James Marsters

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James Marsters - MR 2004 Q&A (June 6, 2004)

NOTE: Text within ( ) denotes James’ action or description of how/what James is saying. Text within [ ] denotes audience action/comments or transcriber’s notes.

Again, please do NOT repost this on other boards for at least a month. I want to be able to go back and fill in unclear words or other edits people may spot and tell me about. Feel free to post a link to this board on other boards though. I’ll also post this at the MR Forums too, since they were kind enough to allow us to do this.

JM: (yelling) HELLO! [much cheering and clapping from audience.] I’m slightly recovering. For those of you who were doing pictures with me earlier, I apologize. So, the way that we do this is just start asking questions. Do we have a mic in the house? We do? So the mic is right there and I do best is just kind of riffing. As opposed to me trying to tell you interesting stories, we can just get together and ask questions.

(Noticing the chair that has been put on stage for him...) Why is there a chair on stage? I don’t sit down. (Moves chair out of way. As he is taking off his jacket, someone says to put his jacket on the chair.) No, jacket goes on the floor. Jacket gets dirty.

Q: [First person asked about the DVD commentaries and whether James would be doing any for Season 5 “Angel”?]

JM: I would love to do commentary, but I haven’t been asked. And it just kind of feels like it’s ...it’s over. (laughs) But I don’t know. Yeah, if they want me to, I’ve got a lot to say. LIKE... DAVID BOREANAZ IS A MAN! David, guys... David is the shit. That guy is a stand-up guy. That guy is willing to work for a living and I didn’t know that. I’m going to miss it.

Q: You were part of what was potentially one of the most brutal moments of “Buffy”, which turned out to be one of the most funny and brilliant, when Spike couldn’t bite Willow. What is your impression and reaction to that moment and is that one of your favorites? Or do you have another favorite?

JM: Uh, that’s one of them because that’s like the one scene I got to play with Alyson. We never acted together except for that. And she’s really good. I’m not really comfortable with those kind of scenes, but that was so comedic that it was somehow... that was a lot different than the other thing they made me do. Uhm... yeah, I’d say that’s one of my favorites. Yeah, that would be one of them.

Q: Any others you’d like to share?

JM: I don’t really remember them. [audience laughs] I really don’t. Seriously. It’s like you memorize lines, you go film it and then you go home and you dump it because you’ve got a whole other day to memorize. So, I really... I’ll watch the DVDs and I’ll go, “We did that?” I hate to say it, but it’s all about "just keep walking".

Q: I just want to say you did a really great job on the “Buffy” video games. My question is, do you have any acting mentors?

JM: Yeah, I grew up watching a guy named Michael Winters, who can pin words in the air like nobody else. And he also didn’t really make it in Hollywood. It wasn’t how talented he was... it doesn’t matter how much you’ve learned on stage if you’re not willing to flush it. Because a lot of what I’m SO proud of doing on stage is not applicable.

Q: ...I gave you a poem and was wondering if you’d read it?

JM: Not yet.

Q: My question for the show is, what was it like filming the love scenes and, you know, I think it was with a sock on?

JM: Yeah. I didn’t use to have a problem with nudity. I could drop my pants at any time, but after having gone through that season, I’m a changed man. It was not fun in any stretch of the imagination. It was really, REALLY hard, because Sarah was always fully clothed. It’s the ultimate nightmare, guys. You show up to work, you’re naked, no one else is, and they laugh at you. [audience laughs] Sarah was MERCILESS. She’s got gloves on. She’s got a scarf....

[Questioner says something that draws laughs from audience.]

JM: It’s humiliating on a very deep level. Seriously. I would go home in tears. (hugs himself protectively)

Q: Well, I can tell you, we weren’t laughing.

JM: (in kind of laughing tone) You make me want to put my shirt on and [can’t make out his final words]

Q: I have two questions. First of all, Ghost of the Robot was so hot last night. [continues praising the band...] What was it like the last day shooting “Angel”, knowing that it was really coming to an end - the whole Joss universe?

