Awhile back, I had the opportunity to take part in a conference call with the stars of Syfy’s Lost Girl [10/9C] as they helped promote the show’s debut. For one reason or another, the transcript did not arrive on time to be posted for the premiere, but since the conversation went deeper than just the premiere – and because Anna Silk, Zoie Palmer and Kris Holden Ried [currently appearing in Underworld: Awakening, as it happens] were so much [positively cheeky in places], it’s only fair to share the experience with EclipseMagazine.com’s readers.
Note: There is a huge spoiler for Season Two somewhere below. Just sayin’…
Hi, guys. Thanks for doing the call.
Zoie Palmer: Our pleasure.
Kris Holden-Ried: Thanks for having us.
So…
Anna Silk: Yeah, thank you.
So could you just kind of tell us a role – three of you kind of what we can expect this season going in since, you know, most people haven’t really seen it?
Holden-Ried: You’re welcome to take that.
Silk: You want to. I can start, I guess. So, you know, what we can expect in first season, I mean the first season really introduces the audience to Bo and her journey sort of going into this whole Fae world that she’s, you recently discovered that she’s a part of.
And the different people she meets, you know along the way in that first season, really become her sort of makeshift family in this world, and Lauren, played by Zoie, and Dyson, played by Kris, are two of the very interesting characters that she meets.
Palmer: Yeah, that’s good.
Holden-Ried: All right.
Palmer: Well done.
Silk: (Unintelligible) want to add anything?
Holden-Ried: I wish we had like…
Silk: I mean I can…
Holden-Ried: …flags in front of us like ding.
Silk: …I’m sorry. I know.
Holden-Ried: Sure, I’ll just pop in for a sec. Yeah, I mean, I’ll talk, of course, from Dyson’s perspective. I mean for season one what we see is, yeah, we see the "Lost Girl" (Ann) Silk playing Bo who appears on the scene, a Fae who’s been born into a human family and didn’t know she was Fae. Describe her in this entire other world that she didn’t know existed.
And my character, Dyson, is one of the ones that finds her, just because in his job in the world – he – that’s kind of his thing. He has to find – he finds not only criminals but people who have done things that shouldn’t have done, in other words Fae who are exposing themselves to humans. He finds Bo and a wild crazy 13 episodes ensue.
Palmer: Yeah, and then I guess just to finish off, I play Dr. Lauren Lewis, and so I’m doctor to the Light Fae. There are two types of Fae. There’s the light and the dark. And I’m a doctor and a scientist to the light side. And Bo comes to me for some help on how to control some of the things that are happening for her, as she sort of realizes what she is, starts to learn what she is, which is a Fae. And she comes to me to kind of see if I can perhaps help her with my (sciency) self.
I ever heard of myself on the show.
Silk: And just to expand further on, you know, the – you know, Bo did grow up thinking she was human as Kris said…
Palmer: Right.
Silk: …and does discover she’s Fae, but not only is she Fae, she’s actually a succubus, you know. So it’s a pretty rude awakening really early on in the season. And she sort of…
Palmer: Yeah.
Silk: …you know, it answers a lot of questions for her, but it opens the door to many more questions. And that’s sort of what we explore in the first season is how she fits into this world and the relationships she develops along the way.
Palmer: Yeah.
I’m actually going to ask my question regarding social media, because so much of your cast is on Twitter, and I was wondering if you think that social media and all of the different formats that have existed and now exist are – have contributed to Lost Girl’s success?
Holden-Ried: Definitely.
How?
Holden-Ried: You know, we’re actually quite lucky to have an executive producer who is quite media savvy, and he kind of learned early on, I believe from some of his other series or that’s he’s been involved with, about how influential Internet and media exposure can be. So he actually got – hired some people who he knew were, you know, quite – who functioned well in that world, but I’m not quite sure where he found them from.
But we’ve said, ‘Hey, look, this is our show, and if you like it, talk about it, if not, don’t worry about it.’ Lucky for us, they really enjoyed it, like Soni, S-O-N-I, the (unintelligible) the name she goes by.
Yeah.
Holden-Ried: She was one of the ones that believe in sh – it’s been fantastic in creating buzz and just, within that world, you know, people communicate with each other on such a fast level. And if you can get people that are interested in your show in that world, then yeah, it does a world of good.
Silk: It does, and…
(Unintelligible) comfort level.
Holden-Ried: Pardon me?
How is your, like you and Anna and Zoie, how is your comfort level with the social media buzz around ‘Lost Girl?’
Palmer: I think that, I mean, correct me if I’m wrong guys, but I think it’s been pretty great. And it’s overwhelming but it’s been exceptional. I mean, and having the ability to interact with people who watch the show is kind of thrilling for us too, you know, to be able to have…
Silk: Yeah.
Palmer: …that kind of feedback and to get a sense of how passionate the audience have been, and they have been very much so. So it’s been great to actually be able to be a part of their response to it.
