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              ****** Geraint Wyn Davies' chat on Prodigy ******
                               April 18, 1996
         Downloaded from http://www.mtl.net/solidarite/mrhappy/fk.htm
  Many thanks to Nancy A Hill, Allison Percy and Rosemary Shad for their help!
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Moderator (Speaker)
Welcome to tonight's celebrity chat with Geraint 
Wyn Davies, star of USA's hit show "FOREVER KNIGHT".  
Start sending your question's now!

Moderator (Speaker)
Born in Swansea, Wales, to a Welch congregational 
preacher father and a school teacher mother, Geraint 
was 7 when he and his family moved to Canada.

Moderator (Speaker)
Geraint's professional debut was at 19 when he performed 
in Quebec City, appearing in "The Fantasticks," "Red Emma" 
and "A Midsummer Night's Dream."

blue (Member question)
How do you feel about having so many fans?

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
... I think it's wonderful that people enjoy a program that 
much.  I am having difficulty however with the small percentage 
that take things too far and have trouble differentiating a 
character from the actor and that causes me concern.  But in 
general, fan support has been fantastic!

Moderator (Speaker)
Performing for 8 seasons in both the Shaw and Stratford 
Festivals in Canada, Geraint gained a  fine reputation as 
a result of his thespian skills and talent for his many 
roles which included, Fitzambay in THE MUSIC CORE, 
Marchbanks in CANDIDA, Christian in CYRANO DE BERGERAC, 
Nicky Lancaster in THE VORTEX, Pericles in PERICLES, 
Malcolm Lowry in GOODNIGHT DISGRACE, and many more.

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
(cont...)  ... also, my father wanted to be an actor.  
My father also preached joy, so if the show can bring 
joy to viewers... It's just storytelling.  And indeed the 
vampire is the evil spirit doing well, but it's a classic 
tale.

Lichn2aStone (Member Question)
Tell us about what you're working on now -- we've heard 
something about "Trilogy of Terror 2" and "Alfred Hitchcock 
Presents."  What were these roles like, and do you know 
when these shows will air?

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
Actually, it wasn't "Alfred Hitchcock Presents", it was 
"Outer Limits."  And it's I believe a Showtime show, and 
it airs in June.  "Trilogy of Terror" I finished last week, 
and it's a Halloween show for the USA network and I was a 
real slime in that one.  And I was a midwestern sheriff 
in the Outer Limits.  The roles couldn't have been 
further apart.

iX weed Xi (Member Question)
I want to know if you have ever sky dived?

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
It's something that I've always wanted to do, because 
one of my biggest hang-ups is a fear of heights.  So, 
jumping out of planes seems one way to maybe overcome it.

ABABABABABA (Member Question)
Do you feel that there are any possibilities of "Forever 
Knight Movies?"

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
There are very remote possibilities.  There is an 
interest I think more from our production team side 
than from our distribution side.  I really don't 
know how far it's gotten.  Most of us have been 
too busy to think about anything.  Most of us are 
kind of stepping back from it for awhile.

SusanG2522 (Member Question)
Now that you're in CA, will you be concentrating on 
directing, film and TV acting, theatre, or whatever 
comes along?

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
It actually is going to be an interesting year in 
transition.  I don't really know the answer to that.  
I think I need to figure out the thing that I really 
enjoy the most.  I think I have to start doing things 
more for quality than for its rumination.  I find it 
very difficult to say no to anything.  That's my 
challenge now.

xLadyCaveatx (Member Question)
Why was the show 'Forever Night' canceled?

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
I would say that it's because it was aired simultaneously 
on USA network and first run syndication and the numbers 
individually weren't strong enough.  I think it's called 
cannibalism.  In a way, the audience ate itself!

xLadyCaveatx (Member Question)
I heard that you did a stint on Highlander: TV series; 
do you have aspirations of working with the Highlander 
series again?

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
Yes, I did.  We had a great time doing that.  Well, 
honestly, it was a fun show but I probably 
wouldn't do it again.

iX weed Xi (Member Question)
Your name is cool.

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
Oh, Yeah?  You're cool for thinking so!

Lichn2aStone (Member Question)
We'd like to hear more about your upcoming performance 
in "Taming of the Shrew."  It sounds like it will be a 
lot of fun for you and the audience!

