Live Chat - April 16, 2000

Moderator
Hello everybody! Rutger just entered the room! Welcome Rutger!

Rutger
Dear Webroamers, after my first experience "chatting" I understand there were around 500 people who couldn't get in/on. My solution hopefully will be that I announce the next "chat" only a couple of days in advance. Like I did with this one. So chances to get in are bigger. I'm in Vancouver shooting a film called "Gateway". It's a smaller job. Good people. Good fun. So WELCOME! I'll try to answer as best as I can. I type with two fingers so it takes me time. Duh. Bye.

Question
Hi Rutger! Do you like Italian cooking and are you able to cook?

Rutger
Mucho, grazie. I can cook some.

Question
How many roles are you offered each year? How do you decide which ones to accept?

Rutger
A role has to appeal to me. I like many different things. Variety is one of them. It depends on what the director sees in the story. I like the practice of the craft. In the end you never know how it will end up. There are very few rules.

Question
Do you have a new movie project and if so, what kind of character would you be playing?

Rutger
There is a 10-minute short which I hope to do in June. I will do a few masterclasses as well. I'm talking to different filmschools for future work

Question
What is the most favourite character you ever played?

Rutger
Blade Runner, Blind Side. Blind Fury, The Hitcher, Wanted Dead or Alive, The Legend of the Holy Drinker & many more for different reasons.

Question
Rutger, if the tables were turned, what would you ask the fans?

Rutger
Don't touch that table.

Question
Do you have any directing projects on the horizon?

Rutger
Directing is still very much on top of my list. But if Eastwood had to wait 25 years I can wait longer.

Question
Are you coming to Spain soon?

Rutger
I was inSan Sebastian once and have been invited a few times. I just couldn't make it work. I will include this sort of information in my newsletters. That is if I want you to know. I promise.

Question
Which are your greatest dreams you would like to turn into reality?

Rutger
My secrets

Question
If you could change one thing in your life, what would it be?

Rutger
The color of my eyes, or maybe I'd cut out the noise I make or maybe turn the dark side of my brain into the Milky Way. I'm kinda kidding you with this. It's hard to put into a nutshell and I may not want to share this with the world. But love anyway.

Question
What religion are you?

Rutger
I haven't the slightest idea. Do you know a good one?

Question
Is it awkward having your fans adore you so much?

Rutger
No, It's a blaaast!

Question
What sort of research do you like to do to prepare for a role?

Rutger
I read the script about a hundred times. It depends on what "it" wants&deals with. It depends on the directors' needs. Homework never hurts. It's just that during the day it tends to be slightly behind.

Question
Blind Fury is one of my favs, how difficult was the sword fight?

Rutger
I'm quite proud of it because the combination of not being able to look&do swordplay at the same time is an achievement not many can do. I like that film. The music. But how difficult the things are that I do is not my favourite whine. It was physically my fittest part.

Question
Where haven't you been, that you would like to visit?

Rutger
Taipei, Arctic, Greenland, certain parts of the ocean, above and/or under. Deep is not so bad.

Question
Who/what is your greatest inspiration?

Rutger
Gerard Philippe, Artaud, Bach, Midnight Oil, Zappa, Brando, Dylan Thomas, somewhat there.

Question
Speaking of Blind Fury, you skiied in Alberta, Canada. Do you still do much skiing?

Rutger
No I had surgery on both of my legs at different times and it takes soooooo long to get confident and strong. I'm working on them. I want to get back there. Throw some of those whilte balls&kick some snowy ass.

Question
Could you tell me if at the end of The Hitcher John Ryder knew that the boy would have killed him?

Rutger
The Hitcher, to me, is a phantom. Come to life out of the desert dust. He doesn't know many things. He knows he is a sick man and wants one helping hand to eliminate him. Put him back where he belongs. Dust to dust. He prays&begs&pushes the kid, never contemplating that the kid is so "good". And you know what? He wasn't completely dead in the end and it just appears that way. Appearances. That's so great in film. You only see what we allow you to see. Beyond the edges of the frame there is.

Question
The movie Call of the Wild is so Canadian. Is it one of your favourites?

