GW: Let’s talk about Season One for a bit and some of your favorite memories from Season One, onscreen or off. What episodes would you say really furthered, in terms of plot and in terms of character development, Greer?
JWS: I’d say definitely “Lost” because that’s the episode where we get introduced and we get to see who he comes from and his background. The interesting thing about that is, on one level, yeah, you can look at that and say, “His father’s abusive,” or on another level, if he didn’t have a father like that, he wouldn’t be where he was. Joe Jackson — Michael Jackson talked about how his father used to make him work really hard and do this and that, but if his father didn’t do that, then he wouldn’t have become Michael Jackson.
So it was beautiful to kind of understand that aspect of his psyche and who he is. Like for Scott’s character there’s an episode where you get to meet his son. And Bobby’s [Robert Carlyle’s] character, there’s a pathogen where you get to meet his wife. Any time there’s an episode where you get to see something that’s beneath the surface that makes that person tick, it’ll add more dimensions to the character. So “Lost” was a good episode for Greer in that capacity.
I’d say another episode that really stood out for me was early on, I think it was “Light.” It’s a kino scene that opens the episode and Greer talking about crashing into a star as one of the most beautiful ways that he can possibly imagine moving on into the next world. I love that moment for him because you kind of see him relate to something such as death on a level than regular people [can’t] think of it on.
You see him being affected by it as opposed to him being ready to die — which tends to be an archetype that’s associated with a Marine. Just because they’re ready to die, doesn’t mean they want to die.
GW: You’ve had great work in some of the episodes like “Lost,” but I’ve actually found more of your performances to be more affecting in the kino episodes. There’s some really good stuff there.
JWS: It’s because I have more to do! If you write it, I’ll act it. [Laughter]
There’s a great kino scene where I’m talking with Scott about why I still say, “Sir.” I love that scene because it kind of shows that Greer’s a humble man. More humble than I think even I am. In a lot of ways, he’s more experienced than Scott. He has more on-the-ground experience and combat experience and has probably led more soldiers into battle than Scott. But he understands that in order for Scott to thrive and to grow, Greer has to let him lead. His ability to do that and not complain, and to trust the process, is something that I learned from him, that we can all learn from him.
GW: Season Two just began. I was privileged enough to see “Intervention” and “Aftermath” and they’re both stellar. In your opinion, what do you think some of the themes are that are going to be carried out throughout the year? Season One was about these being the wrong people and learning to live together, this small group of people that are basically starting out fresh because they have nothing from their past to hold them back or to get them home, initially. What are some of the themes we’ll see this year?
JWS: I think Season Two is going to be great because, I know if I could remove myself and become just a viewer, I’d feel envious about these people. I wish I had the opportunity to go out there and explore the universe and to be part of unlocking the secrets of human existence.
I think this season, you’ll see these characters sign up for the mission and say, “OK, we’re on this ship called ‘Destiny‘ for a reason. Let’s figure this out. Instead of complaining about where we are, let’s look at this as an opportunity to do something that no one has ever, ever done, including the Ancients.” Essentially, what we are doing is fulfilling their destiny. The people who came a million years before us, who were far more advanced — we’re picking up where they left off. I think we begin to realize that.
Also, this year’s about developing this ship more as a character and understanding that this ship knows exactly what it’s doing.
GW: I love the fact that that’s a route it’s going to go. You’ve said in the past — prior to getting this role — you were familiar with Stargate but you really hadn’t watched any of it. I don’t know how much that’s changed in the last year. But one of the main criticisms against Atlantis was — and there weren’t many — over the course of five years there was a lot of character stuff, but they never really explored the Atlantis city as fully as they probably should have.
It’s good that with Destiny being a character in and of itself, that we may actually see some of the Destiny‘s secrets unlocked. That true sense of exploration.
JWS: Yeah, it’s really exciting. And I’d say, within that exploration, the thing that they’ve done very well — our writers — is blending those lines between religion, philosophy, and science. I’m of the opinion that when science fiction … when I’m most captivated by it or most interested in it, it’s when it blurs the lines between the three. That’s one of our fascinations with outer space and with the ideas that are explored in a show such as this one.
