Part
1
CD = Chris Demetral FH = Francesca Hunt
MP = Michael Praed JW = Jonathan Walker
This chat transcript is in three parts
How is SAJV doing in syndication?
CD:
It looks like we’re going to
have a cult following. There are
not that many ads on TV but I’m really excited by the fact that every single
week [SAJV] seems to be winning its timeslot or the ratings are increasing week
after week.
magnoire124
: Is there another one like you at home? Older brother?
CD:
I'm an only child.
aurora80904
: have you ever read any of Jules Verne's books?
CD:
I started to read Jules Verne to
get a little background on the man and his ideas. So I read
the English translation. These are versions of his works altered for a
younger audience. I didn’t feel like I was reading Jules’ real work and I
kind of felt like I was doing him a disservice.
victorianvalkyries
: Oh - Chris, I had meant to ask sooner -- I just finished reading 20,000
Leagues .... Is Laura Nemo an original character, then, 'cause I didn't 'spot'
her in the book ... or is there another book with her?
CD:
Laura Nemo is definitely a made up
character. So is Rebecca and Count Gregory for that matter.
"Rocket to the Moon" questions
and Jules’ escape from the cannon
danaanm : Did they really use oil?
CD:
Yes, they used real grease. It was
greasy up there with all the oil pouring down on me
aurora80904 : how high were you on the
cannon
CD:
30 feet up
zhaansacolyte : Chris , did they really
make you slide your own hands out of those manacles?
CD:
Yes, I really did have to slide my
hands out of the manacles which were made out of steel, not rubber. Heavier
going.
itta_brown : Chris-are you afraid of
heights?
CD:
No I don’t have a fear of
heights
odensdisir : I love the scene with
Natasha and Jules talking about her novel.
CD:
I like the scene with Natasha too,
and I really think he liked Natasha’s novel. He liked the passion in it.
Question about whether or not Jules knew he might be launching the Count into
space
CD:
Jules is a peaceful person, yet he
has no problems launching the count to almost certain death. I did talk to the
director about it and it was her interpretation that Jules thought that the
satellite would come back down to earth but it would probably be a violent
landing.
Question about the script writing Chris
is doing
CD: I’ve been writing the same
script since I was 16 years old
gerty_mac
: Chris, How can you work on one project that long?
CD:
The reason it is taking so long is
that as you grow, evolve, and learn more things in life, your characters change.
Your characters mature. I’ve learned more about life now and a 16 year old
doesn’t know that much about life.
Did you
enjoy playing the part of Jules Verne?
CD:
I love the character of Jules.
Would be my pleasure to do it for many more seasons
Francesca
Hunt
arrives at the chat
FH:
Fantastic, there really are a lot
of people
mofein
: Ms. Hunt -- what was it like to work with Derek Jacobi (one of my all time
favorites)?
FH:
Jacobi was great
aurora80904
: do you really do the stunts?
FH:
Yes, I really did most of the
stunts, but there was a rather brilliant stunt woman who they let do the tricky
stunts that they could not get me insured for.
magnoire124
: Yeah, how do you wear the suit with all the tool belts and still look svelte?
Secrets?
FH:
The woman who did the costumes was
superb, that wasn’t all me.
treehugger20170
: Ms. Hunt, Garvin Scott mentioned in one of his interviews that the sexual
tension on the set of the Aurora was "so thick you could cut it with a
knife". Was this just a normal male reaction to working with one of
the most beautiful women in the world, or did you and your cohorts conspire to
make the show more....interesting?
FH:
Treehugger, you major flatterer.
It was just all of us working to make the show work,
I think.
jdoggett20002001
: what is your favorite episode, Francesca?
FH:
I don’t know what my favorite
episode is. I quite like all of them. Was that a very boring thing to say?
magnoire124
: Favorite scene?
FH: Favorite scene would
have to be one of the fights. I’m not sure which. Possibly the sword fight on
the Aurora with Passepartout. I liked that one a lot.
davros72
: But you say it so lovely, Francesca (may I call you Francesca?)
FH:
You may call me Francesca by all
means, just don’t call me Frannie.
CD:
I don’t know who would make the
Frannie suggestion like that. That wouldn’t be me. <Chris
speaking now with tongue in cheek>
nicole61083
: Chris, have you ever thought of doing a "dream on" reunion?
