Session Start: Wed Jun 20 19:54:00 2001 [19:54] * Logging #mortalkombat to '#mortalkombat.log' [19:54] Welcome everyone to "Fight Night" with actor Jeff Meek who portrayed Lord Rayden and Shao Kahn on the tv series Mortal Kombat Conquest. To ask Jeff a question please type: /msg #mknetwork "You question here" and it will be placed in here. Because of the amount of questions not all will be posted in time for Jeff to read. Thank you. [19:55] Jeff welcome and lol are you ready to go? [19:55] haha Welcome Jeff [19:55] Ready [19:55] <[FireFly]> Mr. Meek, how fun was it to be your own worst enemy? :) [19:55] I got well intergrated [19:56] Jeff, do you watch pro wrestling? :-) [19:56] Ah, No [19:57] "Hi Jeff, are you working on anything new?" [19:57] I'm writing a new screenplay and perhaps directing a film soon [19:58] Did you like working on the set with all actors? [19:58] Most of them, yes [19:58] "Dragon says 'I'm looking forward to whatever you do next." Me, too! Anything interesting in the works?" [19:59] The biz is kinda slow right now because of the pending strike [19:59] Hey Jeff, first off, thanks for joining us tonight... what I was wondering was how much of impact the previous performances of Christopher Lambert and James Remar (as Rayden) and Brian Thompson (as Shao Kahn) influenced your portrayals of those characters. [20:00] (Eek, I forgot how I worded it while I was typing... old age sets in.) [20:00] Not much, but Brian and I went to school together and we are still close friends [20:00] did anything really funny happened on set of MK Conquest and if so what was the funniest? [20:00] Fighting myself in the final episode was pretty funny [20:01] hi Jeff, are you as disciplined as your character Raven, ie: do you get up early in the morning, eat only healthy foods, alcohol in moderation (none?) etc? [20:01] most of the time I am pretty good about my vices [20:01] If there were to be another season of MK Conquest, would you reprise your roles of Raiden and Shao Kahn? [20:02] Why not? [20:02] Mr. Meek, what was your hardest scene that you had to be in? [20:02] I get up and pray and meditate every morning and night [20:03] About the scene I will think about that one [20:03] Did you play anyone else on the show besides Raiden and Kahn? [20:04] Weren't they enough?:) [20:04] lol [20:04] We were told there would be a second season, then nothing..what happened? [20:05] * Scott-MK5org waves [20:05] I think there was a money problem. The producer forgot to include actor residuals which amounted to about 2 million dollars. [20:06] Speaking of that... how did you actually end up playing both roles? Were they specifically looking for an actor who could play both, or was it just one of those things that came about during auditions or after you were hired for one role or the other? [20:07] I don't know what they were thinking but I was reading for Rayden and after a couple of tests they asked for me to read for Shao Khan too. [20:07] What did you think of the two roles you played in Mortal kombat Conquest? [20:08] I loved it. With Rayden I could come in and tell the jokes and with Shao Khan I could scare the hell out of everyone and get away with it. And get paid for both. It was a gas. [20:09] Jeff: What project are you working on right now? [20:10] I'm developeing a couple of projects and I also work in pain management [20:10] Jeff a note to you, 10 minutes before you have to go let us know and we will open the chat to let everyone talk to you at once and more freely. [20:10] Next question... [20:10] are you still in contact with Paolo, Daniel and Kristianna? [20:11] I have talked to Paolo recently but not Dan. I talked to Kris about a year ago. [20:11] I heard from Jim Helsinger (Reiko on MKC) that only at the last minute they added the stripes on his eyes... did you notice any other character issue that were brought up during production? [20:13] Yeah, there was a big debate about my hair and the mask. So I shaved my head to save the makeup department a lot of work and the mask went through about 5 changes before they liked it. [20:13] "Did you live in Florida while you were doing MKC or did you commute?" [20:13] I lived in Celebration and loved it. [20:14] Jeff: Who did the visual effects on the tv show MKC? [20:14] I think Larry Kassenoff would know more about that. [20:14] mkeldergod, I believe that the visual effects were all done by Threshold Digital Research Labs. [20:14] did you always want to be an actor? Who (what) influenced you to become one? [20:15] My Mom was a big influence and i started working as an actor when I was 12 [20:15]

