Melissa Navia is BACK! It's like she never left the Open Pike Night Stage but holy cow, the last time we heard from her on the podcast was October 2022. The long-awaited return of our favorite Star Trek Strange New Worlds pilot is at hand, so strap in, sit down, and let's fly!
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This is Melissa Nivea and you're listening to open pike night the podcast where you get to fly the ship
John T Bolds:this thing on hello welcome to open fire ignite the strange two worlds podcast where your personal lungs are the prime directive. I'm your host John T bolds. here tonight with my co hosts and a fan favorite returning guest our callers have come out to spread the love for the pilot who makes the enterprise cut through space like a hot Lyrica through a soft Gorn. Vamanos Joining me tonight are my co hosts first up the man who will always listen when computer tells him how skilled he is at his job. He really doesn't get how social media works. Jesse Bailey,
Jesse:I've heard that people on social media can tell that you're in your 30s if you use animated GIFs to communicate and let me just say the office Dwight it's true dot GIF
John T Bolds:and the man who served his duty on the frontlines of the battle against darkness. Seriously, those Alaskan winters can be brutal hosts of green shirt, a newbie struck through the next generation Cameron.
Cameron:The trick is you've got to keep your freezer of juggle stocked with your moose meat of juggle what you get from the butcher don't go.
John T Bolds:And our guest tonight has the distinction of being the first ever combination strange new worlds actor opened by ignite collar and open pipe night interview guest she flies the ship she loves the fans and strange new worlds fans have screamed out for more and more and more Tigges please welcome Melissa Nivea back to the open pike night stage.
Melissa Navia:Hey guys, how's it doing? I'm so so happy to be back.
Cameron:We're so happy to have you back. Absolutely.
John T Bolds:Fantastic. See you again. And after man. So much has happened since the last time we talked to you on open like date.
Melissa Navia:I know it has been very long. I can't. I'm just trying to think about when we last spoke. And I was just like it's been years has been years.
Cameron:We were just a baby little podcast back then just learning to walk.
John T Bolds:It was October of 22. I think. Yeah. Yeah. For new listeners. Yeah. Melissa was our first interview ever on open mic night. We had just done episode reviews before that. Back then we weren't sure if the Colin format would work for an interview.
Cameron:I will take full responsibility there. I thought it was so smart to be like, yeah, that won't work for an interview. We'll just kind of get them to call and we'll make a montage of great things. And a few episodes later, we're like, oh, no, the column format. It doesn't just work. It works really well. So we are so excited to be able to bring the listener question straight to this time. Unless, yeah,
Melissa Navia:as am I. Tonight,
John T Bolds:we're gonna let the callers get most of the time. And man, do we have I think more new callers than we've had on one episode since the beginning of open mic night. And we have lots of calls from Melissa. So
Cameron:we've got a right into don't we? Yeah, we
John T Bolds:even have a right in. So again, if this is early on, if you're if this is your first episode of open bike night, give us a call. We'll follow us at open pipe.substack.com Or just go to open pipe.com and find out how YouTube can get your voice on the podcast in the ears of your favorite strange new worlds. Creators.
Cameron:Yeah, first couple of questions do kind of cover some stuff I think we at least touched on last time, but not everyone will have heard the interview. And as we just said, it's been a minute. So I think these are good. Good ways to ease us into the conversation again. Yeah.
John T Bolds:First up is our right in Charles is Charlson new ridin does he so I think so. Our first new college Charles Yeah, they welcome to the open bike nine stage. Thank you for writing in Charles says I'm a big fan of yours. Thank you for being the helmsman of the amazing enterprise. Thank you for getting the crew to their destinations throughout the missions. I wanted to ask you two things if possible. First, what made you want to be part of the Star Trek universe? And second, your favorite Trek series and character? I wish I could get your autograph. Thanks, Charles. Oh, cool.
Melissa Navia:I hope you get my autograph to one of these days, Charles. Wonderful. I'll just say Just quickly, I'm very happy that you guys are doing this because I always want to make sure that whenever I do a fan event or I do an interview that if if there are questions to be asked that I get to as many of them as possible, but anyone who's seen us at conventions, they see how impossible that is. So I'm happy that we're gonna have some time now to just really jump into questions and answer them. All right, Charles, let's go So what made you want to be part of the Star Trek universe? Well, first it was, I needed a job. So as an actor, we take the auditions as they come. Of course, if it's an audition that I am not vibing with, or if I don't like the story, or the script, or the character I, I wouldn't have have jumped on board even for the audition in the first place. But when I saw the audition for strange new worlds, when I saw the breakdown, as we call it, the description of the character, I was very fortunate in that, that there was no kind of secrecy around who I was playing, you know, some of our legacy characters, they, they thought they were playing somebody else. And then, and maybe that was a better thing for them, because there was less pressure to play somebody iconic. But for me, it was it was the character of Ortegas. And she was a pilot, and she was funny. And she was Latina, and she was a force to be reckoned with. And I remember reading the breakdown, and thinking, Yeah, this is, this is me, this is the perfect role, combination of roles that I've played before. And kind of everything that I want in a character, especially a series regular, because you have to be looking at these roles as somebody that you're not just going to play for an episode, but for a good portion of your life. And so I was just excited to be called in to audition. I opened pipe friends here and fans who are fans of of this podcast, and of me, they know the story that I've read, with my late partner, he taped me, he read with me, he edited everything. We sent it to casting directors directly because it was so top secret that it couldn't go through my reps. And and then I just waited. And I heard a few weeks later, I was getting a callback, and the rest is history. So what made me want to be a part of the Star Trek universe, I think it was destiny. In the end, I've been I've been acting for my whole life. And I've always wanted to be and have been a storyteller. And now that I'm part of the Star Trek family, do you know I have people who've known me for for a really long time. And you know, they've come to me, and they've said things like, you know, we always knew it was going to be Star Trek, which makes me really laugh, because I want to say, you know, I wish you'd told me back then when I was you know, struggling and trying to figure out what I'm doing with my life. But it just feels in so many ways like it fits and, and yeah, so I'm very, very happy to be here. And I do not take it for granted. I consider it a really big responsibility, not just as an actor, as this is my profession. But also, a lot of people look at this show as a part of their lives and a part of their memories. And it means so much more to them than just something that they tune into, on a regular or an occasional basis. Like it's a it's a it's a part of the fabric of who they are. And so I don't take that lightly. Then we have your favorite Trek series and character, strange new worlds, Eric Ortegas. No, I would say so. I'm often asked and will be asked forever is the question was a Trekkie before joining the show. And I would say that I would never have considered myself necessarily a Trekkie, like a hardcore Trek fan. Now, of course I do. But Star Trek is one of those things that it's been a part of our lives in one way or another. And for me growing up, that was the next generation. And so I would watch it, it would be on in the background, I would sit down and watch it, I would watch it, you know, I would I would tune in and I would always sit through the the opening credits and the theme song and Patrick Stewart's voice still brings a tear to my eye, which I've said many many times, and it's still true. And from that show, my favorite character was Commander Riker played by Jonathan Frakes. And years later, now that I am part of the franchise and I get to work with him. He directed us for an episode and season two. And I can say this because I believe it's already been made public. So it's not a secret, but he has come back for season three. So to do that, to get to do that, to be with him on the bridge of the enterprise to hear that incredible voice as both an actor and a director and just a wonderful human being on set is just you know, something that's never going to be a thing that becomes you know, normal like this is still crazy, like what is happening? So yeah, so the next generation for sure, that was my Star Trek growing up, and Commander Riker but now I've met I've met almost everyone, except I have not met LeVar Burton, but i i I adore him from afar. For both Star Trek and also Reading Rainbow and just in general, everything I hear from all of his friends who I know, I know a number of them now is that he's just a fantastic person and Patrick Stewart I have been like 10 feet away from multiple times and each time I have been I have panicked and I've been like, you know what? It's okay. And then at the Saturn Awards, Wil Wheaton was just like, I'm gonna introduce you and I'm like, let's, let's wait, let's, I mean, he's sitting down. He's like, let's just let him be. Let's do a little bit later. And we'll was like, alright, we'll make it happen. And then Patrick Stewart pulled like an Irish goodbye toward the end, which is totally cool. And I totally would have done the same thing. So if it is meant to be one day, I will I will speak to him. But for now, I'm just happy to kind of just be in the same room as him.
Cameron:So it's more than I van. Yeah. I will also take a moment for quick self promotion that if you are also a Riker fan out there, you should visit Riker maneuver.com, where me and some other Alaskans are working and getting quite close now to build a Riker statue, and my hometown and his future birthplace of Valdez, Alaska.
Melissa Navia:That's awesome.
Cameron:Go check us out there. Hopefully lots of news on that coming soon. Very cool.