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
Well, I don't know how much fun it will be for me...!  
We don't rehearse together as a cast until the day of 
the performance.  This is unlike anything else I've 
ever done.  Normally, you build on your rapport with 
other players.  We are having a lot of fun with the 
"Coordinator" (he doesn't call himself a director.)  
It really is an experiment and I'm enjoying it.

xLadyCaveatx (Member Question)
What do you think of the latest trend toward 
Sci-Fi television shows?

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
Well, I think people are just basically interested 
in good stories and don't want to just see what's 
going on in their kitchens anymore.  And it's also 
the unknown, trying to second guess where we're headed.  
And it's the turning of the millennium, so I think sci-fi 
is "what will happen in 2001,"  By the way, FK is showing
on the sci-fi channel on Mondays at 8 and 12.

Myra63 (Member Question)
Hi Ger!!  It's great to see that you are appearing in 
"Taming of The Shrew" next week at the duMaurier.  My 
question is..."Do you have any future plans on doing 
more stage work in the future?"  And, by the way...two 
friends in Virginia say "HI"!!!

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
Yes, and unfortunately I have to quite often turn things 
down.  I had to turn down a play in London that started 
rehearsals Monday.  Also, to be quite honest, I've spent 
too much time away from my family.  I'll do it if it's 
great.  I was going to be doing the play version of 
"Double Indemnity."

Moderator (Speaker)
Other commercial stage performances include, "My Fat 
Friend" in Los Angeles and "Sleuth" with Patrick McNee 
in Toronto.

xLadyCaveatx (Member Question)
What are some of your hobbies, besides acting, what 
type of things do you like to do in your 'spare' time?

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
Golf.  Tennis.  Skiing.  Travel is definitely one.  
I can't stay still for too long.

ABABABABABA (Member Question)
What are some of the other projects we can look 
forward to seeing you in?

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
Not a clue after this "Taming of the Shrew."  Except 
for a film called "Conspiracy of Fear" which might 
come out this summer.

xLadyCaveatx (Member Question)
What are you favorite types of books and music?

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
Anything that I can finish!  No, I like a cross-section.  
Music?  Well, right now on the CD player I have Natalie 
Merchant, Miles Davis, Alanis Morrisette, the Cranberries 
and an Elizabethan lute CD and a band from out-east 
Canadian, Rawlan Craus.  So, to answer the question, 
anything I guess.

xLadyCaveatx (Member Question)
Do you actually study vampire material, i.e. books, 
movies, articles, and so forth?

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
No.  To be quite honest, when you're so involved in 
the theories, the last thing you want to do on your 
weekend is to stay in.  You want to go out and do 
other things.

Pat0001 (Member Question)
How well can you see through those contact lenses?  
And do you get to keep them now that the show has 
been canceled?

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
I wouldn't keep them!!!  The yellow ones - fairly 
easily.  The red ones - not at all.  You couldn't 
see anything through them!  And they sucked the 
air out of your eyes!

SusanG2522 (Member Question)
We've seen the final script and we've spoken to 
people who have viewed the filmed episode.  Are 
we hated that much, to have the series end this 
way?

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
It doesn't end the way it was scripted.  We got a 
phone call on the last day to change it.

xRavenx (Member Question)
Hi, Geraint, So what is your favorite episode of 
Forever Knight?

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
Ooo.  Acting - the Fix, I guess.  And the one when 
I got to out with "Yankee" in the daylight.  I guess 
"Curiouser and Curiouser" was fun.  Oh, and the last 
one last year, "Blood Money."  The shooting of it was 
the most fun I'd ever had.  And the first two because 
we didn't have a clue what we were doing and it was 
exciting.

Moderator (Speaker)
Geraint continued his stage career when he 
relocated to England by joining The British 
Actors Theatre Company as the lead in their 
production of "The Last Englishman."

xLadyCaveatx (Member Question)
Do you and Adrian Paul know one another well?

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
We spent some together, yes.  I like Adrian 
very much

Lichn2aStone (Member Question)
Not a question, but... Happy Birthday (2 days early) 
from some of the members of your fan club!!!  Hope 
you have fun!

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
Thank you.  I will.  I'll be working.

Libur (Member Question)
Hi Ger, FK has been a wonderful show and you and the 
rest of the cast are extremely talented. Do you have 
any plans for hitting the big screen?

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
I don't know.  Unless the big screen does something 
evil to me...  I don't know if I'm really wanted on 
the big screen.  I like doing everything, so I might 
regret it if I don't.

xRavenx (Member Question)
What made you decided to accept the role 
of Nick Knight?

