On-Line inteview with Matt Frewer
By Sci-Fi Channel
December 10, 1998

Star of Psi Factor & Max Headroom Moderator: Matt - can you type??

Moderator: hold on everyone - a momentary tech problem...

MattFrewer: See me now?

Moderator: YES!

Moderator: Hi everyone - welcome to tonight's scifi.com cyberchat where tonight's guest is actor Matt Frewer who for two years now has been starring in the weekly syndicated feature, PSI FACTOR: CHRONICLES OF THE PARANORMAL, hosted by Dan Ackroyd. Matt is probably _best_ known for his dual portrayal of cyber-personality Max Headroom as well as Max's human alter-ego, journalist Edison Carter on the eponymously titled series "Max Headroom."

Moderator: Welcome to cyberspace, Matt! Have you done one of these chats before?

MattFrewer: Yes, once before.

Moderator: Brief word about the drill: this is a moderated conference as you may have noticed. That means that only Matt Frewer and I can type. But you can ask Matt Frewer questions - all you have to do is shoot 'em to me as private messages and then I'll release 'em.

Moderator: Matt, one of the most popular shows on network TV right now is THE X-FILES - where Fox Mulder, like Matt Praeger, heads a team of investigators seeking the truth behind strange, sometimes paranormal incidents. How are Matt Praeger & Fox Mulder different from one another?

MattFrewer: Yes they are... I would say

MattFrewer: that my character is not only

MattFrewer: a skeptic

MattFrewer: but he engages people more quickly

MattFrewer: His character more passionate than David's character

MattFrewer: GA

Moderator: <George-Kennedy> : You have done lots of voice over work for animated shows, from Batman, Gargoyles, Tiny Toons, and the Disney Herc. Do you like it better than traditional acting?

MattFrewer: I don't like it better. It has different demands. It's fun. I actually prefer on-camera work

MattFrewer: GA

Moderator: <Mathias> : I like you as Berlinghoff Rasmusan on Star Trek. Do you intend doing more SciFi?

MattFrewer: If the script is good and the character good, I'll most likely take the job whether Sci Fi is bye-the-bye.

MattFrewer: GA

Moderator: LadyYamamoto> : Was "Max Headroom" your first "big break"?

MattFrewer: Sure. I would say so. I'd been a lot of theater in England.

MattFrewer: But it was the first thing that made me visible

MattFrewer: GA

Moderator: CenoByte> Question: Hero or Villian. What is matt's fave type of role?

MattFrewer: Most definitely villians

MattFrewer: There are expectations from the audience when you play the hero

MattFrewer: But as a villian all bets are off and you have a much wider range.

MattFrewer: GA

Moderator: <Lindsey> : Hi matt!! BIG FAN!!!!! LOVE the show PSI-Factor....and I'm sure everyone will ask you good questions.. so I'll ask you about a cast member. What is it like to work with Nancy Anne Sakovich what is she ike in real life?

MattFrewer: She's pretty much what you see is what you get. Very attractive. LOvely girl. A pleasure to work with on the show.

MattFrewer: GA

Moderator: <Jubal> : What lured you to play Trashcan Man in The Stand?

MattFrewer: I had read the novel a few years earlier

MattFrewer: The characters of Flag and Trash had stood out, so I was thrilled when it was offered to me.

MattFrewer: GA

Moderator: For latecomers - our guest is Matt Frewer and you can ask him a question by shooting the question to me as a private message!

Moderator: Phoenix> to <Moderator>: Did you have fun playing Max Headroom in the movie, and what was it like to see the computer animation of yourself?

MattFrewer: It wasn't computer animated.

MattFrewer: It was me and a lot of rubber makeup

MattFrewer: There was a certain anonimity so I wasn't typecast after Max

MattFrewer: The makeup was uncomfortable however

MattFrewer: GA

Moderator: ADIMIRALQ> adimiralQ my question is there going to be another movie or episode of max headroom

MattFrewer: That's doubleful. It's gone past its sell-by date.

MattFrewer: GA

Moderator: <jennyann> : Which episodes of PsiFactor are your favorites and why?

MattFrewer: There are two or three that come to mind... Where the characters are on the front burner and the investigations are more background. Viewers like the character in peril. Those are the most rewarding episodes to do.

MattFrewer: GA

Moderator: George-Kennedy> Matt, how computer literate are you? Were you very back in the day of Max Headroon, if not, was it odd to be playing a computer character, yet not knowing a lot about them yourself?

MattFrewer: I don't know anything about computers. Infact I'm slightly bitter about PCs

MattFrewer: It's the only exam I cheated on in high school and I still failed miserably!

MattFrewer: GA

Moderator: For latecomers - our guest is Matt Frewer and you can ask him a question by shooting the question to me as a private message!

Moderator: <Vid> : I'm sure you've been asked if you've ever gotten sick of always being identified with Max Headroom, and not recent work... Does it get tedious?

