TALES FROM BEYOND THE PALE Interview Series 4: THIS ORACLE MOON lead actor Doug Jones

In this installment, Hellboy and Pan's Labyrinth star Doug Jones discusses his performance and overall experience with the TFBTP episodeThis Oracle Moon, alongside his frequent on-screen partner Ron Perlman

Vegas Outsider: To begin, how were you cast for this project and what about This Oracle Moon piqued your attention enough to want to participate?

Doug Jones: I had the privilege of being directed by Larry Fessenden in our 'Skin & Bones' episode of NBC's FEAR ITSELF in 2008, so when he told me about this old school radio style drama, I got very excited. Larry is one of my four favorite directors I've ever worked with, and I'm interested in anything he touches as a director, producer, or in this case, creator / host. Then to find out that Ron Perlman would be voicing as well, and we'd be written and directed by the delicious mind of Jeff Buhler, saying a big fat 'yes' came naturally!

VO: In the tale itself, you play Max, the rather unhinged android who believes himself to be sentient and artistic. How did you approach getting inside this character as he is fairly complex and maniacal while still be intriguing?

DJ: I had so much fun delving into this one! How often does one get the chance to play an android who has discovered human emotions?! I simply tapped into that innocent place we all can remember as children when every emotion was displayed at full volume, turning on a dime between laughter and tears. 'Max' just had to express himself in all these new-found feelings of his, while bathing in the narcissism of a world he thought revolved around him. We can all remember that part of childhood too, can't we.

VO: In addition to yourself, your co-lead in the story, Captain Marsh is played by none other than Ron Perlman whom you've worked with of course on the Hellboy films. How was it working with him within this specific context given that the two of you really hold up much of the story's dramatic weight, especially in the second half?

DJ: Ronny is like a big brother to me, and just walking into the same room with him, the family jabbing begins immediately. Off camera, we are very much like our brotherly characters from Hellboy with each other, and that same chemistry came in handy for THIS ORACLE MOON, as his no-nonsense, gruff sarcasm balanced with my whimsical calculations that evolved into evil. Ron is such a seasoned pro with voice work, as well, so it was very comforting to have him right there as I took these crazy leaps with the voice of 'Max'.

VO: As an actor who is best known to audiences for your physicality and prosthetic work, how did you take to performing in a role in which, all you had to rely on was solely your own voice. A voice, which communicates a variety of emotional shades in bringing to life a villain that is ironic and sinister simultaneously?

DJ: Voice work is a different animal, yes, and I absolutely love it. First off, it's quite nice to start in without having a five hour make-up application! I think that any actor will tell you that taking on a role is taking on a role. No matter what the medium, we have to find that character's heart, soul, desires, fears, all that. But being that I normally do so much visually, I just had to funnel those facial expressions and physical gestures into a lilt in the voice that gets the same idea across.

VO: Overall, how would you rate this experience professionally in light of the career you've had thus far and would you be interested in doing something like this again as your performance here is one of the series' overall highlights thus far?

DJ: Well thank you for saying that! Working on THIS ORACLE MOON ranks up there with the more fulfilling artistic projects I've done this year. And the fact that audio projects demand so little time compared to a feature film, I love being able to do things like this even in the middle of a crazy schedule. Creating an entire fantasy world like this, with nothing but sound, is absolutely something I'd like to do again and again. Especially with all the above-mentioned genius minds.

To check out this episode and listen to Jones’ performance, go to www.talesfrombeyondthepale.com