In November Eleni chatted with Ed Quinn from the hit Sci Fi channel show "Eureka". For the first time Portrait offers the interview in it's original audio format. Listen in as Ed discusses his career, the differences between himself and Nathan on Eureka, his films 'The Neighbor' and 'The Rainbow Tribe' and masters Myspace.
Interviewer: Ok, so. How did you get into acting?
Ed: I think I always wanted to be an actor. But I grew up in an academic family. I just didn’t really know how to become an actor. So, instead I decided to study law. Because I think I’d seen attorneys on TV .I didn’t really want to be an attorney, I knew I wanted to be an actor, but I didn’t know how to become an actor, so I decided to study law. But then I was at Berkley and I was graduating, but when I got close to graduating, I didn’t really want to go to law school. A photographer had taken some pictures out in San Francisco, and I had ended up doing a bit of, like, small modeling around San Francisco and that sort of thing. When I graduated, I actually got booked into shows in Paris and Milan, over to Europe. I’d always wanted to study abroad but I’d never gotten that chance, so when I went over to Europe, I decided to make a full trip of it- and see how long I could last, thought I might be able to work for, you know, a month or two. But, as fate would have it, I ended up staying about 7 months and then studying about 2 and a half years in Europe. The whole time- I was 6 foot four and about 210 pounds- so I was not exactly the pro type for the clothes. But what I did to was start shooting a lot of commercials. I think I ended up shooting 35 commercials in two and a half years. Yeah, and that’s where I really felt comfortable- in front of the camera, and especially in Europe, even more so back then compared to the United States, because the commercials are like little mini movies. You know, they were like, 50 second commercials, that were gorgeous, and shot in beautiful locations. With that I realized I really wanted to act, so I came to LA and started studying.
I: Wow. So it’s been a journey for you, quite a long journey.
E: Yeah, it definitely was. I had to go around the world to come right back and end up 300 miles from my home town.
I: So, I’m guessing you like Europe as much as LA, and stuff.
E: Yeah, I really did, I just- I think I have a very European sensibility. I love the culture and the lifestyle over there. Spain was definitely my favorite country; it’s still one of my favorite countries in the world. I had a great time in France and in Italy, but there’s just something about Spain that really kind of captured me.
I: What are some similarities and differences between yourself and Nathan on Eureka?
E: I’d say his work ethic is overbearing, but I guess my work ethic is the same in a sense, because doing what I do you never really- like, I basically forced myself to take a vacation. I’ve already done two films and a season of Eureka this year and I had another offer for another movie. And I just really wanted to go- I’m a surfer, and Indonesia is my- in addition to Spain, Indonesia’s my favorite place in the world. So those are my two favorite countries in the world. I really wanted to go on a surf trip, and literally had to pass on a movie and force myself to go. And I felt like I was making a mistake until the day I set foot in Sumatra, and then I realized that this is exactly where I should be and I’m so glad that I took the opportunity to do this. But I think also there’s a moral gray area to Nathan Stark that I don’t have. I tend to kinda think about others, I’m very loyal and I try to do the right thing and don’t want to hurt people, and that’s why it’s so fun to play Nathan Stark, because, you know, you can make some choices that are, eh, a little questionable, and I think it really works well on the show, to sort have Nathan’s decision making and moral compass a little askew.
I: Sounds fun. If you could take over writing duties for an episode of Eureka, what would you write for your character?
E: I like the more kind of loony episodes, I like episodes that have a lot of humor to them, and I also really kind of like when Carter and Stark are at odds. So I would really sort of like an episode that would, somehow force Stark and Carter to work together, but have them at odds over something, cause I think that’s where a lot of the humor and a lot of the great interaction of the relationship is generated.
I: Sounds good, maybe you should suggest it as a story line for the next episode!
E: I just possibly good, you’re absolutely right!
I: Yeah. You have two films in post-production at the moment, The Neighbor and The Rainbow Tribe. Can you tell us a little bit about these projects?
E: The Neighbor is going to premiere here in Los Angeles, on December 4th. I’m really excited to see it, a lot of people have seen it but I have not.
I: Ah, such a surprise!
