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A Conversation With Will Yun Lee
(Danny Woo) April 2001
Q: As if it were a new question what is the story of the Witchblade?
A: Witchblade centers around Yancy Butler's character, Sara Pezzini. And she plays a New York homicide detective. Basically she comes across this thing, which is the Witchblade and it fuses with her, basically chooses her, and so she uses that to kind of help her figure out who she is and at the same time help figure out a lot of crime situations. So that's kind of it.
Q: What is Danny's relationship with Sara?
A: . . .Best friends, partners. In the pilot I ended up getting shot in the line of duty, died, and then one of the great kind of parts of our chemistry came in the funeral scene, where I kind of guided her into explaining what the Witchblade is, why she's a part of it. And so we've kind of continued that throughout the series. It's her one voice she can go to where her I'm still that best friend voice. So there's that banter, there's the kind of the fun side of Pez that you don't get to see 'cause she's always on the move. So it's a little breather for both of us and then kind of gives her the insight on the other realm and how the Witchblade's used.
Q: Some viewers will say well 'hey Danny died . . . how could he come back like this?' Is that part of the fantastic realm of the show?
A: Yeah. That's the magic of Ralph Hemecker. . . And he came up with this great way to bring me back and I think people - it adds an interesting element to the show.
Q: How do Danny and Nottingham mix? What is their chemistry? Is there any involvement between the two?
A: You know, when we started wardrobe, Vicky, our awesome wardrobe person - I was looking at Nottingham's wardrobe and we started going towards Danny's wardrobe, and it was almost yin and yang in a lot of ways. So it's kind of like very similar but not. Very ambiguous at times, both of us. And both there in a way to protect Sara in our own mind. So we're very similar but we're not. Kind of like the yin and yang.
Q: Where do you think Danny's trying to take Pez?
A: I think the thing with Danny is regardless of this journey of (Sara) trying to come to terms with the Witchblade, I think part of my mission with her is to teach her how to be human. To take in those breaths, to not always be go go go. And to kind of stop and think about everything more in a human aspect. So you know, a lot of my quotes that were in the pilot for example, are similar to what's gonna be shown on the series -- are cryptic at times and kind of like a lot of double meanings that deal with the situation in front of her and also kind of how to just take life in.
Q: Do you think he's guiding her toward the Blade in any way?
A: Guiding her on, accepting it and -- I don't know how much information I can give out, you know, but I just basically -- not to always fight against it. Kind of open herself up to it.
Q: What do you know about the history of the Blade and what does Danny know about it?
A: It's cool 'cause the way Ralph has done it is he's only given us enough material prior to each show, which is cool. 'Cause every time we get the next episode I always see how it links up and it's better not to know as a character than to know. It's weird because there're certain rules I've chosen and Ralph and I have discussed about what are some of the things that I can share with Pez and some of the things I'm not allowed to 'cause I'm not in heaven yet. I'm stuck in this kind of limbo world. So there are certain things that I can tell her and certain things that I can't. I don't know; you have to see. It's some cool stuff.
Q: You were saying that it's really great how Ralph only feeds you information on a need-to-know basis. What is it like when you get that script?
A: You just start flipping the pages. . . I think it'll be something the people will just kind of -- it is a page-turner. I'm sure it's gonna be a scene-turner when people actually see it.
Q: Every episode is basically a self-contained story. What are the advantages to that as opposed to something that you have to tune in to every week to find out what's gonna happen next?
A: I mean in case, you know, people start hearing about WITCHBLADE and they tune into episode three or four later in the series. . . they're like mini movies, all contained in one episode. And it's just shot so beautifully. Looking at the monitor is like -- it's great stuff.
Q: Is it true that each one is shot like an individual feature?
A: Yeah I think so. It looks like it. I mean just some really inventive shots. And they just all start with a bang. . .
Q: How does the series fit into the category of great drama?
A: It's episodic, so. . . drama and the story part have to be the central part of it just, I think, on cost issues. So you got Yancy. You got David. You got great, great people who are telling great stories. . . So, I would say really character-driven pieces. . .
Q: Why do you think Yancy Butler makes the perfect Sara Pezzini?
A: You gotta see her jeans in this episode, in this new series! (LAUGHS) Hot jeans. She's it. She's the pro. I mean all the guys -- David, Eric, Anthony, me -- are just inspired every time we watch her work. And she's doing 16-hour days. She's knocking out from beginning to end and I have the fortune to have some downtime. So I watch the monitors and she's got it. She's got the goods and besides that, from what I said last year (during the pilot shoot), she really is the quarterback of the show cause she treats everybody from hair and makeup to catering to anybody, the same exact way, and that's what you need on your team is that quarterback.
Q: What have you seen of her other work?
A: Brooklyn South, Drop Zone, Man or Machine. . . but I mean it's everything she is in real life -- you see it in her character. She's tough. She's sensitive. She's sweet. She's caring and she's just driven. Sara Pezzini. Perfect choice.
Q: Is that what makes her character so believable?
A: Yeah she's incredibly -- like I say, she's just so passionate and she's so dedicated to her work. I don't think she's slept yet in the past (LAUGHS) three months. So yeah, I think once you see her on screen. . . each episode gets a little crazier.
Q: The Witchblade is gonna take on different morphs through the series. How does Sara know something is going to happen? Is there a noise? Is there a glow? Kind of take us through a step by step transformation if you will.
A: A lot of times when there's important situations that she's in, she'll have a kind of flash hit her and then the Blade'll twitch and then it'll zoom in like the movie version, zoom into that situation. But she gets to see what's on the fringes of that situation. So she actually has a clue and starts putting it together. Like pieces of a puzzle throughout the episode. So that's it.
Q: Why is she so scared?
A: Cause it's (LAUGHS) growing on her. I don't know - stabbing people, deflecting bullets - pretty kind of wild. I think throughout the course of some of the stuff in the episodes, you'll see the real reasons -- things she can't control. It starts really messing with her and seeing dead people and this thing allowing her to see (that). I would be scared.
Q: What's it like playing a dead character and has it in any way effected your performance?
A: It's harder because there's no rules, so you have to establish those rules. And it's so hard 'cause you can't touch anything and that's driving me crazy sometimes. I call Ralph, I'm like, 'can I touch her? Can I do anything?' He's like, no not no. So it's trying as an actor. It then just becomes about me having to connect with Sara from a heart to heart basis and that's a challenge, keeping it simple but keeping it colorful without being able to pack my gun or look at notes or have a cup of coffee. I mean it's definitely a challenge and it's a hard part.
Q: Hard to stand still that long?
A: Stillness is very hard. And trying to keep it fresh while being very constrained in what you're allowed to do and what you're not allowed to do.
Q: You mentioned that your character is basically stuck in limbo.
Why didn't Danny go on? Why is he helping Sara?
A: It was my personal choices... There were the things that I've said -- there are a lot of demons that (Danny Woo) had and didn't reconcile them. I (Danny) should've, in my real life before my life ended really early. So it's kind of like teaching her the mistakes that I've made and she's in a sense my instrument to do that and if I can stop her from going on the wrong path, it kind of gives me resolve to then move up to the next plane.
Q: That's great. Thank you so much.
A: Cool. Thank you so much.
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