Interview of Cover Model Chris Winters

Today it’s my pleasure to present an interview of multi-talented Chris Winters. His career encompasses many avenues; actor, cover model, software developer, rock band member, 2008 Romantic Times “Mr. Romance” winner. His resume lists a variety of items to include television/film, commercials, music videos, etc. Definitely a man of many talents!

Where to find information about Chris Winters:

http://www.modelmayhem.com/11326
http://www.nextcat.com/chriswintershttp://www.betweenyoursheets.com/content/cover-models/hosted-modelsactors/456-chris-winters 
http://covermenmag.co.cc/chriswinters/interview.html
http://www.patricemichelle.net/blog/2008/04/01/patrices-interview-with-cover-modelactor-chris-winters/ 
http://cindyholby.blogspot.com/2008/06/interview-with-mr-romance-2008-chris.html
http://www.romancenovel.tv/wordpress/2009/01/15/mr-romance-2008-chris-winters-an%20-interview-by-buffie-johnson
http://www.imaginginfo.com/print/Studio-Photography/So-Youre-Thinking-of-Writing-a-Book/3$1477
BLOG with my photos: http://dropdeadgorgeousguys.wordpress.com/2010/11/16/chris-winters/

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Q: With all the directions you’ve taken with your career, is there one job you’ve thought about trying but haven’t attempted?
A: Being an author! I would love to quit everything to do that. However, it would require precious time, a dimly lit room, and lots of peanut butter cookies. It is seriously an intense job.

Q: You worked in a HAZmat job…something dangerous. Tell us about that.
A: Wow! That was years ago...I think that was in my twenties! With HAZmat, it was a dangerous job. You also had to be educated in various things such as hazardous waste management, lifesaving techniques, proper wear, and so forth. It was also very, very arduous because you were inside various suits. For example, if there was an acid spill or something of that nature, you would have to wear lots of protective gear and the job was quite difficult. (chuckles) I always carried my little orange book called the Emergency Response Guide. That was years ago though.

Q: You were in a rock band. What instrument did you play? Any favorite song or songs?
A: Wow! You are going way back! Love it! (chuckles) Well, it was a high school thing actually. A loooong time ago. Most of the music we did was hip hop mixed with rock. This was back in the middle to late 80's. The music was distributed throughout high school and the surrounding places around my home town. It consisted of me, Randy Kelly, and James Lewis (who's now a full time author. He published SELLOUT not too long ago. http://www.jameswlewis.com/). Randy was the producor while James and I did vocals and some mixing. We started out with a track recorder, synth keyboards, samplers, Matel synsonics, and a BOSS DR-880 rythm machine.
We then progressed onto the demo scene (computers) back in the late 90's and started making MOD music. MOD music was computer generated music from samples in a sequence form. We ended up creating an album and selling it in audio stores. Kinda cool to walk in and say "We're sellin that!".

Q: You have a wonderful and long resume of your fabulous career. What will be added next to your list of accomplishments?
A: I think my interest in writing seems more realistic than becoming a medical serviceman. I have a lot of ideas and expressions and would love to get them on some type of media. I have a lot to work on like technique, grammar, and haha, English. I have the soul, the capability to write, conceptualise, and implement my ideas. Currently, I'm writing a huge novel, Invisible War, which I hope to be completed by next Romantic Times convention. People say you should always start off with a small novel instead of taking on a huge challenge. I had no idea that this is huge, nor did I anticipate the complexities of it. I am doing it and progressing because it IS the challenge.
The next story I want to write is a romance/drama that is quite intense. Damn - I should've started on that first. The third story is a really weird one that no one will probably ever get, yet we live by it everyday.

Q: Your resume lists a number of TV show roles. Which was your favorite and why?
A: I would have to say "A Haunting: Ghost Soldier". It is dark, interesting, and I have had so many people say it actually touched their lives in some way. That's the kind of productions I like. The ones that make a difference. I still, to this day, get email about how much it effected their life based on someone in the military.

Q: Film roles…tell us about them. Favorite one?
A: I don't really have a favorite, because I like them all. They can range from being small extra or lead roles. Paul Ben Victor asked me to be an extra on his movie, "Should've Been Romeo", whereas I got a lead role in "Check, Please!", a short film by Trent Duncan. Right now there are some other roles in the works. However I look at it, all production is fun production. I am not looking to get famous, be a huge star in a film, or a TV show. Playing with friends is what I enjoy.

Q: What’s the difference in preparing for a TV role vs. a movie role?
A: TV Roles move fast. Very fast. For example, you might get scripts a week in advance, and while you are doing the scripts a few days ago or a week ago, you are already prepping for the week after. The non-tv films, you get more dedicated time for the character build-up and production.
TV Roles are very interesting because of their ability to build up a huge story within a large amount of time, whereas movies tend to do it within a small amount of hours.

