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By Suzanne

Interview with Eric Balfour of "Haven" on Syfy 7/8/11.

Syfy Conference Call
Haven
Eric Balfour
July 8, 2011
1:00 pm ET

Operator: Ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much for standing by and welcome to the Syfy conference call. During this presentation, all participants are in a listen-only mode. Afterward, we will conduct a question-and-answer session. If you have a question at that time, feel free to press the 1, followed by the 4, on your telephone. If at any time during this conference you need to reach an operator, press the star, followed by the 0. As a reminder, today's conference is recorded on Friday, July 8, 2011.

It's now my pleasure to turn the conference over to Erica Rubin from Syfy. Please proceed.

Erica Rubin: Hello, everybody. Thank you so much for joining today. We are joined by one of the stars of Syfy's Haven, Eric Balfour. Haven is premiering a week from today, on Friday, July 15, at 10 pm. If anyone would like a transcript of this call, please contact myself or Gary Morgenstein, from Syfy, and we will be happy to provide you with a transcript, which should be available 24 hours from now.

So without further adieu, I'll turn it back over to the moderator and we can get started one at a time with Eric. Thanks again.

Operator: Thank you, Ms. Rubin.

Ladies and gentlemen, we'll now proceed to the question-and-answer session. If you would like to register for a question, feel free to press the 1, followed by the 4, on your touchtone phone. You'll hear a three-tone prompt to acknowledge your request. If your question has been answered and you'd like to withdraw your registration, press the 1, followed by the 3. Ladies and gentlemen, please feel free to press the 1, followed by the 4, now.

And our first question comes from the line of Jamie Steinberg, from Starry Constellation Magazine. Please proceed with your question.

Jamie Steinberg: Hello. It's a pleasure to speak with you, Eric.

Eric Balfour: Hello. How are you, Jamie?

Jamie Steinberg: Good. You asked for some fun questions, so I hope you're prepared.

Eric Balfour: I am prepared. First of all, can we talk about the moderator? That lovely woman's voice is way too fancy for me. I don't deserve such a wonderful, lovely, fancy moderator voice. It should be a gruff old man who is like, "All right. You want to ask him something, go ahead. Shoot."

Jamie Steinberg: Well, I'm sure you're plenty deserving. I mean "Duke" is a suave man.

Eric Balfour: Well, see now "Duke" is far more suave than I am.

Jamie Steinberg: We'll get to that.

Eric Balfour: Okay.

Jamie Steinberg: Are there any plans for an episode of Haven where "Duke" gets to show off his musical talents?

Eric Balfour: Well, oddly enough, I realize now that we're like three-quarters of the way through the season. But I actually quite a bit of singing, but it wasn't written that way. I just, for some reason, I sing a lot of my lines, just for fun. There's nothing been written as, per say, that "Duke" actually performs, but I do sing a lot. I don't know how it happened, but this season, I found myself singing to myself a lot in my dialog.

Jamie Steinberg: Well, what would be your first order of business as king, funky, smelly, boogie bear, king of Balfour bears?

Eric Balfour: My first order of business would be that people no longer shake hands when they meet each other. They have to hug each other...

Jamie Steinberg: And finally, what would you do when you were stuck on top of a mountain with - I'm sorry. Was I interrupting you?

Eric Balfour: Oh, I was going to say I don't know how this whole Care Bear thing started, exactly. I literally woke up one morning and was just feeling a little unusual. And just randomly decided I wanted to be king of the Care Bears. And people seemed to enjoy that idea. It's one of those weird kinds of things. But now I'm very...

Erica Rubin: Eric, we're having a little bit of a hard time hearing you. Can you - is there any way you can move to a little better reception, please?

Eric Balfour: Is that better?

Erica Rubin: Much better.

Eric Balfour: Oh, okay.

Yes, I'm glad that everyone is enjoying the Care Bear Kingdom.

Jamie Steinberg: And if you had a (trouble), you could pick and keep, what would it be?

Eric Balfour: I would want to be like the Beast Master and be able to talk to animals and have two little ferrets that I carry around in a backpack, that would go and steal things for me.

Jamie Steinberg: And finally, what would you do when you were to be stuck on a mountain with Emily and Lucas?

Eric Balfour: We would probably have a lot of dance parties with our iPhones. We all have pretty good music collections on our iPhones. So we'd probably have big dance parties. And that's pretty much our favorite thing to do - and to smack each other on the butt.

Jamie Steinberg: Well I hope these questions were fun.

Operator: All right, then. Moving on to the next question, our next question comes from the line of Pattye Grippo, from Pazsaz Entertainment Network. Please proceed with your question.

Pattye Grippo: Hello, Eric. How are you today?

Hello?

Operator: Mr. Balfour, we're not able to hear you.

Eric Balfour: Oh. Hello. Hello.

Pattye Grippo: Oh, hello.

Operator: We can hear you now. Thank you, sir.

Eric Balfour: Oh, sorry. I accidentally pressed the mute button.

Pattye Grippo: Oh, okay.

Eric Balfour: Hello, Pattye. Go ahead. I'm sorry.

Pattye Grippo: Well this show's gain - has garnered such an online presence and you're also on Twitter. And I was wondering how important is the online community to the show's success? And why is it important for you to interact with your fans online?

Eric Balfour: The online community and Twitter is just a really wonderful fun way to communicate with the fans of the show and for people to become my friends through the show and to have an open dialogue.

As far as the show, because of the way that our show is structured there's like three people who kind of own it and different partners and...And so it's really important for the promotion of this show, the online community. There's only so much money that one single network can put into promoting the show. And so our audience and our fans have really been driven by word of mouth. We don't have the luxury of a lot of like billboards or ad campaigns and things like that to promote the show.

And so the online community has been huge for us. So we really love them because they keep us employed. And the louder and more noise they make and the more they talk about the show, the longer the show is going to stay on the air. And it really is the lifeblood of our show.

Pattye Grippo: Right.

And how is the dynamic within the cast change, as the show has progressed?

Eric Balfour: Well last season, we me and Lucas have had a history together.

Pattye Grippo: Right.

Eric Balfour: We worked on the show before and we have a really good rapport. And Emily and Lucas had worked before together, but we hadn't all worked, the three of us together. And we really became friends last year. And this season we really have learned to look after each other and support each other. And it really is a really tight bond.

