Would you believe Zachary Quinto and Chris Pine, the men who now play Spock and James T. Kirk in the new “Star Trek” feature?
The actors opened up recently on a college press conference Q&A, and reporter Steven Giles from Denver Metro State College was kind enough to share the Q&A with WWTW.
Here’s a peek at what the actors had to say:
Dimitri Lenekov of Vancouver: Given that you are living up to a pretty big legacy left behind by the original actors, William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy, what sort of pressure did that put on you when making the film?
Zachary Quinto: I didn’t really feel that pressure because Leonard was involved, actually, and was so supportive of me from the beginning, and because I had such faith and trust in J.J. and the creative team behind the movie.
I sort of just chose to focus more on – on my task at hand which was doing my work, which was really the only thing that’s in my control.
Chris Pine: There’s only you know – there’s not much control you have over what – how people view our performances and these new incarnations of these characters.
And I think it’s really a credit to (director) J.J. (Abrams) that he always created an atmosphere on set where I don’t think any of us ever felt encumbered by a sense of responsibility or living up to expectations even though protecting the legacy was always on our minds but it was never – it was never at the forefront.
Evan Minsker – What kind of research did you do to prepare for your respective roles?
CP: In the beginning I got the box set of the series so I was midway through watching the first series – the first season of the original series – when I kind of realized that what I was doing was really setting myself up for disaster because I was really – I mean what Mr. Shatner did was so unique and specific and wonderful.
And what he did was such a great job. I just felt that it actually served me more to – it served me more to just really pay attention to the wonderful script we were given by Bob Orci and Alex Kurtzman and really trying to live up to the great writing that they gave us instead of trying to immerse myself in the minutiae and the details of the original series, as great as they are, and as much as they might have helped other actors.
ZQ: I obviously utilized Leonard to a great extent and engaged him in many, many conversations about the character. And I also had the advantage of being cast really early. So I immersed myself in a lot of reading about the world of Star Trek and the mythology.
Roda Cadapang/San Diego State College: Shatner and Nimoy are synonymous with Kirk and Spock. And if the reaction to “Star Trek” turns out to be overwhelmingly positive are you willing to be and ready for what could be a lifelong commitment to these characters and possibly becoming these icons?
ZQ: A lifelong association with these characters would be a great thing if the movie is successful. And certainly something that Chris and I have talked about.
But we’ve also talked about both of our desires and interest in careers that are diverse and long. So you know I don’t think either of us plan to only be associated with these characters.
CP: I think as an actor you strive for longevity and diversity. And we’ve been thankfully handed a wonderful, wonderful opportunity for greater exposure. And hopefully with that exposure comes opportunity.
But I am – could not be anymore proud of the movie that we’ve made. And if I were to be associated with this for – you know the extent of my career I would be – I would be – I would be a very contented man.
Steven Giles/Metro State College in Denver: I was wondering, considering both of your prior films, do you think continuing the Star Trek legacy will boost your career in any way or help it?
ZQ: I imagine that it probably will. I hope. I don’t know. I mean I come from mostly a television background. So the fact that my first movie is, you know, a $160 million tent pole I think that’s a good – that’s a good way to get into it you know?
CP: I think it will – I think it will help with exposure and exposure is always good. And again I’m – I couldn’t be anymore proud of what everybody’s done in the movie and I think everybody is – will get some wonderful chances off of this because I think from what people see is – I mean Karl Urban with “Bones,” what he did with Dr. McCoy is fantastic.
(Photo: Actors Zachary Quinto and Chris Pine step into some size 14 shoes worn by Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner in the new “Star Trek” film.)
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Wasn’t Nimoy teaching Konstantin Stanislavski’s system of acting when he was offered the role of Spock? Made him a good choice for the role. Stanslavskian actors are better than method men at playing fantasy characters. I think Nimoy would have been a better choice than DeNiro to play Frankenstein’s monster, or Satan in “Angel Heart.” Two of DeNiro’s weakest performances. And I don’t know what Shatner studied, but he had the feel of the method actors of the time. I think that was one of the great charms of Nimoy and Shatner in the original Star Trek, method meets Stanislavski.