heres the penultimate part of Rosie's Ramble - one more part to come....
PART 4 –
(in which Rosie gets to take a lot more photographs, catch James doing a cop walk and a cowboy walk; and confess he’d like another threesome!)The Q and A was great – James didn’t bother with the mic at all as it was a theatre and he had no problems projecting and meant it was much nicer for taking photos without it getting in the way. As usual, he was always on the move, wandering about, sitting on the table and then getting up to demonstrate things! As ever, it’s been reported in detail elsewhere, but I’ll just put in the bits I remember.
First question was from Magie asking him what his singles ad would say “46 years old, likes to paint and play music. Has decent amount of chest hair!” pause “Would you date me?” Magie gave him a ‘maybe’ look and a so-so hand gesture…!
There was a question about did he have a Jacuzzi – no, the only bathtub was shared by his niece and the nanny – all he had was a shower, which sucked. He’d have to put one in once the kids were through college. Steve was sitting on the steps at this point and joined in – Im not sure exactly what was said – maybe he did have a Jacuzzi!
He was asked about his “bucket” list (things to do before you kick the bucket) He said he was trying to live it anyway, didn’t like to leave any doors unopened in case he missed something. He did say he wanted to produce a film, go skydiving and then quickly added on the end – one more ménage a trios!
Asked about what organisation he would like to have a hand in and help with James came straight back with – Habitat for Humanity – “people need homes man” The questioner said that he should talk about it with his fans as we would very probably be willing to assist in any project he supported. “ I hadn’t thought of that” said James and then stood up, stuck his chest out and his thumbs in his belt and proclaimed “ I have an army!” so we all cheered!
Yes, the kissing question came up again (asked by a man!) but there were newbies in audience , so fair enough – at least this time Amber Benson was in the mix as well and James said she was hot!
There was a couple of Dragonball questions – James explaining his interest in it before the movie and how his son loved it. He did his audition for Piccolo just like he was playing with the action figures with his son (very deep rough voice “I’m going to KILL you!”) and the producer loved it. At first he thought he might not be the right person for the role, but now he thinks he’s the only one on earth who could play Piccolo – and that was total confidence in himself and his acting, not arrogance.
Patti asked about Alien Western – did he have to ride a horse and the answer we all wanted to know – did he wear chaps? Sadly, the answer was no. (a few fantasies went up in smoke right then….) And no to the horses too as they were always spooked by him being method actor man and being scared the whole time so they picked up on it (James mimes a spooked horse – and then “oh, come on – its just a character!!”) but it was COLD and he really hated it. Said how he had always been able to take any kind of[abuse] and then stopped and said to himself looking up at the ceiling “ no, don’t say that James” (most of the audience goes off to a happy place!!) and then continues “ up to now I seem to have a high tolerance for pain and discomfort – but cold? – Brrrr!”
Went onto say how the leads in movies always get the really good looking coats, but they do nothing for the cold. No one in the movies ever wears one of those big puffy jackets – (James does a little “I’m all toastie and smiling in a big coat” act)
Then he was talking about the mud – it rained on the first day filming and the mud was about a foot deep. . But he decided that was probably why cowboys walked liked they did – demonstrates his cowboy walk! – but then discovered they were framing the mud out of the shots, so he’s trying to look heroic whilst stomping about – demonstrates cowboy walking in mud again (and I might just have that on video…..)
Talking about his time on Without a Trace getting paid the bare minimum – it was so easy to act – James demonstrates “you get in the car, you eat the doughnuts, you get out of the car, you interview a witness, you get back in the car..” said he was so close to being a semi-retired actor – being on a cop show is semi-retired. Thought he had it all worked out – in 15 years he would be the judge. And then he got offered Dragonball for loads more money and they were mad at him for leaving. James said it was a lot easier being on a cop show than doing wire work and getting his butt kicked, but he went to Mexico and got his butt kicked without a stuntman….
James was asked where he was for the presidential inauguration. He said he was at home and he made Jessie Jackson look stoic! He was crying like a baby on election night and went out and kissed the ground. And then added last time a democrat got in, he was living in Seattle in a bad part of time and he kissed the ground there and it was not good “ President Clinton, I lo…
yeeeuck!”
Also did his waking up every morning and going “yay – Obama is president” and doing a little dance as opposed to his hangdog, feet dragging “George Bush is still president” gloom on waking from before!
He was asked about how he felt doing the electric chair scene from “ the Capture of the Green River Killer” and did he make sure it wasn’t plugged in? James laughed and said “ In Hollywood, nothing is ever plugged in!” and then went onto say, talking about naked fear – in Romania for Alien Western, the opening scene was of his hanging that’s interrupted by giant alien bugs – and he gets on set the first day and they’ve built a real gallows! The trapdoor is screwed shut, but it’s still a real gallows and with a real noose round his neck. James said her was thinking “This is going to be fun – first day and they are trying to hang me. I’m in Romania and they have me by contract. It turned out OK, but on that first day I nearly bolted!”
He got off the table and then demonstrated calling out “What’s the next country? Bye!” and mimed marching off the set at great speed!!
He did go into a Spike accent at one point, except these days its not so Spike, just English. But he did say that if he did the accent, he stopped caring about anybody and went into full-on Spike “I don’t give a shit” attitude!
He was asked about the possibility of appearing in Dr Who with David Tennant (as questioner said her fan girl head would explode if they were on screen together!) James thought as he was getting an action figure of Captain John, he would get on Doctor who – but no – he didn’t get to go in the
(though he wasn’t sure if that was the right pronunciation.. TORDIS??)
Steve then called that this would be the last question - there was still a few people waiting in line and James was going to try and get through them fast – quick, funny answers. And then he pointed at them, going “yes, no, no, yes, random funny answer!” - but the last question was about his bad qualities that he had said earlier that he tends to put up front. “I get arrogant if I get pissed off, if I feel someone is coming over my line, I can get like “HEY!” (stands up all confrontational) “I kind of go to a low-grade war very quickly. And be offended by things I ought not to. And I can also feel rejected too easily. (a general “aww” from all of us and James puts on a sad face and then laughs as he sits back on the table.) And adds “and I have a small bump on the back of my head” which he indicates.
So Steve moves in to get James to draw out the remaining tickets for the raffle prizes. James is still sitting on the table and pulls out the first one “that’s one” and then “that’s two” and then looked confused as to what he should do with them. Steve, looking like an exasperated but somewhat indulgent parent says “You just hand them to me and look pretty”
We’re all laughing our heads off at this point as James continues to pull out the rest of the tickets and keeps talking – there s a bit of general abuse between the two of them and then the last ticket is drawn and James is still sitting on the table talking and Steve just stands there with his arm out to usher James off. Then James looks at him and his outstretched arm and asks “Are you waiting for a tip?”
It was a nice little double act – they should do it more often. James went off to huge cheering and whooping and Steve called out the remaining raffle prizes (I didn’t win anything) and then explained there would be a short break to allow James to get ready and then we would have the theatrical performance.