Most shows don't have this small of cast. Most shows have seven or six (stage) regulars or even sometimes more. It's really the three of us that are permanent fixtures on the show. So we really have become like this little unit and little family in a way.

And so I think the biggest difference from this season to last is just our comradery and our comfort level. I mean I love Emily and Lucas and there isn't anything I wouldn't do for them.

Pattye Grippo: Right.

And finally, let me ask you what do you - what do you enjoy most about working on Haven?

Eric Balfour: I love playing "Duke." I really do. I can't tell you how much I appreciate the writers for writing this character because he's so much fun to play. He has no boundaries. He can say what he wants. He can do what he wants. He doesn't have to abide by anyone's rules and I think that's probably something I enjoy in my own life.

Pattye Grippo: Right.

Eric Balfour: So I just - I love playing "Duke."

Pattye Grippo: Okay. Well, thank you very much.

Eric Balfour: Thank you.

Operator: Thank you.

We're going to continue on. The next question comes from the line of Reg Seaton, from TheDeadbolt.com. Please proceed with your question.

Reg Seaton: Hello, Eric. Thanks for taking the call.

Eric Balfour: Oh, my pleasure man. How is it going?

Reg Seaton: Good, good man.

So if there's more to learn about "Duke" do you feel you've got a handle on who he really is or is he still somewhat mysterious to you now going into the second season?

Eric Balfour: It's always interesting, because the writers are always throwing new little twists at us about the characters that we didn't know. I mean from -- not to sound corny -- but from an emotional standpoint, I feel like I definitely do understand "Duke." I love this dude. I just think he's awesome. So in that regard, yes.

But there's always - every episode there's always some little twist the writers are throwing at us and little hints that they're giving us and we find out some new twist about the show. I'm never completely sure of exactly who "Duke" is but I think at his core I really do understand who he is and I like him. He's fun.

Reg Seaton: Cool. Well since we see more of "Reverend Ed" when the show returns, can you talk about working with Stephen McHattie and what it's like to play off of his intensity?

Eric Balfour: Stephen McHattie is pretty fricking awesome. He's kind of - He's an odd bird is some ways. He really is an artist. That, I appreciate so much -- that he takes what he does very seriously and he's very good at it.

But he doesn't have sort the normal, linear conversations like the average Joe does, and that kind of makes him fun. But at the same time you're always a little unsure of what Stephen McHattie thinks and you're always kind of trying to figure him out. But I think that makes him really fun.

Reg Seaton: Well does it help that he's from Nova Scotia?

Eric Balfour: I didn't actually know he was from Nova Scotia.

Reg Seaton: Yes, he's from (there)...

Eric Balfour: So I guess - I guess it's...I guess - no, it doesn't because I didn't know.

Reg Seaton: Okay.

Just one last question for you -- does "Duke" serve (Keys) Beer at the Grey Gull?

Eric Balfour: Does "Duke" what?

Reg Seaton: Serve (Keys) Beer at the Grey Gull?

Eric Balfour: Oh, absolutely. He has a very large selection of excellent ales and beer.

Reg Seaton: Great. Thanks, Eric.

Operator: And thank you for your question.

Continuing on, our next question comes from Jamie Ruby, from SciFiVision.com. Please proceed with your question.

Jamie Ruby: Hello. Thanks for taking our call today.

Eric Balfour: Hello, Jamie.

Jamie Ruby: Hello. So I don't know if this, you're allowed to talk about, but can you kind of talk about the new character that's kind of coming into your character's life and about her -- or are you not allowed to talk about that?

Eric Balfour: Yes, I can talk about it.

Jamie Ruby: Okay, good.

Eric Balfour: So "Duke" has this woman come into this life. And "Duke" -- is sort of, I guess similar to me in that way that he - "Duke" is attracted to dangerous women. And he one of those guys who doesn't like anything that comes easily. He likes the challenge...

Jamie Ruby: (Okay).

Eric Balfour: ...and he likes a certain amount of danger and game and suspense.

So this woman comes into his life and definitely starts to turn things upside down and really is a catalyst for a big part of where "Duke" is going this season and really in future seasons too.

Jamie Ruby: Okay, great.

Are we going to get more of the town's past this season, kind of more about what's going on?

Eric Balfour: Oh, yes. We're going to find out a lot about this town and we're going to find out a lot about how "Duke" is connected to this town and to the troubles.

Jamie Ruby: Great. Are we going to get see more about how what happened with "Duke" and "Nathan"?

Eric Balfour: No, we are definitely going to start to see "Duke" and "Nathan's" relationship evolve. Thus far we haven't spent a lot of time as we did last year examining their history. I think last season we had a lot of references to sort of what caused their rift and the possibilities of what they once were friends and no longer are. But this season we're really sort of moving forward with their relationship and seeing what it's evolving into.

Jamie Ruby: Awesome. And one more quick question. Are we ever going to get an Eric Balfour Care Bear plushy?

Eric Balfour: I mean - right? Can we get this happening? We need...

Jamie Ruby: We need to.

Eric Balfour: We need a little funky, smelly boogie bear, Care Bear doll with a little goatee and, you know, a long face and a big nose.

Jamie Ruby: Okay. Thanks a lot.

Operator: Thank you for your question.

Continuing on, the next question comes from the line of Jim Iaccino, from Media Boulevard Magazine. Please proceed with your question.

Jim Iaccino: Hello, Eric. How are you doing today?

Eric Balfour: I'm good, Jim. How are you doing?

Jim Iaccino: Okay. I've been tracking what you've been doing over the last year, from TV to film. And it's just incredible seeing you do a stint on No Ordinary Family, and then doing that Syfy movie, in addition to that major motion picture, in addition doing Haven. And I guess I wanted to know how you felt about doing those gigs and what was so unique about Haven that probably stands out for you?

Eric Balfour: Well, as far as Haven is concerned, I just loved that this show took place in this very quirky, macab, funny world. And I love the character. And I love that Haven, while it has all this mystery and it has all this danger, it also has this very small town warmth and it has this, you know, sense of family and it's strange. And I'm always pushing the producers and the writers to actually perpetuate that even more because I think one of the most interesting things about this show is how sort of odd everyone is in this town.

I mean when you think about the characters, "Vince" and "Dave" who run the newspaper...

