Interview with Masi Oka (“Hiro”)

Power: Can bend time and space.

Can you tell us a little bit about your character and what his powers are?

My character is Hiro Nakamura. He’s an office drone in Japan and he’s a big comic book enthusiast. He learns that he can bend time and space, so teleportation and chronokinesis, and he’s just absolutely exhilarated with the fact that he can do this. It’s been his dream all along and he’s so happy that he’s been chosen.

The character is a big sci-fi and comic book fan. Is this a trait which you relate to?

I believe so. I am definitely a big enthusiast of science fiction and special effects. I grew up with Japanese Manga (Japanese comics), so I know a lot about the Manga world.

I really, really love the character and I believe the writers are doing an amazing job writing Hiro and bringing who I am into the character and extending me in terms of being a big comic book enthusiast. “Heroes” is a big extension of who I am.

There is an online graphic novel which goes hand-in-hand with the series. How important is this to the show? How does it feel to see yourself in cartoon form?

I think it’s just absolutely wonderful. When we went to the comic convention, we had a screening of the pilot episode and we knew we had something absolutely special and magical when we saw the fans’ reaction. We knew we hit it right on the head and that we had served the comic book community really well. And you know, in particular with Hiro being the comic book enthusiast as he is, he’s somewhat the representative for that voice of comic book fans. To have him as part of a comic book too is just absolutely thrilling, both in support of the character and for myself.

You worked on special effects before becoming an actor. Do you find yourself looking over people’s shoulders as the effects are produced for the show?

Absolutely, anytime I could! Our special effects team have done an amazing job with the pilot and all the episodes coming up. It’s really wonderful.

It’s always fascinating because special effects are part of what makes the magic behind the movies. I’m like a kid watching all these cool things happen, even the green screen excites me.

What has been the most exhilarating aspect of the production?

The script is always both surprising and exhilarating. Every week we get something new. Every question they ask, they answer it but they also ask another question. It’s a constant rollercoaster going up and down.

You read the script and think, “Oh my God, wow. Wait a minute, that’s how it ends? No wait, come on, where’s the next script?” You get the next script and it’s like, “Oh my, that is just absolutely brilliant. I would have never thought of that!”

It’s a constant rollercoaster. That’s always been surprising how brilliant the minds of our writers are, they constantly top themselves week after week.

Finally, if you had a super power, what would it be?

As a kid growing up, the superpower I wanted was the Midas touch, the ability to turn anything into gold. My allowance was about a quarter every week and that was only enough to go to the arcade and play one game. So I would have to be really good at playing arcades or have a bunch of rich friends. But if I had the Midas touch, then I could have just picked up a stone and turned it to gold.

Interview with Adrian Pasdar (“Nathan Petrelli”)

Power: Flying

How do you feel about Nathan? There seems to be some underlying ambiguity about his character?

It’s close to playing a Richard III-type character but in a modern dimension. All I need is a physical kind of abnormality to befall me, like hump or a limp then I would have a really Shakespearian experience!

I don’t think he is necessarily concerned whether he is good or bad. I do think that there is a dark side that has to be dealt with, but the people who think

they are good will probably turn out the other way on this show. It wouldn’t do me any good to speculate as to how I’m going to end up. I think there is both good and bad in this character which is interesting to play. I am as much a fan who is along for the ride as the public are with this character and where he ultimately is going to go.

Would you agree that your character is defined more by his relationships than his superhero power?

Yes, I find these relationship dynamics are more interesting to play than the perceived super power, they have written that very well. The relationships that I share with my mum, with Peter (Milo Ventimiglia), with my wife and with Niki (Ali Larter), all those elements are angling together toward defining who Nathan Petrelli is to himself and his potential constituency.

Ultimately, when you’re in the game of politics and you’re a man like Nathan Petrelli, there is only one seat that you want and that’s behind a desk in the Oval Office.

As we take this journey, we may find ourselves in the White House and that should make these relationships even more interesting.

Were you excited by the prospect of flying in the show?

Yes, although I was a little hesitant in the beginning. I was excited to read about the character’s power but when they describe the stunts in the scripts, you worry that it’s going to look cheesy. However, after seeing what the special effects team has been able to pull off every episode, it’s really exciting because they take it to the next level. I know that they’re going to do something that I can’t even imagine. It’s really fun to be a part of that. They write it with the enthusiasm of a child which is the best thing that you can have in this business.