CD:
Absolutely Nicole. Would be a lot
of fun.
gerty_mac
: Francesca, Did you do a lot of
stage combat before SAJV?
FH:
Yes, I’ve done a lot of stage
combat before SAJV. I actually met my husband over a sword.
seriousjane2001
: FH - did you win?
FH:
I did win, but it was only because
the director allowed me to
mofein
: Francesca -- I love the moment in "Eyes of Lazarus" when Lazarus
takes over and realizes "he" is wearing a corset -- brilliant!
FH:
Actually I like Lazarus as well.
It was a good episode. It had a lot of chance for all of us to do more than the
usual character stuff
CD:
I think Eyes of Lazarus is an
excellent example of how Francesca is the finest actor on the show.
FH:
Thank you
Would you like to do a second season of
the show?
FH:
Am I ever hoping for a second
series of Jules Verne!
FH:
I don’t know if this is the
right time or the right place for saying it. But I just wanted to say something
to you, and I gather that most of you are Americans, about the 11th
of September. I am very sorry and I am hoping you are getting through it as well
as you can.
many many thank you’s from the chatters at this point
wingette72 : And let me say...Tony Blair rocks!
ekeles_loke : Is Blair always
that hawkish?
FH:
Blair
usually isn’t that hawkish actually. It took me by surprise that we lept into
war that quickly. But he seems to be doing quite well
Davodd
: Chris TURNS 25 on the 14th - but he still looks 18.
CD:
David, you flatterer
melodyfla
: Francesca, what are your current projects?
FH:
My
current commitment is being stuck in a dubbing studio doing a very long
voice-over contract. But there is something I’m working on for after Christmas
which I hope will come out, but I’m not going to say anything about it yet.
CD:
It’s a show called “Frannie”
CD:
JUST TEASING!!!!
I'm sorry. I HAD to do that
one.
FH:
Steady. Just cause you are on the other side of the ocean. How
is Jana? Is Jana there with you?
Jana
Demetral:
Hey Francesca, we miss you.
FH:
Hi
empressuniverse
: Chris, are you still seeing “Hedwig” regularly?
wingette72 : Was it worth going
to the theatre to see, or should we wait for DVD.
CD:
Worth it in the theatre, but it
left LA on Thursday. DVD comes out on Dec. 11
Have you see the movie "From
Hell"?
CD:
We saw From Hell last night and it
was actually pretty interesting.
danaanm : Depp stole his
sideburns from SAJV
CD:
Jack the ripper on SAJV would be
cool. or elephant man
miss_yuriko
: but Jack didn't come around until 1888
CD:
Jules would be in his thirties, if
we were being extremely accurate
aurora80904 : why not go back in
time like in the Cardinals Revenge
geneticlemon
: From Hell -- Did it use the theory that the British judges actually murdered
the girls or did they use a specific person?
CD:
Can't tell Genetic lemon, would
spoil it for everyone
mofein
: Don't you think Jules would be interested in meeting Sarah Bernhardt? And
wouldn't the fur fly with Rebecca?
FH:
Sara Bernhardt’s a great idea.
Question about the outtakes for SAJV
FH:
Every outtake I really liked
seemed to involve Passepartout making us die with laughter. We’d end up on the
floor most of the time. Endless outtakes there are of all of us silent and
shaking with laughter. He was very funny
Is
there a blooper reel?
FH:
I don’t have the outtakes and
they didn’t keep them. I was waiting at the cast party for the outtakes, which
is what always happens. And they didn’t have any.
Do you do accents, Francesca?
CD:
She does a cool American one.
Jackie
: Most actors try to do Midwestern American accents
FH:
Now that’s why I don’t do an
American accent. Cause that’s what the British do, they do an “American”
accent, as opposed to one from New
York or the south or the west coast.
CD:
Francesca is just being modest.
She actually does a great one.
moonhart61
: pooh pooh to modesty
FH:
<in American accent>
OK, pooh pooh to modesty.
moonhart61
: I JUST WROTE A LINE FOR MS. HUNT!!!!!!
FH:
That’s the American accent.
dani_girl36
: Bravo!
daurmith : Hey! That was great!
