#fleetask

[fleetsummers]

If colors had a scent, which do you think would smell the worst?

Puce.

You all know I'm right! And you all know what it would smell like.

[fleetsummers]

What was your favorite and least favorite roll you ever played?

Let's start with least favourite -- my mom was Kim in a limited run of Miss Saigon and that was before we had any family living nearby who could take care of me, and Kim has a son in the show, so they pulled the casting call for some kid "small, confident and SE Asian looking" and cast me instead for convenience. Some of the reviews said I wasn't SEA-looking enough which was fun. Anyhow if you've never seen the show, Tam -- the son -- gets threatened with a knife and eventually his mom kills herself behind a curtain while he's right there. I behaved myself and it's not like I had any lines or anything but I didn't like that show much.

My favourite -- which might sound incongruous given what I just said? -- was the true crime miniseries I did, where I was the man who shot famous designer Piero Sanmarco. But it was an incredible part, I got to actually be both queer and half-Filipino, and I won awards. Not that the awards make it my favourite role but at the same time, they kind of do, because who doesn't like being validated? Plus I acted the crap out of that role. I'm very proud of it.

[fleetsummers]

If you were to put in a production here in Redwood, what would it be and who would you cast in it?

Are you TRYING to torment me?

For sheer size and number of principals I'd go with Les Miserables because I don't want to inflict Cats on us, Oliver! requires too many children, and people might get touchy about doing Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (although I'd be INCREDIBLE in the lead but anyhow).

Here's the breakdown. Don't get upset if your character is unsavoury! Any named role is A ROLE and not just ensemble/swing!!

Jean Valjean - Ermano Javert - Zack The Bishop (covers for Valjean) - Lucien Farmer & Wife (refuse to help Valjean) - Orion & Leigh Fantine - ME (my mom sang this part!) Foreman (at the factory) - Frank Pimp - Mike Bamatabois (a dandy who tries to buy Fantine) - Tamir Factory/Lovely Ladies (factory girls/prostitutes) - Leigh, Hazel, Athena, Drea Factory Girl (who reads out the letter) - Mayra Crone (buys hair) - Vivienne Thenardier - Isaac Madame Thenardier - Jimmy Marius - Clint Cosette - Beth Eponine - Val Enjolras - Alden Grantaire - Harry Students/Thenardier Gang - Ares, Cat, Nicki, Colin, Theo Gavroche - Lucy French Soldier (reads out terms of surrender) - David Mothers (after the student massacre): Renee, Adriana

You people should start building me the barricades immediately

[fleetsummers]

Who are the most stylish people in Redwood, other than you?

Mayra and Vivienne. That's the entire list. I don't think anybody else prioritizes clothes or their look that much.

[fleetsummers]

What did you dream about last night?

I dreamed we were all taiyaki and we had a variety show because we were a variety of flavours. It was called Fish Tales. My filling was ube and I don't remember everyone else's but Ares was half custard half whipped cream, Beth was strawberry fluff, David was coffee, Mayra was condensed milk, Jimmy was guava. Mayra was trying to do a dance and she started leaking and David smushed up with her because condensed milk is good in coffee? Anyhow I was singing a Little Mermaid medley but I sang the wrong lyrics and then a hook came down from the catwalk and caught me in the mouth and then I woke up.

[fleetsummers]

What do you think the town needs as a little morale booster?

You mean my mere existence as a little morale booster isn't enough?!

I think everyone could use some individual attention. We're well past the winter holidays and even Valentine's Day but St. Patrick's is coming up, right? I think a Pot O'Gold exchange could be fun. Like having a Secret Santa or Secret Admirer where you're assigned somebody and have to do something nice for them. On a gold or green or rainbow theme, maybe?

I know there's a number of town grumps who might not like the idea of being randomly assigned somebody they don't care for (I'm dating one) but sometimes doing things you don't like builds morale. 😌

[fleetsummers]

You are performing Cell Block Tango - who are your other five co stars??

I'm so excited about this you have no idea okay!!:

Pop would be Val, because truly nobody would see it coming but it would be something like refusing to stop popping bubble gum that would be the last straw for her

Six would be Mayra because she'd be incensed to be one of many wives, plus she's always talking about poisoning people

Squish would be Nicki because who else would have somebody accidentally run into their knife ten times??