MattFrewer: No, it doesn't get tedious. I'm happy to answer the questions as long as people ask about Max/. I'm grateful for the calling card that Max provided.

MattFrewer: GA

Moderator: You're also identified right now with the rainforest Action Network whose spokesperson you are. Could you tell us a little about what attracted you to this project?

MattFrewer: I don't know what could NOT attract you to the project. They're active world wide saving old growth, and they're a group I wanted to work with very much.

MattFrewer: GA

Moderator: <jennyann> to <Moderator>: *Where* would you like to take the character of Matt Praeger in future episodes of PsiFactor, particularly in terms of character devlopment?

MattFrewer: I think I'd want to see more of his home life. I image he's fairly lonely. Hopefully that coul;d stretch beyond half an episode.

MattFrewer: GA

Moderator: <ADIMIRALQ> : howlong does it for the max headroom rubber mask to form

MattFrewer: The makeup took four and a half hours in the UK, and two and a half here in the States where we had two makeup artists working on it at once.

MattFrewer: GA

Moderator: <DrewBarrymore> : MR.Frewer do you let your kids watch any films you have made, do you have kids?

MattFrewer: I have one two year old, so she's a bit young. Still on Disney Classics

MattFrewer: .

MattFrewer: GA

Moderator: <WandaQuickSilver> : Of all the roles you have played, which has been your favorite and why?

MattFrewer: I don't know...I have several favorites... Probably because they're closest to my personality. That's the self invol;ved answer you don't care to hear.

MattFrewer: GA

Moderator: For latecomers - our guest is Matt Frewer and you can ask him a question by shooting the question to me as a private message!

Moderator: <George-Kennedy> Are there any favorite actors or actresses that you would like to work with that you haven't yet?

MattFrewer: I loved working with Michael Moriarty. I'd love to work with him again in the future.

MattFrewer: GA

Moderator: Ben Stone!!!

Moderator: Jubal> : What role would you like to play if you could?

MattFrewer: As an actor you're asked that alot. But you don't know the answer until it arrives

MattFrewer: Any good actor wants to be stretched by the material

MattFrewer: Hopefully it's something very different from what yoiu've done before. In other words...I can't answer that

MattFrewer: GA

Moderator: <BASS> any new movies you will be in Matt

MattFrewer: Films and television have different demands. Television is so FAST. But sometimes the work is rushed. Films give you TIME.

MattFrewer: I have a couple films brewing now

MattFrewer: GA

Moderator: <WandaQuickSilver> : what do you like to do besides acting?

MattFrewer: I love to play hockey

MattFrewer: Reading and writing

MattFrewer: And mostr of all...playing with my daughter.

MattFrewer: GA

Moderator: <jennyann> Will you be doing more writing for PsiFactor?

MattFrewer: Yes. I was suppose to do more this year, but Canadian tax law hurt me

MattFrewer: I can't declare my income up there for writing.

MattFrewer: Hoipefully next season

MattFrewer: GA

Moderator: Hey - at least you're in the .05% who get paid!

Moderator: George-Kennedy> : You're wife has been on a few different shows as walk on characters. Did they approach her without you even really knowing about it before hand?

MattFrewer: No. They run it by me first

MattFrewer: My wife was a very well know actress in the UK

MattFrewer: Any chance I have to work with her is great

MattFrewer: GA

Moderator: <my2trek1> : has mr frewer done any shakespeare

MattFrewer: I started off in England in the natiopnal youth theater, then went to theater school and work the west end

MattFrewer: I di a lot of Shakespeare over an eleven year period

MattFrewer: GA

Moderator: Favorite roles?

MattFrewer: Gosh..

Moderator: What p[lay was he in?

MattFrewer: Either the gentelman caller in Glass Menagerie

MattFrewer: Or Anthony in Julius Caesar

MattFrewer: GA

Moderator: For latecomers - our guest is Matt Frewer and you can ask him a question by shooting the question to me as a private message!

Moderator: DrewBarrymore> My question would be sir are you now going more into Drama, or do you still want to make, and kind of be known for sci-fi films?

MattFrewer: Or do you still want to be known for comedy... You're always known for what you did last...or what made the biggest splash

MattFrewer: I don't turn my back on anything, nor do I wish to be pigeonholed.

MattFrewer: GA

Moderator: <WandaQuickSilver> : I have a 17 month old child how has your life changed with a little one at home?

MattFrewer: How doesn't change?

MattFrewer: Everything revolves around them don't you find?

MattFrewer: GA

Moderator: <BigSkyMac> to <Moderator>: Who's your stand-in for PsiFactor? ...

MattFrewer: It's a fellow called Emerson. He's a real trooper. A wonderful guy. He's done a great job

MattFrewer: GA

Moderator: <jennyann> : Have you had a chance to meet the people who work for the OSIR in 'real life'? Do you think it would be an interesting job to have?

MattFrewer: I think it would be an interesting job to have...if it really existed...could be a tax shelter...what do you think?

