ST:P2 Feature 001

PART 1: On the Set with Jonathan Zungre
Interviewed by Meghan King Johnson

MKJ: So Johnny, how did you get involved with New Voyages / Phase II?

JZ: I saw a casting online. It was a casting for the part of Ensign Noura. It was a really cool part. I auditioned for it and Patty [Wright] was there, and Patty I guess liked my audition. She tried to stop me before I went down the elevator [after the audition] because she thought I looked like the character of Chekov – like the right hair-cut, height, that kind of thing…but she didn’t stop me in time.

So James [Cawley] called me, and I was like, “Oh, this must mean I have a callback.” And he said, “I wanna know if you’d like to take the role of Chekov” – or something like that.

And I was just like: “Whoa! Oh my gosh – Yeah.”

MKJ: How familiar were you with Star Trek: New Voyages – now Phase II - before this?

JZ: I was not very familiar [with STNV:P2] – but I was familiar with Star Trek. I saw Star Trek [in the casting notice], and I saw new roles [posted], and I got excited about that – just the chance to play Star Trek. And now I get to play Chekov. It’s fantastic.

Jonathan as Chekov at the Navigation console in "Enemy: Starfleet"

MKJ: What previous acting experience have you had, and how did you become an actor?

JZ: I started acting doing skits with my church. And then in high school I did musicals and plays – and in college I did the same thing. And then about 3 years ago I came to New York, and I took classes. I was in an off-off Broadway play, as well as some independent films, as well as a commercial with Darren Aronofsky – he’s the director of Requiem for a Dream. He did anti-drug PSAs, and I was one of the drug addicts that was freaked out, and going into a meth-induced rage.

MKJ: Wow. How did you get cast for that?

JZ: I went in and I freaked out. They put me up against a wall that was supposed to be a door to my parents’ house and I was trying to break in. Meth addicts have big mood swings, and so at first I was pleading with them up against the wall, and then I started freaking out and I was punching the door and elbowing the door….just freaking out.

MKJ: Wow. Cool. Because you don’t seem like that type of a person - it doesn’t sound like typecasting; you’re a nice guy, and then to be cast as some wild and crazy person….

JZ: Yeah…but when I saw his [Aronofsky’s] name, I was like, “I really want this,” and I did a lot of prep. But it was fun. You know when you slate your name to the camera, “Hello, my name is Jonathon Zungre, blah blah blah.....”? You’re supposed to do it as yourself, straight, and then you do the scene. Well, I had done so much prep that I was staring down the person who was doing the slate, who was playing my mom (laughs). It was fun.

MKJ; Have you done, or are you doing, any other work that fans could see you in?

JZ: People can search my name on youtube and probably find about 5 things. Some of it’s TV hosting because I’m starting to do TV hosting right now.

MKJ: Cool. So, what were your thoughts when you were told that you would be playing the part of Chekov in ST:P2, and that you would be taking over a role that has been previously portrayed by another actor who has become familiar to the fans of New Voyages / Phase 2?

JZ: Honestly, I was nervous about it, you know? Because I know how hard it is for fans some times to accept another actor in a role, traditionally. I had to think about it – and actually talking with Walter [Koenig] helped with this – just on how I should approach the character and how I should approach the role. When fans are used to a character being portrayed a certain way, if I start doing it slightly different, or filtering it through who I am, I some times wonder if they’ll accept that. So I was nervous that they would accept me. But I found that when I was being myself in the role is when I felt I was doing the best.

In my preparation I started to lean towards: “maybe I should just try to be like them – like Andy [Bray] or like Walter….” But that’s kind of a trap for an actor I think. I feel like an actor really has to be true to himself. I find that when I act, if I’m “in my head” – if I’m thinking: “OK, now how would I react to this?” – If I’m doing that while I’m in the scene, I’m going to do very poorly. I have to be in the moment, reacting to whatever’s truthful. I just had to be true to myself, and I had to study the character, and then try to be the best Chekov I can be.

MKJ: What all did you do to prepare?

