Exclusive interview with Bruce Hopkins
DeHobbit.net had an exclusive interview with the New Zealand actor Bruce Hopkins about his career, future plans and of course ... The Hobbit!
Bruce Hopkins played the role of the Old Gamling, adjutant of King Théoden in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy. This is an interview into several parts. ( English version )
Hi Bruce! How are you?
Thank you. It goes very well with me. I look forward to what 2010 has to bring me.
It's a while since we have heard. What did you like working on something in the meantime?
I have not acted for a year. I'd just need to change all the freelance work. For the first time in twenty years, I now have a steady income and I must say that it pleases me every week to get a fixed salary. Right now I'll go back to auditions, but I do wonder how long I will continue as an actor. This way of making money I do not like that.
I love acting and I know I'm good at. But even though I'm over the years a lot of good acting I've done still show up for so-called "cattlecalls". This is a form of audition where large groups of actors called for a roll. The selection of who gets the final roll is made primarily on appearance. Your acting experience is of less importance. It sometimes feels quite humiliating after all these years.
The only acting job last year I did a comedy series called The Jacquie Brown Diaries. Even then I got a lot of positive reactions, but it does little to end.
At the moment I trained a large driver's license. I'm thinking about it to coach from New Zealand to care for Lord of the Rings fans!
I've heard that you are still active in the convention circuit. What is the attraction?
To my pleasure, I recently, for the first three or four years, once a guest at a convention, which was RingCon 2009. Many New Zealanders do in their twenties called an OE (Overseas Experience). I have not done so because I was too busy and still am. I was a dancer and when I became a father, actor. The paternity of my three children and my career kept me busy all the time. And now I have a beauty of a grandson (23 months old).
Now I still get the chance to go to the Netherlands, France, Germany, England, Wales, Australia and the United States to travel to conventions and that's great. Over the years I have on every trip one of my three children were all taken and wonderful experiences. I love the madness of conventions. People who are normally very ordinary lives have the opportunity to totally absorbed in their passions. Dress up if you hero or heroine, beautiful things, parties and so on. I love it!
And it's not tiring to always tell the same stories the same questions?
As you might have noticed by now I talk to my answer if someone like me have the opportunity to do so. Sometimes it is tiring to hear yourself say always the same, so it's a challenge every time a little different. RingCon last year was very successful because I could work together with Lori Dungy (Mrs. Bracegirdle, LOTR EE), which was fun. The bottom line is that working with Peter Jackson and many other people to The Lord of the Rings was a great pleasure. I love all these experiences to re-experience when someone asks me to. I feel privileged to be part to have been enjoyed and people would love to know what it was. So I tell it like to have.
Your career so far is very diverse (lobster fisherman, dancer, rescue, etc.). What are your motives for again and again to change course?
That's a good question. One which I have not just one answer. What I do know is that I do not like to get me in the long-term record on a career.
I look at the amazing achievements of others, whether an inventor in his garden shed, a successful businessman or someone who has learned with his surfboard to contain the largest waves, and think: that I can. The reality of course is that many of these people have spent their lives to achieve what they do.
I know I have predisposition to act, and I also like to do. But fairness, saying that most of the projects I've worked as an actor is not the most uplifting work. It contains also a reason why I like to go Lord of the Rings convention. I like to be among people who, fascinated by a given, as passionate to go.
Anyway, back to the question. I have times when I think: 'Wow, if I were in the '70s had been a member of the first helicopter rescue in New Zealand than I had been a specialist in the brigade that it has become great. "Or I guess "If I had stayed in the dance world than I can teach, choreography can make and I had a wonderful career."
Maarja, when I was an actor, I had three young children to raise. And then you do not have the luxury to travel and your own opportunities to pursue. I had, and more importantly wanted, a good father who every day for his children. So then you look for other, more reliable ways to make money now and hope you have time when a great acting job comes along.
Right now I'm learning roasting. I have a lot of fun in learning a whole new skill. One that I can take everywhere with me wherever I go because my children are grown now so I can travel freely again. In contrast, I have a fantastic 23 months old grandson got the urge to travel so much reduced. I want as many in his neighborhood remain.
