First post about Gale

[kylemorrison]

I just want to share this. It's Gale Harold's Showtime Chat with fans January 2001. I've never seen it before and by the time I've finished, I couldn't decide if I should be in awe or be horrified.

(Jan 2001) '[Transcript from Showtime Livechat with Gale Harold]'
courtesy of xof; [from Talkcity Chat January 28st, 2001]

Showtime: Thanks for signing on for our chat with Gale Harold. Gale plays the
bold and
unapologetic Brian Kinney on "Queer as Folk." Gale's road to Hollywood has
landed him
on the stage, in film, and finally on Showtime starring in QAF. Ask Gale about
his life
before and during QAF. Welcome Gale! Let's get started!

Gale Harold: Hello! I hope you had a good time watching the Super Bowl.

Jacquie: Hi Gale. Have you received a lot of positive mail from viewers?
Gale Harold: I haven't received any paper mail, and well, no.

Soul eyes: What is the significance of the shell bracelet? The one Brian wears
when he
goes "out."
Gale Harold: When I was 17, I seduced and romantically exploited Jacques
Cousteau, and
the whole crew on the ship "The Odyssey".

Chris m17: Hey Brian, how did you become part of the cast on "Queer as Folk"?
Gale Harold: Well, I guess if I'm answering as Brian then I wouldn't know,
because then
I'd just be this guy living in Pittsburgh. Gale says, I auditioned, and then was
cast
through a regular audition process. And I really, really hated it.

Brendan: Hi Gale. How would you describe each of the guys on the set? I'm sure
Hal
Sparks is the clown; what about everyone else including yourself?
Gale Harold: Well, I mean, there is a lot of clowning, I think. But there is a
lot of very
serious acting going on too, it gets very heavy. (laughing to self) We just sort
of show up
and beat the sh*t out of each other for four or five hours, and we like it.

Scott H: What do you like the most about playing Brian?
Gale Harold: One of the great things about playing him is that, because of the
way he
has been created, and the way that he's written, I'm free to sort of just be
very simple.
And simply be what's on the page. And that's very freeing, you know, because
then it's
just about trying to feel what he would feel without having to manufacture too
many
reasons for every moment. He's just so clear and direct. And that can also be a
little
frustrating, because sometimes I feel like my main objective is to just return
volleys from
other characters, kind of like a racquetball court, or something. That's one of
the things
that's really kind of, you know. And it's fun, it's really invigorating to be
such a wise ass.

Maldonado: Where does it all takes place? Do you do all your shooting in
Pittsburgh, or
do they take place somewhere else? Where would I go to see you act and/or meet
the
cast?
Gale Harold: It's all taking place on a sound stage at the White House. And
that's one of
the few things that George W. is going to allow us to keep from the previous
administration. Because he's a real pal!

Scott H: I think you are totally great in your role as Brian. I hope that the
series goes well
past its 22-episode run, as it touches a lot of people's lives. My question is,
are you and
the rest of the cast willing to stay on if it becomes a regular series?
Gale Harold: Yeah. The answer is that all of us, when you take the audition
process to a
certain point, you know that you're attempting to be cast in a project that
could
potentially have, with success, could have a lifespan of years, maybe. And you
know that
when you are going through the process, and that's part of the decision to even
go to a
certain part. We all of us love the project, and we were hoping to be cast, and
hoping our
involvement in the show would contribute to a successful audience response, and
be the
cause of subsequent seasons, and then the clowns came rushing in, and put a gun
to my
head.

Soul eyes: How difficult is it for you to keep a straight face during some of
the more
intimate scenes/dialogue? Has anyone completely lost it and halted shooting for
more
than a few seconds?
Gale Harold: Yeah! Well, I think cracking up, when you are shooting an intimate
scene (if
what is being implied here is a sex scene; Brian doesn't really have any love
scenes yet) if
you break up, I try not to do that because it might be conceived as insulting to
the
person I am working with. But other than that, we are cracking up all the time.
But you
are looking at someone with longing, and then realize, they have some crap in
their eye,
or you hear a strange sound, and look away. It's like life.

Hello Kitty: You are the best actor of all time! You are great! Which episode
has been
your favorite so far?
Gale Harold: If I answer the question, does that mean I'm agreeing with you?
(smiling)
The episode that's my favorite hasn't been shown yet, so I can't give it away.

