Mark Frankel News and Interviews

EXTRA Online Welcome's MARK FRANKEL, Star of KINDRED: THE EMBRACED. Mark portrays JULIAN LUNA, the Prince of all Vampires struggling to keep the 5 diverse Vampire Clans under control! Be sure to Catch KINDRED: THE EMBRACED, airing on FOX Wednesday's at 9 ET!

Question: What have you learned most about what it takes to be a vampire??

Control. As a creature who has existed for centuries in a hostile world, where people who don't understand you consider you as the enemy, you have to learn to be in control of yourself in all circumstances. After all, you have been in the prime of your life, absorbing knowledge for centuries and that gives you a certain mental weight that you need to use to survive.

Question: Is it a different kind of 'seduction' when it's blood you're after.....

As Julian and as a vampire that has to survive, like any creature in a jungle, I unfortunately have to say, yes...Regrettably.

Question: Why do the Kindred vampires not have elongated fangs? The Masquerade book indicates that the clan vampires do.

Can you imagine as a Kindred in the police department? In the fire department? A doctor in a hospital trying to live amongst society and having one inch long fangs. It would be a sure way to draw attention to oneself. And as I've said before, Kindred have adapted themselves, as have humans to survive.

Question: Is this Your first Foray into Cyberspace, or do vampires use the internet too?/P>

We're all around you.

Question: What is your favorite vampire book?

I've read Anne Rice and Bram Stoker. But we have created a new Bible by which the cast abides. It's quite long and goes into great detail about the world of the Kindred, our laws, our faith and, at the moment, this is my favorite nighttime reading material.

Question: What powers are your favorite about being a vampire??? Were you surprised at the *power* and knowledge you are "supposed" to posess?

Playing this character is one of the most exciting things I've done. Imagine, which I presume, you are in the prime of your life, you think you know it all, you think you understand human psychology, you think you understand your parents. 20 years from now, I'm sure you will look back and say to yourself, "I really knew so little." Imagine instead of that time being 20 years, but 200. The knowledge you will have gained, the wisdom, the understanding of human psychology. To me, that is probably the most exciting thing about playing Julian.

Question: What kind of research did you do to study for your role??

I went out every night looking for girls just like you.

Question: What makes vampire's so sexy?

As a vampire, you have a heightened sense of smell, taste, touch, hearing and, of course, other senses are heightened equally.

Question: Have you ever played a vampire before this?

No.

Question: Are the special effects hard to deal with? The shooting schedule of a 'series' rather than a feature? "Draining..?"

Yes. We're shooting approximately the equivalent of half a feature film every seven working days, which would be like shooting a major feature in two weeks. We work anything up to 15 hours a day, and the pace is fast and fierce. Concentration is probably the most important asset an actor can have with this kind of schedule. Shooting a feature is definitely a less grueling experience but, in some ways, not as exciting because at the end of an episode of "Kindred," we have a new script with a whole new storyline and dynamic.

Question: What was it like to play Catherine the Great's lover and do you give any credence to the suspected method of her demise?

This reminds me of a question somebody asked me earlier today. "Are vampires afraid of garlic?" And I asked the question, "Do you believe a creature with the powers of a vampire, his knowledge and strength, would be afraid of garlic?" You might as well as be afraid of cauliflower. I don't believe that, just as I don't believe it *possible* that Catherine the Great passed away as has been suggested. Playing her lover was extremely romantic as we shot on location in St. Petersburg.

Question: Mark, I really appreciate the range of emotion you have put into your character. I know you've done another TV series - have you much stage experience - any Shakespeare?

Yes. I studied in England for five years before I did my first professional play. I have done many Shakespearean plays and studied the classics for three years in London. My most ambitious project was a one-man show on Macbeth.

Question: There have been a number of articles written about the homoerotic nature of all vampire lore...can you comment on this?

If a vampire needs to feed, in my case, the victim would preferably be female. But vampires must drink blood to survive.

Question: Why do we never see Julian "feed" on the show?

