with Wendy Keeling |
Your new movie Tales
from Parts Unknown - in a few words, what is it about, what is
your segment about, and what can you tell us about your character in it?
This
film is really cool. It’s an anthology of four short horror films tied
together with a common thread, and a wrap-around by a character named Dr.
Gangrene (Larry Underwood [Larry
Underwood interview - click here]). He weaves between the four films as well as
opens and closes the film. The film I’m in is called The Rider.
It’s a story about what can happen when you do the wrong thing. And when
I say, “what can happen,” well, what happens is not pretty. I don’t
want to give the story away, just know it does not end well for me or my
wife (Wendy Keeling [Wendy
Keeling interview - click here]). It’s really a pretty cool little piece. It’s got
action, drama, comedy. My character “Walter Crawford” has been
described as a henpecked husband. I’d rather think of my character as a
strong, manly sort of man, that keeps my wife’s out of control ego in
check. Unfortunately that’s not the case. She keeps me in check. It’s
a fun film and was really fun to shoot. And director Cameron McCasland [Cameron
McCasland interview - click here] gave
us room to play. I won’t spoil it for anyone but Lee Vervoort [Lee
Vervoort interview - click here] plays The
Rider, and man can he ride. What
did you draw upon to bring your character to life, and how much Wynn
Reichert can we find in Walter Crawford?
I’d
say there’s a piece of me in every character I play. There has to be. I
can’t see any other way of doing it. Granted, I’m playing a fictional
character, but I bring whatever parts of myself that fit the character,
and what doesn’t fit, or what I don’t have life experience with, I use
my understanding of the situation, and the character, and then basically
throw all that out the window and just be in the moment and just let what
happens happen. Whew, talk about a run-on sentence. That ran on and then
some. Anyway, it’s always fun to work with people you know, and I’ve
worked with Wendy a few times over the years so we both know what each
other will bring to the table. Beyond that, I just try to have fun. If it
isn’t fun, I’m doing it wrong. How did you get
involved with the project in the first place? Cameron McCasland, the director, I’ve worked
for him before. Most recently a couple years back in The Cave. He really
loves making movies. And it shows on screen. He’s super easy to work
with. He lets us do what we do. And when he wants something different
he’ll tell me. But he trusts his actors. And that counts for a lot in my
book. To what
extent could you identify with Tales
from Parts Unknown's approach to horror? It’s going sound cliché, but a good story well
told - doesn’t matter if it’s comedy, drama, or horror, it always
starts with the story. And if it’s a good story, and it looks like fun,
I want to do it. Cameron had a definite vision for these 4 films in the
anthology, and I will tell you, in a nutshell, bad things happen. LOL.
Seriously though, in The Rider bad things happen to bad people. And not
that we’re bad people. Of course, you’ll have to decide that for
yourself when you watch the film if I’m a good or bad person. I don’t
mean to be bad. I don’t want to be bad. I do what I can to steer clear
of it, but I just don’t make it. And then I get my comeuppance. Do talk
about Tales
from Parts Unknown's director Cameron McCasland [Cameron
McCasland interview - click here], and what was your collaboration
like?
Working with Cameron is pretty much be summed up like this--make the best
film you can make, and have fun doing it. Cameron’s not opposed to
getting his hands dirty. And when it comes to getting things done, no
matter how difficult it gets, He’s the first one to pitch in. You get
the feeling working with Cameron, that you’re working with a friend. A
friend that likes you a lot.
What can you tell us about the shoot as such, and
the on-set atmosphere? We shot the film in Tennessee and in Kentucky.
We had some night shoots, and one all-nighter. That day, I got home as the
sun was coming up. But we had fun every moment. People can get a bit
punchy at three in the morning, and Wendy had to jump in a lake at this
appointed hour. And she was a trooper and did what had to be done, but
Cameron was right there, making sure she was in and out of the water as
fast as possible, and to provide blankets etc to keep her warm. I’ve
said it before, but we really did have fun, and Cameron sets the table, then
allows the actors to play. Any future projects you'd like to
share?
Actually going to Missouri next week to work on a feature film. Really
good script. A small-town crime thriller. Can’t wait, gonna be fun! Your website, social media, whatever else? You can find me on Facebook,
Twitter, and IMDb.
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Feeling lucky? Want to search any of my partnershops yourself for more, better results? (commissions earned) |
The links below will take you just there!!!
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Anything
else you're dying to mention and I have merely forgotten to ask? Just a big thank you to you, Michael, for your ongoing
support of my talents and the projects I am fortunate enough to be a part
of. Thanks
for the interview!
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