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Ask Ollian! Submit your questions for "Forbidden Love" stars Jo Weil and Thore Schölermann
Cover your ears, because the squee you're about to hear could be loud enough to reach all the way to Düsseldorf... We're thrilled to announce that we've managed to coerce the adorable actors who play Forbidden Love's gay couple into taking an interview with us. Yes, Christian (Thore Schölermann) and Olli (Jo Weil) are both on board, and we've decided to give you diehard fans a chance to ask the actors your questions. It's easy: Just leave your questions in the comments (if the Q is specific to one actor or the other, please specify, although questions like, "How many kittens have spontaneously been generated by the sheer power of your perfect smile?!" can of course apply to either) between now and Friday, Noon EDT. We'll select some of the best questions and use them when we interview the fellas, and will share the results with y'all in the coming weeks. Have fun! Submitted by on Mon, 2008-06-16 09:12. |
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Now I know...
what the noise was that I've been hearing in Köln a few minutes ago. ;-)))
Wow, that's like christmas, eastern and my birthday all falling on the same day. I guess you just couldn't stand us all complaining anymore, right? ;)
Now I'll be spending the rest of the week thinking about some good questions to ask them.
haha, here we go....
*covers ears and waits*
this should be interesting. ;-)
question....
here is my question: is there an episode involving olli and christian that stands out the most to you so far? and why?
^ this question can be asked to them individually. :-)
Wow, you guys really love
Wow, you guys really love this 5 year old twink picture of Jo :)
Err, some suggestions:
- What has become your most loathed/feared interview question? The Are you gay in real life? one or the What's it like to do soap opera love scenes? one? :D
- Jo, you have already been involved in a gay storyline on Forbidden Love 5 years ago, from your perspective has anything changed since then? Are people more open now? Or was it more of a big deal back then? Or has it been pretty much the same, aside from the viral effect of the internet?
Did you get lots of hatemail from Tom and Ulli fans back then?- Forbidden Love has been doing gay and lesbian love stories pretty much constantly for the last 10 years or so. What makes Forbidden Love so special? Is the ARD very supportive?
- Looking at the youtube comments to the videos of the storyline, there are many replies from places as far away as China or the Philipines talking about coming out problems. Did you receive any media training or other types of support from your show on how to deal if somebody wrote to you on an issue like this?
- What are some of the places you have gotten fanmail from?
- As an actor, does one sometimes have to blend out the response to a story to ensure it doesn't affect one's performance?
- Is it strange to sometimes have your storyline compared to the gay storylines on other soaps?
- So, according to you, who's gonna win the European Soccer Championship? ;p
- Seriously guys, what's up with the manscaping epidemic on VL? Do you have an in-house waxer or do they just give you coupons?
As an European fan, from the bottom of my heart, please Jo and Thore, please, don't fuck this up/please do us proud ;D
Jo & Canada and Thor
It was asked in an interview
It was asked in an interview before (youtube search "jo thore giga" for the three part interview) and the answer was, no it was not the plan for them to go on Jo's Canada trip together.
And why do I get the impression that Jo probably really regrets telling this story way back in November? He already seemed pretty disturbed that the question was asked again in the Giga interview.
Off the top of my head.
For both: Has the incredible international response to Christian and Olli's love story had any impact with the producers and writers on how to proceed with the story? And do you now feel a greater responsiblity in portraying the characters as a result of the fan response?
Check out my blog: http://radicalsexy.blogspot.com/
Oh, one more!
For both: I'm seriously planning a trip to Germany next year! What's your favorite part of the country, or what do I absolutely need to see?
Check out my blog: http://radicalsexy.blogspot.com/
Any chance that anybody from
International Appeal
I'm reining in my desire to ask certain questions, so I'll stick with these two:
For both Jo and Thore-
1) Obviously the Olli/ Christian story has become a huge hit on the internet- giving them an international reputation that they probably weren't expecting.
God forbid the loveliness should ever end (but it is a soap so I'm braced...) but IF they were ever to leave VL, would they be tempted to try getting English speaking roles outside of Germany? And have either of them already been approached?
