QQ) What are the current projects that you are working on?
A) I wrote a musical called Atlanta and the Geffen Theater in Los Angeles is going to produce it this Fall. We start rehearsal on it in a month. It's about romance and racism with the backdrop of the Civil War. I had this idea a few years ago and wrote it with the guy who co-wrote "Ready To Run" and "Cowboy Take Me Away," a few songs that my wife's band had recorded. I had this idea and he and I wrote it together. We did a reading of it this Spring at the Geffen and they fell in love with it. They thought it would be a good thing to put on the schedule this Fall so we're in the middle of getting that ready to roll. There is season two of "Heroes" and I just finished a film this summer, which is a thriller called Home Movie. Skywalker Sound is doing the audio for us, which is a huge thing. I got to go up to San Francisco and parked next to Robert Redford's car, stepped out and was in the office next to his doing work on my little movie. I've been pretty busy with a lot of great work that has come down the pike. Certainly, "Heroes" is the cause of a lot of it. It's exciting!
Q) What is new the season on "Heroes" and with your character Nathan Petrelli?
A) Season two takes the characters and the whole idea of what is behind the show to an international level. We get around the world from Latin America to Ukraine to Japan. Not only are we crossing international boundaries, but time boundaries as well. It goes back and forward. Ireland is also one of the places. It just brings a more international flavor to the whole show. It takes characters to different places. So, who ever your favorite character is, it is going to be an exciting departure from being so centrally based in America to exploring what unique powers these individuals have and how it reaches far back to generations and internationally into the world. It is a fairly interesting place to take them. As far as Nathan goes, all I can say is that it takes us places where I didn't expect it to go. The theme of redemption and reparations for past mistakes is there and dealing with guilt and trying to correct the sins of not just Nathan Petrelli, but the Petrelli family do come in to play (having to right the wrongs of the past and having to use the abilities that have been bestowed on these characters for good). Nathan is an absolute morally liquid character being a politician. I think he's come down on the side of what is right for him more often than the side of what is morally acceptably right. We're going to try to make an inroad into weighing those decisions and dealing with the ramifications and the repercussions this season. I know that sounds vague, but it is about as specific as I can get.
Q) Will we get to see Nathan lead the country?
A) I can neither confirm or deny that.
Q) What made you want to be a part of the show?
A) There are the obvious reasons, but aside from those it was an opportunity to explore this genre which has always been fascinating. As a kid, I think every boy grows up with comic books, the allure of having a super power and being able to use it for good. There is the reality of what would you do if you did have a power, would you use it for good, would you share it with the world or keep it to yourself...all the questions that you have as a kid. Those don't go away, even when you get grown up and mature. This is an opportunity to explore the child within us. I think for all the actors, especially, we have fun. We don't have to run around in capes or tights, but we do get to do some special effects, get to fly around, shift time and throw fireballs out of our hands. All that fun stuff! The opportunity to work in Los Angeles on a television show that is about as big as it can get. There isn't a show in town that is as any bigger than ours just in terms of the scope and the daily execution is huge. It's fun to be on a really big show that does everything so grand. It all starts with the writing. The writing is top shelf. It's fun to play these characters. Not just me, but every single one of us really appreciates the opportunity that has been handed to us. We're very grateful for it as actors and I think the writers are, too. My reasons for becoming involved in it are fairly obvious. I don't have any hidden agenda. It was the chance to be a part of a great science fiction genre piece that allows us to explore humanity and to stay in Los Angeles so I can take my kids to school every morning is a great opportunity. I didn't want to miss that one!
Q) What about your role do you find challenging?
A) You've got the physicality of it. The stunts are demanding. The emotional range that we're asked to deliver and delve into on a daily basis is challenging. It's something that is a little different than your average cop or procedural drama on TV. Maintaining a track or line through the course of the story, because it is so big, tracking and making that your arch is consistent is a challenge that I think we all face. Making sure everything we do follows what has come before and what is going to come after, that's really left to the actor to a certain extent to maintain a certain consistency in your performance because the nature of the show is so big and there are so many stories going on. We're really responsible for our own individual performances to a degree. That is exciting and rewarding at the same time.
Q) Where do you draw on for your portrayal?
