TBS_Host: The chat with Shannon Sturges will begin in 10 minutes.

Honest_Abe_Lincoln asks: Do you have a fear of snakes?
Shannon: No, I actually don't. The more I talk to other people, I realize how pervasive the fear of snakes is. And I should probably ask for more money.

Honest_Abe_Lincoln asks: Did you get bit by a snake while making the film?
Shannon: No, I didn't. My character gets bitten. There was alot of safety on the set.

Honest_Abe_Lincoln asks: How did you like working with Harry Hamlin?
Shannon: Harry was wonderful, an excellent actor and a nice guy - a true professional.

ldenoncourt asks: How did you start your acting career?
Shannon: I started with plays in high school. When I was going to college I decided to try it professionally. I 've been making my living at it for about ten years now.

austin316nwo4life asks: what is the movie about,and who is in it?
Shannon: The movie is about snakes - it's a thriller involving snakes - a little like Jaws. It stars me, Harry Hamlin, Jack Scalia and Patty McCormick - you may remember her from the Bad Seed.

Honest_Abe_Lincoln asks: Any practical jokes on the set?
Shannon: Yes. All of the sudden plastic and rubber snakes began showing up on people's bags and chairs. It'd be really easy to walk up to our director and tickle his knees and see him jump in the sky. Probably more practical jokes on this one than on other pictures I've worked on.

Honest_Abe_Lincoln asks: Are snakes really "silent"? Don't they actually scream when frightened?
Shannon: Never met a screaming snake. We worked with Carpet Pythons in Australia. They make a hissing, sighing sound. Rattle snakes, of course, rattle. When we filmed in LA, we had about 20 or 30 rattle snakes. It was amazing the sound. The snakes were definitely still poisonous. You can't remove their poison or they'll die. They need it for digestion.

ldenoncourt asks: If you were not an actress what job would you do?
Shannon: I think I'd be a teacher or a travel writer - I love to travel.

Capn_Cantankerous asks: What's your favorite kind of music?
Shannon: My tastes are pretty eclectic - I like everything from Nine Inch Nails to African music to KD Lang. I love the African artist Angelique Kidjo.

Capn_Cantankerous asks: Have you ever eaten snake meat?
Shannon: No, I haven't, that I know of. I spent some time in AFrica and I'm sure I ate some interesting things. In Australia I ate some Kangaroo. It tasted very "gam'ey"

Honest_Abe_Lincoln asks: Any difference making a cable movie and a real one?
Shannon: With a regular feature film, you have more time to do it. You have a longer schedule. But fast and furious is a lot of fun too.

ldenoncourt asks: Do you practice any sports?
Shannon: I love to Mtn. Bike and cycle. I started taking a belly dancing class. Not really a sport but pretty wacky.

Capn_Cantankerous asks: Which actresses are your inspirations?
Shannon: Judy Denche is wonderful. I don't know any actor not in awe of Meryl Streeps's talent. Alfre Woodard is fabulous. There are a lot of very talented actresses out there.

Capn_Cantankerous asks: is it true that Harry Hamlin waxes his legs?
Shannon: I don't know. I don't believe so. I'm trying to think if I ever got a glimpse of his legs. I guess they're very "hariy" ha ha.

Capn_Cantankerous asks: Are you related to Preston Sturges?
Shannon: Yes, he was my grandfather. Preston was a writer and director in the 30s and 40s - Academy Award winning. Some of my favorites are The Lady Eve, Palm Beach Stories and Sullivan's Travels.

Keith_Tkachuk_N7 asks: Any other celebs you want to work with in the future?
Shannon: I love Ed Harris' work. Of course Robert DeNiro is wonderful to watch. There are so many - It'd be easier to pick a list of people I don't want to work with. - But I'm too much of of a lady to answer that :-)

Capn_Cantankerous asks: What's your favorite role, so far?
Shannon: I love different roles for different reasons. I loved working on Silent Predators. The director, who I've worked with once before, was wonderful to work with. Australia was beautiful.

Lee_Harvey_Wallbanger asks: Did you ever feel in danger on the set?
Shannon: Not really. When I was in the truck with the live rattle snakes, I was certainly very cautious, very alert and very aware. With the carpet pythons I felt a little more confortable.

Capn_Cantankerous asks: Do you want to write and direct like your grandpa?
Shannon: I don't think anyone can do it like him. I do like to write. - Direct? It's a heck of a lot of work.

pocman04 asks: While you were in Savannah, did you get to live in Savannah. If so did you like it?
Shannon: We actually shot Savannah in Atlanta. I lived there in Atlanta for nearly two years. I thoroughly enjoyed the city. I lived a little while in Savannah and enjoyed it too.

pocman04 asks: What was it like working with Harry Hamlin?
Shannon: He was a great actor, professional and fun. Harry was just a really good actor to work with. He would come up with ideas that made sense and were collaborative. He had so much experience - you come to trust him. He is a well-trained actor and a joy to work with. And he smokes good cigars :)

pocman04 asks: What was your initial reaction when you found out you were one of People magazine's 50 Most Beautiful in 1996? What kind of response did you receive after the publication?
Shannon: My initial reaction was, "I'm glad they've never seen me in the morning." The response was very nice. It usually comes up in interviews. It's very flattering. I often want to tell them to give it to someone more worthy.