2) Thore mentioned in the Giga interview that he was enjoying this storyline as it was a good chance to show off his acting skills. Are there certain roles (eg character types or emotional journeys) that either would like to play in the future, that they might find interesting as an actor?
questions
Ok, asking Jo to marry me would probably be inappropriate.
Thore: What is up with that chicken?
Jo: I've read that you studied in the US for a while. Where did you study, and is there anything you miss about America? (Be careful, you might be inundated with anything you mention from your American fans)
Both: Does the international appeal and response to the show seem surreal to you? Overblown? Did you get much foreign fanmail before this storyline?
Both: American soaps don't have much rehearsal time, and actors have mentioned that they pretty much make choices in the moment. What is the rehearsal process like on VL
www.thebittersuite.blogspot.com
Love the "What's up with the
Or what's with the pictures
Or what's with the pictures of Christian's old girlfriend Coco still on the wall. But then again these things are all on the set people and chances are that the actors don't get to change stuff on the sets :D
Maybe the real question should be: In what kind of higher dimension does Christian and Oliver's flat lie that so many rooms can fit into it in a totally geometrically impossible way? ;D
Random questions
First, thanks for agreeing to the interview:
Jo and Thore:
You guys have any plans or projects outside of VL? If so, what and when? I know Jo is doing theater, but I mean any films? Especially, any films together?
More on this: would you guys consider doing a full-length feature film based on Olli and Christian's story supposing that was ever an option?
Ok, I have to ask this of both: during your various intimate scenes, do you guys ever just lose it and break down laughing? Of course, you've said you do during 'mistakes' and all, but I mean generally.
Both: Both of you say you are good with English. How good? I'm considering writing you both, but I'm a little concerned over how to write it. I am fair at German, but I'd need serious help writing it.
Any public appearances planned in the US? Please make sure to let us know, if so.
Thore: Realizing that the story is not in your hands, and you are not allowed to reveal future plots, can you at least tell us if Christian EVER gets to tell Olli that he loves him??? And, I mean more than: yeah, same back to you!
Jo: Olli doesn't seem to have a 'big dream' (we talk about this on The Gays of Daytime forums a lot) other than making other people happier. That's not a bad thing to pursue; but I wonder from your prespective as the actor, you think he has one or is that pretty much it? Or, is it something else entirely?
Both: And the big question for me: Are we going to be seeing more and more of O & C's story on the show? I love the other stories as well, of course, but do want more of you guys. Can you give us a hint?
Both: Ok, in a fair fight, who would win? :D
thanks
OMG OMG OMG!
My question
Given that Jo and Thore have to do scenes that show intimacy between Olli and Christian. Have those scenes brought them closer as friends and collegues or has it had no effect at all?
Saying I love you
I'm not sure where this Christian can't say I love you thing came from.
Christian told Olli he had fallen in love with him when they finally got together. He's said he loves Olli to Gregor and others, and I can only think of Olli saying "Ich liebe dich" explicitly once since they became a couple.
www.thebittersuite.blogspot.com
Make sure
Gay marriage?
It wouldn't be the first
It wouldn't be the first gay marriage. VL already did a ceremony for Gero and Markus in the 1990s and a huge pompous wedding for Carla and Susanne just a few years ago. (and that aside from the fact that Germany technically has only civil unions, not that that ever stopped any soap from throwing huge ceremonies)
I definitely don't think that Christian and Olli who are way too young to get married (and it's just way too early at this stage of their relationship) anyway just to make a statement, particularly since it wouldn't be one anyway, considering there have already been ceremonies on (1) German tv, (2) German soaps, (3) VL itself.
AfterElton might I plead with you that you let somebody like Wolfi from gay daytime who is actually familiar with the show proofread the questions before you send them? Precisely to avoid questions like this that would just show that whoever poses them isn't sufficiently informed on the subject? Cross cultural communication is usually hard enough in itself.