FH:
Yeah, but you wouldn’t tell me
if it was crap, would you?
empressuniverse : no, not really
wingette72 : Sure we would
vvsavagevv : this crowd would...
hehe
CD:
I would
FH:
Yes, dear, you would. Chris,
darling, do do your British for us.
Jana
Demetral:
That’s the way to get him,
Francesca
CD:
<in British accent> Hello
there, darlings, awfully nice to see you.
mofein : It's got a nice beat --
I'll give it an 8.
Comment about British
accents done by Americans
FH:
Gwynneth Paltrow just kicks butt with her accent. It’s fantastic.
davros72
: Francesca, if you're accepting requests, I'd just DIE if I heard you say my
name... (it's Kevin)...
FH:
Presumably Kevin you don’t mean
die in the Shakespearean sense.
davros72 faints
empressuniverse : Have you seen the Rebeccadoration website, Francesca?
FH:
Yes, I’ve seen the
Rebeccadoration website and I like it a lot.
Question
about who is typing for Chris
CD:
I'm
lucky I have Jana as my typist and she is very very good at it.
lonalea
: what do you think of internet chatting, Francesca?
FH:
I think that Internet chatting is
rather good. This is my first one and it’s surprising me.
jdoggett20002001
: what was it like to work with Patrick Duffy?
FH:
Duffy was enchanting and an
absolute dream to work with
lagniappetite : Speaking of
Duffy. Ms. Hunt, what is your take
on Rebecca's feelings for the count. Does
she really love him, or is it vampire influence over her emotions.
This is an ongoing discussion.....
FH:
I think she really loves him.
jackie
: Francesca, what is your take on the Rebecca/Phileas relationship?
Is it love or what?
FH:
I think you can love more than one
person at a time, regarding Phileas.
FH: The thing is
that, the poor Victorians, who
didn’t get to indulge their love much, got
to love lots of people since it didn’t involve sleeping with them.
odensdisir : Francesca, what is your
"take" on the relationship between Rebecca and Phileas?
FH:
I think the relationship between
Rebecca and Phileas, neither of them knows what is going on. There is just
something extraordinary there.
andigoth2000 : I think the
Phileas/Rebecca thing is more of a fraternal love.
FH:
It’s definitely not fraternal.
FH:
Nothing like any brother of mine
has ever got.
faeling2marion
: I think Jules and Rebecca should get together
CD:
Jules and Rebecca can never get
together. That’s part of the
fun.
magnoire124
: Francesca, do you have a pet?
FH:
Yeah, I’ve got a dog. A
fantastic dog.
CD:
She was mad because she couldn't
bring her dog to the set like me.
FH:
Yeah, it was true, I was really
jealous of you.
dani_girl36
: What kind of dog Francesca?
FH:
Oh, it’s the most beautiful and
affectionate and large and slobbering dog.
jackie
: what breed of dog you have?
FH:
I don't have a particular breed of
dog. It's just a large dog.
Francesca, was all that hair yours in
SAJV, or did you wear a hairpiece?
FH:
A hairpiece
lonalea
: are you red headed or blonde? I
have seen pictures both ways.
FH:
Well, it seems I’m red or blonde
depending on which week it is. It's a blond week.
miss_yuriko : At least you didn't
have to get a perm. Ew.
CD:
Stinky evil perm
miss_yuriko
: You looked GREAT in that red dress for "Cardinal's"
andigoth2000 : I liked the purple
dress in Inquisitor.
FH:
Yeah the dresses were great but
the fighting suit was the best
dani_girl36
: The catsuit rocked!
thelmposter
: I liked everything but the...bonnet.
scifispice80 : oh, bad bonnet!
FH:
Oh well done about the bonnet, I hated the bloody bonnet
Question about how the wings appeared
suddenly on Rebecca’s catsuit in “Rockets’ Red Glare”
FH:
Yes, the wings were hard to
justify. I think they just thought they looked good
danaanm
: Bat Girl
mofein : Willing suspension of
disbelief...
Is Rebecca Fogg based on the character
of Mrs. Peel from the Avengers?
FH:
Oh,
I think the Mrs. Peel thing is where she came from in the writer’s
minds. But she was Victorian and she came before Mrs. Peel.
Is
it possible that Rebecca is an ancestress of Mrs. Peel?
FH:
Ancestress sounds rather naughty
Your CV says that you sing. Do you and
would you sing?