Silk: Yeah, and there’s been such an outpouring of support for the show. I mean people just – people that follow us on Twitter and various things, they really are big fans of the show and really care about each character and each relationship.
And you know, it’s funny, you know, whenever I tweet, there’s one girl in particular who always writes back within, you know, usually a minute. Now if she doesn’t I start to get worried about her. I think she’s in France, and I was like, where is she? She hasn’t written back. You know, I start to get worried, because the response is so quick. It’s really great.
Palmer: Anna (unintelligible) talking to fans is pretty much what she’s doing.
Holden-Ried: But what I also found, which is real interesting is not just of the characters but the fans through these media outlets really get in touch with the person who’s playing the role and can build quite the – I’m amazed at the power of a relationship that you can – 255 characters or however many Twitter allows you to write. I think it’s something like that, because you know, about six months I’ve actually just like Anna said, I’ve gotten to know these people. You know, I know exactly who’s talking about it. And yeah, I told her I was worried about her too.
Palmer: (Smelly Cat), if you’re out there, we love you.
Silk: Yes, (Smelly Cat), we love you.
Well, on behalf of the Twitter followers, we, you know, thank you for having that presence, because it really has helped us connect a lot with the show and helped us spread the word, and I know I was harassing at SyFy for a long time. (Craig) probably got sick of my tweets about Lost Girl. So when you guys got picked up, I was like, ‘Yes, done.’
Silk: Awesome. Well, thank you for your support.
A success for social media and for the Lost Girl. Thank you.
Silk: Thank you.
Holden-Ried: We didn’t find out what her @name was on Twitter.
Palmer: Oh right. Maybe that was (Smelly Cat).
Holden-Ried: No, it wasn’t.
Palmer: I’m joking. It’s a joke. We found her. She’s okay.
Holden-Ried: She’ll tweet it. She can probably hear us still.
I have a lot of international friends who are big fans of the show, so I’m really looking forward to seeing it.
Silk: Awesome.
Holden-Ried: (Unintelligible)
Can you give us an idea of what shows are similar to yours in, you know, tone and style and content, just to give people an idea how to approach it?
Silk: Well, I mean we – you know, we’ve often gotten the Buffy comparison over the last few seasons. You know, we’re well into our second season here in Canada, and we still get that comparison, which is, you know, a huge compliment. But I have to say that I really think ‘Lost Girl’ has such a unique voice. You know, there’s a lot of darkness. There’s a lot of humor. It’s a pretty sexy show.
It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before on television, and it’s so, I mean, I guess the Buffy comparison is really nice. We get True Blood comparisons, I guess, as well, and there’s a, you know, an investigative side to things as well. So I guess it’s a lot of different things all rolled into one.
Palmer: Yeah, but those are the ones that come up I guess a lot, right, would be Buffy and True Blood and you know, in that genre of – it’s not a werewolf show, but we certainly – or a vampire show, I should say, but we certainly get compared to anything that has that kind of feel to it.
Holden-Ried: Scooby-Doo.
Well, perfect. Thanks very much.
Silk: Scooby-Doo.
((Crosstalk))
Holden-Ried: No, no.
Palmer: I noticed, by the way.
Silk: Kris, that makes you Shaggy. You know that.
Holden-Ried: (Unintelligible). No, no, that was Scooby that time, my bad.
Silk: Yeah.
Palmer: So, yeah, I think that’d be nice, wouldn’t you?
Silk: Yeah.
Palmer: Yeah.
Holden-Ried: Yeah, sorry. I can’t really comment on that one, because I don’t really watch much TV. I don’t know what’s out there.
Silk: Well, we watch enough for you.
Holden-Ried: Yeah, I know you do.
Can you each talk about the appeal of Bo and what you guys love about the triangle relationship as the season evolves?
Silk: Did you say the appeal of Bo?
Palmer: Well…
Silk: The appeal of Bo, I mean since I play Bo, I don’t know. I mean I think that the appeal of Bo for me when I read the initial pilot was just how – I think she’s – even though she’s a succubus and she’s not human and she’s going to be thrown into this crazy world, she’s really relatable. She’s a very relatable character. She’s intensely vulnerable and also has to sort of grow and find her way, and there’s a lot of growth for her in the series.
And I think that that’s sort of what, you know, having just talked to fans and just even myself, that’s what I related to in her and that’s what I found appealing was that she’s, you know, strong and sexy and all of those things, but she’s scared a lot of the times and vulnerable and has to figure out things as she goes.
And then, you know, the love triangle that unfolds that, you know, the (INs) gets introduced to in season one is pretty, pretty interesting. Anyone care to comment?
Holden-Ried: Ladies first, Zoie.
Palmer: You led us right up to the love triangle and dropped us off. The love triangle is, yeah, I mean it’s just that, isn’t it? I think that everyone who meets Bo, including Dyson and Lauren are sort of taken with her, for reasons that I don’t know that – well, I mean I think Lauren is taken with her for reasons that I don’t know that she can explain entirely. And she’s obviously beautiful. You’re beautiful, Anna.
