The #1 Fan Site For Montreal Born Canadian Actor
Jeff R. Roop Online
General
1. Who's your favorite actor?
Answer: Marlon Brando
2. Who's your favorite Actress?
Answer: Meryl Streep and Juliette Binoche
3. Who's your favorite band?
Answer: Radiohead and U2
8. Interests and hobbies?
Answer: Reading, writing, piano, djembe drums, hiking, travel, and I love movies
9. Favorite TV Shows?
Answer: The SImpsons, South Park, Seinfeld
10. Favorite movies?
Answer: On the Waterfront, The Godfather I and II, The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Broadcast News, A Fish Called Wanda
12. All the schools you went to?
Answer: Ecole Primaire Beaconsfield, West Island College, McGill University, Carnegie Mellon University, The Moscow Art Theatre School
13. Where the farthest you've been in the world?
Answer: Russia. I lived in Moscow during theatre school
14. Whose you Favorite author?
Answer: Milan Kundera, Hemingway, Mordecai Richler, Dostoevsky, Anton Chekhov, Leo Tolstoy, Shakespeare.
15. Before you became an actor, did you have any jobs like working in a coffee house or a Mall?
Answer: Of course. I worked as a Waiter, a Bartender. When I was younger I worked in a Grocery Store, For UPS, In a Paint Factory, Landscaping...
Roles
Vampire High Questions
16. How did you get the role of Drew?
Answer: I got the role of Drew by auditioning for it. I went through four rounds of auditions before being offered the role.
17. What did you keep from the set of Vampire High?
Answer: What did I keep from VH? Well, yes I did get to keep my teeth.
Other Role Questions
18. Tell me about Critical Assembly. And who you played?
Answer: I loved playing the role of Roger Stupak. We are alike in some ways but we are also very different in some of our beliefs and in how we deal with situations. I enjoyed working with everyone in that movie. They did a good job and were a lot of fun. No arguments or BS at all.
19. How did you like working on the set of Jekyll and Hyde?
Answer: Jekyll and Hyde was a lot of fun. The cast and crew were great and so were the producers and the director. It was one of the funniest times I've had, even though some days we were shooting some pretty crazy stuff.
20. Tell me what's it like working on a film like "In The Dominican"? Tell me about your character?
Answer: Well, my cousin Directed it so it was a lot of fun being a part of his project. The material was dark so that was challenging. I play a young man who is looking for his Brother, who was involved in the UnderWorld and has now Disappeared.
21. Can you tell me what it was like working on the following shows, like playing the characters?
Answer: Numb3rs was a really fun little character. I don't think I've ever played a part where the wardrobe helped me out so much, but when the wardrobe designer suggested I wear a hat, I put it on and felt connected and grounded.
Without a Trace The First Gig I filmed in LA. Big Big Big Production. Lot of $ in sets, Extras, Sound Quality, Camera work. Very Slick.
Before you say I do I'm Happy with a lot of my work in it. Unfortunately, the atmosphere on set wasn't as much fun as it should've been, especially when making a comedy.
Jekyll & Hyde I had a great time. Really bonded with the cast and producers. An important role for me because I hadn't worked in a little while and that part started a nice little run of several parts for me.
Acting
22. Out of all your many roles, which ones were your favorite to play and why?
Answer: Loved playing Frank Mahovlich in Canada Russia 72'. I had a lot of fun working on Vampre High but the role was dark so it wasn't always fun. Loved playing Stoop in Critical Assembly, Holbrook in CodeBreakers. Many of the roles were fun. Also some of the Theater parts, especially Carter in "Fat Pig;" A very challenging role that I really felt I succeeded in.
23. Now that your a more experienced actor, which roles that you’ve done would you like to do over?
Answer: None. They were what they were when I played them. I was who I was when I played them.
24. I’ve noticed that in all the Genders you’ve done, I don’t think I ever saw you in a comedy, Romantic comedy yes, but what about a comedy like Seinfeld, or corner gas? I also Have never seen you in any action flicks where your kicking some ass. I want to know why that is?
