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Your new film The
Frankenstein Syndrome - in a few words, what is it about, and what
can you tell us about your character in it?
The Frankenstein Syndrome
is about a group of research scientist that perfect a serum
that can bring the dead back to life, but it’s not without a few
glitches. DOM DOM DOM... LOL.
My
character is Dr. Elizabeth Barnes and she’s one of the newest members of
the group. She smart, strong and plays a key role in making the
dead….walk.
How did you
approach your character as an actress?
I
had known a friend who got some stem cell therapy done over in Mexico so I
was pretty familiar with the type of lab I would be using in the movie.
Understanding that type of “medicine” and the need for secrecy really
helped. Sean wrote such great
characters though that not much research was needed cause it was all on
the page, ready for you. All I
had to do was memorize ;)
What drew you to the project
initially? And a few
words about your director, Sean Tretta, with whom I understand you are
also personally involved [Sean Tretta
interview - click here]?
with Sean Tretta
and unidentified head |
What drew me to The Frankenstein Syndrome? Well I don’t often get to play smart
doctor types, certainly not ones that keep their clothes on. So getting a
chance to play a REAL character was my main reason.
Also when speaking with Sean about the project he was unlike any
other director I had ever worked with.
He really knew what he wanted.
He knew what he wanted from the actors, the DP, the lighting,
everything. He really treated
our small budget like it was a big time studio production. He expected the
best out of everyone and because we all trusted him… I believe he got
it. He’s pretty great… so
I married him.
Let's
leave the present behind for the moment and move forward into your past:
How
did you get your start in acting in the first place, and did you receive
any formal training on the subject?
I was about 15 years old living in NYC and I saw
a ad that Troma Films was holding auditions for
Tromeo and Juliet.
I had never been in a movie before nor had I really wanted to but
something drew me to it. I had always loved horror and I really dug Troma
films, so I went to the casting call - and GOT A PART!
I never had any formal training, I did take some on-camera and film
tech classes just so I would know what I was doing.
After that I just started getting calls for bit parts and doing
some interviews and modeling gigs for places like Femme Fatales and
Horror Mania. That was almost 100 movies ago.
God damn I’m old. LOL
Early in your
career, you could be seen in quite a few Troma-productions.
A few words about these films and about Troma
as such?
I love Troma.
Obviously if I had never seen that ad and didn’t go to the audition, I
would not be writing this today. They really gave me a start in the
industry. PLUS one can learn a
lot more from Troma
than just how to be hot on camera. I have worn many
different hats in this industry and not cause I went to fancy film school
but because I worked with Troma. Any past films of yours you'd like to talk
about?
I was a big
fan of my movie The Hazing! 80’s
type college movie very similar to Night Of The Demons, and it stars
everybody’s favorite evil doll Brad Dourif!!!
I also did a very strange movie a few years ago called The
Violent Kind. The Violent Kind played Sundance and if you like your
horror with a bit of WHAT THE FUCK thrown in… you will love this indie
gem!
Any future
projects you'd like to share?
Have a movie
that stars Michael Madsen, Dean Cain and myself that comes out this week
it’s called Dirty Little Trick. Not a horror film but a money
heist type thriller. Check it
out! Also working with the husband on a few that we will hopefully be
telling everybody about very soon!
Most of the films you have
made are horror movie. Is that a genre you're especially fond of, and why?
I love the horror genre. For me it’s more fun
to scare somebody or be scared then to just share a laugh or pretend to be
in love. Not to say I
wouldn’t or haven’t been in something other than horror (read above).
Horror movies are mostly what I watch, what I know and what I love the
most.
Women
in horror are almost automatically labelled scream queens. A label you
can at all live with?
I don’t
think the scream queen title
is worth a shit anymore. Like
you said ANYBODY that makes a horror film is scream queen.
I prefer to be called “person that acts in a shit-ton of horror
flicks” ;)
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Actresses (or indeed actors) who
inspire you? None.
My family inspires me.
Your favourite movies ...
and of course, films you really deplore?
Love Motel Hell, Hellraiser,
Trick 'r Treat, Sorority Babes in the Slimeball
Bowl-o-Rama are
just a few.
Movies I hate???
Hmmmm I’m not a fan of
really sappy sad stuff like The Notebook, I hated that Albert Brooks movie
Mother… God that was horrible. Ummm I also thought The Town was a waste of time
but not something I HATED.
Your website,
Facebook, whatever else? Website for fun cool photos and movies is
www.screamshepis.com. Facebook just search
TiffanyShepis. OR @tiffanyshepis on Twitter although I never tweet
anything all that interesting ;) Anything else you are dying to
mention and I have merely forgotten to ask? Yes, I’m so
sorry this has taken me like 8 months to do but I love Searchmytrash so
much I wanted to make it perfect!! ;)
Thanks for
the interview!
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