Aww, so, Torchwood meet dear USA

[lonelybrit]

So it seems that James Masters recently did a bit of a Q&A, and amongst general queries concerning life, the universe and everything, there was a bit about Torchwood.

Original post can be found HERE courtesy of bendy1

Q: Can you tell us in extreme detail how it was to grope John Barrowman.
JM: John. How many of you guys were here yesterday? Okay you're going to hear it again.
My character was an ex lover of his character so we're gonna kiss in the episode and I'd never done that before, so I was a little nervous, I had to actually I had to face my own latent homophobia. And I had to admit that I've tried my whole life not to be that way but if I admit that I'm an American, I've been raised in this culture and there really is bigotry down inside me because I'm constantly having to dig up and deal with so um.
Sitting there on the first day of the set I'm looking at John and thinking okay, I'm gonna kiss him tomorrow and he starts grabbing the fellow castmates like the girls and stuff, like their boobs, and they're like 'stop it I don't want to play today' and he keeps doing it. I'm gonna kiss that guy? cause if he grabs me? I'm not gonna think about it, I'm just gonna whale on him. And then he's gonna go to the doctor, and I'm gonna get fired and it's gonna be horrible so I decided that I needed to communicate that I was not into this. So I leaned over to the actor that was getting all groped and her name was Nayoko and I was 'Nayoko man, like just a little elbow in the back, that'll stop him in his tracks, or just stomp with your heel on the top of his foot and it'll break two or three bones and it'll stop' And he's behind me. And the whole cast, this is my first day on the set and they were like- cause they're all used to each other, it was no thing for them you know. And John was kinda like you know ohh, okay he's not comfortable with it.
And so the next day in the bar where we had this whole barfight slash kissing, and he was a whole different guy. [ER says that's hot] And he was just all about being a good scene partner and keeping each other safe and make sure that we got through the fight and the kiss without any event and uh... later on in the shoot I got an injury and I was bleeding pretty bad and I didn't want the producer to know that I was hurt because I felt like it was my fault that I got hurt and he got me back, he stopped the bleeding and he knows all these tricks because he's from theatre, and he got me back on my feet and he helped me save my pride too. And I'll never be able to repay him, I really love that man, I think he's a really good guy.

To be honest my initial response was surprise, because from the out-takes of BtVS I'd have thought that JM was actually quite comfortable with homosexuality. But then again, I've got mates who whilst they are perfectly happy with kidding around about boy-on-boy, stick them in a gay club and they're not at all happy bunnies. And I do respect that JM has the guts to publicly talk about a less-than-perfect moment on set.

Though to be honest, if I'd been watching JB physically teasing his castmates and I was new, I think I would also have been a bit uncomfortable. I've said before I love Barrowman dearly, but I'll be the first to admit he is sometimes a bit OTT, and it's good to hear that he does recognise that sometimes it's best to tone it down and I am rather charmed by the idea of him sharing tricks of the trade to get JM back on his feet post-injury.

So overall, I think I was left with a 'Hmmm' and a 'Awww' reaction to this tale. Because at the end of the day, despite initial feeling a bit out of his depth, JM clearly came away with a good experience; he's coming back for the finale, pretty much the entire cast turned up for his Cardiff gig, and of course that gig had GDL and JM doing a song together (apparently JM thinks GDL is fantastic).

On a more shallow note. We have confirmed Barrowman/Masters snoggage. Apparently interspersed with a fight to end all fights. There is also the rumour of Ianto metaphorically and physically becoming less buttoned up this season.

God, why is January so far away... *wilts*

Comments

[lonelybrit]

JM is one of those blokes who can have chemistry with a brick. Ditto Barrowman. So trying to imagine those two in that kind of tense, fraught scene does kinda make the mind melt =)

[cheesygirl.livejournal.com]

I remember that there was a movie JM was going to be in where his character would have to do gay sex scenes and at the time he said that he was unsure and uncomfortable about it. He never did do the movie, but I'm not sure if that was the reason why.

I can understand him not feeling comfortable. I imagine actors have to do all sorts of things that go beyond their comfort zones. The fact that he owned up to it and was willing to work through it shows his professionalism. The fact that JB realized that he was uncomfortable and did what he could to make it easier for JM shows his professionalism. Hooray for hot, professional guys kissing on TV! :D

[lonelybrit]

I think the TW set sounds a pretty unique one in terms of atmosphere, I doubt JM has ever been anywhere like it so it was being thrown in a bit at the deep end. From other remarks of his about the shoot, he clearly had a blast and by the end was apparently swapping innuendos as easily as the rest. So it just shows how it's never late to learn a thing or two about yourself :) And yes, at the end of the day he had the guts to own up to initial inhibitions, and Barrowman was professional enough to back off enough for JM to realise that actually he really could do this.

Which is just as well. Because they'd promised me hot JM/JB action and there would have been sulking had I been denied! ;)

[macphista.livejournal.com]

See, by default I have a negative knee-jerk reaction when someone mentions homophobia, but I understand where he comes from, and I believe his awkwardness came as well from being the new guy on the set. Plus I think John can be intimidating in his affectionate manner. ;) I also appreciate he's not sugar-coating the experience for the fangirls' benefit and telling it like it is, you know? It's a good reminder that not everyone is as open and welcoming as we think. And it's good to know that even after the awkwardness, good times were had by all.

That said, I can't wait to see the fight and consequent snoggage.

[lonelybrit]

See, by default I have a negative knee-jerk reaction when someone mentions homophobia, but I understand where he comes from...

Yep, that was pretty much my reaction. Initially a rather cold 'What?', and then realising that actually that wasn't the whole story by a long shot. The cast is obviously very close (all turning up to each others shows and everything there for John and Scott's civil ceremony), so that alone must be a bit daunting to walk into, and then to see John who can be a bit of a force of nature :)

I do appreciate that JM owned up to it straightout knowing that it could potentially cast him in a bad light, it does take guts to publicly talk about what he clearly saw as his own shortcoming. And clearly it all ended well for everyone. The cast gave him a bit of space to find his feet, and from the sounds of it he actually wound up loving it enough that he's coming back for the finale and they're all turning up to watch him sing. Who said an old dog can't learn new tricks.

And oh hell yes. Hot fight/snoggage sounds like the perfect way to kick off TW Season 2!

[sweet-exile.livejournal.com]

January I have to wait until January! I don't think I can.

[lonelybrit]

Now does feel like the ideal time to refind the art of hibernation, although that would mean missing out on the rare sunshine, ah, decisions decisions... :)

[sweet-exile.livejournal.com]

Hibernation will have to wait until after October and I come back from holiday