[16/Feb/2000:12:57:03] <Moderator2> testing
[16/Feb/2000:14:10:35] <Moderator2> testing
[16/Feb/2000:14:23:01] <Moderator> Welcome to Scholastic's Live Interview with Tobias. If you are using the View Only Display, please be aware that you will need to use your browser's Reload or Refresh button in order to see the Chat in progress.
[16/Feb/2000:15:20:34] <moderator> Today we are interviewing Christopher Ralph who plays ?Tobias? on Animorphs TV. The interview will start at 7:00pm.
[16/Feb/2000:15:47:49] <moderator> Today we are interviewing Christopher Ralph who plays ?Tobias? on Animorphs TV. The interview will start at 7:00pm.
[16/Feb/2000:15:55:12] <moderator> You may start submitting question to Christopher Ralph now. To ask questions, type in the empty text field below and press enter or return on your keyboard. Remember, only the moderator will see your question. Because we receive so many questions, our moderator tries to select as many different questions as possible to give you an exciting interview. Therefore today's guest may not get the opportunity to answer your question in this interview. We ask that you please not submit your question more than once. The interview will start in a few minutes.
[16/Feb/2000:15:59:20] <moderator> Welcome to the Scholastic Auditorium. Today we will be interviewing Christopher Ralph, the actor who plays ?Tobias? on Aimorphs TV. And remember to catch Christopher and the others this Sunday, Feb. 20 starting at 4:00 on Nickelodeon with a 3-part movie, ?Changes? and then another new episode at 6:30.
[16/Feb/2000:16:00:20] <moderator> Today we are interviewing Christopher Ralph who plays ?Tobias? on Animorphs TV. Welcome Christopher, your first question is, are you like Tobias in real life?
[16/Feb/2000:16:00:45] <Christopher> Yes - a lot of it comes from real life experiences
[16/Feb/2000:16:00:58] <Christopher> Certain aspects for sure - I can't fly though!
[16/Feb/2000:16:01:01] <moderator> Hey,how did it feel to learn that you are ax's nephew?
[16/Feb/2000:16:01:41] <Christopher> Odd, cause someone you think is a friend is also a family member
[16/Feb/2000:16:02:10] <Christopher> and also - he's an alien! Discovering the new part of their relationship brought them together.
[16/Feb/2000:16:02:12] <moderator> What morphs will u be using in Animorphs Season II?
[16/Feb/2000:16:02:42] <Christopher> I'm pretty faithful to the hawk.
[16/Feb/2000:16:03:02] <moderator> Christopher do you have a girlfriend and what's your horoscope sign?
[16/Feb/2000:16:03:39] <Christopher> I'm a taurus and at the moment, I do have a girlfriend
[16/Feb/2000:16:03:43] <Christopher> She's a leo
[16/Feb/2000:16:03:46] <moderator> In the show do you return to human form forever?
[16/Feb/2000:16:04:08] <Christopher> Well, I can't really answer that - you'll have to tune in and see!
[16/Feb/2000:16:04:11] <moderator> Do you ever read the Animorph books, like to get a better idea of the character you play?
[16/Feb/2000:16:04:29] <Christopher> Yes, I've read a lot of the books .
[16/Feb/2000:16:04:48] <Christopher> there's a lot of helpful info in them and it helps all of us play the characters better
[16/Feb/2000:16:04:51] <moderator> Have you done any other tv or movie roles?
[16/Feb/2000:16:05:12] <Christopher> Yes. I worked on a show called Dear America
[16/Feb/2000:16:05:28] <Christopher> and I had a small part in a movie called "Gossip"
[16/Feb/2000:16:05:31] <moderator> What's it like working with the Andalites?
[16/Feb/2000:16:06:15] <Christopher> It's fun - those animatronics are very cool. they look very life like
[16/Feb/2000:16:06:31] <Christopher> it's better when they are actually there instead of when you add special effects later
[16/Feb/2000:16:06:33] <moderator> Christopher, can you explain a few things that will happen with you and Rachel?
[16/Feb/2000:16:07:18] <Christopher> I can't really say but, we definitely have a great friendship and ...
[16/Feb/2000:16:07:24] <moderator> Do you think you'll like season ll better than season l?
[16/Feb/2000:16:07:58] <Christopher> Not better - they're all good shows. this season is pretty exciting though!!
[16/Feb/2000:16:08:00] <moderator> What animal would you want to morph into if you were an animorph?
[16/Feb/2000:16:08:26] <Christopher> Some kind of bird - like Tobias.
[16/Feb/2000:16:08:40] <Christopher> flying is the coolest thing. everyone wants to fly like superman
[16/Feb/2000:16:08:42] <moderator> What's your favorite band?
[16/Feb/2000:16:08:49] <Christopher> U2
[16/Feb/2000:16:08:51] <moderator> Where are you from?
