Garret Dillahunt is the star of Fox’s new hit TV show “Raising Hope”.  The show was the first this season to receive a full order for new episodes.  Garrett has also been in films such as 2009’s horror remake of “Last House on the Left” and The Coen Brothers’ “No Country for Old Men”.  Movie Mikes had a chance to chat with Garret about his new hit show and his upcoming films from this year’s Toronto Film Festival.

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Mike Gencarelli: Tell us about your new show “Raising Hope”, you play Burt Chance?
Garret Dillahunt: I do play the character named Burt  Chance.  I guess I am at the patriarch of the show.  I am also a grandfather on the show.  We are a blue collared family.  We are hard working and we love each other very much, but we aren’t the best parents.  My wife and I had our kid in our teens, she was 15 and I was about 17.  We didn’t do a great job raising him, even though we love him.  Now our son has a kid.  With his new baby we all have a chance to do a better job than we did first time around.

MG: What has been the best part of working on this show?
GD: It is not an awful thing to go to work and try to make each other laugh all day.  We are doing a show that a lot of people can relate to.  It is a good thing.  I feel lucky to be apart of it.  It is not just a comedy show but a really good one.  It is really unique.  I feel like I will be able to look back on this show and think it is one of the top things I am proud of.

MG: Congratulations on Fox giving the show a full season order, what can we expect from the rest of the season?
GD: I am really happy about that.  It is the kind of show that will build a following.  People are going to want to buy the box set of this show.  I am really happy that they recognized that and they are grooming us for a long life.  We are shooting our Thanksgiving episode right now.  We did a Halloween one.  We also have a Christmas episode in the pipeline.  It is not all baby jokes [laughs].  You really get to know this family.  Everyone takes stage at one time or another.  There are all kinds of stories to be told here.  Keep tuning it and keep telling your friends.

MG: What was it like working on such an intense film like “Last House on the Left” remake?
GD: It was great.  I like to find ways to challenge myself.  With this one in particular the source material is so revered.  The challenge there is to make a film that is respectful and worthy of the fans expectations.  I have also never done a horror film before either.

MG: Where you a fan of the original film?
GD: To my shock and I am a movie watcher, I had no knowledge of the original.  I even like horror movies.  I didn’t know about it.  I thought it was an ok candidate for a remake, since some remakes are dicey.  I thought I am in this business and I was not familiar with this film.  I also thought I was not alone in that and I thought it might bring some attention to it.  I believe now the original has probably received a lot more attention now that it has had in a long time.

MG: Tell us about work with the Coen Brothers in “No Country for Old Men”?
GD: Well they are the Coen Brothers man, no question it would be a great time.  They are really cool dudes.  They are funny and know exactly what they want to do.  They let you do your own thing.  I was determined to be in this movie in some form.  I got along really well with Tommy Lee Jones.  It was really a blast.  I learned so much from the set as well.

MG: What else do you have in the works?
GD: Well “Raising Hope” is taking up a lot of my time but I do have a couple of films.  I actually just saw them at the Toronto Film Festival.  I ended up doing “Hope” because I wanted something can could help me pay for my film career.  The kind of movies I like, get drawn to and get offered are usally low budget affairs.  Even though I love them, I also need to pay the rent.  Thank God, I have found this incredible comedy.  It could end up being the best job of my career.  One of the films is called “Oliver Sherman” and the other is called “Amigo”.  “Amigo” is a John Sayles film about the Philippine-American War.  They are actually having a screening in LA on Nov.6th at the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre.  “Oliver Sherman” is with me and Donal Logue and Molly Parker.  It is about a couple of veterans and dealing with coming home.  I am really proud of that one.

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J Blakeson is the director of the recently released “The Disappearance of Alice Creed”, in which J has received high praises for. After only his first feature film, J has been named one of Variety’s 10 directors to watch in 2010. Movie Mikes has the chance to chat with J to discuss the process for making “Alice Creed” and what he has planned next.

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Mike Gencarelli: Tell us how you came up with the story for “The Disappearance of Alice Creed”?
J Blakeson: It was sort of a practical thing to start with. I knew I had to write it and be able to achieve it on a low budget. I started with what I had which was an apartment. I knew three actors that could probably get involved. I setup the limitation with that in mind. I wanted to show the other side of a kidnapping. When they have to take care of the people that they kidnap and of course what happens when it doesn’t go as planned.

MG: You were was named as one of Variety’s 10 directors to watch in 2010 after your first feature, does that create any pressure for you?
JB: Well it is a little bit of pressure but that is actually a good problem to have [laughs]. I feel a little bit of pressure in what I am going to do next. But it also has put me in a fantastic position. I now do not just have to do any job that comes around. People actually want me to work for them now. It is a great place to be. All of the benefits out weigh the pressure.

MG: What did you find your biggest challenge directing “Alice Creed”?
JB: It had to be the schedule. We had such little time. I didn’t want to make it like a hand held documentary style. I wanted to make it as cinematic as possible. The problem with doing that is that it takes time. We are always watching the clock. The great thing about hand held is your can just swing the camera around and get loads of footage. When you storyboard it and have to plan shots, it takes a long time. Especially when you are setting up dolly shots and other tough camera shots. There was a sequence where Alice is eating soup, it had so many single shots. We were always chasing our tails but luckily we had a really good crew.

MG: You worked with such a great cast in “Alice Creed”, tell us how you got everyone on board?
JB: This film sort of lives or dies based on the actors. If we didn’t have good actors we would be in trouble. It was great it was a real treat to work with such good actors. They are all such hard working people, especially since we only had four weeks to shot this. It required a quite intense acting performance from all of them. They all have to do pretty interesting stuff. They really threw themselves into the material.

MG: How did you get involved with “The Descent: Part 2″, where you a fan of the first film”?
JB: It was purely a writer for hire gig. I wrote that with a friend of mine James McCarthy. We wrote a big action/thriller script for Working Title that they never made. One of the other companies we showed, the project to was Celador, the company that made “The Descent”. One of the producers there read it and loved it. We setup a general meeting and they brought up to us about doing a sequel to “The Descent”. We said of course because that is a film that has a green light before it even has a script. We pitched for it and we got the job. We got rewritten by James Watkins, he wrote and directed “Eden Lake”. Then we re-wrote him and then he came back and re-wrote us. It was a bit of a funny process. The final draft isn’t our draft but it is in the same shape. So it sort of like the same body but different personality.

MG: With your first movie in the bag, what is planned for next?
JB: I am writing one at the moment. Actually I am going to finish that one soon and hopefully get it made next. Then at the same time, I am getting sent a bunch of scripts. I particular do not like writing and I would like to focus on directing. If you only write you own films then you are really limited to only making a few films because it takes a long time to write and then get off the ground. If you have other projects on the go then you make more films. I enjoy making films and want to make as many as I can.

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Jordan Ladd has grown up surrounded by the movie business and has always wanted to be an actor. Her mother was Cheryl Ladd known from “Charlie’s Angels” fame. Jordan is known for her roles in the films “Cabin Fever”, “Club Dread”, and “Death Proof”. She recently was the lead in the fantastic horror film “Grace”. It was her most intense performance and she was acclaimed for her work in the film. Movie Mikes had the chance to talk with Jordan about her films and her passion for doing what she does.

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Mike Gencarelli: Growing up in the business, have you always wanted to act?
Jordan Ladd: It is a funny thing when you grow in a showbiz family, you end up kind of signing for your supper.  It is reinforced creativity. If you get into trouble, you find a way out my writing a song or writing a play.  I have always loved movies and filmmaking as well.  I never had the aspiration to be a song and dance gal on Broadway or anything.  I just genuinely love movies.  It is what I know and what I love.

