Greg: At
what age did you see yourself as an entertainer?
Joe:
As far as back as I think the age of 9. Perhaps
even as early as 6. I always liked to perform in
school plays or backyard plays with the
neighborhood kids where I lived. My brother - who
is now a pediatrician - used to make home movies
(sci-fi movies and vampire movies) and that
inspired me to make my own.
Greg:
Did you see yourself acting in horror films?
Joe:
My first movies - even as a child - were horror
movies. A vampire movie, a movie that was
inspired by The Fury, a movie
that was inspired by Motel Hell....
I've always enjoyed horror films and I've always
seemed to work within the genre. I wouldn't mind
doing non-genre stuff in the vein of Robert
Altman or Woody Allen. i'm actually stuck in the
70s as far as films as concerned. Even when
movies were bad in the 70s, they were always
interesting.
Greg:
I thought that Motel Hell was
quite a weird film.
Joe:
Motel Hell was a fave of mine as
a 10-year old. It still holds up - as a grisly
dark comedy.
Greg:
A comedy-horror.
Joe:
Yeah, a unqiue hybrid. Not a spoof. Fearless
Vampire Killers is considered to be one
of the best horror-comedies because it manages to
keep the genres really separate within the film.
Greg:
What was your first taste of acting?
Joe:
Professionally?
Greg:
Yes, or amateur acting.
Joe:
Well, I did school plays when I was 9.
Professionally, I started acting when I was
around 21 (as in - I was paid to act). I did
regional theater, doing stage comedies like I
Hate Hamlet! which was awful. I did a
funny send-up of the McCarthy-scare in Hollywood
called Red Scare on Sunset. I
did a lot of "extra" work in movies
like Indecent Proposal,
Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story, Six
Degrees Of Separation, All My
Children, Oz. Nothing
more than being a glorified blurr in the
background. Although, I did get a slo-mo shot in Dragon.
Greg:
What was the name of your first horror
film?
Joe:
The Hypnotisem. It was a take-off on The
Fury (which I just seen on cable). The
plot make less sense than the average Italian
horror movie. Telekenetic teenagers causing
people to bleed and authories chasing after them.
Imagine 9-year olds interpreting this! My first
PROFESSIONAL horror film was 5 Dead On
The Crimson Canvas. Everything else
before then, was amatuer stuff. I did a salute to
Hammer horror called Frankenstein Reborn
(In my senior year of college at NY Inst. of
Tech). It was great, but NEVER finished. All that
people could see what the work print off a flat
bed. Because of the dispute between the director
and producer, it was sadly never finished. On
that film, I met Debbie Rochon (a few years
before she started to become famous). I also met
Joe Parda on the set (he wrote and acted in the
film) who would later become my friend and one of
the directors I work with the most. A lot of my
friendships and best collaborators - and best
life experiences - have all been because of
horror movies. Even though, I loathe modern ones.
the only horror director I can continuously watch
is Argento.
Greg:
Was Joe Parda the editor who did Honey I
Blew Up the Kid?
Joe:
No. I didn't know there was another Joe Parda
Greg:
Oops! It says Parra.
Joe:
It's funny, when 5 Dead
first came out on VHS long ago, every critic
misspelled Parda's name. He was Joe Prada, Joe
Parder, Joe Pardo, etc.
Greg:
What was your reaction when you were going to be
working with Debbie Rochon?
Joe:
On Frankenstein Reborn or Alien
Agenda?
Greg:
Well she is a name for horror films and before
you met her and found out that you were going to
work with her what was your reaction that you
were going to be working with an actress who is a
name in b-horror films as well as Troma
Team dark comedy films?
Joe:
Well, on Frankenstein Reborn,
she wasn't known yet (this was 1992). But I met
her I heard I would be working with her in '96
when Kevin Lindenmuth cast me in Alien
Agenda: Endangered Species. I thought it
would be great to work with her - and it was. I
really wasn't too familiar with a lot of
underground horror actors/actresses, but because
of my experiences working with Kevin Lindenmuth,
I made a lot of connections not Hollywood level,
but good for low-budget horror films.
Greg:
Was it a horror film?
Joe:
It was a short film - kind of an homage to Frankenstein
and the Monster from Hell. I played the
monster. We filmed in a lot of interesting
mansions and locations near the NY Tech campus -
in 16mm - but the weather was damp, the foam
latex was uncomfortable. Although, I look back
fondly at that brief exprience.
Greg:
Was that the flick by David DeCoteau?
Linnea:
Frankenstein Reborn? No, it was
made by a guy named George Reis who runs the
dvddrive-in.com site. He was a classmate
Greg: I just saw you
play Bill Streeb in 5 Dead on the Crimson
Canvas since that one is your most
popular horror flick. I noticed that it was made
on both a film and video budget. How did you get
the funding for the film?
