By now, you’ve probably surmised that each episode in Season One focuses mainly on a single character (well, minus the pilot and finale). This week’s episode (the fifth one) is titled “Dirk.”

Which is why I asked the ridiculously talented Leif Norby to answer our Oregon Media Central Q&A (I even added a James Lipton question)…

What do you like, dislike or think is interesting about your character?
I liked Dirk right away, from the first moments I spent reading Chris’ script. I was cracking up everytime he showed up. There’s a freedom with Dirk. He doesn’t seem to have any filters when he responds to people and situations. I was drawn to the dry, slightly twisted, humor he uses to interact with co-workers and shed his perspective on their dilemmas. Despite his rough edges, I do feel there’s a heart to him underneath all his sarcasm — a deeper dimension which is revealed for the first time in this episode. He is more than a dark, quirky pessimist. Like the other characters, he is a slave to the past, and to his lost dreams of the future. He has room to grow, within the humor and the passion that Chris gave him.

Do you see yourself at all in Dirk?
I guess in some ways, yeah. I can be a pretty pessimistic person at times, and like Dirk, I’d certainly rather be doing what I’m passionate about, than working at a job I don’t really like. (But of course, who wouldn’t?) I also tend to use humor in dealing with people and situations like Dirk, just not nearly as sardonic. Unlike Dirk, I generally like people. And if I don’t, I’m certainly not as open about it. He just says what he feels, without regard to how it’ll be percieved. I tend to keep things pretty close to the vest.

What do you particularly like about this project?
Like Lara and Melissa, I’d have to say just about everything. The cast are some of the most friendly, talented, playful, and supportive people I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. The crew is completely dedicated and very imaginative. On a project with no budget, it is invaluable to have such high quality people giving their all. Also, getting to discover and play with a role like Dirk has been a dream come true. Not having had much experience with film, the opportunity to do this in such a laid-back, let’s-have-fun atmosphere was a blast for me! Lastly, it was a gift to get to work with a cool-cat like Chris on this project. To be a part of someone’s passion, and actually see them follow through with it, is just a joy.

What other projects have you worked on?
Most of my experience with acting has been in theater. On film, I’ve done a couple of local commercials — I played a realtor with wet feet in an Oregon Realtor commercial, and did an Oregon Lottery comercial, playing a bartender telling a guy he has a gambling problem: “Do you really want to be that guy..?” But, this is my first real, character-driven film experience.

Is there anything else we can see you in or that you’d like to promote?
Well, if anyone wants to go see some theater, I’ll be in a show called Ragtime at Portland Center Stage from September 22nd through November 1st this fall. After that, I’ll play Beast in Beauty and the Beast at the Newmark Theater for Pixiedust Productions, from December 18th through January 3rd.

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
“Come on in, beers on tap!”