Silk: Thank you.
Palmer: But there’s something about her, I think that brings – draws people into her, and I think that that’s what sort of Lauren finds right away. And I think almost – I think it’s a surprise that she feels that way, that that happens. You know, I think she works for the Light Fae and she does her job and she’s a scientist and then along comes this sort of creature, this person, this woman who does something to her, and I don’t know that’s she kind of sure what that something is, certainly from Lauren’s side, anyway. Kris?
Holden-Ried: I think with Dyson it’s pretty simple, you know, he introduces – got these – got this incredible cleavage – and no. Sorry. (Unintelligible).
Palmer: And end right in the cleavage.
Holden-Ried: I think for Dyson, with the mythology behind Dyson’s character has a lot to do with he’s a protector. The wolf was – its entire job in existence was protecting its liege or its king, whoever it was assigned, and in Bo he sees an innocent but beautiful and vulnerable woman that he finds one, beautiful and fascinating, but also those instincts out in him.
And there’s also, you know, some historical stuff behind Trick and Bo and Dyson that the audience will find out about that also sort of plays into this as well, but I think it’s really kind of a deep sort of seated instinct in Dyson’s want to protect Bo, and in doing so, he gets feelings for her.
So I wanted to ask just kind of a question I just was wondering about. You know, now that you’re launching here in the U.S., and we – most of the U.S. hasn’t even seen episode one, but you guys are already way far into season two, and how hard is it to go back, and I guess, how do you prepare for these interviews without your revealing what happens at the end of season two or (unintelligible), I guess?
Silk: It’s hard.
Palmer: (Unintelligible) and be careful.
Silk: It’s hard, because you know, we have, you know, we’ve kind of been living it now and experiencing it, and to go back and try to explain, you know, lay the groundwork for what’s about to come. In some ways it’s hard. In some ways it’s easier because we have better understanding, I think of the show and of our characters and we’ve gotten to, like I said, live it for quite a while now.
So, but it is challenging. We – you know, we’re really excited that American audiences are going to, they, you know, they get to experience it from the very, very start. So we’re curious to see how they respond.
Palmer: I kind of love it too, you know, I kind of love remembering that time, because it was great for us too, you know. It was as new for us as it will be for audiences, and we were all meeting each other, and although we had sort of known each other a little bit prior to the show, we kind of were getting to know each other on the show and creating relationships between ourselves too. So it’s kind of fun to remember that time, for me.
Holden-Ried: Yeah, it’s great. I mean season one was such a great trip, because you know, it was that sort of (unintelligible), meeting the characters all getting together, what’s happening, who is everybody. It’s really quite nice to actually go back and remember where it came from, because yeah, we’re actually finishing up episode 22 tomorrow, or 21 tomorrow.
Palmer: Twenty-one, yeah.
Holden-Ried: We have one more left, so we’re already in another world.
Silk: That’s right.
Zoie Palmer: Yeah. So, difficult but fun.
Holden-Ried: Yeah.
Silk: Yeah.
Holden-Ried: And you know, throw on tons of like food and liquor and just blow some brain cells right out and…
Silk: What? What happened? I didn’t catch the segue into that.
Holden-Ried: I guess it was all in my own brain.
Silk: You were here, whatever you said.
I’m another one of those journalists that met you guys in Orlando, and Anna, it’s nice to see you survived your roller coaster journey that you were a little terrified of.
Palmer: Oh, that was so much fun.
Silk: Yeah.
Palmer: I haven’t had that much fun in ages.
A lot of the press here has seen two episodes of the first season, and I can tell you, it’s a very sexy show, a very fun show in an adult way without sort of kind of trying to be like a tween show like some of the other shows out there, and you know, actually the whole fairy mythology is largely untapped in a lot of TV shows out there right now.
So I’m kind of curious, like, where did you look for inspiration? How far did you go into sort of Fae myths, and you know, quite honestly, when you were first offered this job, did you kind of blow it off, like, fairies, who wants to do that?
Silk: Well, I mean I guess I’ll start. I didn’t think that when I first read about it. What I thought was, you know, the original sort of description of the show was that she was this sexual creature who needs sex to survive. So, I – my initial thought was: ‘Are you kidding me?’ You know, ‘What is this?’
But then to really read what it was about and read, you know, I knew what a succubus was, and I, you know, it’s a pretty intriguing role to play. I mean it’s obviously a very sexual role. She’s a sexual being, but you know, that’s kind of I think what is another element that makes our show stand out. And it’s a pretty fun power to have, I have to say.
Holden-Ried: For me, I’ve always been a fan of this kind of genre. I mean I grew up reading fantasy novels, everything from ‘Dragon Lands’ to ‘Eye of the World, you know, (David Eddings), was it ‘Game of Thrones?’ And so when I got a chance to jump at a role like this, I was all for it, because you know, I grew up running through the woods by my parents farm, pretending that I was whatever, an elf, and how much further is (unintelligible).