MG: Have you always been a fan of the horror genre?
JL: It has actually turned into a genre that I have come to love.  Initially no, “Cabin Fever” was my first time working in the genre.  It was a crash course on learning what those movies really are.  I found out that you can tell a story and push the boundaries more if you put it in that genre.  By virtue of working with that, I got trained and schooled in it.  I really appreciate it now.

MG: You have one gory end in “Cabin Fever”, how was it working on that film?
JL: Oh, I do know Cerina Vincent’s death in that film was pretty intense.  Well I guess a dog eating a person was why I signed up for the movie.  It was gory and laughable.  I thought dogs eating people…I have to do it.  It was insane working on the film.  We shut down, we got up and running and then we shut down again.  We just hoped to finish the movie and hope people would really understand and appreciate it.  We had a blast doing it, even the tougher stuff.  I rather work that way than on a big budget fancy thing where you are completely separate from the process.

MG: Was it fun to work with Broken Lizard in “Club Dread”?
JL: It was a fun as it looks.  We had so much fun.  It was summer camp for silly actors in a beautiful location.  It is the only job I have ever done where I get to wake up brush my teeth, throw on my flip flops and walk to set.  It was like heaven that way.  We had a lot of laughs in the process and it is definitely one of the least emotional draining experiences.

MG: Tell us about working with Quentin Tarantino on “Grindhouse”?
JL: For me having Quentin know who I am was enough and giving me a chance to audition.  Getting to be on set with him was extraordinary, he knows every movie that has ever been made.  The process is really infectious and it is fun.  In my wildest hopes and dreams, I never knew that it would happen.  Lucky for me I can die a happy woman.  He really wants you to become the role that your playing.  Even down to listening to the music that the character would listen to.  It just gave me permission to get a little wild and have some fun.  Every time he would yell cut, he would crank the music.  I also got hip to a lot of music I didn’t know about.

MG: How did you become involved with “Grace” and what were your first reaction to the script?
JL: At that point, I was getting a bit of a reputation for being a scream queen.   I like doing other projects also so I originally said no.  My manager said this is really a special piece and I should take another look.  It is a very emotional and painful story. I decided to read the script and was already taking notes by page 13.  No one has really explored that territory of a mother and a child bond.  It really spoke to me.  We setup a meeting with the director Paul Solet.  We sat for four hours just talking and of course I said yes.  He is just so incredibly thoughtful about relationships, the ability to love and sacrifice.  The film is just something that you cannot let go of, it is just disturbing.  I found this to be emotionally effective in that way.  Paul said a lot of movies are a gut-punch but this one is more of a soul-punch.  I believe he is so accurate saying that.  I really felt that I gave some personal aspects of myself during filming.  After doing a role like this, you want your next project to take it even further.

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Alan Ritchson is the star of Spike TV’s hit show “Blue Mountain State”, which is returning for season two this month. Alan also has a recurring role on The CW’s “Smallville” playing the character of Aquaman. Also little known fact, but he provided the facial image and movement for the title character in Robert Zemeckis’ “Beowulf”. Movie Mikes had a chance to chat with Alan about his roles and his love for what he does.

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Mike Gencarelli: Tell me about your role in Spike TV’s “Blue Mountain State”, you play Thad Castle?
Alan Ritchson: Thad Castle is the overzealous captain of the team. People think he is crazy when they watch the show. I find the character as somebody that has a different set of logic. He cares about the football team and leading them, just in a different way. That is where a lot of the hilarity ensues. It is funniest character I have ever had a chance to play. Before we even shot the pilot, I am reading the script and I thought this is the funniest thing I have ever read. I thought there was no chance they would be able to keep some of the stuff in the show that made it so funny. There is no way you are going to be able to have a cookie race with oreos in your butt-cheeks and running down field. But there we were shooting the episode and I asked “How are we going to do the cookie race?”. They told me “You are going to wear a jock strap and run down the field”, [laughs] I was shocked. We are waiting to get to the point where the writers come up with an idea that basically is a challenge for Spike’s standards department. We haven’t been able to get to that point yet.

MG: With the show entering its second season, what is in store for this season?

AR: Oh man, there is some good stuff. It is a more explosive season. Some episodes we did were just so epic. I do not want to give away what happens but some of the situations we get into are just so crazy. All I can say is it is a hard hitting season.

MG: What has been the hardest part of working on the show?

AR: That is a great question. I do not think anyone has ever asked me that. It is such a fun show. It has such a great cast and crew, it is such a collaborative effort. We have so much input in the show. If I were to complain about something on the show, I have to be the worst person alive because there is really nothing to complain about. As far as difficulty, there was a scene we did where we were tunneling out of a facility in the ground. We are shooting this scene where we are coming out of the mud. They built this giant mud stage. It was physically insane. I was wondering if I was going to die in this mud. I had no idea how I was even going to get out. The rain was like two degrees, it was freezing. It had to be the most physically demanding thing I have had to do on the show. It was still fun though. I slept like a baby that night.

MG: Tell about about working on the show “Smallville” as Arthur Curry/Aquaman?
AR: It has been a really cool run for me. I started out as a little guest star. It has been really well received. I mean a show that has been on for ten years, are you kidding me? It is so rare.  As far as coming back for this last season. I think this is where is it going to get really exciting. They are finally starting to take some of those layers off and you are really getting to the gritty stuff. That is exciting for me as an actor. It is going to be really cool.

MG: Tell us about your involved with the film “Beowulf”, your were the character model?
AR: What you were looking at on the screen that was me. I didn’t get to do the voice though.  I was fresh into LA and would have loved to have been a part of that though. You have someone like Ray Winston to come in and voice it, which is great. The main difficulty for them is that he was the only actor voicing the part who didn’t look anything like their character. They brought me in to be Beowulf. It was great for me since it was one of my first projects. Getting to work on a Zemeckis film and getting to be around all the great talent. It was a really cool start. The process is so insane. They are photographing you moving, not moving, with clothes and without clothes. It was unbelievable.

MG: What else are you currently working on?
AR: I have worked on a couple of projects that have yet to hit. There is a comedy called “Spring Break ’83”. I do not know exactly when it will be done. That was a fun project to work on. It was sort of a Thad-esque character but in the 80’s. It is like a throwback to “Animal House” and “Revenge of the Nerds”.

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Erin Gray is well known for her role in the short lived but cult classic sci-fi series “Buck Rogers in the 25th Century”.  Erin also starred in the TV series “Silver Spoons”.  Movie Mikes had a chance to talk with Erin about her feelings on the shows popularity still after decades and what she is currently working on.

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Mike Gencarelli: How did you get involved with the show “Buck Rogers in the 25th Century”?
Erin Gray: Where do I begin?  I have just made the transition from being a model in New York and moved to Los Angeles.  Within a couple of months, I started working with Universal Studios.  Shortly after, I was starring in mini-series called “Evening in Byzantium” with Glenn Ford.   Once I finished production on that I was asked to come in and do a screen test for a project called “Buck Rogers”.

MG: Although any lasting two seasons are you supposed that the show was such a cult classic, how do you feel about that?
EG: It absolutely amazes that it has become such a cult classic.  We certainly did not know at the time that it would resonate for so many more decades.  Obviously “Buck Rogers” had a great history to begin with.  A lot of fans were familiar with the comic books and the previous TV series.  We brought a new look, feel and humor to “Buck Rogers”.  It still blows my mind that after 30 years it is still in the hearts of minds of so many fans.

MG: How was it switching gears from sci-fi “Buck Rogers” to “Silver Spoons”?
EG: It was a major shift.  As a matter, I didn’t realize what a shift it was until I meet fans and they don’t put the two shows together.  It is the same girl.  I guess it is a bit different.  For me I guess the idea of learning comedy was different.  I am more of a method actor and more comfortable in the world of drama. Comedy has its own beat, rules and process.  I really loved it.  I loved the live performances.  I loved my cast and crew I worked with.  It was a really enjoyable 5 years of my life, a really enjoyable mix of work and family.

