Andrew Jackson Q and A

Andrew Jackson (Lipp-Sett) Q&A

Over the holidays we announced our EXCLUSIVE Andrew Jackson Q&A, and asked you to submit some questions for him to answer for the fans.

Well as promised, he received your questions, and has graciously answered them for us!

Thank you all for your submissions, and many thanks also to Mr Jackson for taking the time to reply to them for us!

Andrew Jackson Fans Yahoo Group

sonnydodge: I see that you are currently in three different series - Andromeda, Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye and The Collector. Are the characters that you play similar? What's your favorite role of the three so far?

On the "Sue Thomas: F. B. Eye" series I play the father of a hearing impaired daughter. My character has serious problems communicating & sharing the love that he feels for his little girl. It felt great to be part of a storyline that explores such a powerful human experience. I thoroughly enjoyed working with some members of the hearing impaired community and having an opportunity to learn some sign language.

On "The Collector" series, I play the spirit of a loving guilt ridden husband, who returns from the dead to communicate with his autistic son. To fully grasp the character's dilemma I'd have to divulge more storyline. Stay tuned! The writing on the show is fantastic. Sci-Fi / horror fans will love it. The series will air in Canada starting in June 2004. European & American airing dates have yet to be announced.

A producer on "Andromeda" informed me that the Nietzchean's would possess much more character this fourth season. They would still retain however the inherent arrogance, strength and sense of superiority found in all Nietzchean's. The producer further explained that Shig and Lipp-Sett had spent too much time underground, had done way too many exploratory drugs and had a slight hint of Ziegfried & Roy. When I saw the amazing Shakespearean / Ice Capades style costumes, I knew subtle was not part of the equation. A kind of Bob Barker, interplanetary game show host meets Ziegfried and Shakespearean fop thrown in with a psychotic and a dash of Gary Busey. The result? LIPP-SETT!! What fun!!!

High Guard Federov: do you know if in the 4th season of Andromeda will be any Rommie-Centric episode? or, at least, no more Dylan-centric episodes?

I have no idea. Personally I don't have that sort of inside information as to upcoming episodes.

Gaheris: You play a Nietzschean on Andromeda. What did you do to prepare for this role? Do you think Lipp-Sett is a typical Nietzschean since he seems to be a bit crazy.

Like most television shows, there was very little time to prepare for my role. One relies heavenly on instinct and previous work experiences. Incidentally I auditioned for the role of Shig not Lipp-Sett.

After landing the role & speaking to the producer, I was introduced to my costume. I quickly began tapping into some of the experiences I'd had at the Stratford Shakespearean Festival playing fops. I chose to counter balance the fop-like quality with a dark-edged psychosis. The pinball-like unpredictability kept me bouncing off the walls and hopefully inspired the director, cast & crew. Two crew members were mimicking my high pitched character laugh (....a good sign!).

Colin Cunningham was fantastic to work with. It felt like we'd known each other for years and shared a similar trickster-like insanity.

Kevin Sorbo was great! Very supportive, very open to our nutty creativity. I will never comprehend how anyone can act / star /and produce a series at the same time. He must have the stamina and strength of a true Nietzchean.

rlllong: Do you by any chance know if Lipp-Sett was just a one time/one episode thing? Do you think that you will be returning to the Andromeda set once again as this character (or as another character) sometime in the near future?

So far I've appeared as Lipp-Sett in two episodes: "Double or Nothingness" - ep. #4.4 and "The Torment, The Release" - ep. #4.11. Kevin Sorbo has indicated to both Colin & myself and stated in the press that he'd like to have us back again. The final decision is up to Tribune Entertainment and all the show's producers.

Tobit: How would you compare working on Andromeda to your other work?
Could you tell us more about the films you're currently working on?

Andromeda was more fast paced, much more theatrical than most of my film & television experiences and in some ways evoked far more insane creativity and imagination.

