Ray Park, the Wizard Q & A

Article from the November issue of Wizard. Pics lifted from TheForce.net

The newest 'X-Men' cast member gives the scoop on mind tricks with George Lucas, kickin' Jackie Chan's butt and bringing Darth Maul back to life.

Being a bad guy can be a pain in the ass: If you're not getting sliced in half by Jedis, you're signing autographs till you're too tired to move.

With a line resembling opening night for "Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace," actor Ray Park - who portrayed Darth Maul in that very movie - returns to his autograph table at this year's Wizard World Chicago con from a well-deserved, half-hour rest. The throng of fans cheer as Park sits down, ready to start another marathon signing session, but things quickly turn ugly when his rep reminds him he has an interview scheduled. Groans and boos from angry fans in red face paint get slung at the reporter as Park moves to a nearby alcove to give a rare interview.

"I'm very tired," the actor admits wearily in his soft, almost gentle British accent which makes you understand why it was dubbed over by another actor in "Menace." "I've really enjoyed meeting the fans, but it takes a lot out of me. I don't want to complain, though, because everybody's really nice to me. Everyone treats me like a star, which I'm not; I'm just me"

To "Phantom Menace" fans, "just" isn't a word to describe Park, the Scottish-born, British-raised actor and martial artist who spent his whole life dreaming of a movie career. Partly because his father idolized Bruce Lee and partly because he saw it as his ticket to film work, Park started training in Wu-Shu, a Chinese discipline similar to Jackie Chan's, at 7 years old. "I've always wanted to be one of those guys doing 10 million twists in the air during action movies," says Park. "Still, I never thought my training would lead to 'Star Wars,' no way."

After appearing in "Mortal Kombat: Annihilation" as a stunt double, Park came to "Star Wars' creator George Lucas' attention. "Menace" stunt coordinator Nick Gillard asked Park to cobble together a test tape with moves that could be used in a fierce lightsaber battle, which Park used as an audition. Winning the role, Park quickly emerged as a breakthrough star in the most anticipated film of the year, parlaying his "Phantom Menace" success into appearances in the upcoming films "Sleepy Hollow" as the stunt double of the Headless Horseman and as the evil Toad in "X-Men." "Things are starting to happen for me," says Park with genuine modesty. "It's been like a dream come true, and at the moment I'm just enjoying the ride."

In between autographs and shouting to be heard over several hundred Darth Maul fans, Wizard sat down with Park to get the skinny on Wu-Shu, how it felt to fight Obi-Wan Kenobi, and what's next in life after "Star Wars."

WIZARD: How exciting is it to become a superstar overnight?

PARK: It feels really weird. I've gotten used to the idea, but I remember when I saw a toy magazine for the first time. It said, "Darth Maul, the New Face of Evil." I remember being like a big kid. I bought a couple copies and took them back to show my family. I thought it was really cool, but I've gotten used to it now. I'm sure it'll hit me when I'm older and I've got kids. They'll say, "Daddy, daddy, that's you!" That'll be more mind-blowing.

W: All this attention after only one movie. Are you disappointed your character died?

PARK: When I got the part I knew the character was getting killed off; right from the beginning I knew that. So no, I wasn't disappointed with the way it turned out.

W: There are rumors you may be returning as a clone in the upcoming films. Any truth?

PARK: I really don't know, to be quite honest. You do tend to think George might change his mind at the end, maybe from the response he got from the fans. But I've got no idea, really. A t the moment, in my mind, I'm just telling myself that's it, I'm finished. But if George asked me, that'd be real nice.

W: We heard you got the job by impressing George Lucas.

PARK: [Flashes a devilish smile] I used by Sith mind tricks on George Lucas. [Passes his hand left to right at eye level] I went, "I must have this part." He said, "Well, no..." and I said [passes his hand again] "I must have this part." [Chuckles] He went for it.

W: The credits also list you as a fight choreographer. How much of the fights did you come up with?

PARK: Everything to do with Darth Maul, that was me. The stunt coordinator [Nick Gillard] worked on it, but he didn't teach me how to fight. If anything, I know more than he does when it comes to martial arts. But he's very good at coordinating, so I worked with him. And I was there to help [co-stars Ewan McGregor and Liam Neeson]. But everything to do with Darth Maul was me, my input, my style. I try not to boast about it, but I'm very proud of it.

W: We've heard rumors McGregor and Neeson used stunt doubles in the climactic battle.

PARK: Yeah, I'm sure those were rumors. All the close-ups you see are definitely Ewan and Liam. Ewan admits he didn't do any of the acrobatic stuff, but he did all his fights, and so did Liam. They had doubles for some of their other stuff, but on the fights, they wanted to do as much as they could, and they did all right.

W: We're heard Ewan McGregor took the lightsaber battles very seriously, trying to beat you. True?

