 Julian
Berlin was once a violinist with
the St. Cloud Symphony...and is
now a hot young actress with a
superb horror resume after a mere
2-3 years. She is currently
starring as Leila in Phil
Creager's 'Death By Engagement'
with lotsa of cool people like PJ
Soles. Julian has starred as a
woman who steals the faces of
others (yikes!) in 'Scarred', she
was Christa Carvel in lizard
sci-fi flick 'Saurian' with Tracy
Scoggins, Nick Mancuso, and
Michael Pare, had a lead role in
'The Darkroom' with Ellie
Cornell, a small one in 'Creature
Unknown', as well as a role
opposite Antonio Sabato Jr. in
the upcoming flick 'Ghost
Voyage'. That makes for a very
busy two years! And as if that
wasn't enough she has also done
some solid TV work - guest
starring appearances on 'Scrubs',
'My Name is Earl', and 'The
Division' as well as a 13 episode
appearance as Eve Michaels on
'Days of Our Lives'. And as if
that weren't enough she still
plays music and was cool enough
to chat with me in this exclusive
Racks and Razors interview. Hi
Julian. How are you doing today?
Any New Year's resolutions?
Raise
the bar, work harder than last
year, take vacations ( because I
don't! ) and spend more time with
my girlfriends, friends, and
family! Life is too short!
So
how does a violinist with the St.
Cloud Symphony make the
transition and start getting into
movies and acting?
I
not only play Beethoven, I play
Hendrix! I have always been
involved with the arts. I grew up
performing onstage dancing with a
professional company until i was
17. I started playing the violin
in 5th grade, a bit of a late
start, but started playing with
the St. Cloud Symphony at 18. I
was doing acting work in
Minneapolis, Minnesota
simultaneously. I moved to LA in
2000 on my manager's request and
began my acting career. To keep
my foundation I played with a few
community orchestras in the LA
Valley and then I joined a band!
I love playin' rock 'n roll! I'd
love to bring that talent to the
silver screen.
Let's
talk about your role as Loretta
in Mark Hurst's horror flick 'The
Darkroom' (2006).
Can you give me a teaser for the
movie that will make it
irresistable for all the Racks
and Razors readers?
Well,
there are racks and razors! It
takes you down one path and
twists down another.
I
also want to hear about your work
as Leila in Phil Creager's 'Death
By Engagement' (2005).
How did that role come about?
Blood,
sweat, and tears! I earned that
role! Leila is one of my favorite
characters. A gorgeous woman who
is cunning, sexy, and smart. She
knows how to manipulate men to
get her way. I had a great
co-star, Terrry Rhoads, who is
such a comedic talent. Between
the clever writing of Phil
Creager, and the chemistry with
Terry, it created an opportunity
to let go and just play as an
actor. It was great!
Has
it changed your views or marriage
or at least engagement at all?
Get
married for the right reasons and
pick out the ring yourself! (but
make him pay for it! )
One
of my creepy favorites of your
movies is your work as Kim in the
very twisted flick 'Scarred'
(2005) about the woman who loses
her face and searches for new
faces to wear. Do you have some
most memorable moment from the
set of that movie?
Most
of the movie was filmed at night
in Topanga Canyon and it was
FREEEEEZING! I had hand warmer
packets stuffed in every pocket
of my pants, in my shirt, under
my bra, EVERYWHERE to try to stay
warm. The most disgusting 'face
removal' I have ever seen was of
Charity Shea's character. The
mask was made of real pig skin,
and when they peeled it off her
face it made this noise that
still makes my skin crawl when I
see it! And the death scene of
Maxine Bahns is pretty
disgusting. I have never seen so
much blood on one person to
date!!!!
So
let's hear it Julian, if you lost
your face whose would you like to
cut off and wear as your own?
Wow!
Well, if their life and knowledge
went along with the face, Hillary
Clinton would be interesting! She
must know some dirt! I find
politics fascinating and scary.
Scarier than any film I've ever
made!!!
You
die in 'Scarred'
and you also died in 'Days
of Our Lives' back
in August as Officer Eve
Michaels. Is there some sort of
professional secret they teach in
acting school about dying on
screen?
Fight
to stay alive.
Oh,
I also want to hear about
'Saurian' (2006)
the horror/sci fi movie you made
with Michael Pare, Tracy
Scoggins, and Nick Mancuso. What
was that experience like for you?
I
worked mostly with Vernon Wells
on this project. He played my
father. What a blast! Vernon is
the biggest goof ball ever! The
creatures created for that show
were so detailed and creative. I
played an archeologist so i spent
time examining their bodies, and
i was fascinated by the
imagination that goes into the
creation of these creatures
because it is pure art! There are
no rules, just playing and
creating! I love it because there
is no way to do it wrong; a great
application for art on all
levels.
On
horror movies you always hear
well...horror stories about the
strange sort of make-up and
effects and how they can make it
tough an actor. So how about it -
what stunt or effect or make-up
has been the most challenging for
you?
Also
the most fun! Creating things
that aren't there! Effects are
often added in post-production,
therefore your acting happens in
front of a green screen. It means
that as an actor you are creating
these images, sounds, people,
taps on the shoulder, in your
imagination. You have to be
specific in your imagination, and
it is like you are 8 again
playing war!
Any
new projects you would like to
let our readers know about?
I
just returned from Sofia,
Bulgaria doing a film opposite
Antonio Sabato, Jr. called 'Ghost
Voyage'. It will be out in about
a year on the Sci-Fi channel. I
just finished a Guest Star on
Scrubs, not really the same
genre, but it is hallucinations
in the hospital!
I
am also curious with your musical
background (and you also play
guitar and piano) of you have
thought about trying your hand at
the lucrative market of horror
movie music composition?
Composition
is another ball game. I have many
talents, others I'm sure I could
capitalize on, but I don't want
to spread myself thin. I
diligently work on my craft and
career every day. Conjure up the
courage to take extraordinary
measures to achieve my vision.
And
in your expert opinion what
instrument is capable of being
the most frightening and
unsettling as part of the mood
music?
A
pipe organ has a mysterious and
dominating quality. For me, it
has an association with a big,
cold, creepy church and the
pale-skinned, sunked eyed priest
walking around with a worn bible
under his arm.
What
scares you in real life?
Antique
furniture.
Can
you give an abbreviated version
of your Oscar speech when you
eventually win the award?
Well,
certainly YOU for your support
and faith! Isn't it bad luck to
plan the speech? Well, award or
not there are many people to
thank, personally and
professionally, for the life I
live and the opportunities I have
to create the life I envision
from the passion alive in my
soul. The teachers, guides, and
protectors in my life are
powerful, and I am grateful to be
where i am today and look forward
to where I will be tomorrow
because it will be somewhere
greater than I could create on my
own.
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