Joe: It was mostly funding between Joe
Parda and myself which was not easy because at
the time, we were working standard day jobs, and
scrimping and saving during 2 full years to
complete this film. The budget was $25,000. A
couple of thousand came from friends and
associates.
Greg:
That sounds like quite a struggle.
Joe: I ate a lot of corn flakes for a
while. At the time, I had gotten my first
apartment so I had bills bills bills. Not an easy
task to finance it by yourself. Because - as a
production company and as film makers - we were
fairly new, it wasn't easy to convince people to
invest cash just like that. A lot of people were
able to contribute their time and efforts.
Joe:
Actually, no. we hardly saw any returns in
the beginning. getting our investment back has
been a very gradual process.
Greg:
Were you at least glad the film was completed?
Joe:
Oh yes! In the past, it never took me 18 months
to finish a film (because I worked with video).
Because of the fact that we were working with
film, transfers, Rank Cintel transfer, splicing,
editing, dubbing, etc, it was wearing.
Greg:
Whew! Alot of work. Your character was
different than the other roles you usually
portrayed. Did you feel that your role as Bill
helped you as a versatile actor?
Joe: Up until playing
Bill Streeb, I was always playing very
indifferent characters (neither the hero, nor the
villain). At that point, I was starting to get
leading man roles (even though they were all
mysterious and at times, downright bizarre
leading men). Although it was enjoyable, the role
of Bill is really the reactor for a wide array of
loony, colorful characters. Bill is the
typical giallo hero: clean cut, befuddled,
gullable, determined, but not the most
intriguing.
Greg:
I remember the scene with the piranah's. Were
they really pirahna's and when the guys head was
in the tank by the killer a dangerous scene to
do?
Joe:
They were PACU's - fruit-eating pirahnas. they
are related to the man-eaters, but they're not
interested in meat.
Greg:
A nice scene was an outside scene where theres a
dialogue of your character as well as Liz
Haverty's character as she played your in law
Gloria Streeb when Xavier Domingo's character
Inspector Andez notified you about your uncle
being murdered by the pirahna's. Where was that
scene shot at?
Joe:
Actually, the victim was my brother's agent. But,
that scene was filmed in the back yard of one of
our associates who shared a portion of a horse
farm. It simply added production value.
Greg:
Did you enjoy that scene the most out of all the
scene's? It looked like a summer morning.
Joe: It was a nice
Autumn morning - and one
of the more pleasant ones of the shoots. I
remember that our production manager had cooked
up 6 scrambled eggs for a prop - and because I
don't eat during the hours that I act, you can
imagine how easily a devoured those eggs when we
wrapped.
Greg:
Sounds like you had a good time.
Joe: It was a happy experience. Not easy
and at times, very frustrating, but an experience
I look back very fondly at. We had a nice group
of people who all worked hard and more
importantly, they all believed in what we were
doing - even though most everyone on the set had
never seen a giallo film before.
Greg:
What was it like working with Liz?
Anything you'd like to share with us?
Joe:
She was a doll. Really spirited and nice. An
interesting character. In the South, there is a
big furniture company called HAVERTY FURNITURE
and Liz is one of the Haverty's. She was a living
Southern Belle and she was married to a
stock-broker. They lived on Central Park West and
she drove a Porsche to the set (and made herself
late every day). I know that Liz took her acting
very seriously and would always be wanting to
rehearse as much as possible. She wanted to
create backstories for her character. A
consummate professional. She also had this major
Southern drawl and she would entertain everyone
on the set with her stories of her childhood and
family.
Greg: I also like the neat 3D effect when you walked
into a hallway after the cult ceremony in the
café. Were you hallucinating in that scene?
Joe: 3D effect?
Greg: Well remember
when you walked into the hallway the colours were
a little different.
Joe:
Ah yes. The mario bava/argento lighting.
Greg:
Were you hallucinating in that scene?
Joe: I was supposed to going in and out
of a drug trip caused by the coffee I drank at
the bar. Some pills had been put in my coffee
just before the beatnik poetry.
Greg:
Almost reminds me of Clockwork
Orange.
Joe:
Surreal and bizarre all way.
Greg:
What kind of lighting gel was used for it?
Joe:
Very simple small lights with the typical gels
taped over the lamps. Nothing unusual.
Greg:
What was racing through your head during
the intense dialogue when you were close to being
murdered by Mony Damevski's character who played
your brother Richard?
Joe:
It was very intruiging working with Mony for that
scene because he was a VERY intense actor. Not
crazed, but very deep into his interpretation. He
would make our exchange into a game by trying
different techniques for each take (which made
contunity a headache). It helped keep the moment
from being too automatic-pilot. Mony - who is
almost a foot shorter than me - was able to
command the room with his intensity. He is from
Macedonia and I think that's where he returned to
years ago.
