First (proceeding in reverse order), thanks for the explanation. Hey, you didn't steal the idea...she gave it to you and asked you to use it. :)
Second, you're right about Callum (as Ray, or in almost any role), a fanfic writer's dream for sure. And BTW I watch dS with my kids (ages 10 and 7), too. They love it.
Callum is such a gifted actor. I don't mean to suggest he doesn't work hard, because he obviously does, but it's clear he's got talent to burn. And he's such a chameleon. He looks totally different in each role. Even as Ray, he looks different from episode to episode.
I could give dozens of examples of his brilliance, but here's one that wowed me: he plays a "tyrant dad" in "Falling Angels." I HATE tyrant Dads. It's hard to sell me on the good points of that type of character. But I didn't hate Callum's. He wasn't some stock Tyrant Dad, he was a real person, who had a painful history, a reason why he was that way. Almost from the first scene, I *felt* for the guy. I understood at least some of his pain, even before it was explained. And this was a typically Canadian movie, subtler than an American film would be. It didn't hit you over the head with most of its message. But Callum...he communicates in that medium as clearly as a bell. He does this truly great work without a ton of dialogue, too.
I also saw "Masterminds" recently. Kind of a silly film, but Patrick Stewart was one of the stars. Stewart was unexceptional. Callum had a very small role. But he absolutely stole and walked away with his scenes. He made what was otherwise a very 2-dimensional, utility-bad-guy role into a 3-dimensional character that you had to love, rooted for, and could write fanfic about. He did it with a credible working-class British accent, too.
I'd better stop now. Guess I'm over the hopeless-fangirl line, too, huh? (My inner child whines: "But, Ma! Not my fault! Callum started it!" :)
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Date: 2006-01-12 06:46 am (UTC)Second, you're right about Callum (as Ray, or in almost any role), a fanfic writer's dream for sure. And BTW I watch dS with my kids (ages 10 and 7), too. They love it.
Callum is such a gifted actor. I don't mean to suggest he doesn't work hard, because he obviously does, but it's clear he's got talent to burn. And he's such a chameleon. He looks totally different in each role. Even as Ray, he looks different from episode to episode.
I could give dozens of examples of his brilliance, but here's one that wowed me: he plays a "tyrant dad" in "Falling Angels." I HATE tyrant Dads. It's hard to sell me on the good points of that type of character. But I didn't hate Callum's. He wasn't some stock Tyrant Dad, he was a real person, who had a painful history, a reason why he was that way. Almost from the first scene, I *felt* for the guy. I understood at least some of his pain, even before it was explained. And this was a typically Canadian movie, subtler than an American film would be. It didn't hit you over the head with most of its message. But Callum...he communicates in that medium as clearly as a bell. He does this truly great work without a ton of dialogue, too.
I also saw "Masterminds" recently. Kind of a silly film, but Patrick Stewart was one of the stars. Stewart was unexceptional. Callum had a very small role. But he absolutely stole and walked away with his scenes. He made what was otherwise a very 2-dimensional, utility-bad-guy role into a 3-dimensional character that you had to love, rooted for, and could write fanfic about. He did it with a credible working-class British accent, too.
I'd better stop now. Guess I'm over the hopeless-fangirl line, too, huh? (My inner child whines: "But, Ma! Not my fault! Callum started it!" :)
J S