Jim Iaccino: (Yes).

Eric Balfour: ...I love those guys. They're just funny and weird and goofy. And I'm hoping to really, as the show goes on and we move into further seasons, that we really, really keep pushing that boundary even further.

Jim Iaccino: Okay. Okay.

And like I said, a moment ago, too, you did several gigs -- one was No Ordinary Family. How was that for you and how was it different from your Haven experience?

Eric Balfour: Oviously the biggest difference is, is that Haven and the crew and show have become like my family.

Jim Iaccino: (Okay).

Eric Balfour: I mean we really are lucky. We have an amazing crew and we have a lot of fun together.

It's always interesting to go to another show, as a guest, and to sort of be an outsider. But it was a lot of fun. I mean hanging out with Michael Chiklis was really cool. And it was actually cool because the couple of weeks that I was there, he was right in the middle of releasing a song that he had produced and sang. And so it was really fun watching the dude from The Shield -- this sort of tough guy -- actually really being like giddy and like a little kid. He was so excited about this song. So it was really fun to hang out with him. And he was a really cool dude.

Jim Iaccino: Cool. Thank you, so much.

Eric Balfour: And I got to hang out with Lucy Lawless who is just...

Jim Iaccino: Oh, yes.

Eric Balfour: ...and awesome.

Jim Iaccino: Thank you.

Eric Balfour: (Sure), my pleasure man.

Operator: Thank you for your - thank you.

Continuing on, our next question comes from the line of Erin Willard, from SciFiMafia.com. Please proceed with your question.

Erin Willard: Hello, Eric. Thanks so much for being on the call today. I really appreciate it.

Eric Balfour: No, my pleasure. SciFi Mafia -- I love it.

Erin Willard: Yes, it's great. Thanks. It's a great site to work on.

I'm a huge, huge fan of Haven, particularly (the ensemble). I just think you all have such great chemistry together. It's a treat to watch. And it's really - it's one of my two favorite shows. So thanks for your work.

Eric Balfour: (Unintelligible)...

Erin Willard: I was - oh, my pleasure.

I was a major fan of Lost -- including the finale -- but a lot of people were disappointed that they never got an answer to why. You know, why was the Island that way? So I'm wondering if for Haven, do you know if there's going to be an answer as to why there are troubles or why they come back?

Eric Balfour: I do know for a fact that Sam Ernst and Jim Dunn, the creators of the show, definitely, 100%, know exactly what's going on in this town. So some day, I know they.will, but I think it's probably not going to happen for like Season 5 or 6. They're going to...

Erin Willard: Well that's the idea of a season...

Eric Balfour: They're going to prolong it as long as they can, but they definitely, definitely, definitely have an answer.

Erin Willard: I know that Emily said in the...

((Crosstalk))

Eric Balfour: ...so weird, it was like, "Oh, it was all just a parallel dimension."

Erin Willard: (Okay).

Eric Balfour: They know exactly what's going.

Erin Willard: Very - and do you have a guess?

Eric Balfour: Do I have a guess? I've always imagined, in my mind, that what's going on in Haven is in some ways - it's almost like global warming. As things shift in the universe of Haven and the world shifts and humanity shifts, things change. And while at one time, Haven, this town, was exactly, as its name ensues, was a safe haven for people that had these supernatural curses or troubles or afflictions.

And so as nature changes, something happened in the energy of this town that, you know, created this Molotov cocktail of supernatural occurrences. And I always felt that it was much more evolutionary versus being one single action.

Erin Willard: How excellent. I love that idea. That a good one. Mention that to the creators and maybe they'll include that.

Eric Balfour: I will.

Erin Willard: So no Comic-Con for you guys this year?

Eric Balfour: You never know. There may be some surprises about Comic-Con in store.

Erin Willard: Oh. Oh. Anything you want share?

Eric Balfour: I mean as I understand it, they are going to be screening a sneak peak of the next week's episode of Comic-Con.

Erin Willard: Right.

Eric Balfour: And I think if enough Haven fans show up for that screening and the room is packed and it's crazy, I don't know. Maybe I'll just magically materialize there to say hello to everybody.

Erin Willard: Oh, okay. I will definitely be there. Thank you so much.

Eric Balfour: Right. But I think it's all predicated on the ground swell of Haven fans really coming out to show support on most of the show.

Erin Willard: Okay, I'll start tweeting right now. Thanks. I love it.

Eric Balfour: That's what I'm talking about.

Operator: Thank you.

Continuing on, our next question comes from the line of Brandon Sites, from BigDaddyHorrorReviews.com.

Brandon Sites: Hello, Eric. Thank you for taking our call today.

Eric Balfour: Your welcome man.

Brandon Sites: You're playing this ambiguous character in Haven. And you don't exactly know what's going on with him from week to week. But how do you get in the mindset to play this part?

Eric Balfour: How do I get what?

Brandon Sites: When you don't fully understand what's happening to the character, because they haven't written that far yet, how do you play the part, still?

Eric Balfour: Yes, what it usually entails is a lot of phone calls and emails back and forth from the writers. Because this show is so intricate in its dynamics, you're always having to ask questions and to get questions answered. There's two different schools of thought. Some people like to keep the actors guessing, because they want their responses to be honest.

For me, as an actor, I (always) like to know what's coming ahead, because I feel like it is my job to paint a palette, and to know that if I'm going from A to B, there's certain hills and valleys that I'll want to hit along the way. So I like to know the answers. So a lot of the time it's me reading the next week's script and then sending like two-page emails to the writers with a thousand questions and they just go, "Oh, man. Balfour is emailing us again. What are we going to do?"

But they're always really cool about it. And they always take the time to answer our questions and talk us through things. And they're - I've got to hand it to them. They're amazing in that way, that really appreciate and respect how much we have breathed life into these characters. And so they really do value our opinions about what our characters do. And it's really neat. It's cool.

Brandon Sites: You talk about how much you love the character and everything. And other than the fact that you're both attracted to dangerous women, what characteristics do you see in yourself, that your character "Duke" has?

Eric Balfour: I think the most obvious answer for me is that we both have an aversion to authority. Neither one of us likes rules very much. I think that would be the most obvious thing to me when I think about how me and "Duke" are similar.

