I’m particularly proud of the fifth season story ‘Business As Usual’ because it shows Quark as much more of a thinking, deeper person in the sense that he has a real problem to solve.
We were right across from each other for years on the lot, but I never met Jeri Ryan until Boston Public.
There are a number of episodes in which he must face moral dilemmas, such as ‘Bar Association’ and ‘Looking for Par’mach in All the Wrong Places.’ I always saw Quark as much more of a dramatic character than the show’s writers, who always saw him as sort of comic relief. They did give me some dramatic episodes, but there was always a lot of comedy mixed in.
I didn't take anything from the set, at the end of Star Trek Deep Space Nine. I wanted to remember everything the way it was.
Another change that took place with our show had to do with its characters. When we first started out, the flaws everyone had were minor, but as the series continued these imperfections expanded and all of our characters became much more three-dimensional because of it. Quark’s flaw was that he’d become a little too human and moral. Kira was much more of a jingoist; anything that wasn’t good for Bajor wasn’t good for her, either. Sisko struggled between being a captain for the Federation and also respecting his position as the Bajoran emissary. So every now and then he was caught up in a moral dilemma as far as which path he had to follow. All of this, hopefully, is what made the show interesting to watch and the audience tune in week after week.
Rick told me at the end of the audition process for Quark that the part had been written for me but I still had to try out for it. I was thrilled when I heard that they were doing a third Star Trek series, Deep Space Nine, but when I discovered they were also going to have a regular Ferengi character in it I was determined to get the part. I’ve always been a big fan of the show and the idea of my possibly making a bigger contribution to the Trek myth other than my work on The Next Generation really appealed to me.
The worst diva moments I ever had, without a doubt — two shows that are neither Buffy nor Star Trek — I hated the ladies on Charmed.
Because we stayed in one place we really went from being an episodic program to something more like a serial. With an episodic show you can tune in any week having never watched before and know what’s going on as well as understand what’s going on with the characters because it’s all new every week. With Deep Space Nine we had more than 40 recurring characters and ongoing story lines, so our show was closer to being a serial. If you tuned in for the first time and, let’s say, saw the relationship between Worf and Dax you were going to be a little bit ‘lost at sea’ because you weren’t aware of what had come before.
I was the first person read for Quark, and I waited about a month and a half, two months to get feedback. I had always been a big Star Trek fan. I was very honored to have been on Next Generation - even though I wasn’t happy with my performance, I was very honored. When I heard that they were casting a Ferengi for Deep Space Nine, I did everything I could to try and get an audition - and as I said, I was the first person seen. Two months went by and I began to get depressed about the fact that it wasn’t going to go any further … because nobody was giving me any feedback. Nobody was saying, “Yes, we’re interested/No we’re not interested.” The agent said they would call, but there was no feedback.
I really did want it, for all sorts of reasons. I thought I had had a good audition, but the situation would have been better if the agent had called and said, “Armin, they loved your audition, but they’re going a different way.” Which is what you hear often.
At that time I was doing a production of Richard II at the Mark Taper Forum, with Kelsey Grammar. So I was doing a play, and I was thinking about it, but my mind was focused on the play. But I was thinking about it. Also during that time, I think I finished Richard II and started doing a production of Hamlet as well … Then after two months they called me in for callback, and I read. While I was sitting in the room waiting for the audition, I saw another actor who I recognized from TNG, Max Grodenchik. I never met him before. I waited for him after he had finished reading, he was reading for Quark as well. We went out and had a long, 45 minute chat about the audition, about the script and about the roles. When I left, I sort of said to myself, “I guess it must be between me and Max.” Then there was a third audition about a week or ten days after that one. I walked in and there was no Max Grodenchik - however, there was Rene Auberjonois, there was Avery Brooks, and there was Nana Visitor… I think Sid was there, too …
Yes, essentially the cast was there. I didn’t know that, of course, at the time. I looked around, and there weren’t any other short actors there. That gave me pause. I thought, “Well, maybe they’re coming in later.” Of those people, I was the first one to read, and I read all of Quark for the “Emissary” episode for the suits in Paramount. When I was finished, Rick Berman came out and chatted with me for a little while. I told him I was very nervous about it, and he said, “There’s no reason to be nervous, Armin, we wrote this role for you.” Now, I wish they’d told me that at the beginning of the audition process, but as it turned out, everybody that Rick had handpicked for that day’s audition, he got.