Answer: A show called Misguided Angels, which I did years ago, was a comedy. Also big Wolf; also many years ago. I really had fun doing Misguided Angels. First time I worked with my cousin Adam MacDonald.
Action Filcks.... Not really a Canadian speciality. I'd love to do an action Flick....
25. Which Genres do you prefer to audition for?
Answer: Ummm... I don't respond so much to genres as I do to material. If it's good stuff then I'm Excited.
26. What's the one role you wish you'd been cast for that you auditioned for?
Answer: Well, so many of course. That's the way the Business is.
27. Your most awkward on-screen moment?
Answer: Hmmm. Love scenes are always a little strange. You want it to look real but you also don't want your Co-Star to think you're a sleeze.
28. What would be the bigger honour: winning a Gemini (because it recognizes Canadian talent) or an Oscar (because of its prestige)?
Answer: Either would be lovely. If i had a God like power to choose, well then an Oscar.
Why an Oscar?
Follow Up: It would open more doors. Of course winning an Oscar for a Canadian film would be quite the sundae.
29. Which one of your projects are you the most proud of and why?
Answer: Glass Menagerie, the first play my Theatre company put up. It was an amazing group of people, a great space to perform in, and a very special production which I think really served Tennessee Williams play in a simple profound and unique way.
30. How many Theater Companies do you have, what are their names?
Answer: Arbat is the one I started in Montreal. I haven't done a play there since 2003 so it's pretty much done. Hard to justify going back to Montreal to do a play nowadays.
Harbinger is the one that was started here. We put up our first play in January - Spike Heels - and it was a great success. We may or may not do another next January. We'll see how we feel. It's a looooottttt of wooorrrrkkkk.
31. I'd love to see a play or 2 that you've done, is there any way that you taped a stage performance and post it up on YouTube?
Answer: No. Tapings are never a good representation of what was on-stage. Wouldn't do it any justice.
32. What director would you be most excited to work with?
Answer: Werner Herzog comes to mind. Sean Penn. Sidney Lumet. Mike Nichols. Jean Marc Vallee.
33. What's your opinion on the state of Canadian TV and film?
Answer: Canada is in an interesting place. There is far less American production, which of course means less opportunity, but it could also push people who aren't going from U.S. gig to U.S gig to focus on telling a Canadian Story. But there's too much dependancy on the grants. Not enough of a risk taking mentality involving our own work. I of Course am just as guilty as anyone else of this.
34. Have you ever wanted to be more then an actor. Maybe try your hand at Directing, or producing. I believe you once told me you wrote a stage play, would you want to write for TV or movies?
Answer: I Have written a script that I am working towards getting made. I have produced with my Theater Companies. I also always wanted to be a Pilot.
Follow Up: I just love planes. Love everything about them except the pollution they spew....
35. On all the sets you've been on, which ones were the most fun and challenging?
Answer: Vampire High was a lot of fun. A lot of laughs. Canada Russia 72' was also a lot of fun. CodeBreakers was exciting because it was such a challenging role, a big project.
36. Will you ever come back to Canada and do TV/Films or are you concentrating more of making a name for yourself in LA?
Answer: I always like coming back to Canada. And plan on continuing to do so. I feel that in LA I'm still in the mix for roles in Canada, while if I'm living in Canada I'm really not in the mix for parts in Los Angeles. So that effects my thinking. But if I really don't enjoy Los Angeles after a certain point I could certainly come back to Canada for good. I do miss it.
37. If presented the opportunity, would you do another Vampire TV or movie?
Answer: Sure.
38. How about Horror flicks is there any projects out there you've auditioned for?
Answer: I haven't auditioned for a horror movie in a long time. I can't remember the last one. Maybe Jekyll+Hyde....
39. I'd Love to see you do a big time Hollywood Action Movie. I hope you do!
Answer: Me too, sister.
40. What's next for you? Can you give me any hints as to what your working on or what you've already done? Any news on TV roles let me know.
Answer: I'll keep you posted.
Thanks Jeff for answering my questions I thought it was time to update the Q& A portion of the site. Please take a look at it as I've done some Updates. I think It looks pretty good.
Answer: I will. Thanks for the effort you put into it. Very cool indeed.