Meet Superman!
Growing up, were you more the nerdy Clark Kent, or the popular jock?
I was more Clark Kent for sure -- I was involved in all kinds of things, music and theatre and sports, but I didn't have too many friends growing up. I then went to college and, um, the girls paid more attention.
Bryan Singer speaks of your Midwest upbringing as one of the things he saw in you that paralleled the Superman story -- tell us a bit about that upbringing, and about your background.
Yes, people talk of the Midwest upbringing, I don't quite know how to define it except that we are taught to treat people, everyone, with respect, be polite, all of that.
My mom is a teacher, and dad works for himself -- he does things in carpentry, builds things. Both are musicians -- mom sings, dad is a drummer, and they still do that once in a while. Growing up in a small town is, I think, more relaxed. You can be more open to experiencing things later in life whereas, in a big city, you are exposed to pretty much everything too early, and can become jaded. I suppose it is because of my upbringing that, as an adult, I was able to see things with a more open view.