The only aspect missing is some form of financial stability, otherwise I'd like to lose the many possibilities that life has to offer. So, in about 30 years I still have to go (if I was lucky enough to have money and life), I just have five or six different ways to walk
You mentioned already that you like about the tourists around would result in "Middle Earth". Does that mean we have to book your tour to your antics to see, or are you also on display on screen?
I would love to buses full of Lord of the Rings fans from New Zealand to drive! Of course that job, so I will need a little love. But I certainly can not help but to act, that is the nature of the beast.
But acting remains part of your future plan?
Yes. I'm especially open to acting in films. Example, I would love to play the role of Bard in The Hobbit. That would be the realization of a dream for me. But I would also take part in just about everything written by Peter Jackson. He and his wife Fran Walsh, but also Richard Taylor and Tania Rodgers are the kind of people I mentioned earlier. That inspired me enormously. So with them, in whatever form, I would love it. Who knows, or should I dare to choose a career.
I interviewed a New Zealand filmmaker whose work I admire very, Florian Habicht . We talked about a collaboration. He currently resides in New York after one year he won a prize which he has a year of free inspiration can do and can work on a script.
There are a few films and TV series which I am eligible, for example: Barrier . I last year at his own expense to Melbourne (Australia) traveled there "green screen" shots for the teaser that the makers are doing so they can better sell their idea. Claudia Christian from Babylon 5 and Atlantis for the same project recordings made in Los Angeles.
So! Maybe soon I drive around in a tour bus, while I now play in a movie and a damn good coffee knows how to burn? There are so many people in the world who know the most interesting things to do in their lives. Why am I not?
So a part of our interview with Bruce Hopkins. We thank him very much for his time and answers. Soon Part 2 where we go deeper into the filming of The Hobbit.
If you have any questions that you would like to see made to Bruce Hopkins who you can e-mail to: info@dehobbit.net . The best entries will be included in the interview.
Exclusive Interview with Bruce Hopkins
Exclusively interviewed DeHobbit.net New Zealand actor and all-around nice guy Bruce Hopkins about His career, plans for the future and ofcourse ... The Hobbit!
Bruce Hopkins portrayed the Old Gamling, lieutenant to King Theoden of Rohan in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Will this be a multi-part interview.
Hi Bruce. How are you doing?
I am very well thanks, looking forward to whatever 2010 May Bring Forth on its plate.
It's been a while since we've heard from you, what have you been up to work-wise?
I had a year away from acting recently, I needed a break from the freelance fashion. I had my first year in twenty years or having a regular income, and I must say it was nice knowing That you were getting paid Each Week! At the moment I am turning up for auditions as an actor again, but I am not sure how long I will continue to do this as I do enjoy this way of making a living.
I love acting, and I know that i am good at it, but despite having done some good work over the years I still have to turn up to what are basically "cattle calls". A cattle call is what an audition process was Referred to When They look at a whole bunch of people for a role. They are pretty much just looking for the right person looking, so your acting is not the first thing They look at. It can feel quite demeaning after a number of years.
The only acting I did the last year consistently was an episode or a local show called The Jacquie Brown Diaries. Once again I got a great response for my work, but nothing really comes from it.
Right now I am doing a course to get my heavy traffic and bus drivers license. I'm interested in driving crazy Lord of the Rings fans around NZ!
From what I Gathered are you still doing the rounds-convention. What is the appeal?
I just had the pleasure of going to my first convention in three or four years, All which was RingCon 2009. Many New Zealanders do what is called Their OE (Overseas Experience) When They Are In Their early twenties. I did not do that. I was a dancer, and When I Became a father started acting, so it was always focussed on Those careers and parenting my three wonderful kids ... I now have a beautiful 23 month-old grandson.
Having the opportunity to travel to the Netherlands, France, Germany, England, Wales, Australia and the United States attending conventions Has Been fantastic. Each of my jobs I have kids on one of the journeys at Various times over the years. So It Has Been a great experience. I actually love the craziness of it Also, people who other wise May be leading normal lives Relatively, get to indulge in what is a real passion for em, dressing up in costumes They spend many hours creating, partying etc. I love it.
Do not you ever get tired of counting stories at The Same conventions thesis, and answering questions The Same?
