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Owen: Hi Lenora, how is life treating
you today?
Lenora: Fantastic! I have so
many projects going on, things I never would have
imagined doing even a year ago. Right now is a
really exciting time for me. I only wish I could
sleep more.
Owen: Set the scene for the www.racksandrazors.com readers. What
does your writing room look like?
Lenora: Well, your male readers
will probably hate this but the walls are painted
bubblegum pink as is the connecting boudoir. So
are the kitchen and bathroom actually. Jayne
Mansfield would be proud. I have an original
Eraserhead poster framed on the wall behind my
bed as well as a Forbidden Zone poster Richard
Elfman autographed for me when I did the
Apocalipstick meets the Forbidden Zone event. I
always have a dozen pink roses next to my bed. I
also have artwork my friend Gidget Gein (formerly
of Marilyn Manson) gave to me. One painting is of
Joan Crawford and the other my first obsession
Klaus Nomi. I have a bookshelf full of every
Disinfo book ever put out, many Feral House books
as well as books on Hollywood Babylon, film
theory and Grand Guignol. A few trashy celebrity
bios are in there as well.
Owen: I am so impressed by your
energy and the amount of things you do! You
have so many things going on in so many different
areas. Have you begun to decide yet
whether you are gravitating towards film, live
performance, modeling, or music --- or a
combination?
Lenora:
I kind of hate modeling. I love the
glamour involved in the final product but for
someone with opinions and ideas it's hardly fun
to be a mannequin. There's nothing wrong with
contributing to someone elses art, but I am
at a point in my life where I rather make my own.
Modeling has taken me some great places and
introduced me to many fascinating people but it
will never be as exciting as eating light bulbs,
or performing for thousands of people. I'm the
kind of gal that likes an audience. Films can be
amazing. I've had some tiny parts in big
Hollywood films and huge parts in tiny go nowhere
films. Every film is unique and magical in it's
own way. Lately I've really been enjoying writing
for Frontiers magazine. I just interviewed Janice
Dickinson -- that was pretty crazy. I also LOVE
producing music videos. I just co-produced one
for the band The Kids of Widney High. My friend
Michael Medaglia directed it. Watch out for that
kid!
Owen: Well, lets start with your
surreal live sideshow sorta venue APOCALIPSTICK.
How did that performance concept come about?
Lenora: I wanted a home for all
my crazy filmmaker, artist, and performer
friends. I'm friend with actor Carl Crew (Dahmer,
Blood Diner) who happens to own
the coolest club in LA, the California Institute
of Abnormal arts www.ciabnormalarts.com It's a
sideshow venue complete with dead clowns, Fiji
mermaids and a GORGEOUS stage. It just seemed too
perfect and I decided to do my night there. I had
no idea it would be so successful. I'm often
packed to capacity but then again nobody else has
30 ft intestine slides for Forbidden Zone night,
or honors Russ Meyer legend Kitten Natividad the
same night as having two live monkeys and Shaye
St. John on stage.
Owen: With your love of horror
as well does it have sort of a 'Something
Redheaded This Way Comes' feel to it?
Lenora: That's a perfect
description!
Owen: I also want to hear about
your work in Ramzi Abed's 'The
Black Dahlia. I've loved the
Hollywood horror story since I saw Lucie
Arnaz in the TV movie years ago. This
current production has an awesome cast --
Lizzie Strain in the title role and appearances
by Julie Strain, Count Smokula. Lloyd
Kaufman, etc. First off tell me about
your role in the movie?
Lenora: Growing up in LA and
loving true time I've poured over the details
since I was a child. Ramzi has decided to go in a
different direction than most would expect. It's
sort of an updated version of the story set in
the current era. After all it's a timeless tale.
People still come to Hollywood with great
ambitions only for bad things to happen. In the
film I play myself. Hope I'm convincing!
Owen: With that even partial cast listing it sounds
like a recipe for some good tales from the
set? Any good tales from the filming you
would care to share?
Lenora: One day on set at the
Parlour (which has since sadly closed) we were
shooting a nightclub scene and the fog machine
was really pumping. I remember Ego Plum turning
over to David J (Bauhaus) and asked, "Remind
you of a Bauhaus video" and we all started
giggling. Since most of the cast are LA
underground superstars we all kind of know one
another so there was lots of giggling on set
which was really nice.
