Richard Kahan – Human Touch

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

A.  Well, I just have literally a couple of days ago finished my work on the second season of “The 4400” which is currently airing on the USA Network and it’s in the states, it will start airing in Canada at the end of August I believe.  Then last month I had a recurring role on “Da Vinci’s Inquest” on CBC.  I did a bio picture for NBC which aired last month and a TV movie called The Colt which was a Civil War film for the Lifetime channel, that also aired a couple weeks ago.  The final season of “Edgemont” is airing on CBC so I’ve been busy.

Q.  You’ve been working on the show “The 4400,” what do you think it is about the show that keeps drawing viewers in?

A.  You know I think, you know it’s a Sci-Fi show but it appeals to everyone, it’s just such a human show.  It’s about forty-four hundred people that disappear and return and they haven’t aged and they have no recollection of where they have been.  I think that sort of has a kind of bending belief feel to it, but you can kind of apply that to anything to like war, natural disasters, and just how people deal with the after effects of that.  I think that’s kind of what the show is dealing with just on a Sci-Fi level, so I think it really appeals to everyone.

Q.  What made you want to be a part of this show?

A.  Well, it’s just one of those things where my agent got me the audition and you go out and audition and some projects are better than others and this was just one of those ones that was just great.  You read the script and it just the dialogue flows and the characters are really developed.  There are some really great people involved in it, Billy Campbell, Jacqueline McKenzie, Joel Gretsch, great, great talented actors.  Great producers, Francis Ford Coppola, Scott Peters, so yeah they were on a project that I would have loved to be involved in and I am glad it really worked out.

Q.  There seems to be a lot of chemistry among the cast, is that evident on set as well?

A.  Completely, yeah I think one of the things that I have really learned from working on this show in particular is just having fun.  Everyone just gets along so well and just has a lot of fun with the work.  It’s one of those things as an actor, you’re just trying so hard to get the work and to do good work, that while you’re doing it you almost just sort of blink and it just passes it by.  You’re not always aware of that while you’re doing it.  One of the things I’ve learned from working with these people is that they have so much fun while they’re doing it and we really have a great time.  We all get along great, we just actually had the wrap party for the second season the other day and it was a blast.

Q.  Are we going to get to see more of your character “Marco” next season?

A.  Yeah, yeah I’ve had a lot more storyline, “Marco” gets out of the office and sort of gets a little more hands on in the theories and sort of solving this ripple effect.  So, yeah there is a lot more to come for my character.

Q.  We know “Marco” has a big crush on “Diana,” think anything will come of it?

A.  Oh, I guess everyone is going to have to tune in to find that out!  Yeah, no “Marco” has a huge crush on “Diana” and I think it’s just a really great thing.  They are really sort of kindred spirits in a weird sort of way.  I mean they both just love what they do, they both really come at it from a scientific sort of background.  I think that they would make a really cute couple, for right now though it’s sort of “Marco” being the puppy dog.  You gotta stay tuned to see what happens!

Q.  Do you have a most memorable moment from filming “The 4400”?

A.  I think it’s all been so memorable, it’s a great group of people!  You know I think just my first day, which was going back to last season.  The cameras, the sets, its just a big environment and just coming in and just meeting everyone and everyone being so down to earth and so supportive.  Like I said before just having a great time, so I don’t think I could narrow it down to one sort of experience.  Overall it’s been great!

Q.  Not that long ago you starred in the Mork and Mindy movie, what kind of research did you do for the role?

A.  Actually, luckily, the entire first season of “Mork and Mindy” is out on DVD so I rented that, which was great to watch.  The show still holds up to this day, it’s a really funny show and it’s great to see Robin Williams just kind of taking off and getting a start.  So, I watched that, talked to friends and family that were really into the show when it was originally airing.  One of the producers of the movie gave me a link to a website that had a lot of pictures of the crew and the original work that they were doing.  I was able to get my hands on a lot of information.

Q.  What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

A.  In my spare time I actually just got a puppy, he’s now a ten month old Australian Sheppard named Hudson.  So, when I do have spare time he keeps me really busy.  It’s great because I like to do anything outside and I love mountain climbing, hiking, biking, I spent the day yesterday in a place called Deep Cove in North Vancouver going kayaking.  Later on today I’m going to go on a hike up a mountain called The Chief in Squamish which is sort of halfway between Vancouver and Whistler.  So, basically I just like to do anything outside. 

Q.  Is there a summer movie that you’re really interested in checking out?

A.  You know usually for everyone else it’s like the time for movies, my type of movie is that I’m usually more into the small character films.  The summer movies are usually the big type of blockbusters.  I am really looking forward to seeing Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the first one, the original with Gene Wilder is one of my all time favorite movies.  At first when I heard that they were remaking it I was like, “Oh, why are they doing that?”  But, I think that Johnny Depp and Tim Burton are two of the most talented people out there so I am really looking forward to seeing what they do with the film.

Q.  What is your latest obsession, are you into any particular book, sport or activity?

A.  I am really getting into some new music lately, people like Iron and Wine, which is just sort of  laid back folk music, almost modern day Simon and Garfunkel.  It’s really, I went out and bought one of their CDs and then went out and bought everything that they have put out.  Yeah Iron and Wine, Damien Rice, Tom Waits and anything Jazz and Blues, I’m a huge Jazz and Blues fan. 

Q.  What would you like to say to fans and supporters of your career?

A.  You know I feel so lucky to be given the opportunity to do what I love to do, I mean acting has been my passion since I was nine years old.  So, I think just to be allowed to do what you love to do is a pretty amazing thing.  Then, to have people that enjoy what you do and support it, and encourage it, and follow your career is just incredible.  So, I would just like to say thank you, I will continue to give one hundred and ten percent and please continue to watch!