Silk: Everyone heard you say that, Kris.
Palmer: You just announced that to the world now.
Holden-Ried: I mean you know
Palmer: I grew up running through the forest with my shirt off, you know, how kids do.
Holden-Ried: Isn’t every childhood like that?
Palmer: No, absolutely. I did for sure.
Silk: Well, I spent one summer as Wonder Woman. So, there’s that, you know.
Holden-Ried: (Unintelligible)
Palmer: The whole summer?
Silk: I get it. I get it. Yeah, the whole summer. Rubber boots, bathing suits, red wristbands, headband, you know.
Palmer: Sure.
Holden-Ried: Oh, my God (unintelligible).
Silk: There was a lot of crime in my neighborhood.
Palmer: No, absolutely, you had to fight it. I get it. Sorry.
Silk: Yeah.
Palmer: I don’t have anything that even comes close to comparing, but I had never done any kind of – I didn’t watch sort of SyFy genre type television except, I guess, "Battlestar Galactica," which isn’t really comparable to this show at all.
But – so it was really new for me to be on a show like this and to play a character, and of course, I play human, so that I didn’t need to do a ton of research in terms of my own character, but it’s been a great experience, like way better than I could have ever imagined. It’s been – it’s such a fun job to play on this kind of a show. It’s fantasy and play and yeah.
Sorry if I get the terminology wrong here, but from my – I’ve only seen the pilot, but there’s the Light Fae and the Dark Fae. It seems kind of like a political system of sorts. Can you talk a little bit about how that interacts with more of the personal side, like what’s the balance between the two in the first season?
Silk: Well, I think that, you know, you’re right in saying that it is a really intricate political system, and there’s a lot of push and pull between the two sides. I think that, you know, that’s the world that Bo finds herself in. Not only is she in the world of the Fae, she’s in a world that’s divided, and there’s a peace that has be kept between those sides, and that balance is really precarious. And anything could sort of tip that balance and lead to a lot of trouble.
So it’s a really – it’s a really intricate system. That’s a really big part of the show that I think makes it, you know, very interesting. And it’s certainly interesting for us as actors to play in.
Holden-Ried: Yeah, I mean, all of our characters interact with it in different ways. Dyson is an age-old member of the Light Fae. I mean I guess the differences between the two systems, to succinct is, Light Fae try to live in a symbiotic relationship with humanity, and the Dark Fae are more interested in dominating humanity. And that is pretty the philosophical difference between the two.
Silk: Yeah, and as a Fae, you’ve got to align yourself with one side or the other. That’s just what you do.
Holden-Ried: (Unintelligible).
Palmer: That’s expected of you, yeah.
Silk: Yeah. And that’s something that Bo has trouble with.
Palmer: And therefore everyone (unintelligible).
Is there like a clear line between what’s good and bad then? So it’s definitely the light is good and the dark is bad?
Silk: No, I would say that the light is – I would just say the dark is particularly bad. But it’s not…
Palmer: Okay.
Silk: …about good and bad. I mean – Zoie, do you – are you trying to say something about that or?
Palmer: Yeah, I don’t know that there’s ever like – do they – do we ever reference sort of good and bad? I feel like it’s sort of everyone has their reasons for their behavior sort of thing.
Holden-Ried: Yeah.
Palmer: And – but like I think Kris sort – that idea that the Light Fae try to live in harmony with humans in a way that the Dark Fae doesn’t necessarily care about. I don’t think they’re necessarily concerned about that in a way that the Light Fae are, would be the fundamental difference. I think that they both would commit acts that most of us would consider good and bad.
Holden-Ried: Pretty atrocious.
Palmer: Yeah.
Holden-Ried: Yeah, I think like from the human’s perspective perhaps darker, not as good, but within the Fae world, I don’t think there’s a real connotation of good and bad.
Palmer: Right. People – they do what they have to do.
Kris Holden-Ried: Yeah.
Silk: And there’s a lot of (unintelligible).
Holden-Ried: All Fae do to survive.
Silk: Yeah. And one of the number one rules in…
Holden-Ried: (Unintelligible).
Silk: I’m sorry, Kris. Go ahead.
Holden-Ried: I was just saying that all Fae need to survive off of some energy system and give, whether it’s flesh, whether it’s spirit, whether it’s anger…
Palmer: Emotional, sexual, yeah.
Holden-Ried: Exactly. I mean food – humans are the food source for all Fae. So, it just…
Palmer: That’s right.
Holden-Ried: …human mythology or the philosophies behind how we…
Palmer: How it’s done.
Holden-Ried: (Unintelligible).
Silk: And one of the main rules about being Fae is to keep the world secret from humans. So that’s another element to the show as well. There are certain humans that do know about us, you know, obviously Lauren.
Palmer: Hello. I know.
