Posted by greenfairy68 at imdb.com. She attended the HIFF seminar conducted by David on Oct. 29, 2004 in Honolulu.  Here's her report:

The moderator would ask a question and David would answer. Kinda went through his first movies and worked their way up to present day.

Personal history: I should mention that David said he was brought up poor but had a happy childhood. Youngest of 7 kids. No one else in show business. It was a multicultural suburb of Sydney with 80 different nationalities, predominantly Greek, Italian and Lebanese. He said the neighborhood is now predominantly Vietnamese. His choice of vocation was always supported by his parents. He told of a little memory of his dad going to, what I interpret it as a library sale, and bringing back two cartons of books on plays and dramas and David just devouring everything. For Xmas, his parents would save up to give him theater tickets.

He applied to NIDA (Ntl Institute of Dramatic Art) but was rejected so went to study at University of Western Sydney which was underfunded in the acting dept. so they had to do everything in a "shed". He said he really learned a lot because there were no fancy resources and they all had to rely heavily upon their imaginations. He was glad he attended that school. He has "no other skills" on which to fall back if the acting thing did not work out. He said he would like to be a gardener if not.

When asked if he would like to direct, he said, almost without hesitation, that he likes everything to be perfect in his films. Not only the acting but the sound, lighting, etc, but he was not about to give an unsolicited opinion to anyone regarding these things so he get frustrated at times. He is a "frustrated director in an actor's body." and yes, "I would LOVE to direct."

Someone asked who was the most important person to the actor, next to the director. He replied that the Third Director (actors, pardon my ignorance) was the most important person because they could send messages from you to the director. Then there is the costumer and the makeup artist. He is so meticulous about makeup and wardrobe. He took the wardrobe person with him to find "new" costumes for his movie "Gettin' Square" because he had in mind how his character should dress and saw nothing in the wardrobe which he felt was appropriate. He got several items from the children's dept. and women's jeans from a thrift store. Then he spoke about the zit he had created on his face for this part and how he and the makeup artist rigged it to "pop" but it was cut from the movie.

When asked about acting techniques, he didn't say he used one exclusively. He said some actors, like Peter O'Toole loved a lot of rehearsal. While some liked to be more spontaneous and do a minimum of rehearsal. He comes from a theatrical background so he does like a bit of rehearsal but doesn't want to kill the spontaneity. Sex and emotional scenes are especially hard to rehearse, he said.

Asked about what he wants a director to do with him on set, his reply was that he needed criticism. Constructive criticism. Doesn't want a director to "talk too much". Just tell him what he wants, i.e. slow the pace or quicken the pace and let him go. Don't give him a 10 page dissertation because it kills the mood. Same with the costumer and makeup person. If there is nothing to fix, don't fidget with him because it is distracting and breaks his concentation.

His main advice to actors was to Listen and Think. In other words, don't always just follow the script. Listen carefully to what your fellow actors are saying and react, think, accordingly.

His films:   They started with "The Boys". Asking him to set up the clip and he did and warned us before it started that the language was "strong". In other words, alot of swearing. This was the beginning of the techincal problems. First the sound came on and then it didn't and didn't and didn't. They kept trying for awhile and eventually moved on to another clip.  He did say that this movie was "cast" around the house in the movie. It was shot in a real house the shots were very tight and close coz there wasn't much room to move.

Went on to Father "Damien" where he talked about Molokai, the island where this was filmed and the leper colony that still exists, 36 living members. (He went back to visit them during this trip.) He spoke of the difficulty in acting with prostetics on your face. How you have to really exaggerate facial movements to make them show. He did not care for it. But he had to age in the film to 54 years. He was 33 when he filmed it and so was Father Damien when he first came to Hawaii.

He spoke of the Flemish accent he had to learn and had no dialect coach on set and said that was ridiculous and so they got him somebody who just happened to be from Belgium. He said he had a good ear and was able to pick it up pretty quickly. There were several well known actors, Peter O'Toole and I forget who else and they asked him if he felt intimidated. I don't recall what he said but I don't think he did but he did appreciate their abilities.

He was asked how he was able to play older characters or characters very different from himself and he said that is what he like to do best. He enjoys doing someone as far away from his real personality as possible. He feels more comfortable than when its close to home. I think it's easier for him to be more objective this way. He said he is basically a shy person and it's hard for him to make the first move socially.

There is the death bed scene in Damien where the director wanted it to be shot in natural lighting. So he came out of makeup, no rehearsal time because they had to get the lighting before it disappeared. It was a 5 minute scene and they did it in one take!

Then I think they finally got the sound to work for "The Boys" and they made more comments on it.

"Better Than Sex" was next. Evidentally this film is difficult to get ahold of in the US. (I tried here at Tower and Blockbuster, no luck. The commentator mentioned this and said we had to buy it off ebay to see it. Spliffychick recommended this to me as well as "The Boys".)  He said, again, this was "90 minutes of bedroom gymnastics". They showed a G rated clip and he looked mighty fine.

