Fichtner is about as cool a guy as Ive ever met.
Relaxed, lounging back in his chair, his responses to my questions were considered and thoughtful.
Hes just a very charismatic guy.
Hes sort of exactly what you hope William Fichtner is going to be like.
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Heres how my conversation with the brilliant William Fichtner went.
So,Crossing Lines.
The CSI key in shows tend to look a lot more flashy but this one looks more relaxed.
Was the idea of seeing Europe part of what attracted you to the show?
I looked at my wife and said If you dont want to go Im not gonna do it.
I wouldnt even think about it.
The fact that we had been to Prague before made a huge difference, because I love the city.
But we shoot this show in Europe and in Prague and in Paris and in the South of France.
I love that about it.
Also for the actor pool, how were spread out.
Carrie-Ann Moss plays a former partner of mine, professionally, and we find out in many ways personally.
Ray Stevenson, the actor.
Ray came in and did three episodes, his own arc.
And a Canadian actor, Kim Coates came in.
So we mixed it up.
I love Kim Coates.
Was he fun to work with?
Kim Coates is my best friend.
I met Coatsy in 2001 in Morocco while working onBlack Hawk Down.
Hes the best, man.
And to work on this, hes nuts.
I was just in Upstate New York with him.
Is this how he lets people know theyre boring?
Is he being rude?
I said Its got to be Kim Coates and they were like, Yeah, we like him.
Im like No, no, no, listen.
Its GOT to be Kim Coates.
You have to get him.
They said were going to LA in a couple of weeks.
They went out there and they met Kim and Kim was there a short time after.
They did and they hired him and he came on.
Coatsy and I like to work together.
I like him forNinja Turtles.
If they do Casey Jones in the sequel, I like him in that role.
Yeah, wouldnt that be cool?
Is that an interesting challenge for you to play as an actor?
Or could be, and I think it was for him.
It certainly put him in different directions.
Things will never be the same.
Its much more than just a glove.
Really, its as simple as, its a physical thing.
Its hard to describe it.
Once or twice since weve worked on the show…
So that emotional thing, the understanding of what that is really carries through.
Its not a big thing.
Its not a big deal to remember.
Im gonna move on toTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, because I loveTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Then youre gonna love the movie.
Two weeks at number one at the box office in the US; thats hugely successful.
How did you get involved in it?
I got a call.
I said Well, what is it?
and just before he hung up, he said ItsTeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesIlltalktoyoulater!
And Im like,Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?
I got home and I read and I liked it.
I liked it a lot from the first read.
Thats really where it came together.
It happened pretty quick and I went to New York.
Michael Bay produced it and Ive worked with Michael a few times.
I like him a lot.
It was one of those things.
I called my nephew and a couple of nieces who all grew up in the 80s.
What do you think about that, Mikey?
Do you think I should do it?
and he said No, Uncle Bill, you are gonna do it.
It was a lot of fun.
A lot of fun to work on.
From the outside, observing the production, it looked like a film that had quite a few changes.
Is that an accurate observation, and how does that affect your work on the film?
I never had that sense.
I was really happy.
As far as the character thing, I dont know what the future is.
No actor knows what the future is.
Thats what you make a run at do.
I felt like they were pretty successful at doing that.
The movies really good.
Im so excited, but it doesnt come out over here for two months.
And the internet is just full of spoilers and I dont want to know before I see it!
There are a lot of special effects in the film and particularly motion capture.
Was that something youd worked with before and did it present any unique challenges?
So that was the biggest challenge.
Youre not acting to a mannequin in the corner or something like that, you got real actors.
Donatello being kind of the brainiac.
Noel played Michelangelo and he had all that bounce and fun to him.
So they had guys that were very much like that.
That it was somebody real talking back and forth, then a moment can be real.
At the end of the day, its a live action film; the Turtles are real.
Id like to ask you aboutThe Dark Knight.
You know, it was such an interesting, well-written scene and…
This is a different kind of bank and this is a different kind of guy.
I want you to come out and play it like this.
A lot of times subtle stuff like that inspires a way to go with it.
Anyway, I love the way you describe it, thanks.
Its one of those things where, you never know.
We all want great things and we want big roles and stuff like that.
I remember when I had that conversation with Chris on the phone and he described this whole opening scene.
He sent me the scene and I thought Thats really cool.
Sometimes its ten scenes, sometimes its one.
But does it feel like a worthy journey?
Especially with someone like him.
Im really glad I did.
Do you have a lot of access to him on set?
Oh, not at all.
Chris was always there if I had a question about something.
No, God no.
You know what it is?
They know what they want, so theyre completely available and present to just be there with you.
I just remember Chris being around for those two days, like, every moment.
I think theyre gonna kick me out any moment now.
I think they are.
That was the first time that I met Michael.
When youre shooting scenes in Cape Canaveral youre actually in Cape Canaveral, standing next to a space shuttle.
Youre actually in these places.
That alone is an experience that you never forget.
Its part of the gift of getting to do what I do.
Sometimes I end up in places where I think Wow.
I cant believe Im here.
William Fichtner, thank you very much!
Crossing LinesSeason 2 is now available in the UK to stream exclusively on Amazon Prime Instant Video.
you could watch season 1 on there as well.