And I’ll say this, too. Something else people have to look forward to, now that we spent the first 15 episodes really developing these characters and getting the audience to know who these people are, I’d say this season starts off with a bang and it does not stop. It’s pretty much full-throttle for the first six, seven, eight, nine episodes. If you want action, watch Stargate Universe because there’s a lot of action, a lot of bullets, lot of aliens. And a lot of death.
GW: I’m keeping my mouth shut, because I know who one is.
JWS: It ain’t me! [Laughter]
GW: Brian and Elyse and Alaina and David Blue, they’ve all started to go out and hit the convention circuit. Is that something that you’re interested in doing, or do you want to give it a little more time before you get to that point?
JWS: It’s something I’m interested in doing. You know I directed and wrote a film and all of my crew and my editors are in Los Angeles, so I’ve been flying back and forth from here to L.A. pretty consistently for the first three and a half, four months, and even over my hiatus. That’s when we shot the film. So, that’s taken up a lot of my time and energy. And it’s been an amazing experience and I’ve grown a lot from it.
But once that’s done — and it is for the most part done — and as we begin to turn over into sharing it with the world, I think I’ll have more room to get more involved and connect with more of these fans in a way that my fellow castmates have at these conventions. So I am looking forward and open to the possibility in the future of maybe doing one or two conventions a year.
GW: Excellent. I know there’s a lot of people that would be very happy to see you.
JWS: I’d be happy to see them. Hugs for everyone. Free hugs!
GW: Be careful, some people will hold you to that!
JWS: Literally. Ha ha ha! Pun intended!
GW: Any message that you want to give fans — fans of you as an actor, as a voice actor if they’ve followed you since they were kids watching you on Nickelodeon, fans of Stargate Universe? Anything you want to throw out there?
JWS: Yeah, this is what I’d like to tell all the people who have become active participants in my growth and development as an artist — I’d like to say “Thank you,” and I’d like to say, like the old African proverb, “I am because we are.”
Interview by Chad Colvin. Transcription by Lahela.
I do adore JWS and his Greer is one of my favorite characters on the show. He seems very intelligent and polite in this interview and I like that his take on Greer is pretty close to how I was interpreting the character. But “lots of death”? I’m not sure how I feel about the “I know one” comment. I’m not sure I can take anymore.
I do hope he does a convention or two, I would be veeeery interested in that free hug. :D
Greer gets down to business, a conversation between him and scott was classic, scott said”I don’t know how you put up with this” greer while he walks away says” yeah well you better learn”
I laughed my ass off good show.
Yay, interview with Jamil! Finally! Maybe I should make wishes more often :D
Anyway, I second everything Ashizuri said (including interest in that free hug…;)). I hope he’ll start doing cons soon. On both sides of the pond please. ;)
I found his comment about kino episodes particularly interesting. He does appear in them a lot and they often portray him in far better light than the series. As much as I love them, I’d prefer to have more ‘kino’ material included in actual episodes. Like the man said, let him act; he sure has the talent!
Among the entire Crew, I have supreme respect for Greer and Rush. They’re the only two that truly same to appreciate their relative positions on the show. Not being apparently burdened by it. Greer to me is the strongest, and potentially, the greatest member of the crew.
Chad: Great interview. You asked all the right questions in a way that tends to draw out the actor. Seems to me like they’re comfortable talking with you.
Jamil: I love your character and enjoy watching you work. I respect your acting chops. Looking forward to seeing you at a Con some day.
Greer is a strong character, he has been developed the best! First we see him as this seemingly punk guy who is locked up! Then over time we learn that Telford was an a-hole and Greer is a good man just sometimes makes a mistake, like us all! I think that’s where other characters lose footing. Like Young, he does something so awful that you can’t redeem him for it and say ‘we all make mistakes’ … Mr. Smith – you do an amazing job portraying Greer, keep the character strong and alive. In fact I think I could see… Read more »
Great discussion and, in my opinion, Greer is one of the most interesting, if not the most interesting character on SGU and one who has even evolved some in the short time the series has been on. I also think Smith is an excellent actor and has done some standout work throughout.
What a good interview. Good qusetions and answers.
What makes Greer tic? I think that would be a time-bomb. My least favorite character. Thinks he’s Rambo.
[…] Jamil Walker Smith – Gateworld: Passion and Discipline. […]