Galen Gering and McKenzie Westmore Chat Transcript
September 1999
From NBC Passions
(McKenzie Westmore participated in the chat via phone and therefore wasn't available to be photographed.)
McKenzie: Hello!
Galen: What's up everyone?
starla: What is it like working on a brand new soap
opera?
McKenzie: It's really fast paced, but we all have so much
fun together it just makes the time fly by.
Galen: It's great working on a new show, because we all are
sharing the same goals,
to make the best show we possibly can,
and it's unique and a fantastic bunch of people to be
working with.
passionsfan: Do you think you have good chemistry on
the show and why?
McKenzie: Yeah, we just have a lot of fun together, and we
are both pretty easy going people, so it makes it a lot easier.
Galen: It's pretty fiery hot!
McKenzie: I wasn't going to go there, but OK, if you want
to!
Galen: In fact, I can't wait till our next scene!
McKenzie: If you could only see me blushing over here.
!!!
tvnut: Do either of you hope your characters will end
up together on the show?
McKenzie: Absolutely!
Galen: Most definitely, but I can't promise anything.
guest-Ezguest453: Do you hang out together or with other
cast members off the set?
McKenzie: No, actually, I've been trying to get together
with Eva ®who plays Pilar) to go running, but we haven't been able to
hook up just yet.
Galen: Well I have, but not for running, just for hanging
out.
guest-luvzpassions: Was it fun doing the tango
scene?
Galen: It was great!
McKenzie: Oh yeah, I had a blast doing that, especially
learning something so new, so passionate and hot!
Galen: I've been dancing the tango since I was like six, so
it's just another experience....just kidding!
happies: What have been your favorite scenes you have
shot so far?
Galen: The Tango!
McKenzie: The Tango!
Galen: Some that haven't aired yet.
McKenzie: Yeah!
staciep: What do you like to do in your spare time?
McKenzie: I love to jog, kickbox, anything that keeps me in
athletic frame of mind, and then on the relaxing side just playing with my
cat and my dog.
Galen: I play pro-am beach volleyball, so I've been doing
that a lot lately, I'll be in a tournament this weekend in Santa
Barbara.
Additionally, enjoying the times to relax when I'm off, it's
great being here in California, so I'll make the most of it.
shae8: Galen & McKenzie, do either of you have any
outside projects that we should be looking for?
McKenzie: I may have something coming up, it's not for
sure, but I may be the spokesmodel for a new clothing line that will be
coming out.
Galen: I actually may be editing a film that I produced and
directed, a short film called Gospel Hour, a religious satire. It's a
satire on televangelism, not really religion.
curious1: Was Passions the first acting job for either
of you? What did you do prior to Passions?
McKenzie: Prior I had done Star Trek Voyager Next
Generation, I appeared in the Star Trek Insurrection film, and I also did a
guest spot on Weird Science.
Galen: Are you a Trekkie, Mac?
McKenzie: No, not personally, I enjoy watching it, but
wouldn't call myself a Trekkie.
Galen: I just graduated Film school, so the last four years
I've been concentrating on writing and filmmaking.
NBCsoapFAN: How do you feel about the stories lines? Is
it interesting working with the supernatural element?
Galen: Yeah, it's wild!
McKenzie: It's really cool. My character hasn't
experienced any of the supernatural stuff,
but when I sit down and watch the show and all the things
with Tabitha and Timmy, I think it's great.
I've always been an X-Files fan.
Galen: It's only going to get more bizarre!
McKenzie: Yeah!
samsmom: Do you have any input for the scripts on the
show?
McKenzie: No, I haven't made any requests.
Galen: As far as the dialogue, we don't, but as far as what
we do with it, and how we deliver the words we do.
They give us freedom in where we want to take it.
McKenzie: Yeah, exactly.
websurfer: Do you have a web site? If so can we have
the address?
McKenzie: I don't have one up yet, hopefully soon. But you
can go on the Passions website, www.nbc.com/passions.
Galen: I'll be on estar, it debuts in November, it's a
celebrity site.
nina106: How do you think your characters are most like
you in real lives?
