Yes,  I had dinner with David Hemblen just last night.  We talked a great deal about the show and our love for the Mediterranean.  David is a very intelligent and talented actor whose company I enjoy very much.

2) Do you ever have any say in what happens to your character in the show?

At the end of Season 2 I went down to Los Angeles and discussed what I would like to happen to Sandoval with Paul Gertz and Cory (the new exec.).  I am thankful that Paul and I see eye to eye on a lot of things when it comes to the character development and what would be most interesting.

3) What were you like when you were a kid? How about when you were in High School?

I was a pretty happy go lucky kid.  School came very easily for me even though I didn’t attend kinder.  I went straight to grade one.  I loved to play.  I loved to play basketball but when we came to Canada everybody else was bigger so I quit playing.  I hated my last year of high school.  I didn’t like the little cliques.  I was quite popular in high school because I played the trumpet and I played a lot of solos.     My favorite subject in high school was physics and chemistry.  I actually thought I wanted to go into research
.
4) What do you do in your free time?

I have been taking flying lessons.  I have about ten hours.  I am looking forward to my first solo flight.  I am scared of small planes so I thought I’d stretch a bit and take up flying to overcome my fear.  I am enjoying my pottery class.  I have been studying Budhism.  I meditate.   I take Opera singing lessons from a wonderful teacher who studied under Cornelius Reid.  I love to play golf although I am not playing very well lately.  I love to travel.  I like to read non fiction.  I love foreign films.  I love fine dining.  I also love to cook.

5) Are you religious at all? What are your beliefs about God and the universe in general?
I wouldn’t consider myself religious.  I believe that life is like a stream.  It is always moving and to take a cup from this stream is like taking a picture;  a frozen moment in time that is merely a distant representation of life.  I believe there are no absolutes in life.  The universe is the collective representation of our soul – to understand us is to understand the universe.   I question whether man has created god in his image and likeness as oppose to the other way around.  I believe God is theology’s answer to the unanswerable or uncertainty.   I wonder if  we relinquish our responsibilities in certain situations when we merely say ‘it’s god’s will’.

6) Do you have any pets?

Yes, I have two Siamese cats named Chiaro and Essere ( Italian for Clear and the verb to be).  They are Lilac and Blue point.

7) What was your reaction when you knew you had won
the role of Agent Sandoval and how has it effected/ changed your life?

I was actually in Cape Town South Africa when I found out.  I thought I had gotten the role of the bar tender in the Flat Planet Café.  I just about flew through the roof when I found out.  It is strange to be recognized on the streets.  I keep thinking I should know the person that says hi to me.

8) Could you please describe to us what a typical day for you is like on set?

It depends on the call time.  If it’s really early in the morning it’s really tough.  The first thing I do when I get to set is put on my make up shirt.  Then I an A.D. would come around if I need anything.  Usually I’ll have some sort of breakfast.  Then I go to the make up trailer.  When that’s done I go back to my trailer until they call for me to do a blocking of the scene.  We block the scene and the director shows the crew how he/she wants it covered.  The actors walk away to let the lighting crew take over and then do that for all the scenes through out the day.  If we are in the studio we eat lunch there too.  At the end of the day I go home and prepare for the next day. 

9) What kind of television programs do you watch? What types of books do you read?

I like A&E’s biography.  I watch a considerable amount of Golf programming.   I watch Oprah once in a while.  I don’t like watching the news anymore because it’s just too depressing.  I love reading Biographies and poetry.

10) What types of foods do you like?

I love all kinds of food.  I don’t eat red meat or chicken but I do eat seafood.  I love Italian and Japanese and Chinese.  I also like Indian food.

11) How long does it usually take for you to memorize a script?

I am very fortunate because I can memorize things quickly but I’ll forget them quickly too.  I really don’t know how long it takes for me to memorize.  I forget.

12) Looking back on Season Two of Earth: Final Conflict did you like how Sandoval was developed during the course of the season? Is there anything you would change about the way he was developed? (By the way there was some GREAT character development for him this season, thus the reason why he is now one of my favorites on the show)

I can only say that I wasn’t completely happy with Season Two.    I will leave it at that and I am told that great changes are taking place for Season Three.

13) What castmember are you closest to?

That’s like asking which cat do I like better. 

14) What five adjectives would you use to describe yourself?
I would consider myself to be: silly, intellectual, creative, passionate, compassionate.

15) Are you online often and do you visit fan websites?

I go online only to check my emails.  I don’t go to fan websites.

