SFX Excerpts From Interviews With Pine, Quinto, Saldana, Cho & Pegg

As reported earlier, SFX Magazine’s May issue, coming out this week, is chock full of stuff about the new Star Trek movie. In addition to an interview with director JJ Abrams, there are also interviews with Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, and  John Cho. Plus Simon Pegg has a guest column. We have excerpts from all of those below.

 

Cast interviews
In addition to the extensive cover story, including an interview with JJ Abrams (see previous story), the new Star Trek issue of SFX contains a number of cast interviews. Here are excerpts from each.

Chris Pine on his approach to tackling Kirk:

What was presented to me was this vision of Kirk in the script as an angry young kid who is dealing with some heavy family shit and is angry at the world. He’s a rebel without a cause. I think everyone can remember what it’s like to be 15 and he’s a 25-year-old 15-year-old! And he has to mould all that energy and that drive and all that passion and obstinence and the spectrum of emotions into the man that Kirk then becomes, which is the captain of the ship.

Zachary Quinto on his interaction with Leonard Nimoy in preparing for playing Spock:

Leonard and I have become good friends through this process and I value his presence in my life as a friend tremendously. I think he’s an incredible man. I have a tremendous respect and affinity for him, and I often feel that if I could have lived half the life that he’s lived when I’m his age, I would be very content.

John Cho on if he felt tempted to ‘do’ an imitation of George Takei in his portrayal of Sulu:

I did not. It’s probably more due to George Takei than Sulu, but George is such an iconic personality. I just felt it best not to imitate him. Plus, I do not have the vocal cords. They do not do that voice, that sound. It’s unique!

Zoe Saldana on her take on Uhura:

These characters were never fully developed, so I got the essential things about her. There’s a lot of demand she has on herself. She’s an overachiever and takes herself a little too seriously.

Simon Pegg Guest column
In addition to the interviews, there is a guest column by Simon Pegg, the new Scotty. Here is a bit on his approach to the character:

I had to look at it entirely from the point of view of an actor looking at a character, and not do an impression of James Doohan, because that would be a huge disservice to him and to the show. It would be easy for a line like ‘The engines cannae take it!’ to tip over into parody or pastiche, but it’s entirely dependent on context. If the engines can’t take it, they can’t take it, and you’ve got to tell the Captain. Because if you don’t then the ship’s going to blow up!

Much more in the issue of SFX Magazine
There is much more from all of these actors in SFX #182, which goes on sale today (April 8th in the UK), and should be available in the US and Canada later in April.

More on SFX, including subscriptions and purchasing info at sfx.co.uk

 
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Of course we will have to wait to see the finished product (those of us outside of Austin or Sydney, that is…)

But – I find it interesting that the new cast decided to (or were told to) give their “own take” of their character. Except for Urban, who seemed content to ‘channel’ D. Kelley.

From the clips I’ve seen, his performance appears to be the most faithful, consistent, accurate portrayal of the original. And that, despite the fact some fans saw him the worst casting choice of all the characters. Maybe there is something to be said for that.

Or perhaps maybe he is just head and shoulders above the rest as an actor…?

I know I’m not the only one who has noticed or mentioned that the cover of this magazine makes it look like they are appearing in a nudie mag called SEX, right? Time for a new design layout, SFXmagazine.

I hav always though Urban was an inspired bit of casting. I have enjoyed what I have seen of his onscreen performances thusfar. His McCoy looks like it is note perfect.

BTW – Exactly ONE MONTH TO GO!

2. Spectrum of the Spock – April 8, 2009

“But – I find it interesting that the new cast decided to (or were told to) give their “own take” of their character. Except for Urban, who seemed content to ‘channel’ D. Kelley.”

I don’t see that. He looks a bit like him, so perhaps that makes it easier to draw those comparisons, but I don’t see a lot of De Kelley in Urban’s performance.

“From the clips I’ve seen, his performance appears to be the most faithful, consistent, accurate portrayal of the original.”

Portrayal of De Kelley’s interpretation of the character? Again, I really don’t see that happening here. I think what is happening is that Urban’s approach to McCoy is similar to Kelley’s, but it’s by no means an imitation or accurate portrayal of Kelley’s take on the character.

“Or perhaps maybe he is just head and shoulders above the rest as an actor…?”

I think his interpretation is just more similar to what fans would expect, without being an imitation. I certainly wouldn’t call any actor who imitated his way through a performance ‘head and shoulders’ above their peers.

Star Trek had never been about the best acting, you need a little ham in there, its a rip roaring adventure full of fantastic stuff, you need some over the top personalities and characters, thats why Shatner was so amazing as Kirk!!

#5

Jeez, I see it too. I can even hear De Kelly’s vocal cadence in Urban’s delivery in the clip. Point of view is an interesting thing.

5 – New Horizon

they were tasked to potray the original crew. an assignment that some Trek fans would consider of the same magnitude as being assigned to portray a real historical person.

Thus, it is vital to *become* the established character – not provide ‘your own take’.

Urban’s ‘take’ was not to give his own spin, but apparently to *become* the McCoy that DK established. not through imitation, but by acting. to me that shows acting prowess.

From the reviews i’ve read of that short clip, i think most would agree…

sorry – 4. New Horizon

I just pre-ordered TOS S1 on Blu ray from Amazon. :-)
2009 is a great year for the franchise. New movies & blu ray releases.

