Date of publishing: 2nd
June 2008
PAUL KASEY is a very talented actor, physical performer
and movement director having choreographed and performed
in many well know film and TV productions. He can
be seen as Foxy in the new Foxy Bingo Commercials
and as various characters in the Doctor Who series.
He has recently played the Cybercontroller, the Cyber
Leader, Cybermen, a Clockwork Android and The Hoix.
He has also played an Auton, a Slitheen, an Ood, an
android and a member of the Forest of Cheem. He has
made frequent appearances as himself on Totally Doctor
Who, often in costume. He also appears on Doctor Who
spin-off Torchwood, where he plays the recurring role
of Janet the Weevil and in The Sarah Jane Adventures.
He played an infected victim on 28 days later
and went on to be the movement advisor on 28 weeks
later, choreographing the infected scenes and
playing the lead infected. Other films include Blade
II, Finding Neverland, Pride and Predjudice, Room
1408, Inkheart. Paul is also an excellent dancer and
contortionist. He also works as a model.
This interview has been done in collaboration with
the French website Beans
On Toast
A French translation is available at this address:
http://www.doctor-who.fr/d_itw_kasey.php
Gilles Nuytens: Can
you introduce yourself to French speaking Fans?
Paul Kasey: Bonjour, my name is Paul
Kasey and I have played different creatures/monsters
and characters on films and TV shows, such as Blade
2, 28 days later, 28 weeks later, Finding Neverland,
Room 1408, Dr Who, Torchwood and The Sarah Jane adventures.
Gilles
Nuytens: How did
you get into Doctor Who for your first character "Auton"?
Paul Kasey: Well right in the beginning
my agent called me and said that there was going to
be an audition coming up for a new TV series and they
were looking for people that had, background in movement
skills, prosthetics, creature suits and mask experience,
which I had and would I be interested in going up
for the audition. Well how could I have said no ?Iit
sounded exciting ! So when the audition came about
we were seen in threes and were told how to move and
the scene that we had to act out. This was done by
Ailsa Berk who is the movement choreographer. Any
way to cut a long story short, I was offered a re-call
a couple of weeks later. I think there were about
18 of us in the re-call. It was a workshop with Ailsa,
which went on for about 4 hrs even though it felt
like about 10mins, in front of the producers and director
of the first block. I found out on that day that they
were looking for about 5 people to play different
parts throughout the series, 3 guys and 2 girls. I
remember that evening so well, it was a Friday and
I was out having a drink with a friend in Covent Garden
when my phone rang and it was my agent saying that
they would like to offer me a part on the first block
and the TV series was going to be Dr Who and the part
I was going to be playing was an Auton. Well you can
imagine I was over the moon and of course had to stay
for a couple of more drinks to celebrate.
Gilles Nuytens: And
how did you get into the 3 other "Whoni-verse"
TV shows roles after this?
Paul Kasey: Well after playing an
Auton on the first block I was asked back to play
a Slitheen, Tree from Cheam, and Zuzanna an android,
all of which were on the first series of Dr Who.
Gilles Nuytens: You
appeared on Blade 2 and 28 Days Later, do you have
other movie projects? Still in SF or Fantasy?
Paul Kasey: I have been asked to
play a couple of parts on different films and maybe
be the movement adviser on another, but it is still
very early. There is a film going to be released at
the end of this year beginning of next in which I
played a creature that gets read out of a book. The
film is called Ink Heart and it is a children's fantasy.
Gilles
Nuytens: Were you
a Doctor Who fan? Can you try to explain to us the
impact of this incredible show on British culture?
Paul Kasey: To be honest with you
I was not what you would call a dedicated Dr Who fan
but as time has gone on I`m probably as much of a
fan of the show as most people are here in Briton
and around the world. I think Dr Who, like in the
past, has had a huge impact on British culture probably
more so now than ever. I would say there`s not a child,
or adult for that matter, who would not want to have
a Tardis in their back garden for themselves.
Gilles Nuytens: Then,
which is your favorite Doctor?
Paul Kasey: Which is my favourite
Doctor? That`s a hard question to answer. Out of all
the Doctors I`ve seen, I have enjoyed them all for
different reasons and think that they have all made
him as successful as the previous one.
Gilles Nuytens: How
did you come to play all the freaky masked monsters?
Paul Kasey: Well originally my first
ever so called freaky monster character was one of
the Reapers on Blade 2 and I had such a fantastic
time filming out in Prague and playing the part, along
with wearing the prosthetics that I thought to myself
if there was ever the chance to play more monsters
I would jump at the chance and could not refuse the
opportunity. And it did happen, once I had got a few
credits on my CV, the ball started to roll and I hope
it keeps on rolling for a very long time to come.
