Ted Raimi (los pergaminos de Joxer)
T.V Zona Especial #36, entrevista por Joe Nazzaro
Traducido por Gonzalo
Ismael Viola y escaneado por Atenea
para el Xenaverso, la versión en inglés
del artículo original está más
abajo.
En 1995 vio el Yi-yi-yiing de Xena por primera
vez. Aquí el co-protagonista Ted Raimi habla
sobre su trabajo y el show.
La vida de un querido guerrero nunca es fácil,
justamente le preguntamos a Ted Raimi quien juega
el papel de Joxer, el chabacano, socialmente torpe,
y semi compañero de Xena la princesa guerrera.
Como uno de las principales estrellas del show de
comedia, Joxer ha sido uno de los puntos extremos
del abuso, Barro, huevos crudos, Hortalizas podridas,
son todos partes del repertorio de la incomodidad
de Joxer el Poderoso, pero para Raimi es solo un
día de trabajo.
Mientras que Joxer no puede cumplir un gran papel
en Xena, Raimi insiste que su personaje es solo
un tipo que quiere ayudar a los demas."a el
le gusta beber, le gusta alardear, le gusta ir a
casas de burlesque,Lo que le separa de el es que
es un buen personaje moral y tiene un valor que
desafortunadamente abruma su mente y sus limitaciones
físicas.
El es el primero que consigue que le golpeen su
trasero, porque no tiene idea. El tiene tanto valor
como Xena, el lo hace, solo que no sabe que no tiene
la fuerza de Xena. El no es muy inteligente, Pero
tiene un montón de agallas y creo que la
gente le responde a eso.
Es lo que tu puedes ser si no tienes el Look ,
ni la fuerza, ni la agilidad, ni la belleza de Xena
y Gabrielle.
¡Ja, ja! Gracioso
El personaje de Raimi consigue el papel de las
payasadas en Xena, pero es rápido para repartir
su parte cómica con las co-protagonistas
Lucy Lawless y Reneé O Connor.Lucy tiene
un rango y cualquier cosa que decide hacer para
el resto de su vida.
Ella también es una persona muy recta porque
a pesar de todas las tonterías que hago,
Ella sabe como oponerse a eso.
La mayoría de los actores tiene solo una
manera de ser , pero Lucy conoce 20 maneras diferentes
de reaccionar y todas ellas son muy divertidas.
Quiero destacar que Reneé es muy divertida
, también. Ella es muy graciosa muy linda,
pero no tiene problema en hacer la cara mas tonta
o agarrar mi nariz y lanzarme , o lo que sea. Como
actor y personaje exitoso Ted Raimi ha jugado diferentes
papeles a lo largo del curso de su carrera, pero
el lo ha hecho muy bien jugando el papel de Technogreek-gente
de tipo, insignemente como oficial de comunicaciones
O Neill en Seaquest DVS, otro para destacar es Twin
peaks, Alíen Nation,American Gothic, y Alf.
Y entre sus películas : Patriot Games, Hard
Target, Candyman, Skinner ,Locura: una obra de amor,Army
of Darkness, y Darkman, las dos dirigidas por su
hermano Sam.
Amor fraternal
Uno podría pensar que Sam Raimi fue instrumental
en darle un papel en Xena Warrior Princess(Princesa
Guerrera) producido por Raimi y Rob Tapert, pero
Ted dice que la familia y el trabajo son dos cosas
diferentes y que todavía tiene que ganar
su lugar en en la serie. "nunca voy a escuchar
nada de mi hermano"Bromea Ted "El es el
oscuro demonio del pasillo"!
El ha conseguido ser un productor, y en mi familia
el trabajo siempre es lo primero.Estamos muy interesados
en hacer un Buen producto y siempre lo hacemos ,
esa es la manera en que fuimos educados.
Aunque de todos modos hemos trabajados juntos una
docena de veces,con el transcurso de los años,
me enseño que si no haces bien tu trabajo
sales de aquí;si haces el trabajo bien haremos
una buena pelicula,yo también lo siento así.
Amamos nuestro trabajo, pero estamos en un negocio
volátil y necesitamos todas las cosas uno
al otro.