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
I'd finished doing Hamlet for five months 
in England and I'd made, I think 350 pounds 
a week... and I thought, gosh, I'd like a TV 
series right now!  And FK came around and I 
liked the dark individual with the inner search 
and the theatricality and I liked Jim Perry who 
created it.  So a lot of reasons.  The theatricality 
and the blind faith of Jim really appealed besides 
the paycheck!

UTBALLET (Member Question)
Geraint how much are you into the character of Nick?  
Do you go home and bite your wife's neck...?

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
No, I am an actor.  Nick gets to stay at the studio.  
Except for the clothes, I get to wear those.

Myra63 (Member Question)
P.S.~~~Happy Birthday~~~ on Saturday!!!! :) :) :)

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
Oh, yes.  Well, thank you very much!

xLyonyssa (Member Question)
Are the episodes of your show airing on the Sci-Fi 
channel going to be new, or are they going to 
rebroadcast what has already been shown ?

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
It will be what we shot up to February and there 
are no news ones after then.  So it will be from 
the 70-odd shows that we did.

ABABABABABA (Member Question)
Just wanted to let you know that the 1000+ 
people on the FK list would have loved to be 
here to chat-however many of us found it 
difficult to log on and find the auditorium.  
What was your favorite episode and why?

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
Well, I'm informed that there will be a 
transcript of tonight's proceeding available 
after tonight's chat.  Thank you for 
persevering to log in!

Pat0001 (Member Question)
Did the actors get much input into the episodes - 
dialogue, staging, etc.?

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
Yes, yes, yes, and yes.

Lichn2aStone (Member Question)
How is GWD enjoying life in California?  Using 
up lots of suntan lotion???

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
I've not been there for more than 4 days in a row.  
It takes me longer to find the suntan lotion even!

GillianE (Member Question)
What do you think of the campaign by the fans to 
stop Forever Knight being canceled?

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
Well, I think it's incredible and I'm 
flattered!

xLadyCaveatx (Member Question)
Where did you receive your training as an 
actor?  And had you ever thought that you 
would wind up being cast as a vampire?

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
On the stage, I received my training while 
working.  And no, although I've played a 
vampire three times now!

SyberSuzy (Member Question)
Please educate this Southern belle who took 
Spanish in high school - how is your first 
name pronounced?

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
"Gar" as in "hair" and than "pint" with a 
stress on the "hair."

GillianE (Member Question)
Are you planning on attending any conventions 
in the near future?

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
Not in the near future except with a small group 
of my fan club in the summer.

UTBALLET (Member Question)
Are personal questions allowed?  As in are you 
married, for how long and how many children do 
you have?

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
I am married.  I don't know for how long and yes, 
I have two children, Galen and Pyper.  Names that
are Gaelic, but easier to say than mine!

xLadyCaveatx (Member Question)
So did you start out as a Shakespearean trained 
actor?

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
I certainly started in the theater, but I've been 
very lucky to do all the media, all the time.  
So I haven't just done one thing.

Coltish (Member Question)
I've never seen Forever Knight, what's 
it about Wyn?

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
It's about a vampire cop, a 13th c. vampire 
who's a 20th century cop who's trying to atone 
for his sins by doing good now.

UTBALLET (Member Question)
Why was the role of Janette removed from this 
season?  Will she be back for the final show, 
or before?

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
She was back this year.  Politics... and a 
change of network.

Moderator (Speaker)
For television, Geraint Wyn Davies dug deep 
into his reportorial reserve for parts in 
movies and series alike.  He had the lead in 
the series  "Airwolf" and "To Serve and Protect" 
with guest appearances in the films "Ghost Mom,"
"Hush Little Baby," "Other Women's Children," 
"The Return on the Six Million Dollar Man," "Ikwe" 
and the Clive Donner film, "For Better and for Worse."

SusanG2522 (Member Question)
Which of the many episodes on Forever Knight was your
favorite to direct? (If it counts, I think "Baby, Baby" 
was your sharpest, but "Black Buddha" was one hell of 
an effort--the direction was invisible.)

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
I got to direct on the CN tower in Toronto, 
which was pretty cool.  And the second show I 
did, I got to blow up two cars.  Then I got to 
blow up a plane.  Unfortunately, I get the 
really depressing ones - I have to have John 
kill everyone, or... by the way, Deb Dushane 
did not die, she is still out there somewhere...  
The last one was really cool, because we only had 
two days.  Each one presented an entirely different 
challenge.  But I like Black Buddha number one, 
I think.

