Moderator: Vincent - can you type???
Vincent-Ventresca: Good Evening.
Moderator: Hi everybody and welcome to our week of Invisible Man chats here at SCI FI. I'm your moderator, Patrizia DiLucchio. Tonight we're very fortunate to be talking with actor Vincent Ventresca who plays small-time-thief-turned-transparent-human Darien Fawkes on SCI FI's The Invisible Man.
Moderator: Before he started having visibility issues, Vincent was seen as Professor Jack Reed on the TV show "Boston Common" and had a recurring role as Fun Bobby on the blockbuster television hit "Friends." SCI FI watchers know him best for his role as Dr. Ed Tate on "Prey."
Moderator:
Moderator: Brief word about the drill - please send your questions for Vincent Ventresca to me, Moderator, as private messages. (To send a private message, either double-click on my name or type "/msg Moderator" on the command line - only without the quotes.)
Moderator: Let the questions begin!
Moderator: <OboeCrazy>: Hi Mr. Ventresca, thanks for chatting with us today! You've been in the vast majority of scenes in IM, what was the hardest scene for you to film and why?
Vincent-Ventresca: The first scene with Arnaud in the pilot
Vincent-Ventresca: Simply because that was the audition for the job.
Vincent-Ventresca: So I had so over rehearsed and so over-prepared that it was really hard to bring any spontanaiety to it.
Vincent-Ventresca: It just felt stiff and boring.
Vincent-Ventresca: Next question please.
Moderator: <GinaS>: What do you have to do differently when filming a scene where an invisibility special effect will be added later?
Vincent-Ventresca: Be Patient.
Vincent-Ventresca: They take up a lot of time.
Vincent-Ventresca: Depending on what the effect is, there is different ways of handling it,
Vincent-Ventresca: Sometimes there is a green screen involved. A lot of times they need to block off the camera so it doesn't move. They will film the room without me in it
Vincent-Ventresca: Then i'll enter the room, and the visual effects guys shoot a plate, somehow they use taht image, an that creates the invisibility effect.
Vincent-Ventresca: bjt
Vincent-Ventresca: Because, we're sort of figuring out as we go in the show.
Vincent-Ventresca: Different effects call for different sorts of things.
Vincent-Ventresca: We had to lasts' night show with a banana, I was actually in that scene I had to wear a completly red suit, and I'll play with the banana.
Vincent-Ventresca: They can take the red color out, and I play with the banana.
Vincent-Ventresca: In the pilot i thought it was a mistake that they used a stunt double, because i didn't like how the guy moved. So I asked if i could actually do the stuff, rather than using a double.
Vincent-Ventresca: It is a little more time consuming, but I think it makes the invisibility a little more honest.
Vincent-Ventresca: Next question Please.
Moderator: <fawkesgirl13> : How much like Darien are you?
Vincent-Ventresca: A lot.
Vincent-Ventresca: Because time is the most valuable thing when you're making a television series.
Vincent-Ventresca: There were a couple of scenes the director an I were working on.
Vincent-Ventresca: I wasn't veryt good in them
Vincent-Ventresca: He said let's take those scenes, and make them a little more like you.
Vincent-Ventresca: That was a good idea.
Vincent-Ventresca: because this is a television series, and you don't have the time to do a lot of character development and research.
Vincent-Ventresca: So Breck's insinct from the start was to make the character as much like me as possible
Vincent-Ventresca: To go back to the original question it is embarrasing how much Darian is like me.
Vincent-Ventresca: Next question please.
Moderator: These 3 questions kinda go together...
Moderator: <NickChick> to <Moderator>: Do you have a favorite epsiode?
Moderator: <Darien-lvr>: What's your most Favorite eppy to do and why?
Moderator: <forevergone04>: Which of the episodes did you have the most fun making?
Moderator:
Moderator: Station identification: We're chatting tonight with Babylon 5's creator, Vincent Ventresca, the star of SCI FI's hot series, "The Invisible Man." This is a moderated chat. Please send your questions for our guest to me, Moderator, as private messages. (To send a private message, either double-click on my name or type "/msg Moderator" on the command line - only without the quotes.)
