TAKEI LIGHTS UP JASPER
Trek star guest at Dark Skies
Of the many souls aboard the original-series USS Enterprise, it’s gratifying that Mr. Sulu has such a gleaming presence on contemporary Earth via his actor, George Takei.
Millions of friends and followers are glued to Takei’s hilarious social media antics. And as a gay, married Japanese American who spent part of his childhood behind barbed wire at a Japanese internment camp, the 79-yearold has had a particularly laughout-loud run lately lambasting the ongoing disaster known as Donald Trump on Twitter.
For An Evening with George Takei on Friday night, the actor-activist is being shuttled to Alberta by the Jasper Dark Sky Festival, an annual event inviting stargazers to roam free in one of Earth’s largest purenight preserves — relatively void of light pollution, never mind Klingons.
This largely free, multi-event festival of astronomical wonder runs through Sunday in and outside the alpine town at various galleries, canyons and glaciers.
Like a good helmsman, Takei navigates the interview with directness and panache, even though I’m jet-lagged and late for the conversation.
Q Tell us about this event you’re speaking at.
A It has to do with the observation of the galaxy, and that’s about all I know about it. But I’m curious because I have an asteroid named after me somewhere between Jupiter and Mars traversing around the sun. Perhaps I might be able to see me up there; I’m a heavenly body! Q So the rumour goes! A (Laughs) What were you doing over in Japan? Q My wife had an art show over in Kyoto …
A The true spiritual heart of Japan! You have more Japanese history there — you’ve got to tour the temples, Ryoan-JI is where the famous rock garden where pebbles and boulders signify the ocean and land.
Q Do you think people overreact to some of your statements on Twitter? You made a note about Sulu not being gay, for example.
A As a matter of fact, I got responses from the writer and cast of the rebooted Star Trek — I guess they decided to gang up on me. There was also a whole swarm of people who supported my position, because when they were planning that film I was told they were going to honour me because of my LGBT activism, and I said to them, “this film is going to be coming out during the 50th anniversary of Star Trek, and the person who should really be paid tribute to is Gene Roddenberry, the creator and the producer and the visionary.” I told them all the characters were straight because of the circumstances of the 1960s. I applauded the fact that now we can consider having gay characters, and so seize that opportunity and be as creative as Gene Roddenberry would’ve been, and create a gay character of his own or her own. But changing Gene Roddenberry’s character has implications (that) Sulu was closeted all these many years. I had a long conversation with Justin Lin, the director, and he listened to me, so I thought he heard me. But about a month before, John Cho who now plays Sulu called me and said, “What do you think I should be saying about the gay Sulu?”
Q I talked to William Shatner after the first reboot and he told me if I try and figure the story out, I’ll go insane.
A (Laughs.) When they were planning the reboot I got a call from J.J. Abrams, the new guru, asking me to have breakfast. I had heard Leonard Nimoy was doing a cameo, and thought, “How interesting, maybe there’s a cameo for Sulu.” He’s a fascinating guy — full of ideas, fast-talking. He wanted to talk to me because he wanted to find a Japanese American actor, and he said he found someone who’s not Japanese American, and what did I think about that? I told him, “Is the person you’re considering Asian American?” He said yes, and I told him that’s all that matters because Gene Roddenberry created each of the characters to represent different areas of this planet.
Q What else did you discuss?
A I asked him, “Do you know how Sulu got his name Sulu?” He said, “Haven’t a clue.” Gene thought deeply about the whole creation Star Trek was. His dilemma was to find an Asian name for this character, but he didn’t want that element of taking sides, to find a name that suggested pan-Asia. He saw off the coast of the Philippines, there’s a sea called the Sulu Sea and thought, the waters of a sea touch all shores. J.J. was astounded by the depth of Gene’s detailed thinking, but he really doesn’t know Star Trek — the element of using science fiction as a metaphor for contemporary issues. The past three Star Trek movies have been great space operas, action-adventures, running through the corridor, flying through the galaxy, hanging on cliffs — but that’s all. There isn’t that commentary on our society today.
Q What was Gene like?
A I have enormous respect. He was a venturesome guy. Television was cops and robbers, cowboys and Indians, quiz shows. (He) felt TV was being wasted. He was a good enough politician to make the appropriate compromises, but he kept the core of what he wanted to do intact. He was a great storyteller and a deep thinker. Beyond that, he was a real nice guy — a Texan from El Paso. He was actually an L.A. police force beat officer.
Q Talk about your relationship with Leonard Nimoy.
A We were political compatriots, kindred souls. We ended up supporting a lot of the same candidates — particularly the George McGovern campaign. Q What’s your favourite episode of Star Trek?
A From the TV series, Naked Time — where I rip off my shirt and get my fencing foil and terrorize the Enterprise with my swashbuckling prowess. From the movie series, it’s Star Trek VI. The subtitle should be Capt. Sulu to the Rescue. At that critical point in the drama when Capt. Kirk is about to be blown away by the Klingons, who should come out of the darkened galaxy sky but Capt. Sulu to blast the Klingons to smithereens? (Kirk) looks up at the viewscreen and in essence says, “Thank you for saving my ass.”
Q We always wanted more of that. A Oh, you have high standards and great taste.
Q Speaking of the opposite, what would you say to Donald Trump if you could talk to him right now. A I would say, “Character is what
you do when nobody’s looking.” For me as an American it is mortifying that the presidential campaign has been degraded to the lowest imaginable point where no issues or policies are being discussed. It’s name-calling and talk about sexual assault and leering — really, on the verge of pornography. It’s really a disgrace. What he’s saying is disgusting, reprehensible. He is going to destroy the Republican party. Q That’s good. A That’s good. Let me assure you on Nov. 8, we will be celebrating the election of the first woman as the president of the United States. Canada is so lucky — you have the hottest, coolest prime minister.