Sean Astin MSN Chat Transcript
Demosthenes @ 4:19 am EST

Here's a transcript of the Sean Astin MSN chat for everyone who was unable to make it. Thanks to Ringer Fan Nicole for making this available to us.

Sean_Astin_Live says: Hi! It's an exciting moment to experience the second film. It's cool!

Sean_Astin_Live says: A special hello to everyone who went to go see it!

DishDiva says: Sean, were you surprised the film made $42 million the first day?

Sean_Astin_Live says: I no longer have a guage for success. What I was surprised with, that it was 40% more than what "The Fellowship of the Rings" made last year.

HangNLBC in Onstage_1 asks: Do you still spend any time with the other cast members now that filming is finished? Hang U.S.

Sean_Astin_Live says: We continue to see each other all over the world as we promote the film. We socialize occasionally; I see Elijah and Dom lives with my brother Mackenzie. We aren't far enough away from the movie to drift apart.

HangNLBC in Onstage_1 asks: Do you consider yourself a sexy Hobbit? (I do)

Sean_Astin_Live says: Who am I to argue with you?

Sean_Astin_Live says: I had to read that question to my wife, she smiled, she had better think I was a sexy hobbit for Pete's sake.

AllegroConMoto in Onstage_1 asks: I had thought that the scene where Sam watches Frodo sleep and sees "a light shining faintly" had been filmed. Do you know why it didn't make it into the movie?

Sean_Astin_Live says: There was so much that was cut, they were desperate to get it to 3 hours. I'm sure they will be back in the DVD. The quick answer is just for time, the economics of the business is if it's over 3 hours, they don't make as much money. Those light and tender moments were the most fun to film and on the first film, it was good to see them back in the DVD.

Sanji16 in Onstage_1 asks: Hi Sean. I heard that You and the other nine members of the "fellowship" got tattoos of the elven nine where did you get yours?

Sean_Astin_Live says: Mine is on the outside of my right ankle. And let me just say, IT HURT! That's where I got mine because that's where Billy Boyd selected and it seemed most appropriate.

Needsomemoola in Onstage_1 asks: How much time did it take to get your makeup and outfits on for the film?

Sean_Astin_Live says: They would take about 1 hours and 15 minutes for the feet and 1 hour 15 minutes for the wig, ears, and makeup. So it was about 2 1/2 hours to get it all on and about 45 minutes to take it all off.

TacticalLizard in Onstage_1 asks: I hear that Elijah, Dom and Billy are huge music fans. What kind of music are you into?

Sean_Astin_Live says: Elijah is really the cutting edge music guru. He was turning me onto Moby, Beck, single syllable new artists. (laughs) I'm sort of the old nerd hobbit. My wife and I listen to James Taylor or Elton John. Everything I like Elijah hates, but the opposite is not true for me. I liked pretty much all the stuff he listened to. It was like going to another country when I would go into a CD store with Elijah. I feel that this is a generic answer because people who are really into music can get so estoric.

Sean_Astin_Live says: I used to always say my favorite was Billy Joel. I like classic rock, 70's rock, and Boston. I can get into any music that anyone listens to.

Doh99 in Onstage_1 asks: Would you say the The Lord of the Rings has been the toughest movie you have worked on?

Sean_Astin_Live says: Without question.

ResultantLil_Bit77 in Onstage_1 asks: If you could chat with anyone in the world, who would you want to talk to?

Sean_Astin_Live says: I'm really into politics, and I don't know if George W. sits around chat rooms, but I'd like to konw what's on his mind. I'm not a late night romance kind of guy, I'm more of a find out what is going on in the world, kind of guy.

Sarah Proudfoot in Onstage_1 asks: Is being sam overwhelming? I'm sure you're being approached a lot of the time from fans like.. me.. What is the wierdest fan you've encountered?

Sean_Astin_Live says: Outside of the Tonight Show where there was a lady who wanted me to pass a letter onto Elijah and I told her I couldn't because I didn't know if I could make sure he got it. I don't know if she was genuinely upset or just inappropriately intense.

DishDiva says: (Small break as Sean talks with his daughter)

Sean_Astin_Live says: When you read a book and have an emotional experience with the characters, a lot of people cry when they read books, and the same thing happens in movies, the relationship they develop with the characters. I wouldn't have it any other way, but in the real world you have to be careful of people who have intense reactions. I feel it's my job not to exacerbate the problem.