Personally, I also find those fishing for information for potential saucy details of their inter-personal relationship questions also highly inappropriate. It seems to me like it would feed into exactly all the childish prejudices about playing gay and actor kissing that people usually complain about. Please, don't stoop to that level. There surely must be more subtle and more tasteful ways to get the information you want.
Just because we adore the characters together, doesn't mean we have to or even should also do that in regards to the actors and whatever they do in their private lives.
I've always enjoyed AE's interviews and have often been very impressed (I really enjoyed the feature on news anchors in particular) so I'm hoping for more of those interesting and insightful questions and no devolving into fangirlisms. Sure it's just a soap and no it shouldn't be taken 100% seriously, but there a certain areas and aspects that make me think, okay, let's just not go there. VL is its own thing and not just the overseas fairy to give everybody their perfect wish fullfillment.
Well, we can just re-phrase the question:
How you feel about the possibility of Christian and Olli getting married/having a commitment ceremony?
Check out my blog: http://radicalsexy.blogspot.com/
Sure you can ask. Though
Sure you can ask. Though it's seriously beyond me why anybody would want them to get married at this point. They haven't even been together for two months yet, Christian is still working through a truckload of issues. Again, they are German guys in their mid 20s. Not a gay version of virginal Christian fundamentalists who jump cluelessly into marriage.
Aside from that Jo and Thore have mentioned a whole bunch of times that they have nothing to do with the writing (even to the extent, at least in my eyes, to using it as an excuse).
On top of that VL is the most wedding cynical soap I have ever seen. If they ever got married then you could be sure it's only because it's the end of their storyline, either because they are leaving the show or because one of them would cheat on the other within 3 months.
And where exactly would the gay positive message lie in encouraging gay youngsters to marry somebody who they just started dating seriously?
Also, if you get asked by a gay fansite where you stand on your characters getting married, who would have the heart to say, naw, it would be wrong for characters, even if they hypthetically felt that way? I just don't see the point of pushing this particular relationship mold on this particular relationship at all costs.
It's a fine line
Know what you mean, lola
It's really difficult to keep the questions on a higher plane. I'm not one who has ever really written to public figures---other than in government (and for them, I am less accommodating of their personal feelings heh heh). On the one hand, I'm fascinated by these guys and their acting abilities; on the other, I'm wondering WHY I'm so surprised by it.
Also, I'm torn between wanting to know how they get motivated for scenes, but then again, I really don't want to know anything personal about them---because, well, I don't know them personally heh.
I feel sorta creepy even writing to them myself---or would, if they both didn't express a wish for more fan mail.
Anyway, this bodes to be great fun and I'm certain to enjoy the answers, regardless of the questions.
Maybe it would be a
Maybe it would be a worthwhile question to ask what kind of fanmail they like or what they would consider out of bounds. Or if they have ever gotten anything that made them uncomfortable. I think Jo has said in an old interview (from 5/6 years ago) that he takes it very seriously when teens write to him with their coming out problems. Which means to me that maybe it is okay to write to them a bit about who you are, but personally, it's always a very sketchy thing to want them to give you something of theirs.
To quote the same interview: "Die Leute können wirklich kaum auseinander halten, was ich spiele und wer ich im wahren Leben bin. Sie glauben, dass ich privat automatisch so bin wie in der Serie. Manchmal ist es etwas müßig, den Fans zu erklären, dass Jo weder so denkt noch so fühlt wie Oli. Auf den Punkt gebracht: Es ist lediglich mein Job, Oli meinen Körper zu leihen."
"Some people can barely keep apart what I play and who I am in real life. They think that I'm automatically just like I'm on the show. Sometimes it's tiring to explain to the fans that Jo neither thinks nor feels like Oli. To sum it all up: It's just my job to lend Oli my body"
But I'm digressing. Acting questions are definitely interesting. Though I have to say I have often made the experience that soap actors are a lot more casual about their characters than most others. They are just so much at the whim of writers, if they are told that their character is in love with this person, they have to do it. If one month later they get told its the next person, they have to do it. I wonder if Jo and Thore are like that too or if they have kept some idealism even while working on a soap.Maybe even some of the old and boring questions like "What drew you to acting/what makes the magic of acting for you" would still be interesting. Or even "What's the acting landscape in Germany like".
