As I mentioned in my last post, one of the perks of being in college radio is that you have reason to speak with people you normally wouldn't have.
Exhibit A: this written interview I did with actor and musician Tim Russ, who is best known for portraying Tuvok on Star Trek: Voyager (I must confess though, that I knew him primarily beforehand as the "We Ain't Found Shit" guy from Spaceballs). I originally submitted this to the station's new media department for publication on UCLA Radio's Tumblr, but for whatever reason, it was never posted there. Fret not, however, for I am publishing the interview in full! Enjoy!
The Cardinal: Prior to starring as Tuvok on Star Trek: Voyager, you appeared in small roles on The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, and the seventh film, Star Trek: Generations, and before that you were a fan of The Original Series. With this background, what were your expectations going into Voyager? Did your experience on the show meet or exceed them?
Tim Russ: I watched The Original Series along with most of the country because there were only 3 stations and one of them played the same 3 shows over and over for years. Trek was one of them.
Upon landing my role on Voyager, I mostly expected to be working on a show that ran for at least 7 years. That was a big boost to my career. I did not expect the "extras" I received from being on the show, from the smallest thing like favors from people, to expanding my work in the entertainment business to directing and voice-over work.
TC: Tuvok was the first Vulcan regular on a Star Trek series since Leonard Nimoy's classic performance as Spock. Was it challenging to differentiate your performance from Nimoy's, and how did you try to accomplish that?
TR: Basically, since my character type had already been established by Nimoy and others in the various incarnations, I just used those characters as a base for how Tuvok carried himself, and behaved in general.
I then relied on the writers to flesh out the character over the length of the series, with suggestions from myself as to what type of situations I'd like to see him in. For example, in the episode "Innocence", we get a glimpse into how Tuvok may have raised his own children, as unlike Spock's character, mine was married with a family.
TC: In addition to Voyager, you've had regular roles on Samantha Who? and The Highwayman, recurring and guest roles on iCarly and The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, and a brief-but-memorable role in the science fiction comedy Spaceballs, among others. Can you tell us what working on these projects was like for you?
TR: Each character I played outside of Voyager was unique based on the project and the traits of each character. Basically during that time and for years after I was and still am a working actor going from one role to the next. And each role is a new challenge in it's own way.
TC: As a director, you've worked on such projects as the award-winning Web series Bloomers, the short films Plugged and Cavity, an episode of Voyager, the independent fan production Star Trek: Of Gods and Men, where you reprised the role of Tuvok alongside fellow Trek actors Nichelle Nichols, Walter Koenig, and Garrett Wang, and the upcoming Star Trek: Renegades and 5th Passenger. What is your dream project, and how have these past projects influence your selection?
TR: I would love to work on a period piece of some kind, simply because of the opportunity to bring to life a story that takes place in a different time period. It could be as far back as ancient times, or as recent as the last couple of centuries. And of course, I would love to include pieces that would take place in the future as well.
TC: A triple threat, you have sang and played guitar in your own band for over 30 years, releasing four albums and playing live in Santa Monica as recently as last weekend. On an artistic level, does music differ from acting and directing for you? How so?
TR: Music is a unique performing experience, because you are playing music for a live audience, and there is an energy that goes back and forth between you and the audience - and it's always a little different. Plus when you are performing in a band, it's very exciting when all the players are tightly in sync with each other on a song. It's an incredibly experience, that I hope goes on for a long time.
TC: On a final note, what projects, whether they are in acting, directing, or music, can we expect to see in the near future from you?
TR: Right now, I am slated to direct a feature film in 2015 called Knights of Mary Phagan and episodes of a new sci-fi series called New Dawn. I am also developing two other feature films with independent producers. I am currently in post-production on Star Trek: Renegades.
Musically, I have written a couple of songs for a comedy feature, and may writer another one for a sci-fi feature, and I still am performing regularly in L.A.
I am cast in a sci-fi feature called 5th Passenger that may shoot soon as well as a film called The Entwined.
And I'll leave you guys with this bit of Tuvok-related silliness!
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