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Part Three Questions 15- 21
'Future Fantastic!'
15. Why do you think TP has such a lasting
appeal to fans worldwide?
I think something like Harry Potter is a classic example of what
works and what fires people's imaginations. We want something beyond
the mundane. People have this fantasy of being special, I'm sure when
I was a child, in fact I can remember thinking 'wouldn't it be great
if I could make that mug slide across the table' (laughs)
JC: I still do!
HG: I'm sure everybody goes through phases like that. The idea of
dramatising that there are real people out there who are special but
at the same time like you and me in every other way is fulfilling a
fantasy.
16. Do you perceive the TP as a kids show
or as an adult action adventure?
HG: Curiously enough, although I knew it was a children's show in
the 70's I never think of the audio's being for children. I think of
it having an adult audience. I can't imagine children listening to it,
although I'm sure they would enjoy it. But that's certainly not in my
mind when we're recording it…
17. If asked would you be prepared to do
more CD's in the future? Or to star in a TV series?
HG: Oooh yes please!
Well if you insist… Yeah, obviously it would be wonderful to star in
any TV series. But particularly one that already has a fan base.
JC: There is a big interest in nostalgia at
the moment and many old shows are being remade for TV or film. The fans
are hoping that someone will pick up in the idea of TP.
HG: Have you read the Chrysalides by John Wyndham? I've tried to
track down the copyright so that I could write a film adaptation of
it. I think it's so current. The whole notion of people who are born
looking slightly different. It's a very good analogy to the racial conflict
that goes on in every country. The fact that the main protagonists are
telepathic…I do believe that that is the next stage of evolution. I
think it has to be. I totally believe that there is something untapped
in the human mind that has got something… I've experienced it myself.
Things have happened in my life that couldn't be explained in any other
way other than you've connected mentally with someone. I think that
there is a huge untapped energy there that will evolve and become a
major part of being a human being.
JC: I've noticed that people who are involved
with the Tomorrow People often have that sort of belief.
HG: Yeah. I think you have to, to some extent. Or at least have
the desire for it to be true. When I met my fiancé we were so in tune
with each other I said 'OK I'm going to send you a picture' and we did
it three times in a row and got it right each time. After that we stopped
it was freaking us out! There was no doubt that we were on a mental
wavelength. I don't believe in prediction. If you go and sit with a
clairvoyant… I once sat in a room opposite this woman and she reeled
off all the things I wanted in my life. But it was all things in my
mind that I wanted to do. I think she picked up on that rather than
speaking to spirits.
Have you read the Celestine Prophecy?
JC: No.
HG: It's a very badly written book but it was a huge success as
a New Age fiction. It contains lots of New Age wisdom in it. The theory
is that there's energy in everything and that if you look at it in the
right way you should be able to see it, as well as people's auras. I
do believe you can see it.
JC: There are some people who put the fans
down by implying that they are sad for thinking they are real Tomorrow
People. In our group we don't think we are TP's. There are those who
believe in telepathy. Many of them are professionals or from universities,
in quite high up jobs. They believe there is something in human nature
that is special. They also think that the idea of the Tomorrow People
is the sense of community. Feeling something for the future of the planet,
being concerned for environmental issues etc. that makes you 'a person
of tomorrow' you're thinking about what's going to happen to the world
in the future. It's a way of looking at society, not believing you can
really teleport!
HG: And wanting… there's nothing wrong with fantasising… 'Oh wouldn't
it be great if the world could be like that'. It's like me saying 'oh
wouldn't it be great if I could be a movie star.' It's just as intangible
really. (Both laugh) Well not quite as intangible. Although I know from
my experience that it's a chance in a million there's still that chance!
I've met some people, mostly Dr. Who fans, most of who are absolutely
fantastic but there are a couple there where you think 'oh you've just
gone over the edge.' They are just a little bit too eccentric. It's
not Dr. Who that's the problem it's about what the personality type
is. They have seized upon something that they are obsessive about. There's
obsession and there's enthusiasm. It's a fine line…
18. How does it feel to become part of a cult
fashion- are you worried about being seen as Elena forever?
HG: I love being part of a cult fashion. I love the fact that the
fans have on line debates about it and go away and think about it, that
there is a life outside the actual product. I think it's a real thrill
to be part of something that I used to love as a kid. I'm conscious
that in terms of working for Big Finish I'm now that character. Where
as I used to do a lot of different characters in the Dr. Who stories.
It's going to be more difficult for people to accept me as something
different now that I've become familiar as Elena. That is a shame in
some ways. I love doing different characters, different voices, and
different aliens. It is a tiny little taste of what it's like to be
pigeonholed. I think if you were in East Enders, for instance, I would
be worried about that.
19. Would you be prepared to attend a sci-fi
convention?
HG: Yeah. Go on bring it on! I think it would be great. India Fisher
who plays Dr. Who's new sidekick. She goes to a lot of conventions and
went to one in LA a while ago. I think that's one of the perks of the
job. It would be great. I'm always interested in going into new experiences,
new environments, and meeting different people. As someone who's a writer
I love meeting people from all walks of life who have different extremes
to their personalities. It fascinates me.
20. What do you think of the social/ political
ideas hidden in the show's premise? Do you feel that the CD's hold true
to Roger Price's original vision?
HG: I like the notion that the TP's are peacekeepers that they are
passive and can't kill. I was talking recently to someone about all
the stuff going on in the world. I said it's all very well to have revenge
or to do bombing but what we need is a new Ghandi on a bigger scale.
Someone who preaches peace, love and just getting on with one another.
All the people in high positions such as politicians have set out
to get there and that implies to me some sort of personality element.
If someone has that desire for power and responsibility to have control
over others then they do not have the right quality to lead people and
change the world. They are there for the wrong reason. You need someone
who's been put there almost against his or her will. An ordinary person
who just happens to preach the right thing.
I'm not religious but I do believe that positivity brings positivity
and negativity brings negativity. Bringing it back to the Tomorrow People.
They are peaceful and are preaching peace in a sense. They are advocating
a peaceful approach.
JC: Do you know much about Roger Price's
original ideas for the show? When he started off he put lots of anti-war
messages in. Even though he had a military background he chose to live
in a squat. He got fed up about the commercialism of the show but there
was something special about the early stories. They often ridiculed
people in authority and suggested that the youth could come up and usurp
the authorities that were corrupt, and maybe the youth was the way to
improve the country or the future of the world.
HG: Recent world events have had such an effect on me I think you've
got to integrate, you've got to educate. Fighting is not the way to
solve anything.
21. My final question is. What are your acting
aspirations for the future?
I am struggling against being pushed into musical theatre. It's
very difficult to get seen for anything else. In order for me to be
fulfilled I've got to be acting. It's very difficult for me to find
a challenging acting role within musical theatre. I would like to do
some TV. I'm writing my own play at the moment. That's something that
I really want to develop. I've had a couple of pieces commissioned in
the past and script writing has been a real outlet for me. When writing
you are completely in control of the creative process, at least, if
not the production side. I can't see myself on tour or going away for
a long time. My criteria are; High profile, a progression and challenging.
And that's a tall order! I'm lucky I do singing concert, voice over
work, role-play work for a training company. Which is really challenging.
From the past couple of years I've earned a living from doing what
I'm doing but not in the way I anticipated. I'm in a nice position but
I've earned it!
JC: Thanks very much for giving me your time.
It's been great talking to you.
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