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Why do you think Beltran was/has been so critical?

That's strange, I heard that Mulgrew's husband hates Beltran because of how he treated Kate during the show.

There's also a rumor that Mulgrew and Beltran had an affair that went sour. Who knows what really went on? Personally I could care less EXCEPT where the real life drama may have affected Voyager's outcome.
 
When is something an "affair" and when is it a "relationship"?

I remember the rumor about Beltran's and Mulgrew's relationship. One wanted to move it forward and possibly formalize it, one didn't. Add the pressures of working long hours day-in/day-out, and most relationships won't last.

If this had been true, can you imagine the publicity? That could strain any relationship past the breaking point.
 
It's an affair when one party isn't -supposed- to be involved due to other commitments...like marriage or an exclusive relationship of some sort.
 
Re: earlier comments. I am and will always be a Chakotay supporter. In fact, I loved all the cast (though not Kes as much).

So I guess it boils down to this: Beltran was dissatisfied with his character's development, the working environment, and he happens to be the kind of guy who speaks his mind — though it was sometimes clearly in jest and with hyperbole (though humor usually contains a form of truth).

I've read a *lot* about how grueling a series such as VOY can be: working 12--16 days, just one or two days off, constantly working with different directors, discomfort from things such as lack of food/exercise, poor environmental conditions (such as temperature), make-up/costumes, and a lot of waiting around.

I can see how working a small ensemble cast like this could easily lead to tension. Only in very special cases (such as was reportedly how TNG's people got along very well) could one handle this. Combine that with dissatisfaction about his character, I guess it should come as no surprise for Beltran to speak out.
 
It's an affair when one party isn't -supposed- to be involved due to other commitments...like marriage or an exclusive relationship of some sort.


Um...yeah. I wasn't clear. I meant in regards to these two persons. I didn't think either was involved in an "other commitment" at the time.
 
That's strange, I heard that Mulgrew's husband hates Beltran because of how he treated Kate during the show.

There's also a rumor that Mulgrew and Beltran had an affair that went sour. Who knows what really went on? Personally I could care less EXCEPT where the real life drama may have affected Voyager's outcome.

When is something an "affair" and when is it a "relationship"?

I remember the rumor about Beltran's and Mulgrew's relationship. One wanted to move it forward and possibly formalize it, one didn't. Add the pressures of working long hours day-in/day-out, and most relationships won't last.

If this had been true, can you imagine the publicity? That could strain any relationship past the breaking point.

This is why I stopped reading gossip magazines. :) However, if they did have a relationship early on that would have made sense of Kate not wanting it on screen, besides the excuse we hear constantly, because . . . Perfect example, does anyone remember Gigli? Ben Affleck and JLo were engaged at the time and within weeks of it's flop they were "taking a break" So if they really were having a relationship . . . I sooooooo lost my train of thought.

Now, I just wish I could perhaps remember the rumors, but I was just a kid sooooooo . . . My memories of Voyager's early days basically stem from the stupid UPN commercials.
 
Wasn't in the gossip mags. I read of it here. And also by email from a poster here that I haven't seen posting in, oh, 5 yrs or more.
 
I've read about some of the same stories on other sites as well.

I didn't know Voyager had so much "rumored" backstage drama.




Unfortunately so much stuff can be taken out of context-- this response from Mulgrew was said to be a shot at Beltran..

....WHAT ANNOYS HER MOST ARE TV ACTORS WHO COMPLAIN THAT BAD WRITING HOLDS THEM BACK FROM GIVING A GOOD PERFORMANCE.

Mulgrew: I don't buy that for one minute.

Interviewer: No, as an…

Mulgrew: That's a lazy actor's response. 'They didn't let me act'. Really? Go get a job in a cereal commercial. I just don't have any time for it.

Of course, you can find every opportunity... Sit in this seat and say nothing. Do it! Be it! (turns towards second officer's chair)

Lift it up! We're all trained here and we're, you know, compensated *very* nicely.

But to be fair...it seems like what she said could have easily been taken out of context.....


This what Kate said about the entire cast in general...

Kate Mulgrew (Janeway): The mutual support here is extraordinary. In a cast this size there will invariably be one bad apple—but there isn’t.



Anyways, more from Robert Belran;

Robert Beltran on crazy questions from journalists;

There was this time when the cast and [executive producer] Rick Berman and the writers were being interviewed together, and this guy from some small paper in Iowa said,

"This is for Robert Beltran : when are you gonna loosen up on the show? You're so stiff. You don't smile. A lot of people want to know if you just don't want to be there, or if you're just a bad actor.

When are you gonna loosen up?" I was just stunned. And I got so angry that I forced myself not to say anything for something like four minutes - which is a long time when the entire press corps is there and your fellow actors are there, waiting for an answer.

Finally, I said, "Look, if you were out in space for four years without getting laid you'd be pretty damn stiff yourself, you sonovabitch!"

