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Starlight Foundation Interview by Charlotte Pollnitz

I signed in at the Virgin reception just in time to see a beaming Ray Park standing next to a likeness of himself as Darth Maul, cameras snapping away in the background. Ray's manager Larry Bore, of Hollywood Management, invited me to the event on September 14, at Virgin Radio in London, and I was lucky enough to be the only journalist attending. Ray was there to present a Darth Maul statue to the person who had bid the most money for it in an internet auction.

The event was in aid of the Starlight Childrens Foundation, " a charity that grants wishes, organises parties, outings and holidays for terminally ill children and their families," according to Ailsa Wilson, a Starlight representative who was also present. "This event brought in about £2000," she said, "If you take on average a wish costs around £2000, this will do at least two or three wishes. We involve the whole family, so it's not just the child who gets the wonderful memories, we make sure that mum, dad, brothers and sisters are involved there as well."
note from dmeb: we know the numbers don't add up, but that's what was said

Left to right, Larisa Bore (Hollywood Management), DJ Chris Evans, Darth Maul, buyer Max McEvoy, Ray Park and Larry Bore (manager).

The statue of Darth Maul was donated to Virgin Radio by Pizza Hut, and then auctioned on the net over a four week period, the highest bid coming from 31 year old year old Max McEvoy, a computer programmer, from Oxford, who paid £1275 for it, offering another donation of £250 on the day of the presentation. "I had three people at work sat on the internet, monitoring it, so that I could have a chance," he said. "There was a bit of competition though." A Jar Jar Binks statue was also up for grabs, £775 was the highest bid for it and came from an annonymous collecter from Scotland, who declined an offer to attend the event.

Ray Park was in good spirits, looking relaxed and well rested, the much needed break in Greece seeming to have done him the world of good. It has been a very busy year for him. Since the U.S. premier of Phantom Menace, he has been jetting off around the world, on a tour of personal appearances and interviews. I asked him what he thought about the cult status of Darth Maul. " When I did the job I didn't think that Darth Maul would be so popular, I thought it would be one of the Jedi's or something like that. Afterwards I was waiting for the release, because deep down I was really hoping things would come out of it, and thought that maybe this would give me the opportunity for a bit more work."

Ray Park and Max McEvoy

It certainly has done that! Soon after filming Phantom Menace, he was offered stunt work in Tim Buton's production of Sleepy Hollow, where he did all the sword work for the headless horseman. And this summer, he signed up for the part of Toad, henchman to the evil Magneto, in 20th Century's production of X-Men, which due to contractual obligations, he was reluctant to talk in detail about, "I play a character called Toad, that's all I can say. It's not a main part."

A role drawing parralells with Darth Maul, not only because Ray has been cast as a villain once more, but also because it is another physically demanding role. Ray spent time building up and training for the part while on holiday in Rhodes. He will be off to Toronto on September 20th, where filming will begin and is scheduled to last for sixteen weeks.

Being such a newcomer, and having gotten off to a great start, stunt doubling in Mortal Kombat:Anihilation, a role which led him to be discovered by Star Wars stunt co-ordinator Nick Gillard, which in turn led onto other movie work, I was curious to know whether movies had been a life long ambition, or whether he had fallen into the business by accident.

"I've always wanted to be in films, that's why I started martial arts. Ever since I was about three, it's been a dream, you know you always want to be in movies, but I never knew how to do it. All I knew was that if I did my martial arts, maybe one day I'd get spotted and maybe do a martial art movie."

So at the tender age of 25, Ray Park has achieved what most of us only dream about, not only being a martial arts champion, but having a fantastic list of films under his belt, achieving stardom and being recognised where ever he goes,

Sting Ray!

"Everybody recognises me. Even when I went on holiday to Greece, everyone on the whole island recognised me, and everyone was really nice down there."

However, fame, fortune and noteriety do come with pitfalls. In May , shortly after the UK premier of Phantom Menace, Ray was at the centre of a scandal about charging £15 per autograph at personal appearances at British venues, it made national news in the UK and was smeared all over the front page of The Sun. What the British media failed to point out however, was that this is how autographing sessions at conventions and promotional appearances are now handled. An issue that Ray is aware of and chose to shy away from, until now.

"I never knew anything about conventions and appearances before. I thought it was the done thing. Everyone else charges as well, and I don't see anything wrong with it. It did feel strange though. I do try and help out. You get kids coming up to you for autographs and I wouldn't charge them. But that's the way it works out, that's the way I get paid. It's more accepted in America than it is here. There are genuine fans out there that just want your autograph, and there's also people out there who want to make money from your signiature, so it's a two way thing." There was also a recent incident where a Canadian convention promoter failed to inform people in advance, that Ray had to cancel his appearance due to filming commitments . The promoters, being aware of this, didn't advertise it until the last moment, and attendants to the event, many whom had come from far and wide specifically to meet Ray, literally found out about it as they entered the convention doors. This in turn led to anger and the venting of frustration towards Ray and his manager Larry Bore, many feeling let down, and that cancellation notice could have been given earlier. The Canadian press soon caught wind of this and the news was soon spread onto the internet like wildfire.

Larry Bore and Ray Park

"What happened was, even a month or two before the event, I had to cancel. At the last minute they (the promoters) were thinking they could get me there, and at the end of the day they put it down on my head. It's not my fault, I gave the notice."

And how does all this negative press affect such a newcomer? "I just ignore it now. You know, I've done a lot of good things, and all the fans I've met have been nice. It's got to the point where if you listen to it, then you'll have a nervous breakdown. No, it doesn't bother me now."

In the space of two years, Ray Park has gone from unknown stunt double and martial artist to celebrity, I was interested in finding out how he thought being in Phantom Menace has changed his life?

"Everyone treats me like a superstar, which I'm not. I'm a bit overwhelmed, but it's really nice. People recognise you, and you just try to be yourself, but that changes things, 'cos they look at you in a different way, they've seen all the advertising and Darth Maul stuff. Star Wars has done it and put you as a sort of superstar, but I don't see it like that. I'm still the same person as I was several years ago, it's just that I've met a lot more people and I've travelled a lot this year."

As we finished the interview, I felt as though I had been talking to the guy next door, an extremely polite and nice guy, and not the megastar that Ray Park now is. It is good to see such a fresh approach to the whole stardom thing, and that Ray prefers to keep his feet firmly planted on the ground, rather than being somewhere up in the clouds!

© 1999 C.Charlotte Pollnitz