Greg:
I never understood the ending when you were put
away in a straight jacket as you were innocent
and sane?
Joe:
I went bonkers after the whole nightmarish
experience.
Greg:
Yikes. Will this leave a door open for a sequel?
Joe:
Probably not. The story is over. I prefer some
stories to be finished.
Greg:
What kinds of film festivals did the
movie play at?
Joe: It played in two
film festivals in Rome, Italy: The 1996
FANTAFESTIVAL (where it won an award) and the LA
PORTA SUL BUIO II Festival in Rome (for
Halloween, 1998). I tried to get the film entered
in festivals all around, but many of the bigger
festivals want 16 or 35mm prints only.
Greg:
Was it a good turnout during the
showings of them?
Linnea:
Yes. We had a good amount of people at
every screening. And the Italians seemed to
admire the fact that we respected the Italian
thriller so much. They don't respect their own work
as much.
Greg:
But this film was more of a horror than a
thriller.
Joe:
Well, it was a giallo (who-dun-it) with more
lurid moments that usual. It's definitely a
thriller than usual, I mean.
Greg:
But still you must admit it is a horror film as
it reminded me of slasher flicks like Blood
Hook, Friday the 13th, My
Bloody Valentine and others like that
but made on a lower budget.
Joe: Well, it was an
artsy slasher flick with a little David Lynch and
H.G. Lewis tossed in.
Greg:
Did horror magazines like Fangoria
or Rue Morgue review
the film at all?
Joe: I sent a
screener to Rue Morgue (they
seem to already know about it). While many of the
horror mags including Cinefantastique
liked the film, there were its detractors. Fangoria - for one - called the film 'boring, pretentious
and inept." In response to their drubbing,
we had created special posters with all good
quotes and one bad quote from FANGORIA
(in the style of LOST HIGHWAY's movie posters).
They were posted up at the Chiller Convention a
few months after the film came out.
Greg: How well did it
do on VHS and DVD?
Joe:
Well, it only just came out on DVD, but we had a
lot of pre-sales, most likely the result of years
of a slowly-building cult interest in this title.
E.I. released 5 DEAD on VHS
almost 10 years ago - and although the VHS seems
to pop up everywhere, we didn't see much money.
Greg: This film seemed
to help you have parts in other horror films and
crowned you as a scream king don't you think?
Joe: Actually it did
open doors for me. Kevin Lindenmuth cast me in a
few of his films - which led to other directors
taking interest.
Greg: Guilty
Pleasures was an interesting 2 chapter
anthology for the budget it was on. The first
chapter Method to Madness reminded me of Scream
in a way but this film was out about a couple
months before Scream hit the cinemas back
in 1996. What brought up the idea to make it?
Joe:
You mean the episode
with Sasha Graham. Actually that was the second
episode, but never mind. The idea came about
after Joe Parda and I finished 5 DEAD.
We had various ideas we wanted to do, but our
ideas were in different directions. Anthologies
have always been something we wanted to be
involved with. I'd say Two Evil Eyes was
the main inspiration for the two episodes with
two different directors. Originally, we were
thinking of doing a VHS series called Guilty
Pleasures with more episodes, but that
never reached fruition since Guilty
Pleasures didn't catch on that well
during its initial release back in 97. It's doing
nicely on DVD now. We decided to set the action
in an apartment building with various tenants
having a horror tale to tell. Joe Parda wanted
more of an ongoing plot that connected the
various stories together (not just the location
of the apartment building). He - at the time -
was inspired by The Kingdom and
wanted to do experimental things.
Greg:
Now why did it show you running after a
suspect and have a background special effect
instead of actually running someone really
outside?
Joe:
Joe wanted to do
weird experimental things visually and that was
one of the ideas. He did a lot of hand-held
verite-kind of camera work which was inspired by The
Kingdom.
Greg:
Was it a lot of fun
acting playing your role as a psychopath in it?
Joe:
Yeah it was
interesting. The basis of that character's
narcissistic lunacy stems from a conversation Joe
and I had once. I go to the gym on a regular
basis and Joe commented that, "You must be
crazy! You're a narcissist!" and that
concept combined with other ideas he had -
including The Crimson Executioner with
Mickey Hargitay - as well as snippets of
Lost Highway became "Nocturnal
Emissions."
Greg:
Were you nervous doing the adult
situations in the film?
Joe: Not really. It was kind of daring.
I'm not shy about such things. It is a little
awkward to watch this film - and subsequent ones
of that nature - with friends and family, but
overall I thought it was adventurous and fun and
daring. Actors are supposed to be fearless
anyhow.