FH:
Yes, but not on computers
What do you think of a musical episode
of SAJV, like they did for Buffy the Vampire Slayer?
FH:
Yes, I think singing would be a
nice idea.
Isn’t
there a castle named Chatsworth in England?
FH:
Yes, it’s not a castle, but
it’s a stately home called Chatsworth here.
jdoggett20002001
: Do you have children Francesca?
FH:
No, I don't have any children
lonalea
: how old is Rebecca supposed to be in the show, Francesca?
FH:
I don't know how old Rebecca is
supposed to be. Probably 30-ish
Audio problem for Francesca - a lot of
breaking up in the transmission. Comment that she sounded like a rapper
FH:
Sounds like I’m what?
CD:
I like Francesca's
rapping. The way your audio came across sounds like an audio skip - it
was very cool, though
dani_girl36
: Def Master Francesca
gingerjc78
: Francesca, how did you like living in Montreal during the shoot?
FH:
I adored Montreal. I thought it
was a really cool city.
cindy_s_roberts
: My fav ep. was The Victorian Candidate. Was
that a LOT of fun to make that episode, Chris, Francesca?
FH:
Yeah, Victorian Candidate was
good.
CD:
“Dust to Dust” was my favorite
empressuniverse : Ms. Hunt, we
all love the bit in Dust to Dust when Rebecca finds out about Jules’ purity
FH:
Yes, it was quite a nice discovery
about Jules’ purity.
empressuniverse
: Francesca, we've gotten Jonathan Walker's view of the relationship between
Clemens and Rebecca. What's your take?
FH:
Well, Sam Clemens had some ideas
about Sam Clemens and Rebecca.
How long did it take to shoot a season
of SAJV?
FH:
We shot them for a whole year.
mofein
: Francesca -- did you ever come up with any back story regarding Rebecca and
Erasmus? We're curious about what their relationship might have been compared
with her relationship with Phileas.
FH:
I think my back story with Erasmus
is too long to discuss on this. I think there was quite a back story though.
mofein : Oh, torment! A hint,
please?
FH:
Well, I think it was much more
about the brotherly stuff. I think she came into that family as an outsider, as
a young girl with these two rather good-looking older brothers, suddenly. And I
imagine it rather caught her imagination.
treehugger20170 : It used to be
fashionable to marry your cousin
FH:
Fashionable but terribly wise.
tamaraeus : Ms Hunt was Boniface
really Rebeccas uncle or did she just call him Uncle
FH:
Yes, I think he was her uncle. He
adopted her so he became her sort of father figure.
anne_shirley_2002
: EST_CE QUE MICHEL COURTEMANCHE EST LÀ????? MICHEL COURTEMANCHE IS HERE?????
FH:
<laughing> Yes,
I want to know if he’s around, too.
CD:
Is Michel here?
I can't tell if he is or not
FH:
By god, I think we’d know if he
was around.
anne_shirley_2002
: Francesca did you speak French?
FH:
Yeah, I do speak French.
CD:
She speaks it quite well, in fact
- she frequently had conversations with the crew like that
daurmith
: Rebecca is a great character, many of the greatest lines of the show are hers
FH:
Oh, I loved getting a role like
that. You very seldom get to read a script where you just grin from ear to ear,
reading your part.
Comment about the fact that Rebecca is a strong female character
FH:
Gavin, who wrote the part,
actually has a really good attitude towards women.
CD:
You know, Gavin has a daughter
named Rebecca as well.
kalena1980
: Francesca and Chris, have you read any of the fanfic written about you?
FH:
What’s fan fic?
CD:
Fan Fiction. Yes, I have read the
fan fic. <singing> Mangos! Mangos!
odensdisir : Fanfic is where we write
Further Adventures based on the episodes, Francesca.
FH:
No, I have to say I haven’t read
any of that.
danaanm
: I have a site devoted to Michael Praed fan fiction, and a chest hair site.
If Chris were more helpful I might do a chest hair site of him too.
FH:
A chest hair site? Hee hee hee hee
hee.
tamaraeus
: Francesca Have you visited the Scifi Bulletin Board at all?
