we shot was so much more graphic than what was aired
and I understand why they did not use it. In what aired the
rape had not totally begun. It was suggestive. I thought it
was a good scene and on point with the story and not added
to draw in viewers. That suggestion is absurd. I know Ron
Moore very well and he is not the kind of person or writer
to add scenes purely for sensationalistic or ratings purposes.
They have to be on point, truthfully reflect the situation
and todays world and be relevant to the story or they are
not there. It also amazes me that people have no problem with
beatings, shootings, bombings, stabbings etc. but show a breast,
a bottom, or a grope and they fly off the wall to condemn
it.
This happens in all areas of film, television and theatre
and it is ridiculous.
Gilles Nuytens: What
decided you to become an actor?
Aaron Douglas: It is the one thing that I
am really good at. It is the easiest thing for me to do and
it is what I love to do the most.
Gilles Nuytens: What
are your expectations for season 3? Do you already know something
about your involvement on it?
Aaron Douglas: I have no idea what is happening
in season 3.
|
| Interview
by Gilles Nuytens for The
Scifi World |
|
