Hi guys! I don't have a computer, only a phone, so this took a while to draft up. Thanks for waiting.
Hey are you still with Sizheng? She hasn't been here in ages
Sadly, Sizheng and I parted ways in late 2012, amicably. We went on to produce an album together, but we've drifted apart over the last year and a half.
What got you into drama/acting?
No idea... apparently I've always known. My sister and I played with dolls a lot, and we put on plays and recreations of the latest Disney movie for our neighbours.
Living: Judi Dench, Meryl Streep,
Dead: Cary Grant,
Top 3 roles you would like to play?
Hamlet, Roger (Rent), Jaime (Last 5 Years)
You seem to be good at all things artistic/creative, does that run in your family?
Thank you
my family is very artistic. My mom and dad met while doing a production of "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" (as Lucy and Snoopy, respectively) and my dad was an oldies DJ. My mom stopped acting before I was born and she's now very religious, which... requires creativity. On my father's side, my uncle is an actor, my aunt is a singer and she does Classic Rock Albums Live (I heard her do great gig in the sky it was amazing) and my other aunt is a fairy artist (her shit is amazing google image search Melissa Duncan fgj). My sister is a burlesque performer too. We're all poor vagabonds but it was surprising to no one that I pursued the arts.
Where does the name 'Mr Ite' originate from?
In 1998, when I was 12, I figured out that when you end a word with an R it kind of bleeds, especially if the next word begins with an R. "Mr. Right" was the example I played with in my brain probably because I heard it in some trailer for some shitty romantic comedy and then I heard about hotmail and was really excited about the pun, and I wanted people to know I was a nice guy (which is what I thought Mr. Right meant) and so there you have it, and I find it endlessly hilarious that a) the joke has never landed, b) I abhor romantic idolatry but am forever bound to a term that is emblematic of it, and c) no one pronounces it correctly.
Oblivion and Skyrim are pretty spectacular. I suppose you mean video game, otherwise, D&D and chess.
Favourite non-FF world to live in?
Earth (/cop-out) probably Tamriel in 3E, but I tend to binge-nerd so that may change in the future. Srsly though most worlds pale in comparison to FF9's holy cow is that my jam.
Early to bed, or late sleeper?
Late sleeper definitely. I stay up until 3am on average working on my D&D campaign or writing. All my good ideas come around 1am.
You're convicted of a crime you didn't commit and sentenced to death, what are your last words, last person you ask to see, and last meal?
The last person I would ask to see would be the victim of the crime (or the next of kin). If I'm going to pay the ultimate price for someone else's peace, I should like us to both be present. I feel like a moment like that would be undignified by words, but the Tomorrow speech from Macbeth would probably be running through my head.
Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow creeps in this petty pace from day, to day, to the last syllable of recorded time, and all our yesterdays have lighted fools the way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle. Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound, and fury, signifying nothing.
My last meal would be my granddad's macaroni and cheese.
I always mentally pronounce your name "Mister Ee-tay". Is that wrong?
Ahh whatever. Do you.
Are you happy with the progress of your career thus far?
Quite. I realize I'm too old now to play the young lover (Romeo, Troilus, etc) which seems like a shame but cooler roles are starting to open up so I'm glad.
Jeremy Fisher: good or what?
I've only heard the song "Love is a Scar that Never Heals" and I love it.
Does it really rain in Vancouver all the time?
No that's ridiculous! Only from October to June.
Somebody told me I should move to Vancouver because I'd fit right in. What did they mean?
Probably that you are a liberal, nature-loving tech-nerd that doesn't like cold winters and doesn't mind going weeks without seeing the sun.
Why did you leave Toronto? (I don't like Toronto either).
I booked two gigs in Van, one in September, one in April. In the six month break I'm at the Gallery, playing Skyrim, and growing a beard. I actually love Toronto, and am considering going back when my contract is up.
Where is your favourite place in the world and why?
The Cabaret Voltaire in Zurich. So basically during WWI artists from all sides fled to Switzerland cause the Swiss don't partake in wars and they are just impossible to conquer. These artists (including Hugo Ball and Marcel Duchamp) rented a studio and jammed in it. That is, I suppose, the whole story, but what they did in that studio is known nowadays as the Dada movement in art, and it's totally fucking nuts and awesome, and most importantly it transcended the language and cultural barriers that kept all these would-not-be-soldiers from understanding one another. It is the true anti-war memorial, to me. And it's still active! People still jam out there, you can go if you can fit through the door. It's great.
Have you ever had a system crash / file corruption / accidental closure of program while playing a game, which you haven't saved in a while? If so, what is your worst experience that you can recall?