Honest_Abe_Lincoln asks: Would you like to work on an Aaron Spelling show again? He has a eye for great feminine talent, which you are...
Shannon: Thank you! I would love to work with Aaron again. He's wonderful. I would like to work with something not so serialized. I did an episode of Charmed right before I left for Australia - I was the bad girl.

ldenoncourt asks: What are your future career projects?
Shannon: Well, getting some future career projects :) My agents are working on some things but nothing definitive yet. I know the Cohen Brothers are making a tribute to one of Preston's movies - A prison movie with no women!

Honest_Abe_Lincoln asks: Were you raised in Hollywood?
Shannon: No, I was raised in Ventura, CA. I was raised by my grandmother. I saw her yesterday - an exciting day of going to the doctor and grocery shopping.

Wyndwalker99 asks: Whats your favorite flavor Poptart?
Shannon: I'd have to say Strawberry with the frosted topping. Cherry is pretty good too. I had a roommate in college who would always eat the brown sugar ones raw and break them into little pieces. She was a super athelete - bad nutrition but a great athlete.

pocman04 asks: What are some of you favorite uses of the Internet? Some of you favorite sites?
Shannon: Of course TBS Superstation.com. I also like the Onion - it's a fun site. I cruise all over the place - I try to find research on different things. Emailing - If I wasn't on the fax modem right now I'd probably be reading this chat.

pocman04 asks: Were Jack & Harry afraid of snakes?
Shannon: Let's just say they weren't as comfortable with them as I was.

Capn_Cantankerous asks: Where in Atlanta did you live? Did you meet Ted Turner?
Shannon: Never met Ted, unfortunately. I lived in Midtown and I lived near Chastain. I really enjoyed living there. Are the Dogwoods blooming there? I rented a house that had beautiful dogwoods in the yard. I love the restaurants.

Keith_Tkachuk_N7 asks: whats your fav. la based restraunt?
Shannon: There is a restaurant in LA, Bobylou. In Santa Monica there is Dijorno (?).

Honest_Abe_Lincoln asks: Do you have a favorite book that you'd love to be in the movie of?
Shannon: I can't really think of one - let's see, I love Alan Foster I also love Blindness. Bridgitte Jones' Diary would be fun to star in but I think Kate Winslet would get that one.

Keith_Tkachuk_N7 asks: If you had to choose between killer bees, a killer virus, killer spiders, or aliens invading the world, what would you choose?
Shannon: How about aliens? Just imagine how it would spice up fashion :) And I don't like spiders - ugh!

Capn_Cantankerous asks: What do you think of Charlie's Angels?
Shannon: From my generation growing up, I just loved it. My and a girlfriend would run around pretending to be Charlie's Angels. The joke on Savannah was that we were Charlie's Peaches. I would have loved to do a mock photo shoot with that famous stance.

winnie88_98 asks: will you consider doing a sitcom?
Shannon: I'd love to do a sitcom. People always tell me how funny I am. But they always say, "We want quirkier." When I find one that I'm quirky enough for, I'll do it.

Honest_Abe_Lincoln asks: It's great to see a woman with a quick wit, as you're displaying here. Do you want to do comedy?
Shannon: I would love to do a romantic comedy, one like one of my grandfather's films. Any comedy - I love it! Though I might have to write myself something.

sitgo1 asks: If you could be any character in any show today, what would it be?
Shannon: I would love to be in The Practice. David Kelly is a genius. I think that the new comedy Like You Know is very funny.

Keith_Tkachuk_N7 asks: whats your fav movie of all time?
Shannon: I have so many - if I was forced to choose. There was a French movie called Ponette that I adored. Delicattesan was a great movie. And you can't go wrong with Spinal Tap.

Capn_Cantankerous asks: We're going to start a Shannon Sturges fan club -- would you approve?
Shannon: Sure! Why wouldn't I? Just don't ask for those naked photos that don't exist.

sitgo1 asks: Did you have to handle any of the snakes?
Shannon: I don't know if I actually HAD to. There are some scenes where I'm in the truck and the snake doesn't hit it's mark coming in. So I'm sitting there screaming and then after he says cut I'm trying to coherce it to come forward. I didn't mind handling the snakes. I like having them around me - they're my pets, I guess, while I'm on location.

palmettoguy98 asks: What is your favorite cereal?
Shannon: Hard to beat a good bowl of Golden Grahams. Not really enough fiber but, you know.

Honest_Abe_Lincoln asks: Have you done much stage work?
Shannon: Yes, I have. In Venture growing up and then in LA. At the beginning of my career and when time allows. I came close to some cool things last year but I didn't quite get them.

ldenoncourt asks: Do you speak other languages than english?
Shannon: I speak some very poor French - well, not very good. I can mutter some 'Hellos' and swear words in German I know some words in Puular - It's a West AFrican dialect. I may be taking a Spanish class soon. It seems ridiculous to live in Southern California and not know Spanish.

Capn_Cantankerous asks: Do you have any copies of your TV Guide cover left?
Shannon: Embarassingly, I have quite a stack left. Hopefully I'll have enough children someday to share them. The TV Guide cover and People Magazine cover game came out the same week as my high school reunion.