Vampires, in fact, need very little blood to survive. The show isn't really about blood and feeding. It's more about the relationships between the characters.

Question: Have you found that the public is more 'scared' of you since the show has been on air?

On the contrary. Remember, Julian is a protector.

To visit the KINDRED on the World Wide Web...visit EXTRA at http://www.extratv.com

Question: Have you ever seen the series "Forever Knight"? And if so, do you think Kindred will attract any of that series fans? And what did you think of it?

Unfortunately, I haven't seen the series. I've certainly heard of it and would like to see it. So I can't comment.

Question: How else did you prepare for the role -- mentally/physically? How much time did you have before you started shooting to think about the role?

One dreams of having months to prepare for a role, but unfortunately this almost never happens. I tried to think about what it would be like to be a immortal, where time means nothing. Unlike humans, the clock isn't ticking, which can be daunting and could deplete your energy rather than enhance it. The positive side is that having lived for so long, one has a fantastic understanding of human psychology. I tried to think about this to give Julian the weight he needed. Whereas Sean Connery, an actor in his 60's, that weight would exist. As an actor of my age, playing a character 200 years old was not only a challenge but quite strangely all-encompassing. The more I thought about this during my preparation, the more centered, dignified and powerful I felt.

Question: If you drink the blood of a drunk, do you get inebriated too?

I don't think so.

Question: What do you do as a vampire to compensate for the lack of actual 'intercourse'?

Kindred were humans before they were embraced. Why would embracing somebody into the Kindred, which gives them immortality, heightened senses, mental powers, physical powers, prevent them from having intercourse? Wait for episode 8 called "Cabin in the Woods," where Caitlin takes me to get away from the City for a weekend. All will be explained.

Question: What else does Julian desire besides being the Prince? BTW--If you were looking for girls like me you didn't look hard enough--I'm still here!!!

He desires companionship, somebody to share his life and his knowledge. Julian is desperate to have a human relationship, to be in love, to grow old and die. But at the same time, he has a responsibility as Prince of the City to the five clans. They need his guidance. I'll keep looking for you.

Question: What nationality are you?

I'm English.

Question: What movies and TV shows catch your interest when you aren't shooting?

I love movies like "Apocalypse Now," "The Godfather" trilogy, "Streetcar Named Desire" with Marlon Brando, and although I do see quite a few movies, it's tough to compare them to those. I enjoy the "The X Files," "Married With Children" and "ER," because a friend of mine's is in it.

Question: Do you feel that this is a role you were meant to play?

Yes.

Any last words for the fans, Mark?

I think the world of The Kindred is fascinating. As an actor, it has drawn me in and all but engulfed me. The show has some very exciting episodes coming up. My relationship with Caitlin heats up and creates a very exciting love triangle with Lily that has been fascinating to play. I hope you all stick with it and become as hooked as I am. Keep well and be as good a person as you can.

Sincerely, Mark.

Be sure to Catch KINDRED: THE EMBRACED, airing on FOX Wednesday's at 9 ET! If you want to see Mark back online, email us at EXTRApr!

Unfortunately, the new the boss of the Primogen, Brujah. The second season begins with a umber of conflicts. Kateland is also aware of the existence vampires, but still doesn't know Julian is one of them.

The Godfather film presents a subculture of the Mafia, as a world apart from ours, existing along ours, but separate, complete unto itself. The Kindred world is more passionate than ours, more loyal, more erotic, more savage. A world we want to be in.

This classic ruse is a part of what we call the Masquerade. It has kept mankind looking for the signs, when in fact the Kindred could be sitting on the park bench next to us. Joseph Campbell taught that that myth is the collective dream of mankind. When the myth loses it's power to evoke us to make us dream, then its of no use. Mark and PK, I and the other writers have made the show, have attempted to reinvigorate the mythology, and put the myths, and put them in an urban American setting.

The original myth of vampires revolves around what we as humans fear in ourselves, we fear the release of the id set free. Our darkest impulses have always been repressed. So we have created the creatures of the night. We the writers have told stories about them. If our characters are story provoked, then the myth has power.