Fairly Legal set visit: Michael Trucco interview (part 3)

(Check out our set visit in part 1 and our Virginia Williams interview in part 2)

The reason I call Trucco a cowboy rock star is because he’s simultaneously confident yet mellow which comes across in his body language (look at that shirt) and his vernacular (“right on” is his choice phrase). In response to my questions, he reveals his personal ideas about taking it “day by day” and his enjoyment in the Fair Legal script process, which mirrored Battlestar Galactica‘s.

You have an insane chemistry with Sarah in the pilot; but, at the same time, you seemed really defined by her. Michael Sardo mentioned that you brought a lot to the character. And, you seem to have a good grasp, especially since you’re in episode 6 now.
I hope so.

So what else will we see of Justin’s character developing as the episodes progress?
Hmm. Sardo said that? Oh, foiled him. “Trucco really knows what he’s doing.” I’m just winging it out there – I have not a clue. I’m just making it up on the fly, Sardo. Are you here? Can you hear that? Is he here? [inaudible] Wow, that’s good to know. You know, to address the thing with Sarah, I never – I hadn’t met Sarah. But we do seem to work well together. And the characters — I don’t know where we’re going. So it’s – we’re largely in the dark, and I kind of like that process.

It was the same on Battlestar, not knowing. People always want to know, “Hey, you know, what’s happening next? Or where do you think this character’s going to go? What can you tell us?” And not only can we not tell you, and, you know, it’s not like we’re as secretively bound on a show like this as say, you know, what happened on Battlestar was really intense and secretive, we just don’t know yet.

And I actually don’t seek that out. Some actors really do. Some people have got to know what the breakdown is. And for me, my process is that life doesn’t unfold that way. I don’t like to know that in life. I like to take life day by day. And it sounds cliché, and I’m not trying to simplify it. But not knowing helps me maintain some spontaneity to the character.

I like that – I like getting the script in four or five days before we shoot it and just go with it. And use the history of what we’ve already shot to deliver our next script, and deliver the performance in the next script. Like you said, we’re six in, I’m kind of getting a handle on what our dynamic – or at least where Justin’s coming from. The most complex aspect of it is this relationship with Kate –

And that became a point of contention even as late as yesterday when we shot a scene between Sarah and I, and we had this discussion as to exactly what the intention of the scene is. And you find that interesting as an actor because, you know, you want to say, “Well, in the scene your character – you know, you’re trying to – ”

And then I stopped myself saying, I don’t know what – I can’t speak to Sarah’s character, and I can’t speak for Kate. And I don’t want to. That’s how I like the process. I don’t know why you and I – when you and I have this conversation I know why I’m going to have this conversation, because I have an intention. And I want to talk about this. What your side is I’d rather not even know, because that keeps it real.

Yeah, I guess it’s just – perhaps it’s curious as—me as a fan, I’m nosy.
No, that’s good.

We see Leo’s secret life of Dungeons and Dragons, and we see the secret life of Lauren where she’s meeting with clients and they’re hitting on her, and she has to deal with that.
What’s Justin’s – yeah.

So, yes, I am wondering, what’s Justin’s personality? What’s his secret life outside of meeting with –
He plays his cards close to the vest. He doesn’t like telling – he doesn’t let on too much. To be determined.

Luckily, the other writers asked questions about Battlestar Galactica, V, and his ideal roles, so I didn’t have to. For those questions, his eventual realization of Battlestar as a phenomenon, the opportunities it afforded him, and what drew him to Fairly Legal, clack on.

Clacked by An Nicholson
on Jan 10, 2011 @ 13:00 EST5EDT