Moderator: Oh -- and this question too:
Moderator: <OboeCrazy>: Hi Mr. Ventresca, thanks for chatting with us today! You've been in the vast majority of scenes in IM, what was the hardest scene for you to film and why?
Vincent-Ventresca: I think my favorite episode is the "other invisible man"
Vincent-Ventresca: It's because it was written by Craig Silverstine, and directed by Josh Butler, and I think they're really talented guys.
Vincent-Ventresca: And the episode itself was similar to the pilot for me, because it was suprising, emotional, an quirky.
Vincent-Ventresca: The most fun episode to make was the pilot.
Vincent-Ventresca: Simply because that is where I met Paul Ven-Victor, and being in a tv show with him, is like being perpetually at recess.
Vincent-Ventresca: Next question please.
Moderator: Uh -- by the way Vincent is NOT in any way connected to Babylon 5 -- that was a subconscious hiccough on my part...
Moderator: <MalteseHobbes>: On average, how long does it take to film an episode, and how long before it hits the air?
Vincent-Ventresca: It's takes seven days to film the episode.. About 13 hours a day
Vincent-Ventresca: And, it usually airs a month later.
Vincent-Ventresca: But the ones we're shooting right now are going to air in the begining of January.
Vincent-Ventresca: Next question please.
Moderator: <KAT--bboard-lurker>: Hi Mr. Ventresca. Thank you for taking the time to do this, chat with the fans. Do you ever read the SCI FI Bboard?
Vincent-Ventresca: Yea i do.
Vincent-Ventresca: What's so awesome to me about being on the sci-fi channel is you get to see how people are responding to what you're making.
Vincent-Ventresca: And, that's really why you do , you know. As an actor you hope you get involved in a project that people watch an appreciate.
Vincent-Ventresca: There is something especially intimate about people that are into Sci-fi stuff.
Vincent-Ventresca: So occasionally I definately check out to see if people like the show.
Vincent-Ventresca: A lot of actors always talk about how they love theatre and performing in front of a live audience.
Vincent-Ventresca: But an element of that is captured on a television series where the audience can respond, similar to the way they could respond to a play
Vincent-Ventresca: That's what's cool being able to see how people are responding , when you are working hard.
Vincent-Ventresca: Usually it is very encouraging, and makes it worth it.
Vincent-Ventresca: I've done a lot of television shows, and not very many people have watched a lot fo them, and it feels like people do like this show.
Vincent-Ventresca: And, that means a lot to me. =)
Vincent-Ventresca: Next question please.
Moderator: Enquiring minds want to know...
Moderator: <fawkes0811> to <Moderator>: Hi Vince! I love the show, esp some of the very funny scenes between u and paul. how much of htat is ad-libed?
Moderator: <R2>: Mr. Ventresca, "Darien and Bobby" both seem to have geat chemistry on camera, is that also true for you and Paul off camera?
Moderator: <NickChick>: You and Paul Ben-Victor have a very easy rapport -- do you plan how you're going to interact in your scenes together or is it more free form?
Vincent-Ventresca: Maybe 10% is ad libbed. But paul sort of set the tone for that from the first time i met him
Vincent-Ventresca: I had just gotten the job to play the part of Darien Fawkes and the network asked me to come in and audition with the four guys that were up for the part of Bobby.
Vincent-Ventresca: Paul was the last one to go. He walked in the room, I don't think he said one line that was in the script, But he played the scene, in his own words.
Vincent-Ventresca: I just started appologizing to him, cause I was laughing my ass off.
Vincent-Ventresca: He walked out of the room, it was pretty obvious to everyone that he was the guy.
Vincent-Ventresca: But back to the original question, not a lot of it is ad-libbed but some of it is.
Vincent-Ventresca: The chemisty that is on the set, definately exsists off the set.
Vincent-Ventresca: We're pretty good friends, we're very similar.
Vincent-Ventresca: I think he's one of the best actors that I've ever worked with.
Vincent-Ventresca: He is so hardworking on the set that he inspires me to try to make the show as good as it should be.
Vincent-Ventresca: As for the free-form.
Vincent-Ventresca: We have been dealing with that recently.
Vincent-Ventresca: We used to plan a lot of what we were going to do.