MG: Tell us what it was like working on the film “Jason Goes to Hell”?
EG: It was fun.  “Friday the 13th” was a fun to work on due to the exuberant feelings of the cast and the crew. Working with Sean Cunningham was great.  He brings a certain sense of humor and a ‘don’t take life too seriously’ attitude to the set as well.  He talked me into doing “Friday the 13th” by telling me it was a dark comedy [laughs].  I usually don’t go to horror film or act in them for the reason that I am so easy to scare.

MG: What can you tell us about “Buck Rogers Begins” and your involvement?
EG: Yeah, that project was put together by James Cawley.  He put together the “Star Trek New Voyages: Phase II” webisode series that has had a certain amount of success.  He got the rights to “Buck Rogers.  He raised enough money.  The wrote a  beautiful script but we were able to complete half of it.  They are trying to raise more money to finish it.  It was a wonderful opportunity.  It was fun for Gil and I to play Buck Rogers parents.  I also got to work with my daughter, who played Buck Rogers girlfriend.  This was a prequel to the TV series.  It leads up to the start of the comic book.  This is who Buck was in the late 1900’s before he went into the cave.  It is a period piece and it was great.

MG: What else do you have currently in the works?
EG: I just finished an independent movie called “Nesting”.  I play a business woman who owns real estate.  She gets annoyed by a couple that nests on her property, let’s put it that way.  That will be coming out shortly.  I also have a couple of television commercials floating around.  My primary focus is my talent agent company “Heroes for Hire”.  I also teach Tai Chi 5 days a week.

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Michael McDonald is best known for his role in “MadTV” for almost a decade. He has created so many amazing characters for the show including Stuart Larkin. Michael is currently working behind the scenes writing and directing for ABC’s “Cougar Town”. Michael also has a stand-up comedy special on Showtime which premieres on Saturday October 9th called “Michael McDonald: Model.Citizen”. The special will also be hitting DVD on Tuesday October 12th. Movie Mikes had a chance to chat with Michael about his days on “MadTV”, his work on “Cougar Town” and his upcoming stand-up special.

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Mike Gencarelli: What was it like working on a show like “MadTV” for almost ten years?
Michael McDonald: It is so rare that you get a job that lasts that long on television. A lot of people asked me “Didn’t you get tired of it”. For me I came to the party late. It took me a long time to get a big break and I wasn’t anxious to throw it away. I had an awesome time doing it and ten years seemed like a nice round number. My scalp actually just couldn’t take the wig glue any more and I had to give it up.

MG: How did you come up with such notable characters like Stuart Larkin?
MM: A lot of the characters I did on “MadTV”, I originally developed on stage at a local improv theater in LA called Groundlings. Stuart, to name one, was what I like to call little dark windows from the past. The relationship between Stuart and his mother played so brilliantly by Mo Collins, was based on the relationship I had with my mom. I would often just take things that happened and put that into sketches. When I originally gave the script to Mo, she read it and said “Michael, this is really sick” and my response was “Well, the year was 1975”.

MG: How did you get a cameo in every “Austin Powers” movie?
MM: I actually met Mike Myers at the Groundlings theater. He did a guest spot during an improv night.  He very nicely asked me if I would like to be in the first “Austin Powers”. It was a very funny but memorable part.  I was the guy that gets run over by the steamroller. Rather than run away from it, I sat there and screamed for five minutes until it finally ran me over. Mike was kind enough to ask me if I wanted to be in every one of them. All of them were small kind of inconsequential parts. I think it was his sort of inside joke.

MG: Tell us about working behind the camera in the TV series “Cougar Town”?
MM: Well I am actually calling you from the set of it now.  The creator of the show is Bill Lawrence. He also created “Scrubs”. I worked with him on “Scrubs”, I directed and acted in about five or six of them. He asked me if I wanted to try “Cougar Town” last year. I was hired to just direct one episode. I was so nervous because Courtney Cox is so famous.  She is actually really kind. I was just nervous because she was Courtney Cox from “Friends”. I kept calling her Monica the whole week. I would say “And Monica you are standing over here” and she would go “Monica? What going on?”.  She just ended up teasing me about it all the time. We ended up hitting it off really well and now I am full-time. I write and work on the show full-time and I do stand-up on the weekends or on the hiatus.

MG: Do you enjoy behind the scenes more than in front of the camera?
MM: I have always written and directed along with acting. In the early days, it was really hard for me to get a job as an actor. So I needed to write myself into parts in order to get jobs and then hire myself. I always did that, even on “MadTV”.  I actually really like doing a little bit of everything. I think it is kind of an advantage for me because I am able to talk to actors because I am one. Most of them know what I do, so they trust me. I like that part of it a lot. I think in a couple weeks, I may be playing a small role in “Cougar Town”. It is that of a wine vendor. Which wine is a big part of the show, so I am really happy about that.

MG: Tell us what we can expect from your Showtime special “Michael McDonald: Model.Citizen”?
MM: I am really excited about it. After I left “MadTV”, I hit the road and did the clubs. I missed performing live. I thought it would be a fun new thing to get under my belt. So after a couple years, I had enough material. Showtime approached me to do a special and it premieres Saturday October 9th. It is called “Michael McDonald: Model.Citizen”. There is a period between model and citizen, because I am both. I am really proud of it.

MG: What is the hardest part of doing stand-up compared to sketch?
MM: I always think that stand-up is probably the hardest thing that anyone can do. With sketch comedy you have wigs and professional writers. You can do a second take and do it right. With stand-up comedy, you have one take and that is it.  It is a live performance. You are performing as yourself, there is no funny wigs, costumes,walks or talks. It is just you. Performing in front of a bunch of drunk people in a club is I think the most intimidating thing there is. But also it is very familiar to me because it is like a family reunion.

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Sam Trammell is well known for his role in HBO’s “True Blood” as Sam Merlotte. The blue-collared bar owner who also happens to be a shape shifter. Sam is gearing up for Season Four of “True Blood”, which should start filming early next year.  Movie Mikes caught up with Sam to discuss his role in “True Blood” and what he has planned for the future.

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Mike Gencarelli: Tell us about how you originally got the role of Sam Merlotte?
Sam Trammell: I got the script from my agent. It was going around town and it was Alan Ball’s new show on HBO. It was a hot commodity, everyone wanted to do it. I just went it and met with the casting director.  They taped me and showed it to Alan. They picked me for the final audition to go in front of HBO. There were about three other guys there for my part. I read in front of the president of HBO and all these executives. I found out four hours later I got the part, it was fairly quick turnaround.

MG: What is the best part of playing the character, it seems like it is made just for you?
ST: Thanks man, well I am from Louisiana originally. It is great to be able to play a character who you kind of represent and a guy from where I am from. I love that he is kind of a blue collar dude and that he owns a bar. I never worked in a bar but I always thought it would be fun to work as a bartender. The other part of it is that he is a supernatural creature which is a really cool thing to have under your belt and as a secret. Since I still get to be like a regular guy.

MG: How do you like the direction that your character has taken with being a shape shifter?
ST: The second half of this year was just funniest acting work that I have ever got to do. You see the dark side of him. You get to see a flashback showing him engaged in criminal activity. That was a blast I really enjoyed it.

MG: Where you familiar with the book series, if not have you read since?
ST: I wasn’t before I got on the show. But once I was cast I read the first four books to get a sense of the world and who Sam was. I read ahead basically and as the series goes I will keep reading them. I am just curious to see what Charlaine (Harris) is thinking for these stories.

MG: What has been the hardest part of working on the show?
ST: A few things, the nights are pretty difficult. When you are doing like four nights in a row and shooting all night. What is tough is not getting to sleep during the day. The first couple of nights are not that hard but then it starts to switch your whole rhythm and that is tough. Another thing is that sometimes you will have like a week off. We have a bunch of different story lines, you do not work every day. You have to stay on the character and need to keep you character up.