Has anything happened to you to make you think this show is going to be a real phenomenon?

Yes, it’s the water cooler conversations, which are certainly a measure of success. There’s a real sense of involvement in the American culture with this series. At this point we’re happy to be able to contribute in a positive way. It is a positive show about people being confronted with an extraordinary situation and how they deal with it.

People don’t tend to recognise me yet. I’ve had conversations with people about the show and then I’ll see them realise that I am in it. It’s really fun to hear people talk about what might be coming up, what’s happened and who is going where, it’s fun to be a part of that.

What has surprised you the most during production?

The biggest surprise is that it’s all gone off without a hitch. Everything has gone according to plan. The plan was to deliver a quality television programme with excellent special effects and well drawn characters. Those three goals have been met but you can never predict what the audience is going to like. All you can do is deliver your best and I think everybody here has realised the potential of this story and they have done their best to achieve this result.

Finally, were you a comic book fan when growing up?

My favorite was the Silver Surfer when I was growing up. He didn’t really have many super powers other than surfing around on his board, certainly not as many as other superheroes. But I really like the philosophy behind him, he travels fast and he travels alone. That always appealed to me as a kid.

Interview with Milo Ventimiglia (“Peter Petrelli”)

Power: Adopts the powers of others he is close to

How quickly did you discover your character’s power of duplicating other heroes abilities?

Going into the pilot I had no idea what my power was, I just saw there was this dynamic relationship between Nathan (Adrian Pasdar) and Peter. It was Peter aiding his brother Nathan in the discovery that he could fly. It wasn’t until a couple months later, after the show had been picked up and we were all in New York when Tim Kring (Executive Producer) walked up to me with a big smile on this face and he said, “I think we figured out Peter”. Then he dove in to his explanation of what Peter’s ability was.

Peter has the potential to be the strongest of the heroes. What happens if he is with two or more of the other characters, will he adopt all of their abilities?

The physical and the mental pressure of being in a room with two

superheroes would be overwhelming. It could possibly get him into trouble. We do get into that, we do explore it. There is also the question of whether he is ever going to retain any of these powers or whether it is just when he’s nearby somebody.

How much do you know about the plot directions?

I like to try and keep focused on the page and the work at hand. I have a vague idea of what’s coming up. When the scripts come in they’re always better than I ever expected. It is so different to anything I’ve ever read before. There is this base human emotion and these wonderfully written characters interacting. I’ll watch my scenes to see where I can improve what I’m doing, but I actually watch all the other characters as well because I’m so drawn in by what they’re doing.

People that work on the show are as big if not bigger fans than the people who watch it on Monday nights. They are just so happy to be a part of this whole effort. We can’t wait to see what the special effects team has done. We are all working in our own little world with so many people and locations that, when we work, we don’t always see everything. To see it all come together in such a great manner is so rewarding and so exciting.

The show has already had fantastic success. Why do you think it has attracted such a wide audience, both young and old?

It is the subject matter and the state of the world at the moment, people are interested to see a group of characters with unusual circumstances. With regard to the age question, it is funny, my best friend’s 88 year old grandmother watches the show and her favorite character is Sinclair.

So there is not just one story line that plays to a younger audience and another that plays to an older audience. Overall, you look at it collectively and realise that there is something for everybody and ultimately every story line is appealing to an 88 year old woman as well as a teenager or a woman who is in their 20s, 30s or 40s.

What has been the biggest surprise about the production?

The execution and the collective nature of everybody involved, from camera crew and production through to the actors, it’s really gone in such a linear motion. It would have been more of a surprise if it hadn’t so done well because on set we see so many talented people working hard and working well together.

Were you a comic book fan when you were growing up?

I grew up on comics and was into Batman and the Punisher. They were guys who didn’t have these out-of-this world abilities. They were just crazy and had a vendetta stance. But of course at the same time I followed Superman and Spiderman, those characters are always exciting too.

Interview with Santiago Cabrera (“Isaac”)

Power: Paints scenes from the future when under the influence of heroin.

Your character seems to struggle with his ability. Do you think he could be using it to better effect?