Was thinking along those lines myself
Interesting comments from Jo.
And, yes, I think that would be an interesting question: what kind of fanmail would you guys like? Are gifts ok? Or, sappy declarations of admiration, only? :D Or a mix, or something completely different?
Of course, I realize a great deal of my fascination comes merely from seeing an intelligent, well (extremely well) acted Gay couple on TV---ignoring the irony of having to go overseas via internet to see it. My real questions about all this are ones neither one of them could possibly answer, though I suppose they could speculate with more acumen than ever I could.
For serious questions, I'd submit:
Well, do you think your Story on VL could or should inspire US producers to create something similar here in the US? Do you think it would be as successful? Supposing you guys were offered a role in a similar drama over here: would you do it?
ETC.
Sheer speculation *shrug*
Anyway, thanks for the insights, lola.
See, that strikes me as a
See, that strikes me as a prime example of question where I can't picture them having a sensible answer. I mean, how would two dudes from Germany know that? Isn't that something that the powers that be within the US should be asked? Or the people who actually know something about the money/ratings situation of soaps in Germany? The producers, maybe the writers? Why would do actor dudes know anything about what exists currently regarding gay storylines in the US marketplace? I mean, what do you know about the status of gay media in Korea? At the most they would likely offer some sort of "Errr, I'm sure deep down the Americans are open minded and would accept a storyline like this as well" answer. But actual insight? Why would they know?
Of course, it's possibly that I'm grossly underestimating them, but my gut reaction is always, why would ACTORS know this? The actors are just the faces, the people who really create the storylines and make them happen, get them to air, are elsewhere.
I also quite frankly see few chances for all those suggestions for movies/doing stuff here. I dunno. There are just so many actors who try to cross over in the US. Native English speakers. People who are much more of a big deal in Germany.
It seems a bit surreal but Ollian are pretty invisible in a German context. The big fuss about gay storylines was in 2000/2001. That's was when the VL actors were still being interviewed by magazines (though more trashy teenage magazines as opposed to credible media) and the like. Even the DeRo storyline on AWZ had a bigger echo in Germany because at least they were interviewed by one gay magazine and received some visibility award for their storyline. But there is pretty much no media echo at all for VL. Heck not even the local German gay websites cover it, let alone any mainstream media. It just isn't as interesting in an overall German context apparently.
I have to admit, I don't find well acted gay storylines to be that rare to find, particularly if you count lesbian storylines as well.
But err, I'm digressing again. Maybe we could take this to private message? I really apologize for clogging up this topic with my replies.
Exactly
That's what I meant: the really serious questions I'd have to ask, I couldn't possibly expect them to have an answer for---beyond speculation.
But, who knows? As insiders in the Industry, they might have a take on it. Like, you could interview most rock guitarists (when they're sober, at least) and get some really good insights on their peers and the industry---see it on A&E all the time.
Anyway, excellent discussion.
It's a real pity that it
It's a real pity that it rumoredly is an email interview. At least in a voice or even face to face interview it's easier to interpret what a person knows and whether there's any use to ask any more in that direction or whether they seem like they would want to offer a theory on the industry (let alone the industry of a different country).
I really hope they get some insights out of Jo because he already played the same role in 2001 so maybe he could at least offer a contrast&compare.
Gotta say, I'm not surprised to hear that there are many insightful rockstars. After all, don't many of them writer their own music? That alone I think requires a basic skill set and intelligence that you don't have if you have a pure popsinger (emphasis on singer only). It's not that all singers only are stupid, just that they can be stupid and still do their job. Yet it's a lot harder to be really stupid and still write good lyrics. Just like in theory you can be stupid and uneducated but still be an actor. You can also be incredibly smart and be an actor. Or anything in between. It's just that the skill set required doesn't primarily ride on intelligence and education at least compared to writers or producers.
