Meloni Goes Commando (Again. Is this even news anymore?)

[trillingstar]

Thanks, numenora, for posting a Long-haired!Lee pic!spam while colleendetroit and I were in Chicago for the past several days. You know, comm members, you are totally encouraged to post your own Leeloni-related schtuff. Just pointing that out. *g*






On the eve of the release of Green Lantern: First Flight, Warner Brothers Animation released a press release interview with Christopher Meloni. "Green Lantern: First Flight" will be available on DVD and Blu-ray on Tuesday, July 28, 2009.

Christopher Meloni Moves to a New Precinct as Title Character in Green Lantern: First Flight

[Blah blah blah, stuff we already know about Meloni...]

Excerpts:


QUESTION: You’ve played a very wide range of characters. How does Hal compare to any of the characters that you’ve played previously?

I think he’s having a whole lot more fun than any character I’ve ever played, zipping around wherever he needs to go, having all these powers. It’s a different universe, different challenges, so how could you compare Hal to my other characters? Can I put Freakshow in an intergalactic battle for policing the universe? I don’t think so. Maybe Hal is the intergalactic Elliot Stabler. Are there sex crimes in outer space? Tune in.

I think the only hero I’ve ever played is kind of Elliot Stabler and Elliot is flawed in a different way. Hal has his flaws – he’s more fun-loving and *****ure of himself and those qualities, you’ll find, are what makes him all too human.


Oh my god, they bleeped him! LOL. Also, Meloni said "cocks".


QUESTION: What attracted you to this character and why did you want to accept this role?

I wanted to help elevate him, I wanted this guy to have his own movie... now it’s Green Lantern’s turn in the spotlight. He’s gotten a little dissed. He hasn’t gotten the respect he deserves. I’m going to change that.


Who wouldn't want Meloni in their corner? Melevation, elevations by Meloni. Yespls.


QUESTION: Did you stick to the script or was there leeway for improvising in your interpretation of the character?

There was a certain amount of freedom and I hope I did him justice. Mostly, though, I just relied on the writers’ interpretation, because it was a great script. They gave me a lot of smart-alecky retorts and Hal didn’t have to go through a real long journey of self-doubt, so that was cool. So everything was kind of on the page for me.

This is rare, but I was pleasantly surprised that I felt as though the writer really had an affinity for this guy, he had a love for this guy and really wanted to tell this guy’s story. As an actor, you hook into that spirit and so that made it very easy and a lot of fun.


The writer must be a fanboy, seriously. Dawwww.


QUESTION: This is a relatively new form of acting for you. Did you encounter any difficulties in the process?

The most difficult part of the voice over process was that they actually had Sinestro in the booth with me – he’s played by Victor Garber, and he’s not a very good actor (he laughs), so that was tough for me to work off of (laughs harder). But I did the best I could. No, really, I love Victor, and he is amazing.

Point of interest: Victor Garber said nearly the exact same thing about Meloni in previous GL interviews.

...I’ll admit it – while I was performing the lines, I did have a tendency to stand with my chest out, hand-on-hip, heroic-style. You know, the way they used to draw the super heroes all the time. I assumed the stance.

But it is fun. And it’s a great exercise for your instrument – your emotional instrument, your vocal instrument, and your imagination... I know it opened up for me certain things creatively.


Do tell.


QUESTION: Green Lantern is your first voiceover for animation, but you did supply the voice of Spike in Dinosaurs. How did the two experiences differ?

For the Dinosaurs role, they would shoot the show and there were actors in costumes, so it was more like looping a scene. I had to loop my lips to what the puppeteer was doing with the dinosaur. For Green Lantern, the animators have to follow my lead. It’s so exciting and so rare that you’re the leader of the parade as an actor. I had my little baton (laughs) and I’m sitting there going like that (waves arms, conductor style), everyone has to follow my rhythm, my beat. It’s not usually that way.


He didn't realize he could command us all to do his bidding? Lying liar. Also, "little baton". HEE.


QUESTION: Do you think your personality and Hal Jordan’s mesh well?

Any time I’m given a role, I always ask, “Why? What did they see in me?” And I still haven’t answered that question, but I think “kind of smart-alecky” might fit the bill. I don’t know if it’s a compliment or not, all I can tell you is it’s a job for me. It goes all the way back to Mrs. Evans, my second grade teacher. She was wrong. Being a smart aleck can get you a living.

"Kind of"? Heh.


QUESTION: Did you expect to be so physical during the voiceover performance?

You kind of have to be physical – you have to use everything because the process is not just words on a paper. You read it and that gets projected out. Literally, this universe you’re constructing comes out of your voice – so you really have to place yourself there and understand this place and be comfortable with this place. You have to make it real and grounded. You have to make sure that your voice is not just disembodied, that the voice is connected to the body – which then is connected to the place that you’ve built for yourself up here (points to head). That’s both kind of exhausting and kind of cool.


Yang: an excellent description of the MFMF tucked in there.

QUESTION: What is the big enticement to do voice over work for you?

I think it was Clark Gable that said “I act for free. I get paid to wait.” That’s how I feel about acting. It’s an awesome job, and waiting stinks. You do voiceover, and it’s like I told Victor: “You and me, we’re the lead Clydesdales pulling this beer wagon.” Just you and the microphone and the great words that they wrote. No waiting, just acting. It’s great.

That's actually kind of a really good animal analogy for him. Hm.


QUESTION: Do you have a preference in the type of role you accept?

[Blah blah stuff we've heard before about playing good guys vs playing bad guys] ...How do you make a him a real, flawed, warts-and-all guy? Well, that’s basically what the human is. That’s your acting challenge – to make them interesting in that place.


QUESTION: Did you do anything special to prepare to make Hal Jordan interesting?

I didn’t wear underwear to the recording, and I thought that would make him interesting. Actually, I’m not wearing underwear now.


OLD NEWS, MELONI. Srsly, though, I love that he wants to share this with us. Love!! *g*


QUESTION: Did having an illustration of Green Lantern have any influence on your performance?

Hal Jordan was Mac Daddy, ready to roll. Nobody wants a normal super hero – you want a buffed out guy like this. Look at Batman – he’s a normal kind of guy, and then he gets in a suit that the muscles are already carved out for him. Hal Jordan is a test pilot – pop him in a green leotard and he looks good. I’d love to get a hand-drawn illustration of the Green Lantern – signed, of course. And I want my own ring, too.


Pop him in a green leotard and he looks good. Fuck yeah. BRING IT.

FULL INTERVIEW HERE.


x-posted to my LJ

Comments

[roguemarch.livejournal.com]

'Actually, I’m not wearing underwear now. '-----> That right there is why I love him so freakin' much!

[beatmy-heartout.livejournal.com]

Guuuuhhhhhhh I'm soooo so glad he shares that. Frequently. So we know he really IS committed to always going commando. Sigh. Ohhhhh yes <3 :D

[colleendetroit.livejournal.com]

QUESTION: Did you do anything special to prepare to make Hal Jordan interesting?

I didn’t wear underwear to the recording, and I thought that would make him interesting. Actually, I’m not wearing underwear now.

OLD NEWS, MELONI. Srsly, though, I love that he wants to share this with us. Love!! *g*

Confessions of an undies-aholic...I love that he's commando. Always contradicting myself, huh... ;P

[comasisters.livejournal.com]

Chris always amazes me in his interviews, love the man for that, he is just himself no matter what, my god ......
thanks for sharing, always nice to catch up with him !!!!
Love the guy, seriously !!!