It's interesting. There's a lot of similarities. I think "Duke" is innately more confident than I am in some ways, which has actually been really kind of a blessing for me in my own life (just) - (and) playing "Duke," I have to get outside of myself and really have strong belief in who I am as "Duke" because that's what makes "Duke" really kind of awesome is that he has a confidence and a charisma that I've sort of learned a little bit from playing him in my own life.

He walks through the world believing that he can do anything and that the rules don't apply to him in that. Anytime somebody said you can't do something, that's just a challenge for him to do it. It's a lesson that I've sort of taken in my own life.

Brandon Sites: Okay.

And one week when I was going to, you know, on the Internet, Googling, trying to find, you know, a sneak peek for the next week's episode, they were gushing that you were going shirtless in the episode and they were dubbing you the shirtless-hunk-of-the-week on one Web site. So what's your opinions of that being seen as this TV sex symbol?

Eric Balfour: It makes me kind of laugh. I actually remember last year at Comic-Con there was that - that was when that article about the shirtless-man-of-the-week came out. And all of my castmates and the producers from Skyline were making fun of me.

It just all seems kind of silly to me sometimes. I mean I'm probably the most critical person in the world of my own physicality. So I'm always a little shocked when people say things like that or find me attractive I guess. Because I'm always very critical of myself.

Brandon Sites: Well, you've got this thing going on between you and Lucas that has the same attraction for the same woman. Why do you think she should pick you over Lucas?

Eric Balfour: If I was being really honest, I don't know that I would tell the character, "Audrey" to pick "Duke." I think in some ways that, you know, "Duke" is "Duke" because he is a loner in a way. He does walk to his own drum beat and I don't know that he is capable of really ever being domesticated. I think it would be a lot of fun to see "Audrey" try to settle him down, but at the end of the day, I just - I don't know if "Duke" is capable of it.

I think "Duke" is one of those guys who probably will one day get on his boat and sail, you know, around the world and kind of sail into the sunset on his own. And, he'll just disappear one day and you'll never know what happened to him.

Brandon Sites: Okay. Thank you for taking my questions. It was a pleasure to get to speak to you.

Eric Balfour: My pleasure. Thank you, man.

Operator: Thank you.

And our next question comes from the line of (Janel Spiegel), RealityShack.com. Please proceed with your question.

Janel Spiegel: Hello, Eric. Thank you so much for taking our calls today.

Eric Balfour: No thank you, (Janel). Thanks for hanging out and being a part of this. You guys - you guys are helping drive this show. I mean there's - unfortunately, or whatever, there's, you know, nobody else is helping publicize the show this (way). You guys' energy is amazing.

Janel Spiegel: Thank you. I love your tweets on Twitter. I wanted to ask what are your expectations for your character for Season 2?

Eric Balfour: You know, I think what I was really hoping for this season was to really see "Duke" evolve...

Operator: I'm sorry Mr. Balfour, we're not able to hear you anymore.

Eric Balfour: Hello?

Operator: Mr. Balfour?

Eric Balfour: (That better)?

Operator: Yes, sir. Thank you. Please continue.

Eric Balfour: Sorry.

What I was saying was I think this season I was really looking forward to "Duke" being faced with tough questions, where he really had to choose a side, finally. Because last season he was able to sort of dance around and play both sides of the fence. And it's such a perfect transition for him to have to make these decisions because it's exactly what he doesn't want to do.

Janel Spiegel: Right.

Eric Balfour: He's always - he's (painted) himself to be self-serving...

Janel Spiegel: Right.

Eric Balfour: ...and to only look out for himself. So I think this season we're going to really get to see "Duke" have to choose a side and it's going to be really tough for him.

Janel Spiegel: Very cool.

If you could give "Duke" a Care Bear name, what would "Duke's" Care Bear name be?

Eric Balfour: (Heimlich) bear.

Janel Spiegel: Awesome.

Well thank you so much for answering my question. And I also want to just say thanks so much for all your support that you do for the Surfrider Foundation.

Eric Balfour: Oh...

Janel Spiegel: You're very awesome.

Eric Balfour: Thank - my pleasure and thank you for mentioning it. Our oceans and our beaches are literally my lifeblood and they're my playground.

Janel Spiegel: Indeed.

Eric Balfour: Paul Watson and the Sea Shepherd...

Janel Spiegel: Right.

Eric Balfour: ...and Surfrider, they're saving us. It's not just our oceans. Without our oceans we don't exist anymore. So thank you for mentioning it.

Janel Spiegel: Thank you so much.

Operator: Thank you.

Continuing on, our next question comes from the line of Michael Simpson, from CinemaSpy.com. Please proceed with your question.

Michael Simpson: Hello, Eric. It's a pleasure to speak to you today.

Eric Balfour: Nice to speak to you. Whenever I hear CinemaSpy, I always start wanting to sing the Mission Impossible theme.

Michael Simpson: Hopefully we're not on an impossible mission.

I wanted to ask you, you film in what must be probably the most beautiful landscape that any sort of science fiction, sort of fantasy show films in. What are some of the pros and cons of filming in a seaside town?

Eric Balfour: Well the pros of filming where we film are, without a doubt, the visual landscape of the place. We could never recreate this world on a soundstage or in Los Angeles or almost anywhere. It is vital to the visceral energy of the show. I mean this town is a character in the show. And the landscape is a character in the show. So in that regard, we couldn't do the show with these towns that we shoot in, in Nova Scotia.

The downside is that it's only summer about four days out of the year -- that's a little bit of an exaggeration. But I mean, literally in June, we redubbed the month of June, Jun-uary, because it pretty much rained the entire time. So it's a challenge. I mean it gets cold and it gets rainy and it's unpredictable. But we deal with that because it is so beautiful when the sun does come out -- and even when it doesn't it definitely has this really neat (makab) soggy sort of other worldly feel. So, yes, that would be my answer.

Michael Simpson: Cool.

A follow-up question, if I may. What can you tell us about when it was like working with Jason Priestley, who I understand is coming on the show this season?

Eric Balfour: (Yes) - Priestley has got to be the sweetest dude I've ever met. Really. When he was younger he was on one of the most successful shows in the history of television, you know? And he is so not jaded and so excited to come to work.

And, what was my favorite thing was when he directed an episode recently, because it's just really fun getting directed by other actors who have a sensitivity for what we do. And he's just a really, really sweet, fun guy.

