ASK ARNOLD
Regularly, we'll choose five to ten letters or emails from the thousands Arnold receives and he'll answer them right here on the web site.
Hello! I've been a big fan of yours ever since I saw you in COMMANDO. Since then I've made a point to not miss a movie of yours. I've seen the action ones such as PREDATOR, TERMINATOR 2, RUNNING MAN as well as your comedies such as KINDERGARTEN COP and TWINS to name a few. Where do you see yourself going with your film career now? Do you wish to pursue roles different to the ones you have done till now? I did notice END OF DAYS was not a character you've portrayed before. Do you plan on pursuing more comedies?
- flynn@powersurfr.com
All of the above. I'm interested in great stories and good characters but it's also very important to me to give my fans what they want. I feel my audience wants to see me try different things and that's why I do comedies and why, as I chose my action roles in the future, I'll lean toward roles that are more complex than I've played in the past.
I look at Clint Eastwood -- the majority of his early career was made up of westerns, THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY, HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER, etc... but later he tried other types of roles like in DIRTY HARRY and THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY. When he returned to westerns in UNFORGIVEN, he gave us a new twist on the kind of character that we'd all grown up watching. It was a smart choice and audiences and critics responded to it very well. My next two projects, THE 6TH DAY and COLLATERAL DAMAGE are smart action films and also have the promise of that kind of complexity.
What are your feelings on anabolic steroids? Do you think that they should be allowed in bodybuilding competitions?
- Drsrmoore@aol.com
Back when I started bodybuilding, steroid use was not uncommon among athletes, but there was little information about the side effects and the negative aspects of using them. Since then, we all have learned a great deal about these supplements. Because of the health risk that's been proven they present, I strongly feel there is no place for them in bodybuilding or any sport, especially among competitive professionals. In fact, the 1990 Arnold Classic was the first bodybuilding competition to require drug testing for it's participants and that practice continues today
During your prime, (not to say you are not in your prime) what was your vertical leap? I am wondering if you could dunk a basketball with all that mass. Certainly, you had the power, but was it possible to dunk? Also, do you ever need workout partners? Thanks.
- mowens@cats.UCSC.EDU
Gold's Gym, where I trained in Venice, was near some basketball courts but the truth is that I was holding so much weight in my hands at the time that I could have never jumped, so I don't know :-)
Your second question is a very good one -- Workout partners are very important. Choose a friend, someone you respect and who's respect you desire. Push each other and make the workout a contest -- who can lift the most, who can do the most reps. The winner buys the other one lunch, etc... You won't believe how much harder and faster you'll work out and you'll find that the workouts will be more fun and much more rewarding. You'll start to look forward to working out! And even on those days when you feel lazy, a good partner will keep you going and make sure you complete your workout.
Hello Arnold. My favorite movie is End of Days... What is your favorite Movie that you have ever acted in?
- pateerex@aol.com
Every movie I've been involved with has been such a great experience but I have to admit there was something special about the second TERMINATOR. (TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY). The first film had been such a great success and the script for T2 was so great, with all of these terrific twists and turns and every character was expanded on in very interesting ways. In addition, the film was pushing the boundaries of special effects at the time and we all knew that we were creating things that had never been done before -- it was all very exciting. Everyone involved had that feeling that we were making something truly fantastic and it was great to be a part of that and to help continue a character and a storyline that had been so important to me in the beginning of my career... and of course, the end result was truly awesome.
Dear Arnold Schwarzenegger, I simply ask ONE question: "Who or what makes your life worth living it?"
- crewman13@mail.utexas.edu
"Who" is my family and friends, and "What" are the goals I set for myself every day. It doesn't matter who an individual is, what they've done or how much success they've had in their life, every day there must be a new set of challenges to undertake or otherwise, why bother getting out of bed in the morning? In one of my first films, STAY HUNGRY, my character Joe Santo says that he never wants to get "too comfortable", that he wants to "stay hungry' -- I know exactly what he means. There are so many fantastic things to see and do in this world and so many things to accomplish, not only for ourselves, but for the benefit of others, that it's a waste to stand still and not attempt something, regardless of whether or not we think it can be accomplished -- because we'll never know until we try and I truly believe that anything we attempt can be done if we stay focused and never give up
Arnold, If your children wanted to become movie stars, what advice would you give them and at what age would you want them to start? Also if they wanted to become bodybuilders, would you encourage them? My son is 14 and has just started to lift weights, but I make sure that he goes to a supervised Gym because obviously he is still growing. Is 14 okay to be lifting or should he wait another year?
- TracyJ@hill65.freeserve.co.uk
I think the important thing is that we support our children in anything they want to do, whether it's bodybuilding, acting, law, medicine, or art, etc... As parents, the best thing we can do is create a nurturing environment where are children feel it's safe to attempt great things, and know that it's okay to risk, even to fail, as long as they get up to try again.
The advice I would give to my children if they wanted to be actors would be to study everything about acting that they could, voice, movement, etc... but to always hold on to what makes them unique as individuals and not to try to copy what everyone else is doing. As an actor, you uniqueness is your greatest asset, it's what will separate you from everyone else. Look at my career, nobody wanted to take me seriously -- I had this strange body and a thick accent, but it turned out that these things eventually became an advantage. I created a place for myself by being myself.
If my children wanted to become bodybuilders, I would certainly encourage them -- bodybuilding has done so much for me, for both my body and my mind. Bodybuilding and other athletics teach us about self-discipline and raise self-esteem, and these things will help us in every aspect of life. But as with acting, there's only a small chance of success. But again, we never know what we will accomplish until we try.
As far as whether or not your child should be lifting weights at fourteen, my only advice is that every child is different. I was lifting at fifteen but that doesn't necessarily mean fourteen is too young; however usually the body is not ready for heavy weight training at this age. I would suggest your child concentrate first on resistance training (ie. push-ups, sit-ups, squats,) in order to build some preliminary body mass and strength and then move on to weight training. In addition, I would strongly encourage you to consult your family physician before beginning any exercise program -- then if possible, consult with a professional trainer at your gym to create an appropriate workout.
Arnold, what would you recommended should be taught in American history classes about you?
- fehrb@m.ogden.k12.ut.us
I'm not sure that anything should be taught in American History Classes about me, and certainly not in acting classes :-) Just kidding.
I guess what you're really asking is "how do I hope the world feels about me?" It's an interesting question, but not something that I've thought much about. I try to live by example -- if my life is inspiring to people, that's a great thing because when I was growing up, I was inspired by individuals like Reg Park and Steve Reeves and I know what that can mean. If I could have a footnote in some textbook it would be that I demonstrated that anything is possible if you are willing to put in the work to do it.
I heard that there will be a TRUE LIES sequel. Is this true?
- GCHIMP911@aol.com
TRUE LIES 2 is in the works and everyone involved can't wait. The first TRUE LIES were one of the best experiences of my career -- it was a lot of fun and, of course, the film did very well for all of us. James Cameron is a visionary and I look forward to the opportunity to work with him again. Currently the script is being worked on and as soon as that is ready, we will all look at our schedules and figure out when filming can begin.
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