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The Lightsabre
Interview Jerome Blake
Welcome to
Lightsabre. We bring you the actor who
played a multitude of characters in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, including Rune Haako, Oppo Rancisis, Mas Amedda, Orn Free Taa, Horox
Ryyder and Graxol Kelvyyn. Please welcome to Lightsabre the
multi-talented Jerome Blake. Q - Jerome, welcome to Lightsabre. A – Lightsabre, welcome to my
lounge Q - You have an amazing array of
characters that you assayed throughout the prequels? At a guess, how many hours do you think you
spent sat in the make-up chair? A – Amazing is the word. Originally, I was asked to play two
characters. I finished up with
seven. How many hours in the make-up
chair? I wouldn’t know how to quantify
the total other than “a lot”. The amount
of time for each characters varied depending on how the look was achieved. For example, Rune Haako didn’t require any
make-up because that was a complete animatronic head worn like a crash
helmet. At the other end of the
spectrum was the galactic senator, Orn Free Taa, whose face was created from
foam latex pieces applied painstakingly by two technicians over a five hour
period. My contribution to this part
of the process was snoozing, drinking tea, and eating as many doughnuts as
possible so that the body matched the face.
Q - Tell us something of your career. Where did you begin in acting and what led
you to where you are today? A - Baron's Court Theatre, London. Of course I couldn't have known at the time but my first public performance as an actor was a precursor of things to come. It was a play and it's sequel resented in one evening, so my first play was a prequel and I had four different characters. Sound familiar? I suppose that experience set the tone in that I've been fortunate enough to have had a variety of opportunities and I'm still excited by the thought of 'What's next?'
Q -
What is it like to be a part of the Star Wars phenomenon?
A - To answer that question fully I'd have to write a volume of memoirs but briefly, it has been and continues to be an incredible journey. When Star Wars was released in 1977, I wasn't in the business so I went along to watch in wonder just like millions of others. Almost twenty years later I was invited to appear in The Phantom Menace. Funny ol' game life.
Q -
You started late in your acting career.
Why was that?
A - I had been a musician for over twenty years and conspiracy and circumstance had brought me to something o9f a crossroads. Towards the end of the music era, I'd appeared in a few plays, TV commercials and music videos and I found that I was enjoying the acting more than the music. Without really knowing what I was doing, I made the decision to concentrate on acting. Thankfully, it didn't turn out to be such a bad choice.
Q -
You've worked on other effects heavy films in The Fifth Element and the
Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. How
different were those films from the Star Wars experience?
A - In some ways it would be more appropriate to talk about the similarities between them. All the films you mentioned were fun to work on, physically demanding but great fun. All the directors were inspirational. All the crews were top-notch. All the catering... I guess when talking about effects and creature-heavy productions there is one fundamental difference - Star Wars is the daddy.
Q -
What were your feelings on Revenge of the Sith? Did it satisfy your fan appetite, or simply
whet it for more adventures to come?
A - I've been asked this and for me there are two answers: Firstly, I enjoyed it and all the strands of the story were heading in the direction of A New Hope. Second, I think a lot more time needs to pass to be able to see all six films in context and more importantly, objectively. More adventures to come? You must know something I don't. Please keep me posted.
Q -
You're a famed convention goer, and together with Richard LeParmentier you
are known as The Rat Pack. Please
describe to us an average convention weekend for you.
A - Conventions have been part of that incredible journey I mentioned earlier. I knew Star Wars was popular but until I started going to conventions I had no idea how popular. On a serious note, one of the best things to come out of this has been meeting and bonding with the UK Garrison. Two years ago I asked them to help at a charity preview of Attack of the Clones, in aid of Medicinema, and not only did they step up on that occasion but have continued to do so ever since. They have my gratitude. I don't really know what an average convention weekend is. There's always something special to identify them. So many tales, so little time!
The Rat Pack? Praise
indeed. However, I can't deny that we have been known to enjoy the
occasional glass of Sherry in most parts of the known world. In fact,
were it not for missing out on meeting friends new and old, Richard did
suggest we could save on airfares and carbon footprint by setting up a bar
in front of a blue-screen and have ILM drop us in to exotic locations of our
choice. Top of my list would be The Simpson's: Richard's sitting
in Moe's Tavern. Homer enters, goes all dreamy and says, "MMMMMMMMMOTTI".
Q -
Which of the myriad Star Wars characters do you feel the most affinity
for? And for which of your own do you
feel the most?
A - Darth Vader, for all sorts of reasons but he's everyman and fallible, to name two. Mas Amedda, for all sorts of reasons but my face and voice, to name two. Also, my first day of filming on The Phantom Menace was a Mas Amedda. Sentimental, moi?
Q -
You spent twenty years as a musician before giving yourself over to
acting. What do you play?
A - Bass guitar and piano although I have to admit to being out of practise. All my guitars were stolen and I haven't found the heart to replace them.
Q -
What lies ahead for you in the future?
A - Who knows? The next phone call could be the start of a brand new adventure.
Q - A
quick question about our site, Lightsabre.
Any comments?
A - One of the most comprehensive sites I've seen. I feel honoured to have been asked to contribute.
Q -
It's been a great interview, and thanks for being our guest on
Lightsabre. Just one final
question. Oppo Rancisis, Mas Amedda
and Rune Haako are pushing their trolleys around the supermarket. Being a Jedi, Oppo can use the Force to get
the best prices, Mas has the weight of authority to demand a better discount
and Rune is a part of the Trade Federation so he knows all there is to know
about getting a good price. Which one
pays the least at the checkout, and why?
A - Oppo Rancisis. With fingernails like that he'd never get his wallet open. |