JM: Yeah, well... It was just kind of a normal day. I mean, uh (sighs), who are we kidding? They f**kin’ cancelled us. So in the middle of the season, it was weird. In the middle of the season everyone was like, "What the...?! We doubled the ratings! We doubled the ratings and they cancel it." But by the time we got to the end of it, by the time... we were at peace with it by the end of it, you know, and it was like, "Okay, it’s over. It really is over."

See, a set has a quality of the lead. The lead puts their personality in it and that set is David’s. And so, David has — he’s like me, he has a work ethic. He wants to go and to do his work, and he wants to do it right and then go home to his kid. And so, uh, and that boy is beautiful and he’s just another David.

Q: Also, was it scary shaving your head?

JM: (w/o any hesitation) No. [laughs from audience] Well, yes. I like to terrify myself. I like to put myself in positions that I might look stupid. It’s like leaping off a cliff. But also, I shaved my head for a production of "Macbeth" eight years ago, so I kind of knew I had a good skull so I wasn’t risking as much as it looked like I was.

Q: First, I want to congratulate you on what you have done and what you will be. And thank you for following through with your passion of the arts. My question to you is, what experience in theater — since you talk so much about theater and your passion for it — was your greatest lesson learned?

JM: Wow. Greatest lesson that I learned, it’s the same with film, is just to be yourself. That what you guys are paying for is the right to stare at me. [laughs from audience] You’re not paying to see a superhuman or different than you guys. You’re paying for the right to stare. So my job becomes not about trying to be more interesting than I am, because as Brando says, "you can’t be bigger than you are." So, it’s all about just admitting that I’m beautiful and I’m just going to let that out.

Q: I was wondering what you’re personally most passionate about in life? You’re a great actor, but is there anything else that you’re specifically really into?

JM: (very seriously) Little kids in trouble.

Q: I also had one quick question, I’m sorry. When you were filming "Angel" this past season, was it a big character shift do you think from Season 7 of "Buffy"? Do you feel like you played the character much differently?

JM: Well, you know, I was always plugged in, in different ways, season to season. Every season of "Buffy" I was a whole different character. I was the villain. Then I was the wacky neighbor. I was the redeemed man. I was the lover. I was all these different roles. Like, "What role am I playing this year, Joss?" You know? Angel was no different. I went from playing the heartache and longing and the hunger that will never, never be satisfied. And I went from playing that to going over on "Angel" and basically being the comedic foil. But that was REALLY fine. It was like "I’m so tired of barfing my heart out. Just be funny man." Some people... I heard that people were offended that Spike was not used in a deeper way on "Angel", but I’ve got to say, as an actor, I didn’t mind. I had had too much, you know.

[transcriber note: I think he said this next bit to the sign language interpreter] I’m so glad you’re here so everyone knows what’s going on.

[Someone in audience says something. Big laugh from audience. James makes noise like something crashing and and drops the mic. James says, "that’s it." When picks up mic, at first it doesn’t work. James says, "Oh NO! I broke the mic." Big laughs from audience. He yells really loud testing it, "HELLO". Says apologetically handing the mic to sound guy, "I broke the mic."]

JM: I’m really going to have to do it now [speak loudly, project his voice without the mic]. I was faking before. [They did get the mic working again.]

Q: [asks about his musical influences - who they were, where his sound comes from]

JM: Musically, I’ve got punk rock, which is about the power of simplicity. And there’s folk, which is also about the same thing. And there’s Bob Dylan back when (in funny, Dylan-y kind of voice) "you ain’t good enough. Try harder bro" and there’s Joni Mitchell for some weird reason... Joni Mitchell for melody. It’s a weird intersection because I’ve got all these punk rock chords and then I’m hearing jazz in what I’m doing.

Q: [talks about how the band has progressed...]

JM: Thank you. That’s the great thing about being in this band. I’m with musicians who are way better than I am but they like my songs (sounding kind of surprised). I’d never performed... [Questioner interrupts and says something can’t be made out... gets big laugh from James.] That’s why we did it.

