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Gilles
Nuytens
Gilles
Nuytens TSW
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| Bill
Marchant interview |
Date
of publishing: 23rd September 2005
Bill Marchant is an actor, director, and writer, his feature
film "Everyone" recently won Best Canadian Film
at the Montreal Festival and played to packed houses at the
Vancouver International Film Festival. Bill also currently
has a recurring role on the popular Canadian television show
Da Vinci's Inquest, and previously had a recurring role on
the sci-fi series Stargate SG-1, playing the billionaire Adrian
Conrad and later the Goauld that possessed his body.
Gilles Nuytens: According
to your online Resume, your first job for television was for
Millennium. You were a drama teacher in Vancouver for years,
what decided you to come to television ?
Bill Marchant: Theatre in Canada is a tough
climb; opportunities are limited. I have always had a deep
and abiding love of film, so the choice was easy. However,
I have not left the stage behind. I will be appearing in a
tour of an original production of “Adrift on The Nile”
in 2006. I look forward to hitting the boards.
 Gilles
Nuytens: You did a multiple
job on the movie "Everyone", you were actor, producer,
writer and director! How did you manage so much things in
the same time ? Can you describe life on set with so much
things to do ?
Bill Marchant: That was a wild and hectic
time. Always a bit of a control freak, I wanted to make cover
all the bases. Next time, I plan to surround myself with experts
and exercise my talents in delegation. I probably shaved five
years off my life by tackling so much. I want to see what
I can do to get them back.
Gilles Nuytens: Could
you describe the positive and negative points for each of
these jobs ? And what did you enjoy the most ?
Bill Marchant: It is difficult to choose
what I prefer, but if I had to choose, I guess I would probably
pick writing over all the others. I feel the most free and
unhindered when I have an empty page in front of me. The possibilities
are limitless. I get to play god. Actors have to give so much
of themselves away. I love it but.... And directing is just
a heck of a lot of work. Exhausting. I only do it to get the
project done.
Gilles Nuytens: In
Stargate, how could you describe your characters, your "dual
personality" ? What did you have in common with them
?
Bill Marchant: I’ve never been a billionaire,
so my connection with Adrian Conrad is fairly tenuous, though
I must admit some desire for world domination. In actor terms,
it was a blast to play the Goa’uld, because their objective
is so clear. They are free of doubt, confusion or any sense
of hesitation.
Gilles Nuytens: What
did you find the most difficult about playing Adrian Conrad
and the Goa'uld ?
Bill Marchant: The voice work was the most
challenging. As you know, the voice is altered in post-production,
so finding a voice that worked for me was a big concern.
Gilles Nuytens: This
Goa'uld finally never got a name ... and you, did you give
him a name ?
Bill Marchant: Not yet. I am still hoping
they will resurrect me. In Sci-fi, anything can happen. Conrad
was also heavily involved in cloning, so maybe one day I will
have a name.
 Gilles
Nuytens: What do you think
you have brought to the Stargate franchise, as a person and
as an actor ?
Bill Marchant: I always bring my passion
and professionalism. I treat every role like it was Shakespeare.
I also have a deep love for science fiction, so I give over
to “play” with ready abandon.
Gilles Nuytens: Now,
my favorite question: What is the funniest anecdote that has
happened on the set of Stargate if you remember ?
Bill Marchant: The funniest anecdote is that
when I was playing “ill Adrian” I actually had
a temperature of 104. I was barfing between takes. Not funny
at the time but hilarious in retrospect how difficult it is
to act sick when you’re sick. I couldn’t have
done the role that day without the wheelchair.
Gilles Nuytens: Your best
memory on Stargate ?
Bill Marchant: The best memory could only
be how warmly I was treated by everyone, especially Amanda
Tapping. She is the classiest act. I love her.
Gilles Nuytens: How
do you feel when you watch your episode to see yourself with
so much power and ... with glowing eyes ?
Bill Marchant: I laugh my ass off.
Gilles Nuytens: You
joined the Stargate team where you met one of your former
student, Ivan Bartok, how was it to work with one of your
former student ?
Bill Marchant: Ivan was never anything less
than a total pro. Even in school, he was way ahead of the
game. I wish I saw more of him.
Gilles Nuytens: What
are the episodes (from Stargate or from another show) you
enjoyed the most to do ? As an actor and as a person, what
did you learn from it ?
Bill Marchant: Desperate Measures was the
experience of a lifetime. It was my introduction to the Stargate
universe. People have been unbelievably kind to me. I still
receive mail from around the world. What a ride.
|
| Interview
by Gilles Nuytens for Stargate
Ultimate / The
Scifi World |
|