John T Bolds:Absolutely. Let's go ahead and listen to you, David Jones.
Unknown:Hey, Melissa, it's David here. So I was one of the Federation soldiers, on Juggler and under the cloak of war. So my question is, I don't know if he answered this on your previous open pike night or not. What was it like walking into the fitting room and seeing everything hanging up? You know, all the costumes and everything like that? I remember, for me, it was, you know, absolutely surreal. It's not everyday you walk in and see all the real Star Trek, you know, costumes hanging up on the walls. What was it like for you?
Melissa Navia:Hey, David. So if I caught that correctly, you were one of our soldiers. In one of our episodes, one of the background actors. Yeah, fantastic. We have such an incredible cast. And we have so many actors, and just incredibly talented people who are working with us all the time. And it's so hard sometimes when you're on your onset to, to see everybody and to get a chance to kind of have a moment with them. So whenever I hear after the fact from from actors who are like, Oh, I was, you know, on this episode, and you were there, and I played this person, I'm always like, thank you so much for reaching out. So, you know, I always say this, but I do see a lot of the messages that are sent to me via social media, but I can not often respond to all of them. But if you ever want to send me a message, please do and I'm always happy to to hear from any actor who has graced our set and made our show what it is. So what was it like walking into the fitting room, your, your first time on set? So I mean, all of it was a bit of a dream come true. Definitely. Like I still remember walking on and there was the uniforms were hanging there. And it was very, like, you know, another day at work, but also, like, Is this really happening? And, you know, we were shooting season one in a very weird time, we were still very much in pandemic times. And in order to get to Canada, I'm from New York, you know, it had to, there was a whole process that had to be followed to get across the border. Me and my partner, Brian, like, together, it was very much like it was like, We need to get to Canada. Do you know what it was like? Whatever happens, we have to make it across the border. And once you're there, we couldn't cross the border. Again. We couldn't go back to New York. And so there's just a lot of things like, you know, I was away from my family for for six months. And so being there, I was still very like, is this all gonna work because it's still gonna happen is suddenly at the last minute, they're gonna be like, Do you know what we don't need to helmsmen? I didn't know. So
Unknown:itself, right, yeah, you
Melissa Navia:know what, let's let's change it up. So I was still like walking into the fitting room, it's still very much like okay, this is the next step in, in the job. And I've always been, because as a working actor, I think you've kind of trained to think like this and I will always think like this that you just don't get too excited about something until it is on the TV screens of people. So I really don't don't jump up and down until my friends and family are watching it in their living rooms. So for me I was just kind of like cool this is just another fitting not weird at all. Not crazy. Cool wearing the member of Starfleet wearing the shirts and the pants and let's all relax I think I grabbed a picture of myself in the in the in the mirror, as if that would make it more real. And yeah, but it was very cool in the costume department remains. Right now. We're still working with them. It's everyone everyone is still there and they are fantastic. And so whenever they bring us in, I joke with them that I get more information from upcoming episodes from them than anybody else because because they know things in advance because they have to put together these incredible costumes and to and to really just create the world that we are in so so I'm always just gonna be like can you guys give me any insight like what's going on? And so yeah,
Cameron:them like we are with you. Right
Melissa Navia:right. They're like they're leveling What do you know that I don't know. And sometimes even like from like, you know, like, their eyes will go wide and I'm like, alright, don't tell me let's let's we'll fall through the wall. In in good A time we will find out what we need to know. But the costume departments wonderful. And so they immediately from the get go, like, told me just what a welcoming warm atmosphere the set was going to be. And it was true. That's what that's what we have.
John T Bolds:That's fantastic. That's yeah, I had never thought about that before with the costume department. You know, they might be like, Oh, hey, after this battle scene, we're gonna start putting this green sleeve on your arm. Don't worry about it. It's nothing important. Like
Melissa Navia:yeah, like I still think I believe that for season one it was in it was it was with the costume department where I first learned about sir ADIA, I like first saw that picture. And that was months before I saw script, and I knew it was going on. And all I saw was that picture. So it was able to, to, to kind of be in my head. And that's when I started to look for the stunt team. And I was just like, can we start sword fighting? I don't know why. But let's let's work on.
John T Bolds:Yeah, just because Yeah. All right. Well, our next caller is another new caller to open pike night. Melanie is joining us on stage, international, even high, often
Unknown:packed night. And Hi, Melissa. This is Melanie from Germany. I'm so excited to see you in my fit con here in Germany, I can hardly wait. Whenever someone asked me what position or job I would have and stuff it I always say I'll fly the ship, like what to stuff. I wouldn't be a pilot. You do a great job playing her. And I would love to see more of Erica in this season. I loved and again money how Pac was enthralled by how you flew the Shuttle to the planet. Now is said that Erica had been born for this. So my question is in among the Lotus Eaters, and the crew loses the memories. How did you prepare to say I fly the ship? I mean, you said the same sentence over and over again, like a mantra but with different intonations? Did you think about it? Or did it come my shooting? Or was it an idea of the writer or director? Please tell us more about it. Thanks for everything and live longer prosper.
Melissa Navia:Awesome question Melanie. I am also very excited for for my trip to Germany I I've only been to Germany once I loved it. It was a few lifetimes ago and I cannot wait to return for the I fly the ship scene. So that's become such a mantra for so many fans. And it makes it makes autograph signing conventions a little bit easier because I have something to sign. I joked with the with Todd statute from Picard when we were doing conventions in Australia, New Zealand, he has like the easiest best kind of go to autograph signing line. It's like no, that I'm like, Ah, like, that'd be so great. If you could just sign that all the time. But I'm very happy with I fly the ship. So that scene was beautiful for me in so many ways. One, it was you know, we really got to see Ortegas embrace who she is, which so much of that is her profession. And I know Believe me, I'm right there with you. When fans are like that they want more backstory, they want to know more about her. But I will continue to stand by the idea that I think it's fantastic that what we do know about her is told so much and how confident and capable she is in her profession and how she is regarded by everybody on her crew. Because so often that says so much more about a person than if you know, like, their CV, do you know what I mean? Like it says, it says everything in so many ways. And as I know and and so many of us know, like, you know, when someone when someone leaves us, what we remember is how they made us feel how we felt around them, what they what they helped us accomplish what they helped us do. And so what you keep seeing from from Ortegas throughout the two seasons that we've seen so far, is that she is trusted by her crew and she gets them through the worst situations pretty much. And so in this particular episode, it's this idea of having to remember what she's capable of. And forgetting not only that she loves doing it, but that she is really good at it. And so on on a literal level, she literally forgets who she is and what she does, which has comical aspects to it for sure. But what I was also thinking about was this idea of in life, how often do we do we second guess what it is that we're good at? So this idea of impostor syndrome is something that I thought about where you know, you're good at something, but then you question Are you good at it right? And then you question Are you good at it at all and maybe you've just been you know faking it until you make it and and have you made it. So that to me was resonating the idea to have actual memory loss that that is Something that, that so many of us know, either that's personally happened to us or we know people who are dealing with it. And I didn't really expect that after the episode came out that so many fans, were going to reach out to me and say how it spoke to them on that level. Because they are dealing with memory loss in some capacity with a family member or friend or themselves. And so all those things kind of played into it. And then it was also this great moment for Ortegas to really have like, the shining moment in the episode to be like, I can do this. And in terms of the the I fly the ship sequence in, in the scene, you know, Did I did I work that out beforehand? Absolutely not. It was kind of the tricky thing. It's like where it looks like a certain thing on the page. And then when you kind of just say it out loud, you're like, Well, how's that going to work? And it kind of all stemmed from this idea that she was really almost going into like a full fledged panic attack in her room when everything's falling apart around her. And you know, she's being hit by by giant rocks and space, and what does she do? And so it was really kind of just a last desperate attempt to how do you wrap yourself up, right to do this thing. And so it was a mixture of her telling herself that, that she can do this. And then also just really trying to get that adrenaline going. And it's almost kind of felt like a bit like that acting exercise where you like, say align different ways. But that wasn't what I was thinking about. In the moment, what I was thinking about was just the the adrenaline, the excitement, the panic, and then also being like, there's only one person who can do this. And it's Erica. So either she's gonna make it happen, or it's not gonna happen. So that's just kind of the energy that I took into that scene. And, and yeah, for a lot of different reasons, there was a lot of emotions going into it. And, and yeah, I had no idea when we, when we cut that day, what any of it was gonna look like. And do you know, I went home going, I hope that worked. Really well.
John T Bolds:It was totally Well,
Melissa Navia:cool. So I'm happy. I'm happy that that that all worked out.