Which is why I always think that a truly smart and insightful actor (beyond and deeper what is taught to them by their PR team) is a real bonus rather than something you can take for granted. So, of course I would love it if Jo and Thore were sparkling examples of deep thought and insight. But I won't be mad if they aren't and are just normal dudes doing their jobs and don't think too much about it.
So some questions strike me a bit as barking up the wrong tree. Sure, you might get lucky and something cool might drop down. But wouldn't it be wiser to bark up the tree where you know that on all accounts what you are looking for should be up there? (in this case, the writer and producer trees who are of course harder to reach) But I admit that is just a personal pet peeve of mine that really has very little to do with this discussion or this interview :D I generally would love to hear more from writers, what they feel about their characters, what they characters mean to them, what made them write a character in a certain way, what personal experiences went into writing the character. In the end they are the ultimate authority and so it seems to me that they would be able to offer much more in depth information.
Yet it seems that actors are favored because they have pretty faces, even though they might not even have the knowledge to answer the really interesting questions.
Why do we always ask the actors "what were you thinking/feeling in this scene" rather than asking the writer "what were you thinking/feeling when you wrote that scene"?
I have to nitpick on one statement, Lola
"Yet it seems that actors are favored [for interviews] because they have pretty faces" as opposed to asking the writers (or the producers, for that matter, as in soapland--at least American soaps--the producers often have more power than the writers, and often dictate to the writers what they want them to write).
Anyway, since we don't know what the writers look like, how can we say we're favoring the actors because they "have pretty faces"? Since I'm only seeing a portion of the show on the internet, I don't even know the names of the writers or producers. Thus Jo and Thore, regardless of their infinite beauty, are the faces that we associate with the show.
In the end, I think our passionate response and desire to know more about Jo and Thore reflects our great hunger to see a well-written, marvelously portrayed gay love story, something which, despite the varying quality of Brothers & Sisters and As the World Turns, we are definitely not seeing on American television. It must be surreal to them that they have such a worldwide fanbase.
Check out my blog: http://radicalsexy.blogspot.com/
I agree with you LoLa
If they offer personal
If they offer personal things then of course it's wonderful. But specifically demanding it, fishing for it feels wrong to me.
For example things like doing outside projects together. Sometimes actors do that, usually theater (for example some of the Heroes cast members, some of the Star Trek TNG actors, "Deniz", "Julian" and "Oliver" from AWZ). So if they offer this information, great. But asking for it?
It's great if actors do stuff like that in real life, but what if they don't? If they offer the information that they are doing something like that it's great. But how awkward would it be if you ask them if they are planning any projects like that and the answer is "No, not really?". After all the vast majority of actors don't do stuff like that. And to ask for it always comes across to me like putting in expectations on those actors that go beyond what's connected to the storyline. It's great if some actors end up as bosom buddies, but just because they act in a storyline together doesn't mean that you can't demand that they also become bosom buddies just because you like the storyline. I'm sure they have plenty of friends of their own. And even if they are friendly, does that mean that they have to be friends? And even if they are friends do they have to be best friends? Would it ruin people's perception of the storyline if they were just good collegues? No, it just seems safer to me to keep those two areas seperated in your brain, as a fan.
Of course there are personal questions that might be worth asking (do you have any LGTB people/friends in your life? Any particular reactions from your parents/families when they heard you were playing a gay role?), but I think it's a very tricky area.
(of course, this is just my personal preference, I don't want to sound like I'm trying to tell AE how to do their interviews. I'm sure they'll come up with plenty of great question)
The reason I strayed into
The reason I strayed into that line of questioning: outside projects, et al, is simple:
Here, it's typical to see successful stars from one movie or show 'pair up' and do other projects. Not always, of course. But a great deal of the time. Like Adam Sandler and that guy with the weird comb-over hair. Sorry, not good with Star Names. Or Dean and Jerry or Clint Eastwood and that blonde. I suppose it would have been 'better' to ask if this is a typical syndrome in Germany like it is here in the US.