Q: Congratulations on being “Mr. Romance 2008”. What was the competition like? Did you notice a sense of goodwill or jealousy among the contestants?
A: Thank you very much for the congrats! I appreciate it!
You know, I went to this years' Mr. Romance competition and things are way different! First, the production has improved significantly. Probably, because you were in LA (chuckles) where we are the entertainment capitol. This year the men had to report in by midnight. Also, there are relaxed rules and work this year than the years I participated in.
The 2007 and 2008 competition was quite challenging and pretty intense. You were always up at all hours starting from 6am to 3am, mingling, participating in events, promoting authors, signing autographs, attending dinners, and then prepping for the Mr. Romance competition production. when I was introduced to the 2007 competition, I made a lot of friends, and I got to know about the writing/publishing industry. I had NO idea how this was but it was a lot of fun!
I would have to thank various people for it, but this interview would go over many many pages. In 2008, it was even more intense because I heard it was the biggest, and that year I had a huge army of wonderful people backing me up. I nearly fainted in the end when I won because I worked so hard, spent time with many people, hardly slept or ate. The production was also a thing we all had to come up with and worked hard at.
As far as goodwill, the men that typically compete help everyone out. When I competed in 2008, I had a few that laughed at me because of some of the practices I used, but I tried to explain you cannot practice making love to a woman. You have to love her, adore her, and appreciate every aspect of her. I also asked the question: "When you are in her room, would you pretend to seduce her?". I don't think so.
Actually, I think Frank Williams would have won. Him or Jimmy Gaskins, because they were just awesome
dudes. Frank Williams I truly loved because he was all pure heart and soul. Every women in that audience loved him. However, the stuff I pulled, without practice with the lovely ladies on stage, made the audience scream! The things I did on stage, reflected the same, true, lovable personality that many people came to know.
There's one thing I always tell new contestants that compete: It isn't about muscles, how good you look, or the people you know. It isn't about how much of a star you are, or how many people adore you. It is about the READERS, the AUTHORS, and the FANS. It is about the convention. Treat everyone as a human being, with respect, and love. You have to mean it. You have to be that guy who can show thousands of people who view romance like they do when they read/write.

Q: You speak Chinese? What prompted you to learn the language?
A: Ni Hao! Which means hello! Xie Xie Ni, means thank you very much! I studied that language a couple of years ago because I wanted to learn something new. I forgot a lot of it because I haven't used it as much, but I do remember words when I think about them or talk to some of my Chinese friends who speak Pûtônghuà, or Madarian. Pûtônghuà mean common language. The way you say that would be "puht-in-h'wah".
Someday soon, I think I will revisit the further studies along with Spanish-- which is a given to live in LA. :)

Q: What type of exercise regime do you follow? Any favorite sport?
A: Typically running. I love to run. When I do run, normally it is for a good hour. My pace is a regular 6-7 mph. Sometimes at the end, if I feel great, then I'll bump it up to 8 mph. I like to work out once a day, 4 times a week. If you overwork your body - you'll always feel tired.
I got into an accident a year ago that caused me to slow down a bit. My knee and back are affected. My knee I managed to heal up, but it requires constant consumption of dairy and seafood products. My back is different. Around the T-5 section it can hurt so much, that sometimes it's difficult to do simple things. However I cannot stop exercising because it does relieve any negatives during the day.

Q: You enjoy cooking. Any quick, favorite recipe you’d like to share?
A: My favorite: Mac Daddy And Cheese!
My Mac Daddy and Cheese is basically layers of macaroni and cheese with various cheese flavors baked in a little bed. The cheeses you use come from every flavored shredded cheese bag you can grab. There's never enough cheese. Then when making Mac and cheese, cook it enough so it isn't all the way done. Layer it in a pan, with some hamburger, some mixtures of cheeses, cream, and some pepper. Set it in the oven for about 10 minutes and pull back out. Finally layer it with all the cheese you can, in a maddening way. Pop it in the oven and bake away for about 20 minutes or until the cheese is a bit brown at the top. Bring appetite. Oh by the way, in case you use the mac cheese in a box, DO NOT use the cheese powder. Yucky.

Q: Favorite food?
A: My favorite food is nothing anyone would eat, all the time. I crave peanut butter. I love ice cream. I love to take peanut butter and mix in coconut flakes with bits of dark chocolate in it. I love chopped frozen spinach mixed with cottage cheese (large curd). I love sardines with mustard. I love oatmeal, cinnamon, and sugar to the extreme. My steaks have to have Worcestershire sauce(I say "wist-uh-sher" or "woostah-sher"). I love beans and vegetables! I still eat out of a can!

Q: Favorite drink?
A: Water. I don't care for additives or pretty floaty things.

Q: What would you consider to be the most romantic place in the world…just so we might get some travel ideas?
A: I would say the most romantic place in the world would be a place where trees, critters, and nature are surrounding you. All of nature is there, with you both. You are able to enjoy the sun at its up position and when it goes to sleep. You both should be able to lay in the grass with the stars in the sky. No one around except you two. The sea should be making noise to entertain you, not the city. With nature around, it will bring out you and your partner's energy. Nature does that. It brings the energy out, making you both stronger.