Interview with David Franklin (Farscape)

With Ben Browder and Claudia Black joining the cast of Stargate SG-1, are you likely to stay with Science Fiction as well or concentrate on drama?

As much as I enjoy doing do sci -fi I enjoy working in all sorts of dramatic forms. I’d love to do some more comedy.

How did it feel getting back together with everyone for “Peacekeeper Wars”? Was there a “learning curve” in getting back with the characters, or was everyone ready to pick up where they left off?

After working together previously for so long it was just a matter of slipping on the costume and business as usual. Well it was for me anyway. I was quite surprised how after a day on set it was almost like there hadn’t been a break. There you go you taskmaster!!!!

How did it feel being less of a bootlicker and more of a hotshot commando in “Peacekeeper Wars”? Were you all having too much fun on the set?

Braca used to be the guy you should never go on a mission with because he’d inevitably get his subordinates killed while doing nothing himself. It seems like Captain Braca has matured somewhat. Who Knew?

Because the mini series shoot was like a movie there was more time spent sitting around waiting for special effects setting up shots. I was joking around with Raelee Hill one day -we were so bored- and we started shooting a joke Captain Braca beefcake calendar because of his new found hotshot commando status. That kept us amused for a few days. The only trouble was that the rest of the crew wanted to get involved and we were meant to be shooting FARSCAPE. The calendar was a great end of shoot present and you can get copies online at http://www.peachtreeservices.net/

What was a favorite episode for you? What episode makes you ask “What am I doing here?”

I enjoyed the one where Braca was bewitched by Grayza’s aphrodisiac secretion. Poor Braca didn’t know if he’d been sexually molested or not.

I remember the episode also with Grayza where I had a Skreeth on my forehead, which telepathically transmitted another being into me and Rebecca (Grayza) asked me how I was going to be possessed and I replied I have no #$%#@%$ idea!

I think Braca’s favorite moment was when he had his boss Scorpious on a chain. It was a moment of complete wish fulfillment for him.

When you look back on “Farscape’ what are your impressions? Was it “just another gig” or do you feel like you made an impact?

I originally only came in for two episodes and it was for the whole run of the show first and foremost the extraordinary vision of Brian Henson. There has never been anything on TV before like it] and there will probably never be again. I was honored to be a part of that. Unlike most TV acting gigs we were able to form an ensemble group of actors, which allowed me to expand my range and take risks as a performer.

Compared to theatrical acting, do you find it difficult to perform opposite Muppets, green screens, and people yelling “boom… something just blew up to your left”?

Acting is always about imagination. And it’s especially good when the imagination is as fertile as the FARSCAPE team.