Michael Simpson: Awesome. Thanks, Eric. I appreciate it.

Eric Balfour: My pleasure, man. Have a good day.

Michael Simpson: You too.

Operator: Thank you.

Continuing on, our next question comes from (Julia Poro), PopCultureMadness.com. Please proceed with your (call) - question.

Julia Poro: Hello, Eric. Thank you for talking to me today.

Eric Balfour: Hello. Thank you.

Julia Poro: Having starred in Haven and Skyline, have you always been drawn to the Syfy genre?

Eric Balfour: No, not at all. I wouldn't say that I'm not a fan of science fiction, but it was never...It's not innately in my lifeblood like other people. I've been fortunate this last year or so to get to work on some really fun science fiction projects. But I'm a fan of, you know, a lot of different genres. And it was, honestly, as much I'd love to say, with some calculated move and decision. I'm always just happy to be working. And so it was a certain amount of just serendipity and coincidence that created that course of events.

But, there are sci-fi projects that I love, you know, when you think about Blade Runner or Aliens, or even things that cross into sort of fantasy and horror. There's all kinds of projects that I always love, but I would say that I am innately a science fiction buff.

Julia Poro: Right.

And I've read that you directed Do Not Disturb. Would you like to focus more on that behind the scenes work in the future?

Eric Balfour: Absolutely. I just signed on to direct this really hysterically funny, smart feature that (Molly Austin) is producing called Jesus Hates Zombies, based on the comic by Stephen Lindsay. And it's hysterical and witty and heartfelt. And it's definitely...I'm so looking forward to it and we're just getting it all put together right now and talking about cast and location and it's so exciting. I love directing. It's what I want to spend my life doing.

Julia Poro: Great.

And for my last question, can tell us a story where you've encountered a really extreme fan?

Eric Balfour: I've been really lucky that even in the most extreme fans -- I guess if you want to call them that -- have been really loving and wonderful. But, they're, you know, of my fan, and almost in some ways now, I would consider a friend, (Lavinia) who runs - she started her own fan site for me. And she knows more about my career than I do. And so I guess you would call that an extreme fan. But she is really kind of wonderful.

And then there's another Twitter follower, (teh Dede), who started a Twitter site called BalfoursYard. And she is amazing. She tweets me every single day, "Good morning." It's incredible.

Julia Poro: Oh, wow.

Eric Balfour: It's incredible. I mean - and she does all these cool things. Yesterday, I tweeted something silly about Care Bears, which is sort of everyone has been talking about today. I basically, for some random reason, I don't know what I was thinking that. I don't know if I just woke up silly. I declared myself the Care Bear king and I said, "Everyone go out and give some (help)." And she actually managed to make up a picture of me, with a crown, with Care Bears, as the Care Bear king. And she does it all the time, all these crazy things and cool things.

And so I guess those are extreme fans, but they're really awesome. I mean they're incredible.

Julia Poro: Well, thank you, Eric.

Eric Balfour: My pleasure. Thank you.

Julia Poro: Good bye.

Eric Balfour: Thank you.

And as a note, ladies and gentlemen, if you'd like to ask a question, press 1, 4; to decline, press 1, 3.

And we have follow-up, again, from Jamie Ruby, of Sci-FiVision.com. Please proceed with your question.

Jamie Ruby: Hello, again.

So what have you learned about yourself from working on Haven?

Eric Balfour: I would say that's a really good question -- a really good question. I think one of the things that I've learned about myself is that in playing the character "Duke" I realize how many insecurities I have myself, because "Duke" is so confident and because "Duke" carries himself with such gallantry and sort of grandiose behavior.

It really made me look at my own life and my own insecurities in how, in some ways, I don't live that way. It's really forced me to look at my own life and look at my insecurities and look at the things that I carry around as baggage really, that in some ways holds me back. So that's been one of the biggest things I've learned about myself. And honestly, that is really the thing that most profoundly stands out to me.

Jamie Ruby: All right.

So what's been something that your fans would be surprised to know about you?

Eric Balfour: I think most of my fans would be - I mean a lot of my...I think may know this at this point, but I think a lot of people would be surprised to know that my favorite television show is So You Think You Can Dance. And that's...

Jamie Ruby: Okay.

Eric Balfour: I love dancing. I grew up a dancer. That was my first love growing up. And I'm just fascinated by talented dancers and by choreographers. I think they'd be surprised to know that every Wednesday and Thursday night I'm by the TV watching So You Think You Can Dance.

Jamie Ruby: What if they ask you to be a star on there, would you?

Eric Balfour: Oh, are you kidding me -- in a heartbeat. I'm still - I want to be a guest judge on the show. I'm dying to be a guest judge...

Jamie Ruby: (Unintelligible) (nothing comparing to that).

Eric Balfour: Say again?

Jamie Ruby: Great. All right.

And then last, can you talk about some of the like stunts that you do on the show?

Eric Balfour: The stunts I do on the show?

Jamie Ruby: (Yes).

Eric Balfour: Yes, this season we've actually been getting to do a lot more. There's been a lot of gun play this season, which has been really fun. We just finished an episode a couple of weeks ago, where I was getting to fire this like big 12-gauge shotgun with these massive rounds. And it was fun -- it was fun. It's running around, bad ass with sawed-off shotgun -- just really cool.

Jamie Ruby: Sounds like fun.

What's been the favorite scene you've filmed this season?

Eric Balfour: My favorite scene I filmed this season? I think my favorite scene this season, honestly has been really the scenes between me and Lucas and Emily. At the beginning of the season there was so much going on individually in each of our character's lives, that we were sort separated a little bit. And so as the season went on, I started (missing) them. And so as the season went on we really got to get back to the three of us being together and the comradery and sort of the shorthand that we have with each other. And that's my favorite stuff so far this season (of shooting). It's just playing Emily and Lucas. I really have a good time with them.

Jamie Ruby: All right. Thanks a lot.

Eric Balfour: Sure.

Operator: Thank you for your question.

We have a follow-up from Jim Iaccino, Media Boulevard Magazine. Please proceed with your question.

Jim Iaccino: Hello, Eric. This is Jim again. Hello.

Eric Balfour: Hello.

Jim Iaccino: You seem to be a person who cracks up individuals on the set. And I guess I feel that when you and Emily are interacting, that you tend you have a lot of fun. Could you tell us maybe some of those humorous or maybe one of your best incidents of humor on the set of Haven?