Jesse:So Melanie mentioned being excited to see you at a German convention later this year. Let's flash forward 25 years. Okay, strange new worlds has had its seven seasons and at least one movie Ortegas remains a fan favorite naturally. Our Star Trek conventions still something you see yourself doing? Weigh in the future, while fans continue to form hours long lines to meet their favorite pilot?
Melissa Navia:Absolutely, absolutely. 100%. I did. Back in October, I did a convention tour, as I like to call it with Todd stash with Jess Bush from from our show, Robert Picardo and Kate Mulgrew. And it was an adventure. In so many ways, it was like a three week long adventure, and getting to see fans from another part of the world that I've never been in, who just made us feel like we were at home. And, you know, we hung out with them. Do you know at kind of like VIP events, and then we saw them, of course at the conventions, and seeing the way that they were talking to us. And especially with me, you know, I had fans who came up to me and said that, what the character of Ortegas has meant to them in their lives and how they've been able to kind of discover things about themselves and how how momentous seeing her on screen has been. I'm just like, I mean, I I'm going to be doing this for my whole life. And that's, that's absolutely fine by me. Like it was a pleasure. Like it's definitely it's a lot of energy goes into it. And anyone who's met me at a convention knows that you guys have even met me at a convention. I just put a lot of myself into it. Because as much as I put into it, when I'm on set, I always say this half the fans or half of the story, half of the work that keeps this franchise running. So I mean, we never know what's coming or what it's going to be like but right now in this moment, I could say yeah, and 25 years if I'm around, I will still be rockin and rollin at conventions for
Cameron:sure. Great to hear. We'll be there mine. I had a much more forced transition into this built in later, but you've given me a much better one. Now. That convention tour you mentioned I believe you are down in Australia and New Zealand. And as anyone who listens will know I will take any conversation about Star Trek and turn it into a conversation about Lord of the Rings. You got to visit the Shire and the green dragon with some of those awesome people. So just I don't really have a question but just tell us about that experience for us. mere mortal men doomed to die who haven't yet been there.
Melissa Navia:Ah, it was everything. Well, first of all, being there in the Shire. My first thought and my thought the whole time leading up to it was that my younger sister Sariah, who I introduced to Lord of the Rings when she was about I think six years old. Like it's been such a huge part of her life and our lives together. I was just like I shouldn't be here without her like, this is not right. So I just kept saying, You know what I am, I am. It's just like a scouting mission Do you know to check it all out and then and then to come back with her, and to be there, like on a show now that also has a very loyal fan base and to be there with members of multiple Star Trek shows like there was just worlds colliding, do you know and so then to be at the Green Dragon, and to be there with Bob and with Kate and with Jess and with Todd who actually went he actually went a few days before we did to the Shire with his wife. So he had a wonderful time. But we didn't that that picture that I treasure. We're we're all together. He's not in it, but he's there and spirit. Like for me, it was just like amazing. Like I'm bringing Star Trek and lord of the rings together. And so now it's kind of like this secret mission of mine, which is now no longer secret because I am saying it out loud to you guys. But a couple of weeks ago. I went to see Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead playing at the Mirvish theatre here in Toronto. And Martin Quinn who plays Scottie came with me. And so then afterwards, we went backstage and we met them and it was like, just in the back of my head, I was like, I continue to bring together the worlds of Starcraft. So that's gonna be a bit of like a mission for me just just as often as I can do it. But the Shire was, was beautiful, the entire experience was everything I could have imagined it would be and more, they just put so much care into the details of everything. The banquet that we had at the Green Dragon was the like, it was a banquet for royalty. And it felt like that, like it was just everything was was the you know, the table was covered with food and with drink and with dessert, and it was just extraordinary. And when we got to like leave with like, you know, green dragon mugs, and then we're walking back through the Shire to go through the bus like they turned, like what they asked us to turn off like, I think it was like, we had lanterns. But whatever, we got to stand there in the dark, just to appreciate the Shire. And it was just very clearly run by people who know how special this world is for so many people. And in many ways I find the Star Trek world to be the same. Or it's just like, you know, it's it's run by literally and figuratively and all the different fan realms by people who understand how much this means to people who, who they're meeting for the first time. So it was just it was very, very cool. And I can't wait to go back. That's
Cameron:amazing to hear. I can't wait to go and that that photo of you guys there just looks like the best Christmas card ever was on our sweaters on that's great. It's the best photo? Well, you just gave us a great detailed answer to one of the episodes among the Lotus Eaters and your big moment in there. We're gonna do a quick little segment now where I'm just gonna go through the list of season two episodes of strange new worlds. And I'm going to ask for a much shorter answer just the first thing that pops into your head. It could be one word, one sentence one thought that pops in your head when I say the title of the episode. You already know. Better if you're not. Let's start with the premiere the broken circle
Melissa Navia:dominoes.
Cameron:Episode Two at Astra per Aspera Luna Episode Three tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow.
Melissa Navia:I was barely in it. Yeah.
Cameron:Episode Four among the Lotus Eaters.
Melissa Navia:I fly the ship
Cameron:wouldn't have any other one. Charades?
Melissa Navia:Spock eating bacon.
Cameron:I do want to come back to charades Yeah. Have I lost in translation?
Melissa Navia:Oh my goodness gracious lost in translation. That was that was the most special episode to me. bannings nebula There you go. Ah,
Cameron:yes. How about seven those old scientists?
Melissa Navia:Oh, Jackson and Tawny cartoons rock. Especially when they become human.
Cameron:under the cloak of war. War is
Melissa Navia:painful. This painful stays with you.
Cameron:subspace Rhapsody
Melissa Navia:I am owed a full song or Titus full song preferably like with a banjo in hand.
Cameron:And then the finale cliffhanger itself hegemony.
Melissa Navia:Be careful what you wish for.
Cameron:Good, good. All right. Excellent. Just wanted to make sure we covered Season Two before we went on Yeah, no,
Melissa Navia:then everybody was just a quick story with in our on our convention tour with with Bob and Kate. But Jess and I. We had the honor of being on on a couple of panels with them. And so it was you know Talking about, you know, how do I see myself in 25 years still doing this, like seeing fans react to Bob and Kate, and telling them like, you know what they have meant to them in their lives like, Yeah, I'm looking at people who are doing what I would love to be doing in in, in 25 years, and they're not only are they doing it, but they're enjoying it. What struck me so interesting was that they would remember like names of episodes and like specific moments and things. And at one point, like I'm on a panel, and I'm like, I just turned to Jess, like, I'm laughing. And I'm like, Dude, I don't even remember like the names of last season's episode. I don't remember what I did last week. That's it, hoping it's like one of those things that you know, you've done it enough time. So like the names of everything sticks in your head. But if you'd asked me right now to name all the titles of last season's episodes, this season's episode season one titles I would not know so. So yeah. Hopefully that is a skill that will come to me. You
John T Bolds:have no idea how tempting it is to say like go ahead and name all the season three.
Jesse:Well, in those, those crews did have an advantage where they seemed to like, you know, film all their episodes over the course of a few months, and then those episodes would air almost immediately. Whereas new worlds is like, we've had two seasons in four years. Yeah, cover like
Melissa Navia:time really is. It's like I keep saying I keep referring to Season Two when I'm talking on set as last year, right? Wasn't last year. We shot it in 2022. Yeah, I'm dealing with serious like, I don't know what time is. It It's wild. Yeah. And even like you guys, like I thought we spoke last year. And then like, as I was preparing for today, we didn't do it like this, I thought was last year, but then I'm like, No, that can't be. And then sure enough. 2022 Yeah. And yeah, and I feel like we all look exactly the same.
Jesse:So you definitely have the same haircut.
John T Bolds:All right. Well, here's our next caller. Zo. Richardson from backlog cinema. Open
Zo from Back Look Cinema:pike night. This is Zach Richardson of the USS cinema. Captain commanding also host of backlog cinema, the podcast. And I would like to thank you for giving us the opportunity to leave a message for Melissa Natvia. Melissa, you're so beautiful, so talented. And that eyebrow lift that you have is it's just a chef's kiss, if you will. I love the way you present your expressions. The eyebrow lift is one of my favorite things. The question I have for you is, according to our research, you have a background in martial arts, specifically kung fu. So is this something that you would bring forth? For take us? Or to put it another way? Does Ortegas know kung fu? If it's not Kung Fu, what attributes or aspects or elements would you want to bring forth? In Ortegas? There are no wrong answers. As a matter of fact, I believe firmly that you could do no wrong. Thank you. And have a wonderful day. And if you ever want to switch over from the enterprise to the cinema, we always have a seat for you. Richardson out.