FH:
Yeah, I’ve visited the Scifi
Bulletin Board. It’s good.
zhaansacolyte
: Francesca did you get to choreograph your own fight with the spider woman,
BTW?
miss_yuriko : That was a very good fight scene
FH:
Yeah, I did enjoy the spider woman
fight quite a lot, in fact.
jdoggett20002001
: I wouldn't want to fight with you. you use swords
FH:
Yeah, but the nice things about my
fights is they rigged it. I just touched somebody and they just flew across the
room. It doesn’t happen in the school playground, does it?
gilesluver1
: In the school playground these days, they bring guns!
FH:
Yeah, the guns it is too
true
mofein
: Francesca -- Rebecca always seems so positive and sure of herself; do you
think she ever goes off in a corner and kicks herself for something she's said
or done?
FH:
I think Rebecca goes into corners
quite a lot, actually. She didn’t have a very happy youth after all.
odensdisir
: Francesca, what can you tell us about Rebecca's childhood?
FH:
Well, Rebecca lost her parents
fairly early on. Then she was sent away to school, which she hated, one of those
English private schools. And then she was sent to live with Phileas and Erasmus
and Boniface.
lonalea
: we tended to write Rebecca as a tomboy. Do
you think she was?
FH:
I think Rebecca just got on with
Boniface very well. She was quite a tomboy, I think. And quite strong. And
neither of the boys wanted to follow their father initially, I think. And I
think she did.
magnoire124
: If they were anything like my big brothers, Rebecca had to keep up with them
or else?
FH:
Yeah, I think she had to keep up
with those brothers. Absolutely. There was a huge competition between her and
Phileas.
andigoth2000
: I thought ERASMUS seemed to be Boniface's favorite.
FH:
Yes, I think Erasmus was
Boniface’s favorite. But he knew his mind a lot more than she did.
foggy_dazeca
: From what I have read, Rebecca won't have been sent away to school if she was
a girl. Not in 1840-50ish England
FH:
Cheltenham Ladies College was open
in the early 1840’s.
Was Rebecca older than Erasmus?
FH:
No, I think she’s younger than
both of them.
dani_girl36
: Thank you-we fanfic writers appreciate the back story.
FH:
Oh dear, sorry about the deluge of
fan fic.
victorianvalkyries
: Francesca -- No, no - inspiring fanfic is a GOOD thing!
Do you have any brothers and sisters?
FH:
Yeah, I have two brothers and a
sister. All younger.
FH:
I’m the oldest.
How
do they feel about your career?
FH:
Oh, they’re great about my
career. My younger brother, the one just down from me, is a rock singer, so he
understands completely.
zhaansacolyte
: Ah, what band?
FH:
Long pigs.
FH:
They had a big US tour about two
years ago.
mofein
: Zhaan -- think Hannibal the cannibal...
evenstarr7evl : Long
Pig is Man
FH:
Yeah, very good, it is. It’s
cannibal. Exactly.
gerty_mac
: Chris, Any new projects in the works?
CD:
Gerty, yeah, actually I'm doing
more voice-over.
work on the Zeta Project, I’ll let you guys know when it comes out.
odensdisir
: Francesca, does Rebecca have any aspirations to a "normal" life (or
would she know one if it bit her)?
FH:
I don't think there is such a
thing as normal, is there?
FH:
I don't think a normal life would
suit Rebecca much. She'd get a
little bored. She has too much fun
going in and out of normality
Comment on
hearing Chris in Wild Thornberrys
thelmposter
: Who were you on Thornberrys, Chris?
CD:
I played a character called Mako.
He was a cool wolf character.
jdoggett20002001
: What are the Wild Thornberrys?
CD:
It’s a cartoon on Nickelodeon
CD:
And I sponsored a wolf, too, in
one of those adopt-a-wolf programs. It’s kind of cool.
celticchild61
: Chris, where is your wolf?
CD:
My wolf is in the mountains of
Idaho. His
name is Matsi
zhaansacolyte
: Francesca, did you complete your UK project you were filming?
FH:
Yes, thanks
gingerjc78
: What happened to the sound?
FH:
You haven’t lost the sound, I
was just making way for Chris for a while.
CD:
You know, actually, she ought to
be the one to talk most today. I talk all the time. I will just bore you.
darius4evr
: never!!
FH:
No, don’t worry. I’d love to
hear about the wolves.