Eric Balfour: Well, there's actually a video that's floating around that's actually on my Youtube channel. And it's one of the - it's very indicative of how we play on set. It's a video of me, Lucas, Emily -- and I think a new character on the show, (Vanessa Anhong)'s character -- driving from set to lunch. And we literally were having a dance party to LMFAO in the car. I mean that to me sums up exactly how we are on set. We work really long hours and it gets really late and we get really loopy. So we're always just trying to like make each other laugh.

I mean poor Emily has to deal with me and Lucas basically torturing her like older brothers every day. I mean we're - it's always a (unintelligible), "Oh, what did Lucas (unintelligible) say (unintelligible) has been calling her? Oh, yes, she hates it. She hates it and so I'm going to tell everybody."

Lucas started (unintelligible)...

Operator: I'm sorry Mr. Balfour. You're cutting in and out. Can we have you repeat that please? Thank you.

Eric Balfour: Yes. So did you hear the last part about Lucas coming up with a nickname for Emily?

Jim Iaccino: No.

Eric Balfour: Basically, we started coming up with a nickname for Emily and I'm going to tell everybody because she hates it.

Jim Iaccino: Okay.

Eric Balfour: We now call her (Anally) Rose. Anyone who wants to tweet her or tell her, just be like, "Hello, (Anally) Rose. What's going on." It'll drive her crazy and you'll make our day.

Jim Iaccino: Wow. Cool. Cool.

I also wanted to know, because we're starting to figure out a little bit of Emily's past with the cliff of Season 1, how "Duke" sort of figures into that storyline of Emily's past. My guess is you're going to play some type of significant role in that, yes?

Eric Balfour: Yes, as we're learning that, you know, obviously, "Audrey Parker's" character, or "Lucy" or whatever. I can't even keep it straight at this point. But as we are learning how she is connected to Haven, we're going to find out that "Duke" has a really strong significant role to play in what is happening in this town. And actually how, not only "Duke" but his entire family is connected to Haven and its struggles.

Jim Iaccino: Okay. Okay. Sounds exciting. I just want to hope that you have many more seasons to go. It seems like one of the more watched Syfy shows, so I'm enjoying it and hopefully you are too.

Eric Balfour: Thank you so much. We definitely are.

Operator: Thank you.

And continuing on, it's a follow-up question from Michael Simpson, from CinemaSpy.com. Please proceed.

Michael Simpson: Hello, Eric. Back again. Can you say what was the biggest challenge for you in this new season?

Eric Balfour: I think the biggest challenge this season was because what I love about "Duke" is his humor and his sort of spontaneity and his wit. And that's the, in some ways, the levity that he brings to the show. But because there are some really drastic things going on for "Duke" this season and some really heavy things happening, it was really challenging to be truthful and honest in the moments that those things are happening with the character, but not lose what makes him fun and not lose that sense of play that he has.

Because as life gets dramatic it's hard to laugh it off. But that's, in some ways what really makes "Duke," "Duke". I think like a lot of my favorite movie (anti-heros), he has the ability to laugh in the face of danger. When you think about like "Han Solo" or Bruce Willis in Die Hard. I mean "Indiana Jones" -- like these guys, what makes them great is the ability to crack a joke when they're facing their doom.

Michael Simpson: Cool. Thanks, Eric. (Really pumped up) for the new season.

Eric Balfour: Good. Thank you.

Operator: Thank you, Mr. Simpson.

Continuing on, we have a follow-up from Brandon Sites, BigDaddyHorrorReviews.com.

Brandon Sites: Hello, Eric. I was wondering, back in the episode where they aged you, how alike or different do you think you're going to look like when you reach that age yourself?

Eric Balfour: I would say I'm going to look very different because I'm going to have - I'm going to be like the 1970s version of Jim Morrison. I'm going to have a big fat gut and a giant beard and long straggly hair. And I'm going to be like a cross between Elvis and Jim Morrison when I get older. And I'm just going to be like hanging out on a beach, surfing on a long board, talking about the good old days.

I think the character, "Duke's" old version was much more thin in scope than I will be. I'm going to let it go man. I'm going to - I'm just going to rock out and get old and ex-old-rock-starry when I get old.

Brandon Sites: Okay.

Since the show is dealing with supernatural elements, I'm wondering what's your personal opinions on that?

Eric Balfour: Say that one more time?

Brandon Sites: Since the show is dealing with supernatural elements, what is your own personal...

Eric Balfour: Oh, my own (personal) beliefs about the supernatural.

Brandon Sites: Yes.

Eric Balfour: Well, there are a lot of things that we don't have proof of in this world. There are a lot of things we don't answers to. We don't know for sure if aliens exist or we don't know if ghosts exist or (humans) or an afterlife. All these questions, we don't know the answers to.

And I don't profess to say that I have a definitive answer either, but I guess I would say it sure does make life more interesting to believe that these things exist. In some ways, whether or not they do, I sure would like to believe that there are crazy little alien men running around on another planet and that ghosts really do exist. And that there are people out there that have super powers and can do things with their mind and we see evidence of it all the time, but obviously we don't have definitive proof. But I sure just think it makes like more interesting to believe that those things do exist.

Brandon Sites: So I take it you've never had like no, in your own mind, a supernatural encounter, anything like that yourself?

Eric Balfour: Every time a girl says that she will go on a date with me, I think that is a supernatural occurrence. So I see it all the time.

Brandon Sites: Okay.

And I'm wondering did you ever - have you ever been approached by any (irate) Stephen King fans about Haven?

Eric Balfour: No, I haven't. I think for the most part the Stephen King fans have been very supportive of the show. I don't think we were never dishonest, that we said that Haven was like a direct copy of a Stephen King novel. Haven has always the novella that Haven was based off of was always the jumping off point. And we were always really straightforward about that. I mean obviously, if you've ever read it, it's very short and very simple and there's not a lot to base an entire series on.

So it was always the jumping off point. And I think because we were honest about that, that the Stephen King fans didn't really have any argument to that or angst.

Brandon Sites: Okay.

I just have one more question. Can you tell us how the difference between -- because you got a sci-fi and a horror and a cult following and then I'm sure you've got your normal fans that are more mainstream work -- what's the difference, like between the two?