16) Okay now we’ve all heard the story about the time you quite literally bit off Leni Parker’s head. Please can you share with us another one of your memorable jokes from on set (preferably Season Two)?

There was one occasion when Robert was working in Da’an’s office and it was my day off but for some reason I had to be at the studio.  I said hi to everybody and as I was leaving I notice that Robert was about to do his scene and I was situated where only he could see me.  I decided to drop my pants and mooned him while he was doing his scene.  He was a rock. He didn’t miss a beat.  I know I’ll get it back someday.

17) Have you ever been given any indications or clues as to what Sandoval’s age is? What about whether or not he has any other living relatives such as his parents, siblings, etc?

The age is something that has never been brought up and as for relatives….that sounds like something for succeeding seasons.

18) Could you please tell us a little bit about the background and training you’ve had as an actor? Have you ever done any Shakespeare?

I studied in New York for a semester.  I wanted to study in England and auditioned for R.A.D.A in London.  I think I was too old for the program but the Liasons officer really liked me.  They offered my the Shakespeare program which I would have loved to do but it was prohibitively expensive.  I would love to do Shakespeare someday.

19) What would your dream role be?

I really don’t know at this point.  I would like to keep working on growing as a person and hopefully the right role will come along as a result of getting to know myself better.

20) Please could you shed some light on what was meant in the eulogy that Sandoval gave for Boone in First of Its Kind?

"The great Shoalin monk, Li Chang, once said 'It is a rare occasion to be born a human being.' If this is so, then William Boone is one of the rarest of the rare. For he died true to the spirit with which he lived: A sword in one hand and an olive branch in the other. We will miss him.
 
The laurel is green for a season
 And love is sweet for a day,
 But love grows bitter with treason
 And laurel outlives not May."

These were Jonas’ words and as such he would be best to explain them.

21) If you were stranded on a desert island with one of your past or present character, who would it be? Why?

None of them because those characters are never going to be as complete as I am a person.  The characters are governed by strict rules and parameters set forth by the writers.  My life is governed by far more reaching parameters and so there is no comparison.  Also, those characters wouldn’t be at home an a desert island.

22) Are you currently posting to http://www.philosophysphere.com under a pseudonym?

ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!

23) What do you hope to happen to your character in the future?

I hope that Sandoval comes to an epiphany and then die tragically.

24) What was your childhood like?

My aunt Rene looked after me for a few years when my mom went back to work.  I really loved staying with her and watching her cook.  That was her passion in life.  I also loved playing with my cousins.  In retrospect those were probably some of the happiest times of my life.  I miss her terribly.

25) What episode in season 2 did you like the most?

26) Could you tell us about some of the experiences you got while playing the following roles and what you got out of being a guest in the series or movie in which each character appears in?

A) Jack Wong (Kung Fu: The Legend Continues)
I like Michael Sloan.  He is a deeply loyal and generous man.

B) Sonny Hokori (Tek War, Tek Lords, and Tek Justice)
What can I say about working with an icon.  Hokori was a bigger than life character and would do well in comic books.

C) Tran (Forever Knight)
GWD taught me a great lesson in graciousness and class.

D) Suba Cane (La Femme Nikita)
I love working for Jamie Paul Rock.
 
27) What is your wife like and how long have you been married? Are you planning on having any children?

I would like to have children soon.

28) How do you feel about the news that Earth Final Conflict has been renewed for two more seasons?

It is always nice to work in this industry.

29) What are you opinions of the possibility and impact of Leni Parker leaving the series? How would her departure make you feel?

I think that Leni is a very talented artist.  If she decides to leave then I wish her all the best.  It is not easy playing that role and she has brought a great deal of love and life into Da’an.  Series work is a tough grind and I would not want anyone staying against their will.

30) Von, what message would you now like to give to the members of the VFFC and to EFC fans in general? What can we expect in the forthcoming season?

Again, thank you for your support.  I hope that I can bring to the small screen some honesty in my portrayal of Sandoval.  I believe that Paul G. did a fantastic job in the premiere season.  Now, thankfully, Paul is in charge and it appears he has assembled a group of talented people who will help bring to the screen quality viewing for the fans.   I haven’t seen any of the scripts as yet and I trust that, if Paul is allowed to shine he will deliver.  I am as hopeful as you are for a great season ahead.  I truly appreciate your patience.

Von, once again thank you on behalf of the VFFC members for agreeing to do this! WE wish you, family, your fellow castmembers, and Earth Final Conflict all the best in the world. God bless!

Post Script:
For Goddenport's question:  Boxer or Briefs?…..Neither.  Hmmmm