Gilles Nuytens: Was
it your choice at the beginning to specialize yourself
with physical, costumed characters, or was it some
unforseen turn in your career?
Paul Kasey: You could probably say
that it was some kind of unforseen turn in my career.
I had come from a movement background as I trained
as a professional dancer/singer/actor with gymnastic
and contortion skills. So for many years I had done
parts from West End Shows to pop videos , so my knowledge
of movement and the physical aspect of my training
has come in very handy playing the type of characters
I do. I never once sat down and made a decision to
do what I`m doing now, it just came about. But if
I had been given the choice though, I would choose
it time and time again. I suppose you could say I
have the best of both worlds as I still do what I
was trained to do as well as choreograph now, and
of course the majority of my work for quite some time
has been to bring the creatures and monsters alive.
Gilles Nuytens: Did
you have special training for this?
Paul Kasey: Apart from the training
I had already aquired, no I did not have any special
training to play the creatures/ monster charactors
that I have done. I do think though that you are continiously
learning and training, there is not a day that goes
past that you do not learn something new on or off
set. But I must say that I have worked with Ailsa
Berk for quite some time now on different projects
and if there is one person who has a wealth of information
and knowledge and is an inspiration to me, it`s her.
Gilles
Nuytens: And which
are your favorite monsters that you portrayed over
the 3 shows? Which one did you prefer to play, and
why?
Paul Kasey: Which are my favourite
monsters I`ve played ? Well that`s easy to answer,
they are all my favorites for different reasons it
would be so hard to pick just one. Each one is so
individual and unique, but if my arm was twisted I
would probabley have to say "Cyberman" because
they are so cool.
Gilles Nuytens: How
about the make up? Is it painful?
Paul Kasey: Each character is so
different in terms of there make-up and costume. Like
for example, the longest application for prosthetic
make-up so far on Dr Who for me was the Tree from
Cheam, which if I remember rightly, took about 4 hrs
to apply and about 1 1/2hrs to take off, and was on
for the whole filming day. Whereas with the Cybermen
costume takes about 30 mins to put the whole suit
on except the head piece, which would be put on and
taken off before and after rehearsals and takes. And
with Ood Sigma it was different again, I would be
dressed in his costume and the animatronic head would
be put on and taken off for rehearsals if it was needed
and filming. All the suits and heads are made from
my body cast,which I had done for the first series,
so they are all made to fit like a glove. As yet,
I have not worn a make-up or suit that I could say
has been painful, but that`s all down to Neil Gorton
and his team at Millennium FX.
Gilles Nuytens: In
terms of visual effects and make up, which characters
or species do you consider (as) the most achieved?
Paul Kasey: I would say that all
the visual effects and make-ups have been so brilliantly
achieved, and every time I sit down to watch another
episode it outdoes the one before in every aspect,
not just the visual effects and make-up.
Gilles Nuytens: Is
there some kind of monster you don't want to play?
And is there some monsters that would be your dream
to play?
Paul Kasey: No I don`t think there
is any type of monster I would not want to play, and
I dream of playing all different types of monster
as they are all so much fun to bring alive.
Gilles Nuytens: How
do you prepare for a role? Are you coached by a choreographer?
Paul Kasey: Once again there are
different ways of preparing for a role. The majority
of the time we have workshops with Ailsa Berk who
is the choreographer and movement specialist. She
will break down the scripts and will work with us
to gain the best results and movements required. Where
other times it`s down to my interpretation of the
character and script, along with working closely with
the director to achieve what is needed.
Gilles
Nuytens: We see
you so many times as so many different freaky monster
characters : how did you give an incredible and different
touch to each of them : Cybermen, Ood, Weevil, Slitheen...
?
Paul Kasey: That`s very kind of you
to say such a thing, but unfortunately I can`t take
all of the credit as the costumes, make-up and great
story lines are a huge factor for each different character
having such a unique and incredible feel to them.
Gilles Nuytens: And
would you like to play a good guy like a companion
to the Doctor?
Paul Kasey: As we know all the parts
I`ve played over the last 4 yrs have not been baddies
towards the Doctor, but if there was an opportunity
where I was offered a character that was a companion
of the Doctor’s how could one refuse such a
role?
Gilles Nuytens: Can
you describe us a typical day or week on stage, please?
