THE CRYSTAL METHOD TALKING SHOP & WHATNOT WITH CRYSTALLANN AKA CRYSTAL AURA by Owen Keehnen

You gotta love a scream queen who didn't know she was Scream Queen of The Month until I asked her a question about it (She is SQ for May 2007). That must mean she is too busy to sit home obsessing about her press clippings. That is certainly true of singing and acting double-threat Crystallanne aka Crystal Aura. The Pittsburgh based 26 year-old is one active younng woman. In addition to also being Scream Queen of the Month she was also a Tromette of the Month. Film roles are coming quickly for her and now that the horror world has called she is ready! Crystal has appeared in MEAT FOR SATAN'S ICEBOX (from Troma), the weird web series PALE, the all star slaughterfest THE HORROR CONVENTION MASSACRE, and The Kiss of Death Production FETISH DOLLS DIE LAUGHING. She even has several new films in preproduction. Crystal also recently made her first (and very successful) convention appearance at Cinema Wasteland. Crystal also gave us a few for this exclusive www.racksandrazors.com interview.


 

Crystallann, first off I am curious --- you are also known in the horror world as Crystal Aura...why the name change?

I used the name Crystal Aura for my credit in MEAT FOR SATAN'S ICEBOX because I wanted to protect myself from potential stalkers. I've had two different stalkers. One followed me home after a show with my band. It was after 2 a.m. when he started following me. He drove erratically behind me, honking his horn and flashing his high beams trying to get my attention. I didn't want him to find out where I lived so I drove by my then boyfriend's house. My boyfriend was still at some party so I just drove by his house and then kept on driving. Of all the nights not to have my cell phone on me! I was determined not to have this guy follow me to my apartment. I started taking turn after turn after turn and I ended up in farm territory. I had no idea where I was. Eventually he stopped following me. I was so lost. I didn't find my way home until around 6 a.m.

My other stalker called me at work only to hang up when I got on the line. He knew how to get into my apartment complex and he would leave things by my door. One time he left me a huge vase of flowers with a note attached that said, "I would love to bathe in your sweat." I was sufficiently creeped out. He followed me home after work one night but instead of going home I drove straight to the police station. The next night after work I had police carts escort me home. He never bothered me after that.

I'm protective now of my identity. I keep under cover my last name, where I work, where I live, and where I hang.

I can see why. Tell me about your starring role in the Troma film 'Meat for Satan's Icebox' that will make it irresistable to the www.racksandrazors.com readers?

BOOBS and BLOOD! Need I say more. The interesting thing about MEAT FOR SATAN'S ICEBOX is that it touches on so many different fetishes. Watch it and you'll see feet, strangling, hanging, electrocution, piss, stripping, incest, whipping, bondage, drowning, spanking, slapping, punching, and implied homosexuality. I probably failed to mention a few things. But most importantly MEAT FOR SATAN'S ICEBOX displays some very luscious ample breasts. We also have a very special scene with the King of Troma himself, Lloyd Kaufman

That doesn't sound like a Disney picture. What was the toughest thing that the script called for you to do?

I had a three year relaitonship with one of the actors. After we broke up, I had to kiss him on film. Talk about bad timing! When I get really nervous I break out in itchy hives. That day I was a wreck. I broke out in hives on my chest and I scratched at them. When I arrived on the set I had bright red scratch marks on my chest. It looked like I had a wild, kinky night when truthfully I was merely nervous.

As someone who has held both titles, how does Tromette of the Month compare with being Scream Queen of the Month?

I didn't know that I was Scream Queen of the Month. Where did you hear that?

Well you are sweetheart, Scream Queen for May 2007. It's up on their site.

Wow! Very cool. Being Tromette of the Month helped to get my name out more. During my Tromette reign the number of hits to my rock band's website skyrocketed. I am incredibly grateful to Troma and Lloyd Kaufman for helping me so.

What's something that is always in your icebox?

Sheesh. I tend to not keep much food at my place. I am more of an eating out type of person. If I do happen to have something in my icebox most likely it will be a microwaveable vegetarian meal like Amy's or Cedar Lane. Oh, I almost forgot. I also keep in my freezer the severed head of my ex-boyfriend. Any more questions?

LOL. Tell me about your cameo role in the Kiss of Death production 'Fetish Dolls Die Laughing'.

That's actually a funny story. I wasn't even supposed to be in this particular scene. I was hanging out on the set with Kiss of Death Productions when their actor didn't show up for the scene. I ended up taking his part by playing the butch lesbian girlfriend.

You're a busy girl -- I also want to hear about your upcoming work in 'Valley of Corpses' and 'Scream Queen'.

Those two movies are still in the preproduction phase.

You are also the lead singer in the Pittsburgh based rock band The Society of Sound? Who do you think you guys sound like?

Society of Sound is sadly no longer together.

Is commanding the stage as a singer in any way similar to acting for the camera?

For me acting in front of the camera and singing on stage are two completely different beasts. I had the tendency to pour out my heart while singing and really put on a show. There's more room for error and experimentation when acting on film. I'm more comfortable with acting but singing in the sutdio is really my passion. I love creating music and then passing out my CDs to family and friends.

You also did the Cinema Wastleland convention. I want to hear what that experience was like? Was it your first convention appearance?

Cinema Wasteland was my first convention appearance (but not my last). I had a super fabulous experience. While at that convention I sat at the Troma table with Lloyd Kaufman; acted on film for THE HORROR CONVENTION MASSACRE (and scored a place on the cover!). And I made a fantastic friend and contact with Strange Stuff (www.strangestuff.com). In addition to all of that I also had a few photo shoots and made even more friends.

Do you have any other upcoming projects you would like the www.racksandrazors.com readers to know about?

Absolutely! I'm extraordinarily excited about a new project called PALE. It is a bizarre medical web drama series (www.paleseries.com). I have a sizeable role on PALE as an intern by the name of Katherine Archer. The story is super weird...very macabre. The show is set to air in either June or July 2007. I believe that the horror fans will go wild over this show. The effects are by www.benzidreamfxstudios.com.

Do you have a favorite horror scene from a movie that just gets to you every time you watch it?

The first HELLRAISER movie makes me feel faint. There's something incredibly horrifiyng about watching a man being torn to pieces...I just don't know what it is.

Okay, we're pulling the car into the Crystalanne 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?

Let's talk about the food first. We'll start off with nachos with extra extra cheese. And I'll have a Pepsi, with no ice -- thank you. (You may have ice in yours!) For dessert we'll have Snow Caps and chocolate covered peanuts. For the movies first off we'll watch A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET. Then we have to check out PSYCHO. Finally DAWN OF THE DEAD (the remake) must be shown. I love that movie oodles.

What makes you go psycho in real life?

Ninety something percent of the time I'm a nice as pie. The one thing I cannot tolerate at all is a person who is cruel to animals. I'll turn into psycho bitch in .5 seconds flat if I see an act of cruelty.

What scares you in real life?

Aliens. Those little green dudes better keep their tentacles off of my ovaries!!!