Q: If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?

JM: I know you were f**ked up, but you tried. I see it. [audience claps]. I’d like to hear, "I forgive you." [big claps from audience]

Q: Gov. Ronald Reagan. Gov. Schwarzenegger. How about Gov. James Marsters? [loud cheers and clapping from audience]

JM: How about President James Marsters? [Extra loud cheers from audience] I’m thinking about it. After Arnold got elected, I’m like, "WHAT THE F**CK?" Call me Democratic National Committee, call me up, because I would speak, man. It’s just pathetic isn’t it. Yeah, when I get older, I really might run, frankly. I’m so opinionated, oh my God.

Q: When you were in Seattle, did you get involved in the Grunge scene at all? Did you know Kurt Cobain? I know you’ve talked about him before and I just wondered if you had any...

JM: Yeah, they used to play the [???] Club. [transcriber note: it sounded like Alligator club?? Alleghany club?? If a reader knows, PM me so I can fix it.] You’d never know when they would come in; they’d just show up. I’m here to tell you, they were better than anybody else. They were WAY better than anybody else.

Q: Are you going on the [Vulkon Slayer] cruise next year?

JM: No. I’m producing a $50 million dollar movie, I can’t do that. (getting really excited) Yeah, I found someone who’s going to give me money to do "Macbeth". A backer. [LOUD cheers from audience] Now that the money is secure, I’m like, (kidding tone to his voice) let’s go talk to Mel Gibson. Let’s go find out if he’s good enough for me. Let’s go talk to Peter Jackson, see if I might want to hire him. Like, "no, no." [James and audience laughing]

Yeah, my whole world went like (makes exploding noise). It happened like three days ago. [LOUD clapping and cheers from audience]

Q: [References the lollipops at the concert the night before and says she had planned for the whole audience to have lollipops. She hands him a huge bag of lollipops to James.]

JM: Anyone want a lolly? (starts tossing handfuls out to the audience) It’s free. [Slight chaos starts to ensue as people scramble for lollipops. A particular lollipop catches his eye.]

JM: What’s up with the pink...the pink... what flavor is that? I’m going to find out right now? I’ve never seen this before. (unwraps pink lolly) I’ll tell you in a second. (Gives lollipop a good sucking. Some eager young women have rushed to the stage. James hands his lollipop to a woman.) God I love my life. (laughing)

Q: How old were you when you started singing?

JM: I started singing real young. I guess I was about eight and it was Al Green. For some reason, I was this (laughing) eight-year-old INTO Al Green. Al Green and the Partridge Family. (big laugh) That guy can sing, man. He’s got a voice from God, yeah.

Q: He’s the one that inspired you?

JM: Yeah. And I’ll never be a singer like that. (laughs) At some point I decided that you have to either decide... you have say that you’re going to be an actor, and then how in the performing arts are you going to spend your energy.

Q: You’re doing both.

JM: (quietly) Kind of.

Q: My favorite line from Spike is from "Lover’s Walk" where he says he’s "love’s bitch" because I think it just defines his character. Do you have a favorite line of dialogue that you spoke either on "Buffy" or "Angel"?

JM: Yeah, but like I said, I don’t remember any of them. (laughing) I really don’t. It’s like you have to climb a mountain every day. And so if you remember the last day, you’re never going to get up there. So you flush yesterday and you just keep walking. The writing was the best I ever had in my mouth. I’ve worked with Tony-award winning playwrights. I’ve worked with some of the best playwrights in America and I’ve got to say the writing on this show is better than that. [audience claps in agreement]

Q: When I was watching the last episode of "Angel", I thought I’d watch it all sad and depressed because I knew it was the last episode I’d see. But when we got to the part where we were going to see how people spent their last day and we got to see Spike... [roaring cheers from audience drown out the rest of her sentence]. Were you as delighted when you saw that scene, when the script came to you? Were you as delighted with that scene when you saw it in the script? Did it feel so good to you, [James says, "yeah"] and can I persuade you to do that poem for us?