E: Yeah, it, well, there’s been screenings and stuff like that, I’ve been working so I haven’t got a chance to see it yet, but people have really liked it, it’s been getting a great release all over seas over here, because of Michelle LaRoc, so it’ll become a worldwide release for sure. It’s a romantic comedy with a fresh star, Michelle LaRoc, Matthew O’Dean, a romantic comedy directed by Eddie O’Flarity, and we just had a blast making it, and um, it’s just a really really fun, a really fun romantic comedy that people are really enjoying, So, uh, I really hope it does well. Then I went straight from that film to do season 2 of Eureka, and then came off that, and came straight onto The Rainbow Tribe, with Grayson Russel from Talladega Nights, the little kid from Talladega Nights, and David James Elliot from JAG, it was really kind of a fun- I don’t want to see a kids movie, but it was a bad news bears, you know, goes to summer camp, but with a really sweet story, um, just a really nice, sweet, sort of coming-of-age story set at a summer camp. So it was really a fun project and I had a great time, and that’s in post production right now, so hopefully that turns out nice.
I: Nice. Sounds like my kind of movie, I’m gonna go watch that! So, what would be your dream role?
E: You know, I love all of the big, um, epic picks, you know, the big gore films, and the big bio picks, so you never really know. It’s hard to really conceptualize what your dream movie would be. You kind of just sort of see what the Universe presents out there. I have a few ideas that I would never talk about, don’t want to jinx them, it’s basically just doing those very huge, elaborate- my favorite movie is Apocalypse Now. And when you watch the making of Apocalypse Now, it’s a great documentary, and the making of the movie, it’s just such an ordeal to get that film made, to be part of something like that that almost nearly kills you, but to be part of something like that, it nearly kills you, but then the final product stands the test of time, and that, um, that would be an amazing accomplishment.
I: So something rather actiony, very in-your-face, I’m gonna do this?
E: Yeah, something actiony, yes, but not in a, not in a macho sense, but in a, you know, in Apocalypse Now, with the conrads and heart of darkness. It’s just so- It’s layered, it has such a commentary, it has, you know, a relationship between the cast, I mean there’s just- the movie works on so many levels. Another one of my favorite films- even though I’m a surfer and I’m terrified of this- Jaws, is one of the most amazing-
I: Classic, amazing.
E: And the reason was is because, you know, if you read about the film- the shark tank. The shark didn’t work. So they’re doing a creature feature without a creature! That’s why you don’t see the creature until the third act. So all they could do was develop all of the relationships between the characters. All of the characters are so incredibly well defined. Their relationships are so incredibly well defined. There’s such an economy of dialogue. That was only Speilberg’s second film, and he was already this maverick. There’s movies out there that work on so many different levels, and I’d love to work on one of those.
I: Lovely. So, what has been your best career related experience so far?
E: Honestly, I think it’s waking up every day and realizing that there are so many possibilities out there. My career is headed in this great direction. The best part of doing what I do is you never know what’s over the horizon. Sometimes the horizon looks really bleak and sometimes it looks very promising. I think I’m in a position right now where everyday is so exciting- every day has new opportunities, new projects, or setbacks and failures, as there always is in this industry. But something comes out of those experiences that kind of leads you in the right direction. For me right now, it’s just being in a great place in my career and feeling excited about the future.
I: Do you have a favorite co-star?
E: The best thing about Eureka is that we have such a great set, and we all get along so well. Paul and I are very great friends, I talk to him everyday. But I get along with everybody- Sally, Jo. And Jordan and I were just in London doing some press for the show. It’s so much fun to hang out with everyone and it’s really great. That’s what makes it so nice. We have a lot of extra time and it’s just great hanging out with everybody.
I: Where did you go in London?
E: It was the World Cup weekend, so we went out and went to a private club to watch the rugby match, and we were all over town. I can’t even remember. We went out to all these clubs; we were out until like four in the morning. I love London, too. It’s such a great city. I never got to live in it, but I wish I could. I had a great, great time.
I: Portrait magazine is an online magazine. What are some of your favorite episodes?
E: I get a lot of my news from the web. For me, yahoo, I read the LA Times and the San Francisco Chronicle online every day. I’m a big surfer so I’ve got a few surfing sites- surf line…I keep up on sports, motogp.com for big motorcycle fans, you can watch the highlights, or stream them on hi-def. If you want to watch a race live from Japan, it’s incredible because you can watch a live sporting event on hi-def. I love ebay. The web is just amazing. But surfline, motogp, and google. You can find the world on google!
I: So true! You like every sport, don’t you?
E: I kind of do! Well, it’s funny…I love college football, but I can’t be bothered with pro football. I don’t even care whose playing. I love basketball, baseball…but I love the eccentric sports, like moto GP, like surfing, and also a little more traditional, like college football. I’m not a typical American sports fan at all. Most Americans tend to like pro sports, hockey and basketball and pro football.
I: Do Americans not like soccer?!
E: Most Americans don’t! I love soccer. Like I said, I’m not your typical sports fan. I love mixed martial arts. I think it’s an amazing young sport, coming up, taking over boxing. There are a lot of great sports out there that appeal to me that don’t, for some reason, appeal to the masses.