Eric Balfour: The sci-fi fans are way more awesome and crazy and enthusiastic.

Brandon Sites: Okay. Well thank you for taking the time out to answer my questions. I appreciate it. Thanks.

Eric Balfour: No, my pleasure man. Thank you.

Operator: Thank you, Mr. Sites.

Continuing on, we have a follow-up from Erin Willard, from SciFiMafia.com. Please proceed.

Erin Willard: Hello, again, Eric.

I've already started tweeting about you being at Comic-Con, so be warned.

Eric Balfour: Okay, cool.

Erin Willard: Okay, would love to see you there. Did I understand - did you actually direct an episode this season?

Eric Balfour: No, unfortunately, all of the directors on the show have to be Canadian because we are a Canadian co-production. There are Canadian content laws. So you have to be Canadian or at least have landed immigrant status to direct on the set of Haven.

Erin Willard: Oh.

Eric Balfour: So until I marry a Canadian, I'm not going to be (a director) of Haven.

Erin Willard: Oh that is too bad.

Then the other question was I saw your interview with Kevin Pollak, which was really fun to watch. I was wondering what was going on with your - the status of your musical comedy pilot?

Eric Balfour: We are moving full steam ahead and we actually plan on shooting the pilot right when I get done basically with Haven. We're doing some work on the outline of the show and just had a really great meeting with Fuse yesterday, actually and really excited. There are - everyone is really sort of excited about where we're going with it. They've been really great and I'm just excited to work with them. They're a young, hungry network and they want to do something really special and they want to do something bold. And I'm just stoked to be working with them.

Erin Willard: And which network is this? I'm sorry I didn't hear.

Eric Balfour: The Fuse Network.

Erin Willard: Oh, okay. Great. Well great. Congratulations. That sounds terrific.

Eric Balfour: Thank you very much.

Operator: Thank you, Ms. Willard.

Continuing on, we have follow-up from Jamie Ruby, SciFiVision.com. Please proceed.

Jamie Ruby: Hello, again.

I wanted to ask what's the name of that movie - or not movie, (show) you were talking about?

Eric Balfour: The (show) that we're developing with Fuse Network?

Jamie Ruby: Yes.

Eric Balfour: It doesn't have a title just yet.

Jamie Ruby: Oh, okay. All right.

Eric Balfour: But it's (soon to come).

Jamie Ruby: Okay, great. So what would be your ultimate dream role or is there somebody specific you'd like to work with in the future that you haven't?

Eric Balfour: Oh, man. That's a tough call. But I would say right off the top of my head, people I would want to work with, Meryl Streep and Danny Boyle. Hands down, that would be those top of the list, ask me any day of the week.

And dream roles, god, I would really like - I want to play a pirate. If they do another pirate movie I want to be a pirate.

Jamie Ruby: All right. That would be fun.

What would you do if you weren't acting?

Eric Balfour: If I wasn't acting?

Jamie Ruby: Yes.

Eric Balfour: It might be a little bit of a half answer, but I mean I love writing and producing and directing -- and I love directing. So I'd never gone into acting, I probably would be directing.

But at the same time, I've been music and I probably would have - what's interesting, when you make choices in life, you know, based on the best decision at any given moment. And so while I've always loved playing music, music has always been more of a passion versus an actual money-making career thing for me. And acting has provided stability for me and a career, as unstable as being an actor is.

But I think, no matter what, I would still be an artist in some way, shape or form. I don't know that I wouldn't be involved in the arts. So it's not the (honest) answer if I wasn't an actor. I can't say that I wouldn't be involved in the arts. I guess if you were to ask what would I do if I wasn't in entertainment at all, I would either want to be a professional surfer or a professional MMA fighter.

Jamie Ruby: A professional what? What was the second part?

Eric Balfour: A mixed martial arts fighter.

Jamie Ruby: Oh, martial arts fighter. Okay, great.

Eric Balfour: Yes...

Jamie Ruby: Is there any other projects you have coming up you hadn't talked about yet?

Eric Balfour: I love mixed martial arts. I have been training since I was a teenager and I actually am a co-owner at a gym here in Los Angeles called Legends. Everyone should go check it out and go take a Muay Thai class at LegendsMMA.com.

Jamie Ruby: Okay.

Is there any other projects you have coming up you haven't mentioned yet?

Eric Balfour: No, that's Haven. Haven, Haven, Haven -- you know? That's what I'm really excited about right now because Haven is the best show at 10 pm on Friday nights on Syfy Channel.

Jamie Ruby: I agree.

Eric Balfour: Of all the shows on Syfy Channel on Friday nights at 10 pm, we are the best.

Jamie Ruby: All right. Thanks so much.

Eric Balfour: Aren't we the only show on Friday nights at 10 pm on Syfy Channel?

Woman: I agree.

Eric Balfour: Yes. I guess we are. But nonetheless, we are the best show at 10 pm on Friday nights on Syfy Channel.

Jamie Ruby: Yes. Thank you.

Eric Balfour: You can quote me on that -- the best show on Friday nights on Syfy Channel.

Jamie Ruby: I'm trying. I will do that.

Operator: And thank you. Thank you.

We'll move on to the next question. The next question comes from, once again, Jim Iaccino, Media Boulevard Magazine. Please proceed with your question.

Jim Iaccino: Hello, Eric. This is Jim, again. And, you know, that announcer got it right, because that's the Italian way of pronouncing my name, Iaccino. So cool.

Eric Balfour: Iaccino.

Jim Iaccino: Yes.

I agree, Haven is awesome. It really is. And I just wanted to know do you have a preference for any TV shows from when you were a kid to when you are now, whether it's Haven-like or whatever, a really cool sci-fi fantasy or horror show, that you really like?

Eric Balfour: Growing up, one of my favorite sci-fi shows, hands down, was the original Battlestar Galactica.

Jim Iaccino: Oh, right.

Eric Balfour: That was one of my favorite shows. And then the other one was Buck Rogers.

Jim Iaccino: Oh, yes.

Eric Balfour: Because, A, that chic -- I can't remember her name -- in that white outfit was barely...

Jim Iaccino: Erin Gray. Erin Gray.

Eric Balfour: Yes. Yes. Erin Gray.

Jim Iaccino: Yes.