JM: I don’t know it. I don’t remember it. [Questioner proceeds to recite the poem] You’re doing it very well. You don’t need me. (laughing) Yeah, it’s like once again they gave me the gold. It’s the best scene in the whole script and I was, "Thank you again."

Q: A huge topic of fan expression this year has grown around the homoerotic subtext between Spike and Angel...

JM: JOSS, MAN, HE F**KIN’ LOVES TO DO THAT, MAN!

Q: I was wondering how much of it was coincidence and did you guys notice and comment on it?

JM: (laughing) YES, we noticed and we were uncomfortable about it. He was our BOSS. (as Joss giving them direction) "Hold his hand. Hold his hand." I don’t care. Me, I don’t have that much of a problem, but it really bothered David (laughing) and that’s why Joss kept doing it...because it really bothered David.

Q: You are such a joy to all of us and I thank you for bringing us all together and fostering friendships from across the ocean [audience cheers]. My question is: when you decided to become an actor, why did you decide to go into theater exclusively and not do film work? And are you sorry you didn’t get into film work earlier in your career?

JM: It was too easy. I wanted to do acting, I wanted to be on stage because that’s where the danger is. Like I said, I’m drawn to things that are dangerous, that have the potential for showing me to be a fool. And there ain’t no "take two." There ain’t no stuntman. There’s just your ass out on the stage. There’s something SO beautiful about that. But then you get to a point in life when you decide you don’t want to die poor (laughs), so you go to Hollywood.

Q: Are your future plans more toward acting or are you and the band going to be touring any time soon in the United States... Cleveland perhaps?

JM: Uhm. (sigh) I don’t know. I don’t know. I finally got the funding for this film, so I suspect the next three years of my life is going to be absolutely head-up in "Macbeth". And I’m wondering if I’m going to have time for the band. But it’s such a creative outlet that I don’t get as an actor in Hollywood. The actor... this is an actor in Hollywood, "Where’s my take? [some words can’t make out...] only take in the world."

That’s it. There’s nothing else to it. I hunger for being more accountable than that. So, I was drawn to music for the same reason. But right now, the whole Golden Door just opened up and I’d be an idiot not to take advantage of it.

Q: What bands are you listening to now?

JM: Jimmy Eat World is a really good band. Ben Folds Five. Nora Jones, Tom Waits...the list goes on and on and on. All music is good...even Justin Timberlake. [audience laughs] Wait a minute, EXCEPT for Justin Timberlake. [audience laughs again]

Q: Spike was played brilliantly. You brought a lot of humor. It was hysterical. My question is: What the hell is wrong with the executives at the WB? Why was the show cancelled? [roars from audience] From what I understand, I heard that "Angel" was the second highest rated show on the network.

JM: Yep. (sighs) It’s hard for me. I don’t want to complain about people. It’s their ball. I mean, it’s not our football. And they kept passing it to us so often, we started to think it was our football. But it’s their football and they took it back. I can’t worry about that. BUT, they’ve got another vampire show they’re going to put on for you guys. [outcries from audience] They do. It’s a recreation of "Dark Shadows". [boos from audience] I know. The only way to bring "Dark Shadows" back is as a daytime soap. I say that knowing the lead. He’s a really good actor. He’s a really good person. Also, Todd McIntosh, who was the head of the make-up department on "Buffy" is the head of the make-up department on the show. So, there’s people that I love, but at the same time, it ain’t "Angel".

[People in audience shout out informing James that the network decided to pass on "Dark Shadows".]

Reality TV, baby. At the end of the whole day, that’s what it is. It’s so cheap to produce that stuff.

Q: Do you ever think that you’ll go back to having blond hair?

JM: No. [cheers from audience] I shaved the blond hair off 12 hours after they released me. And frankly, I would probably go back to blond hair one more time to do a "Spike" TV movie. [loud cheers from audience]

Q: What were your best and worst subjects back in high school?