I: What are some of the best and worst things about working in the entertainment industry, in your opinion?
E: I think we all grow up loving movies, and books, and comics, and being in an industry where you’re part of the creation of that is just incredible. Also, you never know what the future holds. You can’t ever see where you’re going or what’s going to happen. My career sometimes changes in an afternoon. I’ll wake up in the morning with no prospects, and I’ll go to bed at night with the fact that I’m moving to Canada to shoot a TV series for three years. You just get a phone call some days saying, “you got it!” Your world can just kind of shift on its axis. You know that you got a movie, or a TV show, or whatever it is. You get a phone call that changes your life. The toughest part about this industry is that you’re waiting for that phone call. No matter how hard you work, no matter if you write and try your own stuff, or you’ve auditioned and you hope you did well, it’s tough. You’re always trying to get yourself to a point where you can be in the position to get that great phone call but you never know if it’s coming and it gets really, really hard. You just have to be patient and believe in yourself and trust in the universe.
I: What are your hopes, professionally and personally, for 2008?
E: Another great season of Eureka, and continue my good fortune trying to do some really good movies. Maybe book in another movie, do one before I go back to Eureka. Just keep moving forward, keep working, and keep doing stuff I’m proud of. That’s pretty much the mantra day in and day out.
I: Describe yourself in three words.
E: Can’t be done!
I: How about…well, one of them has to be unique.
E: Non traditional American. Or, Nontraditional proud American.
I: If you could be anything for one day, what would it be?
E: I’d probably be on a Moto GP team.
I: Wow, I was expecting surfing!
E: I’ve done everything surfing. I’ve surfed 20 countires…but something I haven’t done would be to be an experienced Moto GP racer and not finish last.
I: What would be your most memorable moment on set so far?
E: We were doing the big final scene of Dr. Novell in the first season, and it had been one of the makeup artist’s birthdays the night before, and everyone had really enjoyed themselves. So, everyone was a little tattered, and there was just this vibe on the set, and the episode really defined the show for the first season. It was a really great episode, and we found our rhythm. Everyone was kind of hungover but having a great time and working really hard. There was something about the energy that day. I just kind of looked around, like, what? This is a pretty good show, this show might be around for a while. I think it was just sitting hungover on set, watching this whole big family kind of work together and laugh together, and create something special that might capture some people’s imaginations. And it did. It was a little bit like a premonition.
I: What are your passions and concerns for the world?
E: I think my concerns are that we don’t accept each other for who we are, for better or worse. I think a lot of times there are a lot of double standards in this world, and I think a lot of times people are scared to talk about them because they don’t want to sound callous or unsympathetic. But I think there are a lot of differences in this world that we’re having a lot of problems coming to terms with. Because we’re not very honest.
I: I completely agree. So, someone told me you play in LA band Mad Theory. Do you prefer making music or acting?
E: They’re both so different that there’s almost preference. I’ve been playing music my whole life, so in a weird sense, it’s easier for me than acting. I’m probably a better musician than I am an actor, because it’s something I’ve done since I was 10 years old. I’m actually staring at my guitar right now. When we hang up the phone I’m going to practice a little bit. I’ve got band practice tonight and Monday. I’m probably going to record some stuff. I haven’t recorded anything for years, and I’m working on some new stuff. With the availability of being able to get your music out on the internet, and produce stuff your self, I’m really looking forward to trying to get the music out there.
I: Are you going to concentrate on putting your music out, or acting, or both?
E: Well, Acting’s my job. Acting’s my career so it’ll always come first. But I have plenty of time to work on my music when I get a chance, so that’s what I’ll be doing, no problem.
I: That brings me to the last question. Do you have a myspace or official website? Or will you create a music myspace for your band?
E: I probably will create a music myspace, or something like that, when I get to the point where I’ll actually be putting out myspace. I have a myspace but it’s just so I can see my friends’ myspace page. I don’t really use it. I’ve never really had a website. I admire those who can create their websites and not feel cheesy about it. The idea of creating a website about me seems like the most narcissist and pathetic thing in my entire life. So I just refuse to do it. But my friends seem to love the attention, so they’re out there and they can do it. God Bless them for not having self awareness!
I: How can your friends contact you then?
E: I guess my myspace, even though it’s pretty boring.
HERE, THE INTERVIEWER WALKS ED THROUGH FINDING HIS URL. IT’S VERY FUNNY, BUT IT SEEMED KIND OF POINTLES TO TYPE UP. HERE IT IS…
