Conference Call with Nichelle Nichols and Dana Davis
Nichelle Nichols (Nana) and Dana Davis (Monica Dawson) sat down last week and had conference call with various media and press. Here are a few highlights from this Q and A session.
Q: Many of the characters on Heroes, they accept their powers begrudgingly, like they’re cursed instead of blessed. Monica seems to enjoy her powers so far. I think that’s kind of refreshing. What do you think about that? And also, if you were in a position like that in your real life, are you the type of person who would view it as a blessing or as a curse?
NN: I don’t think anything God given is a curse. It’s a matter of how we, but some things that happen to us that we, powers if you have, it’s startling when you discover you have it and it’s a little disconcerting when you realize that you’re different from other people or other people view you as differently. But I think that Monica did a wonderful job in being amazed by hers...
DD: Yea absolutely. I think in the beginning the producer sat down with me and they said just what you said, they said Dana, all the heroes, you know, most of the heroes on the show are burdened by their powers and we want to bring, you know, back the excitement of like when Masi in the beginning was so, you know, yatta! and so excited about his powers they wanted to bring that back ... a little bit with Monica and so it is refreshing, it’s fun because I’ve done a lot of drama in my career and I’ve played a lot of burdened sad characters, so it’s, it’s fun for me to play Monica.
Q: Heroes has a rather interesting way of working in that they’re shooting sometimes three episodes at once, meaning that you can work with three different directors in one day. How is that for you?
DD: When I first came into the show, I started on Episode 4 on like a Tuesday. And then Wednesday I was on Episode 5. Thursday I was back on Episode 4. It was crazy. I’d never done that before and really it’s very, very stressful for the actor. But you kind of get used to it. Like right now we’re on Episode 11 and I’ve gotten used to it. At first it was really hard, but now I kind of enjoy it. It’s fun. There’s never a dull moment on the set.
NN: I can attest to that. And I’m really delighted to hear that Dana did have that difficulty because when I first came in and we were shooting one scene. And then it’s four months earlier and I’m not sure what took place and where. And I’m one, you know - I immediately ask questions. And I think they thought I knew more than I did about the series, and I should be adjusting. But it was very stressful. I learned to adjust - make that adjustment and now it’s fun.
Q: Monica’s powers are actually very cool. ...she’s able to have the ability to go and watch something, then be able to do it. How much training have you had to do or put into the show to learn all these different kinds of things that she can do?
DD: Oh my God. You know, I was kind of thrown into it, just like I showed up for work. And they were like, guess what Dana, we’re doing this. And so it was really hard on me because I came from it - like out of shape. ...my idea of working out is going upstairs in my apartment. And so I had to do a lot of physical things right
away, like the double-dutching and doing a lot of the karate. And I spent a lot of my weeks really, really sore at first. And so sort of have gotten into it now and I have a stunt double who works with me. And we’re starting to work out, and they’re starting to, you know, with some karate training. So at first I was just like blindly, just like here you go. But now it’s gotten a little bit easier…
Q: I just wanted to ask a little bit more about (Monica's) powers. You’re able to copy physical things that you see. But do you know or can you say - does that also translate to like if you see someone use their powers, much like Peter or somebody, are you able to copy those as well? Or is it just simply physical things like being able to copy a fighting style or something that your powers are limited to?
DD: I think right now my powers - well you know how Heroes’ powers have a way of evolving throughout the season. So right now my power is that whatever I see I can do - a physical ability. It’s limited to physical ability.
I think the producers of the show - they already have that element with Peter and with Sylar, you know, the supernatural who can do everything. And I think they wanted to capitalize on the amazing abilities of like human beings, you know. I mean, you can just watch the Olympics. Human beings are so amazing and I think they wanted to bring that element in a supernatural way to Heroes with Monica.
Q: Being that your powers are very physical and you’re a fighter and such, can we expect to see any kind of knockdown, drag out fight scenes with other characters, like maybe Kristin Bell’s character or something in the future?
DD: You’re going to see a lot - Monica gets pretty tough. As far as will she be with, you know, any other heroes in some cool fights - we can only hope. I really can’t say right now. But I can say that Monica - you will see a lot of her fighting. It gets pretty exciting, so I can say that.
Q: Is it emotionally wrenching playing these two survivors of Hurricane Katrina? What is that experience like?
DD: I’m the kind of person, that if I see someone else crying, I cry too. I take on that emotion. So sometimes I run from it. ...when I got this part, I couldn’t run from it anymore. ...I watched a lot of the documentaries and it was just - it made it real to me. I mean, because, you know, Heroes is so surreal and it’s fun, bringing in this element of reality - it was hard for me at first. And so I just kind of keep that with me. I find a way to put it in a box so I can play this upbeat, fun character. But I think it makes the character more real.
NN: I could relate to her so powerfully and relate to her house, you know. And how she has stood tall and diffident. And the - it either makes you or breaks you. And I’ve decided - and I could see that Nana was not broken, injured but not broken. And she has a reason to go on to stand tall and to be a strong woman for her granddaughter and grandson.
Q: Some people have said it’s kind of exploitative for the show to have characters set in New Orleans ... what (do) you guys make of that?
NN:to acknowledge it and ... to make it part of something called Heroes is to do honor, and the honor that could be done even more in the re-building of that beautiful city and that beautiful state of New Orleans is to show how it can be done and it can be done just like the President came to California when Malibu is burning, to give assistance.
That kind of immediate attention to New Orleans (that has) saved and would have saved and still can, as to what it takes a lot of lives and a lot of pain, and can rebuild New Orleans. What are you going to do? Drop it off of the map? ... this country is too beautiful to write off one place as can’t be saved, that’s just whoever thinks that, I’m an optimist and a rebuilder so that’s my answer.
DD: I think that bringing ... the Katrina thing into Heroes that’s not trying to be political, I think what they’re trying to do is just restore a little bit of hope to a community that’s lost a lot, and yes it’s surreal, yes it’s make-believe but it restores a little bit of hope to people, I mean you know, they’re watching it and they’re like, hey that’s us on TV.
Q: We got a glimpse of an (Isaac Comic Book) with who is (St. Joan) and I was wondering Dana if that means that Monica might actually take up a costume and start fighting crime?
DD: Wow, I don’t even know what I can say. But I can say that that’s a good guess. I can say that. But I think that’s all I can say.
Q: What sort of spoilers can you give us? What’s going on with both your characters in the next couple episodes?
A: I think in the next of episodes though you can certainly talk about exploring your powers with Micah, with the character with Noah, and that you’re going to be crossing, you’re going to be meeting some new heroes. You’re going to be crossing over with other characters in some surprising ways.
DD: Yea well I think, and also Monica is going to go a place that no NBC hero has gone before you know, it’s going to be really fun to see Monica’s story unfold because it’s something that’s not been done on Heroes yet, so it’ll be very fun.
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