Melissa Navia:Oh, my goodness. So thank you so much for that. That was beautiful. I love that that you have researched me. I feel like I've been studied. And it makes me feel special. So thank you. But yes, I do have a background in Kung Fu, and martial arts. And I would love to definitely employ more of that. On the show, and oh, thank you for calling out the the eyebrow raise. I've said it before that, you know when people find out what show I'm on but they haven't watched it. Sometimes they assume I'm I play Vulcan, which and Yeah, and so I think I think that has something to do with the eyebrow. Or maybe something else. Maybe I'm naturally logical. I don't know. But yeah, I would definitely love to see Ortegas incorporate more martial arts into her her time on the enterprise. We have some very, very skilled fighters already in the cast. So we were getting to see a lot of that. If not what aspects of yourself Would you like to bring forward and Ortegas? I mean, I've mentioned it before, but I don't know how it would work quite yet. But I'm not going to give up. If we got to see some some bluegrass on the ship, that'd be great. And then I know people will be like, Well, how would it make any sense but if if you know me and where I come from, and I'm, you know where I was born, you know, bluegrass doesn't make all that much sense either, but it works. It's the truth. So So yes, I feel like there would be a bit of that. I would definitely love to incorporate more, more Spanish and more of her her background and her family's background and the language that they spoke growing up, as well as English, of course. So that would be cool to do. And especially because it's something that I know, the fans want and have been asking for since since season one premiered. And I've gotten so much wonderful feedback from, from fans who are excited to see a Latina at the helm of the enterprise. And it's really made me kind of realize, again, that responsibility that we have when we step into these roles and into a show like this into a franchise like this, of what what it means for people have been fans for so long. And suddenly they see themselves in a new way on the bridge. And so speaking to fans, and especially young fans that they see themselves in Ortegas, and, and they see themselves on the bridge, it's really special. So anything, anything that I can kind of keep bringing forward from, from my own experiences that also kind of meld with, with what the writers have crafted for Ortegas. When that comes together, and it works. It works. So, so yeah, so I'm excited to see everything that the writers have in store for Vegas, and definitely her fight background, her talents, all of that I see I see a world for it. But I'm very much like I just kind of step back, I let the writers do what they do. They do always ask us producers writers have said this since the beginning. They're very, very collaborative. And and I hear that's not always the case on sets, but I've just had such a wonderful experience on our set that I don't care about all those other cases. Since day one since season one, they've been like, what do you see in your character? Where do you see this going? And they've kind of taken some of that and and incorporated into into their storylines and so so it all in the end comes out and it works and the fans end up digging it so yeah, so So thank you so much for that. I hope that that gives you a little bit thank you for doing research on me and and more eyebrow raising to come.
Cameron:Did you have an example of something you've suggested that was that's made its way into a script? From
Melissa Navia:the from the get go? Do you know I said I said I love that Her background was was described in the in the initial breakdown as Latina. So I said I love that. I said that's that's my background as well. And I said, you know, my parents are Columbian. And that's, that's a big part of my heritage. I was like, it'd be cool if if she was also if Ortegas was and so they have they went with that. And and so we saw some things in season two, and and yeah, and I'll leave it at that. No.
John T Bolds:All right. Well, we have another new callers. And that's perfect time to hear from him. Here's Joseph. Hi, guys.
Unknown:Thanks for the opportunity to ask a question. From Melissa. I just wanted to say I was thrilled to see you appear on screen the very first time I saw you, it was it was emotional. I was kind of moved to tears. I'm getting choked up now. Because for the first time in a long time, really, for the first time ever, I saw someone that looked like me, my family, my people on screen. And I know we've had Mallanna Torres as far as like, you know, Latino, Hispanic, whatever, you know, actor in Shrek before, and I don't want to presume about about your background. But you were the spitting image of my my cousin. And I don't know, it just meant a lot. You know what I mean? Anyway, I'm really looking forward to see you morning in the following season.
Melissa Navia:Yeah, thanks a lot. Oh, Joseph. I love that. And look, now I'm getting I'm getting emotional, too. And John, and Jesse and Cameron can all see that. Absolutely beautiful. Thank you so much. I've heard this in person, and I've heard it in messages and it never gets old. It's, it's, it's, well, first of all, I am so grateful to be in this role. And the fact that that fans like you are seeing me and they see themselves and they see their family members. Like I'm I'm right there with you. Like, I know that. Growing up, I always felt like for a lot of different reasons. I always felt like I never saw myself on screen. And then I said, without really realizing, I guess until I got older that I was always just kind of like, you know, I'm just going to grow up and be that, you know, when I'm going to be an actor, and I'm going to make it you know, in films and on TV, I'll just be that it never occurred to me that you know, that I had to wait for anybody to show me my cell phone screen, if that makes sense. And so now that that I am and that I get to play this role in somebody who was who was written as Latina, and I happened to be that as well. What I love about it is that is that the spectrum of being Latina is so vast. And I think sometimes in Hollywood, it's very narrow what they think it is to be Latino. And I know that, you know, auditioning and acting for as many years as I have, How often have I wanted to go in for a role? And, you know, everybody is kind of like, you know, you're you're ethnically ambiguous, but you're not kind of, you know, we can't see you in this role. We can't see. And I'm like, but I, you know, our people are like, Oh, well, you don't look, quote unquote, look, you know, Latino, I'm like, what does that what does that mean? I look like everyone in my family. So what does that mean? So, I've been very adamant in saying that, for however long I have, on this earth, telling stories that haven't been told before. And that also are our stories about Latinos and families, Latino families that exist in our inner world, but we just don't see them on film and TV. And you know, I'm looking for projects that, that do that. And that fight any sort of stereotypes that I think we have enough of in film and TV. And so when I see young fans of Latin and Hispanic background, they come up to me and they're just like, we're so happy to see you at the helm of the enterprise. The more that I hear it, the more that it like it resonates with me just how important that is. And so So Joseph, I am with you entirely completely. You got me all discombobulated over here and emotional. But yeah, it means so much. And, and yeah, it's one of those things where it's just like I I never tire of hearing people tell me how much it means to them. So So yeah, so I don't even have Joseph, do you even have a question? Are you just telling me Did I answer your question? But yeah, please? Yeah, that's what I Yeah. Oh, you got me all motional here, Joseph. Thank you. Thank you. Fantastic
John T Bolds:answer.
Cameron:I think he responded perfectly. Yeah.
John T Bolds:All right. Here is Mariah returning to the bike night stage.
Mariah:The Listen now via thank you so much for coming back to open pike night. I can't wait to hear you chat with the guys and answer all of our questions. I would like to know how many times a day you say to yourself, I'm Melissa Nivea, and I fly the ship. Because I sure as heck do with my own name. But it sort of in all seriousness, I want to know like what you've learned from Erica, or take us and what you've sort of taken back into your own life from the experience of playing her. Thanks again, live long and prosper. Oh, this is Mariah, by the way. I forgot to say that.
Melissa Navia:Hey, Mariah. So I actually I don't say it all that often to myself, because a lot of people say it for me and to me, which is great. But I do. I do love that so many people have told me that it's become their mantra. So I do love that. And I'm also I've spoken about it. Definitely a lot more than I've been practicing it. But I say it's because I'm filming but how I want to become a pilot so So Erica has absolutely inspired me to want to do that see fans have inspired me to because I have met fans at conventions that told me they want to grow up to be a pilot, they are getting their pilot's license, I have met a lot of pilots, I have met a number of astronauts who are also pilots. So yeah, I would say that, that it's definitely the flying aspect of of what she does. So yeah, so she she flies the ship. So I don't necessarily say it to myself a lot. But I do love that. The fans are saying it to themselves. And I do do. Like I think about how she is so very confident and she is very cocky and she is very good at what she does. And so at any point when I kind of feel like myself being like, I don't actually know what I'm doing. I kind of tried to incorporate what what would Erica do? Yeah, I guess I guess Yeah, I'm like, What would ever say well, what Eric could do. And I'm like she would she would go and fly a plane. And so that's what I'm trying to do. So yeah, definitely just her confidence and all those things that fans and the writers have said that they love about her. I I would love to kind of be more of that in my own life, which is just you know, kind of that you know what you're about but I guess I do know what I'm about. I don't know guys, I don't know these gentlemen who are here with me on this podcast, they know that I'm here being like, what am I talking about? Um, but yeah, but again, it's it's that whole thing of like, you know, kind of, you know, if you're if if you are really good at what you do, there is a level of humility, which I guess I have and I guess Erica has that as well so so I do I am confident a lot of the time just like her but uh, but all kinds of those those those flying aspects those working within a crew, you know, being answerable to people around you which I feel is very similar to what we have to deal with on a film set. You know, you you have not one person or one group of people don't make it happen, we all make it happen. And I did a, an interview with an astronaut on the International Space Station. And we were talking and he was saying that he can totally see how a film set a lot is, is is like what it takes to get an astronaut to the space station, you know, it, it takes so many different groups of people working together to make it happen. And we were actually talking about, I actually asked him about kind of, has he had his eye fly the ship moments do you know, when you're in space, and you're like, What am I doing? And he said that you have to kind of fall into knowing that you have trained for this, you you know what to do you know how to handle pressure, and you just have to, to kind of trust that you that you are able to dig into your resources and and do what has to be done. And so in so many ways, like it was just very like, layers of everything. It was like Erica, it was like astronauts, it was like Starfleet. It was like life. It was like, you know, meaning of life. What are we doing? How do we do it? So? Yeah, so that is that is? That is my answer. I have brought a lot of Ortegas into my life, and I've brought a lot of my life in tour. Tigges.