Jeff, rumor has it the 3rd Mortal Kombat Film is in the works, would you ever want to portray the role of Rayden or Shao Khan in the 3rd Mortal Kombat Film? [20:18] STOLEN FROM THE REALM OF MORTAL KOMBAT [20:17] Oh yeah, I talked to Larry about that and he said he wanted me to play at least Rayden. I really want to play both again. I would feel naked if I didn't [20:17] Jeff I saw an ad on TNT for a movie, an the guy looked like you, did you do a movie for TNT? [20:17] IWhat movie? [20:18] OpalLotus get back to us with which film it was and I will post it.. [20:18] How would the story continue if they had began the 2nd season in MKC since is looked like everyone was very well dead? [20:19] I have no clue. [20:19] Jeff, here is a question I have seen alot. lol [20:19] As a heterosexual post-adolencent male I have to ask this question... What was it like working with all those hot actresses (Playboy Playmates, Baywatch baabes) including my favorite redhead Miller Lite girl Angelica Bridges (Omegis on MKC) ?!? [20:20] What do you think? It was eye candy. [20:21] "Have you ever accidently hurt anyone during a fight scene?" [20:21] Yes, I knocked out a few unfortunate fellas [20:21] Did you know anything about MK before you took he job, or were you just selected knowing nothing about the world of MK? [20:22] I played the video game before the first movie came out. I was a fan. [20:23] Mr. Meek, did you put any of your own characteristics in the style of playing Rayden, more so did you take any of Rayden's persona home with you? [20:24] Yes, I love the way he carried himself and was never really fazed by anything. I wish I was more like him. [20:24] Of any role you've ever played, MK Conquest or otherwise, which are you most proud of and why? [20:26] I'm proud of Stranger in the Doors musical and I loved playing Raven and The Exile. They are all wonderfully complex and interesting people. [20:26] Which of the games do you consider to be your favorite? [20:27] I don't play video games anymore. [20:27] sorry I'm stuck on Raven here... what happened to the series? It ended before he could find his son, if I'm not mistaken. Was the ending ever written at all, and if so, what was it? [20:28] I was replaced by Walker Texas Ranger. They had better ratings. But we had a better location. [20:29] Jeff, what martial arts styles do you practice and for how long have you done them for? [20:29] You name it. I have been studying for about 11 years now. [20:30] have you ever had fans recognize you in public? [20:30] Yes. But not for MK. Too much makeup. [20:31] Do you visit any mk sites? [20:31] Not yet. [20:31] Which side of acting do you find more challenging: stage, tv, or movies? [20:32] They all have there magic and they are all difficult. [20:32] How long are you given from when you get your script to when you have to film it? [20:33] I believe the theatre is an actor's medium and movies are a directors medium and TV is for writers. [20:33] <[FireFly]> Have you ever wished you had landed a different role on MKC? [20:34] Depends on the movie. I have had to memorize 40 pages one day before shooting and I have had 3 months before shooting. [20:34] I loved my guys. [20:35] Bruce Locke said he played golf with you in Florida while filming MKC. Do you still play? [20:35] I played today at Mountaingate with my friend Jeff. [20:36] Do you agree with the ending that was given to the final episode of MKC? [20:36] I miss Bruce. Where is he? [20:36] I don't think they intended that to be the end. [20:37] Jeff, is there anyone out there that you like to work with in either television or film? [20:38] Well, yeah the meek shall... [20:38] lol [20:39] Don't you think Threshold should resolve this ending even with a TV movie?? [20:40] Directors mostly. Some actors. I love Jack Nickolson and Gene Hackman. I would love to work with Jennifer Conelly. [20:40] If you had the chance, which other MK characters would you like to portray? [20:40] I think they should continue the series. It never should have been taken off the air. [20:41] what was the last good movie you saw, where you said "now this one was worth making"? Or do you think they all are? [20:41] There are other characters? :) [20:42] oh sorry I was getting ahead of myself [20:42] lol [20:42] The last good movie I saw was Crouching Tiger [20:42] follow up to that, Jeff do you think a 3rd MK film should adopt wirework and effect such as a film like Crouching Tiger or stay the course it has taken? [20:43] It should use state of the art. Go for it! [20:43] <[FireFly]> Your Rayden character often showed his sarcastic side...how much of that Rayden exists in your own personality? [20:44] I think I am slightly more reserved. [20:44] But if I am in a bad mood I am a lot like Khan [20:44] Would you have rather done more fighting in Code name Phoenix or were you happy with it? [20:45] I would have prefered a lot more of everything. [20:45] Pop Quiz Hot Shot... In 60 seconds, name as many Special Moves as you can of Raiden's !!! [20:46] 30 more seconds... [20:46] the watoosee and the chatanuga shuffle and the waga waga wing bang woo. [20:46] 2 more question Jeff and then I will let the room talk to you at once. We dont want to keep you. [20:46] How did I do? [20:47] Have you done any Shakespearean roles in the past on Stage? If so what, if not would you be interested in it someday? [20:47] Good Job Jeff [20:47] :) [20:48] I love Shakespeare. But few like to see it. I played Coriolanus and many others. I want to do more but it doesn't pay much. [20:49] and last question - If some of your martial arts training involved sword work would you consider doing something Highlander related? [20:49] I love that sword. I would love to do something with it. [20:50] Before we unleash everyone to talk to you at once Jeff we like to thank you for coming tonight and chatting with you fans. This means alot. We also like to thank Michael McDaniel and Lou Downey for setting this chat up. [20:50] er your fans [20:50] ... release the hounds! [20:50] * Nosaj-Samoht cant spell [20:51] My pleasure. This is fun. Session Close: Wed Jun 20 20:51:30 2001