JZ: Well for the dialect, I got a dialect coach. I also bought a couple different CDs that have Russian dialect on them. And I listened to my doormen. My doormen are Eastern European and Slavic, so I listened to them and how they talked.

That was for the accent. For the part of Chekov, I watched a bunch of episodes in the original series and a bunch of the movies. The best thing to happen was that I got to talk to Walter about the part.

I asked him to give me a few adjectives to describe the character, and I asked him how Chekov would react in certain situations, and I also got to talk to him actor to actor. It was fantastic. I asked him about auditioning. I asked him, “Out of all your years going to auditions, what have you found to be the best possible mindset to be in?” and things like that. He gave me advice – it was pretty fantastic.

So the best thing for the character I would say that I got to do was talk with Walter about it.

MKJ: Did you do that when you went to the premiere for To Serve All My Days?

JZ: Yeah, it was when I went to LA.

MKJ: Did you do that all at that premiere, or did you actually have a separate, sit-down lunch date kind of thing?

JZ: It was a sit-down lunch date – and he paid! He’s a cool guy, a really cool guy.

MKJ; When you first arrived here on the set, what were your thoughts?

JZ: When I went on to the bridge, I just started laughing because it looks so legit – like laughing with joy, like giddy laughing.

MKJ: When you did your first scene, earlier this week, how was that?

JZ: The first scene was awesome. It was also a little intimidating because I was not used to how many people are around the set. But it went really well, especially when we were done with the take and I could see people smiling; it felt good.

MKJ: How is it to work with this production?

JZ: Fantastic. It’s awesome. I didn’t expect people to be so friendly. They’re really legitimately friendly. And I didn’t expect people to be so encouraging and so supportive. It’s seriously awesome. When you are done with a scene, people just come up to you and say: “Fantastic!” and give a high 5 and say things like “You rocked it, man, I heard your rocked it.”

I always wanted to be part of a team. And there’s a really amazing team atmosphere here.

MKJ: Was there anything in the script that you were looking forward to filming?

JZ: Yes, the scene we just filmed with Sulu and I, as well as the scene with Captain Kirk and I, and the scene in the sick bay. And I’m really looking forward to firing a phaser, and maybe doing a roll. And I was looking forward to getting into one of those classic, original series fist fights where there’s lots of turning someone and then hitting them – but we’re not going to do that - hopefully in future episodes.

MKJ: If you could play any role, what would you like to play?

JZ: I want to play the Mirror Mirror, alternate dimension Chekov that’s evil, who just goes around kicking butt and being scary. I’d like to try that.

Ever since I did that meth commercial, I’ve really wanted to do another crazy, “losing it” character. Someone’s who violent and volatile and crazy.

MKJ: So, what was the first NV/P2 episode you watched, and what are your thoughts about what you saw within the context of all that you have been doing the past couple of days?

JZ: I think it was In Harm’s Way, and at the time, nobody had ever done anything like it before. But I think they’ve come a long way. It seems like things just keep on improving.

MKJ: What are your impressions of the Enemy: Starfleet script that we’re filming right now?

JZ: I think it’s an awesome script. I think it has some really good character moments, like – from Chekov’s point of view – between Chekov and Peter Kirk, Chekov and McCoy, Chekov and Sulu. Plus, I was asking James if I was going to be involved in a scene that includes a space battle with another ship and that’s what this is. So I was really happy about that.

MKJ: Could you see yourself returning in the role of Chekov?

JZ: Yes. I would love to. I really wanna do a punch!

MKJ: Anything else you’d like to share?

JZ: I really love this. I can’t believe I get to do Star Trek. And uh…Hi Mom…Hi Uncle Tim….and uh….Hi Pap Pap…and all the rest of may family, too.

