Behind the Scenes of Summer Glau’s New Robot Series
Released on 12/15/2014
(dial up internet tone)
(dramatic orchestral music)
Well we're on the set right now of Jeff 1000
which is about his life.
(upbeat rock music)
You know, since his career has really taken off,
he's wanted to sort of document that.
(clapperboard click)
Hi, I'm Jeff and I am a robot (laughs).
I used to be an automotive assembly device,
but what I always wanted to do,
what my heart told me to do, was to be an actor.
(upbeat rock music)
So I got this series called Jeff 1000, it's about me.
Action!
[Jeff] The work is, it's exciting,
it's fun, it's challenging,
it's endlessly surprising for everyone involved.
I have no idea where Jeff came from.
I assume China?
I've never cast a robot before,
I assume we should get some points for that, right?
We should get some money back on that.
I don't know, or Silicon Valley maybe?
I don't know.
I don't know what the (censored) he is.
[Jeff] Oh, David's cool.
D-cat (laughs).
He's the best, yeah we're really good friends, really good.
You know, I've worked with a lot of actors,
and every actor they have their own little nuances.
He's awkward because he's large,
there's an issue, you know,
like I have problems getting him into cars.
We just need to plan carefully where Jeff can and can't go,
but from a performance point of view,
exactly the same thing I say about Wesley Snipes.
Good actor, that's what I say about Jeff, Wesley Snipes,
good actors.
[Jeff] You know, some people don't want to work
with a robot, we're just not there yet.
But, then there's people like Summer.
Hi, I'm Summer Glau.
Working with Jeff has been, it's been a revelation.
I mean, I can honest say that I have never worked
with someone like him before.
There he is. Jeff, just please don't leave me alone
with him, okay?
I will not leave you alone.
We've been talking about these different projects
for a while, and Jeff really wanted to tell his own story.
I wanted to be a part of that.
Jeff an I really do have something special.
[Jeff] We take care of each other, you know,
on the set you just can't ask for a better scene partner.
First of all, I don't know if you know how hilarious he is
I'm sorry I forgot the line, user error 404 not found.
(laughter)
Working with him, I've just, I've ruined so many takes
because he makes me laugh.
[Michael] He's charming.
Beep, beep, beep!
[Michael] He's funny.
Ouch, my nose!
[Michael] He's a joy to work with.
Some of his on set pranks have been downright hilarious.
I'd ordered some lemonade from, you know, a restaurant,
for lunch and I took a taste and it was actually Coca Cola.
And that was Jeff, he did that,
he switched out the lemonade for Coca Cola,
and I was like, I'll be damned.
I mean, I like to have fun, you know?
I try to take work seriously,
but not take myself too seriously.
And I like to give the director, he loves it too.
Jeff, get the (censored) out of my trailer!
Sorry, I apologize.
He's been back and forth in there all day long,
I have absolutely no id--
(loud mechanical bang)
Excuse me, excuse me.
(laughter)
He's not always the easiest guy to work with,
and I mean, he's not perfect, who is perfect?
It's like you have to wait to say your line
until he like (mechanical churning noise),
you have to make sure he computes.
Am I doing a good job?
I think so, I mean, I hope so (laughs).
In terms of, you know, creative criticism
about his acting, he's a little bit sensitive
and I don't push it because he could, you know,
incinerate me.
He records everything, with his eyes.
It's like cameras, I got to go.
I remember once, Jeff was called onto set
and he lumbers onto set, and there's a PA in his way,
he literally stepped on him.
He stepped on this guy,
and yeah, he didn't make it.
But, that's Jeff.
You know, for Hollywood to give me the greenlight
for my own series, it's a really big thing
for the whole robot community.
Your time is over, humans.
I don't know a single person who doesn't wonder
what's it like to be an evil robot from another planet?
And he brings us into that,
he lets us experience that.
Jeff is his own creation, he's his own individual.
Yeah, he's really special to me (sighs).
I hope Jeff's smart enough to enjoy his moment in the sun,
in the spotlight, because this town will chew you up
and spit you out quicker than, uh,
one of those you know, car machines (laughs).
Those that crush the cars into little boxes,
which will probably happen to Jeff at some point.
(cars being crushed)
Starring: Summer Glau , David Arquette
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