Told you I wasn't any good at questioning public figures---unless they are in the government :D
Funny :)
I've actually made the opposite experience. That it is actually quite rare for actors from a tv show to pair up again and be paired opposite each other again because each director of a show wants to create their own unique pair. I have seen it attempted a few times on soaps and it usually always ended up being terrible and the attempt to pair the actors up a second time usually flopped.
Even on movies it seems to be done only if the actors are really tight, above average friends and if the actors actually have the power over the project and therefore have the chance to cast their friends in their movies.
Especially if I compare it for example against the situation in some other cultures (for example Indian cinema) or the Hollywood of 50+ years ago. In India for example, if a pair gives a successful movie, everybody rushes to immediately cast them again together and do this as often as they can till the audience loses interest. Compared to that it is much more rare in Hollywood and even if they pair a pair up again there are usually huge time gaps in between (Sleepless in Seatle vs You've Got Mail, Pretty Woman vs. Runaway Bride). Again, compared to other cultures or even the Hollywood of old (Doris Day/Rock Hudson anyone?) it seems that most producers positively shy away from pairing people romantically that have already been paired together. (rules seem to be a bit different for two comedians)
And again, Jo and Thore are rather unnoticed in a German industry context. They aren't even close to the star potential you mentioned. Again, from a rating POV, Forbidden Love isn't even a very successful soap at the moment in a German context. So really wouldn't count on anybody rushing in and offering them movies at their disposal.
For comparison, in a German context Tom and Ulli were a much bigger deal, their rather explicit New Year's Eve love scene caused public discussion, the guy who played Ull in particular was repeatedly interviewed as the new teenage heartthrob by teenie magazines and their private life even attracted some attention from the tabloids. Last I heard "Tom" was waiting tables somewhere and "Ulli" has a role on a soap on one of those regional stations (and Ulli specifically left the show to seek fame because the success of the storyline had given him the impression that it was a possibility). Soap actors trying to cross over in other medias, always a tough thing.
That said, I'll still hold out hope that Jo or Thore will eventually show up at least in some of those cheesy "country" made for tv movies.
I'll have to bow to your
I'll have to bow to your superior knowledge of TV culture and the like as I don't watch American TV any more than I have to---this, limited to politcal speeches and the like. Even then, I try to watch it only on CSPAN. The reasons for that are obvious, methinks.
If I could, yeah, I'd watch German TV whenever I could.
I guess the real feeling behind my questions is a fervent hope that both actors will continue to succeed regardless of future projects or roles. That, of course, can't be framed in a question properly; nor could the answer.
laters
According to some columnist
According to some columnist at Stern us Germanic people have a reputation of seeming like we get a kick out of shooting down people's expectations. When in reality that's just how we are/our worldview ;D
So maybe with this in mind you should disregard anything I say.
That said, I've been a tv fan for a long time. And I have just seen so many career flutter away and die. Particularly on tv shows where people form deep attachment to the characters and become convinced that huge stardom lies ahead for their faves and usually the actors just disappear into obscurity.
There have been so many things that were much more popular, couples that reached a lot more people (Luke and Laura anyone? Yet neither actor ever managed to make it in primetime) and yet still, their fate obscurity. I've come to the conclusion that having a successful pairing has little to do with it and that it's more about whether an actor has (1) the right determination and (2) the right look to be molded into a lot of different roles on many different shows [like guesing on all the crime shows]. Particularly the second is hard for babyfaced type of actors who are often extremely good in triggering huge devotion while starting out but then lose out when their looks translate into also being good looking 30somethings and 40somethings. Anyways, these are the requirments that strike me as mandatory for an actor to at least get stable work and pay the bills. Anything beyond that is magic anyway.
I do wish the actors all the luck in the world and much stable work after their run as Christian and Olli ends. Though I do think that the chances of them ever getting something again that just hits and captures people in a similar way is small. Lucky the ones who get to experience that more than once.
No expectations..
According to some columnist at Stern us Germanic people have a reputation of seeming like we get a kick out of shooting down people's expectations. When in reality that's just how we are/our worldview ;D
Yes, that's a bit what we do here in Belgium too. That's why so many Belgium actors run to France to get their carreer started.