Cameron:So was getting your pilot's license? Were you curious about that at all before started tractor? did that all come after? Ortegas? Yeah, so actually,
Melissa Navia:probably 10 years ago, I did one of those, like discovery flights, okay, because I was interested in getting my pilot's license, but then I kind of not that I forgot about it, but at the time, and I still am a working actor. Do you know, I wasn't, you know, I didn't have money to spend on on flying lessons. I have a little bit more money now. And so I now can do that. But yeah, the funny thing is, like, you know, when you see in your pictures pop up, I'm like, oh, man, 10 years ago, I did fly plane. And I brought Sariah my, my little sister with me. And she was in the back taking pictures. And and yeah, so I did you know, it was like one, you know, you have the pilot next to you. And you know, you take off and you land the plane, but I didn't have any idea what I was doing. But I've always loved flying, I've never had a fear of it. I've always always loved it is one of the coolest things that we do as human beings right up there with space travel. And then like learning the history of aviation, which I've definitely gotten more into now, like I used to not be into Do you know, watching, like, I like military documentaries, but I was never really super into the aviation aspect of it. Now I am a lot more. And it because it plays so much to into what we do on the show. So I incorporate that kind of into it. But so in so many ways, it was always there, like my love of flying and my lack of any sort of fear around it. But now it's kind of like, oh, I want to do it. And the funny thing is, when I talk to people who are not pilots, they make me scared a little bit again, because they think it is the craziest thing. And then when I talk to pilots, both professional and also, you know, pilots who just have their pilot's license and enjoy doing it, and also astronauts, they always instill in me just a calmness. And they're like it is it is the most fun and it it makes you kind of tap into a part of your brain that you just wouldn't otherwise. And so, when I speak to them, I'm like, yes, let's do it. We're going to become, you know, real life pilot. And while I speak to everyone else, I'm like, maybe I have to remind myself that I have not overtaken us. So it's that it's that battle. And when we finished filming, and I get back to New York, it is you know, it's it's, it's time for action, so
John T Bolds:just remind them like, Hey, if you drove to work today that was more dangerous than
Jesse:I don't know, John, if you've been paying attention to like news around airlines lately, because so knowing. Knowing that you've spent some time with actual pilots learning to become a pilot, you've spent some time with actual astronauts, for example, Dr. Sian Proctor, who's an actual astronaut and the first black woman to pilot a spacecraft. Is there maybe a trip to space in real life in the cards from Alyson Avia?
Melissa Navia:Did you guys are like you? All these secrets? All these secret missions in my head? You're making me say them out loud. So yeah, definitely in the last year like meeting meeting, Dr. Sign proctor I met her at this convention called humans to Mars. And it was so incredible, because it was really an academic conference where they were bringing me as an actor from from Star Trek franchise as somebody from the world of entertainment. And it was this melding of kind of like the world of conventions and the world of conferences. And it was so beautiful. It was so perfect, and it was something that I think we need to see more of, because there's so many interesting, exciting, groundbreaking things happening in the world of space travel. But I don't know if it's because do you know the times that we live Again, an information is coming so fast and from everywhere. And there's just so much happening that I feel like there, that a lot of space travel news doesn't get kind of the headlines or the, or the excitement that it should be getting. And people in the community feel the same. But when you have somebody who, you know, who people know about in the entertainment world, do you know, like interviewing an astronaut, and seeing like, all the records they're breaking and what incredible things they're finding and and the studies that they're that they're doing in the end, the new missions, they're embarking on, you know, you have this, this coming together, that suddenly becomes you know, a headline, it becomes more of a moment. And so yes, so I would love to do more events like that. And my reps and my team, they all know that and people in the space community know that something else that that I saw, that wasn't surprising, but it's still wonderful to see in the moment is, every single person I spoke to everybody was just like, my love for doing what I do. And my desire to do it began with Star Trek, began with watching this show as a kid, and I'm talking to I mean, the people who are really making our trip back to the moon and our future trip to Mars possible. They're working at NASA, they're working at Blue Origin, they're working at SpaceX. Do you know they're they're behind the, the Artemis shuttle? They're they're behind, you know, the research that's going into how would we actually live on Mars and something that Dr. Proctor says, which has stayed with me, and she said it when we when we met was when you solve for space you solve for Earth. And I love that. And so if I ever meet anybody who, you know, gives you that kind of that line about like, oh, well, we have so much going on, on Earth that isn't right, you know, why should we spend any time with space travel. And it's this idea that to do every little step along the way to get back to the moon, to get to Mars to do anything, when it comes to space travel is a problem to be solved. And you can't solve the next thing until you solve this problem. And when you solve that problem, you are then also solving for something that could help us impact us here on the earth. And it just seems to me so logical, it makes so much sense. But to hear her say it in that way that just kind of keeps resonating. And so yeah, I used to say I remember with Brian, we had this conversation. It was after season one being like, you know, we would we go to space, and we joke that we're like, you know, let the let the first 100 trips, go to space and then do that we'll talk about but now, with everything as it's happened. And as it's been happening, I'm just kind of like, if I were to get that opportunity, I would take it without without question. So, yeah, so you could say that I am. I am getting all these these astronaut connections in the hopes in the hopes that one day I will I will go up
Jesse:there. Very cool. Well, we'll see see NASA on the release of this episode.
John T Bolds:The NASA podcast. All right, we have another one of our longtime returning callers. Here is Abby summer.
Abby from First Flight:Hey, open pike. And Melissa, this is Abby, summer from the first flight podcast. Melissa, so great to have you on with the guys again, you are just a joyous light in the universe. Speaking of joyous things, I was wondering, what are three pieces of entertainment that you think everybody should experience in their life? This could be music, books, TV, movies, whatever three things that are bringing joy consistently to you and that you would like to share with others. I hope all of you are well, and we'll talk soon.
Melissa Navia:Hey, Abby. So wonderful question. What are three pieces of entertainment that bring you joy that you think everyone should see? Now? This is like three specific pieces, not just like general right? Yes, I believe so. Cool. I'm hoping it was General so I could get out.
John T Bolds:music and TV shows. Yeah.
Melissa Navia:Cool. All right. So I'm just going to give me a second guys. Let me think. Can I get away with saying strange new worlds? Oh, yeah.
Jesse:I would hope so. Yeah. So I'm gonna have
Melissa Navia:to kick it off after the strange new worlds. Yeah, just gonna have to say stranger worlds. And I'm going to have to say I've spoken about it at length and last couple years. When I was back for season two, I started watching Downton Abbey. I was dealing with grief. And it was it was painful in so many ways. And I wanted to watch something that I had not yet watched with my late partner because it was difficult but now I'm definitely able to watch our shows again and the films that we liked and the shows that he introduced me to and that we enjoyed watching together but for a long time there I just I couldn't do it. And so I wanted to find something new and I started watching Downton Abbey and it's I think it's just it's a beautiful show. Wow, that does a really good job of discussing grief. And and there's so many young widows in the show young widows and widowers, it just allowed me to kind of think about my grief in a way that didn't have me falling apart all the time. So So Downton Abbey for me has just taken a very very very special place in my life because it it kind of helped me from going absolutely mad when I was coming home from from set everyday in season two and being beside myself with grief you know, the also what helped me greatly was was was being on set and we can touch on that before this interview finishes guys in terms of grief and how being on set helped me but um, but yeah, so strange new worlds Downton Abbey.
Cameron:Well, what about I mean, other than bluegrass what's what's some music that's on Melissa? Yeah, yes. Playlist. Oh, goodness.
