Host Mark
Hello everyone and welcome to our special X-Files chat. We
are chatting to Mitch Pileggi who plays Detective Skinner. Hi
Mitch. Thanks for joining us today. How are things?
Mitch Pileggi
Things are great. I just back from ice-skating for the first time
up in Canada.
Host Mark
We've have heaps of questions so we'll go straight into
them....Susanna from London, England asks...Hi! I was
wondering if when you first started playing the part of Skinner,
you had any trouble getting into character, because everyone
knows that your personality is completely different from his?!
Mitch Pileggi
I don't really have any problem playing the character, he is
quite different from my own personality. It actually makes it
easier to play someone different from the way you actually
are.
Host Mark
Ashlee Tribel from Warragamba, NSW Australia asks...What
first inspired you to become an actor and at what age did you
start?
Mitch Pileggi
I started seriously acting when I was about 27 I think. It was
after I had been in the professional field for some time and I
was tired of doing what I was doing. I started in college and
started doing theatre in Texas and just got hooked on it and
found it was a passion that I have in life and fortunate that I
am able to fulfill that passion.
Host Mark
Adam Tomes from England asks...Do you find it hard being
co producer and playing a min character in the X-Files?
Mitch Pileggi
My only responsibility I have is being an actor.
Host Mark
Foxaholik asks...Hi Mitch. Hope you enjoyed your trip to
Australia. Was it your first visit here and what do you think of
the place, especially the outback?
Mitch Pileggi
First time and I didn't make it to the outback, from what I
understand was reported I did spend some time in the
outback, but I didn't make it there. As far as Sydney, I
absolutely adored it, I fell in love with Sydney, and Australians
and want to come back because it is a wonderful country and
hopefully I’ll have a chance to work over there
sometime.
Host Mark
Muldersgirl from Sydney, Australia asks...David has already
written and directed an episode, William Davis has written an
episode which in supposedly in the works and there are
rumours about Gillian writing and directing an episode. Do
you have any goals to write or direct an X Files episode?
Mitch Pileggi
None (laughs) David is actually written another script and it
Skinner's quite involved with it, and he is also going to direct.
Host Mark
Kim from Victoria, Australia asks...MY favorite Skinner scene
would have to be from 'Paper Clip' - the 'This is where you
pucker up and kiss my ass" scene - are you able to single
out a favourite?
Mitch Pileggi
No, that would probably be one of my favourite moments also.
I can't really think of any, a lot of my moments tend to be
much the same. Moments like that are rare for my character.
Host Mark
Trajan from New York, USA asks...What can we expect to
see you in the upcoming year, in addition to the X-files? Any
interesting film projects?
Mitch Pileggi
The next thing I have coming out is a film called "Gun Shy'. I
think it's coming out about Feb 4th in the States and it has
Liam Neeson, Sandra Bullock and Oliver Plagtt. I hope it is
really good, that's about all I have besides the show.
Host Mark
John Michael from Australia asks...Hi Mitch, I enjoy your
performance and character on the X-Files very much, how
long do you think the show will continue for? and will Chris
Cater answer all the questions, or leave viewers up in the air?
Thank you
Mitch Pileggi
I don't know if we are going to do another season yet or not.
We are waiting to find out. As it stands now, this may be the
last season and if it is, I'm sure Chris will make an attempt to
answer all the questions that we all have.
Host Mark
Starbuck from Lisboa, Portugal asks...Do you think the series
should continue for an 8th season, or is it time to move on?
Mitch Pileggi
If they have more good stories to tell and I think it should
continue. If we are running out of gas, I think we should wrap
it up.
Host Mark
Holly from Michigan, USA asks...First, I want to say I'm a
huge fan; you do such a great job with Skinner - you really
add so much to the show. Thank you! Ok, I heard a rumor
that you've been talking with another studio exec about
starring in your own show post-XFiles. Is it more than just
talk? Have you actually seen any scripts? I would love to see
you in more than the occasional XFiles movie, so I'm hoping
it's true! Thanks so much for your time tonight, we love you!!!
Mitch Pileggi
I have to say that I can't really respond to those rumours. A
lot depends on whether we have another season as to my
own future.
Host Mark
Kim from Dallas, Texas USA asks...Do you think you'd like to
return to theatre again, perhaps? I understand you were a
knockout in Austin and I'm very sorry I missed those
performances.