[16/Feb/2000:16:09:12] <Christopher> St. John's Newfoundland, Canada
[16/Feb/2000:16:09:16] <moderator> Do you ever watch yourself when the show comes on?
[16/Feb/2000:16:09:53] <Christopher> Not a whole lot. I don't really like to watch myself on tv - I think i look kindof goofy. but I enjoy the show!
[16/Feb/2000:16:09:56] <moderator> Chris-How does it feel to have numerous fan clubs, thousands of fans, and be in the spotlight?
[16/Feb/2000:16:10:18] <Christopher> It's certainly flattering, but I don't think about it too much
[16/Feb/2000:16:10:28] <Christopher> you don't want to let your head get too big!
[16/Feb/2000:16:10:30] <moderator> What's your favorite food?
[16/Feb/2000:16:10:50] <Christopher> I like breakfast - bacon and eggs
[16/Feb/2000:16:11:08] <Christopher> I like Chinese food, Thai food, cheeseburgers - those are good too!
[16/Feb/2000:16:11:13] <moderator> If you had the choice to be an Animorph, would you decide to be one???
[16/Feb/2000:16:11:24] <Christopher> Of course!
[16/Feb/2000:16:11:39] <Christopher> to turn into an animal! you could fly to school!
[16/Feb/2000:16:12:01] <Christopher> and if the world was under attack, you could help! Of course I would - who wouldn't!?
[16/Feb/2000:16:12:03] <moderator> What would you do if you found out there are aliens like Yeerks here on earth???
[16/Feb/2000:16:12:48] <Christopher> I'd like to be able to say that I'd be like Wil Smith and save the earth - but I'd probably be freaked out!
[16/Feb/2000:16:12:57] <Christopher> I'd probably call the Men in Black!
[16/Feb/2000:16:13:00] <moderator> What is your favorite episode?
[16/Feb/2000:16:13:20] <Christopher> I'll probably pick one that I'm in...
[16/Feb/2000:16:14:02] <Christopher> the episode when I meet a secret group.. that's the one coming on this Sunday!
[16/Feb/2000:16:14:03] <moderator> Have you ever messed up when you were learing your lines?
[16/Feb/2000:16:14:16] <Christopher> Oh Yeah! everybody has
[16/Feb/2000:16:14:30] <Christopher> sometimes it's tough and you just don't have enough time!
[16/Feb/2000:16:14:33] <moderator> What do you like to do off the set?
[16/Feb/2000:16:14:54] <Christopher> I watch a lot of movies. a lot!
[16/Feb/2000:16:15:16] <Christopher> I like to read and well.. nothing too special! go out, hang out, be out with friends
[16/Feb/2000:16:15:19] <moderator> What is the strangest thing about making the show?
[16/Feb/2000:16:16:10] <Christopher> Working in front of the "green screen" - the special effects that aren't there while we're filming
[16/Feb/2000:16:16:25] <Christopher> it's hard to act with something that's not there!
[16/Feb/2000:16:16:26] <moderator> who's your favorite actress?
[16/Feb/2000:16:16:57] <Christopher> Meryl Streep is probably the best actor on earth. she's phenomenal.
[16/Feb/2000:16:17:09] <Christopher> I like Angelina Jolie too.
[16/Feb/2000:16:17:11] <moderator> If you?re just joining us, we?re interviewing Christopher Ralph who plays ?Tobias? on Animorphs TV. To ask questions, type in the empty text field below and press enter or return on your keyboard. Remember, only the moderator will see your question. We ask that you please not submit your question more than once. And remember to catch Christopher and the others this Sunday, Feb. 20 starting at 4:00 on Nickelodeon with a 3-part movie, ?Changes? and then another new episode at 6:30.
[16/Feb/2000:16:17:22] <moderator> Do you have a favorite book?
[16/Feb/2000:16:17:56] <Christopher> I've got a couple - the most recent is called The Beach - they just made the movie, but the book is really really good
[16/Feb/2000:16:18:05] <moderator> Chris is it hard rembering all those lines?
[16/Feb/2000:16:18:20] <Christopher> Yes. it is hard.
[16/Feb/2000:16:18:26] <moderator> How come the hork-bajir on the show never fight the animorphs?
[16/Feb/2000:16:18:56] <moderator> Are the rest of the Animophs really your best friends?
[16/Feb/2000:16:19:23] <Christopher> We're all friends - we had a great time on the show and we see each other now from time to time
[16/Feb/2000:16:19:34] <moderator> Have you ever visited your fan sites on the Web
[16/Feb/2000:16:20:01] <Christopher> I actually did once when I was filming the shows. They're very flattering
[16/Feb/2000:16:20:02] <moderator> Do you have any brothers or sisters?
[16/Feb/2000:16:20:16] <Christopher> I do - one younger brother - 21 months younger
[16/Feb/2000:16:20:18] <moderator> Have you ever been on a really great vacation?