Brian
(Francesca’s husband): Hey
Chris and Jana, this is Brian and I just wanted to say hello from this side of
the puddle.
CD:
Hey Brian, it’s nice to hear
your voice.
Comment about Brian having a sexy
voice
FH:
Doesn’t he just?
odensdisir
: Does Rebecca have any vague thoughts about . . . children?
FH:
Rebecca does not have any vague
thoughts about children.
davros72
: Ah, so she has *specific* thoughts about children...
FH:
Specific thoughts that probably
shouldn’t be broadcast.
gerty_mac
: I think it would be interesting to see Rebecca assigned to protect a baby,
child of an ambassador or something. Hee hee...
FH:
That would be a good story line, I
think, Rebecca left holding the baby.
CD:
Jules would take the baby down a
dark alley. .
melodyfla
: Francesca, did you work on a movie this year?
FH:
It hasn’t come out yet.
melodyfla : What's it called?
FH:
Biographer, and it’s about the
Lady Diana scandal, and that fellow called Andrew Morton who wrote her
biography.
davros72
: Francesca, is that the film with Paul McGann in it?
FH:
Yes, the one with Paul McGann.
melodyfla : Francesca, it is a TV movie
or at the theatres?
FH:
I think it’s a theatre
movie.
victorianvalkyries
:
Francesca - Any requests for costuming adjustments for Season 2, or would
you hold on to the authenticity despite discomforts?
FH:
No requests for the costuming.
They can keep it exactly as it was.
tamaraeus : So the costumes were all
right to wear?
FH:
They were agony, but they were
superb.
cindy_s_roberts
: How soon before we know if there WILL be a second season?
FH:
We have to wait for the figures
from the syndicated viewing and then we’ll know if it’s worth their while
doing the second series.
treehugger20170
: The ratings have been good
FH:
You have any figures on these
ratings, then?
viccivaw
: davodd has. It wins its time slot
most of the time.
FH:
You fans have been superb,
considering the amount of time it is taking to get this second series. The fans
have been fabulous.
viccivaw : We are a dedicated bunch.
A committed bunch. Or maybe we should be committed.
jdoggett20002001
: can I say something before I go Francesca?
FH:
Yes, of course you can, what?
jdoggett20002001
: I think you make the best Rebecca and you are my favorite character and no one
else could have done better
FH:
Jdoggett, you’re a sweetheart.
gingerjc78
: Francesca, was your hubby able to
live in Montreal while you were there, or did you have to fly home for visits?
FH:
He flew out to me, Ginger. He flew
out every second weekend, and it began killing him because he was trying to work
during the week in London as well.
faeling2marion
: Chris, would you still film JV in
Canada or do you have another place you would like to do it?
CD: All the sets are still in Montreal. Montreal was great. No other reason to
go anyplace else but I did miss LA.
danaanm
: Chris isn't the weather in Montreal [brutal] after LA?
CD:
Yes, Loralee, to put it lightly.
Rory had to wear snow boots
gerty_mac : Chris, Want me to send you a
sled so you can enjoy the weather more while filming season two?
CD:
That would be fun, but only if you
came to sled with us
victorianvalkyries
: Oh, Chris - in reading 20,000 Leagues, did you catch the references to the
name Arago?
CD:
Grace, no, but I did know that
they were friends in RL
dani_girl36
: Francesca-would you tell us what your inspiration was to pursue acting?
FH:
It took me a long time to work out
that I did want to be an actor, in fact.
moonhart61
: Ms. Hunt what was the competition?
FH:
What was the competition? Well, I
thought I might want to be a politician. Or a lawyer.
CD:
Lawyers have to do a lot of acting
too
FH:
Yes, they do all act.
mofein
: Francesca -- are you planning to follow in Glenda Jackson's footsteps?
FH:
No, I’m quite happy being a
. not go into
politics now.
indianajane8585
: This may be a stupid question, but I was wondering if you use stage names or
your real names
FH:
Indiana Jane, that’s my real
name.
CD:
Yes, that’s my real name. But my
agent told me I would never work with a name like Demetral
mofein : Hey, if David Duchovny can get
away with it...
lonalea
: Francesca, did you figure out how to chat by yourself or is someone helping
you?
FH:
I didn’t figure this out for
myself. Brian is helping me.
Continued in Part 2