Transcript of a Chat with Connor and StarTrek.com
Star Trek Host:
Welcome to STARTREK.COM's live chat with Enterprise's Connor Trinneer!
Welcome to StarTrek Host's live chat with Enterprise's Connor Trinneer!
Hello Mr. Trinneer. First of all I want to say that you are a great addition to the Star Trek
universe and have been doing a great job on Enterprise. I was wondering if you had ever wanted to
go into space yourself as a child?
Connor Trinneer:
Well, thanks for the compliment and hell yeah, everybody wants to go into space, I think! Was it
anything I thought I could achieve? No, I was terrible in math and science but now that I get the
opportunity to do it on TV, - that's a pretty good compromise.
StarTrek Host:
I hope you enjoyed your convention appearance in Portland as much as my husband and I did. Your
great sense of humor is what makes your characterization of Trip so appealing. Do you plan to
throw yourself wholeheartedly into the convention circuit?
Connor Trinneer:
Yes, BJ, I have - there are about four or five more that I'll be doing: Philly, Kansas City,
Pasadena, Tulsa. I think that's it for now, probably something in Europe during the hiatus.
StarTrek Host:
How does it feel to know that now, no matter what you do, you will always be a part of Star Trek
history?
Connor Trinneer:
(laughs) I think it's great to be a part of any kind of history that's as long as that one is and
as positive as that one has been. It's a little of a daunting thought to think of yourself as part
of the lineage of a show like this, so it's a big idea for me to get my mind around. I try to do
my job, day in and day out, and let the chips fall where they may.
cincishannon:
I was wondering if you have always liked Star Trek? Did you watch it as a kid?
Connor Trinneer:
I watched the original one growing up and I really didn't watch any of the other ones ... a couple
episodes here and there of Next Generation and Voyager. I don't know that I ever saw Deep Space
Nine. I like it now though.
cincishannon:
I know it's incredibly early in the run of Enterprise to be asking this, but I know that
in the theater) when an actor plays a character for an extended period of time, they 'discover'
something new about their character every time they step on stage. Have you 'discovered' anything
about Trip?
Connor Trinneer:
You're right, that's a continuing process. During this first season we're all still sort of
fussing out who Trip is and I was surprised that Trip's as funny as he is. I didn't know that was
going to be part of the character when I got the job.
StarTrek Host:
Howdy, I have a southern Texas accent. I was wondering, what kind of accent does "Trip" have in
Enterprise? Where does the accent derive from?
Connor Trinneer:
Trip's accent is like Northern Arkansas, that sort of Northern part of the South. The accent I
picked up from my family; my grandparents on my mother's side are all from southern Missouri and
Northern Arkansas. We messed around with how deep we wanted the accent and decided we wanted it to
be fairly light in terms of its drawl. So that's where I sort of picked the region that I could
get an accent from, that I thought would be workable for everybody ... but it's not mine! (laughs)
StarTrek Host:
In "Shuttlepod One" Trip and Malcolm are really getting on each other's nerves. I was wondering
how well you get along with the rest of the cast?
Connor Trinneer:
Famously. Everybody's great. We all work together as a group and y'know we have that sensibility
that we're all doing the show and integral to it so you know...everybody pulling their own weight
makes it easier for everyone to get along and just as people. Everybody is really cool.
StarTrek Host:
Is it hard to get used to all the technical terms you have to say
Connor Trinneer:
Yep. (laughs) Yeah...
StarTrek Host:
In last night's episode, did they really make it cold or was that just acting?
Connor Trinneer:
In last night's episode they'd built a structure inside the sound stage where the shuttlepod was
and they had five industrial air conditioners going full blast the whole time. We had dry ice
packed under the flooring of the shuttlepods and before each take they'd blast the shuttle pod
with Nitrogen so it was exactly that cold all week. It was hot as hell outside! (laughs)
StarTrek Host:
What did you like best about filming "Unexpected"?
Connor Trinneer:
Just the idea - I thought when they told me that I was going to be pregnant ... I thought well
that's awesome! I mean how often do you get the opportunity as an actor to tackle things like this,
so I jumped in with both feet and had a great time with it. I think they wrote a great episode for
that topic ? I am glad they got to take it back! (laughs)
StarTrek Host:
So are you doing other stuff besides Enterprise?
Connor Trinneer:
Well, right now my plate's pretty full with Enterprise. It's about the time of the year when movies
start being cast. They shoot most of the films in the summer, so that will start about now to see
what, if any, projects will be going on during hiatus.
StarTrek Host:
Connor, you definitely would fit under the category of "Best Looking Men of Trek." So, what are you
doing on this Feb. 14th, besides chatting with us Trekkies?
Connor Trinneer:
Well, since I'm at work my Valentine's is a little limited. My girl and I are going to have our own
little Valentine on the weekend and make a day of it and enjoy each other on that day.
-
StarTrek Host:
How long does it take to shoot an average-length episode?
-
Connor Trinneer:
We go in seven and eight day cycles so it takes three weeks to shoot two.
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StarTrek Host:
Do you think that Trip will ever "warm" up to T'Pol?
-
Connor Trinneer:
Well, we got seven years don't we?
StarTrek Host:
What is your favorite episode so far?
Connor Trinneer:
"Shuttlepod One."
StarTrek Host:
Did you always want to be a Actor?