¡Que lo maten!
La introducción de Raimi en Xena fue muy
fácil gracias a las dos co-protagonistas
femeninas que lo hicieron sentir bien desde el principio.
"Ellas son sorpresivamente agradables,especialmente
desde que es el primer gran show para ellos"
Creo que es la naturaleza de estas dos chicas.
Por años, me pasaba el día haciendo
cosas, solamente yendo de un show de televisión
a un programa como estrella invitada. Y he sido
tratado de las formas mas peores, me lo han hecho
esos actores. Prometí que si me convertía
en una estrella de television,jamas trataría
a los demás actores como yo fui tratado,
por eso cada vez que hay una estrella invitada en
un show donde yo estoy, yo siempre seguiría
mi camino y le diría ¿cómo
te va? El café esta allí,hay rosquillas,y
cuando tengas cinco minutos ven y hablaremos.
Los hace sentir bienvenidos para que estén
preparados para ser un mejor actor en el show. Lucy
y Reneé son así,me dieron la bienvenida
y fue verdaderamente lindo ser una estrella invitada.
Desafortunadamente algunos de los fans de Xena
no fueron complacientes saludando a Joxer con enojo,
desprecio y haciendo una campaña en critica
sumamente negativa.
Pensando en ello los actores admiten ser descalificados
pero no le toman mucha importancia a la critica."Es
como una carta anónima, y no hay ninguna
cara verdadera , detrás de esto"el explica.Me
gusta usar la Internet para enviar cartas con propósitos
de negocios y debes en cuando no puedo resistir
ver lo que la gente dice pero nunca debes tomártelo
tan a pecho.Primero de todo, si alguien no puede
desirte algo a la cara, no son dignos de conversar
y si alguien viene a mí lo escuchare pero
tengo que ver su cara.
Después de todo pienso que esos fanáticos
de Internet se revirtieron y ahora les gusto.Pero
de hecho, cuando me odiaban estaba haciendo una
película y le dije a Rob que si duraba demasiado
habría cambios y no podría regresar
con Xena.
Rob me dijo " mira, si nunca podrás
regresar al show, por lo menos permíteme
matar tu personaje así haré sentir
mal a toda esa gente que quería verte muerto,
Luego le dije, esta todo bien, si no regreso al
show te permitiré filmar el episodio de la
muerte de Joxer.
Ese episodio todavía no se ha hecho, el
papel de Joxer en el show continua creciendo,Pronto
se filmara su propio episodio.
La historia surgió de una discusión
en el set con los productores Rj stewart una tarde
sobre su mutual admiración por Danny Caye.
"el mencionó que uno de sus favoritos
era el inspector general y yo dije que mi favorito
era Court Jester". Hablamos sobre ello por
casi una hora
Y el dijo:tu sabes , debemos escribir una escena
como esa y tu como el personaje de Danny Caye, y
todavía hay una nota al final del episodio
sobre eso.
Amo la escena en la que Joxer esta por ser ejecutado,
y entonces le dice al rey:"Creo que estas siendo
dominado por tus sensaciones, escucha ¿por
qué no vamos a cenar?Conozco un pequeño
lugar cerca de Ackmar, nos sentaremos y hablaremos
sobre ello,y el rey dice:`denegado
Y luego Joxer dice: tengo un ultimo pedido, me
gustaría oír el sonido de una campana,
soy sentimental.
El rey dice "denegado" y Joxer dice:¡que
estafa! Voy a contactarme con el ejecucionista y
se lo voy a decir.
El no se callara.
Viendo Doble
Otro favorito de Raimi es :"el rey de los
asesinos"
Con el actor jugando el papel de Joxer y su hermano
gemelo, Jet el asesino. !"Eso fue difícil"
el recuerda. Necesite un día entero para
aprender algunas técnicas con la espada con
Peter Bell , el coordinador de las acrobacias. My
amigo Bruce Campbell lo editaba y era exhausto porque
estaba jugando el papel de dos personajes , casi
en las mismas escenas.
