A Lexington Legend in the Making: Talking With Kentucky Actor Billy W. Blackwell by Owen Keehnen

Lexington actor Billy W. Blackwell has a deep love of acting. He’s thrilled that due to a solid string of performances in a number of films over the past decade he is making a solid name for himself in the horror world.   It couldn’t be happening to a nicer guy. Some of his many film credits include ‘Zombie Planet’ and ‘Zombie Planet II’, ‘Monstrosity’, ‘In the Eyes of Darkness’, ‘The Edison Death Machine’, ‘Window with a View’ with Debbie Rochon, ‘Stash’, and many others. He plays Detective Mike Stone in both ‘Hell-ephone’ (2008) and ‘Dance with a Vampire’ (2003). Billy was also cool enough to take time away from his work and family for this exclusive racksandrazors.com interview.


 

 

 
First off I want to hear about your upcoming project 'Red River' which you star in as Ranger Ennis as well as produce, and do the cinematography for.  Give me a little teaser that will make 'Red River' irresistible to the www.racksandrazors.com readers?

Well, first off I believe the number one thing that definitely will not disappoint your readers is the fact that this movie has more blood in it than any movie I’ve ever been in. On top of all the blood that you’ll see, there is a lot of nudity which is always a plus. As far as my fans, I believe they will really enjoy this Ranger Ennis character. This character is the comic relief in the movie and I believe my fans will enjoy seeing me in a different light.

I also want to hear about your upcoming project 'Window with a View' also starring Katie Price and your 'Stash' costar Debbie Rochon.  Do you have any more news about that 2011 release?

The last I heard regarding Window with a View is they’re taking the rest of this year to gather the remaining finances and production should start shortly after that.

So it seems like once you made 'Zombie Planet' (2004) and the sequel the following year ('Zombie Planet 2: Adam's Revenge') you were sort of hooked on making movies.  Was acting something you always wanted to do and it just took the experience to get you to jump in with either feet or what?  How did your emergence as "actor" happen?

My first “acting gig” was in high school (Thibodaux High) in Louisiana. It was a play called Arsenic and Old Lace, where I played Officer Klein. I really did enjoy performing in the play but did not have the acting bug at that point. It did motivate me to take the next step, which for me at that time, was to attend John Casablanca modeling and acting school in New Orleans. The movie that really hooked me into this business was a movie shot in Canton Mississippi titled O` Brother Where Art Thou? Although my role was only a featured extra in two scenes, (rally and banquet) it was an incredible experience. After the movie wrapped, my family and I moved to Lexington, Kentucky in 1999. Within a year, my wife ran across an ad in a local paper stating “a local production company (ZP International) was looking for actors and production crew.” So I auditioned for cast and crew and the rest, well, the rest is history.

I also want to hear about your role as Detective Mike Stone in 'Hell-Ephone'.  How did that movie role come about?

Detective Mike Stone in Hell-Ephone is a continuation of the character Mike Stone in Dance with a Vampire but with a twist. Stone becomes an alcoholic in pursuit of this peripheral killer. The way this came about was, we had a lot of positive response about the character Stone after the release of Dance with a Vampire. George Bonilla (writer-director) pitches me on the ideal, while we were filming Monstrosity. I told George I was not really interested in bringing the character back unless we would come up with something a bit different, a challenge/twist. I thought personally he was just a normal character not anything exciting about him that would warrant a second movie, even though there are those that really liked me as this character.

You've made a lot of horror movies, in addition to those I've mentioned there have been 'Shadows Light', 'Monstrosity', 'Dance With a Vampire', 'The Edison Death Machine', etc.  What has been the most frightening thing that's ever happened to you on a set?

I have been very fortunate not to have anything frightening happened to be on a set so far. One of the most nerve-racking times on a set was, on the set of Shadows Light. We were doing a scene where this Succubus, played by the beautiful Cynthia Allen, was wearing next to nothing and was to seduce me so that she could suck the life out of me. The scene required me to wear silk boxers and a T-shirt. The scene had to be shot several times to get all the coverage and each time it was shot my silk boxers would slide all around as she was crawling up on me. I was so nervous hoping that “Little Billy” was not going to slip out and say, hi.

Do you have any other upcoming projects you want the racksandrazors readers to know about?

I just wrapped a movie called Mountain Mafia where I worked with Cherokee Hall, Casey Miracle and the lovely Denise Blackwell. Some of the other stars in it are Rupert, Al Snow, Tiffany Shepis and Tim Wilson. My character in this movie is mentally retarded; I believe my fans will enjoy seeing me in a different light. Stay tuned for a release date. I just signed on for the new George Bonilla film currently titled Santa vs the Zombies. If you haven’t guessed yet, yes, I play Santa. I would like to mention to your readers a project that my wife Denise and I was executive producers on and I had a supporting role in called Stash Written and directed by Jacob Ennis, it’s currently out on DVD through Bloody Earth Films. Stash was featured on G4 (Attack of the Show) and can be rented at any Hollywood Video location nationwide. Last but not least my wife (Denise Blackwell) and I through our production company Can Too Entertainment we have partnered with Justus League Films, 148 Productions and Pepperjack web solutions to bring a Horror and Paranormal convention to Pikeville Kentucky in March 2010 called Dark Woods Con. Please check it out at darkwoodscon.com.

Vampires, werewolves, zombies, witches, creatures, aliens, telemarketers...what does it for you horror wise Billy and why?

I would have to say Vampires, Witches and Aliens. I have always been fascinated with vampires since I watch the movie Interview with and Vampire (Based off a novel by Anne Rice). Witches (the cute ones) are just plain sexy and aliens fascinate me.

What was the first movie to scare the shit out of you?

I would have to say Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure. No really I guess I would have to say, the one movie that kind of scared me and I really couldn’t get it out of my head, was the movie Carrie. I thought that was a pretty disturbing movie.

 And what was the last horror movie you saw that really annoyed you?

Annoyed because of the realism of this film and seeing the possibility of this truly happening - I would have to say the movie The Hills Have Eyes. I say this is because the threat of nuclear war is very real and to think that mankind could be affected and then left all alone to deal with our mistakes that way is extremely disturbing to me. To me that’s one of the reasons a movie scares you, if you can see that really happening, it makes it real to you.

Okay, we're pulling into the Billy W. Blackwell Drive In. What three horror flicks are on the triple bill for tonight and what goodies are they going to be serving up at the concession stand?

I would have to say The Hills Have Eyes, The Omen and Pet Sematary.

And at the concession stand it would have to be beer, nachos with jalapeno peppers with a shit load of cheese, popcorn, chocolate covered almonds, boobs, Butterfingers, Almond Joy and Boston Baked Beans. All topless female servers, hints the word boobs.

What is your dream horror movie role?

Would be any horror movie starring Bruce Campbell. I would love to be his comic relief sidekick. So if you read these interviews in Racks and Razors and I’m sure Bruce does, I’m in brother.

And your favorite horror flick death scene?

I don’t know if I have a favorite death scene but any of the death scenes in the Saw movies are bad ass.

What's the best Halloween costume you ever had?

I am a huge fan of Phantom of the Opera. I have dressed up as the Phantom more then anyone else.

Thanks Billy, and all the best to you.