It’s true what Zoe says, the supporting TOS characters never got a lot of development on screen. It’s a tribute to the original actors that we felt like there was a bigger story to each of them. Even though she mostly said “Hailing frequencies open”, who didn’t want to know Uhura’s life story? Why did she have that special rapport with Spock?

That’s why I’m excited that they’re getting some serious treatment, and casting, for this movie. And yeah maybe I’m an Uhura fan.

My comment #6 was for New Horizon too. Comments are dropping like flies on this thread.

Uhura and Chekov were probably the most underdeveloped of the original crew. I hated the fact that they often relegated Uhura to the back of the crew. She rarely had a shot at shining. I like in the new film how she is an expert in languages which makes since. I only saw her exhibit that talent once or twice in the original series. I like this new Star Trek already. Very cool. Urbans take on McCoy is amazing.

#—-WHERES GOOD QUALITY YOUTUBE VERSIONS OF THE BAR SCENE CLIP AND THE BONES CLIP THAT ARE ON MTV.COM AND YAHOO???

Oh man, speaking of Urban doing McCoy… this new clip had me dying.

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1809752801/video/12865145#12865145

That’s about as McCoy as it gets. Spot on writing and performance. I especially like his moment of backing down.

I never really saw Uhura as an overachiever or as taking herself too seriously, but I suppose that makes sense, considering that we’ll be seeing her straight out of the Academy.

Hopefully, the fact that she’s been featured so heavily in the promotional material means that she plays a prominent role in the film. I always wanted to know more about her :]

4. How can you watch that McCoy clip and not hear d. Kelley’s Bones? It is so in there. I got goosebumps hearing it.

16. I’m dead Jim –

exactly. i played it again and closed my eyes and just listened. It *was* McCoy.

that’s what i’m talking about. I don’t get that yet with the others. we’ll see… and hope…

Uhura didn’t know Klingon in TUC. She had to look it up in a manual. There are people walking around a typical ST convention who would not need a manual.

This Uhura seems to have more on the ball.

@THX-1138

It’s meant to be like that, it goes with the irrelavent humour of the magazine. It’s a mag run by scifi geeks, for scifi geeks with one hell of a sense of humour, who dont take themselves too seriously (though they can geek out with the best of them). That’s why I love it, they actually know and care what they’re talking about. A bit like Trekmovie.com!

My frend who actualy got into the theater here in Austin did tell me that all of the Actors did a great job of doing each of the chariters. So with that ill wait to see the Movie and thn we will all know.

I really hope Urban got to say, “dammit Spock!”
If he didn’t, he should have.

I’m really up for this movie- alternate timelines, planets blowing up, bizzaro Enterprise, barcode scanners, fruity cast shots, and “SEX” cover be damned!
ONE MONTH. Wow.

Zoe makes an interesting point: Sulu, Scotty and Uhura were largely two-dimensional, and they (and the writers) have a great opportunity for character development in future movies.

I remember some lines from the first book of “Star Trek: the Lost Years” where Kirk asks Uhura what she was up to, and while the Enterprise was in refit she replied that was working on her Master’s Degree, and started talking about her thesis that had even Kirk cross-eyed and there was a comment in which Kirk always thought of her as a glorified switchboard operator, and overlooked her professional talents. It was a nice perspective…

Is Quinto channeling Moe Howard?

23. mr. mugato

– oh… wise guy eh???

;)

@3. MC Doctor. LOL ONE MONTH TO GO!!!! And in two days exactly FOUR WEEKS TO GO!!!! Its comin…its comin

Its still so far away, but my god how fast did it creep up, it felt like it was still a year away just a short while ago.

Watching the calender like Data is watching his tea pot.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

#19

Oh. It’s funny.

#15—“I never really saw Uhura as an overachiever or as taking herself too seriously, but I suppose that makes sense, considering that we’ll be seeing her straight out of the Academy. ”

As Zoe pointed out, there isn’t alot that we *do* know about Uhura—beyond the fact that she likes to sing, is fluent in Swahili, and has an appreciation for collecting African art, etc. We know that she is drawn to Spock, and is fiercely loyal to her captain, but we have never seen the roots of those traits and habits. Much of what we know is based upon a line or two of dialogue or what we see displayed in her quarters.

# 2. THX-1138 – April 8, 2009

“I know I’m not the only one who has noticed or mentioned that the cover of this magazine makes it look like they are appearing in a nudie mag called SEX, right? Time for a new design layout, SFXmagazine.”

Ive read SFX since day one and they well known for their wicked and brilliant sense of humour, that’s why they are still going strong and is the most popular Brit sci-fi mag on the shelf.

#14 Rainbucket – that clip is probably EXACTLY how they would have met in real life; the first thing McCoy would have said to Kirk :

“I may throw up on ya.” LMAO

My God, is every magazine going to assault poor Quinto with bad Photoshop?

I’ll still buy this when it reaches the US, but just sayin’. :-)

#16 “4. How can you watch that McCoy clip and not hear d. Kelley’s Bones? It is so in there. I got goosebumps hearing it.”

Agreed. His attitude, his cadence, his inflection…it’s Bones McCoy…as brought to life by De Kelley, played to perfection.

lol, in that picture it looks like it says ‘SEX’ not SFX

luhlz

#2:

Why do you think they CHOSE that name? : P

16: Definetly. I know that most of the cast tried explicitly to not cannel the orginal actors — but with Karl Urban it works. Just from listening to his rant about aviophbia, it was almost as if he WAS De Kelley.

#33

I don’t know. Because it’s really, really funny? I mean, bust a gut funny. Slap a knee funny. tehe.