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Thursday, Sep 2, 2010 |
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Sponsor & Host
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For the Birds
-- Tuesday July 23rd, 2002
The WB Network has done it again. After the successful reincarnation of Superman in the SMALLVILLE dramatic series, the WB network is ready to take a stab at the Batman mythos. In the future, Batman takes his leave of Gotham City, leaving behind a city still rife with villains. Three women, all linked to Batman, step in to pick up where he left off. Loosely based on the BIRDS OF PREY comic book, the series will follow the lives of Barbara Gordon (formerly Batgirl and now know as Oracle), Dinah Lance (inspired by the Black Canary), and Helena Kyle (daughter of Batman and Catwoman and known as the Huntress).
At the WB party for the annual press tour, Dina Meyer (Barbara Gordon) and Rachel Skarsten (Dinah Lance) took the time to speak with Anne Toole of Zentertainment.com.
How did you come to be involved in the show?
Dina Meyer: My manager sent me a script on Wednesday evening. I cancelled my plans so I could read the script and learn my lines for the audition I had the following morning. I went in at 10am. At 10:30 I found out that I was called in for casting on Friday the following day. I tested at about 6pm. By 6:30 I had a job Friday evening. It was a hell of a way to start the weekend. It all happened very quickly.
How did you prepare for the role of Barbara Gordon?
DM: I did a lot of research online. I'm a bit of a cybergeek. It's the first thing I do in the morning after washing up. Downstairs, I turn the TV on, turn on the KTLA morning news and the coffee pot. And that's it. I go back to the computer and it's already booted up and everything's on. I get to read the paper on-line, head over to Yahoo or whatever it is. Check out canarynoir.
Canarynoir.com is really where I go for research as far as getting the background history of Oracle/Batgirl/Barbara Gordon. That is basically a site for the Birds of Prey fans -- the comic book. They talk about issues of the comic book. They have something called boards of prey, where they discuss actual issues of the comic book. Ooo Look at issue 29, this is what happened - oh my god! They talk about that kind of stuff. There's no talk of our show on the site. It's mostly comic book oriented. So for me it was great because I was able to look up the history of Oracle, the Huntress, and Black Canary. As far as the characters, I've really been trying to stay as close to what I've read.
Have you read any of the comic books yourself?
DM: You know, one or two. I didn't go out and get the entire Birds of Prey comics. Like I said, I go to canarynoir and it's kind of like getting the Cliff Notes.
Are you aware of what Batgirl did before they made massive changes to the comics?
DM: No. I don't know it all. Is that like pre-crisis stuff?
Yes. You've got the lingo down.
What are the biggest challenges you have had or will have playing Barbara Gordon?
DM: I'm going to say the wheelchair. That's actually the popular answer today. It's not challenging the way that people think it is. You're an actress and you're sitting on your instincts.
Yes, that's true. But Barbara Gordon sitting on her instincts. She doesn't really have a choice and that's just kind of the way it is. You work with that. For me, it's the technical part of shooting the film. When you shoot a pilot or a television series or a movie, there's usually more than one camera involved. There are lots of lights involved and there are what we call focus marks on the floor, little bits of tape.
If we're walking in a scene and acting, if people are walking and talking, the cameras [have] to stay at a certain distance from the actors so that they can stay in focus. But when you're in a wheelchair, it's really kind of hard to see the mark. You go over the mark and then you're like, "Am I on it? I don't know. I can't tell." Basically what I'm saying is for me as if the acting wasn't challenging enough, as if the lingo wasn't challenging enough -- and this is the normal everyday technical stuff that you have to deal with on a daily basis while filming-- isn't enough, now they throw in a power operated wheelchair. Sometimes it goes when you don't want it to go and it doesn't go. It doesn't turn when you want it to turn. It's just something else to think about and it takes you out of the moment.
So that for me is the hardest. It is becoming second nature to a degree. Sometimes when you push the joystick to the right, it doesn't go right away, there's a little bit of a delay. But if you want to turn on a certain word as a cue, you can't turn on the word, you actually have to turn the joystick before you say the word. Now it's all wrong. It's all about choreography. It doesn't come naturally.
It sounds like it's frustrating.
DM: It can be a little frustrating. That is the biggest challenge that I have.
Is there any story that you would like to come out about your character?
DM: I've heard a lot about the Nightwing love affair and I saw one issue where he takes her on a date and they're flying on a trapeze. And I would love to do that in an episode. There was talk maybe later, maybe not this season, but we'll see about that.
Rachel Skarsten also attended despite being far from her hometown in Toronto. Although her mother could not be with her, Rachel wore a necklace from India as a remembrance of her mother who spent years as a missionary in India.
How did you become involved in the show?
RS: My manager sent me one page of sides from BIRDS OF PREY and said, "You know what? I want the casting director to see what you look like, just send it down." So I did. I got a call a week later saying that I was their first choice; they loved me. I went down to LA still not expecting to get it. I did the audition for network. And Brian Robbins, the producer, came out after and said "Congratulations. You got the part."
What are the challenges of being a Canadian working on American shows? Have you worked on American shows in Canada?
RS: I've worked on American shows in Canada. Probably the biggest challenge is watching my "mum"s and "aboot"s. Other than that, they're very wonderful. They're very nice and accommodating and supportive.
What did you do to prepare for your role?
RS: I did read some Birds of Prey comics, but I think that it's not so much preparation. My character is a departure from the comic books, so I'll take stuff from the comic book character and from my own personality. I'm not going to invent the character, but create a bit of a new character.
What kind of story would you like to see for your character?
RS: It's the emotional stuff that I like. As an actress, that's really where your talent can soar. I'm looking forward to it. Laeta [Creator/Executive Producer] is a great writer, really into relationships, so I don't foresee any problems.
You know about shows like BUFFY and ALIAS that focus on women, but they've been created by men. Do you think having a female head writer affects anything?
RS: The whole sensitivity and perspective. And I think that that's really wonderful. It's very exciting to be involved with Laeta. She's so receptive to our suggestions and our comments, which is really nice. Because at the end of the day you want to have a good relationship, not just a one-way dictation.
What impact do you think the show will have on women and creators in the future?
RS: I'm hoping that it will have a positive one. I never want any of us to be a size zero, trying to kick ass. I want this to be a positive, empowering experience for any girls who watch it.
So you're looking forward to your first fan letters from young girls?
RS: Actually, I've already had the pleasure of receiving some. It's a lot of fun. There are a lot of letters to write back to, but I try my best to keep up with everything.
Special thanks to : ZENtertainment
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