But, yeah, I was tempted to hit him.


What more needs to be said? :guffaw:
 
Pity, it was a waste of a character that I thought had a lot of promise from the beginning. Chakotay, I thought, gave us perhaps the most spiritual human to appear on Trek. It would have been great for the writers to explore that part of him more and see him react and respond in particular ethical dilemmas that come into conflict with his beliefs.

Episodes like 'Tattoo', 'Cathexis' and 'Waking Moments' could have been done much better in having him explore spirituality. Unfortunately, we just got a mixed bag of messy, New Age-y nonsense which didn't have much substance to it. And then all the development the character received was as Janeway's doormat.

Shame really.
 
Pity, it was a waste of a character that I thought had a lot of promise from the beginning. Chakotay, I thought, gave us perhaps the most spiritual human to appear on Trek. It would have been great for the writers to explore that part of him more and see him react and respond in particular ethical dilemmas that come into conflict with his beliefs.

Episodes like 'Tattoo', 'Cathexis' and 'Waking Moments' could have been done much better in having him explore spirituality. Unfortunately, we just got a mixed bag of messy, New Age-y nonsense which didn't have much substance to it. And then all the development the character received was as Janeway's doormat.

Shame really.
Honestly, I think I found Kira more spiritual than Chakotay.
 
It helps that she was part of a made-up religion, so the writers weren't afraid of offending anyone. And they bothered defining her religion before DS9.
 
Hey — Waking Moments is one of my favorite episodes. Not because of the faux spirituality, but because it was creepy and exciting. Chakotay and the moon: very cool.

I am surprised, however, that giving Chakotay a medicine-man type of persona didn't cause offense. It seems rather like a stereotype.


But thanks for that info about his interaction with that questioner. No *wonder* he didn't like fans, if that's how they treated him!
 
I am surprised, however, that giving Chakotay a medicine-man type of persona didn't cause offense. It seems rather like a stereotype.
As far as I'm aware, it did because it was.

Waking Moments is cool, expect seeing Chakotay roaming the halls holding a spear.
 
Could have done much more than just present, what turned out to be, a pretty shallow stereotype.

However, thinking of 'Waking Moments', I've just remembered...

Tuvok: It appears, that in my haste to report to the bridge, I neglected to put on my uniform.

A classic moment.
 
Maybe that's part of what Robert has been talking about?

That perhaps his character (Indian) is too spiritual to the point of being 2 dimensional at times?

I remember some episodes where he would use native american type analogies or stories to make a point. --

Maybe he would rather have just make his point in plain words, and express his spirituality in other ways...

I always thought the advanced meditation device to aid alter states was cool, and was different.

I accepted Chakotay's character, because he came off as very reasonable.....maybe he was a little too reasonable huh?

There was just something always missing with Voyager...


Maybe Robert just couldn't win huh? If he acts his lines without question, some journalists or some fans call him stiff and boring.

If he protests and say his character should be written better, then he is thought of as a trouble maker or complainer..

Makes you take another look at acting...is it just a job with good money, or is getting the ego involved unavoidable?
 
Maybe that's part of what Robert has been talking about?

That perhaps his character (Indian) is too spiritual to the point of being 2 dimensional at times?

I remember some episodes where he would use native american type analogies or stories to make a point. --

Maybe he would rather have just make his point in plain words, and express his spirituality in other ways...

I always thought the advanced meditation device to aid alter states was cool, and was different.

I accepted Chakotay's character, because he came off as very reasonable.....maybe he was a little too reasonable huh?

There was just something always missing with Voyager...


Maybe Robert just couldn't win huh? If he acts his lines without question, some journalists or some fans call him stiff and boring.

If he protests and say his character should be written better, then he is thought of as a trouble maker or complainer..

Makes you take another look at acting...is it just a job with good money, or is getting the ego involved unavoidable?
I actually love the irony of the situation.

Most folks would love a job where they sit around, did almost nothing and got paid well for it.
Beltran is upset because he actually wanted to work but got to do next to nothing but sit around and get paid well for it. He really and truly didn't feel right getting paid for nothing.

I actually kinda admire that fact that he wanted to earn his pay by actually wanting to work. I wish more folks had that type of work ethic.
 
I think Voy had a few characters they didn't write well or know exactly what to do with. Tom in the beginning.. Neelix, Kes of course, and Chakotay.
 
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Most folks would love a job where they sit around, did almost nothing and got paid well for it.
Beltran is upset because he actually wanted to work but got to do next to nothing but sit around and get paid well for it. He really and truly didn't feel right getting paid for nothing.

I actually kinda admire that fact that he wanted to earn his pay by actually wanting to work. I wish more folks had that type of work ethic.

As someone who ends up with enough free time on his hands during working hours that he ends up posting on forums...*ahem*...I rather wish I had more to do at my job.

I actually feel guilty for having just scored a raise.
 
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