Interview with Andrew J. West

Andrew J. West plays the film student Fisher in the charming comedy show "Greek", who works as a hasher in the sorority house ZBZ. Here Andrew talks about how he got into acting, what it was like to work with his girlfriend Amber Stevens on "Greek" and which films and filmmakers he likes.

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1. What is your favorite moment of your childhood?

How about horrible moments instead? The first day of school. I was terrified to go to school for some reason. That kind of lasted for a few years.

2. When and why did you decide to become an actor?

I was always interested in acting but for a long time I was too nervous to perform in front of people. Shortly after I finished high school, a director friend of mine asked me to be in her production of Eric Bogosian’s "subUrbia". I agreed to do the play and quickly found that I could perform in front of audiences without having a panic attack, and that’s when I decided that I would make a career out of acting. I always wanted to do something creative for a living, and acting gives me the opportunity to do that.

3. You've been playing Fisher on "Greek". What do you think about his job as an employee at a sorority house full of cute girls? Is it like a dream come true or an overdose of pink?

Despite what Fisher says in the "Engendered Species" episode, I think it’s definitely more of a dream come true for him. Through the course of the series we find that Fisher is more interested in the sorority girls than he initially lets on. It certainly is a job that has its perks for a single guy in college.

4. Fisher is a film student who likes artistic and complex films like Ingmar Bergman's "Wild Strawberries". Do you know and like this kind of movies?

I’m not a big foreign film buff, but I do like a lot of the American films that were being made in the same general era of "Wild Strawberries". I’m a huge fan of Sidney Lumet’s 50’s and 60’s films like "12 Angry Men" and "Fail-Safe". I also love Stanley Kubrick’s "The Killing". Those were all extremely well made, thoughtful movies.

5. You met Amber on set. Was it funny playing Fisher's and Ashleigh's storyline with your girlfriend?

It was a truly great experience. It makes going to work unbelievably enjoyable. And yes it was funny at times to be acting out a romance in that situation.

6. Which one is your favorite "Greek-"episode and why?

I like "Friend or Foe". It’s always fun to watch Amber sing and dance.

7. Storylines and characters on this show are so fun. Is there a lot of goofing around on set? Can you share a funny little anecdote?

I haven’t witnessed goofing around on set as much as cast and crew just having a really good time working. The gag reels at the end of the seasons are always full of good stuff because the scripts often put the actors in funny situations that result in everyone laughing their way through the scenes. Once the giggling starts on set it’s often hard to control it long enough just to get through a take.

8. Watching "Greek" feels like being on vacation. What do you think brings this quality to the show?

It’s a fun show that is being performed by actors who are genuinely having fun while at work and that comes through onscreen. All of the actors are friends outside of work so there is a general feeling of ease and enjoyment that colors the show.

9. If you could put together an entire crew for a movie or show: Who would be the director? Who would be the writer? And who would be in the leading role(s)?

I’d like to see David Mamet write some sort of weird comedy for Bill Murray. Maybe have P.T. Anderson direct it. I would go see that movie.

10. Do you see your future in film or television? What genre do you prefer - comedy, crime, mystery or drama?

When I first starting acting, I saw myself doing movies, but there is so much great television out there now that I would love to do both for the rest of my career. My interests tend toward drama, but variety is necessary. After doing something dark and intense, there’s nothing as invigorating as taking on a really good comedic role.

11. Is there a show currently airing which you would like to play a part in?

I would love to do a guest spot on "Mad Men".

12. Do you have any other new projects you can tell us about?

I'm about to do a comedy pilot for ABC called "Who Gets the Parents?" I'm really excited about this one because the script is hilarious and the entire team behind the show is very talented so let's hope it gets picked up and put on the air later this year.

13. Since myFanbase is an online magazine about TV series, do you have a favorite show?

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a better show than HBO’s "The Wire".

Nicole Oebel - myFanbase