Greg:
The second chapter Nocturnal
Emissions I enjoyed a lot more as you wrote
and directed it. The story reminded me of one of
RL Stines Fear Street young adult
novels which is my favourite books. Have you ever
read his books and borrowed some ideas to make
this one from it?
Joe:
No, I had never heard of them, but I'm curious
how you made the comparison. Incidentally, the
first episode is Nocturnal Emissions
and the second episode (the one I wrote and
directed) is Method to the Madness.
Greg:
How did you go by casting it?
Joe
Zaso: I originally wanted Debbie Rochon
to play "RoseMarie" because we worked
well together on Alien Agenda.
At the last second, she bailed out on us and I
thought of upgrading Sasha Graham from a smaller
role it was the case of a happy accident because
I was really pleased with the job Sasha had done.
Greg:
Why did Debbie drop out?
Joe:
Not certain, but i
suspect a higher-paying job. she's always
working.
Greg: I found it truly creepy of a girl
having a split personality. Have you ever
encountered something similar to that in your
life at all when you wrote it?
Joe: I was inspired by an
actress I once worked with who was somewhat
unbalanced. She happened to mention to me that
she knew of some stage directors and acting
coaches who very irresponsibly forced actors to
search within themselves and reveal the dark
traumas and tragedies of their past. Some actors
can deal with that, but there are many unbalanced
people who shouldn't be toyed with so carlessly.
In the case of my stpry, the acting methods
spawned a violent disaster.
Greg:
Which chapter did
you enjoy doing? Acting in Method to Madness
or writing and directing Nocturnal Emissions?
Joe:
I enjoyed acting in Nocturnal
Emissions and I thought Method
would be less effective. But I was pleased more
with Method ultimately. Remember Nocturnal
Emissions I acted in. I wrote and
directed Method to the Madness.
Greg:
What kind of a
release did the film receive?
Joe:
Guilty Pleasures was released in 1997 on
VHS from EI Cinema, who did a
terrible job. They really didn't promote or push
the film. The critics also played hot potato with
it, but its recent DVD release has proven much
more enthusiastic.
Greg:
You acted in another 2 chapter anthology named Creaturealm. Was
this with another company called Brimstone
Productions. Was Brimstone associated with your Cinema
Image Productions at all?
Joe:
Brimstone is KEVIN LINDENMUTH's
company. Creaturealm was such a
quickie, I barely remember it. I was actually
invited to Kevin's engagement party (which was on
a Saturday night) and asked if I was free the
following evening to act in Creaturealm.
All I remember thinking was "I'm gonna need
to come in and dub this film since there was so
much noise on the set." Kevin said NO and
when I saw the film, I knew we should have dubbed
it.
Greg:
Did the directors Ron Ford and Kevin J.
Lindenmuth see your film Guilty Pleasures
and cast you as Jack in the chapter Eyes
of the Ripper because of it?
No:
No.
Greg:
Who were you up
against for the part?
Joe:
For Creaturealm?
Apparently nobody since they couldn't seem to get
it cast.
Greg:
Why was that?
Joe:
No idea. this was
such a fast and forgotten project for me, in
honestly don't recall.
Greg:
Now your role Jack
and the title Eyes of the Ripper sounds
quite familiar. Are you actually playing the role
of Jack the Ripper?
Joe:
Basically.
Greg:
This sounds
exciting. This film mustve for sure crowned
you as a scream king in independent low budget
horror flicks for sure. You seem to have a lot of
horror flicks under your belt after the release
of that one. How did you feel about it?
Joe:
Creaturealm. No, this didn't
push me in any direction. I think Rage fo
the Werewolf was the one that got me
noticed by more people. That was another one by
Kevin Lindenmuth. I enjoyed playing the villain
"Lazlo" because it allowed me to play
an interesting character. RAGE
is available on DVD in England and Holland, and
seems to have gotten a bit of a following with
the underground horror scene.
Greg:
Did you find your character Jack a challenge to
do?
Joe:
Don't recall. It was
a quick project. I can barely remember it.
Greg: Who did you act opposite to on that
film?
Joe:
Sasha Graham. Just did a few scenes and that was
all.
Greg:
Cult exploited cheesy B-film director David
DeCoteau who was famous for his work like in Creepozoids,
Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl O Rama,
Puppet Master 3: Toulons Revenge,
and Skeletons had a part in it playing
himself along with some familiar B-film horror
film actors like Conrad Brooks, Anita Page and
former 40s and 50s movie star
Margaret O Brien. Did you ever get to meet these
people or do any scenes with them? Do tell us all
the details!!!!
Joe:
No, I haven't. I
have seen these people at the horror conventions
like Chiller.
Greg: What
budget was the film made on if you know?
Joe:
Not sure.
Greg:
Another film you
were in with Debbie was Rage of the Werewolf.
What was the story to that?
