Cory Monteith has had a big 18 months. After working his way
through the ranks of Canadian film and television, the Calgary
native shot to fame last year after being cast as the lovable Finn
Hudson on Glee. Now, after getting a taste of live
performance on the Glee live concert tour, the handsome 28-year-old
is returning home to host the 25th Annual Gemini Awards on
November 13th. On a recent conference call he talked about
what he's doing to prep for the big show, what it means to host the
Geminis and how his life has changed with his new found
fame.
ON HAVING INPUT IN THE GEMINIS WRITING
PROCESS
I hope I have a lot of input. I have some good ideas and I hope I
get to contribute as much as possible. I'm super excited about
that. And as far as preparation, I've started a really in-depth
stretching routine, and I feel like being really flexible is
important for this particular show… I've been working on the
splits. I think that I'm trying to work that in there
somehow.
ON HOW HE DEALS WITH THE PRESSURE OF LIVE TV
You just have to know it's live. You can't say at the end of the
segment, 'I didn't really like that one, can we do it again?' You
just have to know that people are watching. You've just got to roll
with the punches.
ON HOW LIFE HAS CHANGED SINCE THE SUCCESS OF
GLEE
I went for coffee yesterday and there was a little car pulled up in
front of me and started taking pictures of me, which was fine. And
then I went back to my car and started driving away and I saw the
guy running to his car to try and follow me to wherever I was going
next. So I had to lose him. I'm happy I have a fast car.
ON HOW GLEE HAS CHANGED FROM SEASON 1 TO SEASON
2
I think the workload has gotten heavier. The show has gotten better
as a result of it and I think that we're wasting absolutely no time
in rehearsal, in recording. I think the tone of the show has
gotten a lot more specific. I think the writing, the characters,
have gotten a lot more specific also and the show's developed a
feel. There's a feel when you watch it, not just in the characters
but also in the way it's photographed and the way it's technically
set up. It feels very consistent and very original.
ON HOW HIS ACTING EXPERIENCE IN CANADA HELPED PREP HIM FOR
GLEE
I think it was a combination of having to wear so many hats, with
working on so many different shows and working on so many different
sets in Vancouver and a couple of other places in Canada. It set me
up for having to change gears pretty quickly in television and I
think it was such a wonderful way for me to come up as a good
actor.
ON WORKING WITH EXECUTIVE PRODUCER RYAN MURPHY ON
GLEE
He is absolutely is the guiding voice of the show and he knows
exactly how he wants everything, right down to the music to
the way the scripts are put together, the characters, even down to
the costumes. He has a hand in everything. And he's very
present. (The actors) all work seamlessly with him and all of the
other departments do as well. So it's a great working
environment.
ON WHAT IT MEANS TO HIM TO HOST THE
GEMINIS
I watched them when I was a kid at home, and I can't believe that
I'm a part of the show, having watched it when I was a kid.
Presenting is cool, but I'm the host! That's a tall order. I'm
looking forward to the challenge.
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The 2010 Gemini Awards air Saturday, November 13th at
8.00