Bryan Cranston Answers Fan Questions (Part I)
In the first part of Bryan Cranston's chat with fans, the three-time Emmy winner describes what he and Walt learned from Gustavo Fring and imagines Walter White's last meal.
Q: Walt appears to have chanelled his former mentor/adversary Gustavo Fring. What have you been doing as an actor to prepare for that level of controlled, calm, intense presence that Giancarlo Esposito mastered with his yoga mindset? -- Dtapped
A: Deep breathing is always a good exercise, but I'm a runner instead of a yoga exercisor. But really, it's mutual. Bryan respects Giancarlo as a man and as an actor and I learned from him in both those regards. Walt respected Gus in an odd way, too, how he conducted himself, how he was clear in thought, and the absolute determination and drive he had. And knowing that now he is the kingpin, I think he learned from Gus too how to present himself. You may notice Walter is standing straighter. At the beginning of the show I wanted him to have a posture that was slumped and shlubby, the weight of the world was on his shoulders. Now that weight is off, and he's wearing the crown, and you need to have good posture, with your shoulders back, you have to stand up straight when you're wearing the crown -- otherwise it will fall off.
Q: As the show progresses, we start seeing more Heisenberg and less Walter White. If we think of these two as individuals, which one do you enjoy playing the most? -- Crabjock
A: I can't differentiate between the two, he's too close to me. He is one in the same -- you can't cut one out, because the other would die. One's the muscle, one's the brain -- and it's fun to play this guy who's become this badass.
Q: How do you think Walter White would want to be remembered? -- Ken Wynns
A: Respectfully. I think that's very important for him. And he was getting it when he was praised anonymously in manufacturing the finest methamphetamine in the world. And he relished that praise and the infamy that went along with it. That's his goal. He's very much a prideful man.
Q: What would you like to see Walt's "Last Meal" consist of? -- diksee
A: His last meal? That's presuming that he's going to die. He might, but I am saying that, in all sincere honesty, I don't know. I've never asked Vince [Gilligan] what's going to happen or how it's going to happen. I'm in exactly the same place as the audience will be after Season 5. But what would I want? Scrambled eggs, bacon, maybe some Funyons on the side. Everything that we've eaten on the show. Some scotch, some bourbon, probably some of that Pollos Hermanos chicken, it's good stuff.
Q: While it is sad to see Breaking Bad leave, how do you feel about the ending of the show? -- sendmorecops
A: Actually right now with this second to last season I feel fine, I feel good. We finished it. It's a good season and fans are going to get into it. There's a lot of crazy stuff that goes on. And then I'm looking forward to the last season that will culminate in a climax that I can't wait to find out about. At that time, I may have a different answer.
Q: Do you plan to maintain a residence in Albuquerque after the show wraps? What's your favorite Albuquerque restaurant? -- Robspiegel
A: I do. I own a house there and greatly enjoy my time there. I may be able to come back and visit and also work some more in Albuquerque. I've developed a lot of friendships and places I like to go, so it's been great for me. In terms of restaurant, I think for dinner I enjoy going out to El Pinto because of the food and the guys who own the restaurant and the general manager. I enjoy the atmosphere, the food and the drinks and it's pretty festive. And as a great standby, you can't beat Flying Star.
Bryan Cranston Answers Fan Questions (Part II)
In Part II of Bryan Cranston's fan interview, the Breaking Bad star reminisces about his favorite moments from past seasons and imagines how Walter White would get along with an adult Malcolm from Malcolm in the Middle.
Q: Throughout the series, what has been the most difficult episode for you to work on? -- Mbizzaco
A: I'll give the coldest and the hottest. The coldest was in Season 2, when Saul Goodman was first introduced to the show and Walt and Jesse kidnap him and take him out in the desert. I think that night it was in the teens, and the wind was blowing hard and cold. We were shaking and after each take, they'd yell "Cut!" and we'd help Bob [Odenkirk] up because he was handcuffed, and we'd all go running into the RV just to warm up. The hottest was probably in Season 2, also. I think we were doing an episode out in the middle of the desert, "4 Days Out." Jesse and Walt were out cooking in the desert for four days, and we were shooting out in the sun in the afternoon, we couldn't block the sun because we'd block the light. It was just burning. And this time we'd step into the RV just to cool off.
Q: What is your favorite memory on set with your co-star Aaron Paul? -- Tobias
A: I have two. One is when I was in his apartment and we were doing a scene, really serious. I said, "I told you, I want you to handle it." I'm giving him a gun, to handle, and I reached into my pocket and I pulled out this phallic squirt gun and squirted him. And he just busted up. And then I think it was Season 1 or 2, early on. We had just finished a scene in the desert and it was hot and we had sand in our faces from the wind and it was pretty uncomfortable conditions. On our way to lunch, we're walking next to each other and he says, "Isn't this great what we get to do?" I said, "Aaron, that's my wish for you. That you always feel that way about what we're able to do for a living." It really let me know who that man was at heart.
Q: What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you on the set of the show? -- Cinderellinger
A: We were doing a scene where I was naked and in order to overcome being naked I usually go outward with my personality, to feel more comfortable. We were doing a scene in the store, in Season 2, those fans who know it will remember the "fugue state" when Tuco grabbed us and was going to kill us. So Walt tried to attribute the fugue state thing to the cancer drugs and in order to sell that idea it had to be this momentous thing, where Walt stripped naked in a grocery store. There I am standing bare-*** naked in a grocery store, and a manager of the store was walking past me and I go, "Can you tell me what aisle the pickles are on?" He started to answer me, and then caught himself and became more embarrassed than I did!
Q: What is one your favorite lines of dialogue you've delivered as Walter White? -- Quinn
A: "I am the danger."
Q: If you could have played any character on Breaking Bad besides Walter White, who would it be, and why? -- Spexxy
A: I would probably choose Saul Goodman. He has funny lines and he's a great character. He swims in the opposite direction of most of the other characters, and I think he'd be the most fun to play, aside from Walter.
Q: When the show is finished, is there any prop or costume you'd want to keep? -- Sean Tollefson
A: Out of the wardrobe department, there will be one less pork pie Heisenberg hat in storage, so I'll take one of those, the one I wear. I'll probably put in on my mantle in my office. Maybe his sunglasses or regular glasses, too -- something that went through the years with me on it.
Q: You're cast as the titular character in the biopic of a public figure (past or present) you greatly admire. Who would it be, and why? -- Kealan Patrick Burke
A: The first thing off the top of my head is John Wayne. I've had a couple friends and several other people who I don't even know say I have a similar look to John Wayne, and I've always thought he was such a fascinating character and what an incredible impact he had on the film industry and on audiences! If anyone wanted to do that, I'd be interested in playing such a guy. And then I'd have a reason to do research.
Q: Would you rather fight 12 duck-sized horses, or 1 horse-sized duck? Which would Walter White choose? WE NEED TO KNOW! -- zkrauss
A: I'd rather go with the 12 duck-sized horses, because I think they'd look really cute, those little tiny horses. And then I'd kill them all.
Q: Would a grown-up Malcolm from Malcolm in the Middle be an adversary to Walt? -- TVisms
A: No I'm thinking that Frankie Muniz would make a guest appearance and we form a father and son type of bond where we appreciate each other's level of intelligence and we make beautiful meth together