MG: What can you let us know about Season Four plans?
ST: Honestly, I do not know what is going to happen. I know we are going to follow the book to a certain degree like we have done. I know their are going to be some witches involved in the stories. The writers are figuring it out themselves right now. They are pitching stories and writing the first couple of scripts. Last year was a really big year for us because a lot more people started watching it.

MG: What can you tell us about your upcoming film “Guns, Girls and Gambling”?
ST: Yeah, it stars Christian Slater and Gary Oldman, Dane Cook and also Megan Park from “The Secret Life of an American Teenager”. It sort of a Tarantino-esque hyper reel Western. It sort of involves a bunch of people coming after Christian’s character who has stolen a Native American mask. It is really cool and a lot of fun. I am really excited about it!

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Nathan Barr is the amazing composer behind much of the recent horror films in the last few years. He has worked a lot with Eli Roth on “Cabin Fever”, “Hostel” and most recently “The Last Exorcism”. Nathan has also composed most of the scores to Broken Lizard’s films, most recently “The Slamming Salmon”. Besides movies, Nathan is also currently prepping for season four of “True Blood”, he has composed and performed all three past seasons. Movie Mikes had a chance to chat with Nathan about his process for creating music and doing what he loves.

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Click here to purchase Nathan’s music

Mike Gencarelli: Where do you get inspiration when creating the “True Blood” score?
Nathan Barr: “True Blood” is one of those shows where Alan Ball (the creator) has everyone on the show do what they do best, which is their own thing. He is not looking for anything besides you bringing your own unique style and sound to the show. It is a wonderful place to start with a project when they are not asking you to imitate someone else. It was more about inspiration from all of the character and the stories. If I had to say what inspired me, I would have to have say Appalachian, Americana and probably Civil War music. That is only possible because of characters like Bill, who is from the Civil War. I drew inspiration from that due to the time period.

MG: Tell us about your craft for composing the “True Blood” score, you do not always the usual soundboards and mixers?
NB: In addition to being a composer, I am also a musician. I wouldn’t consider myself a strong performer. I certainly love the process of laying down tracks as a musician. The way I play the cello or the way I play the guitar are part of what makes me have a specific sound. In addition to the way that I compose for “True Blood”, I also get to play the instruments as another layer to bring out my uniqueness. Because I was forced from an early age to play cello and fell in love with guitar. I grew up with a foot in rock-n-roll and a foot in classical. Having familiarity and experiences in both of those genres is part of what allows me to compose and perform the music for “True Blood”. It is really just about watching a scene, picking up an instrument and starting to improvise what is up on the screen.

MG: How did you get involved with Broken Lizard to compose their music?
NB: It was just one of those fairly uninteresting industry stories. My agent submitted me as part of a group. The guys liked that I worked with Eli Roth and they were fans of “Cabin Fever”. They were about to do “Club Dread” which is a horror spoof. With the score to “Cabin Fever”, it certainly spoofs many horror films as well and has a great sense of humor about it. I think that they were looking to do the same thing with “Club Dread”. So from that were interested in working with me and we have stayed in touch, and have worked together many times.

MG: Do you find that composing music for a comedy is different than creating horror?
NB: General speaking the process for scoring a film, whether a comedy, horror or even documentary. It is pretty much the same. The job of a composer is to take your impressions of characters , the story and figure out how to musically support what is going on on-screen. If you are doing a horror film there are different tools or tricks you can lean on to create tension or a scary moment.

MG: Do you find that you have a lot of freedom with the scores or do you follow a path?
NB: It depends on the particular filmmaker or producer that you are working with.  A composers worst nightmare is to come in on a project where the director or producers are wildly in love with the temp music an editor has used. It is then an uphill struggle to get them to let go of what they have had in their heads for so long during the editing process. Fortunately I haven’t dealt with that too much. In my opinion, the really strong filmmakers are always willing and open to let you explore musically what you feel like you need as a composer, instead of imposing you. I think also good filmmakers are able to admit where their music knowledge ends and let you take them on the journey and trusting you with that.

MG: What was the hardest project you have worked on?
NB: In some ways, some of the projects with Broken Lizard have been the most difficult. Often times it is not doing something completely new and unique. It is about leaning on some music or traditions from music that they are spoofing, for example “Club Dread”. For that it wasn’t about making some incredible unique score. It was really about spoofing all of the horror movies that has come before it. I think those situations are very hard for a composer if you goal is to get your own unique sound out there. It took me a while to learn to look for those projects where you are going to be able to explore your own sound. Something like “True Blood” is a perfect venue for that.

MG: How did you start working with Eli Roth being you have scored all his projects?
NB: I hate to say it but it is kind of another semi-boring industry story. There was a producer I worked with on an earlier film, she was going to be producing “Cabin Fever” with Eli. She set up the meeting for us to meet. When Eli and I got together, he we walked into my studio and one of the first things he did was look at my DVD collection.  Every horror film that was beloved to him was on that shelf. We kind of both knew right away that based on his reaction to my DVDs, we were going to get a long really well. The friendship and work relationship developed from there.

MG: Tell us about working on the “The Last Exorcism”
NB: Eli brought me on to that project. I took a look at the film and right away I knew it was really good. One of Daniel (Stamm)’s great successes was creating an amazing atmosphere at which the story was evolved. I thought it was a really good scary movie. The main challenge though for all of us was they were making a faux documentary and so we wanted to tread as lightly as possible throughout the film. The minute the audience realized there was a score that was going to remove them from the fact that this is not a real documentary. The challenge was knowing where we can bring the score into the film and then how heavy handed we could be. I think we ended up finding a good balance there so it doesn’t distract the audience.

MG: What is your next project that you will be working on?
NB: I am in the middle of working on a project now called “The Ledge”. It is a drama with Liv Tyler, Terrance Howard and Patrick Wilson and directed by a wonderful director Matthew Chapman. I go back on “True Blood” season four in February.

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Kyle Gallner is known for his recent horror roles in “The Haunting in Connecticut”, “Jennifer’s Body” and most recently “A Nightmare on Elm Street” reboot.  Kyle is currently shooting “Red State” which is Kevin Smith next film.  He also has a bunch of indie films hitting the festival through the coming months.  Kyle found time during filming “Red State” to talk with us to discuss his various roles, his love for horror and what he has coming up.

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Mike Gencarelli: Tell me what was it like working on “A Nightmare on Elm Street”?
Kyle Gallner: It was just really cool to work on it because it was a reboot of such an iconic series. It great to see Freddy come back to life and watch people reactions to seeing it was probably the best part about it.

MG: Are you a fan of the original “Nightmare”?
KG: I have never seen the original until we were already filming the movie. But you grow up knowing who Freddy is his, whether you are a fan of the series or not.

MG: Besides acting in it, Are you a fan of the horror genre?
KG: I am actually. I really like horror movies a lot. I like foreign horror movies a little bit more. I think American horror films sometimes glorify death and killing and sometime put too much humor in. In foreign horror movies they seem to take it a little more seriously. I think things are a little more real and brutal.

MG: Any favorite foreign horror films in particular?
KG: I really like “Matryrs”. “The Descent”. “High Tension”. I just saw one that was great called “Thirst”.

MG: Tell us a little about working on “The Haunting in Connecticut”?
KG: That was really cool. It was my first lead role. It was scary for me in the beginning but Virginia (Madsen) was really cool. She took me under her wing and took care of me and made me feel really comfortable and safe.

MG: Your performance in “The Haunting in Connecticut” was pretty intense, how did you prepare for the role of Matt Campbell?
KG: I watched the Discovery Channel documentary a bunch. I read up on it a lot. I read the script a lot and just prepped the best I could.