Joe:
I was doing another quick project for
Kevin called Addicted to Murder 3:
Bloodlust and one of the actors on the
set named Santo Marotta told me about this
werewolf movie he was preparing. He wanted me to
play the villain of the movie and three months
later, I was acting in it.
Greg:
Was your role Lazlo
the guy who was the werewolf?
Joe:
Yep. He controlled
Manhattan.
Greg:
How did you feel
about your role?
Joe: It was a lot of fun. I
enjoyed being on the set. We filmed in a funky
old house in Brooklyn (which I always thought
looked like a Canadian boarding school) during
the Winter. Except for the ridiculous and
uncomfortable werewolf costume, it was fun.
Greg:
Any memorable moments youd like to
share with us on that one?
Joe:
It was very difficult to talk with the werewolf
fangs - so we dubbed some of the dialouge. it
hard to get through certain scenes because the
whole set was dying with laughter. Working on RAGE
got me accustomed to wearing contact lenses -
which I was leery of before then. The costumes
were too tight. I was asked to put an entire
hand-grenade in my mouth. Ridiculous but
enjoyable.
Greg:
Did it ever get
released anywhere (Film festivals, DVD)?
Joe: In the US, England, Holland (where
my Italian friend always sees it in every video
he goes in). I think Germany as well. I think
it's a very silly movie, but a surprising amount
of horror fans seem to know of it and like it for
its camp value and the audaciousness of the
costumes. It does have a 50s monster movie spirit
about it.
Greg:
What did viewers compare the film to?
Joe:
A lot of people seemed to think it was a
hybrid of Japanese monster movies, 50s horror
movies, Ming the Merciless...
Greg:
How did you know
Andreas Schnaas?
Joe:
When I was promoting my web site back in
September 2000, I wandered onto a discussion
board for The Diabolical Dominion
(not sure if it still exists) and the moderator,
Ted Geoghegan contacted me to mention how much he
enjoyed RAGE. He also told me he
was working on a German horror film to be made in
Rome... It was called Demonium
and I was psyched at the possibility of working
on a Euro-horror film. He helped get me an
audition (over the phone) with Schnaas and his
wife Sonja. I was planning a short vacation in
Rome around the time of the Demonium
filming, and when I got the part I turned it into
a longer working vacation. I told Schnaas via e-mail that I
was happy with the character (of the brutish
Russian artist and sleazy womanizer Viktor
Plushnikov) and that I was willing to do what he
wanted. I sent them a VHS of scenes of my work
and then we spoke on the phone. I got the part
just before Christmas and I was thrilled. It was
one of the most interesting and happy experiences
of my life. Very surreal working in Rome in real
castles with the Italian crew.
Greg: Did
you get any feedback from horror fans?
Joe:
Some responded with interest as to what I was
working on. Demonium is known,
but it wasn't any sort of hit.
Greg:
What kind of an experience was it like for you to
do a German flick like that?
Joe:
It was exciting and very odd. the cast
and crew - mainly Italians and Germans - all
spoke Baby English on the set. When I would get
direction from Andreas, he preferred to speak in
German to his wife Sonja who explained in English
what he wanted me to do since his English is
so-so and hers is much better.
Greg:
Did Andreas bring you on board for Nikos the
Impaler because of Demonium?
Joe:
Well, he knew that I made films of my own and
when we were in San Sebastian, Spain for a
showing of Demonium, we
discussed the possibility of Andreas coming to
New York to make a video feature which returned
to the style of his more successful Violent
Shit movies. I know Demonium was
not well-received and was a finanical failure due
to lack of sales to foreign territories (mainly
because of the lack of dubbing needed for the
broken-English-speaing cast). Demonium was an expensive Super 16mm movie and I think
Andreas wanted to do something his legion of fans
preferred to see. Demonium
attempted to pay homage to Gothic Euro-horror,
but didn't take off. Nikos - as
silly and deranged as it is - does have a much
stronger following.
Greg:
How did you feel about the slasher flick Nikos?
Joe: Very mixed feelings. It
started off happily enough and I worked VERY VERY
hard on it. But after a few weeks of working on
it, it indeed became the WORST experience of my
life. I was the line producer (in charge of
all issues with cast and crew and organizing and
such) and the lead actor as well as the
chauffeur, costume designer, etc. What should
have been a fulfilling experience was anything
but. The film gets one of two reviews: it's
either so bad it's good (campy party movie fun)
or it's just plain bad. The hours were obscenely
long (20 hours), the cast and crew worked for
next to nothing, Andreas' meticulousness did not
translate in the end has major directorial flaws
galore. I don't think anyone really was able to
shine on this project, even though most of the
cast and crew were good sports during and after.