______________________________________

Click here to go to Part 2: On the Set with J.T. Tepnepa


PHOTOS BY: Cynthia Lin, Andy "Sarge" Greib, and Rich DiMascio Chekov (Jonathan Zungre) at the Navigational Console. Chekov (Jonathan Zungre), Spock (Ben Tolpin), Sulu (J.T. Tepnepa) and Captain Kirk (James Cawley). Jonathan discussing a scene between takes. McCoy (John Kelley), Chekov (Jonathan Zungre), and Sulu (J.T. Tepnepa) on a smoke filled Bridge. Jonathan and Bobby Rice between takes in Sickbay. Jonathan between scenes in the ST:P2 set make-up room.	PART 1: On the Set with Jonathan Zungre Interviewed by Meghan King Johnson MKJ: So Johnny, how did you get involved with New Voyages / Phase II? JZ: I saw a casting online. It was a casting for the part of Ensign Noura. It was a really cool part. I auditioned for it and Patty [Wright] was there, and Patty I guess liked my audition. She tried to stop me before I went down the elevator [after the audition] because she thought I looked like the character of Chekov – like the right hair-cut, height, that kind of thing…but she didn’t stop me in time. So James [Cawley] called me, and I was like, “Oh, this must mean I have a callback.” And he said, “I wanna know if you’d like to take the role of Chekov” – or something like that. And I was just like: “Whoa! Oh my gosh – Yeah.” MKJ: How familiar were you with Star Trek: New Voyages – now Phase II - before this? JZ: I was not very familiar [with STNV:P2] – but I was familiar with Star Trek. I saw Star Trek [in the casting notice], and I saw new roles [posted], and I got excited about that – just the chance to play Star Trek. And now I get to play Chekov. It’s fantastic. Jonathan as Chekov at the Navigation console in "Enemy: Starfleet" MKJ: What previous acting experience have you had, and how did you become an actor? JZ: I started acting doing skits with my church. And then in high school I did musicals and plays – and in college I did the same thing. And then about 3 years ago I came to New York, and I took classes. I was in an off-off Broadway play, as well as some independent films, as well as a commercial with Darren Aronofsky – he’s the director of Requiem for a Dream. He did anti-drug PSAs, and I was one of the drug addicts that was freaked out, and going into a meth-induced rage. MKJ: Wow. How did you get cast for that? JZ: I went in and I freaked out. They put me up against a wall that was supposed to be a door to my parents’ house and I was trying to break in. Meth addicts have big mood swings, and so at first I was pleading with them up against the wall, and then I started freaking out and I was punching the door and elbowing the door….just freaking out. MKJ: Wow. Cool. Because you don’t seem like that type of a person - it doesn’t sound like typecasting; you’re a nice guy, and then to be cast as some wild and crazy person…. JZ: Yeah…but when I saw his [Aronofsky’s] name, I was like, “I really want this,” and I did a lot of prep. But it was fun. You know when you slate your name to the camera, “Hello, my name is Jonathon Zungre, blah blah blah.....”? You’re supposed to do it as yourself, straight, and then you do the scene. Well, I had done so much prep that I was staring down the person who was doing the slate, who was playing my mom (laughs). It was fun. MKJ; Have you done, or are you doing, any other work that fans could see you in? JZ: People can search my name on youtube and probably find about 5 things. Some of it’s TV hosting because I’m starting to do TV hosting right now. MKJ: Cool. So, what were your thoughts when you were told that you would be playing the part of Chekov in ST:P2, and that you would be taking over a role that has been previously portrayed by another actor who has become familiar to the fans of New Voyages / Phase 2? JZ: Honestly, I was nervous about it, you know? Because I know how hard it is for fans some times to accept another actor in a role, traditionally. I had to think about it – and actually talking with Walter [Koenig] helped with this – just on how I should approach the character and how I should approach the role. When fans are used to a character being portrayed a certain way, if I start doing it slightly different, or filtering it through who I am, I some times wonder if they’ll accept that. So I was nervous that they would accept me. But I found that when I was being myself in the role is when I felt I was doing the best. In my preparation I started to lean towards: “maybe I should just try to be like them – like Andy [Bray] or like Walter….” But that’s kind of a trap for an actor I think. I feel like an actor really has to be true to himself. I find that when I act, if