Interview with Tony Black

Tony Black is playing Derek in this fall’s alien invasion film “Skyline”  Tony is also work on a few other projects including “Operation Broken Reed” in which he is producing as well as acting.  Movie Mikes had a chance to chat with Tony to discuss working on “Skyline” and what is upcoming in his career.

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Mike Gencarelli: Tell us about your role of Derek in “Skyline”?
Tony Black: Well Derek [laughs]…within the opening scene there is party where the main cast get introduced, I am one of the friends at the party. [laughs] I guess he is like the horn ball kid at the party. He annoys the shit out of everybody.

MG: How was it working with the Strause Brothers?
TB: It was awesome. I actually met them like three years ago at an audition for another project. It was for a commercial and they were directing. They thought my look borderlined mid-western oil buyer. I said “Look I am from the mid-west”. I didn’t get the role, it went to another guy but, the Strause Brothers kept me in the loop and said they had more projects coming up. Like a year and half later, I got a call from them saying they got a film coming up and they wanted to bring me on. I actually shot the teaser that they used to get the initial investors. We shot that on Thanksgiving just last year. These guys are the best of the best. It is amazing what they are capable of doing. It was an honor and pleasure to work with these guys. Hopefully I will get to work with them again.

MG: Was it a difficult shoot due to the low budget?
TB: Not at all.  It was probably THE coolest set that I have ever been on. Just the energy that the Brothers created with the cast and crew. They were fun, awesome and really accommodating. I really had a blast.

MG: How do you think that this film differs from other alien invasion flims?
TB: The Brothers own Hydraulx, which is a special effects house. It is one of top special effects houses in LA. They are on top of their game. They know exactly what they are doing. Special effects wise “Skyline” is going to be really visual stimulating. They really have it down! I think that there is certain type of film that people want to see right now.  People do not want to see a film and think about it afterwards. They want to sit and watch an entertaining film. This film is most definitely an entertaining film.

MG: Tell us about your film “The Rise and Fall of Their American Dream”?
TB: It was a film we had shot in three different locations. India, Mexico and United States. I was the lead in the film. It was an independent film and last year it won several awards at different film festivals. It was an amazing experience as well.

MG: What else do you have upcoming?
TB: I actually have another film I am working on about a Korean war spy mission. It is based on a true story about a 10-man team that Truman had hand picked to go behind enemy lines. Only one guy made it out. That one is called “Operation Broken Reed”, it based on a novel by Arthur Boyd, who is actually the sole survivor as well.  It is going to be an awesome story. He is really an amazing person and human being. It is currently being scripted and I am actually producing it as well.

Click here to purchase “Skyline” merchandise