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Hey everyone!
I'm sure by now you're all familiar with my latest project, the Pathfinder's Journal in Shattered Star. It was a really fun gig--Kostin's always a blast to work with (can that guy ever party!), and Tal and I go way back, so whenever we work together in a new Bill Ward joint, it's always something of a family reunion. But given that the books are actually reaching folks now, I thought I'd hop on the boards and do a little Q&A. Feel free to ask me about whatever--my life, past projects, the club scene in Riddeport, whatever you want to know about. (I know my publicist would prefer I focus on Shattered Star, but whatever--I'm all about the fans, not The Man.)
So are you an animal companion, or just a badger? I'm entirely sure what class Tal is.
While I resent the speciesist overtones in "just a badger," I'll answer this one anyway.
Tal's got a lot of talents, but for this gig, she's playing a ranger, which means that I'm listed as her animal companion. A lot of folks in my position would prefer to switch it around and have her listed as my humanoid companion, given that my name is admittedly more of a draw, but I'm not about to ego trip--Tal's good people, and we're all friends here.
And really, if you got to spend every day wrapped around Tal's neck or getting scratched behind the ears, would *you* worry about what it says in the credits roll? Yeah, me either.
Your cousin, the Honey Badger, seems to be getting all the publicity lately. Meaning no disrespect, but what elevates you from your more famous cousin?
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Your cousin, the Honey Badger, seems to be getting all the publicity lately. Meaning no disrespect, but what elevates you from your more famous cousin?
You've done your research! Most people don't know that Honey and I are actually related. The two of us spent some time together as kids, but as we got older, we really grew apart. Don't get me wrong--dude's still funny, and I wouldn't want to mess with him in a bar fight--but he really let the Hollywood lifestyle go to his head. You can see it in his films--the guy just Does Not Care anymore.
I'd say that's probably the biggest difference between us: HB pretty much plays himself no matter what role he's given. While that works well for him (and Robert Downey Jr., and Will Farrell, and the rest of those guys), I've always seen the actor's role as becoming the character, not changing the character to become you. My role models are folks like Tom Hanks and Leonardo DiCaprio, who can play a huge range of roles, and I think my career reflects that. Action stories are fun, but I also really appreciate a good character drama. And I still try to jump back to the stage every so often to keep my thespian chops up--for instance, I'll be playing the bear in an upcoming production of Shakespeare's "The Winter's Tale."
So long story short: I think that the main difference between me and Honey Badger is in the types of roles we gravitate toward. Which you prefer really depends on your tastes.
I work retail, your cousins T-shirts are not selling well at my store.
In fact, they are not selling even on clearance...70% off?
Do you have any T-shirts available for sale?
I work retail, your cousins T-shirts are not selling well at my store.
In fact, they are not selling even on clearance...70% off?
Do you have any T-shirts available for sale?
I always warned HB that if he didn't come up with a new routine, he was going to flame out as quickly as he flared up. Sad to hear that my prediction's coming true.
As for shirts--so far, I've been reluctant to do any merch deals, and my current contract with Paizo makes it somewhat tricky. For the time being, all I have to sell is my work. But if you want to come visit the Paizo crew at Paizocon or Gen Con, I'll have one of the staffers draw my portrait on your shirt. (I don't draw well myself. No thumbs.)
Is there any truth to the rumor that you, Honey Badger, and Taig will be in a new summer action film filled with Baysplosions, John Woo-style gun ballet, and Drunken Badger kung-fu?
Is there any truth to the rumor that you, Honey Badger, and Taig will be in a new summer action film filled with Baysplosions, John Woo-style gun ballet, and Drunken Badger kung-fu?
At the moment, the project's still hung up as two different studios battle it out, but I can say that I've always wanted to do a Rian Johnson script, so I'm quite excited! And though I've never worked with Taig personally, we've got some mutual friends, and I've always had great respect for his work. If all goes as planned, I'll be playing a career criminal trying to go straight, Honey Badger will be my drug-addict brother-in-law who gets me pulled back into the criminal world, and Taig will be the government agent with a secret of his own sent to track us down. And as you may have heard, the whole thing is indeed set underneath Area 51.
I really think the time has come for an all-badger ensemble cast, and I hope it all works out!
Where can I get sunglasses as cool as yours?
Ruyan.
Is badger like weasel?
Where can I get sunglasses as cool as yours?
These were actually a present from a fan--Robot Chris has been a follower of my work since the very beginning, and when I started working for Paizo she gave me these. Really useful when you've been out all night and the paparazzi starts using flash photography...
Is badger like weasel?
Yes, but much larger and stronger. No offense to I Am Weasel--dude's accent brings all the lady mustelidae to the yard.
Do you get tired of that "Badgering the witness" joke in your short lived tv series Paw & Order?
Oof. That show. It seemed like such a great idea--Spike Lee doing a police/court procedural, with an all-black (or in my case, black and white) cast? How could that not be destined for greatness? Only problem was, at the last minute Spike and the studio got into it over creative control issues, and he left, only to be replaced by a cut-rate sitcom director.
Naturally, the other actors started dropping like flies--Sam Jackson was the first to call b@!+&*#~, and the rest cascaded from there. Me, though... it was my first major role in a series, and my sense of honor makes it really hard for me to break a contract. We struggled through 17 embarrassing episodes before the studio finally pulled the plug, and while there are still moments in there I'm proud of, overall I was happy to see the thing die so that I could move on. The fact that the WB network has subsequently brought back the reruns is both flattering and a little unfortunate. Seriously, those are like embarrassing baby photos.
