חלק שני של הראיון עם ג'יימס לפי שאלות מעריצים
Aside from watching and keeping up with great TV series, one of the biggest perks of my job is having the chance to interview some of television's brightest stars. Although the majority of these actors have been terrific (and almost always down to earth), there are only a select few who have completely captured my attention because of many admiral traits including intelligence, humor and charm. The incredibly talented Psych star James Roday happens to be one of those select few who managed to keep me thoroughly entertained during our interview (I laughed... a lot!) as we discussed his role on the hit USA Network series, making People Magazine's '100 Most Beautiful' list, and what the future holds for this multi-faceted actor.... Q: Why did you decide to pursue acting? James: "It was about the time that I discovered that my predominantly Mexican heritage was going to keep me from sprouting much taller than 5'9 and all my athletic dreams came to a bitter, glass shattering end. I was about 12 or 13, so I committed to it pretty early on." Q: What was the worst non-acting job you ever had? James: "I was in the food service industry for a while, I know shocking, and I waited tables at a restaurant in New York City where my shift ran from 11:30pm to 6:30am. It was basically my job to serve alcohol to people who were already inebriated. The challenge was just as much about getting paid as it was getting the food and delivering the food. I did that for about three years to get myself through school, and since have been fortunate enough to make my living as an actor. I've never set foot back in said place." Q: You made People's '100 Most Beautiful' list, did you feel funny about it, or did you embrace the experience? James: "I thought it was kind of silly. My friends got a big kick out of it. It was sort of flattering. I did this photo shoot in the middle of the Hollywood Hills, poolside, wearing a tie and no shoes, and two girls in bikini's on either side of me -- yeah, it's a little silly. In all its surrealism, you realize OK, wow, somebody, somewhere has taken enough interest to do this and that feels good." Q: You helped write the screenplay for Skinwalkers, how did you come up with the idea for the movie? James: "My best friend and I had that idea and took it to another writer who took us under his wing. We were both huge genre fans and were sort of operating under this mantra that werewolves had gotten a raw deal in the last few decades and we were going to do them right. We were going to do for werewolves what people had done for vampires and get back to the nuts and bolts of the mythology. And, as you know, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. We thought were doing something kind of special and it ended up being everything we said we weren't going to do. You learn lessons usually the hard way in our business." Q: Tell us about your role as Shawn Spencer on Psych. James: "Shawn is essentially a slacker, who accidentally finds himself in a situation where he can make a living and live out a childhood dream solving really serious crimes, usually murders. He works with the police department under the guise of being a psychic, when in truth, he has no psychic abilities whatsoever. What he does have is a keen sense of observation. He sees things most people don't and he's quick on his feet. His best friend from birth is along for the ride and it's these two 30-year-old men acting like 12-year-old's and getting paid to do it." Q: What similarities do you share with Shawn? James: "We have a similar sense of humor, but Shawn didn't really get much of a say in that. The comedy on the show has sort of been my wheelhouse and it's kind of a custom fit. In terms if lifestyle, we couldn't be more different, and that is one of the things that drew me to the opportunity to play this character. This is a guy who is not particularly focused, has the attention span of a housefly, never has a plan and improvises his way through everything -- that is not how you become successful in the real world. People like that have always fascinated me, not only because they have the capacity to live life with that philosophy, they seem genuinely happy doing so. God knows I'm as far from that as it goes." Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 years? James: "I know I've been given some wonderful opportunities on Psych in addition to acting, I feel I would be remiss if I didn't take advantage of those opportunities. I hope in 5 years, in addition to working as an actor, I will also be a working writer, working director, otherwise I screwed up somewhere." Q: What projects do you have in the works? James: "I have a movie I've been trying to make for sometime now that has become the bane of my existence, but is also my baby. I'm not giving up on it yet and it looks like it's coming together again for the fall after we wrap Psych, so I'll keep my fingers crossed." Q: Anything to say to the fans? James: "We have the greatest fans in the world. I know every show probably thinks that, but I honestly believe that our fan base it so dedicated, the cult-flavored dedication that we experience when we're approached by our fans on the street or in the airport is so unbelievably gratifying. We just have the coolest fans. I want them to know that we know it and that we'll never sleep and that we'll continue to churn out the best stuff and that they deserve it." SOURCE