Silk: You know. But yeah, it’s – we’ve got to keep it secret.
I’m going to tell everyone.
Silk: Great.
As soon as I get off this phone.
Silk: You’re calling all the other humans?
Holden-Ried: (Unintelligible).
That’s right, I’m calling everyone. I’m telling them. Thank you very much.
Silk: Thank you.
Anna…
Silk: Yes.
…in the pilot – now personally, I thought it was one heck of an info-dump, but it’s kind of necessary because the world is just so intricately developed. Now you also mentioned that you thought that Bo was really relatable, so my plank here is that we’re in the same boat as Bo, and actually, completely oblivious, and there’s all this information.
So in the pilot where you have all this information that’s coming and you have all the action that you’re involved in, which is most of the action in the episode, what were the challenges of shooting the pilot with all that going on?
Silk: Wow, I mean I think, you know, as an actor, I’ve been very, you know, fortunate to play this role, obviously, but the – but Bo, like you said, is completely new to this world, and so she does act like the audience. She does get to learn. And as the actor, I, you know, I’ve gotten to learn and grow along with her, which has been a real gift.
So, you know, Bo has a lot of questions, particularly in the first season, you know, and as a cast, you know, we would get every episode in that first season and just be like, wow, you know, there’s this new thing we’re going to learn about. There’s a new type of Fae, a new creature, a new challenge every episode.
So shooting the pilot, I mean – I mean our original first episode was, I guess the challenges just came from getting a show up and running for one distance from that point of view and just really trying to lay the foundation for where the show would go and introduce the Fae world to Bo and to the audience.
Cool.
Silk: And the physical stuff is, you know, it’s challenging. It’s fun. I mean I love doing it and it does make me feel a stronger connection to Bo, because she’s pretty tough. So I like it.
I actually hadn’t heard of this show until SyFy started sent me information about it being a dumb American, and now I can’t get enough of it. But…
Silk: We’ll forgive you.
Thank you.
Palmer: Don’t be hard on yourself.
I used to apologize (unintelligible). Let’s see, I was going to ask – well, actually I was going to comment first because someone asked about what show yours was similar to, and just going by the first episode, it reminded me a lot of True Blood on HBO, little less sex, but – nudity. At least the one I watched.
Silk: Yeah, well, thank you. It’s a nice – it’s a flattering comparison.
Palmer: (Unintelligible).
But I posted – since I hadn’t seen the show yet – I just finished watching the pilot – I had posted on Twitter for questions, and so I got a lot of questions I couldn’t – I didn’t know how popular this show was. I posted it and one of my people posted it to like 10,000 people or whatever. So I got a lot of questions.
Silk: That was good.
But let me just ask you, let’s see. This is a good question. I thought I’d pick it. (Craig McDonald) wanted to know if Anna Silk has – had much fight training before taking on the role of Bo. So that’s my question.
Silk: Well, I mean not like I – not really to be honest. I –
Holden-Ried: (Unintelligible) Wonder Woman.
((Crosstalk))
Silk: But I was 6, you know, I was figuring it all out. But I think by the end of summer I didn’t fit into my bathing suit anymore, but – because I was growing tall not wide.
((Crosstalk))
Silk: What? It was a stressful summer.
No, I did not have a lot of fight training. The worst thing to do is get Zoie and I laughing, because we never stop. So no, I did not have a lot of fight training, but I certainly, you know, I prepared, you know, once I got the role, I prepared for the pilot. I worked with a trainer just to try to get really strong and ready to do whatever it was I was going to be doing.
Plus, you know, we kind of had to work out what Bo’s fighting style would be, you know, we didn’t really know until we kind of established it over the first season. And so I’ve got – you know, between a second and third season I worked with a martial artist, actually in the mornings in Griffith Park in LA, I would work with him and we would do all of this sort of really cool stick work, just to learn to be a little bit more grounded.
So, you know, I’m – it’s an evolving thing for me, and it’s something that I do work hard at to make it – to make her powers grow and to make her become more and more capable as she sort of embraces her powers. So, yeah, I didn’t do a lot, but I continue to do stuff.
I’ll go into this quick, because there’s so many people waiting. What kind of a journey would you say that your characters are on during this first season?
Palmer: Okay, well.
Silk: Well, go ahead, Zoie.
Palmer: For Lauren, it would be, very quickly, it would be – we kind of discovered that she’s indebted to the Light Fae, and specifically the leader of the Light Fae, the Ash, for some reason that we don’t know. And so, we’ve gone that journey and it’s a bit of guess why she, you know, I mean the fact that a human is working for the Fae at all is a bit unusual in this way. Working with the Fae would be a bit unusual. So it’s a bit of a discovery about who Lauren is and where she’s from and what her story is.
And of course, the development of the relationship with Bo and the rest of the characters on the show, for Lauren anyway. Anyone else?