A) I have a lot of the current administration to thank for that. I thank the previous administration since I had the opportunity to meet some politicians; a President or two in the past, some senators and Congressmen. One thing that a lot of politicians share is the ability to reach out. Whether their moral agenda meets the ones of the constituency is the interesting part. Trying to make sure that you're able to listen and at the same time put forward your list of goals as a politician is something very difficult for them to do, especially the ones who are a little bit shifty. I think most politicians fall into that category. So, it's not drawn on one specific individual, but rather a collection of what we've been presented as politicians and leaders of our time.
Q) What has been your most memorable moment from filming "Heroes?"
A) I couldn't break it down into just one. I think working with Milo [Ventimiglia], Greg Grunberg, Sendhil Ramamurthy, Ali Larter and Hayden...working with the entire cast is just great. Everyone is so committed and responsible. They are just good all around people. It makes it fun to show up every day to work. We never know what is going to happen and where it is going to take us. I couldn't choose one particular moment, although, working with Masi Oka and improving with Masi was certainly a highlight of last year. The stuff that we did together was mostly improv. There was some scripted elements to it, but we riffed on it a little bit and it was rewarding. I think it turned out well. The public seemed to enjoy it as much as we did, definitely.
Q) Was there instant chemistry between the cast when the show first began?
A) I think, as individuals, we had chemistry. That's why we got cast. Generally, you find yourself in a room full of charismatic individuals, when you get to this level and they've been screened. The reason they got there is because they have something to bring to the table, but once we started finding out who our characters were, creating a history of relationships and got four or five episodes in the relationships that were forged were really just special. It is something that you never know if it is going to happen or not. You can have the most interesting people there and sometimes when the film is edited it is drier than dirt. That wasn't the case with this. We all really found something to relate to in each other's characters. We were actually able to explore that and find the chemistry that was going to work for the characters and jump on that. Collectively, it is one great group of people. You just never know what is going to happen. We just have to show up and be ready for anything.
Q) What is it like working for NBC?
A) They've been very supportive and kind of left the writers alone to let them create. I know they've given notes specific elements to the show that they wanted to enhance or eliminate. Overall, they've been very supportive. They haven't prevented the writers or the actors from doing their best work. It's a very creative environment that they've given to us and have enabled us to really explore the artistry behind creating stuff like this.
Q) Did you think the should would be a success from the start?
A) We had hopes. You never can be arrogant and it would be foolish of me to say we expected it. We certainly hoped for it to tap into the universal themes of love, challenge, acceptance and adventure. There is no guarantee in this business that things are going to take off, but we had high hopes and we weren't disappointed.
Q) You're a writer, actor and director. Is there anything else you'd like to try your hand at?
A) I've got my hands full at the moment. I would like to be able to be remembered as a good father. I think that is the most important thing to me. Having a show like this with two little boys certainly makes it exciting for them. They get to see special effects and see daddy fly. That is certainly a great draw. A great aspect to the show is that it is creative and does allow younger minds to embrace what it means to be unique, extraordinary and special. I think everybody is and that"s what the show really goes for, whether you have a super power or not. It's unique and that's what it celebrates. There are elements to the show that are inappropriate for young children, but overall, I think the message is good and strong for the younger mindset to embrace.
Q) How do you manage time for your family with all the traveling between you and your wife?
A) We travel together a lot. Your life changes when you have kids. You cut out the things are non-inclusive for a family. You shift and reshape your time so that when you aren't working you are with your kid and your family. There is nothing special. I don't have any secrets to make it work. We just do as much as we can. When I'm not working I am with my family. I had to travel across Europe for ten days on a press tour and it was tough being away from the family and kids that long. It was fun to go and talk about a great show and support it that way. Coming back and sharing all the pictures with my kids is something that they love because they have been to a lot of these places. It is exciting for them to live vicariously through me a little bit too at this age.
Q) What would you like to say to your fans and supporters?
A) I've gotten to meet a lot of these people in person. The support that they've shown over the years to me, individually, and the show, collectively, over the last year and a half is outstanding. We really feel very rewarded for having worked on the show. You really do it for the fans. If no one was watching there would be no point. It's great to be a part of something so well liked and we just hope to be able to continue to deliver a satisfying product to an international community. We just want to say a big thank you to all of them! There is nothing more satisfying than making something and having it so well received and so eagerly anticipated. The act, in itself, sometimes is its own reward, but beyond that, having it so well accepted and anticipated by the fans is gravy on top of the really well made steaming plate of mashed potatoes that we call "Heroes."