Vincent-Ventresca: But then we realized that it was going better in rehearsal, so Paul's new mottos is "no rehearsing"!
Vincent-Ventresca: Next question please.
Moderator: Another two-fer...
Moderator: <InvisibleJo> : To Vincent: All us shippers and potential shippers want to know, is there a relationship on the horizon for Darien and Claire?
Moderator: <Amber117>: what do you think of the relationship between Darien and Claire. Do you want to see a love interest between them?
Vincent-Ventresca: Honestly the first part I don't know. No one tells me anything.
Vincent-Ventresca: I do however think there is a relationship on the horizon with Claire. But it may not be as the kind you would expect, or perhaps not as obvious.
Vincent-Ventresca: That's what i'd like to see happen.
Vincent-Ventresca: I think the show really needs to avoid making obvious choices, so much of what is unique about the show is that it is occasionally suprising.
Vincent-Ventresca: Next question please.
Moderator: And here are the Darien-as-Fashion-Victim questions...
Moderator: <Starlet> to <Moderator>: Do you have any imput into Darien's "unique" wardrobe choices?
Moderator: <Darien-lvr>: Where does darien get his GREAT fashion sense?
Moderator: <InvisibleJo>: What do you think about Darien's mode of f
Moderator:
Moderator: <DrMel>: Ok Vince..I have been going qsm over this for two months...I know that your Nike's are not made anymore..So I was wondering..Could I have them? I have been to a billion stores and on a billion sites to find them..but have been unlucky..I just love them so much. And..Are you planning on doing another "shirtless" scene for your VVSB veiwers in the future?
Moderator: Station identification: We're chatting tonight with Vincent Ventresca, the star of SCI FI's hot series, "The Invisible Man." This is a moderated chat. Please send your questions for our guest to me, Moderator, as private messages. (To send a private message, either double-click on my name or type "/msg Moderator" on the command line - only without the quotes.)
Vincent-Ventresca: The pilot, about half of the stuff is my own clothes. The other half is stuff were just trying to see if it makes sense.
Vincent-Ventresca: It's sort of confusing, because we don't make the show about "fashion" but we do want to have some sort of style. The question that we always ask ourselves, could Darien afford to wear this.
Vincent-Ventresca: Could he afford that jacket, etc.
Vincent-Ventresca: I have a lot of input, the current designer is Ricky, and she's really flexible with my wardrobe, and she gives me a couple of options. I jsut pick and choose what seems to make sense.
Vincent-Ventresca: But a lot of his style and fashion sense is similar to my own (or lack of) =)
Vincent-Ventresca: Next question please.
Moderator: <ME>: How did you first get into acting?
Moderator: <fawkesgirl13>: Who inspired you as an actor?
Vincent-Ventresca: They are similar stories actually
Vincent-Ventresca: I'm from Indiana
Vincent-Ventresca: They were casting a movie, where they needed basketball players, called hoosiers
Vincent-Ventresca: I auditioned for it, not becuase i'm an actor.
Vincent-Ventresca: But because i'm a basketball player.
Vincent-Ventresca: I didn't get the part, but I was so inspired by the movie itself, and paticularly Gene Hackmen
Vincent-Ventresca: I enrolled in an acting class at Indiana University.
Vincent-Ventresca: And, i just sort of got into it.
Vincent-Ventresca: My first acting job ever was on, Fresh Prince of Bel Air
Vincent-Ventresca: And Queen Latifa was the guest star. I had to play some Beverly Hills bratty, punk.
Vincent-Ventresca: And it was jsut so, you know, exciting to be hanging out with Will Smith, and Queen Latifa.
Vincent-Ventresca: They were so real, and not phony, that it seemed like sort of an honorable profession.
Vincent-Ventresca: Next question Please.
Moderator: <jakgirl>: Please, I've been dying to know if the Internet Movie Database.com info is correct: Were you really a double major at IU in drama and psychology?
Vincent-Ventresca: True.
Vincent-Ventresca: Yea, when i decided to become an actor. My dad was a high school teacher.
Vincent-Ventresca: He was cool with me pursuing acting, but he wanted me to get my degree so I could teach if it didn't work out as an actior.