UTBALLET (Member Question)
You have an accent, but it is not really Welch or 
Canadian, how did you arrive at this sound for the 
character of Nick? Or is that your actual accent?

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
It's what I'm born with.  It's being a Welch guy 
asking people to pass the puck when I moved to Canada.  
It's really a pompous Canadian accent, more than anything.  
Although Nick was breathier than I am.

SyberSuzy (Member Question)
I adore Forever Knight!  It's such a refreshing twist 
on the old vampire crap.  I have, however, been having 
trouble finding it on USA.  I think it used to air on 
Tues. or Wed. night, where are you now??

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
In limbo!  I guess we've been put over to the sci-fi 
channel.

Moderator (Speaker)
FOREVER KNIGHT  is a portrait of your 
average vampire turned cop.  Well, not 
all that average when you consider the 
leading character played by Geraint was 
supposedly born in the 13th Century and 
has a heavy hemoglobin habit!

UTBALLET (Member Question)
Since your father is/was a preacher, how 
does he feel about your acting as a vampire 
in the series?

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
He's got a great sense of humor.

UTBALLET (Member Question)
What role did you play in the "Fantasticks?"

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
Matt, twice.

SyberSuzy (Member Question)
I have always loved this whole genre, but I 
think Forever Knight is great because it's 
different - not all vampire characters with 
dark hair and widow's peaks.  There's a new 
show, "The Kindred," on Fox now and it's not 
half as good.

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
Oh, I haven't seen it.

Libur (Member Question)
Will you be doing any theater productions in 
NY in the near future?  We'd sure love to 
have you here!

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
I don't know.  If they ask me, I certainly 
would consider it.

Moderator (Speaker)
FOREVER KNIGHT gained a tremendous cult 
following despite its insomniac hour.  In 
the role of Nick Knight, Geraint is cast 
as a police officer on a big city force.  
He is fighting crime to "atone for 800 years 
of evil living."  Despite the vampires and 
the villains in the series, it has its share 
of whimsicality and humor.

mlla (Member Question)
Geraint, it's Michael Levine stopping by to 
say hello!

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
Oh!  Come up to visit me!  Which show are you 
working on and have you cut your hair yet?

xRavenx (Member Question)
What to you think of your cult status?

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
I don't quite know what it is, so I'm far less 
aware than probably most as to what's going on 
out there, really.  I'm not on the internet and 
I don't read a lot of press, so I don't really 
know.

ABABABABABA (Member Question)
Speaking of clothes - Did you have 
any say in Nick's wardrobe??

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
Yes, but fortunately or no, we had four 
different designers.  That and the Police 
Captain seemed to be the most difficult 
jobs to maintain on the series.  The first 
year there were more colors, though black 
seemed to be the favored choice.  Black and 
textures.

Moderator (Speaker)
Geraint says, "I like the uniqueness of the 
show and the challenge that comes with it."  
Regarding the role of Nick Knight versus his 
stage roles, he believes, "the role has some 
things in common with 'The Melancholy Dane.'  
Knight and Hamlet share intelligence, self 
doubt and degrees of compassion.  Plus, both 
men are certainly surrounded by action."

SyberSuzy (Member Question)
Where is the show taped?  I have often 
thought it must be rough filming when it 
is cold so much of the year.  I'm in 
Georgia and winter is long gone.

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
Toronto, and it was cold filming here.

mlla (Member Question)
Will you come down with me to New 
Zealand and do a Hercules?

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
Only if we can play golf!  Mike was 
one of our major directors on FK for 
the first two years, before he got too 
busy.  Maybe we could do "Nick meets 
Hercules"!

SyberSuzy (Member Question)
The actress who plays Natalie looks familiar.  
What other work has she done?  She's great as 
is all the cast.  I was sorry to see Schancky 
(sp?) killed off.  I like the transition to the 
Tracy character, though.

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
Catherine Disher is her name and she was on "War 
of the Worlds" as well as many sort of episodic 
series.  Also, she was on something on TNT for a 
year, I think.  So was I sorry to see John go and 
it took a good 7 or 8 episodes for me to get used 
to not seeing him there.

GillianE (Member Question)
If you could perform with any actor of your choice, 
male or female, who would it be? What role have you 
never played that you would like to play?

