Shorty Hits 20 Years!
Shortland Street has been a New Zealand TV staple for 20 years this May. On May 25th, the TV soap will play its 20th Anniversary show, who would have known it would still be going strong after so many years! Given this big achievement Steven Fernandez caught up with two of Shorty's long standing stars, Michael Galvin (Chris Warner) and Angela Bloomfield (Rachel McKenna), for a chat about their time working on the iconic series.
Steven Fernandez: You’ve been there as Chris since day one. How does it feel to have grown as an actor with Shortland Street?
Michael Galvin: It’s weird having it all there on record, but I suppose that’s how a lot of actors do their learning. It’s not so much the change in acting I notice from the early days, it’s more the change in the amount of wrinkles and the amount of chins.
SF: The last twenty years have been busy for Chris. What would you say were his “peak” and “pit” moments as a character?
MG: There’s a new one of each every month. Pits that stand out: drug addiction, being in a wheelchair, nearly burning to death (twice), being tied up and left for dead in a barn (twice). Peaks: the weddings! All four of them. Or is it five?
SF: What stands out to you as one of the most memorable moments in Chris’ history?
MG: The most memorable moment - not for Chris but for me, and for all the wrong reasons - was when the staff at Shortland St put on a musical and Chris had to do a rap. It still hurts to remember it.
SF: Chris and Rachel have been labelled Shortland Street’s “golden couple”. Without giving anything away, what do you have to say about them and their future together?
MG: It gets very rocky. And just when you think it’s hit rock bottom it gets much, much worse.
SF: You’ve been praised for your skills in playing Chris and recognized by a nomination for “Best Actor” at the 2008 Qantas Awards. How does it feel to have your portrayal of that character so well-received?
MG: I try not to worry about how it’s received. I give it everything I’ve got and watch the show as often as I can to keep a critical eye on what I’m doing. I don’t really seek outside counsel anymore, or listen too much to praise or criticism. Things seem to go a lot better that way.
SF: How similar are you and Chris? Particularly when it comes to his reputation as a ladies man?
MG: Oh, please! I’m the wrong person to ask about that. In my head we couldn’t be more different, but I’m wondering if the people who know me best would say the same thing.
SF: Many former Shortland Street actors have described the show as challenging and demanding. What are your tricks for learning scripts and getting into character? Particularly learning some of those medical terms?
MG: When you’re learning your lines it very important to fully understand what you are saying and know exactly why you are saying those particular words to that particular person or people. The more specific and the smaller the units you break it down to the better. Once you’ve done that the only way to learn lines is to learn lines. Over and over and over and once you’re pretty sure you know them run the scene two more times so you really know it. The thing that stops people making their performances as good as they can be on Shortland St is usually their backing away from the number of hours you sometimes have to put in to really know your lines. It’s not until you have them right there and don’t have to search for them that you can start to play with them and make your performance natural and compelling.
SF: As the show approaches its twentieth year on air, how do you feel about its place in New Zealand’s TV history?
MG: Very proud. I think sometime during the second year on air we parked ourselves smack in the middle of the nation’s collective unconscious and we’ve never left.
SF: How often do you join other Kiwi’s by sitting down at 7pm and watching the show?
MG: As often as I can. Most nights.
SF: What would you like to see for Chris and Shortland Street moving forward?
MG: I’ve learnt to leave that to the writers. My two cents worth is usually worth just that. The writers have done an incredible job this far so why not trust them with the rest of the journey?
Steven Fernandez: You debuted on Shortland Street in early 1993. Tell us how you got the part and what it was like stepping into a new TV drama?
Angela Bloomfield: I started on the show in August 1992. I was nineteen, and Shortland Street was the first acting gig I had. I had no concept of its importance to the TV industry in this country. It was an audition I had succeeded in. Two of my girlfriends had had small parts in the opening episode and I was just stoked I was getting my turn. It wasn’t until I was there for a while I realised that the role had a future and I started to really enjoy performing that I understood the magnitude of the opportunity.
SF: Over the years it would be fair to say Rachel has had her share of ups and downs. What do you feel were her highs and lows?
AB: She’s an alcoholic, clearly this is a low. She is also a workaholic, and doesn’t want children. To me these also seem like lows. She doesn’t need to be liked, but she likes to be loved and respected. So although I don’t believe she is at one with herself she is hopeful. There haven’t been too many triumphs for Rachel, but she is also a character on a soap opera – so I’m not to worried.
SF: What stands out to you as one of the most memorable moments in Rachel’s history?