Eric Balfour: Like when you were 7 years old, a woman in an outfit like that is basically pornography for a pre-teenager. I mean that was all I needed. She was amazing.

And I mean the best thing about Buck Rogers is I remember there was an episode you know how "Dr. Theopolis" was in the little voice on the little robot dude?

Jim Iaccino: Yes.

Eric Balfour: And what was the little robot dude's - was it "Twiki?" Was that the little robot's name?

Jim Iaccino: "Twiki," yes. "Twiki," yes.

Eric Balfour: "Twiki." I remember there was an episode where they were doing a toast and it was the coolest thing I had ever seen. It makes you realize like how much my people, the Jews, really are, influencing Hollywood. Because they were doing the toast and then "Twiki" went literally, she goes, "Beep beep. (La Chaim)." It was (unintelligible) ever seen. I couldn't believe it. And I actually only noticed it recently. There was like some like marathon something, somewhere with Buck Rogers that I saw that. I was like that is the coolest thing I've ever seen.

Jim Iaccino: It's really interesting you picked Buck Rogers because you remind me of Joe Gerard - the Joe Gerard character of Buck Rogers, very much so, in terms of Haven.

Eric Balfour: Wow, thanks. That's a really good compliment.

Jim Iaccino: Yes, well - yes. Yes, it is. It is.

I guess I have another question too. What was the most challenging -- and you may have been given this before -- what was the most challenging part for you to play, either on Haven or just in general, in terms of your acting career?

Eric Balfour: One of the most challenging role for me, honestly was the character I played in the movie that I did, that Quentin Tarantino produced, Hell Ride.

Jim Iaccino: Oh, okay.

Eric Balfour: Because everybody in the movie is all these like monster Tarantino crew guys, you know? Dennis Hopper and Michael Madsen and Vinnie Jones and David Carradine -- and they were all such big personalities. And my character had to be this very sort of angsty, serious, young sort of guy who was, you know...

Jim Iaccino: Right.

Eric Balfour: ...kind of reserved and insular, because he was sort of learning the ways of how to be a biker dude like these guys. But it was hard to do, when all these guys are so over the top and they're so fun and you just sort of wanted to break out of being sullen and serious all the time. So that was honestly really challenging because finding the art to that character was really tough for me.

Jim Iaccino: Interesting. Interesting. Well I wish you - yes, go on.

Eric Balfour: You know, a great example, I always equate it to if you remember Matt Damon in The Good Shepherd...

Jim Iaccino: Sure.

Eric Balfour: ...it was a really - that was an amazing performance because he was so simple and so contained that, as actors, we're always looking for that like Al Pacino moment where you get to blow up and explode and freak out and.
Jim Iaccino: Right.

Eric Balfour: But it's really a testament to like I'm nowhere near this. But someone like Matt Damon and how good he is, that he could give such an amazing performance while staying inside this little box the entire time and never feeling the need or necessity and having the bravery not to like break out of that and -- it was really impressive.

Jim Iaccino: Cool.

What acting part would you still want to do? Because you're still a young guy. We've got a number years left. What would you want to do? I'm sure, you know, a dream part of whatever...

Eric Balfour: (Oh man), that's a tough question and you're right. I mean I feel like in some ways I'm still just getting started. And there's so much I want to do but I think I would love the opportunity to really get to play with some comedy, you know, to really explore kind of really fun, broad comedy. I'm fascinated by comedians and the work that they do. The timing of comedians is so intricate and so amazing that I really love the opportunity to really, I think, (work) people, sort of knowing more for being a dramatic actor, and I would really love the opportunity to get to be funny.

Jim Iaccino: Well you certainly bring some humor to Haven. I mean without the "Duke" character it would lose some of its edge. So you are already doing that and I could - you know?

Eric Balfour: I really appreciate that man. And yes - and that's one of the greatest gifts that the writers have given me is the freedom to really be improvisational and to create that sense of play that "Duke" has.

Jim Iaccino: Cool. Thank you, Eric. You're the man.

Eric Balfour: I appreciate it. Thank you, sir.

Operator: Thanks for that question.

Erica Rubin: Hello, everybody. This will be the last question. Thank you.

Operator: Thank you.

So the final question for today comes from Brandon Sites, of BigDaddyHorrorReviews.com. Please proceed with your question.

Brandon Sites: Hello, again.

Eric Balfour: Hello.

Brandon Sites: Eric, doing another reboot of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, entitled Leatherface 3-D. And I was wondering what's your thoughts or opinions on that?

Eric Balfour: I honestly don't know much about the project, but I do know that the guys who really gave me my first shot in a starring role, in a movie where Brad Fuller and Andrew Form and Michael Bay, in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre that we did. So I've got to say if anyone was going to remake that movie, they did an outstanding job and they are just amazing guys. So without them involved, I honestly don't know what the movie will be, but I wish them the best of luck and I hope it turns out decent.

Brandon Sites: Okay.

The other guy, he asked you about sci-fi. I was wondering if there's any like core or horror TV shows that you grew up, that you really dug or like a part of you when you were growing up as a kid?

Eric Balfour: I really thought that the series that (Scott Free) did for a while, that Ridley and Tony Scott did, The Hunger, was fantastic.

Brandon Sites: And I just have one more question. If they were to do another Dinoshark movie -- like Dinoshark versus whatever, like they did with Dinocroc versus Supergator, and they bring you back for that -- what movie monster would you want to go up against with the Dinoshark?

Eric Balfour: Dinoshark versus the Care Bear.

Brandon Sites: Okay. Well thank you very much for taking all of our questions. I really appreciate it. Thank you.

Eric Balfour: My pleasure guys. Thank you everyone so much. And if everyone posts their actual blog and does an (@) mention at me at Twitter, I can repost for you guys and make sure that everyone sees it. So make sure to do that.

Operator: Thank you, Mr. Balfour. And I'll turn it back to Ms. Rubin, for the wrap up. Thank you.

Erica Rubin: Thanks everybody so much for joining. Thanks especially to Eric Balfour, for his time. Everybody please remember to tune in on Friday, July 15th, at 10:00, for Haven. And again, if anybody needs a transcript, please let myself or Danny or Gary know. After this call, they should be available in 24 hours.

I hope everybody has a great weekend.

Operator: Thank you, Ms. Rubin. Thank you, Mr. Balfour.

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