yoooo, a celebrity on the fediverse? let's goooooo

The Next Generation episode “Thine Own Self” has an A-plot that sees Data having to go retrieve radioactive metal. He gets into a shuttle accident, landing on a planet where he loses his memory. The inhabitants of the planet give him the name Jayden. Is Jay-Den named after this episode?

Hey Karim, super cool to have you here. I love what you've done with your character so far and I'm hoping for continued success on SFA.

1. What's the energy like on set? Are there any particularly strong jokesters? Tim Russ on Voyager was noted for cracking a lot of jokes, for example, and I think Michael Dorn and Brent Spiner had a similar reputation on the set of TNG.
2. Are you into science fiction generally? If so, what's your favorite book, movie, or tv series?
3. What do you wish people knew about SFA (or you!) that they don't seem to?

Whoa, Lemmy is going places! I never expected to see a Reddit-style AMA to appear here. I don't have any questions for you, Mr. Karim but I do wish you the best!

Star Trek has pushed progressive ideas throughout the years, from your experience on set, how do the people making the show, actors included, still try to carry that banner with the mounting political landscape?

Hey bud! I just wanted to say I really appreciate your show. I’m a middle age guy who grew up on TNG/DS9 and this show really captures the soul of Star Trek. Keep up the great work!!

As for a question, were you a Trek fan before? If so, how’s that incorporated into your performance, if at all. And if you weren’t a fan before, are you now, and how does no prior exposure to Star Trek inform your performance?

Thanks!!

Qapla! Do you speak any Klingon besides the lines you had to memorize? Did you study the history/lore of the Klingons? Btw, I love how you are bringing Jay-Den to life.

How many tribbles do you think you could take in a fight?

Stealing from Colbert, what is the best sandwich? Both for you and for your character?

Wildly unexpected. Thank you for doing this! 💜

I'm a huge Star Trek as well as lover of Birds. imagine my surprise to see a Klingon carrying binos and then saying, "I watch birds." My family started laughing because I wear a t-shirt often that simply says, "I like birds" and they were really really hoping that you would say that. Haha. Close enough!

I have a very serious two part question:

1. What is Jay-Den's favorite bird? And...
2. What is Karim's favorite bird?

🐦 🖖🏽

Hello Karim,

Fantastic that you’re the providing the first Trek cast member AMA in the fediverse! Incredible way to get into the franchise.

I hope this will be a good experience on your side and that you might consider having your own account on Mastodon or Pixelfed.

A few questions please…🖖🏼

— In your study of previous Klingons in the franchise, have you considered B’Elanna Torres journey to accepting her Klingon heritage? Do you see some parallels in her discomfort with Klingon culture, its norms and expectations with Jay-Den’s search for a path to his own identity while still respecting his culture of origin?

— Was there a specific moment, in your preparation process for the role, when it suddenly came together for you and you knew who you need to be as Jay-Den? Could you share when that was?

— What other languages, if any, do you speak beyond English? If you are bilingual or multilingual, do you find that helps with the Klingon dialogue and phrases?

— How are you finding Toronto and the surrounding area? Have you got out much around the region? Other than what appears to be the Escarpment in S1E4, have you been out on location shoots?

Hi, Karim!

I cannot believe nobody else is asking this question, so here it goes:

What is your favorite dinosaur? 🦕

Love the show, but not a fan of "The Burn" or the sort of dystopia it creates, did you grow up watching Trek? Is the show what you expected?

Just want to say: While I'm not a huge fan of the highschool drama part of the show, I love all the characters so far <3 You're all doing a great job!

When you were a 1 year-old, Katee Sackhoff was a 21 year old actress just starting out as Starbuck on the Battlestar Galactica remake. I see a lot of parallels with the cast of BSG in the early 2000s and the Star Trek: Academy "kids" in 2026.

On her YouTube channel she just recently started watching that BSG series for the first time. It's really interesting to see how she talks about her life in her 20s, looking back as an actress now in her 40s. She doesn't seem to have big regrets, but you definitely get the impression she'd like to send some messages back to the younger Katee. Have you and the rest of the cast found mentors found mentors who can help you with your careers and performances?

Star Trek is unique in that there have been almost continuous shows and movies on since the 1980s. So, there are dozens of actors at various stages in their careers who might be able to offer perspectives. For you, I wonder if Michael Dorn would be someone you'd reach out to. Not only is he obviously a fellow klingon, but he also started out as a musician before going into acting. There's also Wil Wheaton, who seems like he was really grateful to have been "adopted" by the TNG cast, and is the kind of guy who would pay that kindness forward.

What was the audition process like? Did you have any clue what you were auditioning for, or was it buried under 47 layers of secrecy?

Oh my gosh! Welcome to the Fediverse!

We're kind of obsessed with Star Trek here.

Um...I don't have a question. It's just so cool to see you here. And since Academy is relatively new, I should add welcome to the Trek fandom!

I hope our appreciation for your art shines through!

Hi Karim, big fan of your work in Academy! Jay-Den's backstory is already an all time great Trek episode.

My hard hitting question is personal: Coffee or tea? More generally, favorite drink?

Love your work on the show! Is the voice hard to do? It seems like it would be hard to do all day.

Hi and so happy to have you!