Holden-Ried: I think for Dyson it’s the discovery and the journey of Bo, of you know. For him he’s been in the Fae world for a millennia and the only thing that’s really new for him is this young woman who’s come from nowhere and that’s pretty much the center of his journey.
Silk: I like that. I think for Bo, I mean the journey is just so huge. I mean she’s coming from a world where she grew up thinking she was human and has urges beyond normal sort of teenage sexual urges that resulted in a body count. So, you know, she’s been on the run for a while.
And so the beginning of the series is when we – when she learns that she’s not human, that she’s Fae. So that journey is just so big, and it continues to be every day every episode. She, you know, particularly in the first season, but even in the second season, she’s constantly learning. So her journey is always – is ongoing, very much so.
I’ve been lucky enough to see most of the first season through friends in the UK who’ve sent it over and thoroughly enjoyed it. People have got a lot of fun coming.
The show sort of has a detective element with Bo and a – and the Fae element. Which do you think – which do you prefer working on, the sort of the mystery of the week type stories or the ones that go into the mythology?
Silk: You know, I kind of feel like, in the first season I feel like the mystery of the week stuff sort of lent itself to learning about the mythology. I mean I think that’s kind of what – I think that’s kind of how Bo has sort of — and the audience — learns about each different type of Fae and all the different sort of energies that are out there. But I don’t know. I mean I feel like I can’t answer that question. I feel like both. I really – I like both.
Holden-Ried: Sorry. My phone got kind of gnarly there for a second. Could you repeat the question.
Yeah. Firstly we’ve got the mixture of the detective stories and the ones that are based more around the Fae mythology. Which do you prefer working on more?
Holden-Ried: Yeah, kind of just like what Anna said, is that they get intertwined so much. I enjoy the police procedural stuff, but I think for me is more of a fantasy genre, romantic, I enjoy looking into the different aspects of the Fae and – because most of our Fae creatures we pull from actual human…
Palmer: Yeah.
Holden-Ried: …superstitious or religious or like backgrounds. And I find it actually fascinating finding out about these strange, you know, fairy creature that lived in like Chinese folklore or German folklore or I find those little characters support, those little insights to that culture fascinating, and I’m really – I really enjoyed learning about them on our show.
Palmer: Yeah, I don’t know that I have a lot to add to that. I think you guys pretty much – I, you know, it is. It’s true. The story of the week often has delved into the history of the Fae too, you know. So, that’s right.
I wanted to find out maybe if you could tell us a little bit about how you each became initially involved on the show, and perhaps about the audition process, if you don’t mind, for your respective role?
Palmer: Well.
Holden-Ried: Well, basically I picked Anna up, pushed her into the wall, and (unintelligible).
Silk: Yes, that’s the actual audition, yeah.
Holden-Ried: I kind of groped her. That was how I got…
Palmer: That’s also what I did.
Silk: You picked me up.
Palmer: Kris said, ‘It worked for me. This is what I did.’ And so I just went in and I threw her up against the wall and hoped for the best.
Silk: Kris and I actually left a crack in the wall at the casting director’s office.
Holden-Ried: Yeah, she broke the drywall.
Silk: Yeah, that was an interesting audition for sure.
Holden-Ried: Yeah. Anna wasn’t anticipating…
((Crosstalk))
Silk: I’m sorry. Go ahead.
Holden-Ried: I was just – Anna wasn’t anticipating what I was going to do and was wearing a short skirt at the time, and I think, the biggest surprise on her face was the fact that it was riding up a little too high.
Silk: Yes, I was little afraid I was going to fall to the floor without my dress on anymore. So.
Palmer: But if anything pulls you out of character more than when you think your clothes are falling off.
Silk: Yeah, than suddenly been nude, yes.
Palmer: Yeah.
Holden-Ried: (Unintelligible)
Palmer: Suddenly being nude.
Silk: But in terms of the audition process, from the beginning for me, I mean I was in Los Angeles, and I self-taped for the role, actually and sent it off and you know, which is something as actors, we’ve all done over the years many times to no avail, but this particular artisan tape got a pretty quick response.
And before I knew it I was in Toronto to screen test, and that’s when I screen tested with Kris and so that was, you know – and then we both found out we got the role, which was great. And then I screen tested with (Billy) a little bit later in the process, but that was a – I’d known Zoie for several years just from being around the audition circuit in Toronto, and I never really liked her. No, I’m kidding.
Palmer: No, no, it was really hard for us to overcome the nightmare that was our relationship.
Silk: Yeah. No, no, no, I’ve always loved her. I always thought she was really cool, and so I’ve been really lucky with both Kris and Zoie to get to know them -but – the way we have, and that we actually all booked this job that we’re so lucky to have.
Holden-Ried: Yep.
Palmer: Yeah, in a nutshell.
Silk: Yeah.
I’ve got a question for anybody in personal relationships between three characters, but it’s actually more between you and Zoie in the series. I actually spoke to Rick Howland a few months ago, and he said that one of things that you found is you’ve had a lot of, you know, people approaching you at conventions, saying that, you know, that your relationship on the screen has actually helped them come out, you know, as gay or as bisexual or whatever. I’m just wondering how do feel about that as actors…
Silk: Well…
…getting that kind of response?