Uh-Uh would be ME because I know a little ballet and I can do pathos really well and I'm willing to learn some Hungarian

Cicero would be Drea because it's about killing her sister and I think she would find it hilarious to play that part

Lipschitz would be Lucy because I think she'd be most pissed that he thought he needed to withhold that he was also into guys

I would've cast other boys in this too, don't get me wrong, but nobody really fit the bill? Ares would never kill anyone for treating him bad, and Clint would likely be Uh-Uh but that's MY role and this is one area where I am cutthroat so sorry, Clint, you get understudy at best 😂

[fleetsummers]

Do you think it's okay to continue to be friends with Nicki even after she was the one you cheated on Zack with? Won't that cause problems?

Well, I think people are fallible, and we live in a very small town. If we cut each other off for every infraction, it's not very long-term thinking, is it?

Nicki has some really beautiful qualities. There's things she does that disappoint me, because she doesn't seem very good at extending other people the same grace she wants for herself, but everyone's in a constant state of growth. I'm sure as heck proof of that. I mess up all the time, and I would hope that people don't cut me out of their lives when I hurt them out of -- oh, selfishness, or stupid coping mechanisms, or whatever.

I don't think it'll cause problems. I hope it won't. I'm going to try my best for it not to.

[fleetsummers]

Would you trade your beauty for a longer life? Or trade years of living for beauty?

My beauty! How flattering.

I'd like to think I'm not so vain to shorten my lifespan for my looks. But if you want the truth? I was an actor, it's hard to completely dismiss all of the pressures constantly put on you when that's your job and a lot of your livelihood depends on your physical appeal. When I booked Music Camp I learned pretty quick that people feel free to say anything they want about your body and your face and your everything.

So I don't know, honestly. Maybe it's more dependent on wanting to spend a longer life with the ones I love, who are just fine with me losing whatever beauty's going on here.

[fleetsummers]

If you could ensure your fridge never ran out of one item, what would that item be?

Macaroni salad. I'm nuts about macaroni salad, for five years of elementary school I ate it every day for lunch. Filipino style macaroni salad, I should specify, which already has hot dogs or chicken or vienna sausage in it. Oooooh now I made myself have a killer craving!

[fleetsummers]

Who are five people you find attractive?

"Oh, this is easy! Alphabetically, it's Ares, Clint, Jemma, Nicki, and Zack. I think it's a wonderful list."

[fleetsummers]

What's the weirdest thing you've given someone as a gift?

Ohhhhhhhh, um. I'll give the PG-13 answer.

My cousin's wife was obsessed with Gaga so I gave her a costume I wore on Music Camp for an episode where we were dressed up like either Gaga or Katy Perry. She never watched my show so she didn't recognize it and I thought she was kind of a snob so now that I think about it, this wasn't a super good-hearted gift but she liked the costume and wore it to some club and won a contest so it all worked out?

(Don't ask what the X-rated answer is because I'm not gonna tell. Besides, if you've seen my show you'll know the Gaga-esque costume was bordering on X-rated anyhow 😂)

[fleetsummers]

what’s one thing you’re proud of yourself for?

"There's very little I'm NOT proud of myself for! Surviving this far into zombieworld, finding my father and uncle, helping prepare a pantry to keep us fed through the winter, going on a date with the shyest guy in town, going to prom with the most combative guy in town -- they're all winners!"

[fleetsummers]

What was the worst magic 8 ball answer to get?

Oh my god. Would it be incredibly pathetic to say that I never played with a Magic 8 Ball and I don't even know what its answers are? What's the worst answer to get in your opinion?

[fleetsummers]

Who would you give a makeover to?

David doesn't seem to know what shorts are, or the colour yellow, so that's probably a good place to start.

[fleetsummers]

What is the first thing you notice in someone?

"Their voice! There's a lot of things going on in a voice. My Uncle Sol doesn't hesitate in the pace of how he talks but there's a tiny catch at the back of his throat a lot. My dad cuts vowels out of his words like he suspects they might be too soft. Clint talks like he's treading water, sort of bobbing and liquid, from a distance. Nicki almost always hits second syllables, like she's trying to hold herself back from galloping in how she talks. Cass talks in sibilants and sort of drops into words from above. Ares talks up against the roof of his mouth like he might need to take it back at any minute. Mayra's voice is like shale, it has a beautiful fine-grained quality but it shatters sharp. Zack talks throaty and low and rough but he has this perfect lyrical diction, almost trained.

Voices mean a lot to me. I pay attention to them."