Q&A: Enn Reitel, Cast Member of "The Adventures of Tintin"

Veteran actor Enn Reitel played two characters in Steven Spielberg’s film, "The Adventures of Tintin". One is the long suffering butler, Nestor, and the second is Mr. Crabtree, a vendor at the Old Street Market. Reitel is a Scottish actor whose resume includes voice work in Tim Burton’s "Corpse Bride" and "The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn’s Quest".

Who is your favorite movie dog?

Enn Reitel: Well, you know I had a dog. He was the love of my life. His name was Hector. He was a little Yorkie. He went last year at age 15. You know, we all have in our life one pet that is really the one. For me, that was Hector.

Are you going to bring a new dog into your life now?

Reitel: I don’t know. Not sure I’ll do it again because now I’m very mobile.

What’s it like working with Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson?

Reitel: Remarkably easy. When people have been at it as long as they have, it’s easy. Steven knows exactly what he wants and when he’s got it, he’s got it. It was the most relaxed atmosphere I’ve ever been in.

What was it like working with this type of technology?

Reitel: It’s kind of like doing a filmed radio thing. Because with the motion capture you’re wearing this kind of wet suit and you’ve got to lower your face and you wear a crash helmet. You’ve got a camera right up to your face. It’s sort of like one long rehearsal process.

Was that stressful?

Reitel: No, the opposite. It takes all the pressure away because you only have to move this way and that way and you don’t have to worry about this person or that person. It just makes it so easy. It’s a fun medium. I think that’s why I had so much fun doing it.

Dorri Olds writes reviews and personal essays for numerous publications, including The New York Times.