Then they jumped to "Getting Square" where he talked about the location of the film at the King's Cross area where he sat and watched all these characters and soaked them in. He is very detailed. He watches how they walk, how drug addicts breathe, how someone's toes turn outwards, etc. He also spent sometime in the prison doing research there.

Finally, they saved LOTR for last. The commentator asked for a show of hands to see how many actors were in the audience. I'd say about half. Then asked for a show of hands how many people had NOT seen LOTR and no one raised their hands.

David said he was one of the last principal characters to show up on set. The others had already been filming for about a year. Sean Bean's scenes had finished 6 mos. earlier so he never even met him before he had to do his part but all Boromir's rushes were available to him so he would know how to react. Did not have much rehearsal before he had to shoot. (Kinda like Viggo, huh? Get off the plane and start whacking off Orc heads!)

Spoke of technology and Gollum and how wonderful Andy Serkis was and this new type of acting to nothing in front of you but little bits of tape so you knew where Gollum's ear was, etc. (I have not heard any actor who likes the green screen.) He did not go into much further detail. I think he's probably been asked all this a quizillion times already)

Oh yeah, when he first reads a script, he can tell within a few pages whether or not this script has potential or not. When he does decide on a part, he takes long walks and talks to himself. I think, taking mental notes, letting those stored up characters in his head come out, thinks alot. He stresses thinking and imagination all the time.

About MY question: "You are in my favorite favorite favorite movie." (He looked puzzled.) (I think he was thinking I was going to say LOTR) "Moulin Rouge." (Big smile.) "Please tell us what it was like to be in that movie?"
He said that he was offered several roles but took the part of Audrey. Unfortunately a lot was cut. (DAMN those editors!!) He said Baz Luhrman was a great director but really super hyper! (He starts shaking his hands like he's really nervous. The audience was laughing.)

He was sporting a strawberry-blondish beard and moustache for the next movie he will be doing. It is an "epic period drama", I think set in the 19th century called The Proposition. ( I can't wait! I love epics and period pieces.) He said the last time he grew a beard and moustache, he was also in Hawaii filming Father Damien. He wore a long sleeved white shirt with green dots here and there. The cuffs were unbuttoned, as were the first two or three buttons down the front; black pants, black shoes and I think a silver watch. His hair was blond and a nice length. He would push his bangs back several times while he was speaking. He also caressed his beard a few times while talking. A habit I notice a lot of men doing when they are growing out their beards. He sat in a director's chair and spoke calmly and professionally with humor and sincerity.

So basically, that's about all I remember or wrote in my notes. He did say with his parting comments that he WOULD be BACK! He wants to do a real workshop, not just a "conversation" with David.  He had to rush off because he had to go back to his hotel to pack and catch a plane back to Queensland. Then he said he'd have to spend the night somewhere and catch another plane to some small inthemiddleofnowhere place to begin filming immediately. He said it would take quite a bit of acting to not appear tired! He's been here for 11 days and been part of the film jury, judging films, promoting, etc.  I think he was pleased and happy with the results of his stay here. We really appreciate him taking the time to do these events for us.

I learned so much about acting, David, actors in general. It was very interesting and so generous of him to share. There's no date set yet, as far as I know but does anyone want to come to Hawaii for the next one?

Oh yeah, after the show, he disappeared behind the curtain. We went outside and walked around the building and saw him loading up his things into the commentator's car. We waved and said "Thank you!!" and watched him go. He waved back and said goodbye. And he acknowledged the lei which my friend sent backstage. (I forgot mine at home in the fridge!!!)

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Transcript of interview from Electronic Arts "Return of the King" video game

(Thanks, Cressida!!)

 

Note:  This brief interview with David is included with the game as a special bonus feature for players who have successfully completed all levels of the game.  If, like me, you are a complete ninnyhammer at operating a control pad and can't get past Level 1, this is for you.

 

"Faramir, Prince of Gondor, was one of the few men who withstood the power of the ring. But Boromir and Faramir were brothers, and it isn’t beyond possibility that Faramir went to Rivendell instead. And if that happened, Faramir could have survived and returned to Gondor. Now we’re going to explore this fact by unlocking the character of Faramir. See for yourself what else he might have done during the War of the Ring. Good luck."

(clip of the scene where Faz screams "Nazgul!" in Osgiliath, from TTT)

"Gameplayers should unlock Faramir first, because he’s a character who is in possession of multi skills."

(2 second clip of the suicide charge)

"He’s a great swordsman; a great archer; he’s also a great thinker, one (I think??, couldn't hear this bit properly) should head for Faramir first." (Interjected with clips of the Faramir character fighting in the game)

(Clip of DW holding a control pad playing the game, he shouts "yes!" –
must have killed a bad guy or something)

"Faramir’s style of combat in the game – extremely energetic. It’s relentless, it’s high energy, high voltage action. The game itself has totally captured the excitement in all aspects of the film Return of the King and I don’t think you can ask more than that!"

 

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Description of "Payback", a radio play starring David Wenham and David Field, which aired in July 1999 on ABC.