AB: Getting struck by lightening and surviving, but being in love with her bumbling blonde best friend Nick Harrison, and having him do everything to try and put her off – from videos of him farting in the bath to eating onions to get bad breath was hilarious. I used to love the pantomimes and singing/dress up episodes we used to do.
SF: Rachel and Chris have been labelled Shortland Street’s 'golden couple'. Without giving anything away, what do you have to say about them and their future together?
AB: Too be honest, I don’t know. The producer says one thing and then the next time he’s changed his mind. I love working with Michael. We have been acting together for so long – its really second nature. I love how the writers weave the webs on this show and am happy to leave that up to them.
SF: Rachel has often been labelled “Sexiest Female” on Shortland Street. How do you feel about that?
AB: I don’t know about that. TV crushes and all that eh. That’s all in the past I think, and that suits me just fine.
SF: What influence do you have in the way Rachel dresses and looks?
AB: Do you get some freebies from her wardrobe? Rachel has been a fashionista since we very first meet her. She has had her off years, but hey, blame it on the recession. I love my wardrobe, I have nothing to do with selecting it, but I often ask for another one for me to purchase and put in my own wardrobe.
SF: Many former Shortland Street actors have described the show as challenging and demanding. What are your tricks for learning scripts and getting into character?
AB: Particularly learning some of those medical terms? As an actor, a core part of my job is learning lines. I have been doing it for 20 years now, so naturally I can do it pretty quickly if I have to. But at the end of the day its more important for me to understand why my character is saying what’s she’s saying. This takes time, and there’s no quick trick. That’s how I like it to be, and it gives me more opportunity to have fun between action and cut.
SF: As the show approaches its twentieth year on air, how do you feel about its place in New Zealand’s TV history?
AB: I’m so proud to be apart of it. It’s the longest running drama this country has; it is watched and adored by many. It’s about New Zealander’s, for New Zealander’s, and it has paved the way for many TV programme’s being made since.
SF: How often do you join other Kiwi’s by sitting down at 7pm and watching the show?
AB: I have watched a heck of a lot of Shortland Street over the years. To see what my work looks like, to see what everyone else is up to. To look at the work of the various Directors and steal the good ideas. Since I’ have had children I’m more of a MYSKY and watch it later.
SF: What would you like to see for Rachel and Shortland Street moving forward?
AB: Having been apart of the show for so long, there’s not much my character hasn’t been through. Interestingly though, she’s never been married on screen, unless you count a civil union at varsity like, 100 years ago, which was more of a protest piece against student loans, and she has never had a baby – so there’s some options for the writer’s. But frankly I can’t see either of these happening anytime soon.
Steven Fernandez: You’ve been there as Chris since day one. How does it feel to have grown as an actor with Shortland Street?
Michael Galvin: It’s weird having it all there on record, but I suppose that’s how a lot of actors do their learning. It’s not so much the change in acting I notice from the early days, it’s more the change in the amount of wrinkles and the amount of chins.
SF: The last twenty years have been busy for Chris. What would you say were his “peak” and “pit” moments as a character?
MG: There’s a new one of each every month. Pits that stand out: drug addiction, being in a wheelchair, nearly burning to death (twice), being tied up and left for dead in a barn (twice). Peaks: the weddings! All four of them. Or is it five?
SF: What stands out to you as one of the most memorable moments in Chris’ history?
MG: The most memorable moment - not for Chris but for me, and for all the wrong reasons - was when the staff at Shortland St put on a musical and Chris had to do a rap. It still hurts to remember it.
SF: Chris and Rachel have been labelled Shortland Street’s “golden couple”. Without giving anything away, what do you have to say about them and their future together?
MG: It gets very rocky. And just when you think it’s hit rock bottom it gets much, much worse.
SF: You’ve been praised for your skills in playing Chris and recognized by a nomination for “Best Actor” at the 2008 Qantas Awards. How does it feel to have your portrayal of that character so well-received?
MG: I try not to worry about how it’s received. I give it everything I’ve got and watch the show as often as I can to keep a critical eye on what I’m doing. I don’t really seek outside counsel anymore, or listen too much to praise or criticism. Things seem to go a lot better that way.
SF: How similar are you and Chris? Particularly when it comes to his reputation as a ladies man?
MG: Oh, please! I’m the wrong person to ask about that. In my head we couldn’t be more different, but I’m wondering if the people who know me best would say the same thing.
SF: Many former Shortland Street actors have described the show as challenging and demanding. What are your tricks for learning scripts and getting into character? Particularly learning some of those medical terms?