I think it depends on whether you’re in control of it or not. That’s the interesting thing about this character’s premonitions. At that moment, he’s not conscious of what he’s doing. It’s a pretty freaky thing. There’s this question of, “What is this evil that is coming from inside me?” and also a sense of, “Why is this all happening?”

But obviously, if you’re in control of it and you can put it to good use, then that’s a different story. That’s the great thing about this show. It starts from the very beginning with everyone discovering these things for the first time.

When you play Isaac, are you as confused as the character because you do not know how the story pans out?

That’s the fascinating thing about working this way. It’s not every day that, as an actor, you don’t know the whole story. You’re like the audience in that way, so you have to bring that to your performance. It’s different and it’s interesting at the same time. You have to play in the moment and create that confused state of not knowing what’s going to happen on screen.

It was great that everyone’s story was taken from the beginning. Everyone has their own process of discovery which is very important for the audience.

As the episodes continue, as the audience keeps watching, the characters come together and there’ll be more of an interaction.

This is your first major role, how does it feel to hit the dizzy heights of stardom? What did you do before the show?

I got here from London where I have been doing some theatre. I’ve done a couple of movies that should be coming out soon. But what a better part to get than to come straight into this?!

I did the pilot season. I remember just locking myself in an apartment which I was staying in for a week and reading eight pilot scripts. As soon as I read ‘Heroes’, it jumped out at me and I pursued it from the beginning because it was something very unique and I really wanted to be part of it.

You say you have done some theatre work, has this helped with your preparation for a major TV role?

There is an intensity about an actor’s preparation for the theatre, more so than other roles. The great thing about Isaac is that he has that intense quality. What attracted me to the role is that you don’t know where he’s going to go, he’s full of surprises. Isaac has many layers and a depth about him. It certainly helped me to have delved into that level of preparation before because we want to try and reflect that same intensity and add some variation to it.

Were you a fan of comic books when you were growing up?

I have to say I didn’t really grow up with comics, apart from ‘Asterix’. But I immediately got together with Tim Sale, who’s the comic book artist, and was introduced to that world. He also does my character’s painting. I have been reading his comics and have really enjoyed them. He works with Jeff Loeb, who’s also a writer on the show.

My character is a comic book artist himself so I’ve been reading books and I’ve become really hooked on Daredevil actually. I think it’s fascinating, that whole world. I can see why people get obsessed on it, it’s very gritty.

How do you feel about the phenomenal success that the show has achieved already?

When I was reading it, I thought that if what comes off the page is translated on to the screen than we’re onto a winner. You’re always hoping that but I’m not surprised that there’s been this reaction because it really is a unique show. It’s like nothing else, very different and edgy. And it’s great to see this response. It’s like a prize for the all hard work behind it.

Interview with Ali Larter (“Nikki Sanders”)

Power: Has a protective alter ego.

What were your first thoughts on your character when you first came across the part?

When I read the pilot I didn’t actually know what direction it was going other than the fact

that you’ve got a really complicated woman who’s just trying to get by. She’s trying to be a great mother to her son and her world’s really crumbling around her. So, it wasn’t about what kind of power she was getting, it was just about her dealing with her life and wondering if she’s going crazy and what’s happening to her.

Where we’re leading to is that there’s going to be duality within my personality. So there’s one side that has to conform to society’s roles and laws and the shadow side that can actually live out the dark fantasies that, you know, are repressed within all of us.

But we’re going to get a little romance, we’ll get a little bit of cheekiness in it and the amazing thing about this writing is that it really pushes me.

You have a son in the show, how did you find it playing a mother?

Noah’s incredible. He makes my job easy. Watching his relationship with his mother has been a huge inspiration for me. She’s so open and so giving, we

discussed the scenes before and hang out whenever we have a chance. They have an incredible connection. Noah and I use as much as we can from that to inspire us within our roles.

I think that as a woman, there’s a side in all of us that really has this desire and this need to protect a child. Watching my nephews there’s definitely that side within me that would do anything to protect them. So I guess I understand that.

I’ve just been around kids my whole life. So it really hasn’t been a struggle for me at all. It’s been a natural transition and I just think it’s a really interesting unique relationship.

Your character has an inherent sexuality, do you think it is important to stay in shape? How uncomfortable are the more risqué scenes?