Rutger
One of the feelings about Call of the Wild was - if the dog can act it might be a good movie. I loved that dog. I'm not objective. The other concern for me was - if you shoot a story about going back to the wildness, you're going to have to show wild. Teeth. Blood. You know, they were afraid of that. Kids wouldn't be able to take it, so it went a bit soft there maybe. I loved doing it and it's yours.

Question
Did you like to work with Harrison Ford in Blade Runner?

Rutger
As you may recall, Harrison was on the other side of the fence(or wall) for that matter. In the four months of shooting I may have worked with him for seven days. He's a professional. Gets a lot of respect from me. I can't tell you I was too comfortable because there were a bunch of problems going on at the same time.

Question
Why did you decide to be in independent films?

Rutger
It's not a decision I've purposely made. It happens and keeps goingandgoinglikeaduracel.

Question
Have you ever wanted to be born in another time?

Rutger
There are times - now you ask - maybe before the shit hit the fan. But I wouldn't exactly know when that would be - would you? Probably when we were shrimps, gorillas or sardines.

Question
Nobody is perfect. Which are your defects? Tell me at least one.

Rutger
As you can tell IIIIIII hesiiiitate. Stub born......

Question
What sports do you usually practice?

Rutger
Scuba, sail, chess, nosepicking, there's more. Aquarius.

Question
Have you ever been tempted to leave in the middle of an interview?

Rutger
Mostly at the start.

Question
Have you ever been to Portugal?

Rutger
20 secs

Question
What to you would be the "Perfect Day"?

Rutger
Put the friends I have in the world in one place&be a pig.

Question
Can you play a musical instrument?

Rutger
Nogrrrrrrr

Question
Do you believe in aliens?

Rutger
I'm dicking. About aliens. What I think about all that is alien. It seems that everything we have not experienced gets categorized. It's called the dark side. I believe in what we don't know more than what we think we do. Aliens live in the same garage. If you get my drift.

Question
What are the main sports in the Netherlands?

Rutger
Main sports in NL are soccer, hash&tulips.

Question
Rutger, of all your films, which did you have the most fun making?

Rutger
See above

Question
Are you who you expected to be when you were a child?

Rutger
I'm who I was as a child. Never expected this though. Don't even think about it. It's beyond reason.

Question
Are you a morning person, or a night person?

Rutger
I'm OK.

Question
What is the fondest memory that you have of your childhood with your parents and siblings?

Rutger
I may have been 3 or 4. My mother and a friend were gossiping about something. We were sitting on a balcony in Amsterdam. Nice day. And I was putzing around in the small bathtub. I don't remember having taken a shit but I did and I had never made my mother laugh that much.

Question
Do you like soccer? If you do, what is your favourite team?

Rutger
Sorry, I've lost soccertouch.

Question
What is your idea of "heaven on earth" and do you feel you have it now?

Rutger
Who owns heaven? It comes and goes. That's so great. At random. Nobody fucks with heaven, although I met people who try. Moments. Just moments. Giving helps. Taking seems to suck.

Question
What kind of candy were you eating in "Split Second" and did you get addicted to them or did they make you gag after a while?

Rutger
I don't remember.

Question
I think tattoos are very personal and expressive. Which are your tattoos ?

Rutger
I have big hands. Didn't like wearing rings. When my wife and I were together 5 years, I got one. A bee&her name. I had a friend who died. A heart with his name in it.

Question
You speak a lot of languages - which one do you dream in?

Rutger
On occasion English&Dutch seem to do the talking. But I'm more dead once asleep. Excuse me.

Question
How is your kayakking going?

Rutger
It's going great. The whales had to do without me. They had other commitments. I bought one for my grandson. He doesn't know yet. Hope he will like.

Question
Are you the type of person who can relax in a lawn-chair, or do you always have to be doing something?

Rutger
Lawnmowertypeturboknives87th45.

Question
What is your favourite color or ice cream flavor?

Rutger
Caffeinedriven...

Question
Your second name is Oelsen. I don't think it is Dutch, is it?

Rutger
Swedish

Question
Do you have any public appearances scheduled, that you might want fans to support for?

Rutger
No. Before I go, let me tell. It's great fun to gel this little this way. It's a great venture and we're constantly working on updating for the future. Thank you for passing by. Love to all.

Moderator
Rutger has left the room. Thank you so much for being here. Have a nice day!

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