MG: What can you tell us about working on Kevin Smith’s new film “Red State”?
KG: I probably can’t say too much more than what Kevin (Smith) has already said. It kind of loosely based on Fred Phelps from Westboro Baptist Church and what happened in Topeka, Kansas with their debates about Iraq. It kind of touches on how people can be brutal to other people. Kevin choose to prove this point with a religious aspect.  We have been shooting for three weeks already and it has been really great.

MG: Are you excited to get to work with Kevin Smith, especially on his first horror film?
KG: Yeah, I grew up loving “Mallrats” and his other films. It is cool to be able to work with Kevin when he is going in such a new direction. He is shaking things up a bit, which is really exciting. He is a really great director…A REALLY GREAT DIRECTOR.

MG: What other upcoming projects do you have in the works?
KG: I got a movie called “Cherry” which is hitting up some festivals. I just got off this music movie called “Losers Take All”, which is about me and some guys in a punk band in the 80’s. I got another one called “Little Birds”. I got a bunch of indies in the can now. I am sure they will all be hitting the festivals real soon.

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Jamison Newlander is known best for his role of Alan Frog in “The Lost Boys”.  Jamison and Corey Feldman are back for the return of The Frog brothers in “The Lost Boys: The Thirst”.  Movie Mikes had a chance to talk with Jamison about what was it like returning to the role and what we can expect for the future of “The Lost Boys” franchise.

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Mike Gencarelli: How does it feel to be reprising your roles as Alan Frog in “The Lost Boys: The Thirst”?
Jamison Newlander: It was really great.  Back when the first movie came out, the fans have always wanted a sequel.  Different times we felt like we got close to it, maybe 10-15 years ago but it never happened.  For me this return was really exciting.  “The Tribe” happened first and it was great that they were continuing the franchise.  I was happy to be involved with that but my involved was limited.  It is great to come back and really give some meat to my character.  It feels great fighting side-by-side with (Corey) Feldman and having the Frog brothers back together again.  Having the dynamic that we had back from the first movie for some really key moments for this film is really exciting for me.

MG: Do you feel that your character has grown through the series?
JN: Yeah, definitely.  It is a couple of things though.  It is different for Feldman because his character, Edgar, has a certain arc.  He has been getting better and better at vampire hunting through his life.  With me there was that part of history of my character between the first movie and now.  The other element that we chose to deal with in this movie, which makes reference to the comic book actually, of me turning into a half vampire.  That is a real challenge for me to wrap my mind around.  You think of Alan Frog…you think of this guy that hates vampires.  Now to be struggling with those feeling.  It is self-hated.  It is conflict.  That was some of the main emotions that were going on for Alan during this movie.  I think it was a big change for him.

MG: Any moments during the shoot of “The Lost Boys: The Thirst” that really stood out?
JN: Working with Feldman in some of the scenes that happen towards the end of the film, we really great.  We actually shot it though in the beginning of the shoot.  We really LOOK like the Frog brothers.  When we were in costume and getting ready to go on set, we were together and they were snapping some pictures.  We looked at them and we were just so excited to be back as the Frog brothers.  Probably one of the best moments for me.

MG: “The Lost Boys: The Thirst” is said to be a true follow-up to the first “The Lost Boys” and it has alot of heart, what can you tell us about that?
JN: It is an interesting aspect of the film.  When we shot it, we wanted to make it scary but also bring a new view on what “The Lost Boys” vampire has become.  I am sure that the writers were thinking about this, but for me it was a nice suprise for me how much heart there was in it.  Also, we even referenced Corey Haim’s character in it. Which was really touching I think.

MG: What can you tell us about the reference to Corey Haim’s character in the film?
JN: People are thinking that the stuff was put in for Corey’s character afterwards.  There is kind of an eerie similiarity with what happened with him in the movie compared what happened in real life.  We make reference that his character Sam dies.  The fact is that, that was already in there.  Corey Haim did a press conference saying that he passed on the third film but it looks like he could return for the fourth one.  It wasn’t added after the fact.

MG: After “The Lost Boys”, your career launched but tell us about you switch to theater and directing?
JN: I appreciate asking me that.  I feel that people always dance around that a bit. A lot of people from “The Lost Boys” moved on to their successful careers.  For me it was a tricky time in my life.  I was 16 when we shot the movie and was 17 in 1987 when they released it.  When it came out theatrical it did well but it was on video that it really became a cult classic.  But that point I was 18 and I already made the decision that it was worthwild for me to go to college.  I left LA and moved to NY and studied theater.  I ended up doing theater in NY for like 10 years after that.  I ended up doing smaller theater projects. It was really fulfilling.   I enjoyed it  a lot.  I was dedicated to the craft of acting.  As part of theater, I started writing plays.  I have since moved on to writing screenplays.  I am working on an internet project right now that I am trying to launch.  It is kind of like a web series but more of an user generated content site.  This forced me to get creative about the projects I was going to do.  Projects like “The Lost Boys” just weren’t coming my way.  So there was a bit a gap for me in Hollywood.  It is only a gap though in perspection for me, because I was busting my ass trying to get other projects done.  It is nice to be working again with Warners Brothers again.

MG: Do you think we will see the Frog Brothers return again?
JN: I do not know officially what the plans are.  What I do know is that everyone is really excited about this movie.  This is mostly due to the fans reaction to this film.  I think everyone at Warners Bros is excited.  Feldman was talking about maybe doing another trilogy.  It would go into more about the adventures of the Frog brothers.  I even heard rumors about a possible TV series, though I am not the official word of Warner Bros or the franchise.  “Lost Boys” is uniquely in touch with what the fans are looking for,  it is up the reaction of how this movie does.  Also how the fans want to see the franchise continue.  Either way it is exciting to hear news about seeing more of the Frog brothers.

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Jason Priestley is known for his role of Brandon Walsh on “Beverly Hills, 90210”.  He recently starred in the new western film “The Last Rites of Ransom Pride”, referred as “a tale of bad-bitches and despicable bastards who cuss and kill each other” from its director.  Jason is also currently directing movies and starring in his own cable TV series.  Movie Mikes was able to talk with Jason for a few minutes about his role in “Last Rites of Ransom Pride” and find out what else he is currently working on.

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Mike Gencarelli: How did you get involved with this movie “The Last Rites of Ransom Pride”?
Jason Priestley: I received the script from Tiller (Russell). When he was casting the movie, I was one of the guys who came up in casting to play that part. One of the producers Chad Oaks is a guy I’ve worked with before and who is good buddy of mine. I felt the script was such a refreshing and new take on the western genre. I got on the phone with Tiller and I talked to him about the story and how he wanted to tell it. I got very excited by what he wanted to do and I wanted to be a part of it. That was that.

Mike Gencarelli: We were able to interview director Tiller Russell earlier and he told us he was able to take you and put you in this “weird ass role”, tell us about your character John?
Jason Priestley: The apostles, played by myself and Earl Brown, were these two killers that we hired to go and chase down Juliet Flowers. The way that I approached it and from what I got from the script was that John was this guy, who was unwanted from his mother and born to a prostitute. He was left with Kris Kristofferson’s character and raised by him to do whatever he needed to do. That is who he was. He was a guy who didn’t have any social graces, any education, any life experiences. He didn’t have anything. He was 35-40 year old man with the mental capacity and emotional understanding of a child, who was capable of doing whatever it was that his “father” or father figure told him to do. He is very simple and didn’t let anything get in his way from completing the task that was in front of him. Characters like that are fun because they are so clear of purpose. John looked up to Earl Brown’s character a little bit because he was a little older, a little wiser and knew more about the world. He was always trying to learn and understand more from him about the world.

Mike Gencarelli: As a director, how was it working with first time feature director, Tiller Russell?
Jason Priestley: Tiller’s enthusiasm and energy is absolutely infectious. He is incredibly capable with everything he does. He was so energetic all the time, that made going to work every day really fun. I think that he has an incredible eye and visual style and it really comes across in the movie. He really let all of us go as far as we wanted with our performances. He even pushed us to go even further which was fun as an actor to get free range. It doesn’t happen that often.

