麻豆传媒 (PBA) students crowded the Warren Library on March 25 to听meet John Rhys-Davies, the actor best known for his roles in blockbuster hits 鈥淩aiders of the Lost Ark鈥� (1981), 鈥淚ndiana Jones and the Last Crusade鈥� (1989), and 鈥淭he Lord of the Rings鈥� trilogy (2001, 2002, 2003).听
Also well-known for his voice acting, including narrating a dramatized audio of the New Testament Bible,听Rhys-Davies’s听commanding voice drew fans听to fill every corner of the room. Engaging with the听students听through听Q&A, he told stories about various projects听he鈥檚听worked听on,听and people听he鈥檚听met,听jumping from amusing anecdotes to serious advice.听
On Set and Off the Page听
Initial questions from the students dug into Rhys-Davies’s experiences on 鈥淭he Lord of the Rings鈥� set.听
鈥淚 think one of the hardest things was听Helm鈥檚 Deep, because we were doing it in the rain,鈥澨齱hich was artificed courtesy of the local fire brigade, he said. 鈥淭hat听cold water听goes in, down your back, through the chain mail, down, soaks your backside, all the way into your boots, and that goes on while you do the scene.听You鈥檝e听got about 20 minutes, and the body is just beginning to start warming again, and听then听the听hose comes on again, and that goes on all night.听
鈥淭hose nights are nights that you try to forget, but when听you鈥檙e听making something of such wonderful interest as听鈥楲ord of the Rings,鈥櫶齳ou accept it.鈥�听
Moving from the story to the author, students prompted Rhys-Davies for听his thoughts on the underlying themes in Tolkien鈥檚 worldbuilding.听He听answered with his admiration for Tolkien鈥檚 resilience in surviving the horrors of war听before creating his fictional world.听
鈥淧eople with faith tend to be more resilient than those of us听who are听without faith, but part of it is听just听a certainty of doing the right thing; the consistent practice of virtue,鈥� he听surmised.听
Artificial Intelligence and the Arts听
Students were also curious to hear听Rhys-Davies’s听thoughts on artificial intelligence (AI) and its potential impact on artistic careers.听
鈥淒o I tell the truth or do I encourage them?鈥� Rhys-Davies mused, garnering nervous chuckles from the crowd.听鈥淎I has the potential for infinite improvement, which we do not have. So, one of the questions that one should ask oneself is, can we coexist with AI?鈥�听
Several times, Rhys-Davies analogized using his knowledge of space science and connections with听NASA, and听shared his anticipation of data听eventually being stored on听the moon.听
A Lack of Self-Consciousness听
Finally, he gave a word to the shy students in听the room.听
鈥淚 am now going to tell you the secret of success,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he real secret of success is good manners. Why? Because you need to learn how to make strangers feel comfortable.鈥�听
Actors听can鈥檛听afford to be self-conscious, he went on. When听you鈥檙e听able to focus on other people instead of yourself and how you are being perceived, those around you will be encouraged to flourish.听
Taking his own advice,听Rhys-Davies led the students downstairs following the Q&A for a听group听photo听and autographs, offering kind words and听an impression testified by the students鈥� smiles.听
Learn more about upcoming guest speakers at听/events/.
