Ryan Robbins – Once Bitten

By starrymag | January 30, 2014

Q) What are the current projects that you are working on?

 

A) Currently, I have a recurring role on the show “Blade,” on “Battlestar Galactica and on “Stargate: Atlantis.” I also have a show airing on CTV called “Alice, I Think” and I am working on a couple of independent projects.

 

Q) Please tell us about the premise for the show “Blade” and about your character Sands.

 

A) The premise for “Blade” is another reinvention of the films. Blade is the perfect conflicted hero. He’s equal parts good and evil, which causes a constant struggle within himself. At the same time, he’s trying to save the world. I play Sands, who is a houseless vampire who was (in his time) quite a hustler. He’s like a “rat pack” sort of guy, really good looking, smooth and wears a good suit. He’s a poker hustler, which is how he would go and make his money. Through a series of events, which you come to find out about in the show, I’ve been uglied up and hurt pretty badly. Consequently, I have some information that is very important to Blade. So, we go on a journey together to try and figure out what is going on with the badies. It’s a fun role because he’s actually kind of a funny character. He’s quite funny because he has maybe a bit of a death wish. He doesn’t enjoy the fact that he’s kind of been uglied up and scarred up. He’s just not the same as he used to be. He’s kind of down and out and hangs out at ugly casinos. He’s a shell of his former self. He’s a loner. The dynamic between Sands and Blade is really runny because Sands is a very sarcastic character. It’s sort of nice to have a little hint of comedy in the show.

 

Q) What made you want to be a part of the show?

 

A) When I was a kid I was a huge comic book fan. I just love the genre. I love the dark comic genre. They gave me a chance to be a vampire, so who wouldn’t want to do that? You get great comic book lines. The writers are really great on the show. It’s a really great show, it looks great, the writing is great and the actors are fantastic. I get great dialogue in situations and try to find the identifiable characteristics of a comic book character is really fun.

 

Q) What has been your most memorable moment from filming?

 

A) I was really pleased with how great and genuine the cast is. In particular, Sticky Fingaz, who plays Blade. He’s a really good guy and really committed. Also, I like the fact that he’s a comic book fan. I don’t really know how many people know this, and I may be giving up a secret here, but when we were working in his Blade outfit there was an inside pocket where he would open his coat and pull out a Marvel comic. He’d start reading it between takes. He likes comic books. We’d talk about comic books and he knows that character inside and out. Other than that, during filming having my head crashed through a brick wall was pretty amazing. The abuse I take on the show is pretty funny and memorable.

 

Q) Why should viewers take the time to tune in to “Blade?”

 

A) There is nothing like it on television. It’s fresh, it’s bold and a brave show. It’s a very ambitious show. Spike TV really seems to be pulling out all of the stops on the show. They are keeping it edgy and dark. It doesn’t really pull any punches. When people watch the pilot, it could have been a movie or feature film. There is nothing like it on television now. It’s got a great story with interesting characters. The storylines that they have worked in to make it work for television are very smart  and you have a series of characters that you are interested in and that you care about. You don’t, just, follow one person. You follow individual journeys of all of these people whom you are really intrigued by and get to see glimpses into their past. With the character Marcus Van Sciver, you are intrigued by him because he’s the bad guy, but there is something incredibly likeable about him. The performances by the actors that they’ve hired for this show are really fantastic. Neil Jackson, who plays Marcus, is fantastic and Jill Wagner’s performance is great. The actors are great and even Bill Mundy, who plays Detective Boone, gives a standout performance in the pilot. He was so good! For me, watching the show, I was excited. I was excited that this is the show I get to be on. Hopefully, we’ll see more of Sands.

 

Q) The show premiered on Wednesday, June 28, 2006. How were the reviews?

 

A) I don’t read the reviews. I don’t know. I can’t imagine they would be bad. I am sure some people are going to have their concerns. Obviously, people are going to make comparisons, but I think that (as an audience – myself – ) I am intrigued and I want to know what happens. I only get to read the script for the episodes that I am in so I am curious just like everyone else as to what is going on. It’s a fantastic show. If you read the comic books, Sticky looks like the way Blade did in the original comic books. His approach to Blade is great because he’s not trying to be Wesley Snipes being Blade. He’s being Sticky. He’s got his Blade. I think it’s great and makes a great character.

 

Q) Did you tune in to the premiere to see how everything from filming was put together?

 

A) I sure did! I watched it and I am not even in it. I was excited to see it and I really enjoyed it.

 

Q) What do you do in your spare time?

 

A) I spend most of my spare time with my two and a half year old daughter. I spend as much time with her as possible. I try not to have too much spare time. I like working so I try to work a lot. When I have spare time, I hang out with my daughter and I spend a lot of time looking for projects, indie films and stuff.

 

Q) What is your latest obsession? A book? A movie? A sport? A band?

 

A) That’s a tough one because I go through latest obsessions like crazy! I am listening to a band Peeping Tom. I think I like them and I am starting to get into them. I’ve been reading a book by Terry Pratchett called The Wee Free Men. I used to be a musician so I have a studio in my office. I’ve been testing some of my own music lately, just trying to get back and make music. I have a two year old so I haven’t been to the movies in so long. I want to go see Superman and Nacho Libre. Those are the two movies at the top of my list. I am a big fight fan. I am a huge fan. I watch boxing, but I am a huge UFC fight fan. That’s probably my obsession is that I am a big UFC fight fan, which is why it is such a treat to be on the Spike Network since they have all of the UFC fights. I’d say, if anything, my secret obsession is watching men beat the crap out of each other.

 

Q) What would you like to say to all of your fans and supporters?

 

A) I’d just like to say thank you very much. Keep watching! If there is anything you want to see different then let me know. I am just very grateful to do what I do for a living. I am, literally, living the dream. I get to do what I’ve wanted to do since I was a kid for a living and I am very grateful for that. I thank everyone who cares and everyone who likes what I do and wants to see me do more of it. Keep watching “Blade!” Episode four is my episode where you see Sands for the first time. Hopefully, if fans respond the way we are hoping they do, then you’ll see more of me in season two. Episode four is my first big episode and then I come back on later on in the show. Great ready for “Battlestar Galactica” season three because it’s going to be crazy! Those are the two shows that I want to make sure everyone looks out for, “Blade” and “Battlestar Galactica.”