MG: You started directing going back to “Beverly Hills, 90210”, you have done quite a bit yourself, what has been your favorite project?
JP: Wow, that is a hard one man to choose. I just finished the whole summer up here in British Columbia directing a western myself. I have a whole new respect for what Tiller went through directing “Ransom Pride”. Westerns are a genre in themselves. The magnitude and the scale of everything when you shoot a western, as a director, it is like nothing else you will ever tackle. It is really quite humbling and quite empowering at the same time. It is kind of like having a child. It is big task taking on a western. I had incredible respect for what Tiller accomplished before but now I actually directed one myself, I have even more.

MG: Are you planning on directing any more episodes of the new “90210”?
JP: You know what ever since I directed an episode, I have been booked on other projects. If my schedule frees up and if they got a free episode I would love to go back there. I had a great time directing that show.

MG: Tell us about the upcoming projects that you are working on?
JP: The western I just got done directing is called, “Goodnight for Justice” and it will be on the Hallmark Channel in January. From here I go right to Nova Scotia to shoot a second season of the show that I star in for HBO Canada. It is called “Call Me Fitz” and it is a half hour single camera comedy. It is a very funny show and I am very excited about it.

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Anneliese van der Pol is known best for playing Chelsea Daniels on Disney’s “That’s so Raven”. Anneliese also recently was featured in the recent “Twilight” spoof, “Vampires Suck”. Movie Mikes had a chance to talk with Anneliese to discuss her roles and what she has planned for future.

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Mike Gencarelli: Tell us about your recent role in “Vampires Suck”?
Anneliese van der Pol: I play Jennifer, based on the character Jessica in which Anna Kendrick played in “The Twilight Saga”. I would say that I represent every type of bitchy friend in every sort of movie like that. I am the all-around bitchy girl that is jealous of the lead character.

MG: Was it fun working on the film?
AP: It was a blast, everyone was really nice. Everyone was eager to come to work everyday. They was a lot of making fun of “Twilight” and each other. Comedies are best to do. Our director Jason Friedberg was great. He let us improv a lot and spread our wings.

MG: Where you a fan of the “Twilight” series?
AP: No, I was not interestedly enough. I haven’t really ever seen them before I went on my first audition. I originally went in for the role of Becca and they asked me to come back for the role of Jennifer. It all happened within a day or less than a day and I just didn’t have time to see the movies. I based my Anna Kendrick impression off from her performance in “Up in the Air”, but more over-the-top. One night while we were filming, I invited some of my friends and people from the cast and we watched the movies on demand in our hotel room. Not really into the vampire craze, let alone chick-flick led story like that. Not my thing.

MG: What was the best part of playing Chelsea Daniels on “That’s so Raven”
AP: There was a million wonderful things really. I got to meet some really wonderful people and was lucky to work with them everyday. Getting a nice salary. Making people laugh. The best part probably was really her innocence and her positivity. My character so nice and gullible. It was very refreshing to play such an airhead who had such a thirst for life. Sort of like a Phebe character from “Friends”. I think she was a really sweet girl. I really enjoyed playing that character. I got to be a different person.

MG: How did you originally get involved with Disney and the show?
AP: I auditioned for “That’s So Raven” in 1999 or 2000. I didn’t have real good representation at the time. Nobody really knew of me. I just went to a big open casting call with hundreds of girls. Luckily they noticed something in me. I did three more auditions. They dyed my hair. They then ended up casting somebody else, fired her and then they finally cast me.

MG: You played Belle in Broadway in Disney’s “Beauty in the Beast”, tell us about that experience?
AP: I was an amazing experience. I have done theater all of my life but there is just something about Broadway. I was fortunate for my first Broadway debut experience to be a lead and didn’t have to work my way up in a chorus number. Belle was a part I have always wanted to play. The songs are beautiful and they wrote some new ones also. It was just amazing, everyone was so nice. I also loved living in New York.

MG: How long have you been signing?
AP: I think I got an equity card when I was 9 or something. I was probably signing well though since I was 13 or 14. I haven’t been in the recording studio as much as I like. The last time I recorded was for a show I did in New York called “Vanities”. I am really proud of that. It is a beautiful album.

MG: Tell us about the project you are currently working on?
AP: I just a guest spot on a new NBC pilot called “Friends with Benefits”. I am also working on a new independent movie called “Tap Dancing on Jupiter”, which is unlike anything I have ever done before.

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Getting a chance to interview Kane Hodder, a horror legend, in person is one of the reasons why I started this website. Sitting in an office in AMC Pleasure Island 24 in Orlando, FL, we got a chance to chat in person with one of the horror legends. Kane is one of the coolest guys I have ever met, this time though he promised not to choke me (see picture below). Kane is known for his role as Jason Voorhees in Part VII-X. He is currently traded the knife for a hatchet in his newest character, Victor Crowley. Kane is currently starring in Adam Green’s follow up “Hatchet II”, which is currently in theaters. Victory Crowley has already turned into a horror icon. We got a chance to talk with Kane about his role as well as a few of his other roles.

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Mike Gencarelli: Tell us about working on the “Hatchet” series”?
Kane Hodder: It has been fucking fantastic because it is Adam Green. Not just because he is such a good director and so talented as a writer. He always challenges me every time we do a movie. He gets me to do something in my character that I have never done before each time. “Hatchet”, I have never really cried on screen. I did that and it opened up a bunch of other doors. Now I am doing a lot more of dramatic roles. “Hatchet II”, he called me I was in Montreal and he said “I got the script done, you are going to love it” and hells tells me I have a sex scene. I said “Yeah, ok sure, what is the script really?” and he said “you have a sex scene and a love scene”. I was shocked. It was exactly the case. We just did a new project, one part of an anthology, and he has me [hesitating]…dancing. Which I have never done before either [laughs]. He always comes up with something.

MG: How the character Victory Crowley changed or evolved in “Hatchet II”?
KH: I have tried to make him consistent because the second movie picks up exactly where the first one ended. So I didn’t want to change what he was doing too much, since it is the very next night. Even though they changed the makeup and the actress. I wanted to keep Victor consistent. I think they changed the actress for the good though because Danielle Harris is fantastic and really good in this role. Tony Todd is in it a lot more also but that was always the plan even during the first film. Victor has become even more murderous in this one, with more than twice as many kills.

MG: Tell us about the makeup process for creating Victor Crowley?
KH: Well, they streamlined the makeup for “Hatchet II” to make it less bulky. The face and the body looked good but a little too puffy in the first film. It meant I had less facial movement. Now with the makeup streamlined, there is a lot more movement to the face. But at the same time that makes the applicable process take way longer. It took three and a half hours to put on for this movie and a good hour and a half for removal. That is the longest removal time I have ever had on a movie. The whole top in the first movie, the foam latex goes down into the overalls, so there was no blending. In “Hatchet II, it ended here (pointing to just under neck level) and every part of it had to be blended to my skin and that is what takes so long.

MG: How was it moving from playing Jason Voorhees to Victory Crowley? Is one harder than another?
KH: Boy, I would say that they were pretty equal as far as difficulty. The makeup was roughly the same. To work in the makeup it is never easy when it is all glued to you. It is very similar physical stuff I had to do in each character. I do not know if either one was harder than the other. “Jason X” was probably the easiest. The makeup didn’t take to long and wasn’t that uncomfortable.

MG: How do you feel about Victory Crowley already becoming a classic horror icon?
KH: People have really latched on to the character. I believe they have done that because these movies are so well written. All the scenes in between all the violence are just as enjoyable to watch. Adam is very good in casting people that can really pull off their characters well. Instead of just going through the motions and waiting for next kill. It is fun to watch the whole movie.