I'm pleased that some fans like the film so much,
but I think it could have much better. Here is a
case where Andreas was the exact opposite of the
way he was during Demonium. On Nikos,
I guess because he was away from his homeland, he
really felt that he was a major superstar worthy
of endless respect. That attitude became VERY
WEARING after a while. Especially 20 hours a day,
7 days a week, for 3 months!
Greg:
I understand that you cast Felissa Rose in it.
How did you find her?
Joe:
She responded to an
ad we placed on the LIFILM.COM message board. I
knew of her name from Sleepaway Camp,
which I hadn't seen in several years, and she
really turned out to be a blessing. Instantly,
she seemed wonderful. All during Nikos,
she had such an electric positive quality that
was much-needed. She is always sweet and fun and
encouraging. She moved to the West Coast and I
hear from her from time to time.
Greg:
What was she needed to audition for the role?
Joe: Actually no. I sent her
the script which she read and liked. She
introduced herself via email to Andreas and met
with me a few times, but her persona really
shines through in her role of Sandra.
Greg: Did you feel youd have great chemistry with
her as your girlfriend
Sandra Kane?
Joe: Yeah, we got on well and
our rapport seemed to work onscreen.
Greg:
Was there any issues on set of the
filming?
Joe:
Such as???
Greg:
Well anyone not wanting to do something
or location issues etc?
Joe:
For the most part, everyone was ok, but little by
little, everyone became weary of the excessive
hours and demands of the director.
Greg:
Now I remember that you guys had to
climb a ladder to escape from the art museum did
you have to do take after take and was it tiring
to do?
Joe:
Yeah, but it was fine. I remember this was early
in the shoot and I lost my voice for a few days
from screaming so much. for me, the workload
wasn't the issue, it was the lack of sleep. I
wasn't able to and it really took its toll.
Greg:
Towards the end Nikos remembers
you from his past. What was that all about? Was
your character Frank Heller an immortal human but
you changed your name over the years and kept it
a secret?
Joe:
I was supposed to be a descendant of BERIX, who
was around during the year 1000. In the opening
scene, a man in black is pushing Nikos to
the wall. That's Beryx. But the back-story was so
sloppily-written that it doesn't have any punch
in the end.
Greg: Now there were cameos by
other actors who starred with you in your other
horror flicks like Darian Caine, Tina Krause and
Debbie Rochon. Did they have to audition or did
you ask them to be in it?
Joe: No, I simply asked them.
We didn't know what to give Tina Krause to do.
Then Andreas had the idea of giving Hitler his
Eva Braun. Debbie and Lloyd had been in
communication with Andreas already. Darian was
given the role of the only nude character in the
film. When Nikos got delayed in
early 2002, we decided to do And Then
They Were Dead and gave her a similar
shower fate.
Greg:
Function Zero played music for the film like he
did with your other films. Was Andreas greatful
to have you on board since you seem to know a lot
of these people?
Joe: I think so. Andreas liked working
with Mike Mack (of Function Zero). Mike also did
the sound effects and other editorial things for
the film. But Andreas is hopelessly devoted to
his friend Marc Trinkhaus who did the metal music
for Nikos, so anything else was
considered very secondary.
Greg:
Was a soundtrack album ever released at all and
sold on the Nikos site or at the festival
venues?
Joe: Nope, but there are some tracks on
the DVD and the individual artists have their own
CDs, I believe.
Greg:
I understand it played at some festivals around
Europe like the Weekend of Fear Festival in
Germany but did it show anywhere else?
Joe:
Not theatrically. I think it was shown
in Spain. I think it also had a screening in
Canada (by you, of course). No other official
screenings.
Greg:
Did you ever go to these venues to see
the film on the big screen?
Joe:
I only saw Demonium in Spain -
because I flew myself over there.
Greg:
Has it ever been available to rent on
DVD besides it being on sale like at Blockbuster
or anywhere like that?
Joe:
Certainly not Blockbuster. It has not
been sold to any big chains, but some of the
smaller mom and pop stores rent it. Including 112
Video where Nikos was filmed.
Greg:
What kinds of feedback did you get from
your fans?
Joe:
I get a mixture. A lot of directors/journalists
shake their heads with embarrassment, some fans
ADORE the film and send me nice e-mails or shake
my hand at horror film festivals. For the most
part, people feel that it may not be a great or
even good film, but it's always entertaining.
Greg: Now I remember the ending
so well that it opened a door for a sequel. Does
Andres ever plan to have one? I understand
hes doing a monster flick but will Nikos
2 ever see the light of day? It deserved
one like other slasher flicks such as Halloween,
Friday the 13th, Sleepaway
Camp, A Nightmare On Elm Street and
even the Z-grade flick that was in the same vein
as Nikos but not as good called Bloody
Murder.
