The
Interview with Melinda Mullins
Held in
October 2018.
First Blade’s
story:
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She
and Roland live in (Tell’s hometown) Clermont (chateau Epierre)
Some
day the landlord put a pole with a hat on top at each central point of
the village. The Emperor wants the people to show their
loyalty to him. They must obey. Matthew doesn’t want to bow for
the hat of the Emperor and is arrested.
Also is Tell, who defends his son. Then the village wants
to know what happened to Tell and his son. Blade and Roland try to
resist until the end and keep standing there hand in hand against the
force majeure of soldiers. But Gessler sent so many soldiers they can’t
fight and the village will be destroyed soon. The survivors are arrested
and taken to the same prison Tell is in (chateau Miolans). Tell is
imprisoned in solitary. Tell finally escapes by kidnapping his doctor
who has to keep him for one other day alive so Gessler can hang him next
day.
Free, he shoots
the key through the window to free Blade, Roland and other villagers.
Blade and Roland meet again in episode 4: ‚the Scarvengers.‘ Roland has
plans to create a small army to fight against the corrupt empire. (The
emperor took Roland’s family farm). Roland, Blade and Tell meet again
Tell in the forest during a campfire and they spend the night there. At
night they are robbed by children. They find out the reason why the kids
are stealing and they offer to help. At the end of this episode they say
goodbye to Tell and Roland remembers Tell he can’t put his back to the
revolution. |
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Then 5
episodes later (episode 9 The Bet) they meet again. Tell goes to
Ursen to join the archery match. The shooters are incognito and
carry bird masks, Tell needs the money and asks the landlord to
join his team. Gessler gets suspiscious by the great shots and wants
to reveal the marksman. At episode 11 The Imposter and episode 12
The Pass they meet again.
Gaston makes a
deal with Blade and Roland but later Gaston changes his mind. Gaston
heard Roland stole Tell’s name to make his own army ready against
the emperor. Then Roland is confronted by Tell himself.
Blade doesn’t
survive episode 12 and her compagnon Roland either.
Blade got role
in episodes: 1 the Banquet, 2 The Prisoner, 4. The
Scarvengers 9. The Bet 11. The imposter and 12. The Pass.
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1. When did you realize
you wanted to become an actress?
When I saw Hamlet
performed at Stratford on Avon when I was 8 years old...or possibly even before
that when my mother took me to the Comédie Française (the cheap seats) when I
was 6.
2. How
did you first come involved with Crossbow?
Just good fortune. It was
my first real job when I got out of Juilliard and I think I got the part because
I knew how to ride horseback and I speak French.
3. Did
you enjoy playing the role of Blade and do you have something in common with
her?
Oh yes, I’m a revolutionary from way back!
4. Was
it possible for you to influence your role of Blade: e.g. improvise?
I can’t remember; but I think I wouldn’t have
dared to attempt to change the words...
5.
What do you like or dislike
about your role?
I disliked that I had to ask
to have myself killed off! I would’ve like to continue! But my mother was dying
of cancer back in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She was VERY young and I loved her more
than I can say. So...when she got very bad, I asked the producers to “kill Blade”
and I took the Concorde back to the US.
6.
How
was it to be in a partly French production and in France?
Good. I speak French. I’ve been bilingual since I
was 6 and I live in France now and have for the past 10 years.
7. You
and Roland do almost have all the scenes together. Did you develop a special
bond?
I don’t think we got along all that well! Are
personalities were VERY different! Plus which, my mother being sick had a rather
strange effect on me...I didn’t take too many things seriously (other than her
illness) And I think Val was or is a very serious and dedicated fellow.
8.
Locations: As far as we know
you have been on several beautiful locations. Do you remember them?
I do remember them and that
is one of the many beauties of France (at least as compared with the US): they
take good care of their heritage sites and there is a great appreciation of
history.
9.
How was working together with Brian Blessed
(Gaston), Will Lyman (Tell), Valentine Pelka (Roland), Dana Barron (Eleanor) and
Conrad Phillips (Stefan)
All great people! My favourite
was Brian Blessed and I re-watch Kenneth Brannagh’s Hamlet rather often and
enjoy catching a glimpse of Brian.
10.
Do you have anekdotes or nice memories to share
with us?
I guess I mostly remember the French equestrian
crew allowing me to ride one of those beautiful Fresian horses bareback
during a break from shooting! And I remember the long lunches...with wine! And I
remember that the cave where we were shooting on the day of my “death” was
filled with straw (for atmosphere?) and that I got my very first attack of hay
fever! It was awful!
11. Did
Crossbow somehow influence your life? Is there something important you have
learned or experienced and are taking with you?
Crossbow came
at a very interesting juncture of my life. I needed the “proof” that time spent
at Juilliard had paid off. I needed money! I needed something to keep me from
just sitting in Santa Fe staring into my mother’s face. Crossbow provided all of
these plus it got me to my favourite country in the world.
May we ask you some questions about your private life?
12 a. Are you married?
Yes, to the love of my life.
12 b. What is
your favourite movie/series?
My favourite movies are Tootsie and Being There.
12 c. What are you hobbies?
I write and paint and love to walk.
13.
What are you working on at
the moment?
I’ve written a play and I’ve been performing in
it. It’s called “Aliénor et Fred”. We toured it all last summer going from one
midieval site to another here in France...lots of fun. Alienoretfred.com
22.
Do you have future dreams or are you satisfied with
what you achieved?
I have dreams and I am satisfied!
Thank you for your interest! Take care,
Melinda M.
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