I will be filming approximately two more episodes of "The Collector" series in 2004 that I know about. Unfortunately, I'm not in a position to divulge much information at this point.

I am also developing my own short film called "Moments With Prospero".Having spent four season's at Canada's Stratford Shakespeare Festival and 13 years in front of the camera, I felt it was time for me to explore and marry both worlds in my own independent fifteen minute film.

As I stated in a fund raising package "Moments With Prospero" will take the audience into a spiritual, imagistic, dreamlike world. The magic of light and dark will conjure an ominous reminder of our relationship to nature as it pertains to a deeper understanding of self.

rlllong: Are you a personal fan of the Andromeda TV series? If so, who is your favourite character?

I've watched a few episodes of Andromeda in the past and enjoyed them very much. Actually, I'm a big fan of Sci-Fi.

Tobit: Iraqi Karaoke sounds topical. Does it have political overtones?
How would you characterize the projects you seek out to work on? Do you have a goal as an actor?

"Iraqi Karaoke" focuses on a negative relationship of a lower income couple. My character, Cork, is obsessed with Desert Storm war terminology and his sexual relationship with his wife. He is aroused every time the war news is on TV and indeed requires the TV background to inspire his sexual drive. Cork feels the need to psychologically breakdown his wife and her dreams (i.e. to compete in a Karaoke contest). He's afraid she will leave him and finds pleasure in control and the ultimate conquest. The obvious analogy of the couple's relationship to Iraq and Kuwait is a ever present through out the film.

rlllong: I was wondering if you could tell us about any favorite bloopers, pranks, or practical jokes that you have seen, or been apart of, o through out your career.

During the filming of a scene from "Andromeda" with Kevin Sorbo, our two prospective characters fall into an imaginary pool of enzymes and land on a hard surface. When Dylan (Kevin Sorbo) tried to lift me up, a high pitched, long drawn-out squeak exhaled from my a - - . Fortunately Kevin didn't notice the utterance. Colin Cunningham, who plays Shig, however, was laughing hysterically on the other side of the camera. Weeks later, I went to loop (voice / sound correction) a few lines that had sound problems. The ADR sound guys asked me, "What's that high pitched squeak? Is that what I think it is?" I could not tell a lie. After much laughter the noise was removed from the scene.

Following an audition for "Charmed" in Los Angeles, I pulled out a 3 inch high, fire breathing toy Nun, wound her up & aimed her towards the panel of producers & director. One of the producers exclaimed "She'd be great in the show!" I responded "She looks great in close-ups" and headed out the door with the Nun toy in hand. I booked the job within 15 minutes of leaving the audition room.

I auditioned in Vancouver for "Scooby-Doo 2" for the role of a chicken farmer. The part was small, so I felt it was worth the risk. Following my audition, I demonstrated my ability to be a chicken & pecked my way out of the room. I landed the role. The role of Chicken Farmer was changed to Red-Neck Truck Driver then to Executive Driving Jaguar (now called Road Rage Man). "Scooby-Doo 2" will be released in the theatres world-wide at the end of March, 2004. Asumming the editors of the movie have kept my scenes in, expect to see me as Road Rage Man fighting with the Tar Monster.

tomalak16: Now that you have are getting into the world of cult science fiction television, how do you feel about the way life is portrayed in the varying universes of these different shows? And which of them are you most aware of?

I love science fiction television. When I'm not going to the movies, I watch the Space Channel in Canada / Sci-fi Channel in USA, the Discovery Channel or History Channel. Most of the time I watch Space when in Canada. Much of the writing is intelligent, loaded with imagination & deals in universal human themes on a broad stage.

Recently I met a scientist in Los Angeles who is involved in a project that will develop vehicles that will one day mine the moon. This very intelligent engineer admitted that much of the ideas for present day science & technology has been inspired from Science Fiction and it's creators. These wonderful shows offer some hope for the future.

God Speed!
Andrew Jackson