Classical literature is primarily about language. The plots are rather stodgy and they’ve been copied over and over again. The language that the great playwrights used to talk about those plots and characters is what fascinates, intrigues and why those particular plays have survived the centuries. In the theatre, we call it language or composition – in Star Trek, they call it techno-babble. It’s the same thing. But the actor, teacher, has to be able to use that language correctly to reach the audience to facilitate understanding through imagination.
I’m somewhat within the nexus of acting and teaching. One of my many hats at Antaeus is that of a teacher of Shakespeare. I’ve been teaching there for quite some time.
To be an actor capable of shouldering those huge topics is essential to communicate with them.
Of course! We store curse words in a different part of our brain than language. Which is why when you hit your thumb with a hammer, that’s what comes out!
The generosity of the entire company has been astounding. We are blessed to have so many passionate people in our midst whose hearts are so devoted to the arts. Having emptied our pockets, we now look to a wider community to help build our new home.
I got involved as an actor back in 2005, I had tried to get into the membership years before. It started in L.A. about 25 years ago by a wonderful Shakespearean scholar by the name of Dakin Matthews. I had just moved to Los Angeles and very much wanted to be a part of the company because of my Shakespearean background. I had a lot of Broadway experience and a great deal of Shakespeare festivals and thought I’d be a good part of the ensemble. But… they rejected me!
Language. Language and the struggle – climbing that impossible hill. The other thing is, in TV and film, in which you can find wonderful work, you have relatively little time to craft a performance. You show up on the set, you make some choices, the other actors make some choices, and in a relatively short matter of time – in TV it’s usually an hour, in film it could be half a day – you come up with a performance, and it gets put on tape, and it lives there forever.
In the theater, you get a month to craft every nuance of your performance, and that’s appealing to actors of all stripes, because you have a more sculpted performance, and you can be proud of all your choices. You can be proud of your choices when you do them quickly too, but this gives you the time to really hone your work, and really be sure of what it is that you’re doing.
And there’s also the immediacy of the relationship between the actors and the audience. You’re immediately given feedback when you do something on stage, which you don’t get on-camera.
Each actor finds within himself the essence of what he thinks the character is and then plays that essence. So the scamp that is Quark is somewhere inside of me and I let that part show. The anal-retentive son-of-a-bitch that is Principal Snyder must be inside me as well and I let that show. And Anteaus, who I found to be a wonderful mercurial fantastical fairy-like character, that must be in there too.
I'm often asked that but, no, I don't have a favourite character. I do have favourite experiences though. It's not so much what happens on camera but rather what's happening off camera. Each character is a part of me so it would be wrong of me to prefer one part of me over another. As far as backstage experiences go, my favourite would be Buffy.
When I was working on Buffy it was a new show that was just becoming quite popular. I was working with young actors who were very excited about the opportunities they were facing and that they knew eventually that they would attain. It was a great delight to watch that take flight. Star Trek is a brilliant franchise and everything works like clockwork and works perfectly, but everyone knows what's going to happen. There's a security in that, but there isn't as much epiphany in that.
At this time in my life, it is enlightening to discover that I much prefer writing to acting. Writing is more creative because you are the principal creator as a writer. As an actor you are always the interpretive vessel.
The gods have made science fiction my favourite genre. But I've always thought of myself as a classical actor so classical theatre would be my favourite genre. One of the reasons I write about John Dee is that he is an Elizabethan and my forte is Elizabethan theatre and history. I actually teach seminars on Elizabethan language. There's something called Elizabethan Rhetoric, which was a primary study at the time.