McKenzie: One of the closest things with me is that I've
always been, being in the family that I'm in, the Westmore family,
and so many people knowing my family, I've always been known
as a Westmore, just as Sheridan has always been known as a Crane.
Galen: I guess because my character stands on high moral
ground, and is hopefully entertaining,
and has a very important emphasis on family.
McKenzie: And he's damn sexy baby!
nina106: Will anyone ever find out about tabitha's evil
ways?
McKenzie: I'm not giving anything away.
Galen: I know the answer......
nina106: How is passions different from other soap
operas?
McKenzie: We have got more spirituality, supernatural, more
family value type storylines.
Galen: Don't forget James Reilley, and the fact that we're
new, and we're on NBC!
And we've got an actress who was in Raging Bull!
guest-Cassie193: Hello, I was wanted to know where is
the show filmed at and how long does Passions plan to stay on the air
for?
McKenzie: We hope a long time!
Galen: CBS Studios, 4024 Radford, Studio City,
California.
91604
McKenzie: And you can write us whenever you want!
guest-nikita22: McKenzie, you are so pretty, and your
clothes are great! Do you get to pick out your own clothes, or does someone
else do it?
McKenzie: Someone else does it, and fortunately for me she
and I have very similar tastes,
so that I have loved everything that Julie Englesman has
given me.
And thank you so much for the compliment!
guest-passion: what are the teen agers like on the
set
McKenzie: They are fun!
Galen: Rambunctious!
McKenzie: Lots of energy!
guest-nikita22: Galen, I saw the episode where you were
playing basketball with Hank, and I was wondering if you play in your free
time?
Galen: We had a little mini-tournament with all the cast
and crew last Sunday.
Actors against anyone else.
We gave them a beating!
guest-passion: mackenzie,what is it like working with so
many hot guys like luis
McKenzie: It's great, it's a dream come true!
Galen: I'll give you that twenty later!
McKenzie: ®laughing)
guest-sunshine1276: How old are Luis and Sheridan
supposto be in the show?
Galen: Thanks to whomever gave me that compliment
before.
McKenzie: I'm supposed to be 26.
Galen: I'm 28.
guest-tippo: What advice would you give to me , knowing
that I want to be an actress?
McKenzie: Lots of training, lots of classes, especially for
me, classical training has helped me a lot.
Galen: It's a fantastic job, however, there isn't a lot of
security, so you have to be dedicated to it.
McKenzie: Yeah.
strivestruck: Galen, you have an excellent physique! I'd
love to know what your workout consists of or what you do to attain such
physical perfection?
Galen: Thanks, first of all.
There's no real secret, actually, I'm sort of stunned by the
compliment.
I play volleyball and go to the gym a couple of days a week,
but that's about it.
Joe_5000: were you actually in Paris when you shot the
first month of Passions?
McKenzie: Yes, I was there for a week.
shae8: What do your signifigant others think of steamy
love scenes?
McKenzie: He doesn't watch!
Galen: I'm single.
shae8: What's the most embarrassing thing you've had
happen during a love scence?
Galen: I haven't had one yet.
McKenzie: I had one, but nothing really embarrassing
happened.
Galen: Did he have bad breath?
McKenzie: No, he took an Altoid, and he was OK.
guest-SC: How are you adjusting to the day to day
grueling pace of being on a soap opera?
Galen: Whoever wrote that sounds like they worked on one
before!
I guess it's a rewarding job, so that drives you. It's
rewarding because when you do a scene well, you want to do another one, and
another one.
You have to learn to manage your time well.
McKenzie: I have so much fun doing it that I actually hate
when I have days off.
guest-joyh: for Galen: You've been dubbed the new
reigning "Daytime Hunk!" I am creating a brand new site dedicated to "Your
Hunkship" ®LOL) and need any and all information I can get on your
present and past. Can you tell me where I can get information to support
this new website? I promise you'll love it xxx!
Galen: Well, first off thank you, I'm flattered.
Secondly, when estar launches in November, there will be an
extensive amount of information.
Additionally, the NBC site will host new information
starting in the next couple of weeks.
And thanks again!
guest-harmony665: For Sheridan: Your dream mentions the
word "they," as in "they" can't breathe. Is there more than one dead body?
