MN: Are you married?
JR: Not married, never have been.

MN: Of all the Disney theme parks, what one is your favorite?
JR: I've only been to the Anaheim Park so that one has to be my favorite.

MN: What is your favorite attraction at any of the parks?
JR: Need you ask? Pirates of the Caribbean!

MN: What was your part in Pirates and how did you get it?
JR: I've been playing pirate for years with several reenactment groups and when I heard that Disney was making a movie based on my all-time favorite ride, I knew I had to be in it. As it happens, the agency doing the extras casting contacted one of my pirate groups and requested photos of all our pirates for screen test consideration. The photos were submitted and of all of them they picked only two who they felt were suitable. I wasn't one of them. One of the ones who was picked immediately went to bat for me, saying that I was a real actor with real acting credits, that I was an experienced swordfighter, tallship gunner, and sail handler. They finally called me and asked how long my hair was. They were looking for skinny, long-haired pirates and if you've ever seen me, you know I'm neither. I told them my hair was fairly short and they could tell from my picture that I wasn't exactly skinny. They were still undecided by the end of the phone conversation so I made them an offer. I would go for the exact opposite look than the one they were looking for. I offered to shave my head and grow a beard for a chance at a screen test. They admitted they hadn't thought of that look so they said they'd fax my picture to Disney and get back to me. Four hours later, they called and I had an appointment for a screen test. It was conducted by the director, Gore Verbinski, and the assistant director, Peter Kohn. I ad libbed a scene from the movie and was called back for a second test. At the end of that day, I was cast as Tearlach (pronounced "tchar-losh"), a member of Jack's Crew.

MN: Was this the first time you have worked for Disney in any form?
JR: As far as movies, yes, it was. I did work for Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus inside Disneyland for their Circus Fantasy Days back in 1985, but this is the first time I've drawn a paycheck from Walt Disney Productions.

MN: Tell us about the shooting of the movie, your experiences that you would like to share with the readers.
JR: There are many excellent experiences I had which I would love to share but they would take forever to transcribe. Seriously, the stories I have, and have heard from others, would make a good-sized book. I can say that the whole experience, from working on the set to lazing on the beach to partying at night, is a never-to-be-forgotten one.

MN: Who was your favorite actor/actress to work with on this film and why?
JR: That's a tough one but I would have to say Johnny Depp. It was fascinating to watch him act out scenes, trying it first one way then another until he felt it was working. He treated the comical aspects of his part quite seriously so they would come off as comical. It was an eye-opening experience to watch him work his craft.

MN: Who was your least favorite actor/actress to work with on this film and why?
JR: There was an actor in the film (who shall remain nameless) who had a serious case of big-headitis. Although an extra like me, although we like to refer to ourselves as "Ambience Technicians", he acted as if he were much more important than he really was. Eventually, he ticked off the wrong person and was fired so he lost out on going to the Caribbean with us.

MN: Have you been asked to be in the second movie?
JR: Not yet, but I won't know that until much later in the year.

MN: If you have, what part are you going to be?
JR: Hopefully, I'll be playing the same part, but if not, I'll take whatever I can get!

MN: Can you tell us more of the story of the second movie?
JR: As far as I know, it's still being written. I have heard that the location scouts are looking at New Orleans, though.
Another thing I've read recently is that Keith Richards is in negotiations with the producers to play a small part in the second movie. That would be hysterical!