Melissa Navia:That now that is a secret. You guys are trying to get into my head. So, okay, so So Abby, what have we talked about? We talked about strange new worlds Downton Abbey. And so yeah, so definitely talked about bluegrass and I love I love Irish music as well. I love great live Irish music in New York in particular, which is very specific, but I am I'm very biased. All my friends are the best when it comes to live musicians. But I'll say a third thing. Okay, so so back to that Australia New Zealand convention tour. Sometimes I'd be on the bus, right and everybody would get on the Boston, they'd be ready to go to like our next stop. And science people would notice that, like, I'd be like, you know, kind of in my headphones. And so I forget who it was. If it was I forget if it was I forget who it was, but they were just like, oh, most of them. You know, she's listening to music. And I'm like, Yeah, I'm listening to my adventure music. And they were like vice, and I said, Yeah, and I've never said that out loud. But ya know, adventure music. I'm just gonna leave it at that. You just have to Google and YouTube just music that makes you feel like you're on an adventure. I think everybody should have it. It's kind of like a mix between like pirate music and cowboy music and fantasy music. And, and yeah, and sometimes I dip into into adventure music when I'm when I'm on a on a trip for a road trip or going somewhere. So yeah, so I would say those are my three things happy, very
Jesse:cool. Anybody who's spent any time on Instagram and seen reels with that backing track hoist the colors. Hi, that might be a good, good spot to start for adventure music. I think there you go.
Melissa Navia:There you go. Sounds already just the name alone. That is in the vein of what I speak. Well,
John T Bolds:we have a nother brand new caller to the open mic night stage. Here is Elizabeth.
Unknown:Hi Melissa and open pike night. Thank you for having me on your show. strange new worlds changed my trajectory from casual viewer to raving Star Trek fanatic. And Eric Ortegas is a big part of that. Melissa, thank you for giving life to this amazing character. I could talk about her all day, but since I only have 90 seconds I'll try to narrow it down. One thing I love about season two is the many sides of our tickets we get to see she pranks a time traveler stands up to an old enemy drops a shuttle out of the sky. Pilots her shipped safely through a massive debris field when she can't even remember her own name. She encourages a hoorah bickers with Spock and steadfastly supports nurse chapel, whether that means singing back up in the lounge or flying into a deadly gravitational anomaly. She has a history with chapel and mbanga that I'd love to see more of. Can you talk about what it was like to bring all those different aspects of her to life, and also that cliffhanger. It kills me that Ortegas ended the season thinking her closest friend is dead, and then being kidnapped by aliens. I know cliffhangers are something of a Star Trek tradition. But an ending like that in the middle of a double strike. Not knowing if we'd ever get to see the resolution was brutal. Did you have a sense of the time that a strike was coming? What was it like for you as a storyteller, leaving that unfinished while also having to fight for your right to make a living? And one more just for fun? If Ortegas had her own song and the musical episode, what would it be about? Thank you for all your incredible work and for coming back to open pike night.
Melissa Navia:Elizabeth I think you summed up everything you just asked me perfectly incredible. Thank you so much for that. I'm so happy that that's strange new worlds and Erica has has brought you aboard for life. It was everything that you want as an actor. You know, I every time we get a script, you know, you don't know what's coming. But I'm a I'm a writer myself. And I'm also like the biggest fan of our writers. I just I think what they do is incredible. I I seeing all of their talents come together and then and then we see we see it come together in a script. I just I sit there and I'm reading it And I don't even really think about the fact that I'm in it, and that I'm going to be bringing it to life. So, I don't know, like for that first question, it's just, it's a dream come true, which I know I say a lot. But But I mean, it's, it's just yeah, you just take it as you come you, you know, sometimes I have conversations with with writers I was, you know, have a conversation with the director for every episode to see what they're thinking what the, what they see in my character in particular, and where they see the episode going to kind of get a better feel for it. And then you just you just jump into it, and make it happen. Did you know A strike was coming, I definitely did not know that when we were filming the cliffhanger. I don't think any of us quite anticipated that. And so it was, it was tough. The strike was was definitely tough, it was very tough to see. Do you know how many of my friends and my acquaintances and people in the industry were not able to do the work that they love, but, but seeing the union solidarity that that was on display, 24/7, throughout the length of the writers strike, and the actors strike was extraordinary. Our writers went on strike first. So writers in the industry went on strike, and then and then the actors went on strike. And so just seeing us all kind of, you know, fighting for our rights and our livelihood, and our and, and, and how we make a living in this industry, and being able to come to a resolution, it definitely took a lot out of us. But I think it also taught us all a lot. And yeah, it just I just keep going back to the Union solidarity. It's just like, what makes a film set and the TV set happen is because of all the moving parts that come together to, to make it to make it to your screens. So So yeah, so it was it was difficult. But while we were in the strike, we were picketing. You know, our producers or writers, fellow actors, we were all on the picket lines at some point together. And and we knew that there was a light at the end of the tunnel. And it was also it was awesome. You know, it was great to kind of have so much fan support. You know, our unions allowed us to continue going to conventions, sag AFTRA allowed us to to go to conventions, and still speak with fans. And every fan I spoke to understood entirely what we were doing and they respected. Do you know, the guidelines that we had to follow? And so and so that was, that was a relief, that you guys knew that we were just, we were just doing this because we had to and that we couldn't wait to get back and start filming season three, even though it was going to take a bit longer? And then what would have taken us a song had been about I don't know Well, what I say for I always joke that then the musical episode or take us did not get a song and she totally should have gotten a song because Alyssa loves to sing. But the writing part of it makes sense, right? plotline story wise, like that episode was about it was about what it was about. But the reason that everybody's saying right was because their emotions, like got the best of them. And there was just an overflow of emotion, which then prompted the character to start singing. So it made sense in the episode that Ortegas should not kind of belt out a whole song because she wasn't having any sort of emotional crisis. Do you know and so the fact that like her big, her big, her big verse was like, Hey, I'm the pilot, and I'm great. And this is awesome. And years ago. It just it made sense, right? So yeah, no, I feel like I feel like if she had had a song it would have been like, I don't know what everyone's flipping out about. Everybody needs to pull it together. Dude.
Cameron:That would have been good. Yeah.
John T Bolds:Or just play this straight foil to everybody be like you guys really need to deal with what you got going on in your life right here on the ship in space.
Melissa Navia:Exactly. Like High School relationship drama needs to get it together. So So yeah, so that's what her song would have been about and but I completely understand why she did not get a full song but but she was there she was you called it out Elizabeth. She was singing back up. She was dancing. She was she was fully there.
Cameron:One of my favorite parts of the episode is the synchronized ship flying you and wrong voodoo. Yes, it wasn't vocal but you had so yes, and navigational dancing. That
Melissa Navia:was that was wrong and and wrong. and I were just coming up with that. We were like, that was us. Yeah, that was us. And I was just talking about to was wrong about it recently, where I was just like, you know, we're at the helm. We have our own storyline. We create this whole thing that we're like, it may never play, nobody will know. But we knew and so when that made the cut of that episode, we were so happy because I was totally that just came about by like what we were doing and then and then they captured it and edit worked out. But yeah, that's that's a great example to have just kind of like at all times, even if you don't see a lot of heartache a sudden episode. There's like all these storylines that I've created. You have to have all that that underlying life, that that informs everything she does and why she does it. And so her friendship With with Michel, so take us and Michel, they're really like, you can see that they're, you know, they're they're a duo. And and I like that and when fans like you know, call it out and they're just like, Yeah, we love Michel. I'm like, Yeah, so do I.
Cameron:We love Michel to has I assume Ron has told you about her headcanon for what Mitchell's up to or thinking sometimes? Yes,
Melissa Navia:yes, yes. Yes.