MG: What has been the hardest project that you have worked on to date?
KH: It has to be some of the makeup roles. It is one thing to go into work and do some difficult stunts but when you have to do the stunts in makeup like that with limited vision, its hard. Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood probably has to be the most difficult one I have done. So many stunts happened to Jason because the character Tina had those powers. It made it really difficult. One eye was completely covered and the other had a yellow contact lens. We have to do fire stunts, roof fall down on your head, going through windows, doors, and all kinds of shit. Then also the last two days of shooting the movie was the underwater scenes. Fucking absolutely exhausting. I was underwater for four hours at a time, without ever coming up. They cabled my leg to the bottom of the dive pool. I was underwater about four feet. With the makeup I floated but if I wasn’t held down I would have floated to the top. I had to hold my breath so many times, over and over. When they would cut, I would get the regulator to breath. Catch my breath and do it again, over and over for two days. It was a really hard way to end a show. So that might have been my most difficult physically. Most difficult working conditions was probably “Frozen” because it was so fucking cold. No matter how somebody describes it you cannot believe how cold it really was. We were at 7,500 feet in February/March in Utah at a ski resort. You are out in the open with the wind hollowing. When you are outside for so long and can never go inside, you get so cold through your bone, as they always say.

MG: Tell us about some of the other projects you have coming up?
KH: I have several movies coming out. One called “Sickle”, where I play the sheriff of a town and I kill who comes to my town. Another one called “Old Habits Die Hard”, I play a guy that runs a mortuary and kills people to stay in business. Another one called “Exit 33,” where I run a gas station in an out of the way place and kill people [laughing] that come to the gas station.

MG: I am seeing a pattern here, Kane.
KH: That is why I have killed more people on film that any other actor. We (referring to himself and friend and co-author Michael Aloisi) are currently writing my book and telling my story. Mike and I are working together, he is a writer and I am not. We are writing a biography. The website is http://kanehodderkills.com. This is kind of a really cool thing. I have always wanted to do it and finally decided it was the time to do it. I have my stunt career, my horror career, my other acting side, my burn injury…which is a book in itself and I grew up on a tiny island in the South Pacific. Right now we are calling it “Kill!” because of the tattoo in my lip.

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Tim Roth is well known for his role of Mr. Orange in “Reservoir Dogs”. He also steals in the show in “Pulp Fiction”. Tim is really good at playing very different and interesting roles in his films. He plays villains in the the “Planet of the Apes” remake and the “The Incredible Hulk”. Tim is currently starring in Fox’s TV series “Lie to Me”, which is heading into its third season. Movie Mikes had a chance to talk with Tim to discuss his hit TV show and go through his amazing roles that he has played.

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Mike Gencarelli: Tell us how you originally got involved with Quentin Tarantino?
Tim Roth: I have only just arrived in LA and really didn’t know anybody. My agent at the time had me look at this script. I think Quentin had seen me in “Vincent & Theo” and “Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead”, since he is very film savvy. He knew the stuff I had been doing over in Europe. I think the note on the script originally said to look at Blond or Pink characters. I looked at it and loved Mr. Orange. I knew he was on to something special and I quickly reached for the phone. We met and got along very well. Then him and Harvey Weinstein were trying to get me to read and I wouldn’t do it. I am really bad at auditioning. I will meet anybody but I won’t read for them. Eventually Quentin got me drunk and I ended up reading every character like five times in my apartment. Faced the fear. And that was that. I think it was a very great relationship we made, along into “Pulp Fiction” as well.

MG: Between “Reservoir Dogs” and “Pulp Fiction”, both huge cult classics, do you have a favorite?
TR: I think “Pulp Fiction” is a comedy. It is a brilliant stylish comedy. I think “Reservoir Dogs” is a much more serious film. I find them both very different film and love them both. I was watching “Pulp Fiction” the other day and thought it was hilarious. At first I would have to say though “Reservoir Dogs”. Since that when we were all very much raw…trying out new things and experimenting. “Reservoir Dogs” is also the beginning of me not taking myself so bloody seriously as an actor and just enjoying myself.

MG: Tell us about working on “Planet of the Apes”, was it a difficult shoot?
TR: I had the best time doing that film. It was fantastic work with Tim (Burton). We really didn’t get to make the film we wanted to make. It should have been a very dark and twisted film, but we were under a lot of constraints. The makeup started out at around five hours but got it down to around two and a half, which isn’t bad. But that was just to get it on. The shoot I believe was five months long and I ended up getting the flu. I would just put myself into the mood, fool around and enjoy myself and it would distract me from what was actually happening. I really enjoyed making that film.

MG: How do you feel about the prequel that is doing CG apes?
TR: I suppose that is just reflects what today is with films. It is great we have the technology to do that. There is something about the original film especially and even the TV show, the fact that it is a person in makeup that makes those films special. I just don’t known if with it all CG if it will be as special.

MG: How was it working “The Incredible Hulk”, it seemed like a pretty intense role?
TR: I really really had a great time [laughs]. I just enjoyed myself. I did it really for my kids. I wanted to be in a movie that they would get a kick out of when they see it. Originally I know what they planned to do and it would have made it a better film. There was some very good sequences that I think the audience would have loved. I usually like to throw myself into these things. I like the idea of doing very different things as for as being an actor. Experimenting with different kinds of film and now working on TV, I enjoy that.

MG: Tell us about your hit show “Lie to Me”, what can we expect for season three?
TR: I think we have the strongest of the writers from last year stepping up. Alexander Carey is now taking over the running of the show with David Graziano. They form a very solid team. The script this season shows a great consistency of that. They feel like little movies for TV. There is a lot of looking into Lightman’s relationship and the things with his daughter. There is also new women in Lightman’s life as well, it kind of opened up everything really. We have a lot of fun stories. We have all kinds of different stuff which is what good about the character, you can really go anywhere with it.

MG: How was it been playing Dr. Cal Lightman?
TR: What is interesting about doing TV for me is that I didn’t I would like it so much. But I am really enjoying it and a lot of that comes down to these two guys that are running the show. The character is season one is quite different and he gradually gets built up from season two to now season three. In the one end, you are playing the same guy but he is changing all the time. That is what is refreshing about doing TV, you can expand the character as you go. I know he is a bit of a dick but I quite [laughs] love him really. I just do not know how he survives. I would imagine him getting shot pretty quickly. Unfortunately for the bad guy, I get away with murder. I just find him fun to play and he makes me laughs a lot. I just sort of build on the guy from week to week.

MG: What is the best part of working on the show?
TR: I like the hours. Well actually not so much the hours, more so that you are working so much. Where in film you are doing three pages a day, we are doing seven here…just running at it. I actually like that. I do like a day off occasionally though, which happens very rarely. You are busy all the time and I really enjoy that. Working with the writers and working as a producer, I sort of enjoy that as well. I found it very difficult to adjust to at first. Gradually as I have met people that are talented and passionate about it, it has become a lot more pleasurably.

MG: Any other projects in the works?
TR: I have a couple of films I want to direct. So hopefully after this TV show is done, I will have a little bit of money in the bank. Then I can take some time off and direct…cause their is no money in that. There are a couple of really good scripts, that I have come across. They are very unusual and interesting. I do not want to say what they are but they are very well written and hopefully will have some time to do those.

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Adam Green has become on of the biggest names in Hollywood in what seems like overnight. He directed “Hatchet” starring Kane Hodder as the instant horror icon, Victory Crowley. The film has become such a cult classic already that Adam make “Hatchet II”, which will be in theaters on October 1st unrated and uncut, courtesy of AMC Theaters. Adam not only cares about his job, he takes pride in it. This show in the fact that “Hatchet II” is actually better than its predecessor, which is rare for a slasher flick. Movie Mikes had a chance to chat with Adam about his road to stardom and his work on his “Hatchet” films.