I thought he was in The B team. Or was that "Trufflehunter" ?Mind you, I'm not surprised that badgers get special treatment - I suspect Mr. Brock has something to do with it.
The B Team was another great ensemble cast, only that one stuck. Where Paw & Order was hackneyed right from the get-go, I've always enjoyed the work we did on The B Team. But really, I could watch Halle Berry blow things up all day.
Trufflehunter was about pigs, and was really just a Squealy Nord vehicle. I had a couple of cameos, just as a crossover thing since both series were owned by the same studio, but that show was all Nord.
And while I'm sure you're a nice guy, John, you should really watch who you accuse of special treatment. People always want to look at my career and say "Oh, he only got there because he's cute and furry," but I worked my stumpy tail off to get where I am. Respect is key in this business--slagging others brings us all down.
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People always want to look at my career and say "Oh, he only got there because he's cute and furry," but I worked my stumpy tail off to get where I am.
I would never in a million years consider describing a badger as "cute and furry" - I see them more as the Harry Callahan (or Rooster Cogburn) of the animal world.
I would never in a million years consider describing a badger as "cute and furry" - I see them more as the Harry Callahan (or Rooster Cogburn) of the animal world.
Thanks, man. I knew you were cool. :)
It's funny that you mention Cogburn--I actually read for that role in the new Coen Brothers version of True Grit, but over lunch Jeff Bridges was telling me how badly he wanted the gig, had been dreaming about it since watching John Wayne do it as a kid, etc. So when it came down to just the two of us, I stepped aside rather than making them choose. Instead, I spent some time doing modeling, mostly for Brian Jacques novel covers.
Hiya Mordimor, I must say I've always admired the breadth of your character repertoire, and as someone who seems to be in danger of getting typecast as "short cute guy about to be mauled" I'd really appreciate some pointers on how to make sure people will consider me for other parts.
Oh, and also, did that dwarf taste as bad as he looked?
Hiya Mordimor, I must say I've always admired the breadth of your character repertoire, and as someone who seems to be in danger of getting typecast as "short cute guy about to be mauled" I'd really appreciate some pointers on how to make sure people will consider me for other parts.
Oh, and also, did that dwarf taste as bad as he looked?
Thanks so much, Lem! It's not easy to avoid getting typecast when you're short (or in my case, primarily quadrupedal). I think the answer is to just keep trying out for a variety of roles, and avoid doing too many slapstick comedies. (Not that I don't enjoy that illustration of you making everyone vomit with your singing, but a reputation for that sort of comedy can keep people from taking you seriously as an actor. But hey, if Jim Carey can make the jump from slapstick to drama, anybody can, right?)
And yeah, the dwarf's a method actor, so his clothing was a bit, uh, ripe.
Have you ever auditioned for a 'Bipedal' part?
Have you ever auditioned for a 'Bipedal' part?
On occasion, but really, I'm more comfortable playing to my strengths. I mean, how many humans can convincingly play a quadruped? There's pretty much just Andy Serkis, which means that there's always call for a good four-on-the-floor man.
Do you have an opinion on the "greenwashing" scandal in the remake of Wind in the Willows, since Kermit the Frog is playing Mr. Toad. I only ask because your Mr. Badger in that movie had the gravitas of Sir Ian McKellan's Gandalf?
Are you surprised Wind in the Willows was split into 3 films?
Thank you! It's always nice to play a classic character, and Mr. Badger is such a badass--almost as much as Sir Ian himself. As for the "greenwashing"--all I can really say is that haters gonna hate. Kermit's a good guy, and while people may want to call race on the execs for not casting an actual toad, nobody can say that Kermit didn't play that part to the hilt. I respect the concerns of the toad community, and stand in solidarity with my anthopomorphic animal brothers and sisters, but at the same time, isn't having a star like Kermit playing one of their most famous heroes--and doing so well--a step in the right direction? Seems to me like it's a sign the nation's finally coming around to accepting toads, which is damn exciting. Little steps, baby. We'll get there.
And splitting it into 3 films was really the only way to do it--there's just too much story there to try and cram it all into two hours. I'd always rather see a director's vision carried through than see a film cut down to an arbitrary length. But then, I'm a purist.
Okay... what scene in the Shattered Star project did you find most interesting?
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Do you think that the Shattered Star is kind of a way to test the waters for a pre-Earthfall campaign setting with Thassilon and Azlant taking center stage?
Would be really fascinating to see some of that as a more plot heavy style setting while keeping modern Golarion out of the metaplot webs.
For the record, I think a dachshund is no match for a badger. I have no idea what the breeders were thinking.
Okay... what scene in the Shattered Star project did you find most interesting?
While there were a lot of fun scenes, I think my favorite is the long sequence with me and Tal in the dwarf's house, before she sends me down to keep a lookout. As I've said before, even an action movie needs to have good characters at its heart, and I think you can really see the long, complex relationship between us there--it's a love that's not romantic, no matter what the tabloids tell you, but rather something even stronger. I was really proud of our performance there.
For the record, I think a dachshund is no match for a badger. I have no idea what the breeders were thinking.
I know! Don't get me wrong, those guys can be scrappy, but there's just no way a wiener dog's coming out on top, unless maybe several of them jump you in an alley. Or one of them's got a knife.
As for a pre-Earthfall campaign setting... that question's a bit out of my league, but judging by what the developers and designers have said in the past, I suspect that they'll continue to focus on the present Inner Sea, simply because there's still so much there that hasn't really been explored yet.