I think that I’m really actually lucky to play a very sexy, racy character. She’s provocative and really fun, and part of the job is just keeping in shape for it. I’m a runner, and for me, it’s not just the physicality of it, it’s an emotional release for me. It keeps me sane in a way. It’s getting out there and just running as fast as I can.

Those scenes are always very embarrassing. I think any actor will tell you that. On the other side of it, sometimes you have just got to throw your hands up in the air and go with it and have fun. You make light of it and you make jokes on set.

It’s a fun character and what’s great about her is that she does have these sexy scenes. But on the other side you see her dealing with her son. What’s amazing about this writing is that it found an incredible balance to show how multifaceted a character she is.

What has the response been from the actors to the huge success the show has already had?

I think it’s incredible. I think that, as actors, we just come in with great writing and everyone does the best they can do. So when an audience responds, that’s just the icing on top of it. We’re also lucky to have some amazing directors.

We’re all just thrilled that people are loving the show as much as we love working on it.

Finally, if you had a super power, what would it be?

I would fly. I’d love to soar, I think that would the greatest way to experience freedom, and I think that would be incredible.

Interview with Tim Kring (executive producer of “Heroes”)

Where did you get the inspiration for this series?

The germ of this idea came about a year ago now. I was supposed to develop a show for NBC and I became fascinated with this idea of a new paradigm of the serialized large ensemble show. I happened to see two movies that sort of moulded together in my mind. One of them was The “Incredibles”. And the other was the “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” by Charlie Kaufman. I started to blend those two things in my mind over the next few days because I loved both of them. Mixing the idea of people who had superpowers trying to struggle with their everyday lives with these people that you could pass on the street and never think twice about. In my mind, those two things started to come together and that was the genesis of where the idea came from.

How does this show differ from other serialized dramas?

With this show I wanted to start from the very, very beginning. Looking at when people would discover these abilities. It’s very much a journey of the hero in the classic sense of the term. We watch their growth and their journey through the course of the show and ultimately, gain this kind of wish fulfillment that you or I could be these people. This is their journey from very ordinary to extraordinary people.

The show has some fantastic cliffhangers. Have you found it hard to maintain the suspense and intrigue with so many different plotlines?

That’s a very, very big challenge. But one of the fun things is watching characters develop and taking them to places that even you didn’t expect. The writers’ room is a very interesting place because ideas morph and bend and become very different things when you start filtering through lots of people’s ideas.

A lot of us in the writers’ room talked about borrowing Charles Dickens idea, who wrote most of his great books in one-chapter installments for a newspaper. This idea fascinates me, the idea of doing something very slowly and deliberately, the idea that each season would be its own volume with enough of a cliffhanger at the end of season one to launch you into a second season.

By having these constant twists and turns and revelations in the stories, I think the audience may feel like they’re going to run out of steam because there’s just too many of these coming along. It’s one reveal after another. But the truth is, these twists and turns are actually the engine that are allowing us to generate even more stories. So there is a natural progression that’s allowing us to go with a less and less scattered story.

Will any of the characters join forces to create a ‘superhero team’?

Well, these characters do start to cross in all sorts of interesting and coincidental and unexpected ways, which is one of the things that I was most fascinated with. I think that the audience is going to be really hooked on trying to guess and predict how these characters’ paths are going to cross.

So you take a character like Masi’s character, who’s an office worker in Tokyo and Hayden’s character, who’s a cheerleader in West Texas, and the idea of how those two characters will ever cross paths seems impossible and yet that’s what the fun of watching the show is, to see how it continues along for these two characters to actually come into contact with each other.

How relevant do you feel the comic book world is to this project?

Our particular venture into that world is through the idea of the online comic that will run concurrently with the show. So people can log on, view and interact with an online comic book every week in conjunction with the episode. The comic won’t be necessarily about that episode, but it will further enhance your viewing of the show. It will sometimes be an alternative look at what you’ve seen or the other side of what you’ve seen or a story that just sort of enhances your appreciation of the character and the story.

The show is called “Heroes”, but will there be a villains element to it?

Yes, absolutely. We are bringing in other people with superpowers and they are not necessarily heroes. The show does introduce the concept of a major villain in the second episode and that villain becomes a central character for most of the first season.

Finally, if you had a superpower, what would it be?

When I really started thinking about it for the show, I sort of decided that flight might be the best one to have it, just seems like it would be the coolest.