JM: I was a pretty good student. My best was English. And, frankly, probably my worst was Chemistry.

Q: Why?

JM: Why? Probably because I don’t do it so well. (laughing) I had this guy, Mr. Stewart. And thank God for Mr. Stewart. He was an actor too, and so he forgave my idiocy (laughing) and he took me under his wing and was like, "I’m going to help you. You’re a really good actor but you don’t know shit about Chemistry." [audience laughs] But I wasn’t good at Chemistry. (laughing, in funny voice) "I don’t know".

Q: My less-than-10-year-old niece who called you "Baaaabbyy" — when she saw you on Ryan Seacrest shaving your head — cried "no" for an hour. My question is: Is there anything that’s ever happened to you or that you’ve ever done that you really wished you hadn’t?

JM: Yeah, said a lot of things into this mic that I wish hadn’t said. (laughs) And I’m not going to say them again. (big laugh)

Q: What’s your favorite new song to perform and is the band doing autographs later?

JM: I think they are doing autographs later and my favorite song is "This Town." [cheers from audience] It’s the first time... finally I’m not writing songs that are not just about "she’s hot but she hurt me". It’s stuff to try to develop that further than that and say something more meaningful than that. And I fell on this one story, about people who are not me but there’s something in there that I believe. So, yeah. I’m pretty proud of it. I don’t know if I’ll ever write a better one than that.

Q: When you come out on stage to sing, do you get nervous? Or, how nervous do you get?

JM: This is the hard thing because when I’m an actor... I’m used to coming out on stage and owning that motherf**ker. Like when I’m out on stage, I fully believe there is not anyone who has been born since Edmund Kean that has more right to be here now more than me. Call it ego, but it’s true. And that gives you a freedom. And I come out as a singer, I don’t feel it. It’s very painful to me because I’m second best and I’m not used to that. And it’s really digging into my soul. I’ve taken two years... two years singing professionally, you know, and I still f**kin’ don’t... I don’t cut it. I don’t cut it. [some "aws" from audience] No, I... don’t feel sorry for me. I’m a lucky man. The only dishonor is in not admitting that. So, you don’t... it’s incredible, INCREDIBLE fear when I’m up at that microphone, oh my God.

Q: I was wondering what are you views on the current political climate? And, if you could change anything, what would you change?

JM: George Bush. [loud cheers from audience] If he was a man... [audience still clapping] if he was a man... he would go to Iraq and he would have them cut his hands off. And he’d bleed out in the desert and say, "If there’s an Iraqi who wants to save my life, you do it, but I’m not going to let anyone but an Iraqi do it." If he did that, MAYBE they could forgive us. But he’s a wimp. The whole problem is... [loud cheers from audience] the whole problem is they’re a bunch of cowards and what they’re doing is...They’re like, "we’re done", you know? Like... meet the security guys around here. They don’t have to prove they’re tough. They know they can kick ass. It’s the wimps, man... And if there was a MAN in the White House, we’d be out of this whole situation. It’d be all cool. But there’s not a man there. Bunch of old boys. [cheers, clapping from audience]

Q: We were wondering how old your son is?

JM: He’s 8. He’s beautiful.

Q: Do you have any upcoming concerts or projects on the East Coast?

JM: Not currently.

Q: And my friend Heather doesn’t have a ticket and she’s up in that window [points up to the windows on the second floor where some people are looking into the ballroom]. She loves you.

JM: (looking up toward windows, waves and yells) Break the window baby, come on down! (laughs) I think that’s enough, don’t you?