Silk: …I think that, you know, Zoie and I – for Zoie and I, it was really important that the relationship between Bo and Lauren was really authentic and really real and relatable. I mean we knew it had to be. It’s meant to be, and I guess the response to it is kind of a testament to, you know, I think we’ve been pretty successful with it, you know, the writing has been there, obviously as well for us.
But I think that that was something that Zoie and I worked really hard to make sure that it was truthful. And the fact that it resonates with people and if it encourages people in any way, I mean to be their own authentic self, then I think that’s fantastic.
Palmer: Yeah, I think that, you know, obviously, this relationship, a same-sex relationship, there isn’t a ton of that television, and so it’s – the fact that it’s – we’ve managed, with the help of the writers and everybody, to pull off a relationship that is relatable to people, I think is a big compliment. I think it’s really great, and I would feel really pleased about it when somebody says something like that. We’ve had a couple of those experiences at like…
Silk: Yeah.
Palmer: …(Annex Bo), and that kind of thing where somebody’s come up and said, you know, "It means a lot." And I think it’s great. I’m thrilled about that.
Silk: Yeah. And I love that on the show too, we don’t – it’s not talked about as a same-sex relationship.
Palmer: It just is one, yeah.
Silk: It’s not one could be – yeah, it’s just – it’s a relationship, and that’s that.
Palmer: The Coke and gay thing or the – it’s just the – there is – yeah, that’s cool. It’s that they just – there’s just in the relationship, whichever – whatever it looks like, however it…
Silk: Yeah.
Palmer: …in the way that Dyson and Bo are in one, and it’s never discussed on the show…
Silk: Yeah.
Palmer: …which I love too. I think that’s great.
Very quickly. I’ve been watching the show. It looks my (unintelligible) got SyFy, but in the past season I’ve seen most of the first season, and it’s, you know, it’s a fantastic show. And immediate filmed season two, are you going to be back for a third season? Do you know yet?
Silk: We do know, and we are.
That’s fantastic news.
Silk: Yeah, yeah, we’re pretty excited. We’ll start shooting again probably in the spring.
Okay. So you are looking forward to it?
Palmer: Yeah. Thank you.
As a Canadian, I have watched every single episode and every morning I get – every Monday morning I get the (Team Docubus) emails. So (unintelligible) ask Kris a question, I probably would be banned from Tim Horton’s at this point. So…
Holden-Ried: Okay.
My question is to Kris. What – Dyson is a very restrained character. There’s always something about him that is just simmering underneath it all. And so, do you find this a challenge as an actor, because it has to come through with your body language rather than the lie that you’re given to say, and also, I have to ask it, how much did you love getting the chance to pretend to be Kenzi?
We loved it.
Silk: That’s a big spoiler alert, just so you know.
I couldn’t help it. I’m sorry. I had to do it.
Silk: Of course. No, of course.
Holden-Ried: Yeah, that was great. I mean we’re talking about something in season two here. And yeah, season two is being a bit of a tough, tough pull for Dyson, and to get to play a different character for one episode was fantastic and especailly Kenzi, who Ksenia Solo played so well, and who I’m lucky to have such a great relationship with, and she helped me out tremendously. We really teamed up to help each other out. And it was a great experience.
As far as your first question about the restraint, I think it’s become something that’s really inherent in Dyson, and part of it came out of a necessity of the way we shot first season, which was completely out of chronological sequence, so a lot of times we didn’t know what we were going to have to do in the (preselect), we’d shoot episode nine, and then episode three, and so sometimes we didn’t know what we were going to have to react to. So you sometimes have to play this ambiguous sort of line.
Palmer: Yeah.
Holden-Ried: But also in my style of acting, I tend to internalize things more than externalize them, and that’s, you know, just – and I think people pick up on stuff that – I mean we’re such sensitive creatures that, you know, even if you internalize things, people pick up on them. And what I like about after my – the way I like to act is that I find if people are using their own imagination to put onto your character what it’s feeling then often more authentic than me trying to demonstrate something, you know.
I’ve gotten so many questions from Twitter as well. So I decided to choose one, and I wanted to know, is – obviously there’s good things about the Fae and bad things about the Fae, but if you had the choice and you could have powers of one of them, would you want it or would you not? For all three of you.
Silk: Well, yeah, I think I’d kind of like to have the power that I have on the show, you know.
Holden-Ried: Yeah. I’d like that too.
Silk: I think that, yeah, I mean, you know, I just think that it’s sort of become a part of – such a big part of – it is who Bo is. So for me as the actor, it’s just become something that I really enjoy playing. So I think that it’s the closest one to me in terms of what I like. So yeah, I think I’d like to have that power.
Your own power, the one that Bo has?
Silk: Yeah, yes. I know.