Boomer: Did you read the reviews and letters in today's New York Times, and if
so what
is your comment about the criticism of your show being too shallow and
stereotypical?
Gale Harold: I haven't read the reviews and letters. But, my sort of meaningless
response
would be "stereotypical of what?" Anything could be stereotypical, so I guess it
could be
criticism. Criticism is a surreal state, like a good drug gone bad. When it's
bad you wish
it would stop, and when it's good, you can't get enough. Did they say it's
shallow as a
wading pool, or shallow as an open grave? And I guess the kicker of the whole
thing is, I
can't read. But I'm working on it.

Calysta: Do you find this role artistically satisfying?
Gale Harold: It's satisfying, yeah. There's a lot of things about it that are
kind of
interesting from varying perspectives, one of the things being that it's
television, and it's
kind of not the medium I expected to find myself working in. And with the
success of
things like "Oz" and "Sopranos" and now this thing coming out, this "Six Feet
Under"
thing, it's great to be involved in this cable format, even though it is a pay
television
format. It's really exciting to be involved in it, working in the medium of
television, but
doing something that doesn't make me cringe, because that, to me, is what is
shallow.
So, whatever the final impact of this show is, and how it is received, and
whether people
feel that it's meaningful and/or stereotypical, shallow, or whatever else, at
least what I
am feeling every morning when I wake up and go to work, and am presented with
the
scripts and the actors and the storylines, they are all good, it's all quality.
And I realize
that because of the nature of the characters and the nature of the subject
matter a lot of
people are going to have strong opinions, and that's satisfying, to be working
on
something that is provoking dialogue and response. I get the sense that people
are really
motivated to say something because they are feeling something. It's not just
bland sort
of rehashing what we were wearing, or whatever.

Adam: Hi Gale, saw you in the Aztec commercial. Have you done any other
commercials?
Gale Harold: Oh, that wasn't me. A lot of people get us confused. That was my
brother.

Michelle: Hi Gale, I think you're an amazing actor! Do you plan on making more
movies
in the future?
Gale Harold: I plan on it. And I hope other people plan on it as well, because
our plans
must coexist in a state of symbiotic fatality.

Luca: Gale, is it your choice not to do TV or print interviews right now? I've
been
searching for interviews and/or articles on you.
Gale Harold: Yeah, well, I'm saving it up because I'm doing a live appearance at
the White
House with George Bush Sr. and I didn't want to let the air out of it. I wanted
it to hit
really hard. We are going to be arm wrestling.

Dune buddy: If you hadn't been successful obtaining this role, where would you
be now?
Gale Harold: I'd be in a crawl space under a house in Glendale, trying to fix a
floor joist
on the house that would probably be really screwed up. I don't know! I'm happy I
got the
job, I feel extremely lucky, I know they auditioned a lot of people for all the
roles. I
would probably be doing theater work with the company I worked with in Los
Angeles,
and going on auditions. And watching "Queer As Folk" and being really depressed
that I
wasn't on the show.

Baby Jade: You have such a beautiful intensity of spirit on screen--such a
pleasure to
watch. What motivates you as an artist?
Gale Harold: Wow, that was really nice! Music, I use music a lot to kind of
inspire myself.
I listen to a lot of different kinds of stuff. Lately I've been getting into
this William Orbit
record, from '99. It's called "Pieces in a Modern Style." I think it came out in
'99; it's been
out for a while. I use music, and that's one thing I've been listening to a lot
lately. And I
think this situation is really good, because sort of the relationships of people
in the cast,
and a lot of the crew, and the writers, there is a lot of good, positive sort of
energetic
interplay going on. And a lot of times, I get my own motivations for myself off
the set,
and then I get a lot of motivation from the people I'm working with. And I think
that's
kind of unique, and a fortunate situation for everyone.

Mary Miracle: If you won an Emmy, who would you thank?
Gale Harold: Well, I'd thank Emmy, right? And I'd thank George Bush, of course.
I don't
think it would ever happen. Or maybe I should just say "The President," hee hee.

Tina: Have you done modeling?
Gale Harold: No.

Marni: It's obvious you are very talented, as I find myself reacting to the
television. Where
did you train? Did you go to school, and where?
Gale Harold: No, I never went to school. I wasn't allowed to. I had to stay home
and work
on the farm. I mean, the pharmacy.

Adam: Are there any projects you currently working on?
Gale Harold: No. Sadly, no. Only "Queer As Folk" which is keeping me very busy.
Although I am not giving up hope.