Mitch Pileggi
I miss Austin and I miss doing theatre in Austin. And I would
love to return sometime and do theatre in Austin, that is the
only place that I'd really do theatre - Austin.
Host Mark
Karen from Seattle asks...I'm so glad to see Arlene getting
more air time and screen credit. She makes a great "Kim". I
wonder if Skinner really trusts her, though--he didn't seem to
want her to hear his discussion with Scully in "Triangle", and
her conversation with Mulder in "SR 819" was
curious--another Byzantine plot twist? "Skinnerholics" want to
know ;)
Mitch Pileggi
Yeah, I don't think that there is anything paramount involved in
this excluding his conversations with Scully and Mulder. It's
fun having her on the set working as my secretary and it's
always fun working with her.
Host Mark
Karina from NSW Australia asks...Which character are you
more like: Mulder, someone who follows with a blind faith be
living almost anything without an explanation or Scully:
someone needing an explanation supported by proof?
Mitch Pileggi
Mmm, probably more like Scully. Even though he does seem
to be stumbling around in the dark most of the time :) Blindly
stumbling around in the dark would be more appropriate.
Host Mark
Liv from Australia asks...What episode has been the most
challenging for you?
Mitch Pileggi
Probably SR 819. Primarily because of the special effects
makeup that I had to go through, which was torturous. I'm not
tremendously challenged by a lot of this material.
Host Mark
Jazzypants from New Jersey USA asks...Hi, Mitch! How are
you enjoying your new computer? What sites are your favorite
to visit?
Mitch Pileggi
(Laughs) I've been having fun. Site: I don't really go into a lot
of web sites, spend a lot of time doing shopping for Christmas
for the baby on e-toys. I actually went on a x-files chat room
one time for kicks and of course nobody believed it was me. It
was a waste of time trying to convince them it was me.
Everybody totally ignored me and wouldn't believe it. That was
my one and only experience of doing that, after that I gave up.
Host Mark
LOL...has that put you off chatting or do you think you'll try it
again?
Mitch Pileggi
There is no sense in me trying it again, anyone can say they
are me. One person did respond with "Hey, this is Gillian
Anderson". It's fruitless if I want to try and carry on a
conversation. This is probably how I will get into a chat room,
where they know it's me.
Host Mark
DocWeesa from Washington State asks...Tell us about Gun
Shy? Do you have any good stories about working with Liam
Neeson?
Mitch Pileggi
I had a lot of fun, he is a really nice person, Sandra Bullock is
a real sweetheart, Oliver Plagtt is also a really nice man and
is really fun. He is very funny in the movie.
Host Mark
Fox_phile from Coffs Harbour, Australia asks...In the sixth
season we saw Skinner less behind a desk and more out in
the field. Will this continue in the seventh season?
Mitch Pileggi
A little bit. I would prefer if he would completely get out from
behind the desk and get out in the field a lot. But whether
that's going to happen or not is still a mystery.
Host Mark
Cecilia Fernández-Cabero from Lima, Peru asks...I write to
you from South America, Lima-Peru. In Latin America are
thousand of followers of the series and many groups that we
communicated by Internet. That this chat immediately will be
translated and will cross all the paginal webs of fanatics of the
show. A question is: Do you think there is a possibility of a
romance between Skinner and Scully developing?
Mitch Pileggi
No. But there is a very funny scene in the episode that David
had written that pertains to that, but I won't say anymore.
Host Mark
Marija Radovska from Sydney asks...Hi, first, great work on
the show! I was wondering how long it takes to make an
X-Files episode, on average?
Mitch Pileggi
Shoots 8 days of first unit principal photography and anything
that is not finished is turned over to a second unit. And then
we have a third unit that shoots inserts, so it can take up to 3
or 4 weeks for shooting to finish up.
Host Mark
Chris from Brisbane, Australia asks...What advice would you
give to people considering acting?
Mitch Pileggi
Just be prepared for a lot of rejection. You have to really want
it; it has to be something that you have a terrible passion for.
And if you don't have this passion, you should probably find
something different. Acting is not necessarily a hard thing to
do, but it's a hard thing to get into and to be successful at. So
if you do really want it hang in.
Host Mark
John Michael from Australia asks...Are you happy the show
is now in the US, or do you think it should have stayed in
Canada?
