Jewel Staite (Firefly, Stargate: Atlantis) and A. J. Buckley (CSI: NY, Supernatural) spoke with the media earlier this week in support of their upcoming Syfy Original Movie Doomsday Prophecy. They were both an absolute treat to talk to, and clearly had a great time making the movie.
According to Syfy, “a book editor (Buckley) and an archeologist (Staite) hunt down a mysterious author of prophetic novels. When the writer is found dead, the editor obtains a device enabling him to see the future – an impending geological nightmare that will tear apart the planet.” Cool. Here’s a clip:
In answer to a question from PopCultureMadness.com, Jewel warned us that this wasn’t exactly a “message” movie.
Jewel Staite: This is a fun, crazy movie. It’s one of those sci-fi movies that you sit back on a Saturday night with your bowl of popcorn and you zone out and you have fun. And you watch it for that reason only. I don’t know if it deals with any serious themes happening in the real world right now. And that’s why I like it. And that’s why I like doing those kind of movies. I like escapism, and that’s why I go to the movies.
SpoilerTV asked them both what they thought of the atmosphere and fanbase of Firefly and Supernatural:
Jewel Staite: Well for me I think sci-fi fans are the most loyal group of fans ever. Like they will follow…
A.J. Buckley: I agree.
Jewel Staite: They will follow you loyally wherever you go and watch whatever it is that you’re doing, which is kind of nice as an actor. What do you think A.J.?
A.J. Buckley: Yes, I agree. My first sort of real experience of it was with Supernatural and Ghostfacers and kind of really feeling how dedicated they were. And the reason Ghostfacers had kind of come back and turned into what it was, it was completely because of the fans and the blogging and the board rooms and stuff.
And I’d never really realized that before about – I always knew how important fans were, but it’s like as Jewel said, the dedication of the sci-fi fans is second to none. There’s nothing like it in the world.
We’ve heard this often from actors that work in sci-fi, but it never gets old. How do they feel, though, about the genre in general? We asked.
SciFi Mafia: Hi both of you. How are you doing today?
Jewel Staite: Good how are you?
A.J. Buckley: Fantastic.
SciFi Mafia: Great, thanks. I know you’ve both done a lot of sci-fi work. Is that something you look for or is it just the way things work out, that once you do sci-fi you tend to get more sci-fi roles?
Jewel Staite: I mean, don’t you think that once you’re in the sci-fi family it just seems to come easier for you A.J.?
A.J. Buckley: Yes, I think so. The more that I’ve done it the more that I want to keep doing it. I would love to, like with CSI, whenever that ends, I would love to go into some sort of sci-fi series or some sort of thing.
They’re really fun and like Battlestar Galactica, that’s an amazing show. Edward James Olmos and just that whole – it was so well written. There’s unbelievable sci-fi shows that are out there. So I would jump at the opportunity to continue in that world.
And going back to what we were saying with the fan base and how much they follow you on that, when you get that love and respect from people it makes you want to continue in that genre and do good work for them.
Jewel Staite: Yes, absolutely. I also think that as an actor I just look for really fun characters to play. And a lot of really well written female characters happen to be in sci-fi. I mean it just sort of works out that way.
But I do know a lot of actors that are kind of chomping at the bit to get in with the sci-fi fans, so to speak, because they really are so loyal. And as an actor this kind of stuff is fun to do. It’s fun to stretch…
A.J. Buckley: Yes.
Jewel Staite: …and go beyond the limits of your imagination and just sort of be in these crazy situations that you have to play out. And it’s fun. It’s always an adventure every day. And that’s why I like staying in this genre so much.
A.J. Buckley: Yes.
It was recently announced that Jewel has been cast in the non-sci-fi Canadian series Highland Gardens: “Set in and around an apartment-style hotel that draws aspiring performers from Canada, the U.S. and all over the world, HIGHLAND GARDENS is a no-holds-barred, character-driven relationship drama that follows the exploits of six young hopefuls in search of celluloid and stardom in Hollywood.”
SciFi Mafia: Okay well Jewel, congratulations on the new series by the way.
Jewel Staite: Thanks.
SciFi Mafia: Has it – does it feel a lot different, it being a non-sci-fi show?
Jewel Staite: It feels so different. It really does. We’ve been doing rehearsals and wardrobe fittings and dadadadada, all that stuff. But we went to camera last week and I definitely noticed a difference. And she’s the polar opposite of a lot of the characters I’ve played.
Especially recently like Dr. Keller in Stargate: Atlantis. She’s just the opposite of that. She’s kind of an older, slightly washed up actress who is very manipulative and can be very nasty and will do anything and everything she possibly can to book the part.
And she’s so much fun to play. And she’s always in these ridiculous outfits and way over dressed. And just kind of acting like a jerk. And I’m really having so much fun. It’s like a total stretch for me and I’m digging it a lot.
It is kind of weird that there are no spaceships anywhere.
…where’s the bridge? And there is no bridge.
SciFi Mafia: But wow, that is a totally different part for you. That’ll be…
Jewel Staite: It really is.
SciFi Mafia: …fun to watch.
Jewel Staite: It really is. I can’t tell you how fun it is. I mean she’s not evil, she just has a lot of issues. But playing someone that can just be so mean is really, really fun, I think for any actor to play. And she’s kind of the comedic relief.
A.J. Buckley: Very close to you, right?
Jewel Staite: What?
A.J. Buckley: Very close to…
Jewel Staite: I know, finally I get to play someone that’s me.
SciFi Mafia: Great. Okay, well then one real quick question about the movie; is this a, “Save the world,” situation or a, “Save yourself and run for your life,” situation?
A.J. Buckley: I think it’s save the…
Jewel Staite: I think it’s more of a – what?
A.J. Buckley: Yes, I think it’s a combination of both.
Jewel Staite: Yes.
A.J. Buckley: I think it’s a nice mix of – it’s like, “Save yourself, run for your life and then you realize that you’ve got to save your – the world before your life can be saved.”
Jewel Staite: Right.
SciFi Mafia: Great, well I’m really looking forward to it. Thank you so much for taking the time.
A.J. Buckley: Cool.
Jewel Staite: Thank you.
A.J. Buckley: Thanks guys.
Like she said, it sounds like fun.
Doomsday Prophecy airs Saturday, August 13 at 9/8c on Syfy.