Vincent-Ventresca: So i met with a counselor and he suggested that i do a double major in phsycology and theatre, and when i graduated i would be certified to teach secondary education. (High School)
Vincent-Ventresca: Next question please.
Moderator: <Amber117>: Do you prefer more comedic roles like on "Boston Common" or more serious roles like I-man?
Moderator: <Nebula>: You have acted in a variety of films and series, what do you prefer? Comedy, Drama, or Science Fiction?
Vincent-Ventresca: That's what i love about the invisible man so much..
Vincent-Ventresca: To me this show is all three of those, and I don't honestly have a preferance.
Vincent-Ventresca: I am actually that way in my personal life, I like all kinds of music, I'd rather eat at a cafeteria then go to a place that serves one thing.
Vincent-Ventresca: I'
Vincent-Ventresca: I'm really into variety. That is one of the reasons I was drawn to the invisible man
Vincent-Ventresca: I saw a show that could be a lot of different things, and ultimately that would just not be boring to me. =)
Vincent-Ventresca: Next question please.
Moderator: <SilverChex>: The Prey fans really loved you as Dr. Ed Tate... If SciFi ever made a TV movie to resolve the cliffhanger, would you be interested in appearing as him again?
Moderator: Station identification: We're chatting tonight with Vincent Ventresca, the star of SCI FI's hot series, "The Invisible Man." This is a moderated chat. Please send your questions for our guest to me, Moderator, as private messages. (To send a private message, either double-click on my name or type "/msg Moderator" on the command line - only without the quotes.)
Vincent-Ventresca: Absolutely.
Vincent-Ventresca: That show sort of broke my heart because how it was originally conceived and how it was ultimately executed were signaficantly different
Vincent-Ventresca: An if this "tv movie" would go back to how it was originally conceived it would be very interesting to re-visit.
Vincent-Ventresca: Next question please.
Moderator: <Hei-Mao>: Have you ever thought about directing, or even writing, an episode of Invisible Man?
Moderator: <oomgowah>: Any plans on the horizon to direct any episodes? Are you planning on contributing any story ideas of your own?
Moderator:
Vincent-Ventresca: Well, i'm right at the point where I'm delusional enough to think maybe i could.
Vincent-Ventresca: But, i think i'd wait a couple years before i really tried it. I spent a lot of my life thinking i could do something before i should have.
Vincent-Ventresca: The older i get , the more patience i find.
Vincent-Ventresca: But yea, I think would like to direct, but i'm a terrible writer so that's not going to happen.
Vincent-Ventresca: Next question please.
Moderator: <Openmind>: One of IM's draws is the way both writers and cast are able to laughs at themselves and share the joke with the audience. Do you envision how these scenes might play out as you read a new script and do you talk them over with the cast or director?For example those tridimensional viewers in last nights episode - wonderful!
Vincent-Ventresca: The fun we had in last nights' scene was really found as we were shooting it.
Vincent-Ventresca: You know sometimes you'll rehearse it and a couple of good things will happen, and we'll say oh that's good, an this is good, let's try to keep those and see what happens.
Vincent-Ventresca: We don't want to laugh at our own jokes, it's a really fine line between knowing it's a joke and just letting the situation be, sorta funny.
Vincent-Ventresca: In my expirience, the sort of straighter we play it, the more ridiculous it sort of seems.
Vincent-Ventresca: Sort of rooting itself in the theory that the truth is funnier than something false.
Vincent-Ventresca: Next question please.
Moderator: <quicksilvermad>: hello Mr. Ventresca! How do they do the scenes where you go quickslver mad? How do they get your eyes the red color?
Moderator: <wishfulthinker>: how hard was it to play quicksilver madness, and are you glad they've rather pulled away from that because of the snake tatto?
Moderator:
Vincent-Ventresca: The eyes are done with contacts, and they are really big.
Vincent-Ventresca: They hurt.
Vincent-Ventresca: And it's really easy to act angry when they're in (because i usually am =)
Vincent-Ventresca: It is easy for me to en-act rage, and i think they pulled away from it because they didn't want to wear it out
Vincent-Ventresca: I think it's important that the invisibility has a price.