Y por supuesto hay una canción clásica
de Joxer que ha aparecido en muchos episodios
Con su trabajo en el show de Xena y unos nuevos
proyectos de filmación, Ted Raimi esta empezando
a tener un poco de reconocimiento.
El dice: los tipos me reconocen ahora mas y las
chicas me reconocen por Xena.
Versión
original en Inglés:
Ted Raimi: The Joxer Scrolls (TV ZONE, Special
#36, interview by Joe Nazzaro)
I995 saw Xena Warrior Princess yi-yi-yiing onto
our screens for the first time. Here, co-star Ted
Raimi talks about his work an the show, and taking
the ultimate prat fall.
THE LIFE OF a warrior wannabe is never easy. Just
ask Ted Raimi, who plays Joxer, the clumsy, socially
maladroit semi-sidekick on Xena: Warrior Princess.
As one of the show's main sources of comic relief,
Joxer has been subject to virtually eve form of
physical abuse imaginable. Mud, raw eggs, rotten
vegetables; they're all part of Joxer the Mighty's
repertoire of discomfort, but for Raimi, it's just
another day on the job.
While Joxer may not be the best role model on Xena
(unless of course, one's idea of hero worship involves
getting beaten up on a regular basis), Raimi insists
his character is really just a regular guy who wants
to help out. "He likes to drink, he likes to
brag, he likes to go to whore houses; he's almost
like a steel worker from Pittsburgh. What separates
him is that he's a very good and moral character,
and has courage that unfortunately overwhelms his
mind and what his physical limitations are. He's
the first one to get his ass kicked, because he
has no idea. He has as much courage as Xena, he
really does; he just doesn't know he doesn't have
the same power. He's not very smart, but he has
a lot of guts, and I think people respond to that.
It's the one thing you can have if you don't have
looks and strength and agility and speed and beauty
like Xena and Gabrielle."
Funny Ha-Ha
Raimi's character gets the lion's s of the Xena's
slapstick material, but the actor is quick to share
much of his comic credit with co-stars Lucy Lawless
and Reneé O'Connor. "Lucy has quite
a range, and whatever she decides to do for the
rest of her life, she's got those acting tools to
take her wherever she wants to go. She's also a
great straight person, because as goofy as I get,
she knows just how to play off that. Most actors
have just one dirty look stuff, but Lucy is so instinctual
knows 20 different ways to react and they're all
funny.
"I also want to say that Reneé is also
very funny too. She's very graceful very pretty,
but has no problem with making the dumbest face,
or grabbing my nose and throwing me down or whatever.'
As a successful character actor, Ted Raimi has played
a number of different roles over the course of his
career, but he's done very well playing average
guy/ techno-geek-type people, notably as communications
officer O'Neill in Seaquest DSV. Other tv appearances
include Twin Peaks, Alien Nation, American Gothic,
and Alf, and among his feature film credits, Patriot
Games, Hard Target, Candyman, Skinner, Lunatics:
A Love Story, Army of Darkness and Darkman, the
latter two directed by his brother Sam.
Brotherly Love
One might think that Sam Raimi was instrumental
in landing his sibling a role on Xena: Warrior Princess,
produced by Raimi and Rob Tapert's Renaissance Pictures,
but Ted says work and family are two different matters
and he still had to earn his place on the series.
"I never hear anything from my brother,"
he jokes, "he's the dark demon in the passageway!
"He's got to be a producer, and with my family,
work always comes first. We're very much interested
in making a good product and we always have, and
that's the way we were raised. Even though we've
worked together a dozen times over the years, he's
always made it clear that if you don't do your job
to the best of your ability, you're out of here;
if you do your job well, we're going to have a great
movie, and that's the way I feel too. We love our
jobs, but we're in a volatile business, and require
everything from each other."
Kili'im!
Raimi's introduction to Xena was made easier by
his two female co-stars who made him feel welcome
from the very first day. "They're surprisingly
nice, especially since it's the first big show for
both of them. I think it's just the nature of those
two girls.
"For years, I did day player stuff, just going
from one tv show to another as a guest star, and
I've had some of the worse treatment I've ever gotten
from those actors. I vowed that if I ever became
a tv star, I would never treat another actor the
way I was treated, so whenever there's a guest star
on any show I'm on, especially on seaquest, I'd
always go out of my way to say 'How are you doing?