Q: I’m so excited to hear you finally got the funding for "Macbeth". I’m assuming they’re a lot of people who have never heard you do your favorite lines...[audience cheers]

JM: (laughs) Do I have to do "Macbeth"? Can I do something else. [Questioner says yeah.] I’m going to do Caliban from "The Tempest". Caliban is a deformed monster and these villains come onto the island. He doesn’t really know they’re villains and it’s a magical island and there’s music and voices going on and it freaks his friends out, so he says to them:

Be not afeard the isle is full of noises, Sounds and sweet airs that give delight and hurt not. Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments Will hum about mine ears; and sometime voices That, if I then had waked after a long sleep, Will make me sleep again and then, in dreaming, the clouds methought would open and show riches ready to drop upon me and when I waked I cried to dream again.

[huge roars and clapping from audience]

Q: You’re not planning any concerts or anything on the East Coast, but would you ever consider playing at some smaller but popular venues, like the Stone Pony at the Jersey Shore?

JM: (in funny voice and laughing) UH, YEAH. I would do it, but I don’t know if the Stone Pony would have us. (laughs)

Q: Well, being from the Jersey Shore, we’d love to have you perform.

JM: That’s like going to the Superbowl.

Q: I need you to settle a dispute I’ve been having with my daughter; we’ve been debating. You’ve said you’re sorry you made Spike soulful before he got a soul, because then it was difficult to elaborate on that. But you have also said that you’re just an actor, you act what the writers give you, what the director tells you, that you’re not so much in control. So, my question to you is, "which is it?" Are you so much in control of the character that you decided to make Spike soulful before he got his soul, or are you the actor just doing what the writers and directors want you to do?

JM: A little of both.

Q: If they didn’t want you to do it, they would have told you to stop, wouldn’t they? They liked what you were doing with the character, they let you run with it, right?

JM: That’s the thing. In film acting, you have no control at all, and at the same time, you have ultimate control. Everything is moving so fast that when you’re close-up comes no one’s giving you any notes, no one is telling you what to do. And if you get the lines out right, they will move on. So, they didn’t have time to tell me not to do that. I got the lines right and they put it in the box and they sent it away. So... in a way, I... a lot of actors will complain about that. If they come from theater, they are astounded. "This director never talked to me all day — not one note. I’m in a vacuum here."

But the thing is, once you become at peace with that, it means you can do anything you want to do, you know. So, it’s a very good question. I was just trying to mean it. I was just trying to really be there and mean it and speak with conviction. And if I’d known what the whole journey was going to be, I might have done it a little differently. But no, we didn’t know where we were going. So, I’m not apologetic about it, but at the same time, if I could do it over again, maybe I would.

Q: A Harry Dresden question... Harry Dresden sees into a person’s soul when he meets their eyes. How would you convey the impact of the "soul gaze"? So this is assuming you’re playing Harry Dresden.

JM: When confronted with horror... that is a complex human being... because I imagine that if you really can seen in someone, you’re reaction is going to be [quick intake of breathe and step back]. It’s going to be a bit frightening. It’s going to be unsettling because we’re all very complex human beings. So, it’s not going to be "Oh, I see you." It’s going, "(quick intake of breath) Shit, I just saw you." Yeah, that’s how I’d do it.

Q: No one has asked you to be Spike for a moment, except for right now. In the church scene when you got your soul, what is your opinion about that moment, so deep, so intense... that was the moment when you revealed you had your soul. What if you had this moment, as Spike, to change a few words and put it in your words rather than the director’s words as to what you had to do at that moment, would you go back deep with it or would you have fun with it?

JM: I wouldn’t do anything different because what it came to was... self-knowledge is about self-loathing. That’s deep. That’s just deep. I’m so proud of that scene. We filmed a different version and it sucked. Joss came in and he’s like, "James, we don’t know what to do with you this season. Your episode sucks, but I’m going to save it. Trust me." And he went and he rewrote it, and he came in and directed it, and he saved my ass. And it’s now known as one of the best scenes, but in fact, it’s saving us because we sucked.

Q: I was just wondering if there was one particular song that you prefer to perform live in front of an audience. Is there one that gets a better reaction from the crowd or that you like personally like?