Could you tell us who it is? Or at least who it isn't?
McKenzie: There is only one dead body, and that's all I'm
giving away.
guest-Passionatefan: For Mackensie at the beginning when
they started to shoot Passions, u were in Paris as I understand does that
mean u were the last one to meet the cast and the crew, or had u met
already, if not what was your reaction when u finally met them?
McKenzie: I was the first one. We actually had, the crew
was based in Paris, they were a French crew, and the other two actors were
from the United States.
I was the first one to come on board, I was working with
Lisa Hesser, who is GREAT.
Without her, I wouldn't have made it through that week in
one piece.
nannabannna: sheridan what did you think of the script
when you first read it
McKenzie: I was excited!
I thought that it had a great storyline, a great opening,
something great to catch people's attentions.
And James Reilley is such a great writer, as far as I was
concerned, it could do no wrong.
guest-joyh: To Sheridan and Luis: When auditioning for
your current roles on Passions, did you compete with any big name actors or
actresses?
McKenzie: I don't know.
Galen: Yeah, I knew I was going up against the son of the
one who's father is really famous, I'd rather not say who...
So I knew that that would sort of give them an edge, in a
way, perhaps...
guest-joyh: for Sheridan: I hate to bring up a sore
subject, but if you would kindly tell me, how did you personally feel about
doing the Diana storyline? Did you think it would be good entertainment?
McKenzie: I thought that it would be.
To me, the storyline was only paying homage to her.
We weren't saying anything bad about Diana, only remembering
her in the best light possible.
shae8: I've noticed some of the fans in the chat rooms
can be fanatical/strange. Does that worry you they take the show SO
seriously?
Galen: I think we're lucky to have fans like that.
McKenzie: Yeah!
guest-joyh: Either: How old is the actor who portrays
Timmy? He is absolutely awesome!
Galen: He's um....30.
McKenzie: No, he's 17!
guest-harmony665: Will there be any more sexy dances
like THE Tango
McKenzie: I hope so!
Galen: Yeah.
guest-joyh: Okay, this ? may be off limits but I have to
ask: do either of you have an email address to where we can send our fan
mail? Nothing thrills like being in personal touch with your favorite
stars.
Galen: I don't at the moment, unfortunately.
You can write to us at the address I listed before.
guest-harmony665: I heard a rumor that there's a
storyline coming up that's so funny the writers had a hard time writing
it....is this true, and who does it involve, if you know?
Galen: Yes, it's true, but ooops, sorry, we can't say who
it is!
btrigwel: I would love to know whether either of you
ever thought you'd be on a television show.....
McKenzie: I didn't ever expect that I would get a three
year contract on a soap.
I was always hoping for it...
Galen: I suppose at times, but to have this opportunity is
pretty exciting.
passnluvr: Would you change anything about your
characters or do you like the way they are now?
McKenzie: I wouldn't change a thing, except maybe better
driving skills.
Galen: Yeah, ditto for that!
guest-Dana2002: McKenzie and Galen- do you think
passions is more for a teen perspective or any age? Is sheridan and luis
getting together??
McKenzie: I think it's for any age.
For the second part......I can't say.
guest-Kianna425: I really enjoy the music from Passion.
Who sings it?
Galen: Jane French, and there will be more information on
her on the website coming soon.
guest-joyh: Sheridan and Luis: No soap fan events ever
come to the Nation's Capital. How 'bout being trailblazers and beating a
trail out here? What are your plans for fan events in the near future?
Galen: We're always scheduled months before in advanced,
actually, and right now our schedules don't permit us a lot of time outside
weekends.
McKenzie: Which doesn't give us a lot of time, we have to
memorize lines.
Galen: But we would love to be trailblazers and beat a path
to your door!
McKenzie: Absolutely!
guest-JiBBo: To Both: Do you feel you are portraying
your characters to their fullest, or do you believe there is room for
improvement?
Galen: I think there's always room for change, I don't know
about improvement, but people change, so I hope you'll see these characters
change as someone would in real life.
shae8: Galen & Mckenzie you are both awesome, how
could I hope to get an autograph from the two of you?