Owen: I also want to hear about
"The Spielberg Experience"
when you played a futuristic hooker in 'A.I.'?
Lenora: Well, I worked on it for
two months and we were all completely cut out.
You could tell we were in the Kubrick version of
the film and while Spielberg LOVES to show
violence on film he never seemed at ease with
showing sex. My costumes were great, the hookers
were stunning, and the sets WOW, but you'll never
see it. We weren't even on the extras on the DVD.
I actually ended up working on the same set with
almost identical props on a George Michael video
called Freeak. So if you want to
see what it was like, check that out.
Owen: So tell me too about
filming 'Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger
IV'. Am I insane to assume
it was pretty different from working on a
Spielberg film?
Lenora: I'm not in the actual
film I am only in the extras section. You see me
jumping around at the LA premiere of the film.
Oddly enough that exact clip was all over E! news
daily one weekend. Sgt. Kabukiman and I sure
looked cute together.
Owen: In that Troma movie you
played yourself, which sparks a question on this
end. Do you consider your persona as Lenora
Claire a sort of role somewhat different from how
you are behind closed doors? If so -
how? Is it you magnified, you 24/7,
another you?
Lenora: No, I am always
perfectly made up and fascinating...ALWAYS:)
Owen: I first heard about you
when you were chosen as a Scream Queen of the
Month a couple years ago. How did that
coveted title come about...did you get some super
cool perks for it...or at least a SQ gift bag or
plaque or t-shirt or certificate or something?
Lenora: I got a lot of extra
site hits but that is all. My house if full of
swag anyway.
Owen: Oh also Lenora -- I love
the fact that you love silent movies
too!!! I can't recall where I heard
that. Anyway, I am a member of the Silent
Film Society here in Chicago. It such a
different and delicious art form. What do
you like about the movies of that bygone era?
Lenora: I am especially moved by
anything hyper stylized and German Expressionist
films are very much that. Dr. Caligari is just so
gorgeous. So is Metropolis.
Owen: Do you have aspirations of
one day making your own neo-silent film...and
dammit if so I want a role!!! Actually,
I'll take a role in any of your movies...
Lenora: It is entirely possible.
If you ever come to LA I'll take you to the
Silent Movie Theatre.
Owen: Very cool. And tell me
about Robotique, the band you started. How
did that come about, what's the sound, etc?
Lenora: That was like four years
ago. My partner moved but maybe I'll take up
music again. I've been kind of joking about
making a record with my friend Kim Fowley. Who
knows!
Owen: Ok, Lenora...this is your
time...do you have any other film, TV,
modeling, or performance projects pending or set
for release you would like to plug or brag
about?
Lenora: My site www.lenoraclaire.com is about to relaunch with
my articles, photos and videos galore. If you are
in LA pick up FRONTIERS the magazine I write for,
if you like crazy television and get cable watch
me on THE QUEER EDGE on Q TV
(Jack E Jett is hilarious), I am MC'ing the
pansexual beauty contest with Kim Fowley at the
Knitting Factory in LA December 21st, doing
Apocalipstick on New Years and I am also going to
film something for Kim Fowley's movie soon as
well.
Owen: Zombies, vampires, freaks,
psychos, aliens, creatures,
mummies, monsters, werewolves --- what does
it for you Lenora and why?
Lenora: Zombies
are great but invisible zombies would be scarier
(don't steal my idea) Vampires are silly unless
they are Udo Kier and then they're hot. Freaks,
well all of my friends are freaks so you can say
I'm partial to them.
Owen: Ok, it's a bit after dusk
and we are pulling the Cadillac into The Lenora
Claire Drive-in. You are featuring a
triple-bill of your favorite horror flicks.
First off what are the three movies and second of
all what tasty goodies are they serving at the
concessions hut?
Lenora: My three favorite Horror
films would be 1.Santa Sangre 2.
Black Christmas 3. Carrie
and I would be eating popcorn while sipping on
champagne.
Owen: What scares you in real
life?
Lenora: George Bush |
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