I’m “in my head” – if I’m thinking: “OK, now how would I react to this?” – If I’m doing that while I’m in the scene, I’m going to do very poorly. I have to be in the moment, reacting to whatever’s truthful. I just had to be true to myself, and I had to study the character, and then try to be the best Chekov I can be. MKJ: What all did you do to prepare? JZ: Well for the dialect, I got a dialect coach. I also bought a couple different CDs that have Russian dialect on them. And I listened to my doormen. My doormen are Eastern European and Slavic, so I listened to them and how they talked. That was for the accent. For the part of Chekov, I watched a bunch of episodes in the original series and a bunch of the movies. The best thing to happen was that I got to talk to Walter about the part. I asked him to give me a few adjectives to describe the character, and I asked him how Chekov would react in certain situations, and I also got to talk to him actor to actor. It was fantastic. I asked him about auditioning. I asked him, “Out of all your years going to auditions, what have you found to be the best possible mindset to be in?” and things like that. He gave me advice – it was pretty fantastic. So the best thing for the character I would say that I got to do was talk with Walter about it. MKJ: Did you do that when you went to the premiere for To Serve All My Days? JZ: Yeah, it was when I went to LA. MKJ: Did you do that all at that premiere, or did you actually have a separate, sit-down lunch date kind of thing? JZ: It was a sit-down lunch date – and he paid! He’s a cool guy, a really cool guy. MKJ; When you first arrived here on the set, what were your thoughts? JZ: When I went on to the bridge, I just started laughing because it looks so legit – like laughing with joy, like giddy laughing. MKJ: When you did your first scene, earlier this week, how was that? JZ: The first scene was awesome. It was also a little intimidating because I was not used to how many people are around the set. But it went really well, especially when we were done with the take and I could see people smiling; it felt good. MKJ: How is it to work with this production? JZ: Fantastic. It’s awesome. I didn’t expect people to be so friendly. They’re really legitimately friendly. And I didn’t expect people to be so encouraging and so supportive. It’s seriously awesome. When you are done with a scene, people just come up to you and say: “Fantastic!” and give a high 5 and say things like “You rocked it, man, I heard your rocked it.” I always wanted to be part of a team. And there’s a really amazing team atmosphere here. MKJ: Was there anything in the script that you were looking forward to filming? JZ: Yes, the scene we just filmed with Sulu and I, as well as the scene with Captain Kirk and I, and the scene in the sick bay. And I’m really looking forward to firing a phaser, and maybe doing a roll. And I was looking forward to getting into one of those classic, original series fist fights where there’s lots of turning someone and then hitting them – but we’re not going to do that - hopefully in future episodes. MKJ: If you could play any role, what would you like to play? JZ: I want to play the Mirror Mirror, alternate dimension Chekov that’s evil, who just goes around kicking butt and being scary. I’d like to try that. Ever since I did that meth commercial, I’ve really wanted to do another crazy, “losing it” character. Someone’s who violent and volatile and crazy. MKJ: So, what was the first NV/P2 episode you watched, and what are your thoughts about what you saw within the context of all that you have been doing the past couple of days? JZ: I think it was In Harm’s Way, and at the time, nobody had ever done anything like it before. But I think they’ve come a long way. It seems like things just keep on improving. *MKJ: What are your impressions of the Enemy: Starfleet* script that we’re filming right now? JZ: I think it’s an awesome script. I think it has some really good character moments, like – from Chekov’s point of view – between Chekov and Peter Kirk, Chekov and McCoy, Chekov and Sulu. Plus, I was asking James if I was going to be involved in a scene that includes a space battle with another ship and that’s what this is. So I was really happy about that. MKJ: Could you see yourself returning in the role of Chekov? JZ: Yes. I would love to. I really wanna do a punch! MKJ: Anything else you’d like to share?** JZ: I really love this. I can’t believe I get to do Star Trek. And uh…Hi Mom…Hi Uncle Tim….and uh….Hi Pap Pap…and all the rest of may family, too. ______________________________________ Click here to go to Part 2: On the Set with J.T. Tepnepa