Mitch Pileggi
I miss Vancouver. I miss shooting in Vancouver and in some
respects, I wish it was still in Vancouver. In other respects,
I'm glad it's in the States. Being in LA gives me the
opportunity to work on other projects and it's allowing us to
establish some roots and settle down.
Host Mark
Monica Duff from Victoria Australia asks...Hi Mitch - don't
know if you remember but my friend Kim and I met you at the
2DayFM live broadcast when you were in Sydney last year.
Just wanted to say thank you again for making our year! It
was truly a buzz to meet you. As to a question - with the
possible cessation of the show, do you have any notion as to
what is planned for your character? And whom do I write to if I
want to protest if they have anything bad planned? (grin)
Mitch Pileggi
Hi, it was nice meeting you there. I really have no idea what
they have in store for the character, or for the end of the
show. So it is going to be as much of a surprise for me as it
is going to be for you.
Host Mark
Naomi from California asks...Hi Mr Pileggi! =) How has your
life evolved from the very beginning of the X-Files until now?
Have you been happy the way things have gone or are you
stressing too much to enjoy the experience?
Mitch Pileggi
My life has just been going great. The only thing that I really
stress about is my painter getting the right colour of paint on
my walls; we've been doing a remodel for the last year. Other
than that, my life is fine. You got a great wife, wonderful baby
and a full refrigerator.
Host Mark
Chris from Brisbane, Australia asks...What gives you the
most satisfaction performing theatre or working on films and
the X-Files?
Mitch Pileggi
They each have their own pluses. There are certain aspects of
each one that I enjoy. The money on the x-files isn't that bad
though :).
Host Mark
Steven Smith from County Durham, England asks...Hi! Hope
you are well. Q: You started off as very much the boss who
denied everything - you weren't giving anything away. Now
you seem to keep pushing Mulder and Scully further into the
X-Files, urging them to delve deeper into the conspiracies
held by the US Government. Why the change?
Mitch Pileggi
Chris Carter decided at some point that Skinner would
become more valuable in that role. And yet you will notice at
times when Skinner does pull back and makes them precede
on their own and doesn't give them the help that they need,
until he is pushed.
Host Mark
Jordan from Sydney, Australia asks...What is the on-set
dynamic on the x-files? Is there an on-set clown? or is it
straight to business?
Mitch Pileggi
It's pretty much business. We have our moments of hilarity
there are a few of them, they were in the past. But, everybody
gets along just fine.
Host Mark
Pippa from Munich, Germany asks...Besides 'Gun Shy' -
what kind of characters would you like to do in the future? Is
there anything, any kind of movie or role that seems
especially appealing to you - like something you always have
wanted to do and are still thinking about?
Mitch Pileggi
As long as the writing is good, as long as the character is
interesting and the project is quality, that's chat interests me.
Host Mark
Vicki from Australia asks...Has any an episode made u
question ur beliefs in the supernatural etc??
Mitch Pileggi
I have beliefs in the supernatural and belief regarding
extraterrestrial, so I haven't really been influenced by any
episodes.
Host Mark
Wendi from Fla asks...Are you going to be doing anymore
guest spots, such as That 70's Show?
Mitch Pileggi
I don't know. If something good came up, then probably. I
don't know if they will necessarily be sit-coms but there are
other dramas on TV that I would like to work on.
Host Mark
Jules from Australia asks...Is skinner definitely a good guy?
Mitch Pileggi
I don't think there is anything definite on the X-Files. I would
assume he is, but you never know, he may have his own
agenda.
Host Mark
Well that’s about all the time we have for today. Thank
you so much Mitch for taking the time to join us today, we
had a great time.
Mitch Pileggi
Okay, he has been fun. I have enjoyed it. Just remember
sometime, someone may enter your chat room saying that
they are Mitch Pileggi and it may be me! Take care.
Host Mark
Thanks again Mitch and we wish you all the best in the future.
Yes...you never know...it might be the Truth!! Well thanks
everyone for taking the time to join us this lunchtime and for
your questions. We're sorry if your question didn't get
asked....we were inundated with participants and one a small
portion could be asked. This concludes our chat with Mitch
Pileggi in association with Fox Home Entertainment. Thank
you. (c) News Limited 2000. Produced by News Interactive.