Connor Trinneer:
No. I didn't even think about it until I had been playing football in college for a couple years and
had gotten bored with that and y'know, sort of the same old story ... there was a cute girl in the
theatre department and said, Why don't you audition for a play? And I said, Why not? From that
audition I knew what I wanted to do and quit ball the next day. I was about twenty-one. It happened
to me late but it happened to me fast.
StarTrek Host:
What football position did you play?
Connor Trinneer:
Cornerback
StarTrek Host:
What was the best Christmas present you ever got when you were a kid?
Connor Trinneer:
(laughs) A football!
StarTrek Host:
I wanted to say I loved "Shuttlepod One." If you were running out of oxygen and faced with death,
how do you think you'd react?
Connor Trinneer:
If I could save somebody else, that's what I'd do.
I think I'd be relatively calm.
StarTrek Host:
I have heard that you practice martial arts. Are there any plans for your character to make use of
your own knowledge of this? It would be great to see Trip take down a Klingon using good, old
fashioned martial arts."
Connor Trinneer:
Well, I think you're mistaking me for Anthony Montgomery who does martial arts. I'd probably just
open up a good ol' can of American whoop-ass on 'em.
StarTrek Host:
Do you really like panfried catfish?
Connor Trinneer:
Who doesn't?
StarTrek Host:
Would you like to direct an episode someday?
Connor Trinneer:
Yeah, most definitely.
They're really good here about [that]. If there's an interest from an actor to direct, if they
follow the proper channels they'll have that opportunity. In fact Roxann Dawson is directing an
episode right now.
StarTrek Host:
Do they have you "pushing buttons" in a consistent way, so the really picky viewers will have less
to nitpick about?
Connor Trinneer:
I don't really worry about nitpicky viewers.
StarTrek Host:
Who is the clown of the cast for Enterprise?
Connor Trinneer:
You're talking to him.
StarTrek Host:
How do you feel about Porthos being on the spaceship?
Connor Trinneer:
(laughs) Well, he's a cute dog, why not?
StarTrek Host:
Is it true there are two Porthos?
Connor Trinneer:
(laughs) Yes, and where did you get this information??
StarTrek Host:
Do you have any pets?
Connor Trinneer:
My girlfriend's got a cat. I don't have a house yet but when I do I want to get a couple dogs. I'm
more of a dog person than a cat person. Cats and I generally come to an understanding with each other.
StarTrek Host:
How did you get the job as Trip?
Connor Trinneer:
I auditioned for it. It was one of many auditions for many shows I had during pilot season.
StarTrek Host:
Have you met Patrick Stewart, or William Shatner?
Connor Trinneer:
I met Patrick Stewart. It was a real thrill for me because I knew who he was well before he got Next
Generation because he's just an amazing classical actor along with what else he does. We looked at
some of the things he did with Shakespeare while I was in drama school and it was a thrill to meet
him. I was talking to an acting hero of mine as a contemporary and inside I was like, "Damn, I'm
talking to Patrick Stewart!"
StarTrek Host:
Do you think that our world will ever see Star Trek technologies come to life in the future?
Connor Trinneer:
Gosh, I don't know ...
StarTrek Host:
What model of Porsche did you buy?
Connor Trinneer:
(laughs) Yes, I do have a Porsche. I have a Boxster.
StarTrek Host:
What color?
Connor Trinneer:
It's silver.
StarTrek Host:
What's it like to work with Scott Bakula?
Connor Trinneer:
He's a great guy, he really is. He's a regular person and y'know, next to me he might be the biggest
goof-off or the biggest clown. But I think we're blessed to have him as the captain.
StarTrek Host:
What do you like to do in your free time?
Connor Trinneer:
I like to be outside as much as possible. Hiking, mountain biking...I just went snowboarding
yesterday ... y'know exercise ... I like to get out of town as much as possible, travel ...
StarTrek Host:
I saw you at the convention in Portland and you were awesome. I just wanted to know, what it is like
to have fans want your autograph?
Connor Trinneer:
It's such a high compliment to have someone ask for that. I'm very flattered and take it as a
definite compliment. It's also a little weird because I'm just me, and before I did this no one
asked for my autograph and now that they are you kind of sit back and go this is crazy!
StarTrek Host:
How did you feel to be a part of Billy Crystal's movie "61*"?
Connor Trinneer:
Well, I'm a baseball fanatic. It's by far my favorite sport and as a child I studied the history of
it. When I found out that both Roger Maris and Micky Mantle's characters had been cast I had my
agent call up the casting director. I wanted to be a part of it and I didn't care how little. I
wanted to be a part of it because of how much I love the game.
StarTrek Host:
What was the last book you read and what CD is in the player of your car right now?
Connor Trinneer:
The last book I read was - it's right here ..."Nothing Like It in the World" by Steven Ambrose. In
my car I've got a little Neil Young, a little Jane's Addiction ... What else is in there? ... I've
got Travis and a CD of Gershwin tunes.
StarTrek Host:
Well, I have no brilliant question to ask. Just wanted to make a simple comment. I think you are
doing a great job and Trip is a riot. Keep up the good work. You have given my husband and I
something to look forward to each week since the events of Sept.11. We appreciate the gift of
laughter. Thank you :)
Connor Trinneer:
Well, it is absolutely my pleasure. I've really enjoyed doing the show and I take a great deal of
pride in it and to have somebody say something like that is about as high a compliment as I could get.
StarTrek Host:
I gotta go to the looping stage, thanks!
Connor Trinneer:
Star Trek Host: Thank you Connor for joining us today! We really appreciate it!
February 2002, StarTrek.com