Even without the pointy ears and slanted eyebrows, you still might recognize film professor Jonathan Simpson for his role as Sarek in "Star Trek V: the Final Frontier." As a young actor, Simpson responded to his agent's recommendation to audition for a part in the 1989 film.
This week, SPM chats with Simpson about mind-melding, Chips Ahoy cookies and why his Acting for TV and Film class is better than any other major-required course.
SPM: Don't I know you?
Simpson: Probably not.
SPM: Well, at SPM we know you as Sarek from "Star Trek V: the Final Frontier." What's the view like from space?
Simpson: It's actually very nice. They had the star projector going, so I got to see the stars going by when I looked out the window.
SPM: Were you jetlagged when you came out of warp speed?
Simpson: It was a fairly mellow day in space. I think if the ship had gone much faster, coming back [to Earth] would have been a lot more difficult.
SPM: Would you use the Vulcan nerve pinch if you were in a fight?
Simpson: Actually, I've had to license my hands with both the Phoenix and the Scottsdale police because of that. I really cannot use [the Vulcan nerve pinch] unless there are deadly forces called for.
SPM: Ever used a mind meld on a student?
Simpson: Actually, I do use it on a daily basis. If you don't believe me, you can ask many of my students. They'll tell you that their transformation from the beginning of the semester to the end is very dramatic because they've had their minds melded.
SPM: What do you like about teaching Acting for TV and Film?
Simpson: I'm glad I teach a topic that is so interesting to the students, as opposed to teaching something about diseases of the foot or some other horrible topic that people have to take for their major.
SPM: What do you like to do when nobody's looking?
Simpson: I'd have to say one of my favorites is [to] eat Chips Ahoy [cookies] and milk. It doesn't get any better than that. And I don't really like doing it in a crowd.
SPM: Only Chips Ahoy?
Simpson: Absolutely. Chips Ahoy have the absolute perfect absorbency rate for chocolate chip cookies.
SPM: Even though you were a Vulcan, didn't you ever want a lightsaber?
Simpson: The lightsaber never did it for me. However, Princess Leia's old hairstyle, with the bun things on both sides....
SPM: That did it for you?
Simpson: Oh yeah.
Reach the reporter at: nicole.m.stewart@asu.edu.