JM: I personally get a little thrill out of singing "Over Now" because it’s about someone who hurt me (pained but laughing voice) so bad. (laughs) And I’m finally stating, "It’s over. If you came up to me right now and took your shirt off, I’d be like, ’keep that on’." I’m over it. I finally am, but it took a LONG time. But also, I think that the audience responds really well to "Katie", so I enjoy doing that too. And that was about a much better person. (laughs)

Q: When you first went for the role of Spike, did you know immediately that you had the role or did you have to do a couple of auditions? Was somebody else in line?

JM: I went into that aud... okay, I was dating a girl and we were having the hottest sex... I felt like I could do nowrong. For the first time in my life I felt sexy. So I walk into the room and I see all the other Spikes. And I’m like, "I’m going to f**k with your head. I’m going to make you pee in your pants." Right? [audience laughing] I’m walking around, I’m looking all around, "How you doing, man?" And I just walk to the middle of the room and start doing Shakespeare. [audience laughs] And everyone’s like [makes recoiling motion]. And I’m just like, "Hi. Don’t you know how to do that? Oh you don’t, huh? Well, good luck in there bro." [big cheers and laughs from audience] That was MY role. I f**king took it by the throat!

Q: [Talks about her favorite episodes... holds up picture from the scene at the end of "Fool for Love" where Spike has the gun and goes to Buffy’s house planning to shoot her] ... (James says, "Marti Noxon wrote that one.") The way your facial expressions changed, that was just awesome. So I just wanted to say thanks.

JM: Thank you. Yeah, because I entered the scene wanting to kill her. I’m entering with a shotgun, "I’m going to blow your head off." "No, I’m not. I’m going to sit down and talk to you because I love you."

Q: And the way you and Michelle both sighed at the same time...

JM: That was SO Marti. That was total direction. It was, "You’re going to breathe now." She was on the sidelines going, "BREATHE".

Q: Besides Stanislavsky, which I find at times a bit consuming, who else is a good foundation for an actress?

JM: In film or stage?

Q: I enjoy film, but stage is... I find it very hard to break away from film. I find it very hard to keep that moment in the whole time that they ask you to do it. Sometimes I struggle and it gets really crazy. So, I’m trying to find other things in other people that would be easier.

JM: For film, it’s Brando and Brando and Dean. We are all just retracing the steps that they do. And we are... We do not understand what film needs and the clearest thing that tells me that is that we still make fun of Brando. This is what we say about Brando...this is Brando...(slipping into a Brando imitation and voice) "You don’t mind if I put my lines on your forehead do you?" (back in normal voice) But it works!

Q: Brando was the one who started acting differently from everyone.

JM: Look at everything that Marlon did, and does, and look at it again. Kazan, as far as directors who understand the difference between film and stage and what the camera is asking for. What the camera is asking for is not an intellectual recreation of the moment, which is what you have to do for stage, the camera is asking for a real moment, really happening for the first time. So your job becomes to be very well prepared to surprise yourself. And improv.

Q: So you prepare yourself enough that when you go out there, you’re ready to do anything that comes into your mind or whatever the director asks.

JM: You just roll with it. Yeah. And if the instinct comes up as, "oh, I’ll do that" If they don’t like it, they’ll say "cut" and they’ll try again.

Q: I loved your concert last night. And I loved your kiss and it was the highlight of my life. I’ll probably never get over it.

JM: I remember you too as a matter of fact. (laughing)

Q: So do you always kiss people during your performances?

JM: No, I never have before last weekend. I’ve never did that once. (laughing) It was a weird thing. (laughs) It was like a threshold, kissing people... "Stop that.." I think, "Did I really do that last night?" (laughing)

Q: I hope so because I remember it.

JM: Thank you for putting up with me. (big laugh)

Q: ... Is there anything on "Buffy" or "Angel" that you didn’t get to do, that you really wanted and didn’t get to do? Or do you think every single facet of your character was explored?