As you can tell from my answers here, I talk a lot when i have the opportunity. Sometimes I do get tired of hearing myself, say the Same things so it's a challenge to try and make it a bit different Each Time. RingCon last year was great as I did some work with Lori Dungy All which was real fun. The bottom line is thats the experience of working with Peter (Jackson) and all the folks on LOTR was Such a joyous time that i love reliving it if I am asked about it. I feel privileged to have leg part of it and people genuinely not want to know about the experience, so I am happy to share it with em.
You have so far had a career That is very different (fisherman, dancer, lifeguard, etc.). What drives you to make changes in the synthesis direction?
That my friend is a bloody good question, and one which i do not know the exact answer to.What I do know is that i have real difficulty committing to long term one track, in Relation to a career path.I look at the Astounding achievements of others, be it the small backyard inventor, global technology players, physical endurance endeavor Such As surfing the biggest waves on the planet, etc, and when i stand and watch or read or thesis incredible human achievements I want to do whatever Those people do. However a lot of the time the thesis for PeopleSoft Reality Is That They have dedicated much of Their Life to That sole direction.
I Know That I have an affinity to acting, I love doing it, the brutal reality Is That must or what I have Acted in constantly my career is not Contributing anything to the better element of life on this planet, it's just adding to the library That people can access content or maybe to Escape Their Own Reality conscious for 90 minutes or so. That's part of the reason I enjoy attending conventions Lord Of The Rings, because i enjoy being Amongst people who are passionate about What They are engaged in.
Anyway, back to the question. I do have times where I think "wow if I had stayed being a member of the initial LifeGuard helicopter squad here in NZ back in the 70's i could have become an expert and still be part of the service Astounding thats the helicopter rescue unit HAS become, "or" if I had stayed in dance and branched out to teaching or choreography i could have created a wonderful career for myself. "
However as an actor I had three young children to raise and so Could not indulge myself in traveling to Pursue options. I needed to be and most importantly wanted to be a father to my children, present In Their Daily Lives. This Meant I had to look for other avenues of income, while hopefully being available to act if the right opportunities came along.
Right now I am roasting coffee. I am really enjoying learning a whole new skill set, which i can take with me where ever I go in the future. My children are now adults so I feel more free to roam. But the fact that i have a gorgeous 23-month old grandson MEANS I do not want to roam! I want to be around while he lives in the city Same as me.
The only feature I miss is creating some form of financial security, other wise I relish the variety Thats Life offerings. So maybe in the 30 years I have to live (more if I stay healthy Physically and Mentally, less if my name is on the 'page', as it turns one day before my 'old age'), who knows i could have another five or six different paths to wander along.
Mentioned you because you already heavy traffic to get a license and show visitors around the "Middle Earth" sites. Does that mean in the Future That Will we have to take your tour to see you perform or will you still be around on the silverscreen?
I would love to drive tour buses full of Lord of the Rings nutters around NZ! Of course I would not be bootable to party too much as I would be working, but no doubt I would do some form of showing off / performing, Sometimes I can not help myself!
But acting is still in your future right?
Yeah, I am totally open to working on movies in Particular, and would love to play the role of Bard in The Hobbit, that would be a dream come true, however anything by Peter Jackson would do. Hey, Fran (Walsh), Richard (Taylor) and Tania (Rodgers) are some of the people I was referencing to in a previous answer, people who are inspiring to me. So working with em in pretty much any capacity would be wonderful. Maybe I would settle down to one career then!
I have casual discussions with a NZ film maker who has made some work I love, Florian Habicht . We talk about working together. Currently he is living in NY for a year writing a script, as he won an award All which covers all costs to His just go and live in NY for a year and be inspired!
Also I have a couple of other movie / TV series project that I am aligned with, check out this one called Barrier . I paid for myself to travel to Melbourne last year to shoot some greenscreen work for a teaser / short film the creators are making so They can pitch the idea. Claudia Christian of Babylon 5 and Atlantis (plus many more!) fame, Also Shot some green screen work in LA for the project.
So maybe I can drive the tour buses and act in movies, while roasting some damn fine coffee, there are so many people out in the world who fit an Astounding Amount Writing Their life times, so why not!
So far part one of our interview with Bruce Hopkins. We thank Bruce for His time and wonderful answers to our questions. Be sure to keep an eye out for part two, in Which we talk to Bruce about The Hobbit Movies That are Currently in production.
[...] Source: DeHobbit.net [...]
Nice interview! Thank you.