Okay.
Holden-Ried: Well (unintelligible).
The things you learn on a conference call.
Palmer: I don’t even know what I’m saying over here. Babbling by myself. Sorry.
Holden-Ried: Yeah, I’d love to have, I mean Dyson’s power, sure, or are you asking which power we’d like to have?
Well, if you would in real life, which one, if you had the choice?
Holden-Ried: I don’t know, Vex’s would be pretty fun.
Palmer: I know, I always say Vex.
Silk: Yeah.
Palmer: Vex was pretty cool. (Unintelligible).
Holden-Ried: Yeah, a little bit of Vex. I love – I’m digging Dyson. I mean I’m pretty close to him right now, so I’m – I like being able to turn into an animal and live for a very long period of time. I’m all – I like longevity.
Palmer: Kris Holden, he’d like longevity.
Silk: And Kris is already pretty wolfie, like you know, you really, you know – you are. You became very, you know, you’ve got an animalistic way of moving, and…
Palmer: He is, yeah.
Silk: …it works for ya.
Palmer: It does work for you, Kris.
Holden-Ried: It’s just, you know, it’s called wearing really – too tight underwear and you just start moving that way.
Silk: There was a technique we learned about.
Holden-Ried: An actor prepared.
Palmer: Yes.
Silk: Yes.
Palmer: I think I’d like a combo of Vex and Bo. If Vex and Bo could create one power, I don’t know what that would be specifically, but like some combination of the two of their powers. I wouldn’t mind that. Just for like for a day, I wouldn’t want to always have that power.
I wanted to ask a question about the expansion of season two from 13 to 22 episodes. What was it, do you think maybe triggered that expansion? Was there something that really caught on, do you feel with the second season or something that – there was something that caught on that people wanted to know more before you moved on to a season three?
Silk: Well, I mean I think the, you know, we had such tremendous success with season one here in Canada, and you know, and now it’s been successful in different parts of the world as well, but season one was very successful here in Canada, and so I think going into season two, even though it was meant to be a 13-episode season, there was always that possibility that we could get a back 9 and make it 22. So I think we kind of knew that that might happen and then once we got into filming, it was decided pretty quickly that that’s what we wanted to do. While I didn’t make that decision…
Palmer: Anna did (unintelligible) we were going to.
Silk: I decided. No. That’s the power I wish I had. But you know, it was decided pretty early on, and I think you know, we did – the network loves the show. It’s been incredibly successful, and they wanted to do more of it, which is a pretty rare thing, particularly here in Canada to have that kind of run on a show. So we, you know, were pretty lucky.
Holden-Ried: And I’m not really sure time-wise, but I think it also had to do with SyFy’s interest and our exposure, our upcoming exposure in the states as well. I mean our ratings in Canada have been fantastic. So it’s results a lot going on.
Silk: Yeah.
How important was it for you guys to know that there wouldn’t be a remake, but rather that everyone does get to see your guys’ version, as opposed to say, you know, Being Human has a very successful run, both on the UK as well as the U.S., but here you guys get to be the only version that we get to see.
Palmer: Right, right, right.
Silk: Yeah, I’m really glad that the concept wasn’t sold. I’m really glad that our version is going to be seen, because I think it’s such a unique show that was so specifically cast, and I can’t, you know, I can’t really imagine anyone else in these roles. Maybe in one day, but you know, "Lost Girls, A Next Generation." I don’t know. But you know, I can’t imagine it just having the same feel without this cast of characters and actors.
Just a very quick question regarding the (unintelligible). I’d like to know how much (unintelligible) input regarding your cast part, or if you leave that part completely the writers?
Holden-Ried: I’m sorry. I could not understand that.
Silk: I don’t know – yeah. We’re having a hard time hearing you, but I believe your question was about whether or not we have input into our characters or if we leave it up to the writers. Is that correct?
Yeah, exactly (unintelligible).
Silk: Yeah, I mean we definitely have input. You know, Michelle Lovretta who created the show and the staff of writers we’ve had over the first and second season have, they’ve developed such rich characters, but what’s really great is that, you know, we’ve developed a relationship with them and they write, you know, they write to our strengths as actors, I think.
And I think that they’re very open to our input, which is really crucial, because it creates a really nice dialog, and you know, creates a better show ultimately. So we’re really lucky that it’s a pretty open door…
Holden-Ried: Yes.
Silk: …between actors and writers on our show.
Holden-Ried: (Unintelligible)
Palmer: Yeah, they’re really great about hearing our thoughts on it.
Holden-Ried: Yeah. I mean some of the bigger budget shows you have so many different cooks in the kitchen. You have so many different like network checks, that the actors don’t get a chance. But we actually can sit in the writers’ room, and like every time we bring our scripts in, you know, before the read-throughs, and they’re very attentive to our ideas about our characters, and it’s a real collaborative treat. And I think we’re all really enjoying it.
Photos courtesy of Syfy