MattFrewer: GA

Moderator: <Vid> Are you happy being an actor? Do you see yourself doing more writing, or maybe directing/producing?

MattFrewer: I'm not one of those actors that wants to direct necessarily. However I do want to produce and act in my own stuff

MattFrewer: things I've written

MattFrewer: I'm extremely fortunate to be doing what I'm doing. I'd do it for free

MattFrewer: but don't tell THEM that.

MattFrewer: GA

Moderator: <Jubal> to <Moderator>: How has success changed you?

MattFrewer: I don't think your life changes. Suddenly you have more choices, good or bad

MattFrewer: Any actor who's good wants to act more than anything

MattFrewer: As long as that desire never changes, you're lot in life doesn't change

MattFrewer: The unfortunate thing is that even if Mel Gibson ghets the script before you...Costner got it before Mel

MattFrewer: GA

Moderator: For latecomers - our guest is Matt Frewer and you can ask him a question by shooting the question to me as a private message!

Moderator: <waldo> : Are you a science fiction afficionado? Do you lean toward any particular writers?

MattFrewer: I like science fiction in my work, but I haven't read it widely. As a medium for drama it puts charcters into peril and gives you a wider range to play.

MattFrewer: GA

Moderator: What other kinds of things do you like to read?

Moderator: What's the best book you've read recently?

MattFrewer: I read biographies more than anything else. I don't have nearly enough time to read outside of work -- which seem all consuming.

MattFrewer: GA

Moderator: <George-Kennedy> : I read somewhere that you were the quarterback for your highschool football team back in Canada. Did you have higher hopes in the sports field before the acting bug got you?

MattFrewer: Sure. I wanted to be a pro hockey player, or football. But at a ceratin point, I realized I wanted to do other things.

MattFrewer: GA

Moderator: How involved is Dan Ackroyd with the day-by-day operations of PSI FACTOR?

MattFrewer: Not at all. Dan brough the idea to Atlantis Alliance than took a step back and oversees from afar

MattFrewer: GA

Moderator: <Vid> Are you happy being an actor? Do you see yourself doing more writing, or maybe directing/producing?

MattFrewer: We've seen that one...

MattFrewer: GA

Moderator: Ooops!

Moderator: For latecomers - our guest is Matt Frewer and you can ask him a question by shooting the question to me as a private message!

Moderator: <WandaQuickSilver> to <Moderator>: where do you prefer to live in the United States or Canada?

Moderator: Or England??

* Moderator smiles *

MattFrewer: At the moment I'm enjoying living in Canada again. It';s a gentler culture.

MattFrewer: GA

Moderator: <waldo> Do you consider Max Headroom still a viable vehicle for philosophical exposition?

MattFrewer: The look of the show hasn't dated

MattFrewer: I think if Max was to come on now he'd be ready for Politically Incorrect

MattFrewer: GA

Moderator: With the impeachment hearings in full flower, I wonder whether you have any thoughts on having played Alexander Haig...

Moderator: Is it harder to play a character who is NOT fictional?

MattFrewer: Well, I'm sure that Haig is at home getting a clammy sense of deja vu

MattFrewer: GA

MattFrewer: It

MattFrewer: isn't harder playing a real lifde character

Moderator: Has your daughter seen Hercules? How does she react when she hear's Daddy's voice coming out of Panic's mouth?

MattFrewer: but you feel a certain sense of responcibility--particularly if the charater is still alaive

MattFrewer: She hasn't seen Hercules yet

MattFrewer: But she's confused when she hears his voice in the pop-up book

MattFrewer: GA

Moderator: <jennyann> : Do you manage to have some fun on the set of PsiFactor? Any good practical jokes or bloopers you can tell us about? <g>

MattFrewer: No specifically -- but that's because there are so many

MattFrewer: It would be a deadly dull show if we didn't constantly see the lighter side of things... Probably too constant

MattFrewer: GA

Moderator: <liv> to <Moderator>: What are some of your future projects

MattFrewer: There are three or four projects that hopefully will bnear fruit. Two writing projects. Hopefully PsiFactor will have another season beginning in Mayt. I'll be very busy in '99

MattFrewer: GA

Moderator: And for our final question of the night:

Moderator: <Braveheart> : The world that max headroom portrayed is certainly what ours could easily become, how did you feel about that aspect?

MattFrewer: I think Max portrayed a rather grim and bleak version of the future, not as optomistic as say Roddenberry's Star Trek future

MattFrewer: It's very to let technology run rampant and make us isolated. Never leaving our modems. That's frightening to think about.

MattFrewer: GA

Moderator: Matt - thanks for joining us here tonight!

MattFrewer: Let me say a few things about the Rainforest Action Network. They're based in SF...And they have a website... Please becaome involved

MattFrewer: Think before you cut down a tree.

MattFrewer: Thanks for having me this evening!

Moderator: Thanks for joining us!!!

MattFrewer: Good night now.

Moderator: And thanks to everyone in the audience as well - great chat, great questions.