Yes again. I fear that once the Ollian hype is over, people will forget about Jo and Thore. I hope they are aware of the fact, that this is a media hype that might not last and I hope that they are armed for the future and hope they'll do big things acting-wise!
Since I don't live far from Germany, I'll even try to get to see Jo on stage (or better even Thore, should he ever be in a play), next time he is in a play.
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R.I.P. - Heath Ledger [1979 - 22 January 2008]
R.I.P. - Sayif [2006 - 12 June 2008] - my cat, run over by a car..
Kittens!
Please PLEASE ask the kittens question! I really want to hear their reaction, either one.
If I think of anything, I'll be back. Most of the good questions have been asked.
Thank you to AfterElton.com
Thank you to AfterElton.com for doing this! :)
To Jo and Thore:
My question is simple. How can fans get in touch with you both? Jo has his website, Thore, we're waiting on you? But for now, is there an address for the fans to "inundate" you with all things wonderful? :) I would like to put the information up on my Christian and Olli my space site. Thanks!
To quote Jo: "If you’d
To quote Jo:
"If you’d like to get in touch with me, contact me at
Jo Weil, c/o Verbotene Liebe, Studio 37/38, Butzweiler Str. 255, 50829 Köln, Germany"
http://gaydaytime.blogspot.com/2008/04/jo-weil-das-interview-interview.html
It's the same for Thore, just replace Jo's name with his. It's the official fanmail address and they encourage people to include postage if they want the actors to write back.
(that said, it still strikes me as a sensible question to ask, after all not everybody is gonna check everywhere)
Thank you! And I
SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLL...
Ok, breath, it's be ok, I'll be fine...
For both: Are the mannerisms and small gestures things that are written into the script or do both of you put those in yourself? For example, the little bite that Christian gives Olli after they kissed, the stroking of the ear that Olli give Christian in a certain scene.
Again, SQUUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry.
Jo and Thore: I just want
First of all: Thank you so much AfterElton for getting Jo and Thore to answer some questions for the fans. This is just fantastic!!
I'm sure my screaming could be heard all the way from the East Coast to the West Coast. Now let me calm myself and get to the question.
Jo and Thore: I just want to complement you on doing one of the most convincing and heartfelt love stories between two men i've ever seen on screen.
Question for both of you - The April 4th episode where Christian confesses to Olli he has fallen in love with him has drawn praise from many across the world for just the raw beauty of that particular scene. Did you have any idea while filming this scene something special was in the making? or was it just another day on the job?
Wheee!
Can’t wait to see this interview! Thanks so much for doing this. And please make sure the boys know how much they're loved by all sorts of people all over the world.
Because they're such good looking fellows.For their acting. :DI have a couple of questions.
To both Jo and Thore - now that you’re playing a couple, is it irritating being interviewed as a couple, rather than as individuals? Would you prefer to be seen as “Jo” and “Thore” rather than “Christian-and-Olli”?
Question for Thore: There’s some speculation that playing a gay character might be difficult, but I’m wondering if you find the boxing scenes harder? Did you have to do much training before playing these scenes? And if so, do you enjoy that side of your work?
Its hard not to act like a total fanboy
These guys are very good actors, and the little throw away gestures and non verbal bits really make their scenes. I'm almost embarassed by how smitten I am with this story in a way that makes it hard to ask them questions about the work. The main thing it points up is nothing about them. I feel like American culture has me so starved for appealing images of gay men, and gay couples in particular, that by comparison I'm ready to nominate these boys for an Oscar. A bit unfair to Jo and Thore to have to carry all this baggage, and I sense from reading the posts, I'm not alone. Seriously though, it would be interesting to hear something about their previous work and their career plans for the future. Was there someone in their lives who influenced their portrayals? Are actors as paranoid in Germany as in the US that they will hurt their chances for "serious" roles by playing gay? Certainly, I'd like you to convey appreciation for the charm and wit they bring to their performances.