Saurcamiel in Onstage_1 asks: Hi Sean! How do you like the animations they did for Gollum, did they live up to your expectations? Saurcamiel, Sweden.

Sean_Astin_Live says: I want to send a big hello to this individual because this film has broken all sorts of records in Sweden, Holland, Norway, and Denmark, and I have a great fondness for people in that part of the world. The zeal in the journalists eyes. I think Gollum steals the movie. It absolutely lived up to my expectations. There's so much fan awareness of Gollum, he was my second favorite character, my first being Treebeard. It was very important to me that it didn't suck.

DishDiva says: Sean, you had to gain weight to play this character. Being an actor, caring about your appearance, was it hard to gain weight to play Sam?

Sean_Astin_Live says: Yes, it was incredibly hard. It wasn't hard physically to put the weight on, but to carry the weight and self image, it was physically and emotionally painful for me. I couldn't imagine that it would go away. So until I lost the weight in the last couple of months, and now I can see the screen and see the character that I created and be impressed with what I did, but it was incredibly hard.

Sean_Astin_Live says: You look at yourself, and think, "LOOK how incredibly fat I am!!"

EivindSkau in Onstage_1 asks: Are there any similarities between you and Sam when you're off the screen? Bodø, Norway

Sean_Astin_Live says: I think earnesteness, I think in life I'm an earnest fellow and I think Sam is earnest.

DuoKat in Onstage_1 asks: I heard that Orlando Was crazy from Elijah...that he was allways trying to get you guys to do stuff...What was it like working with Orlando? Did he get you do do anything "Crazy" like what he did?

Sean_Astin_Live says: Orlando and I went motorcycle riding together (laughs) and he was crazier than I. I have this self-preservation that he doesn't have. The motorcycle guide said, "Don't go up there." We go along the trail and turn and don't see Orlando, there he was at the top of the place we were specifically told not to go. (laughs)

unknown asks: What would be your most memorable experience in making the Lord of the Rings movies...like...if you could pick one moment...which would you consider to be the most memorable? Olivia, Canada.

Sean_Astin_Live says: There's several that jump to mind, one I don't want to talk about yet. One is not "The moment" but it's in the running. Where we're on the rocks outside of the mines, we flew helicopters up there. It was an emotional scene, and I rememeber going from an incredible high from flying up there in the helicopter, and then completely breaking down in the scene.

goddessofcoke in Onstage_1 asks: Hey, I'm Bkaw from NZ, was it inspiring to have so many seasoned thespians working with you on LotR?

Sean_Astin_Live says: Every single day it seemed an incredible talent walking on the set. For me, trying to absorb from other's talents, it was great for me. Ian McKellen, and John Rys Davies, I had been a fan of his since Indiana Jones.

evil_cobra_lady in Onstage_1 asks: Mr. Astin, I would like to, someday, pursue in the acting career. What advice can you give to beginning actors like me? And what is your favorite thing about being an actor? Thanks a bunch! Serena

Sean_Astin_Live says: There's a lot of ways to get a great experience. Getting involved in drama and the best way to learn is by doing.

Sean_Astin_Live says: The second is reading a lot. There are some great books out there. It can be a great tradition, that goes back thousands of years, telling stories to each other around the campfire. It's important to be pragmatic, make sure you can feed yourself. I like to encourage people to follow your heart. I wish I knew the secret, steps to have a successful career. You just need to have a passion, that's what has allowed Elijah to be where he is. For me, I never give up.

Sean_Astin_Live says: Doing work is the best way to do it.

WiZaRdWaNnAbE97 in Onstage_1 asks: I heard that you were going to be directing an episode of Angel (my favorite show), are you a fan of the show? If so, what about Buffy the Vampire Slayer?

Sean_Astin_Live says: I've seen a couple of episodes of "Buffy" directed by Josh Wheaton that I think were amazing. I became a fan of "Angel" and wanted to direct the show. I watched all of the last season's episodes. I think David Boreanaz is great.

hobbiton33 in Onstage_1 asks: I've heard that your daughter, Alex, will be in the Return of the King, is that true?

Sean_Astin_Live says: I'm not sure yet, I haven't seen the final movie, we'll wait and see.

DishDiva says: Sean thanks so much for taking the time to talk with your fans from around the world.

DishDiva says: Continued success with the rest of this weekend! Happiest of holidays from all of your fans!

Sean_Astin_Live says: I'm genuinely appreciative of the energy that people are putting into the movies and giving me a great deal of pride and happiness, so wonderful holiday greetings to everyone.