McKenzie: By writing the above mentioned address, 4024
Radford, CBS Studios, Studio City, California, but make sure you put
Passions and the character name.
spoilme836: <What is it like working with Eva
Lemus?>
McKenzie: It's great, she's a really sweet woman.
I love it when I get to do scenes with her.
Galen: She's fantastic, which is a good thing, she plays my
mother, so we spend a lot of time together.
Jonathan224722: For McKenzie--I think the show is
wonderful. How do you like playing the rich girl on the show living in the
expensive mansion? Is it a difficult role? Please tell the rest of the
cast how great the show is for all of us!
McKenzie: I love getting to play the rich girl, because I
get great costumes and jewelry.
A week in Paris, great storylines.
Galen: It was rough.
McKenzie: Yeah, rough. Oh, and really nice cars!
guest-flick: Mckenzie Westmore, what episode of star
trek:the next generation were you in?
McKenzie: "When the Bough Breaks".
And when I was in Voyager, that episode which had just aired
this past spring, was "Warheads".
shae8: Do the two of you have a fan club? If so, how do
I join?
McKenzie: And I may be coming back!
Galen: Mine will be on estar starting in November.
McKenzie: Mine you can reach me at the Radford address.
Galen: Mine is also at the studio, and Passions is also
working on an official fan club.
LMsDreamer: Is there anything you don't like about
acting or is it all pretty cool?
McKenzie: It's all pretty cool.
Galen: It's a great job, I mean, I guess, there's a
downside to everything.
It can be physically and emotionally draining after long
days.
And even if you're tired, if the scene calls for you to be
in a different frame of mind, you really have to work to go there.
At times it's difficult, it's always a challenge.
LMsDreamer: If you weren't acting for a job, what would
you be doing for a career?
McKenzie: I would be doing something with animals.
Possibly a veterinarian.
Galen: I would be doing what I'm going to be doing, which
is writing, filmmaking, and furniture design.
LMsDreamer: Do you like interacting with your fans,
doing online chats and stuff?
McKenzie: I love it!
Galen: Heck yeah!
Jonathan224722: Is there any concern that Passions will
go down in ratings now that school has started and a large portion of the
audience isn't at home to watch?
McKenzie: No, because they can videotape.
Galen: Good answer!
guest-Alibobba11: My little girl wants to know if you
have to wear heavy stage makeup and how much do you wear when you are not
working. ®She is ten)
McKenzie: It's on the heavy side, yeah.
I don't like to wear base makeup when I'm outside of the
studio, that's the big difference for me.
Galen: They keep it pretty light for the guys.
If your skin is in decent condition.
I'm trying to cut down when I'm not working.
McKenzie: ®laughing)
guest-dianatre: will we be seeing more adult themes?
Galen: There will be stories featuring all the characters
in the next few months.
passnluvr: What kind of music do you two enjoy?
McKenzie: I like anything on K-Rock or Star 98.7
Galen: ®whistling)
It depends on my mood.
Everything from classical to cutting edge alternative.
McKenzie: I also love musical theater.
shae8: Galen & McKenzie, who are your
influences/inspirations for becoming actors?
McKenzie: My parents are my driving force, they were the
ones that always supported me.
Galen: I like Steve Buschemi a lot.
Billy Bob Thornton.
guest-nikita22: McKenzie, You have said that you are a
trained opera singer, so I wanted to know if you have a CD out or if you
ever will?
McKenzie: Hopefully in the future I will.
zen_chick: McKenzie, are you a bad driver in real life?
laugh
McKenzie: You know, after I started filming this show, I
got my first ticket, and that's starting to scare me.
I went through a stop sign.
Galen: Oh boy, take out the cuffs!
McKenzie: I was filling out my traffic school forms
today.
NBCLive: Thanks for your time tonight McKenzie and
Galen! Do you have any thoughts you'd like to share before we call it a
wrap?
Galen: I would just invite anyone to please write to the
address, Passions, c/o CBS Studios, 4024 Radford Avenue, Studio City,
California, 91604, and thank you very much!
McKenzie: I always write back to fan letters, and thanks
again!
Chat Photos
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