PARK: Yeah. [Flashes a big smile] Let's just say he tried, but that's all he could do was try. [The lightsaber duel] took about three weeks to shoot, from the point where we came through the door right up till the end. We'd screw up sometimes, almost hit each other. We'd just laugh about it, and make lightsaber noises. We'd stand there, about to fight, and Liam and Ewan would each go, "Dzzh!" [Laughs] And I'd cock my head and say, "Oh, yeah? Dzzh-dzzh!" I don't think George needed to add on any sound effects, because we did them all. [Smiles] I still do them now.

W: Whose idea was the double lightsaber?

PARK: The double-ended bit was pretty much set when I got there. The only difference was that the handle was going to be about the size of a standard lightsaber, so I asked George if I could have it bigger. It would be very hard to move something that small around my body and keep it balanced, because I'd have to hold it like that [holds his wrists close together] and it would have been virtually impossible to use. That was my contribution to the lightsaber, basically. It allowed me to spin it around my head and do flourish movements.

W: Did you get to keep it?

PARK: No. That would've been cool.

W: How tough was it wearing all that makeup?

PARK: Once I was in it, it wouldn't bother me that much, except maybe at lunchtime when I'd try catching some sleep. With the horns you couldn't lay down without ruining the couch or the bed. It would take about two hours to get into, about 45 minutes just getting it all off. Could've been longer, but I'd sometimes go home with some of it still on.

W: Did you like the way the movie turned out?

PARK: I've seen the movies six times now, so I must've liked it. I wouldn't sit through a movie that many times if I didn't. I enjoy it, because I see something different every time.

W: Were you a fan of the original trilogy?

PARK: Oh, yeah. My favorite character was Han Solo, because I think Harrison Ford's a great actor. You can relate to him, y'know? Even though I wanted to be Luke Skywalker, having the lightsaber and the powers, Han got to kiss Princess Leia. [Smiles] I can still watch them; even if I've seen them a hundred times I don't get bored. I don't know if the new movies will be like that, though. I don't know if they'll be the same.

W: You're obviously a far nicer guy that Darth Maul. Was it tough getting into character to play such a villainous S.O.B.?

PARK: Well, I have to admit, I have a bit of a dark side. I have a moody, dark side to me, especially when I'm hungry. Ask my girlfriend or my family and they'll tell you. I remembered, actually, when I was younger and people used to put me down because they didn't have confidence in me; I sort of put that into the character. And the cockiness, also, because when you're competing in Wu-Shu, you've got to have an arrogance and a flamboyance at the same time. I tried putting that into Darth Maul, as well.

W: How would you compare the Force to the martial arts?

PARK: In the Force, there's something there, and there isn't. The Chinese martial arts, they're very spiritual as well. They believe in their Masters' ghosts, and one time when I was at my Master's temple or shrine, it might sound a bit far-fetched, but I actually saw a few of the ancestral monks. I found out later the spirit was coming to give me a slap, telling me to wake up because I was slacking off a bit in one of my competitions. From then on, I started to believe a bit more in the spiritual side of things.

W: How would you compare your style of marital arts to Jackie Chan's?

PARK: There are similarities, because he trained in the Peking Opera, and in Wu-Shu we have Peking Opera style, as well. Jet Li also does Wu-Shu. It's very acrobatic, much like gymnastics, where you have high, explosive kicks, very flamboyant moves.

W: Do you hope to eventually work with Jackie Chan? And would you team up with him, or against?

PARK: That's a good question. [Cocks his head, thinks a moment] I'd love to do a fight against Jackie Chan because he's very good, and I feel that it'd bring out the best in me. He does a lot of tricks, and I'd like to learn them as well. I'd like to team up with Jet Li, also. Maybe beat up on Jean-Claude Van Damme.

W: How was working with Tim Burton on "Sleepy Hollow"?

PARK: Really cool. He's just a normal guy. Everybody seemed very down-to-earth. It was the same stunt coordinator as "Star Wars"; he brought me in to work on the fights with the Headless Horseman. It was cool, because I got to use an axe and a sword. There's a bit of a difference, it's a bit more meatier It was flashier, a bit more prehistoric, which I like.

W: You haven't done many interviews since the film came out. Why is that?

PARK: I did some in England, but I've only done a few in America. I don't want to do too many, personally, because it becomes tiring after awhile. I'd like to keep some things exclusive and private.

W: Is it true this will be your last convention?

PARK: For now, just for now. My last convention for the next couple of months or so. I don't want to do any more big ones at the moment, because I want to go home and train. Maybe I'll do some later on in the year, but I don't want to get involved in the convention circuit. I don't want to be at every single one, because that's not my style. I don't want anybody to get sick of me being here. I enjoy doing it, but I want to do a select few.

W: Okay, who'd win in a fight: Darth Vader or Darth Maul?

PARK: [No hesitation] Me. Darth Vader could be the almighty and all that because he's the Chosen One, but when it comes to fighting... Darth Maul. [Laughs] Or me, rather. I'd take 'em both.

VITAL STATS:

NAME: Ray Park

OCCUPATION: Actor, Choreographer, martial-arts instructor

BORN: "I'd prefer to keep all that private, y'know?" (He's 24.)