Vincent-Ventresca: And if you spend it to unwisely then something potentially bad could happen
Vincent-Ventresca: I think , it deals with one of the core issues with the series is good vs. evel
Vincent-Ventresca: And frankly i think we need to explore the negative ramifications of invisibility more.
Vincent-Ventresca: Because to me it just seems a little more honest that Darian would occasinoally abuse his invisibility
Vincent-Ventresca: And to me it would be interesting to see him deal with the ramifications of that.
Vincent-Ventresca: I know if I was invisible i would be tempted to maybe do some stuff that is not exactly good.
Vincent-Ventresca: I think everyone would.
Vincent-Ventresca: I think we need to explore that on the series.
Vincent-Ventresca: Next question please.
Moderator: <forevergone04>: In the Other Invisible Man, Darien sang a rap (which I absolutely love and think is hilarious)...did you contribute to this scene?
Moderator: <kagee05>: When you were rapping did you make up the lyrics or did someone make them up for you?
Moderator: <keeper>: How long did it take you to get the rap, in The Other Invisible Man, right? (took me 6 times!)
Moderator: <Helena> : R2 would like to know what type of ice cream you like....and if you are at ComicCon in July...if she sings the rap backwards...will you sing it forwards with her?
Moderator: Station identification: We're chatting tonight with Vincent Ventresca, the star of SCI FI's hot series, "The Invisible Man." This is a moderated chat. Please send your questions for our guest to me, Moderator, as private messages. (To send a private message, either double-click on my name or type "/msg Moderator" on the command line - only without the quotes.)
Vincent-Ventresca: Craig Silverstine gave Josh Butler a little cassette tape and he told me exactly how to do it.
Vincent-Ventresca: I just learned it like he did it.
Vincent-Ventresca: And that was it.
Vincent-Ventresca: I was at Comic Com in July. It was awesome.
Vincent-Ventresca: there were a bunch of people there that seemed to really dig the show.
Vincent-Ventresca: The show had only been on the air four or five times.
Vincent-Ventresca: As for Ice cream, I like them all.
Vincent-Ventresca: Next question please.
Moderator: <QkSilverCrazy>: What type of music do you listen to? Who is your favorite artist?
Vincent-Ventresca: I feel like such a non-specific person, but i like lots of music.
Vincent-Ventresca: Right now i am listening to this David Grey album that just came out.
Vincent-Ventresca: And i like Ben Harper, and the Beatles.
Vincent-Ventresca: Next question please.
Moderator: <Amber117> : Why does your hair get so much mention in the show? (ie, darien is a former hair model!)
Moderator: <Renoir>: In Paul's interview he was saying that the show should be called The Invisible Man and his Hair...any response? hehehe
Vincent-Ventresca: Well i used to have a lot more hair. Meaning it was longer.
Vincent-Ventresca: But now i am like a chia-pet it just grows.
Vincent-Ventresca: And I don't like getting it cut very much, so it just gets bigger an bigger an bigger, and as it gets bigger i think it is easier for folks to make fun of it.
Vincent-Ventresca: I don't know what to say, i think my hair gets a lot of attention simply because it's size. It's like right now it's paticularly huge
Vincent-Ventresca: I'm waiting for someone from the network to call me an tell me to get a haircut
Vincent-Ventresca: But it's not un-intentional, i personally i like hair, and the bigger the better as far as i'm concerned.
Vincent-Ventresca: Next question please.
Moderator: <GinaS>: How are you handling the rigors of a weekly series along with the responsibility of being a new dad (has the word "sleep" been erased from your vocabulary)?
Vincent-Ventresca: My wife is awesome.
Vincent-Ventresca: I sleep a lot.
Vincent-Ventresca: The schedule is hard., but it's so gratifying for me to go to work. It's the most creative environment i've ever been involved in, in my entire career
Vincent-Ventresca: No matter how late i get home at night, i really can't wait to go to work the next day.
Vincent-Ventresca: I feel so lucky to be involved with this show, and really indebted to Matt Greenburg, and Brooke Eisner, the guys who gave me the job.
Vincent-Ventresca: So in essence, it's really hard, but it's really worth it.
Vincent-Ventresca: Next question please.