[16/Feb/2000:16:20:43] <Christopher> When I was 8 years old I went to Santa's Village in New Hampshire and it was great!
[16/Feb/2000:16:20:56] <Christopher> they had a great log ride that I remember..
[16/Feb/2000:16:21:00] <moderator> Are you afraid of any of the the animals that you work with? we'll keep it secret!
[16/Feb/2000:16:21:42] <Christopher> It was kindof spooky being around the lions and tigers. You've gotta have respect when you're staring in the eyes of a tiger!
[16/Feb/2000:16:21:45] <moderator> How do you like these chats?
[16/Feb/2000:16:22:11] <Christopher> They're a little wierd because I don't get to talk to everyone.
[16/Feb/2000:16:22:30] <Christopher> but it's great to know what the fans are wondering about!
[16/Feb/2000:16:22:32] <moderator> Would you date a fan?
[16/Feb/2000:16:23:22] <Christopher> Well - I've got a girlfriend so I can't even think about it!
[16/Feb/2000:16:23:26] <moderator> Do you have a special valentine?
[16/Feb/2000:16:23:59] <Christopher> Yes. we went to a basketball game!
[16/Feb/2000:16:24:01] <moderator> Do you get recognized at malls and stuff?
[16/Feb/2000:16:24:33] <Christopher> No, not really - a couple of times I've been recognized. once at the gym. I think I look different in real life...
[16/Feb/2000:16:24:36] <moderator> if u lived in the usa what state would u live in?
[16/Feb/2000:16:25:05] <Christopher> Oh I don't know - probably New York or LA
[16/Feb/2000:16:25:27] <Christopher> LA first so that I could see Marlon Brando's house!
[16/Feb/2000:16:25:39] <Christopher> and then I'd go back to Santa's Village in New Hampshire!
[16/Feb/2000:16:25:42] <moderator> do boris and shawn have girlfriends, my sister wants to know?
[16/Feb/2000:16:25:56] <Christopher> I really don't know!
[16/Feb/2000:16:25:57] <moderator> How's your cat, Pepper, doing?
[16/Feb/2000:16:26:28] <Christopher> She's doing great. she's very happy watching the birds out the window all day
[16/Feb/2000:16:26:30] <moderator> Do you play any instruments?
[16/Feb/2000:16:26:48] <Christopher> Nope - I'm a big music lover but I don't actually play
[16/Feb/2000:16:26:50] <moderator> Did you learn anything about animals from being on the show?
[16/Feb/2000:16:27:12] <Christopher> I learned some things about the hawk
[16/Feb/2000:16:27:31] <Christopher> when you approach it you have to make sure he sees you or he'll be startled.
[16/Feb/2000:16:27:53] <Christopher> It's very interesting to be up close to those animals that I never would be close to otherwise
[16/Feb/2000:16:27:55] <moderator> how long does it take to shoot a episode?
[16/Feb/2000:16:28:23] <Christopher> a half hour episode takes a week and that's only the filming
[16/Feb/2000:16:28:35] <Christopher> then it goes into editing and special effects and all that...
[16/Feb/2000:16:28:37] <moderator> How old are you? What school do you go to?
[16/Feb/2000:16:28:54] <moderator> How long have you been acting?
[16/Feb/2000:16:29:07] <Christopher> Since I was about 15
[16/Feb/2000:16:29:13] <moderator> Where is the show being shot?
[16/Feb/2000:16:29:22] <Christopher> in Toronto
[16/Feb/2000:16:29:25] <moderator> If you had a chance to morph into a Hork-Bajir, would you do it?
[16/Feb/2000:16:29:45] <Christopher> No I wouldn't - they're so ugly and they seem kindof mean!
[16/Feb/2000:16:29:55] <moderator> What was your favorite subject in school?
[16/Feb/2000:16:30:09] <Christopher> recess
[16/Feb/2000:16:30:28] <Christopher> no really - english, creative writing, drama... I was never really good at math
[16/Feb/2000:16:30:30] <moderator> What did you think when you first saw yourself "morph"?
[16/Feb/2000:16:30:39] <Christopher> I was amazed!
[16/Feb/2000:16:30:57] <Christopher> It looks great! I couldn't beleive my eyes!
[16/Feb/2000:16:31:32] <Christopher> Thanks everyone for writing in!! If you're ever in Santa's Village.. think of me!
[16/Feb/2000:16:31:37] <moderator> Thanks very much, Christopher, for joining us this evening and participating in our live interview. And thanks to all you fans out there for your great questions. Don?t forget to watch Christopher and the rest of the gang in all new episodes this Sunday starting at 4:00 on Nickelodeon with a 3-part movie, ?Changes? and then another new episode at 6:30.
[16/Feb/2000:16:31:48] <moderator> Check Cyberia in a few days for a transcript of today?s chat. Bye!