MG: When you’re learning your lines it very important to fully understand what you are saying and know exactly why you are saying those particular words to that particular person or people. The more specific and the smaller the units you break it down to the better. Once you’ve done that the only way to learn lines is to learn lines. Over and over and over and once you’re pretty sure you know them run the scene two more times so you really know it. The thing that stops people making their performances as good as they can be on Shortland St is usually their backing away from the number of hours you sometimes have to put in to really know your lines. It’s not until you have them right there and don’t have to search for them that you can start to play with them and make your performance natural and compelling.
SF: As the show approaches its twentieth year on air, how do you feel about its place in New Zealand’s TV history?
MG: Very proud. I think sometime during the second year on air we parked ourselves smack in the middle of the nation’s collective unconscious and we’ve never left.
SF: How often do you join other Kiwi’s by sitting down at 7pm and watching the show?
MG: As often as I can. Most nights.
SF: What would you like to see for Chris and Shortland Street moving forward?
MG: I’ve learnt to leave that to the writers. My two cents worth is usually worth just that. The writers have done an incredible job this far so why not trust them with the rest of the journey?
Steven Fernandez: You debuted on Shortland Street in early 1993. Tell us how you got the part and what it was like stepping into a new TV drama?
Angela Bloomfield: I started on the show in August 1992. I was nineteen, and Shortland Street was the first acting gig I had. I had no concept of its importance to the TV industry in this country. It was an audition I had succeeded in. Two of my girlfriends had had small parts in the opening episode and I was just stoked I was getting my turn. It wasn’t until I was there for a while I realised that the role had a future and I started to really enjoy performing that I understood the magnitude of the opportunity.
SF: Over the years it would be fair to say Rachel has had her share of ups and downs. What do you feel were her highs and lows?
AB: She’s an alcoholic, clearly this is a low. She is also a workaholic, and doesn’t want children. To me these also seem like lows. She doesn’t need to be liked, but she likes to be loved and respected. So although I don’t believe she is at one with herself she is hopeful. There haven’t been too many triumphs for Rachel, but she is also a character on a soap opera – so I’m not to worried.
SF: What stands out to you as one of the most memorable moments in Rachel’s history?
AB: Getting struck by lightening and surviving, but being in love with her bumbling blonde best friend Nick Harrison, and having him do everything to try and put her off – from videos of him farting in the bath to eating onions to get bad breath was hilarious. I used to love the pantomimes and singing/dress up episodes we used to do.
SF: Rachel and Chris have been labelled Shortland Street’s 'golden couple'. Without giving anything away, what do you have to say about them and their future together?
AB: Too be honest, I don’t know. The producer says one thing and then the next time he’s changed his mind. I love working with Michael. We have been acting together for so long – its really second nature. I love how the writers weave the webs on this show and am happy to leave that up to them.
SF: Rachel has often been labelled “Sexiest Female” on Shortland Street. How do you feel about that?
AB: I don’t know about that. TV crushes and all that eh. That’s all in the past I think, and that suits me just fine.
SF: What influence do you have in the way Rachel dresses and looks?
AB: Do you get some freebies from her wardrobe? Rachel has been a fashionista since we very first meet her. She has had her off years, but hey, blame it on the recession. I love my wardrobe, I have nothing to do with selecting it, but I often ask for another one for me to purchase and put in my own wardrobe.
SF: Many former Shortland Street actors have described the show as challenging and demanding. What are your tricks for learning scripts and getting into character?
AB: Particularly learning some of those medical terms? As an actor, a core part of my job is learning lines. I have been doing it for 20 years now, so naturally I can do it pretty quickly if I have to. But at the end of the day its more important for me to understand why my character is saying what’s she’s saying. This takes time, and there’s no quick trick. That’s how I like it to be, and it gives me more opportunity to have fun between action and cut.
SF: As the show approaches its twentieth year on air, how do you feel about its place in New Zealand’s TV history?
AB: I’m so proud to be apart of it. It’s the longest running drama this country has; it is watched and adored by many. It’s about New Zealander’s, for New Zealander’s, and it has paved the way for many TV programme’s being made since.
SF: How often do you join other Kiwi’s by sitting down at 7pm and watching the show?
AB: I have watched a heck of a lot of Shortland Street over the years. To see what my work looks like, to see what everyone else is up to. To look at the work of the various Directors and steal the good ideas. Since I’ have had children I’m more of a MYSKY and watch it later.
SF: What would you like to see for Rachel and Shortland Street moving forward?
AB: Having been apart of the show for so long, there’s not much my character hasn’t been through. Interestingly though, she’s never been married on screen, unless you count a civil union at varsity like, 100 years ago, which was more of a protest piece against student loans, and she has never had a baby – so there’s some options for the writer’s. But frankly I can’t see either of these happening anytime soon.
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