I love that you're playing - I don't know if I'm interpreting it right, but among all aspects of Jay-Den, I think, at least - a non-neurotypical Klingon. I'd love to hear your perspective on how you go about playing him not just as neurodiverse, but specifically as a neurodiverse Klingon!

I love you in academy!! 😍 My question is how horny are your dms and if they have gotten hornier or less horny since you put on the forehead?

would you rather fight 100 tribble-sized sehlats or one sehlat-sized tribble?

First, I admire you for the heart, depth, and character you bring to this role. My question relates to Klingon culture and in-universe development. Star Trek has a rich history of having "flagship characters" for the important cultures (You, Worf, and B'ellana for the Klingons, Spock for the Vulcans, Deanna and Lwaxana Troi for Betazed, etc.)

What has been the hardest part about redefining Klingon culture post burn? and what defining in-universe moment changed the Klingons the most in the last ~1000 years?

Qapla'! (Also thank you! but Klingon doesn't have a word for that...)

What’s the Klingon food like on-set, for scenes where you have to actually eat it? Do they try and make it taste good, or is it as gross as it looks?

Hi Karim! It's so cool that you're doing an AMA on the Fediverse!

Anyway, Jay-den is one of my favorite characters of the post-2017 era of Trek. Jay-den is clearly not like most Klingons, but he still feels like a true Klingon. How did you prepare for the role in taking such a unique character who doesn't fit the "stereotype" (for lack of a better word) of a Klingon while still making him feel like a "real" Klingon to the audience?

Hi Karim, no question I just wanted to say that your performance in episode 4 honestly made it some of the best Star Trek I've ever seen.

Hello Karim, I am a Trekkie that hasn't seen Starfleet Academy, but because you're here, now I will watch it

Karim, your work as Jay-Den Kraag is so well done, you're definitely our favorite actor of the series! You do a better job portraying sometime caught between worlds than any other actor I've seen. Was it challenging to depict such a character?

Is this the thread for questions?

What actor from Trek’s past, that primarily wore lots of makeup and prosthetics, do you look up at as a acting role model?

What was your top reference going into acting in Star Trek? What personal twists you added to that?

Do the writers and directors give you a lot of input into how to play your character and the direction of his story/development?

If it were up to you, what kind of scenes or storylines would you most like to play or see Jay-Den Kraag in?

To be clear, this is for 4pm EST

First, I just wanted to say that you’re a treat to watch on Academy and I can’t wait to see where your story goes! It’s always great to see a species fleshed out in Trek, in this case a Klingon that has other pursuits than that of a warrior.

Were you initially intimidated by the fact that you are playing a character that is part of a species that has decades of culture built up to this point? If so, how did you prepare for the role? If not, I can’t tell because you’ve been great so far.

What's your take on the current discourse surrounding your show? I haven't watched it yet but "the Internet" has been right about precisely 1 singular show they were hating on, so it's already got a glowing recommendation.

How it feels to have all the Klingon makeup?

Where you a Trekkie before you got the role? If so, what's your favorite show/movie?

Hi Karim! really loving SFA, and Jay-Den is definitely an awesome character, the Trek world needs more Klingon scientists!!

Jay-Den's voice is really great 🔥 fit for a warrior.

What's your favorite Klingon phrase?!

Hey Karim, I'm really enjoying Academy so far! Coming of age stories are part and parcel of the franchise since Wesley/Wil Wheaton, and I'm wondering: what's your favourite coming of age story/film/show/game?

(The Breakfast Club is a very valid answer btw)

Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions!

First growing up, were you a fan of Star Trek? Second, now that you’re part of it, what has it been like to join such a large and long-lasting franchise?

Much has been made about the expansive Starfleet Academy set, but have you done much location work so far? Are there any interesting places you can mention?

Do the prosthetics make it much more difficult to act in, or does it actually help you get into the role?

The voice, real or CG? If CG why did they feel they needed to make the characters voice so deep compared to the other klingons? It's a bit jarring listening, especially the debate episode.

Starfleet academy has been rather divisive with fans and Star Trek fans as a whole have been known to be rather vocal.

Have you been paying attention to any of the comments made about the show (positive or negative) and has any of this effected your mental health (positive or negative)?

Also wanted to add that I'm personally loving the show and Jay-Den has been a standout character for me.

You guys ever have to stop the set because you gotta go to the restroom?

I was recently on a hike with a group and just held it in uncomfortably throughout the entire time lol

Hi Karim. I'd like to know how long the casting process took. Best regards from mid Europe.

Have you been privy to any of the discussions about what it means for the show to be set a thousand years later than most of the franchise, like where it makes sense for a previous entry to guide the interpretation, and where it maybe makes as much or more sense to let things go a little crazy. The interplay probably has to drift more toward storytelling realities within the brand than it does gaming-out what would "really" happen over a millennium of Star Trek time.

Honestly, when I think about it, the post-Burn era seems downright conservative in terms of societal change, certainly at least within Starfleet. That's obviously necessary for it to be recognizable as a property, but it's kind of funny to think that it's as static as it seems, like closer to the difference between 426 and 1426 than between 1026 and 2026 CE, and I'm probably understating how different the first two were.

What’s it been like to work with actors like HH & PG? Learned anything from them?