Things I Would Like Edith to Ask Michael, Pt 2.

I have some doubt regarding one question. Mmm...I can be mistaken, but have anyone ever asked about what musical instrument he is playing? If he does of course, because i can hardly remember someone mentioned it.

(sent to email too)

Edith,

If you want to include these questions, you’re going to need to give the man room to write the answers or ask him to flip the page over. I’m not sure I can write a non-essay question anymore, but were I to interview Mr. Emerson, instead of those tired interview questions we see repeatedly, I would ask the following questions.

Because I’m curious how he would teach/introduce someone to admire (or at least appreciate the art behind) the things I’ve heard he admires:
1. What moves you about The Complete Works of Shakespeare? Aside from your background in Shakespearian acting, why is this collection your favorite? Which work speaks to you the most and what about the text does that? Other than “Twelfth Night” which I actually saw instead of read, I haven’t enjoyed anything I’ve read by that man. I know I’m committing some cardinal sin against my field, but what am I missing?

(Think I’d get flamed for that question? My colleagues would crucify me. Maybe if I had been raised somewhere other than a cultural wasteland…)


2. You appear to appreciate music, and I’m musically ignorant – what would you recommend I start with? If it helps, in art I can appreciate the beauty of abstracts versus different types of structured works, but in nostalgic sentiment, I lean toward the recognizable. Renaissance is a favorite period. In literature, I crave a good balance of plot versus character, and when I can find that encased in beautiful language, I am at my most satisfied. Does any of that even relate to what I would like in music?

(Don’t laugh. Do you have any idea how hard it is to describe the kind of music one person likes to another musically informed person, but not have the language to even know if you’re referencing the right things? It’s a freakish educational deficiency, and MRE’s book and movie “recommendations” have been dead on for me so far, so why not ask even if the “Jump Around” song gave me a headache. At least the band name was a warning. I have no idea what Captain Beefhart was – a joke or actual music – but I liked the Blue Oyster People.)


3. Apply that same question to ghost stories. I have not read any ghost stories except for the kid’s version of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” which I loved. How (what authors) would you suggest I broaden my reading? What are your favorites… say a top five? Why?
(If he answers either #1 or #3 with any seriousness, he’ll be being a better mentor than the majority of my professors.)


File the next question under “Complete Girly Moment.”
4. No man dresses that well on a consistent basis without training. Interviews, fan photos, whatever Edith links me too, I’m always asking myself what made you make those clothing choices. Who taught you your dress sense? What do you like about wearing vests?
(Too personal? Toss it off the questions if you don’t like it.)



Let’s see… some non-essay questions and something related to his job:
5. Which scene did you most enjoy playing in Ready? OK!? (nope, I can’t do it….I can’t ask the question without the natural follow-up) And why?

6. James told me you had to re-shoot the cheer scene a few times because you were having rhythm problems along with forgetting the cheer. That story is adorable and shows how fond of you James is that he told it with such warmth in his voice. As a somewhat shy person, the idea of cheering in front of anyone sounds near impossible, but you’re trained to do things like that, so what about the scene made it difficult to do?
(So much for non-essay questions. In addition to my students, I’m now terrorizing an actor.)


7. Do you pay attention to the passive or active construction of your characters’ dialogue and relate those syntax choices to how you choose to play a certain scene? What types of dialogue (or other scripted language) help you choose the physical movements you use for a specific character?
(From a writing point of view, that kind of thing would be fascinating to know.)


I have two other questions, but I’m iffy on whether to include them (as if I’m not hedging on all the others already).
8. Every fan who meets you or posts pictures taken with you always talks about how kind you are, but some lately have also mentioned that you seem a little more wary or quick to duck away – nothing overt – and I wonder if maybe the attention sometimes feels overwhelming.

(My problem with this question, one that I worded so gently as to make it more of an implied question, is that I don’t think he should answer it for me. No matter how I pretty up the question, the basis asks him to express his feelings to a total stranger on a career related subject. I worry that’s too much of an invasion of his privacy. One of the things I like about his interviews is that he tends to say positive things about every experience, as much as he can, or he at least makes the bad ones funny. In writing, that’s more difficult to get across, and I would hate to see him mean one thing but just not get the wording quite right. I guess you could include my question and let him to choose to ignore it or not, but am I being terribly rude by asking?)


And the last is a completely selfish question.
9. Did you like my puzzle gift?

(I want to know, but I hate to ask. I feel silly asking. Embarrassed to ask, I guess. And then I’d still have to resist the urge to add “why?”)


I could ask “LOST” questions now, but my sense of humor isn’t for everyone.
Tired Question: What can you tell us about what’s coming up on the show?
MRE’s Answer: Not much. [Pause for laugh/audience tease.] I really can’t. I only know what we’re shooting at the moment. I’m never that much ahead of the viewers. [And then maybe another cryptic tease]

Tired Question: Do you know that you’re creepy?
MRE’s Answer: [gets puzzled look on face] Should “creepy” be my middle name?
(Best answer he’s given to that hideous question. Were I him, at this point, I’d make a mental game out of timing how long before “creepy” erupted out of someone’s mouth. I wonder if anyone on MEFB thinks they could carry on a conversation with MRE and have that word not come to mind at least once, swiftly followed by the urge grouse about the word. I don’t think I could do it.)

Crystal’s Easiest Question: What’s your favorite thing about working on “Lost” (and why)?
MRE’s Answer: [thought but not said: “A steady paycheck.”] The beauty of the islands. (And he’ll ignore the why because if you’ve seen it or even if you haven’t that answer speaks for itself. I suspect he has a poetic soul.)

Tired Question: You used to play another character, a Henry Gale, on the show. What happened [or some half-joking phrase]?
MRE’s Answer: [is getting shorter every time he has to repeat the story]
(I have to wonder if the interviewers have ever viewed any interview he’s been in.)
MEFB Commentary: Ask something new!

Paste whatever questions you feel are acceptable or if you like, send it as is, even with my silly commentary.

Yours,
Crystal

- What matters most in life is not the accomplishments you make, the rules you follow, or the things you collect. How you affect the people in your life is what matters most. When you die, what will you regret?

Yes, he said that in one of the early interviews - cracked me up. I'm sure the interview is on Edith's site, but I can't think of which one. I think he's wearing a red shirt in it and has two people talking to him on some show in NYC.

Oh, I know he's a nice guy. I think the word "creepy" comes to mind for me because of the interviewers. It comes up in every single interview at least once, and I hate it. So I have this horrid feeling that if I met him, I'd want to go off on a rant against the word "creepy" when applied to him, which is just perpetuating the problem by using the word. I, too, think it would be like trying not to think of pink elephants. But no, no, this isn't Greyrider's fault. Don't blame me - my essay questions are enough for me to take the blame for. The fault belongs to all the interviewers who can't leave that word out.

My questions:

Which was your favorite scene to shoot on LOST season 4?

Do you have any odd habits?

Which one of the characters you have played, have reminded yourself most?

Have you ever ridden a horse before the scene on LOST? Your riding looked so professional.

(Edith, please do the spell check if you ask all/some of these questions!)

+ silly question: Do you like bunnies, like Ben does?