BASE OF OPERATIONS: Bury,

UK CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Began his film career in "Mortal Kombat: Annihilation" before bursting into the stratosphere of superstardom as Darth Maul in "Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace." Will soon appear in Tim Burton's "Sleepy Hollow" as the Headless Horseman's stunt double and will play the Toad in Bryan Singer's "X-Men."

SECRET "STAR WARS" CONFESSION: "A lot of people don't like Jar Jar, but I do."

DARTH MAUL CHARACTER PROFILE:

Horny Guy: These horns are stunted body parts, more fully developed in previous generations of Darth Maul's species. "They'd fall off, now and then. People would pick them up off the set and say, 'Here's your horn.'"

Pierced Apprentice: It's hard to see, but there's a silver stud in Maul's left ear. A symbolic accessory with a rich history? Nope. "That one's mine, actually."

Visine: It isn't known whether all of his species have red, black, and yellow eyes, but Darth Maul sure does. Park's contact lenses were furnished by Richard Glass of London. "Before we put those in, my eyes stood out even more because they're so blue. Once the eyes were in, I looked a lot different."

Kojak: Maul's head isn't shaved - members of his species are all hairless. "I had to shave my head every day for six months. I was a bit worried that if I shaved it that much it wouldn't grow back."

Blade Runner: According to Lucasfilm Vice President Steve Sansweet, the double-bladed lightsaber is two separate lightsabers cobbled together, joined by a control lock. "When my lightsaber split in two," Park says, "I though 'Yeah, this is cool!' It would have been even better if I'd been able to keep both halves."

History: Darth Maul is one of the most highly trained apprentices in the long, deadly history of the Order of the Sith. With his amazing physical and tactical prowess, Maul obediently serves his master, Darth Sidious, knowing that his own time for eventual domination will come. Maul is one of only two living individuals to wield the ancient power of the Sith, a limitation of the ancient Order set down by the legendary Darth Bane.

Flying Circus: A by-product of his training in the Force, Maul's become a pretty acrobatic guy, kicking, tumbling, and leaping in combat. "When I first started in the martial arts, the emphasis was how to jump. My coach told me, 'You've got to learn to fly like a butterfly, you need to have hang time.'"

Tattoo You: Curiously, Lucasfilm hasn't yet created a backstory for Maul's species. Though it's been rumored his skin's red and the tattoos are black, Lucasfilm reps haven't decided. But we do know the tattoos aren't a natural part of Maul's species, but evidence of his complete dedication to the discipline of the Dark Side. "George [Lucas] told me, 'It's a shame you don't have a real face tattoo like this, do you mind getting one?' [Laughter] I almost did it."

War Paint: The black makeup used to create Maul's facial tattoos, called Real Tattoo, is plastic rather than paint based, so it peels instead of running. "Even if you scraped it with your finger you couldn't take any off. It was pretty stressful, because around the neck I'd get this rash where I shaved."

Force Field: Maul effortlessly bends the Dark Side of the Force to aid him in battle, using it to invisibly repel objects and opponents. "That was me trying to do something original. It helped me not to repeat myself too much in my moves."

Bad in Black: Maul's decked out in basic black, which turned out to be pretty damn hot while filming in the 140-degree desert of Tunisia. "I lost a lot of weight on Star Wars, wearing those. It was really hot. I love the heat, though, so I loved it."

Mr. Toad's Wild Ride: Ray Park's wild ride continues: He just got cast as the Toad in Bryan Singer's adaptation of "X-Men." If the film hits its targeted July 2000 opening, then the actor who played this summer's baddest villain will continue that trend next summer.

"It was a great bit of casting," says Marvel Films President and "X-Men" executive producer Avi Arad, who is unapologetic in his enthusiasm to see Ray Park onboard, mirroring the excitement of fandom at large. "It's my favorite subject. You cannot get hotter than he is right now. He really came of 'Star Wars' as a very big name with a terrific following. He sort of stole the show there, didn't he? I think he's going to be one of these sideshows that turn into the centerpiece in our film. We love the fact that he'd onboard, we're just absolutely elated."

Although the Toad is usually presented as Magneto's lackey, Arad maintains that Park's involvement virtually guarantees the character will become a much more serious threat. "The Toad is very physical, and Ray's going to be used very well," says Arad. "The Toad is sort of a punk in a way; he's sort of not serious, but his powers are serious. It's turning out to be a terrific role."

Nobody beats Ray Park in terms of fighting prowess, and given that he choreographed his own fights as Darth Maul, it seems likely he'll be utilizing those skills in "X-Men," as well. "Obviously actors bring in expertise, and I'm sure he'll be involved in the process," says Arad. "His actions are going to be pretty complex. A combination of Ray's physical abilities and CGI animation will bring the Toad to life in a whole new way. There's a unique texture to him, a unique look. You'll see; I think he's going to come off as a crowd favorite. With Ray onboard, I can virtually guarantee it."

Interview by Los Angeles-based writer Scott Brick, who Wizard says "MAY be able to beat up Ewan McGregor's weaker, younger cousin's hamster."

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