Aside from watching and keeping up with great TV series, one of the biggest perks of my job is having the chance to interview some of television's brightest stars. Although the majority of these actors have been terrific (and almost always down to earth), there are only a select few who have completely captured my attention because of many admiral traits including intelligence, humor and charm. The incredibly talented Psych star James Roday happens to be one of those select few who managed to keep me thoroughly entertained during our interview (I laughed... a lot!) as we discussed his role on the hit USA Network series, making People Magazine's '100 Most Beautiful' list, and what the future holds for this multi-faceted actor.... Q: Why did you decide to pursue acting? James: "It was about the time that I discovered that my predominantly Mexican heritage was going to keep me from sprouting much taller than 5'9 and all my athletic dreams came to a bitter, glass shattering end. I was about 12 or 13, so I committed to it pretty early on." Q: What was the worst non-acting job you ever had? James: "I was in the food service industry for a while, I know shocking, and I waited tables at a restaurant in New York City where my shift ran from 11:30pm to 6:30am. It was basically my job to serve alcohol to people who were already inebriated. The challenge was just as much about getting paid as it was getting the food and delivering the food. I did that for about three years to get myself through school, and since have been fortunate enough to make my living as an actor. I've never set foot back in said place." Q: You made People's '100 Most Beautiful' list, did you feel funny about it, or did you embrace the experience? James: "I thought it was kind of silly. My friends got a big kick out of it. It was sort of flattering. I did this photo shoot in the middle of the Hollywood Hills, poolside, wearing a tie and no shoes, and two girls in bikini's on either side of me -- yeah, it's a little silly. In all its surrealism, you realize OK, wow, somebody, somewhere has taken enough interest to do this and that feels good." Q: You helped write the screenplay for Skinwalkers, how did you come up with the idea for the movie? James: "My best friend and I had that idea and took it to another writer who took us under his wing. We were both huge genre fans and were sort of operating under this mantra that werewolves had gotten a raw deal in the last few decades and we were going to do them right. We were going to do for werewolves what people had done for vampires and get back to the nuts and bolts of the mythology. And, as you know, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. We thought were doing something kind of special and it ended up being everything we said we weren't going to do. You learn lessons usually the hard way in our business." Q: Tell us about your role as Shawn Spencer on Psych. James: "Shawn is essentially a slacker, who accidentally finds himself in a situation where he can make a living and live out a childhood dream solving really serious crimes, usually murders. He works with the police department under the guise of being a psychic, when in truth, he has no psychic abilities whatsoever. What he does have is a keen sense of observation. He sees things most people don't and he's quick on his feet. His best friend from birth is along for the ride and it's these two 30-year-old men acting like 12-year-old's and getting paid to do it." Q: What similarities do you share with Shawn? James: "We have a similar sense of humor, but Shawn didn't really get much of a say in that. The comedy on the show has sort of been my wheelhouse and it's kind of a custom fit. In terms if lifestyle, we couldn't be more different, and that is one of the things that drew me to the opportunity to play this character. This is a guy who is not particularly focused, has the attention span of a housefly, never has a plan and improvises his way through everything -- that is not how you become successful in the real world. People like that have always fascinated me, not only because they have the capacity to live life with that philosophy, they seem genuinely happy doing so. God knows I'm as far from that as it goes." Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 years? James: "I know I've been given some wonderful opportunities on Psych in addition to acting, I feel I would be remiss if I didn't take advantage of those opportunities. I hope in 5 years, in addition to working as an actor, I will also be a working writer, working director, otherwise I screwed up somewhere." Q: What projects do you have in the works? James: "I have a movie I've been trying to make for sometime now that has become the bane of my existence, but is also my baby. I'm not giving up on it yet and it looks like it's coming together again for the fall after we wrap Psych, so I'll keep my fingers crossed." Q: Anything to say to the fans? James: "We have the greatest fans in the world. I know every show probably thinks that, but I honestly believe that our fan base it so dedicated, the cult-flavored dedication that we experience when we're approached by our fans on the street or in the airport is so unbelievably gratifying. We just have the coolest fans. I want them to know that we know it and that we'll never sleep and that we'll continue to churn out the best stuff and that they deserve it." SOURCE