Jesse:So you had mentioned earlier that during season two, just being on set was really helpful for your grieving you're grieving process? Is that part of it, just, you know, having to lock in and having to build these little backstories? That kind of a thing? Yeah,
Melissa Navia:definitely. Thank you for asking this question. So one thing that I wanted to talk about a bit, but I could not because we were in the middle of the strike was like after Season Two completely premiered. And it was out and everybody loved it. And it was just got fantastic reception. But some of what I was kind of seeing or hearing about was this desire absolutely to have more or take storylines, which I completely appreciate. And and I love it. And it's it's the best compliment as an actor, you can get that you play a character where everybody wants to see more of your character. But what I started to see was, during my promotional work and publicity of season one, while we were filming Season Two, I was very open about not just my grief, but especially my late partner. And the reason I was was because it was so important. And you guys were were a big part of that, it was so important for me to speak about him, because he was a huge part of my life remains a huge part of my life. And, you know, you expect that something is going to happen in a certain way. Like I expected when season one premiered, we would be celebrating together. And that didn't happen, as I had anticipated it would. And so here I was, you know, finally with with a fan base, and people interviewing me, and I was just like, I need to tell you about Brian, because Brian is, is as much a part of me as anything else I can tell you and so that is that is one reason that I was very open about my my grief and what it is to be in the world and and also be trying to navigate kind of a new life. And so many fans have reached out to me from that moment to this moment, and I feel like it's gonna happen for the rest of my life. So thankful for how much I have spoken about grief and how much I'm trying to normalize talking about it. And that for me at any moment when you know, I think you know, am I saying too much about it, am I but when I hear from fans, and from people in general, who are just like, Thank you for saying what we would love to say, but we don't have a platform to say thank you for giving light to something that should not be awkward and difficult to talk about. Like I am so so happy that I was as vocal as I was then. But what I noticed too, was was, and this is maybe just me being like new to this world where like anything that you say or do, you know people then create a narrative out of it. And I think back to how Brian Judo was always telling me, like, as I was kind of preparing to enter this world, and you know, even when I had, you know, other guest star roles leading up to this, he'd be like, you know, he'd be like, you know, just focus on the work. Because if you start telling to tell people too much, you know, like, then they're going to start to create all these narratives. And so what I was seeing was people and it all came from a great place. But saying that the reason that we did not get more Tigger storylines, was because Melissa was grieving. And that started to get me and this was during the strike, it started to get me frustrated, because, and I had to kind of really examine why it was getting me so frustrated, I guess, is the word. And I think what it is, is because like when somebody who's grieving speaks, listen to them. And I think I had done so much that I had met but I'd never once said, Oh, do you know it was? Do you know, because I was grieving? You know, I it was difficult to get to work. No, never ever, if anything, I said the opposite. I said, because it took us so long to get here. And Brian wants me to do this. And he is one we just and I wanted to do this. It means everything to me to be on set. And so I was ready for work every single day. So to hear people, you know, kind of say, Oh, well, I not only did I hear but oh this is fact that Melissa could not do you know that they couldn't do more ticket storylines, because Melissa was grieving is infuriating. And that's what people who are grieving I think they want you to know it's just like it's like don't create these narratives around things that they didn't say like all I think I ever said in my interviews was just going to work meant everything. The fact that I get to work with an incredible cast and crew on this fantastic show was so important to me was difficult. Yeah, like I think I had that ready room interview where I told well, I said, I said they're absolutely I feel like ever Every day in some form or another on my own, do you know in a turbolift when nobody was looking, I had tears. I was upset, and I would reel it in because I'm a professional. But at no point did any storyline change, because I was grieving. And I think that's what that's what just got me was I was just like, No. And it also like it also, like second guessed is like what our writers are doing, like even went to our show runners and I read I was like just to be just to be absolute 100% You guys didn't change any storylines like, like, you know, like Ortegas wasn't going to have like this big log of love affair with Kirk in the third episode of season two, right? And suddenly you're like, Oh, no. And they were like, no, they were like we we? They said, if you had needed more time, we would have given it to you. But you were ready to rock and roll? And I said absolutely. Did it was it you know, was it difficult? Getting back to sec getting back to work, of course, because your world is shattered. And for me in particular, in that moment, like a whole new world was opening up. So it was so difficult but but what I really want to stress is that is that is that for me, this cast this crew, this show this fan base was such an integral part of, of how I was able to get through that grief. And also my my family and my close friends and people who understood that, you know, it was it was so difficult for me in those months to necessarily respond to people or to get out to do things like stuff that I'm still kind of getting used to again, or wanting to do and and you really change you become a different person after you lose your partner. But But yeah, that was that was just important for me to be like that. This this whole kind of storyline of Oh, because Melissa was grieving. That's why we didn't see more Ortegas backstory in season two, I said that could not be further from the truth. I think at one point like I was, I was starting to like write out a response. And I wanted to be like I showed up to work every day. Do you know I was getting my hair cut, like every day. But then I was like, Don't do you know, and I also couldn't speak because of the strike. And because we couldn't speak about the show. So and then I spoke to like some some some Star Trek actors who've been doing this a lot longer than than I've been doing it. And and they were just like, yeah, it what it feels like, is that it is it's like the work that I did in 2022. Right? While we were filming Season Two, while we were promoting Season One, that was the hardest. I have ever worked in my life, right. And when people are grieving, and they're still working, and they're doing all those things. There's so many layers of work that are happening, that you don't see that people don't want to talk about that people don't want to let other people know. But they are working so hard. And so then to hear anybody in any sort of capacity, even though it was just like, you know, little bits here and there. But, but saying that, Oh, we didn't see more of this character because Melissa was grieving it. It devalues all the work that you are doing. And the fact that I was just like looking back, I'm like, so proud of myself for not having fallen apart. And for the amount of interviews that I did and the amount of of work that I was able to do in the fact that I didn't do you know, kind of throw in the towel because I just couldn't have this is, you know, my life's work. And I love doing it. And I know Brian is super proud of me. So so that's what it is. That's what it is, is that when you create narratives around people who are grieving, it just, it just undervalues the truth of what they're saying. And I think when all the fans who have spoken to me about they're so thankful for the fact that I am speaking about grief and what loss is like, I would just encourage people that in your own lives, when people who are grieving, talk to you listen to them, listen to what they're saying. And and don't create your own narratives when when their story is right. They're like, yeah, yeah. Does that make sense?
Jesse:Absolutely. Totally. Yeah,
Cameron:I mean, it sounds like it's coming from a good place from them. But yeah, as as the words you said undervalues all the hard work you were putting in you. You did rise to the occasion, you put it in, you went in, did every episode put it out an amazing performance. And you would have with any stories they would have given you
Melissa Navia:totally totally Yeah. And I just and I also just want to because I was so open and I will continue to be about grief and loss. I also want to to also underscore just how incredible this production was to make sure that I had everything that I needed, and I felt truly like I was just in like in such good hands. Do you know what I mean? Yes, I just felt like I was really just in such good hands, not just not just that especially from the production but also from the fans and from this fan base. And it was spoken about this before when I hear from fans, you know, and they're just like, Oh, we love this about Erica, we love what Melissa does on screen in this way. And I have to laugh because I'm like, It's things that Brian had told me. Do you know, so I'm still in it, we might have spoken about this in our last interview, like, I can hear him and all of that. So that means so much. But yeah, but for anybody for a moment to be like, you know, that, that, uh, that grief in any way impacted story that is, couldn't be further from the truth. The stories that we told are what we are telling, and life happens. And you have to, you have to keep going. And the best thing that you can ask for is to be surrounded by people who help you keep going and who helped give you that support and that strength and and essentially that feeling of safety and that's that's what I have not just from, from the show, but from my family and my close friends who are now you know, my my circle forever? Well,
Jesse:I can tell you, from our personal experience, there are people that we have been in contact with through open pike night, that tell us you have been exactly that for them, just through your example. So you are absolutely living up to that. So don't ever worry about that.
John T Bolds:Let's hear from Trev from failure franchise, here we go. Hey, it's Trev
Trev:beaming in from failure to franchise the podcast devoted to failed movie franchise starters. I know. I've been busy. It's been a while since I've been able to call in. But I did not want to miss an opportunity to talk to Melissa, as Ortegas is definitely just a breakout favorite character of mine since I started watching strange new worlds. Let me explain my question A while back, I had tweeted and I think Melissa saw it, that I have this new headcanon where the great Ensign j from next generation played by Tracy CoCo was inspired by Ortegas. And that kind of explains her unique look. And I know it's probably a little reductive to try and link two characters together just based on hairstyle alone. But I don't know, I thought that was a little bit of fun headcanon. And to me, it allows her tickets to become kind of a legend in ongoing Star Trek canon. So I'm just feeding off of that though. The other thing we know about Tracy Coco is that after playing in Sanjay and you know, over 100 episodes and three of the movies, I believe, she also went on to play a lot of alien roles in Voyager and Deep Space Nine. And so I was wondering just to kind of continue this connection I've created in my head. If Melissa had an opportunity to play any Star Trek aliens underneath makeup in either strange new worlds or another show, is there a particular race, she would love to like kind of dive into and get to play? All right. Thanks. And keep up the great work, Melissa.
Melissa Navia:Thank you so much. Trev. So let's see. Yeah, I love anytime you guys are creating kind of these connections between worlds between shows. And yeah, I even kind of do that myself. Like when I think about Ortegas and the other roles that I've played, how it all kind of like led up to this and in some way, it's all connected. Like my my character on billions who was supposed to go to Mars and didn't get to go to Mars. But then do you know, now I get to fly around the galaxy. So forget Mars. If you had a chance to play an alien future trick shows the race you love to play? Uh huh. I think I would. So there's a there's a couple, but the first one that jumps out is a Vulcan. Because I would love to see if I could rock that hair. It's so very different. And I feel kind of like the the hair that Ortegas had in Episode Episode for season two, she kind of had like, you know, bangs down, do you know, like, kind of like a hint of it. But yeah, and then and then harkening back to, to what we were talking about with with the eyebrow raise, and the fact that people who've never watched the show, just assume I play a Vulcan. I feel like it's kind of it's kind of perfect, and then I'd be able to chat with Ethan about our our shared love of prosthetics early in the morning.
