Well, I find that is a challenge when I can do that or try to do that. The only time I think I’ve done that recently, I did a guest starring role on Bonnie Hunt’s television show. I played this kooky, wacky character and I never do kooky and wacky and it was fun to try kooky and wacky. It seemed to work okay. Michael Lembeck actually, he’s a veteran comedy director, and I really had never worked with somebody like. I found it very interesting to be directed by him and he was very specific. It wasn’t so much energy, which is so funny because energy is like a curse word to me, because it just feels like you’re not doing it.
Just as a sidetrack, when I was directing this past fall and I was directing Frank Langella, I’m watching him doing a take and just thinking, “Energy, it needs more energy.” My whole life, I’ve heard that as an actor. I didn’t hear it before then. Nobody ever told me to have more energy before I was an actor, which is interesting, I think. So I’m walking up to Frank and I’m about to say, “You know what? It was great, it just needs more energy.” I’m opening my mouth and he says to me, “You know what I really like about you as a director? What I really like is you don’t say to me, ‘Energy, more energy,’ and that’s why you’re going to be a great director.” And I said, “Thank you, Frank. Let’s just talk about what you just did because it was perfect. I just wanted to come here and say we’re moving on.” So actors, certain actors that live in that level of performance, that’s not very demonstrative, we get sensitive about energy because we think we have an energy at a different level. But I know I’m not answering your question and I’m sorry.
[Michael Lembeck] really has a lot of skill and a lot of experience where I don’t in just performing comedy within a comedy. Because this movie has a style and a tone that I wasn’t going to make it my style and tone. I had to be in that style and tone and Michael really helped me with that. That was fun.
How do you work on getting the onscreen chemistry?
I think you know it when you feel it. When you’re working with a person, you know if you have it. I think if you don’t have it, it can be a drag but it’s kind of your job to create it. And you don’t want anybody to see you creating it because then you’re dead. So I don't know. It’s like a playfulness more than anything else. It’s not about sex or anything like that. It’s really about two performers who kind of get into each other’s rhythm. That’s sexy in a way because you’re saying, “Okay, I’m going to play with you on this level.” I think that’s what chemistry is. Or it can be people that really don’t like each other, they have chemistry, so it’s an odd thing. Tea and I having chemistry, obviously, I think we do in life but sometimes that’s a very sacred thing, without being pretentious. We’re married and we consider our chemistry sacred. So in a way, if we were to act, it might feel weird exhibiting this sacred chemistry and in a way, we might be more inhibited as performers with one another than we are as people with one another. Or it could be great, I don't know. But it’s my feeling that I would feel a little more inhibited showing people what I feel about this woman because I feel like that’s my business. Whereas I can fake showing how I feel about any other woman. That’s my show business.
Will there be another “X-Files” movie?
I think it definitely will happen. Chris Carter and Frank Spotnitz are busy at work. They have an idea which they like and they keep threatening to tell me. I wish they would. They’re going to tell me soon. They’re just setting about writing it now, so we’ll be doing it in the next year.
How will your character develop?
I don't know if Mulder should develop. I mean, Mulder is Mulder. That’s one of the things I learned fighting for the last three or four years on the show trying to change the guy or give him a French accent one day. The nature of the character and what I eventually learned to love about him is he’s set. He’s set and he’s a great character. So the great thing about Mulder is we know what he’s going to do and we know what he likes and what he loves and what he hates. We’re just going to play with that, I’m sure.
Will it tie up the storylines?
I don't know. Not my idea but my feeling about the second “X-Files” movie was, since it’s going to come after the show is not running anymore - although it still seems to be running to me. People still ask me, “How’s the show going?” It’s just on all the time. It had to be like a stand-alone show with a really great part for a guest star, another actor who’s not part of the show. So apparently that’s what Chris and Frank have is a great “X-Files” idea with another actor or actress who can really score in a really great thriller/sci-fi role. I hope that takes the show towards the fans but also towards new fans. And Mulder will wear a dress, of course.