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Mike Gencarelli: When you originally made the first “Hatchet”, did you think it was going to be as successful as it has been?
Adam Green: Absolutely not! It was the type of thing that we got a bunch of friends together who liked this type of stuff. It was a very selfish movie because we made the type of movie we wanted to see. The reaction in the industry to the script was interesting. My agency at the time was sure if it was funny or scary. They didn’t really understand the tone of it. I told them it is both, it is just a fun movie. They said nobody is doing this type of movie any more and that it went out of style in 1989. They sent it around and one of the first major studios to respond said “We really enjoyed this. The writing is brilliant. However this movie is not going to get made because it is not a remake, not a sequel and not based Japanese film.” I used the rejection letter as part of the poster in the festival tour. For a lot of fans that is what drew them in.  Once the movie actually came out though, Anchor Bay took that off the poster and really pushed it as really serious scary movie. I wasn’t happy about that. We premiered at Tribeca and all of the sudden our  slasher movie was getting good reviews. Audiences were standing up and cheering. We were winning awards. It was crazy. It was a dream come true.

MG: With the sequel “Hatchet II”, you were able to get an unrated and uncut theatrical release, that must feel good to get that great accomplishment?
AG: It does and it doesn’t. With “Hatchet” when they gave it an NC-17, we were absolutely shocked. We keep re-cutting and re-cutting and they kept giving us an NC-17 for violence. I eventually went to trial against the MPAA because I didn’t feel we were being treated fairly. During my trial, I sited a lot of other movies that were out at the time. My biggest one was “The Hills Have Eyes” remake, which I really liked. But I was saying to them though, here is a movie that has a scene where a women is raped in front of a baby, they sucked on the mom’s tit till she lactates only to shoot her in the head, bite the head off of parakeet then drink its blood and follow-up by running off into the night with a stolen baby they are going to eat while daddy is outside crucified and on fire….and that is ok? But a swamp monster with gas-powered self sander killing a bunch of comedians like Monty Python is too much? I asked them where are there standards? The fact is we were an independent movie.  We weren’t paying their salaries.  That is their jobs to keep the studios films in the spotlight and bury films like ours. They will deny it but it is true. There is a great film by Kirby Dick called “This Film Is Not Yet Rated”. If you see the movie, those are the exact people I had to deal with. When we submitted “Hatchet II”, they gave us an NC-17 again for violence. I cut two whole minutes out of the movie just of gore and told them I wasn’t going to fight with them again. They still gave us an NC-17. So then Dark Sky Films, who was distributing, brought the movie to AMC because they knew the head of AMC was a “Hatchet” fan and is in the Hatchet Army. They showed him the movie and he loved it. They asked him how would you feel if none of the kills were in the movie.  He said “You can’t do that”.  It was really them who made the decision to release to the movie unrated. It hasn’t happened with a horror movie is over 25 years. It is very exciting. But I am officially like a marked man by the ratings board. I didn’t want any of that, I was just standing up for myself. It would really mean a lot if the fans actually show up and support this movie. What the industry looks at is those per screen averages. If we make enough noise and enough people see this, it is going to start blowing the winds of change at the ratings board. This is a very pivotal movie in the history of cinema. I wish it wasn’t my movie. I wish it was somebody elses because then I would be campaigning like a fucking politician. But I have to watch what I do because I do not want to be conceived as a car salesman, who is just trying to show his product. Hopefully the fans show up. If they like it hopefully they go twice or three times and bring their friends. They need to cast their vote that they agree with what we are doing.

MG: I know the second film is just coming out but do you think we will see Victor Crowley again?
AG: I am personally looking to make other films. Pretty much what I did after “Hatchet”, I did “Spiral”, I produced “Grace” and I did “Frozen”. Then I was ready to do “Hatchet II”. They wanted a sequel right away but I needed sometime to spread my wings and do other things.  So I wanted to come back to this with the same excitement and passion that I had the first time around. We will see what happens, if “Hatchet 3” ends up taking several years to make, maybe I will come back to helm. If they want to go right away, I will most likely pass the torch and stay as producer and hopefully hand pick who they will choose to carry on the series. I kind of feel like I have done my part with this at this point. Victor Crowley can always come back. One of the cool things about the 80’s slasher franchises is that we saw so many great writers and directors got their first chance by doing some of those sequels. I would love to watch someone elses career get started with a “Hatchet” movie. At the same time I know for a fact that “Hatchet II” is better than the first one and if they make “Hatchet 3”, I would want it to be better than this one. I would love to have a slasher franchise that actually gets better as they go and not just spiral out of control.

MG: Most of the films you directed are from your own script, do you find that easier as a director?
AG: As a director, I get more excited about the things I write because I am writing them for me to direct. I get submitted scripts all the time from my agents with offers to direct them. Even though they are good scripts, I just don’t get that feeling. I already have like ten of my own things that I am working on and that I am much more invested in and excited about. There are other directors out there and all they do is direct and look for that good material. I am not really the guy to be sending stuff too. One of the hardest things of writing and directing, it was also one of the best lessons from “Hatchet II”, was at some point the director has to take over. The writer in me is always so concerned about the script and not cutting anything. I am always making sure the character arcs the way I designed them. At some point you have to trim and edit and it is so hard to do that when you know that it is hurting the writing but in return making the playability of the film better. Joe Lynch is one of my best friends, he is also a director. He saw “Hatchet II” a couple of time and I told him I know there are a couple of moments that I know the film is dragging but if I cut those the characters do not have the same arc. He said “Dude it is “Hatchet II”, no matter what…nobody is going to respect the writing…no matter how good it is”. He told me to go for playability and make the movie move as fast as I can without completely sacrificing it. I cut like four minutes of dialogue and character stuff out and it really helps the movie flow better I feel.

MG: Ok, I need to ask about this crazy fact I read, how did you end up posing as Dr. Zaius on the cover art for Fox’s Planet of the Apes 40th Anniversary box set?
AG: That was one of my highlights of everything that has happened so far. At once point Robert Pendergraft, who did the makeup effects for “Hatchet I & II”, he was working at a shop that was hired to high resolution of the apes for the “Planet of the Apes” Blu-ray release. A lot of the actors are not around anymore, though. Maurice Evans who played Zaius is dead. He told me that from looking at the costume, it looks like the same size as me. He asked me to come in and try it on and he said “if it works, we will put you in the makeup”. They told me I couldn’t tell anybody because they want the fans to think it is Maurice Evans but I will be in his costume.  So there I am like two days later, they are pulling out all of the old costumes and prosthetics. It was like a five hour makeup job. You can tell when you look at the eyes, it is me.  Somebody finally at Fox admitted it was me and now it is out there. It was such an honor to have worn that man’s costume. I am such a huge “Planet of the Apes” films and I can’t even tell you what that day was like for me.

MG: Tell us about what your next film will be?
AG: Due to the success of “Hatchet”, if I have a movie that could be marketed in that genre, people are always throwing money at you to make it. I hoping that something like that happens with the film I have coming up called, “Killer Pizza”, which is a kids adventure movie. I am working on it with Chris Columbus. Hopefully that will open some more doors for me. In a perfect world, I would do a big movie and then come back and do something like “Hatchet”. Independent movies are our movies. I get to work with the same crew. I get to work with my family. On a studio movie you really do not get that. I am very picky on what I am going to do. As much as I get calls to come in for these big budget remakes and things. I am not going to do one unless it is something I really want to do and believe in it. I am very fortunate that because of “Hatchet”, I do not have to base my decision purely on finances. I do have my own company and I can make my own films. I actually have people that want to finance these now. “Killer Pizza” was definitely the right one at the right time. Just getting the chance to work with 1492 and Chris. I mean Chris Columbus is giving me notes on my script…that is just so amazing.

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