Interview with D.W. Moffett

D.W. Moffett is a well-known actor not only because of "Friday Night Lights". He plays Joe McCoy, the wealthy owner of a brewer who does everything to help his son pursue his dream to become a professional football player. In our interview D.W. told us a little bit about his own career, why he speaks German and what he likes most about his character on the show.

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1. It is always surprising to hear that Americans speak German. Where and why did you learn it?

I attended a German Boarding School for my 10th grade. It is called LANDERZIEHUNGSHEIM NEUBEUERN and is in Neubeuern am Inn. It is a beautiful castle located on a hill overlooking the village of Neubeuern...you can look it up on the web if you’d like!!!

2. What is your favorite moment of your childhood?

I think one of my favorite moments was when I was playing in a football game in 7th grade in the U.S. in the middle of the afternoon and scored a touchdown and looked up and there was my father....standing on the sideline...with a big smile on his face. It was a total shock that he was there. He was not like my character in FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS at all....he would come to games rarely because he travelled so much for work.

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

After college, I was working at a bank in Chicago and was very very very unhappy. I couldn’t believe that this was what my life was like now....all this education and this is what I am......a banker???? A friend of mine suggested I take an acting class and I was kind of on the fence until he said there were really cute girls there....that sealed the deal!!!

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

Director: Bernardo Bertolucci
Writer: Daniel Pyne
Leading Actors: D.W. Moffett, John Malkovich, Zoe Saldana

5. You've directed several theatre productions. Have you ever thought about directing in the film business?

I have directed a lot of television, but never film. I would love to some day.

6. When you're acting on stage in theatre do you like receiving the immediate reaction of the audience? How much of the audience’s reactions on "Friday Night Lights" do you notice?

I always say that theater and film are like two different racquet sports....one is like tennis and the other like ping pong....you have to keep your eye on the ball in both, but you have to use your body a lot more in one and have a lot more delicate control in the other.

7. What is the difference between working on “Friday Night Lights” and your other projects? Is it more challenging to have a certain freedom in front of the camera with your lines and character interpretation?

The amazing thing about FNL is that there is no rehearsal.....AT ALL. There are always three cameras shooting everything and you have to have your lines DOWN right from the first take, because these people are not wasting any time at all. It’s like a little theater performance!!!

8. It is said that FNL is a realistic portrait of life in a middle-american town. When cast and crew come together for shooting in Texas, do you meet people that are a lot like the characters in the show?

Yes. Buddy Garrity is one!!!

9. Does a "Friday Night Lights" script contain dialogue lines at all or only the plot for each scene?

Complete dialogue scenes...but the producers allow a great deal of improvisation.

10. What would happen in Dillon if you could write the script for one "Friday Night Lights" episode?

Joe McCoy would get caught doing something really......BAD.....yikes!!!!!!

11. Joe McCoy is an ambitious football-dad. How does is feel on set when the
games are shot?

I get very into it.....I love football so it’s easy.

12. How can we picture a typical day on set?

Imagine 10,000 ants running around and then all of a sudden....they form a perfect line....like that.

13. Are there funny experiences you made on set that you can tell us about?

yes....and i can’t tell you.

14. Joe is a very badass character. Do you like playing the bad guy?

YES YES YES YES YES

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

Ask me in a week!!!!!

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

My wife and I love "24"!!!

Annika Leichner - myFanbase