Jesse:humblebrag we asked Bernadette Croft to pick out alien races for the three of us and she picked Vulcan for me, so I will see you in makeup.
Unknown:Yes
John T Bolds:I will. I'd like to get a quick shout out to tribe and failure franchise if you haven't listened to that podcast. Just listen to the intros of the episodes and see how good he is at making a meandering connection to get to the movie they're talking about that week. A are awesome to have you guys over there. Keep up the good work every podcaster who's called in, keep up the good work. We love your shows 100% Pretty related question from Jen. Here we go.
Unknown:Okay, I'm gonna try this one more time, and then we're just gonna go with it. Hello, Mike, and Melissa. So glad that we've got you back. Your characters One of my favorites and the scenes some of the other stuff you've done too, which is pretty cool. So hopefully we get to see you do other things in addition to Star Trek. My question is of the other Star Trek shows, regardless of production timeline or timeline in this universe, which character or type of character would you have liked to have played and why? I personally think that you, you would have made a pretty good Jordan fight alongside Kira, because you know, nobody, but Nana can do that character. And maybe you would have all come that would be interesting, too. Anyways, I looking forward to seeing the season and anything else coming up that you might have. I hope you all have a great day. So
Cameron:you already answered race, but maybe are there any characters from other Star Trek shows that you just think would have been super fun super cool to play?
Melissa Navia:To Nam? So. So partial to the character that I do play in my head at the moment, like I'm so right now, in the middle of filming, that it's so funny when you get these questions. That's like one of the things too when you're filming and then and then I do interviews, like my head is like somewhere else, you know, it's like onset so it's like I can't even isn't it enough playing one character but uh, but you mentioned now visitor and Kira, and I know for me and we've talked about this guys that like, you know, Brian, when I when I booked the show, he was like, doing like a like a Deep Space Nine binge. And so he definitely he saw He saw the, the comparisons that the similarities between me and Cara even before you know, we started shooting Ortegas. So I do love her character, too. I spoke about Commander Riker again, kind of like I feel like in a lot of ways are taking us as the Riker of of strange new worlds. But yeah, I'm very much like when anyone asks me and Jen, thank you so much for this question. But it's, it reminds me of like, when people ask me like what actor, you know, do you see yourself like or even, you know, especially as like, you know, in the years that have been, I've been a working actor, and you know, so many casting directors and agents and everybody they're like, Who do you Who do you see, that's, that's like yourself, and I've always just kind of, because I've been kind of working so hard in this industry to make a name for myself, I'm just kind of, like, defaulted to, like, I don't see anyone who's like me, and I don't, I can't think of any other character I would like to play except for Tigges. Like, and I love to that, like, you know, the the last name is, is an homage to like, you know, the original character that Gene Roddenberry wanted in the pilot, which I think is just a really cool thing like is both as both Star Trek can in history and also just as an actor that you know, it's taken me a while to find a character that was perfect for me. And this character also in a way was a character that should have been on our screens. Although it was different and it was a it was a male character and his name was Jose and but it was it was something that was back in the 60s and now here we are and 2020 whatever year it is, and and this character has in some form or another finally made it to the screen so so yeah, definitely Kira. I love her and I love her short hair. And, and Commander Riker played by Frakes. But uh, but yeah, I think I'm just right now. My head is completely engrossed in all things or take us.
John T Bolds:Well, what will make your deal? Like you go back to set and film, and you're having an off day, you can be like, sorry, I had an interview with open mic night it threw me off. But if you have a really, really good scene and like deliver a solid gold performance, or like, dang, Melissa, you brought it you gotta be like, Yeah, I talked to open bike night. It really inspired me so
Melissa Navia:it really seemed off. I spoke with these three guys. I had just left and pieces.
Jesse:Were happy to take either direction. They're
Melissa Navia:on different ships in different time zones. What's happening?
Jesse:We can be that
John T Bolds:speaking of other trek shows, with discoveries final season about to start and section 31 becoming a movie rather than a series. Have the cast and crew have you guys felt any different pressure energy knowing you'll likely be the only live action star trek show on the air when season three begins?
Melissa Navia:I think that because we're just working every day. Counting out really, really incredible episodes like we just don't have any time to think about it. You know all that much. It's just kind of like we're just at we're taking every episode as it comes. And, and yeah, we haven't really thought about that too much. I'm very excited for Discovery's premiere. I'm very excited for Section 31 They had a rap party section 31 had a rap party the other night that I was able to to I get an invite to. And it was crazy because it was after a long day of filming. And my good friend Chrissy also made it and she had an even longer day of filming. And it was, it was so wild. Because as you can tell, even because I've mentioned it multiple times during this interview, like how my head is still like on our set, like, think about like filming all day, and then go into the wrap party of another set. And then seeing like, you know, faces that, you know, from discovery and faces that you know, are going to be in Section 31. And kind of like your brains like what's happening, do you know like, what's going on. But it was it was very exciting. I was happy to be with so many crew members who are going to be celebrating not only this film that's coming out, but many of them have also worked on Discovery. And so I'm just excited right now that there's kind of so much Star Trek in this moment, like we're filming, discoveries coming out section 31, just wrapped and I got to meet Michelle Yeoh. And she was wonderful. Just so wonderful. And yeah, and getting to be there with her and to see everybody interacting with her like, yeah, she's just in many ways she is is a role model in this industry. So So yeah, but but in terms of yeah, that we're going to be kind of the only ones. I mean, we're not, though, because Starfleet Academy is coming out. And so there's like, so much happening. And they're just right now, I was just thinking about this yesterday, because somebody had posted, you know, one of the actors at the section 31 wrap party posted a picture of all of us. And so it kind of made the rounds. And they were like, oh, cool, like strange worlds and section 31 discovery. Everybody's together. And I was just like, Yeah, I was like, right now. It's a very, very cool time of like, something's about to come out. We're filming something. And there's just a lot of Star Trek excitement. And I'm like, this is a really great franchise to be a part of. And as a fan, I can only imagine it is just, it's insane. Yeah, there's no like, there's no shortage of what's coming. Fantastic.
John T Bolds:All right. Well, we have another call here. Newman from the movies for days podcast.
Newman:I opened pike night Newman, the space hippie from the movies for days podcast, 90 seconds. I've only got 90 seconds to tell the Melissa navio how frigging amazing she is and how marvelous her performance and character are, how she's quite possibly my favorite character on this show that is just littered with favorite characters. Actor nerd question, did you ever build a character geography for Ortegas that makes more sense for a character that exists in a stage play not in a serialized form of television that's going to change based on different writers and different evolutions. But every actor has their process. So I'm genuinely curious, did you ever build one for her a backstory? Has it required change over time. And also, just thank you so much for the outstanding work you do with this character. Speaking very personally, as somebody who always felt like I was everybody's confidant, who had a lot of energy and a lot of personality. But I don't know how to say this, I'm five foot four inches. So to see somebody like that, rockin so hard being such a badass character, on this really great Star Trek show. It gives me personally such an extra little bubble of joy, whenever you get to be in a scene, or we get to spend more time with Ortegas. Thanks to you, and thanks and all my love of course, as always, to the entire open pike night crew knew him in the space, it'd be out
Melissa Navia:new and I love that. And five, four is an incredible height. So wonderful. Thank you so much. And to everybody to all the people who have called in like I can, I can tell just how much you guys have put into these calls. And thank you so much. Like it means so much like, yeah, you just have no idea. So thank you, Newman. I love when when people meet me in person, and they're just like, they're like, I thought you were taller. And I'm like, I am tall. Are you talking about? Like I walked all it feels all I am tall? Did I build a character geography. So I think so much of it is that, um, so much like, I work with the script that I'm given. And then as it's kind of happening, I kind of start to build that backstory. And I've, I've definitely built a lot of backstory as we've kind of traveled along. And I have I have, I have storylines that you know, will never come to fruition. And that also do and that also when, when things are coming up in scripts that make me kind of tap into what I thought was how things were. And then it turns out, it's not like that, like, I'll speak to the writers and I'll speak to the director. But I kind of I try not to stay too attached to anything, like in life. But I love that I kind of have like these backstories like me and Dan who plays Sam Kirk, we're like, you know, Ortegas and Sam, we're like buds. Do you know like they have like this, this whole backstory that that whenever we're in a scene together like we know is there. We don't know if anyone else knows. I think I've started it's kind of like dropping hints with directors and anyone who will listen to me on set See if it does anything to see if it kind of does like what like wrong. And my Do you know coordinated skills during the musical episode did where like, it found its way into into the final cut.