Coffee is over there, there's the bagels, and when
you have five minutes, come on over and we'll talk.'
It makes them feel welcome, plus they're just ready
to be a better actor for your show. Lucy and Reneé
are like that, they made me very welcome, and it
was really nice to guest star on their show, and
I'm still not a regular."
Unfortunately, some of the more die-hard Xena fans
weren't as accommodating, greeting Joxer's arrival
with anger, contempt, and an extremely negative
Intemet campaign. Looking back, the actor admits
being disappointed but doesn't take much stock of
the Intemet. "It's like an anonymous letter,
and there's no genuine face behind it," he
explains. "It's a cop-out. I like using the
Internet to send letters for business purposes,
and once in a while I can't resist seeing what people
say, but you can never take it to heart. First of
all, if somebody can't say something to your face,
they're not worth talking to, and if someone does
come up to me, I'll always listen, but I've got
to see their face.
"After a while, I think those Internet fans
turned around and now they like me, but in fact,
when they hated me, there was this movie I was doing
and I told Rob if it went too long, there was a
chance I might not 6e able to come back to Xena.
That would have finished me off for the season,
but Rob said, 'Look, if you can never come back
to the show, at least let me kill your character
off so it would make all those people who wrote
in for your death scene feel bad!' I said, okay,
if I never came back to the show, I'd at least do
the 'Joxer death' episode."
That episode has yet to be shot. Joxer's role in
the series continued to grow, soon working his way
up to his own episode, For Him the Bell Tolls, in
which Raimi got to explore a fearless, swashbuckling
version of his character. The story arose from a
discussion on set with producer RJ Stewart one afternoon
about their mutual admiration for Danny Kaye. "He
mentioned that one of his favourites was The Inspector
General, and I said my favourite was The Court Jester.'
We talked about it for almost an hour, and he said,
'You know, we should write a scene like that with
you as the Danny Kaye character,' and there's even
a note at the end of the episode about that.
"I love the scene where Joxer is about to
be executed and says to the king, 'I think you're
being blinded by your emotions; listen, why don't
we go have lunch - I know a little place near Ackmar
the meat man; we'll go sit down and we'll talk about
it,' and the king says 'Denied!' And then Joxer
says, 'I have a last request: I'd like to hear the
sound of a bell ringing - call me sentimental. 'The
king says 'Denied!' and he says, 'What a gyp, I'm
going to contact the Executioner's Guild and have
this reported!' He just won't shut up, it's almost
like you want to chop his head off!"
Seeing Double
Another Raimi favourite is The King of assassins
with the actor playing a dual role as Joxer and
his twin brother, Jet the assassin. "That was
a tough one," he remembers. "I needed
an entire day just to go over some sword techniques
with Peter Bell our stunt co-ordinator. My old buddy
Bruce Campbell directed it and it was exhausting,
because I was playing two characters, mostly in
the same scenes. Usually whenever you move a location,
you lose an extra hour because of all the hassle
of moving. This way, at least it was in the same
place every day."
And of course, there's the now-classic Joxer song,
which has made its way into a number of episodes,
becoming more elaborate with each incarnation. "It's
like pay-back for all the bad scripts I've ever
had to do in life!" says Raimi. "I think
I originally improvised the melody based on several
different Saturday morning super-hero cartoons I
had seen, and then [composer] Joe LoDuca took it
a step further." When it's pointed out that
not many characters have their own theme song, That's
probably good for them," is the good-natured
response, "because now they won't have to sing
it at conventions!"
With his work on Xena showing no sign of ending,
and new film projects coming up, Ted Raimi the regular
guy is finally starting to get a bit of recognition.
"It's a 50150 mix," he considers, "the
guys recognise me for Seaquest and the girls recognise
me from Xena. The two [Patriot Games] pictures,
because they get re-run 10 times a day on cable,
they do recognise me for those. Some things that
I felt I did a really terrific job on, I never get
recognised for, and the things that get shown the
most, I get recognised for the most."