Paul Kasey: Well a typical filming
day for me would start by getting up at around 5 :30
am and being picked up from the hotel about 7 am and
taken to unite base of which could be at the studios
or on location. After having some breakfast in my
trailer and picking up my sides for the day, I get
asked to start getting ready if I`m in the first scene
of the day. Everybody then gets called on to set normally
to do a line run and then a block of the first scene
followed by a crew showing. Whilst the different shots
for the scene are being discussed and everything is
being set up we tend to go back to base to finish
off getting ready. Once everything is ready we get
called back to set to start filming. Lunch is normally
called at around 1 pm so everybody goes back to unite
base, I tend to have some of my costume taken off
before lunch first. After lunch we get asked to go
back to costume or make-up for checks, ready to be
called back on to set ready to start the 2nd part
of the day. Sandwiches and cakes arrive at adout 5-ish
and wrap is about 7 pm. Then it`s back to unite base
to de-rig out of the costume and gather my stuff,
ready to be taken back to the hotel. If I`m filming
the following day I get given my call sheet. Once
I`m back in the hotel I tend to check the call sheet
for any changes, read through the scenes, freshen
up and make my way down to the restaurant for a bite
to eat and hook up with any one who`s around and chill
out, then it`s time for bed.
Gilles Nuytens: Do
you have a funny story you'd like to share about filming
in the "Whoni-verse"?
Paul Kasey: I do re-call one particular
funny moment. We were filming one of the scenes from
Satan’s Pit. The one where all the Oods are
on a gantry, all looking hard at work as the Oods
do so well. Well, we had rehearsed what every one
was to do in the scene and the timing and traffic
and journies that we were all to take throughout the
scene. In fact, quite a few times to make sure it
worked, one for the Oods and two for the camera. Anyway,
every time it was rehearsed it worked perfectly and
there was no hiccups or collisions, for that matter.
Well as you might have guessed, on the first take
action was called and at the start every thing was
going as rehearsed until all of a sudden there was
a huge Ood jam in the middle of the gantry, and because
of the limited vision no one could work out where
to go or what to do. At that point all I could hear
was huge amounts of laughter coming from around the
set, and then everybody on set joined in, it was one
of those moments that nobody could help but laugh.
Gilles
Nuytens: Steven
Moffat will run the show in 2010, can you tell us
something about him and the changes that would be
involved by his nomination?
Paul Kasey: The first episode I did
that Steven had written was The Girl in the Fireplace,
which was great to be a part of and one of my favourite
stories. As for the changes from his being nominated
to run the show in 2010, it is the first I had heard
of it. But if that is the case I am very excited for
him and 100% sure that the future of Dr Who is in
good hands.
Gilles Nuytens: You
have just begun filming Torchwood S3: in a French
interview of Naoko Mori, she speaks about her character
in S3. Will she be back? Is she the only one?
Paul Kasey: Unfortunately I have
not read the interview and have no inside infomation
on the questions asked. Sorry!
Gilles Nuytens: In
the same interview, we read that the 3 shows are filmed
at the same stage, in the same period. Is it difficult
for you to handle this?
Paul Kasey: Well yes, all three shows
do film at the same studios but they all have their
own sets and also tend to film out on location quite
a lot depending on the scenes and what is needed.
There have been times when there have been slight
overlaps with the productions but where I`m concerned
if I have have to be on two different productions
the schedule is sorted out so there are no problems
or clashes.
Gilles Nuytens: About
Torchwood, Janet, the weevil and the funny blowfish,
will they be back too? And do you think the blowfish
character is a reference to the shark monster in Buffy
the Vampire Slayer (6.08 tabula rasa)?
Paul Kasey: I would like to think
that both of the charactors that I have played on
Torchwood will come back at some point, and as for
your remark about the reference between the Blowfish
and the shark monster in Buffy I can not comment as
I have not seen that episode of Buffy.
Gilles Nuytens: With
the Blowfish (TW) and the Hath (DW), there’s
a lot of inspiration from fish : do you know who creates
them and how they are created? What do you think ofthem?
Paul Kasey: I would say it`s all
down to the writers who create the characters, and
how, that`s down to what I would say in having a very
good imagination. I think they are both completely
different in every way and both have been so cleverly
created to make an impact on the audience and captivate
the viewers in there own way.
Gilles
Nuytens: Please
can you talk about the atmosphere on the 3 shows?
My guess is that it is different, how exactly?
Paul Kasey: Yes, you would guess
right that the atmosphere is different on the 3 shows.
How exactly is probably down to the fact that the
cast and crew working on them are all different and
because the material on each show is intended for
a different type of audience.
Gilles Nuytens: We
saw you on "DW a celebration": which are
your best memories of this "brilliant" show?
And are you involved in the new one on July 27th at
Albert Hall ? Can you speak about this new fantastic
event?
Paul Kasey: I would say I have three
great memories from that show, one would be where
it took place, the second would have to be performing
in front of the live audience, and the third would
have to be the amazing orchestra. As far as the event
you have mentioned on the 27th July at the Royal Albert
Hall, I was unaware of it happening but I will keep
you posted if I hear anything.
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