Nous Sommes Tous Sauvages.
Ok, this captures exactly my feelings on the matter
HapNStance,
thanks for your much more eloquent expression of my take on Jo and Thore, Chris and Olli. This is EXACTLY what I've been feeling since I first started watching this show. You just said it a thousand times better.
I KNEW IT!
Ha! I knew it! The fact that you never commented on any of the pleas of posters here to 'pleeeeaze' organise an interview with Jo and Thore, was proof enough for me, that preparations were already well on the way!!! Ha!
How will the interview take place? By phone? I'm guessing it's all in English?
I'll try to come up with something intelligent.. hm..
If not, but if you happen to tell them where all their fans come from, please mention their have a fan in Brussels!
Thank you for organising it! You are the best! Gosh!
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R.I.P. - Heath Ledger [1979 - 22 January 2008]
R.I.P. - Sayif [2006 - 12 June 2008] - my cat, run over by a car..
Jo/Thore Question
Thanks AE for making this happen! As hard as it is, I'm going to refrain from squealing.
My question for both Jo & Thore:
You both put so much emotional depth and subtety into your performances. What type of acting work did you do before VL and how did it help prepare you for these roles?
answered prayers!!!!
thank you so much afterelton for this wonderful news... i can't squeel cause i am still numb of the shock... i read this hours ago but only now have i gathered my wits to write a comment!
there were a lot of great suggestions but please do heed lolaruns comments... i completely agree with her about being cautious about such questions specially when they are bordering on being "too" personal... but then again... AE has done soooo many intelligent and insightful interviews that i believe that this Ollian interview would be in good hands... i love you afterelton!! keep up the excellent work!!!
and now... not to be a nonconformist, but instead of giving a suggestion about what to ask.. can i suggest a question NOT to ask our boys? can we NOT ASK Jo and Thore if they are actually gay? i know a lot of folks would be angry at me right now... and i can give reasons as to why we shouldn't pry into their private lives... but i have to admit i am just being selfish with this question (or with not asking this question rather)... and that is because A) i want to have this fantasy of them (as a couple of course - not that kind of fantasy!) INTACT... i want to experience the beauty of seeing Olli and Christian together and be lost by their beautiful portrayal and not be reminded by reality - by the fact that Thore (Christian) has an actual girlfriend or even worst - married..... and lastly B) i hate - and i do mean HATE actors proving their heterosexuality when confronted by that three dollar question... i got really disappointed (although it's only rumored) that Nicolas Gob of les bleus expressed clearly and i think vehemently that he is 100% straight....
the gays of daytime did a wonderful interview of Jo and was in fact asked this question and i really liked what jo said... it waas vague.. but nonetheless he was not defensive but just a little coy.... and that's fine by me...
thank you once again AE.. Ilove you and love Ollian!!!!!
Total agreement.
There are two questions I hate that interviewers ask when an actor plays a gay role: 1) Are you gay? 2) What's it like to kiss another man?
In the first question, I don't care, it's not relevant to their portrayal--just their talent and ability to project the character's journey; when an actor plays a straight man, the question isn't asked, so why the reverse?
In the second question, I find it to be offensive because it assumes that kissing another man is somehow beyond the pale; it reflects badly on the interviewer and is disrespectful to the actor--because kissing anybody, whether male or female, who is not your real-life romantic partner, in front of a whole crew of people, must be an odd experience regardless.
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Wrong/Right answer
You are right, it's kind of sad, when an actor needs to do that (à la Kerr Smith and others). But frankly and having seen the GIGA interview, I don't think we have to fear that coming from Jo and Thore. Really. I don't remember the question in the GIGA interview (have to watch it again), but at some point both just answered simultaneously by a simple nod of their head and to me it showed, that that's all the answer needs to be sometimes.. [Now, if only I remembered the question - but I'll look it up]
AGREEING 100%
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R.I.P. - Heath Ledger [1979 - 22 January 2008]
R.I.P. - Sayif [2006 - 12 June 2008] - my cat, run over by a car..