Dick Greenleaf: Congratulations on handling this challenging role so well. Hal
has said in
interviews that he found preparing to kiss another man much like preparing to
kiss a
dog. How did you approach this part of your job?
Gale Harold: Well, I've been making out with dogs since I was three years old,
so I really
couldn't use that, it didn't bring me any sort of inspiration. In fact, I get
bored when I
think of dogs these days. I just approach it by, having my connection to my
character. As
an actor, I have what I try and maintain connections to his feelings, and his
emotions,
and his desires. And, Brian is very highly sexual and passionate in his own way,
and that
is what I am trying to feel, within myself. I try. My goal is to be real,
whether I am having
a conversation with someone, or just reacting to someone, a lot of the time,
standing off
to the side, giving a dirty look. It doesn't matter, it's part of the
character's life, and that's
my job; that's the exhilarating part of being an actor. To travel in someone
else's mind
and body, so I just try and feel it, and that's how I prepare.

Stormy day: For Gale Harold, how long does it take to film a show from beginning
to
end?
Gale Harold: We shoot an episode in seven days. So, that's typically the
schedule.
Sometimes we have technical problems, or there are other reasons, but normally,
seven
days. And seven days is not a long time to get done as much as we do. We have an
amazingly hardworking crew that helps us survive here in the White House, where
we
live. And pray.

Gary: How is the community in Canada, as far as the taping of the show? Have you
had
any problems?
Gale Harold: No. No, it's been great. The people here are very, very cool. I had
never
even been to Canada before I got this job. Toronto is a great city. It's great
to be off on
location, I mean, I know it's not the same for everyone on the cast. But just in
terms of
being away from home, it's harder on some than it is on me to be away from home,
but
for me, I enjoy being on extended location, and I really like it here, even
though it's F-
ing cold, it's great!

New out: What do you consider Brian's primary motivation?
Gale Harold: To be the best Christian he can be. And to set a good example for
all the
impressionable young gangsters that might take his message the wrong way.

CC Dave: Does this role let you express emotions that you would normally not get
to
express in everyday life?
Gale Harold: I think it allows me to express personality traits that I wouldn't
be allowed
to express in every day life. Maybe not allowed. It's the self-censoring
apparatus of
human consciousness, social correctness, political correctness, whatever, that
Brian just
doesn't give a sh*t about. That's one of the wonderful things about his
character, that
makes him fun and engaging for me to play, is the way he was created, even based
on
Stuart, the original character. I think the seeds were there, and I know Dan and
Ron, the
writers for the American version, their vision for Brian is that one of the
primary facets of
his character is that he has this utter disregard for social perceptions. And in
the interest
of honesty, no matter what he does that people may or may not consider
appropriate,
he's honest, according to his own iron clad version of the truth. And within
that
ideology, he just doesn't take any bullsh*t, and I'm not the kind of person that
will. Even
if I'm sensitive enough to know it about someone else, I'm not the kind of
person to call
it as I see it without holding back, the way he does. That's the kind of thing
that I get to
do as Brian that's encouraged, and even, they give me food when I do it, because
they
want me to do it again. But as far as emotions, I think Brian has got all the
emotional
problems of any highly self-conscious drug-addled disco freak.

Cicote: Brian is a complex character. Did you or do you know "where he is" as a
person
before filming, were you told, or did you find the character yourself?
Gale Harold: I had a few conversations with the writers about that, but very
minimal, in
terms of the time or the depth. And to be honest, the way that things worked,
from the
time that I got the job, I was told that I had the job, which is on a Thursday
around
noon, I was in Toronto shooting on the following Tuesday. So in terms of
preparation, it
was whatever I could figure out, between packing, traveling, wardrobe fittings,
etc. I have
ideas now. It's strange, because trying to go back in time to those early
episodes in
terms of where I was as an actor and where Brian was by watching those episodes
and
now, trying to go back and piece in the bits of his life that I didn't have a
chance to
comprehend at the beginning of this project, it's really surreal. It's like
recovering from
amnesia, kind of, and trying to use the scripts, and what we have already shot
as clues to
build it, because I feel like I kind of "woke up," and was running through a
hospital, or
having sex with Justin, and then the pieces of Brian's life that you don't see
on the show
are still sort of arranging themselves.