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
Richard III, I'd like to play... Many actors I like 
watching, that I might not like to work with.  I 
like generous actors who like to take risks.  I 
admire Steve Buscemi, Anthony Hopkins, and if they 
were fun and generous, I'd love to be around them.  
I don't think acting is a battle between actors, 
which is one of the reasons I loved FK - it was a 
real give and take.

UTBALLET (Member Question)
Nick is actually a "superhero" do you 
think that is why the show has had the 
success to this date..Beside, of course 
YOU.

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
I don't know if he's so much a superhero.  
I think he's actually kind of an everyman 
hero.

SusanG2522 (Member Question)
What do you think the pluses and minuses are 
in the Canadian industry as opposed to the 
US entertainment machine?

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
The pluses are, it's a smaller group of people.  
We know each other.  There's less money involved 
so it's more about the work.  I don't know enough 
about the American industry to really say.

UTBALLET (Member Question)
Which do you enjoy more, stage, or TV acting?

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
I do like the combination because both take their 
own different forms of concentration and they 
provide different challenges and unfortunately, 
theater is being supported enough to be able to 
support a family on.  So TV is very practical.  
I played Hamlet for a hundred and something 
performances and not as many people saw me 
as saw me on FK!  I'd love to do plays on 
TV or on film.  It would be nice to figure 
out a way to introduce more people to the 
classical theater.

Libur (Member Question)
You have played such diverse roles.  
Can you see yourself doing an action 
film?

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
Oh, sure!  Heck, I'd be great, as long 
as I could close me eyes when I shoot a 
gun.  I'd love to do "The Saint."  That 
was a great TV show.  Or a buddy show, 
like the "Persuaders" or something.  
"James Bond" and everything is always 
exciting.  When I did "Airwolf" for the 
last year, it was sort of action, I guess.  
I got to play the "atmosphere" as one 
magazine said.

ABABABABABA (Member Question)
Hi - I just heard your piano playing in the 
CD. When did you learn to play and what types 
of music do you like to play?

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
I learned to play... my mum and dad 
encouraged me when we were back in Wales.  
Unfortunately, I've forgotten more about 
playing the piano than I remember.  Now, 
I do it just totally for my enjoyment.  
On the CD, I went over to our FK music 
producer... I like simple melodies.  I 
wrote a musical once that was performed 
at the Shaw Festival in Canada.

UTBALLET (Member Question)
If you like skiing, come to Utah!!!

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
Where in Utah?

ABABABABABA (Member Question)
Happy birthday by the way - Do you 
want to continue directing?

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
Yes, very much so.  It's a pleasure 
working with other actors.

Pat0001 (Member Question)
If the rights to FK were purchased by 
another company, would you be willing 
to come back?

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
Someone tried to do that and I gather 
what happened is that it fell apart 
because of previous ownership.  Yes, 
I would under the right conditions.  I 
wouldn't want to take steps backward, 
I'd want to have control over stories.  
I'd much prefer doing that kind of show 
than a show that isn't out there.  I'd 
make the flashback shows much darker, I 
liked the flashback ones.  I'd make it 
more whimsical, more witty.  Anyone whose 
been around for 800 years has a much better 
sense of irony.

Myra63 (Member Question)
HI GER!!!!  How are you tonight...or this 
afternoon where you are.  My question is...
"Besides doing "Taming of The Shrew" next 
week at the duMaurier, do you have any plans 
to do any more plays this year?"  R&G in Virginia 
say--"HI & Happy B-Day!

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
R&G - I have been asked to do something in 
Sept/Oct. but I can't really say much about 
that far in advance.

ABABABABABA (Member Question)
There will be about 100 of us from the internet 
list coming to see you in the "Taming of the 
Shrew." How do you prepare for a role when you 
only rehearse with the director?  Do you feel 
there will be a difference in the three night 
performances?

Geraint Wyn Davies (Speaker)
Oh, totally.  Yes, I think there will be a 
difference from the beginning of the performance 
to the end.  There is every expectation and there 
are none.  We can't fail because we don't know 
what we're doing.  It's almost like seeing a work 
in progress.  It's essentially like doing a rehearsal 
for the audience.  It's seeing the actors without a 
whole lot of intervention from the director.  Right 
or wrong, at least the performances will be honest.

Moderator (Speaker)
Thanks for joining us on-line and for all the great 
questions!  Goodnight!

Moderator (Speaker)
Mr. Davies wants to thank everyone for coming online 
and says "Let's do it again when I get another job!"
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