I am greatly honoured. I campaigned strenuously to become Quark because I'd always been a major Star Trek fan, so nothing was going to stand between me and that role. I am very proud to be one of the icons of Star Trek and by extension of modern television.
The luck of having talent is not enough; one must also have a talent for luck and unwavering focus.
Creativity can only happen if you take risks. But there are no guarentees, only the hope of artistic rewards.
Creative people often want to be outsiders.They want 2 live in chaos 2 maximize the creative tensions between different parts of themselves.
Trying 2 determine what is going on in the world by reading newspapers is like trying 2 tell the time by watching the second hand of a clock
Never loose sight of the fact that just being is FUN! Let us celebrate the enormous miracle that we ARE.
A school principal may not behave in an autocratic manner,but he or she is a prince or princess, etymologically speaking.Same Latin rootword
Got my taxes done.The liberal in me wants to pay more;the Ferrengi in me wants to pay less. At least,there's the satisfaction of finishing.
Nearly had heart attack.Backed all up then rebooted computer 4 test.For 10 minutes,I thought I had lost 44 chapters of my novel. Found them!
Sitting home memorizing lines. The challenge never gets easier. Tedious and painfully slow.
Seems to me that the root cause of our political differences is whether one has faith in government or not. Is that intelligence or nurture?
Everything Bill Shakespeare ever wrote can be reduced down to 140 characters.
Yea verily!
Shot the Ghost of Hamlet's father today. What a glorious experience. How I love doing Shakespeare.
While I was signing photos in Nashville, the world turned a corner on Syria. We should all be grateful for global sanity and cooperation.
To those kind enough to inquire, laptop is going in for a checkup tomorrow at Apple store.Everything copied including the book in progress.
Time weighs heavy today.Nothing on the schedule.Perhaps, I should return to my novel; but my laptop is on the fritz. Maybe its just the heat
The word FASHION was invented by Shakespeare in AYLI. 11 letters and the world has been debating its meaning and relevance for centuries.
A small prayer to all.Whatever weighty problems you may be facing, no matter how dreadful, I wish you the strength and courage to persevere.
On all matters of controversy,the Pope's question must be asked first,"Who am I to judge?" So much anger & misunderstanding could be avoided
Alert the media.I came through my minor surgery w/flying colors.However, my refrigerator is completely empty.Time and travail have their end
Off to hear a Mozart concert at the Mirabelle palace tonight. then on to Wels to meet Max's Lenya and Carina. Cuddles and hiking to follow.
Liz. Saltzburg is just as you said. Brilliant. Kitty and I are gobbsmacked.
Salzburg.Wow! Most beautiful city me and @kittyswink have ever seen. Sat by the river &stared at castle in the distance.Young lovers again!
Packing to travel abroad is always an adventure.What do I need?What have I forgotten?Though surely they must have stores in the UK & Austria
Having lunch today with @RobertPicardo and Ethan Phillips. Star Trek characters never die; they just wallow in ice tea and smoke cigars.
Sliced my index finger while cutting the cheese. Two stitches. Recovering nicely. Luckily not my autographing or directing hand.
Skype'd Max Grodenchik in Austria today,setting up plans 4 our visit in July.Saw him, his wife, his baby-all while I sat in Los Angeles.Wow!
Just come from a High School seminar on the Crucible.Later today I walk the red carpet for small film"Intelligence."Life is real interesting
Finished first week of Crucible rehearsals.2 acts blocked. Inspiring cast. Talk of rebellion in play,but luckily none in the dressing rooms.
Just about finished casting for the Crucible. Start rehearsals in 48 hours. Did you know in Shakespeare's day, hours was pronounced whores?
Just taught a brilliant bunch of people in the ways of Shakespearian Rhetoric at Theatricum Botanicum. Bravo to the nine of them. A real joy
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