JM: The plate was so full that by the end of it, I was kind of like, "Enough. F**k it. I can’t keep chug-a-lugging gold." (laughs) I got to light myself on fire, you know. I got to do everything. I’m just kind of glad I survived it. (big laugh)

Q: Well, I think you did an excellent job with everything you did on the shows.

JM: Thank you. It was not easy.

Q: At the end of "Angel", how do think Spike did in the battle and what do you think he did after?

JM: I think he died. [disappointed "ohs" from audience] I think they all died. They were willing to die, and that’s what beautiful. [audience clapping] But, there’s a TV movie, (laughs) so obviously he didn’t die. [cheers from audience]

Q: I wondered how you reacted when the director said you’d get your butt kicked by Angel The Wee Little Puppet Man?

JM: So cool! Again, you read a script and you’re watching your castmates do all the hard work, and you’re off. You’ve got another day off and another day off and another day off. And then you come to your scene — it’s the best scene in the script and you don’t have to work — they’re all... They’re humping the heavy labor and you just show up on Wednesday and you do your thing and you steal the show again. (laughs) It’s too beautiful, man. Yeah, it was really fun because it was a very low-tech doll. They just wired him onto me with some coat-hangers and then it’s just the actor going (makes funny fight noise). You didn’t have to worry about any strings or any special effects. I could be in control of the gag. That was fun. And it took five minutes to film.

Q: [asks about "House on Haunted Hill" and whether he did it while he was doing "Buffy"]

JM: I did that film because I just wanted to meet that actor [Geoffrey Rush]. Because ever since "Shine", I just thought he was one of the best actors that I knew about and I just wanted to go hang with him. He’s a cool guy. It was worth it.

Q: In the Dresden audio books, the character of Marcone, what the heck is that accent for him? The mob guy?

JM: What do I do? What do I say?

Q: There was a fan panel yesterday and we were trying to figure out what that accent was.

JM: I don’t remember. What’d I do? (laughs)

Q: I swear it almost had a British accent to it but as a mobster. [some in audience yell out, "uppercrust"]

JM: (slipping into a very proper, controlled accent) This is someone who had a lot of money, probably spoke very well and is very dangerous. But he spoke very well, yeah. Because he uses weapons... he uses words like weapons. (in deep voice) "Hello. I hope you’re relaxed."

Q: Do you play any other instruments besides guitar?

JM: I barely play guitar. (big laugh)

Q: When you were rehearsing for the concert last night, we were watching you play with drum sticks.

JM: No, I’m not going to pretend I can do drums. Charlie can do drums. Steve can do drums. Kevin can do drums. Kevin did the drums on one of the cuts on the new album (laughs). Like I didn’t know this. "Kevin is doing drums? We have a drummer?" (laughs) They can round-robin like that; I can’t. I really can’t.

Q: What’s the possibility of you playing Harry Dresden?

JM: It’s possible, actually. Nick Cage is producing it. I’m aware that physically I don’t... If you were to describe the character and then try to find actors who fit that character, I would not be called. However, I think I can do the film noir style very well. I think I can be tired, hungover and grumpy really well. No, I don’t as of yet have an audition, but it’s not to that point yet in the development of the project. So, I am in their minds and I’ve gotten on the list and everything, but we’ll see.

Q: I just wanted to say for myself and probably everyone else here and around the world, thank you for bringing the energy that you did to "Angel" when tragically it ended up being the last season. It was really, really wonderful. I can’t imagine "Angel" without you now. I really can’t. [huge cheers from audience] Do me a favor, please say, "You’re a wee little puppet man."

JM: (enthusiastically and kind of in Spike’s accent) You’re a wee little puppet man!

Q: Actually James, just to let you know, to get the autographs, this is going to be our last question.

JM: (to final person at mic) Make it good. No pressure.

Q: First, I just wanted to say I know you get millions of comments on your looks. I want to say I think you’re an incredibly beautiful person inside as well.

JM: Thank you (motioning to his face, body) because this all is bullshit. That’s the sweetest thing I’ve heard all day. Thank you. I’m feeling pretty good about myself. (laughs)