Stormy day: For Gale Harold, did you know any of your co-actors before getting
together
to do QAF?
Gale Harold: No, I didn't. Of course, I knew who Sharon was. And I had seen Hal.
It all
kind of started to come to me after we read together. After we read together, it
was like
another kind of amnesia thing. I had seen him on "Talk Soup," I just couldn't
remember
where or when.

Gary: Do you feel like this will limit what kind of roles you'll get after this,
with the show
being such a hit and this being your "big break"?
Gale Harold: Gary, well, the answer to that question is kind of two parts. If I
am limited
because of what people think of my performance, then that's a factor in anything
you do.
Anytime you step on stage or in front of the camera, there is the chance someone
will
draw conclusions about your performance that won't propel you to future roles.
But I
think you are getting to typecasting, and anyone who would typecast me based on
this
project, for something to make a decision not to use me in another role as an
actor, if
they were coming at it from that perspective, I wouldn't want to work with him
anyway. I
mean, it's 2001, right? We are well beyond that mindset. And I don't sit around
wringing
my hands hoping to get a job with some sort of commercial, corporate agenda that
wouldn't allow someone to stretch.

Stormy day: Is the nightclub in the show filmed in a real club or is it a very
large sound
stage?
Gale Harold: It's a real club. It's all true. All of the sweat is human sweat.
And people are
really dancing. They are not being manipulated by computers after the fact.
There was
one scene that we did shoot in a loading dock, and maybe that can be some sort
of
trivia, people can figure it out, Hal was in the scene, I was in the scene, and
you see
George W. Bush in the background, it will be a dead giveaway. He drops by the
set a lot,
just for a little sport. George Bush making out with Alfred E. Newman in Episode
21.

Flaming June 55: Can you share any spoilers for your biggest fans?!
Gale Harold: Spoilers! Hmmm. Let's see. I heard rumors that Brian is going to
get a new
car, and if anyone out there has any suggestions, feel free. But if it's not a
late '60s or
early '70s American muscle car, I probably won't listen to what you are saying.

Darius 3: Gale, do you think your show will help young gay people come to terms
with
their sexuality?
Gale Harold: Let me relay something that crossed my mind while filming the
pilot. It was
during, on the day that Randy and I were shooting one of our sex scenes, and at
the
time, I realized that things had been so hectic, and relocating, and getting
ready to be
on the show, and trying to be prepared and everything, there were so many
thoughts
running through my head, and I remember on that day thinking to myself, I did
have an
intuition about what was going to happen when young homosexuals saw themselves,
in
essence, on screen. With the character Justin. And because I am no stranger to
ridicule,
and I think, on some level, many people have experienced...

Okay, let me start again. What I am trying to say is, it's a hard question to
answer. I don't
want it to come across that I'm taking credit, or we're taking credit, for
something that is
a serious issue, and I'm really happy that it may be happening that people are
identifying
with the character, in the sense that they are seeing aspects of their lives
represented. It
is scary for Justin, and I refer to him specifically because I think he's the
focus of the
answer of this question. It's really inspiring to me to feel like I'm a part of
something that
is giving people a chance to see themselves. It's scary for Justin, but he's
having a blast,
and let's be honest, Brian is a great person to hang out with, at least at
first, then he
can be a nightmare. It's like the British show, it's amazing, this show has been
able to
truthfully and honestly depict the lives of people who, because of so many f*d
up social
misconceptions have been kind of saddled with this stigma, that's still f*d up,
and I think
if that's one of the results of the show, that people can throw that off, and
say now you
have seen what my life is like, and I love my life. Life is hard, but I am
having a good
time too. Hopefully, it will in the end really sort of ratify people's lives. If
there are young
gay men seeing the show, and I'm not so bold to say that this show covers that
whole
question, or represents the entire spectrum, or is realistic, but if some 17
year old in
America can watch the show and say, "Yeah, right on", then great. Another reason
I feel
really lucky to be a part of this.

Michelle: Hi Gale! Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?
Gale Harold: In a body cast. Driving a Cadillac. Listening to "Popcorn" by James
Brown.
And smoking with George W. Bush.

Gale Harold: Happy Sunday night! Thank you for sharing your precious time with
the
people who are manipulating you into thinking you are actually talking with me!
No, I'm
just joking. Thank you all for coming, I hoped you liked the chicken, I know it
was a little
dry, but the microwave was broken.

I got this from http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/GaleHaroldTheNextGeneration Everything you need to know about Gale as an actor is there.