I lost my FFVII save file so many times I promised myself that if I ever finished I would get a tattoo. I switched to PC because I thought I might have a better chance, got all the way to Mideel, and an *earthquake* created a power surge that wiped my whole computer. I was upset for more than just losing another FFVII save, but I cursed the heavens boy oh boy did I curse them.
Favourite nut and/or legume?
Kupo!
Your most embarrassing moment?
I have a bad time with names, and when I run into people on the street, I am never able to place them. I feel like a horrible person every time it happens
What is your favourite Elvis Presley song?
Falling in Love With You (I thought the name of the song was Fools Rush In whoops!)
What is your favourite art movement?
It's probably Dada, but I like 'em all, from Cave Paintings to Video Games.
What is your most flamboyant/extravagant piece of clothing? Describe it.
I used to work at Armani Exchange (protip don't buy their clothes) and I will say this is their favour: each season they outfitted us for free. One shirt I picked because it had a cool collar (kind of like Squall's cadet collar) but then I realized that it does not unbutton all the way down, it must be pulled over. What's more, when you *do* unbutton the top half of the shirt, it doesn't actually open, but reveals a built-in 'cravat' of sorts that is patterned exactly like the shirt. It is ugly and hilarious.
What is your favourite herb or spice?
Lemon pepper or smoked salt.
Are you aware there is a comet apparently visible to the naked human eye at night at the moment, in the constellation of Taurus? Even more visible if you have binoculars or a functioning telescope. *Doesn't
*
I knew about the comet, but alas, Vancouver is overcast from October to June almost consistently.
Vancouver, eh? I don't live far away and I've always wanted to visit. Can you tell me of some sight-seeing I could do, or some restaurant I should eat at?
Also, how do you like it there? I've been told it's a beautiful city.
September is the best time to be here, you should definitely visit. Eat sushi, even the cheap places put other NA cities to shame. It is a beautiful city, the problem is that is extremely unaffordable, and the surrounding cities aren't much to write home about.
A lot of TV shows are filmed in Vancouver. Have you ever met any actors from said shows?
Yep. They're everywhere around here, but I meet more celebrities at the gallery than on set. Last year Tim Burton's Big Eyes was filmed there and I met Christoph Waltz who was very pleasant. I typically try to pretend that I don't recognize them, unless I actually respect their work, then I'll tell them so.
Have you ever partaken in log rolling, ice hockey or other stereotypical Canadian sports/activities/idiosyncrasies?
I went skiing once, I fell down a lot, and called it a day. I haven't skated since I was a teenager. Only ever played street hockey. I do enjoy snow cones.
Everyone I know who's emigrated to Canada has gone to Vancouver, is there a big Irish presence there? What about other nationalities? Is Vancouver a popular immigrant/multi-cultural hub?
As I understand it, rich Irish highschool grads treat Vancouver like rich Vancouverite highschool grads treat Mexico. Every summer there's a huge influx of young Irish people getting fall-down drunk in the streets. Kids will be kids. The majority of our population is Chinese, although we have a large East Indian and Pakistani population in the neighbouring city of Surrey. I don't quite know the exact statistics, and with more and more of our residential buildings being bought by the 1% and kept empty, I have no idea how many people actually live here.
Be ye a drinker? If so, what's your drink of choice?
Ale!
What was it about Final Fantasy VII that attracted you? What kept you around after that initial attraction simmered down a bit?
The attraction is supposed to simmer down?
Video games were from satan in my family's house, so when I (age 14, c. 2001) discovered that my half-brother had left his PS and games in our garage while he was traveling, I snuck down in the middle of the night and played from 12-3am. I first played Tales of Destiny, which did not excite me. Then I played FF7, and here I am.
If you had to wield a weapon from any video game, what you wield?
Healing rod.
On the other hand, what weapon would you hate to be saddled with?
Javelin.
What's the hardest aspect of gigging and touring about playing music?
I deleted quite a long rant about building audience and organizing shows. The hardest part is getting the double-bass from the bassist's house to the stage.
What can you tell us about "Silk"? You've mentioned it's a sci-fi work, is it set on Earth? In space? An other planet?
Earth. Before I was brought aboard, the team got their funding through something called StoryHive, here's the promo video, and it basically explains everything.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbpEqVknzsA
We're in casting now, the pilot should be wrapped by March.
How do you find working at an art gallery? What sort of day to day tasks do you have to perform? My roommate's girlfriend volunteered at one before and said there was lots of standing about not doing much, do you experience that? If so, how do you pass the time?
I plan my D&D sessions all day. Sometimes people visit and I sell them tickets from my comfy chair.