Moderator: <kagee05>: What are some of your hobbies whan you get a break?
Moderator: <hansolo0>: What do you like to do in your spare time?
Moderator: <sib24>: Hi ! what do you like to do in your spare time.
Vincent-Ventresca: I havn't had spare time in a while.
Vincent-Ventresca: I havn't had spare time since before i started the series, but before i used to hang out in the garden a lot
Vincent-Ventresca: I also lik eto cook
Vincent-Ventresca: When i was un-employed about a year before i got this job, i was obsessed with the cooking network.
Vincent-Ventresca: In my spare time now, paul and shannon and i hang out, we live pretty close.
Vincent-Ventresca: We do the show in San Diego, which is just a really cool city, and we try to enjoy our time down here.
Vincent-Ventresca: Next question please.
Moderator: <ZombieTongue> : Vincent have you seen HollowMan? And how do you compare the stories?
Vincent-Ventresca: I didn't see hollowman. I can't compare it, it's not like i've boycotted it, i've seen one movie in the past six months.
Vincent-Ventresca: That is because my friend was in it, i had to. So I havn't seen hollowman.
Vincent-Ventresca: Next question please.
Moderator: <LonChaneyreturnsfromthedead>: how do you react to the shows success?
Moderator: <planetsuz> to <Moderator>: Are hyou a little perplexed by the rabid fanbase out there that has latched onto you?
Moderator: <R2> : Mr. Ventresca, do you find all this new found attention being generated in your direction a bit overwhelming at times?
Moderator: <Believer1>: thanx for spending your time here, Mr. Ventresca. I am a big fan from Fun Bobby to Darian. Can you please tell me where I can send fan mail so that you can read it?
Vincent-Ventresca: I am a little suprised that people like the show so much.
Vincent-Ventresca: I thoought they may find it a bit too goofy, or corny
Vincent-Ventresca: That's why i loved the show, it was sort of unabashedly sort of goofy and fun
Vincent-Ventresca: So many people now seem obsessed with reality based shows, an at it's core this is a fantasy based show that is surrounded with reality.
Vincent-Ventresca: I was a little aprehensive that people might not accept it, or find it a bit cliche.
Vincent-Ventresca: We payed attention to the details ensure that wouldn't happen
Vincent-Ventresca: Honestly though you always doubt your own tastes or what you like, (at least i do) I liked this show so much i thought it was different and sort of nostalgic , as well as perplexed and goofy at the same time.
Vincent-Ventresca: I wasn't sure that others would see it that way, and they did, so yea it did suprise me some.
Vincent-Ventresca: I don't know off the top of my head.
Vincent-Ventresca: We work at Stu Segal productions
Vincent-Ventresca: I could try to get that information online for my fans to find.
Vincent-Ventresca: I would love to hear from you.
Vincent-Ventresca: Next question Please
Moderator: And for our final question tonight, trillian is ABSOLUTELY right -- it's a cyberchat tradition:
Moderator: <trillian>: Mr. Ventresca, with all due respect, boxer or briefs? It's a standard question, really it is!
Vincent-Ventresca: Briefs, fruit of the loom
Moderator: Vincent, thank you so much for sharing this hour with us! And thanks to everyone in the audience too - I know you all hate me because only about 50 of your 2000 questions were asked! But Vincent would have to stop filming to answer them all...
Vincent-Ventresca: I would like to thank everyone for showing up, I am quite grateful to everybody taht they care about the show seemingly as much as i do.
Vincent-Ventresca: And hopefully the show will just get better and better...
Vincent-Ventresca: At least I know all of us on the show, and the executive producer and the writers are going to try to make the show better and better.
Moderator: Vincent, thanks again!
Vincent-Ventresca: Thank you again for coming tonight. And Good Night.
Moderator: You're all doing a great job!
Moderator: Thanks again to the wonderful audience! Great questions, and yes - there will be a transcript.
Moderator: We'll go UNmoderated now if you all promise not to pelt me with tomatoes.
Moderator: Remember - there were THOUSANDS of questions. They couldn't all be answered!
Moderator: Also remember to join us tomorrow night when we'll be chatting with Paul Ben-Victor.