Joe:
I was approached in Summer, 2003 to do Nikos
2. Andreas would have been using an
all-new producer (since I don't think Christian
Becker was pleased with Nikos
due to his silence). I refused to organize this
one and asked for more money to ACT ONLY. That
ended the discussions.
Greg:
I watched your film recently as you played the
role of a nutty man named Dr. Mark Reibolt in And
then they Were Dead. It seemed like a
parody on other horror films like House of
1000 Corpses, Texas Chainsaw Massacre,
the Shining and Psycho. Was this
the intention?
Joe:
And Then They Were Dead was a project
that came about in early 2002. Nikos was to be
shot in March, but got delayed due to funding not
coming through as easily. At the time, Nikos'
editor Ray Schwetz was going to be the assistant
director and when the delay was announced, he was
really disappointed. He decided to sell off
his video collection on Ebay and make a film at
the time we were going to make Nikos.
The script was hurried together and thus AND
THEN was born. It has its flaws, but it
does have amusing moments and is basically a very
dark comedy with horrific elements.
Greg:
What I never understood was how you
killed your wife Rebecca played by Lynn Macri who
also starred with you in 5 Dead on the Crimson
Canvas. How did you accidentally kill her?
Joe:
I was shagging her so hard and I accidentally
broke her neck. From all the thrusting, I could
have also suffocated her.
Greg:
Were you part of the cannibal killers
living in the house or were you just an oddball
with the company?
Joe:
Just an oddball guest.
Greg:
Darian Caine who played the maid
Gabrielle seemed to have the same performance
during the shower murder scene like in Nikos
the Impaler. Was this supposed to grab the
same kind of attention like her role in Nikos?
Joe:
Like I mentioned, she was supposed to do
Nikos first, then we decided to
use her anyhow in AND THEN, and
then back to Nikos. I think her showing
experience on AND THEN was more
enjoyable for her.
Greg:
Was it difficult using the prosthetic make up as
when she was slashed it was very different than a
typical shower stabbing scene?
Joe: Actually, the FX artist
Marcus Koch handled it easily. His hands
were the killer's hands for that scene and he and
Darian did the shots very smoothly.
Greg:
Youve acted with her in other
films and has she been typecast to have the
shower murder scene in your other flicks?
Joe:
No, just those 2 films we worked on. The shower
thing was just a coincidence.
Greg: How did you feel about scream queen Tina
Krauses performance as the troubled Sara?
Joe: I was very pleased with
her peformance. Tina also did a fantastic
dramatic role in Machines of Love and Hate where
she played a troubled daughter. Her reputation as
a scream queen and fetish film star has perhaps
made people think her skills are limited, but
she's VERY underrated and capable of spunkier
comedic and dramatic roles.
Greg:
I also noticed that the camera wobbled sometimes.
Was this frustrating for you when you saw the
results cause as a producer as well as an actor I
know it can be tough work.
Joe:
Although I don't always agree, I allow
directors to just do their thing because they
might be following a certain style. Wobbly
cameras could be leading to a certain motif,
sometimes not.
Greg: I saw the closing credits and never saw your name
credited as a producer or maybe Im wrong?
Joe:
For AND THEN? My
producer credit is only at the beginning.
Greg: Did the film ever show at festivals
or underground cinemas?
Joe:
Nope. Just one theatrical screening (the
premiere) and then direct to video. A British TV
show called Shock Movie Massacre did show scenes
from it when they did a documentary on weird
films and scream queens. Lousy documentary, but
publicity is publicity.
Greg: It is now available on DVD as a
double bill with your other flick Guilty
Pleasures at amazon.com. Is it seeling in
stores or avaible for rent?
Joe: I haven't sold it to any
chains, but many stores have purchased from us.
It's mainly available via XPLOITEDCINEMA.COM,
DIABOLIKDVD.NET, CINEMAIMAGES.NET.
Greg: How well is it selling?
Joe:
Quite well. Ever since 5 DEAD came
out, interest in AND THEN has
risen.
Greg: Now
you did a non horror film called Alien
Agenda as it was like an X-files
type of show. What kind of a release did that one
get?
Joe:
Although it was super low-budget, it showed up in
a lot of video stores. It also had a big release
on British DVD and VHS.
Greg: Nice. Did you play a David
Duchovney type of role?
Joe:
No, I actually played a nice NORMAL guy who turns
out to be an alien - but a good alien.
Greg:
Cool what did he do?
Joe:
This alien - named John - had plans for building
up his species that live secretly on earth. But
his girlfriend (Debbie Rochon) didn't know about
his double-life and the story was really a sci-fi
soap opera.
Greg:
Did it hit any festivals or direct-to-video?
Joe:
Not that I know of.
Greg:
No festivals then?
Joe:
You'd have to check with Kevin Lindenmuth.
Greg:
OK I will. Now your kids film the Adventures
of Young Van Helsing. Was it a take off
of the Van Helsing film?
Joe:
Yes, it was released one week before the
big movie to compete. Walmart was involved in the
producing of this film. It's very Goosebumps,
but the 9-13 year old crowd seems to dig it.
Greg: I was thinking
Goosebumps when I read the story.
Joe:
I think it's actually too scary - even in its cut
form - for little ones. Oh yeah, you're just
waiting for Lizzie McGuire or Frankie Nunez to
pop out.
Greg:
Did you play a vampire as your role Simon Magus?
Joe:
Actually, Simon Magus is a fallen angel,
the son of Lucifer. He is mainly a demon, but a
vampire-style one.
Greg:
Sounds intense. Was it a big part?
Joe: It was the villain - the McGuffin - of the film.
Maybe 10 minutes of screen time TOTAL. I think
they should have given my character more back
story instead of the usual "just wear black,
look mean..." direction.
Greg: How did the producers get the
rights for the name?
Joe:
Not sure, but i know they did a lot of
negotiating.
Greg:
So this was a kids type of horror film.
Joe:
Yes, it was made for kids.
Greg:
Was it one of the biggest budgets you acted in?
Joe:
It was the same as Demonium -
approx $300,000.
Greg:
What horror films do you have lined up
in the near future?
Joe:
Red Midnight is the one I'm working on
now. It's an anthology with three episodes (three
directors: Ray Schwetz, Joe Parda and
Demonium's assistant director Giovanni
Pianigiani). Giovanni's episode is being made in
Rome and I will be acting in it. It will be shot
this Spring and hopefully released as planned on
DVD this Halloween. I also have Demon
Ressurrection expected to come out this
Summer. It was directed by Bill Hopkins who did Sleepless
Nights and I played a small featured
role as the devil's bodyguard.
Greg:
Sleepless Nights was also a song
King Diamond did was that track used do you know?
Joe:
No, I didn't knoiw off the record, we're
hoping to have Jasi Lanier (formerly Roxanne
Michaels) who played the lady cop in Nikos
to play a supporting role in Red
Midnight. She normally frowns upon doing
nude roles any more, but this would be a
poetic-looking ghost and she might be doing this
for us next month it's not signed and sealed yet.
Greg:
Do you have any other types of jobs besides
acting?
Joe: I sell movie memorabilia, I also act as a notary
for my friend's office when he needs me. Believe
me, I always work one way or the other. one thing
I have learned at this level is that anytime
someone (behind or in front of the scenes) says I
only act or I only direct - for a living, unless
they're massively famous or independently
wealthy, they must have some forms of employment.
A lot of the people I work with do have temp
jobs, day jobs, bartending jobs, carpentry jobs.
It's necessary and nothing to be ashamed of. I
notice, espeically in Italy and England, people
love to brag about all the acting and film making
work they get, but they never mention the fact
that they need "filler jobs" in
between. It's easy to lie from 5,000 miles away.
When you see them live in their normal
surroundings, you find that a lot of
"stars" are no different than you or
me, just a little luckier.
Greg:
Now here's some fun stuff: What are your
favourite horror flicks?
Joe:
My absolute favorite of all-time - only
because it freaked me out as a child - is The
Omen. I know, by today's standards it's
pretty tame, but it really did a number on me as
a 6-year old. I also love: Suspira,
Creepshow, Gremlins,
Squirm, anything by Dario
Argento, possession movies, Brian DePalma movies.
Although I respect and enjoy them, I'm not really
a fan of Phantasm, Evil
Dead, Return of the Living Dead.
My favorite slasher flick of the 80s is Happy
Birthday to Me.
Greg: If you have a film you'd like to
change what would that film be?
Joe:
My own?
Greg:
Yes.
Joe: Well, there are always things you might want to
correct. I think there are certain
directorial touches in Method to the
Method (of Guilty Pleasures)
that I would do-over. But mainly, I think the way
a film turns out is its destiny. This is why I
don't like all these new and improved versions of
movies like The Exorcist.
Greg:
What is the film you acted in that you would
cherish the most?
Joe:
5 DEAD because it was my first
big role.
Greg:
If you were just a top scream king for a
day whether this actor was alive or dead who
would he be?
Joe:
There aren't many. Perhaps Bruce
Campbell.
Greg: What is your idea of
perfect happiness?
Joe:
Not having to struggle so much to make a
comfortable living doing what I love most. But
the struggle has been part of the adventure.
Greg:
What are your ambitions?
Joe: To continue producing and acting. And eventually
working on higher-profile films (be it horror or
another genre). Above all, I want whoever sees my
films to feel entertained and fulfilled ... maybe
even a little inspired. To be respected.
Greg:
Well that's all thanks so much for this'
Joe:
Thanks so much to you too. I'm honored. |