 If
you start shivering and break out
in goose bumps while reading this
interview don't worry. You're not
catching a cold. You are just
realizing how cool Melanie
Donihoo actually is and your body
is merely adjusting to the change
in climate. The horror film
loving, Texas based Donihoo has
just finished filming the lead in
the bloody and creepy 'Closet
Space.' Now, after her blazing
performance as Nancy, following
years of gunning in the
theatrical trenches, Donihoo is
set to burst out of the linens as
a horror heroine supreme. In
fact, she is currently filming
another horror epic, 'Sway' , and
is on board for the 'Closet
Space' sequel. So, throw on a
couple extra sweaters and get set
to marvel at the frosty wonder
that is Donihoo, below. When
you're through, be sure to check
out 'Closet Space's' website at www.closetspacemovie.com
.
Brian: What
set you down the twisty, back
breaking slope of show business?
Was it something that you were
interested in since childhood?Melanie:
Well, I was never all that
popular in school and did not
really have anything I was really
great at, but when I started High
School a friend of mine forced me
to tryout for the school play and
I actually got cast and I was
hooked from that moment on. It
was actually something that made
me feel really special and just
blew my life wide open. As soon
as you get your first role it is
like being addicted to some drug.
You just want to conquer all the
other girls, win all the roles
forever and ever -
MMUUUHHAAAAA!!!
Brian:
You've performed Shakespeare on
stage. As one of the bloodiest
playwrights around, he must have
been great preparation for the
horrors of 'Closet Space'.
Do you have any favorite
Shakespearian plays or roles? (It
can be something you've performed
or would like to perform.)
Melanie:
Man I would LOVE to play
Hamlet!!! I just want to tell a
chick, "Get thee to a
nunnery"! Shakespeare is one
of those experiences that
surprised me a bit. I thought
actually speaking the dialogue
would be so difficult but it
actually just falls off of your
tongue when you know what the
subtext is. It is like a language
that you speak with your body not
just your mouth. Man that sounded
like a load of shit but I swear
it was coming from an honest
place.
Brian:
Since you've done so much stage
work was it tough, technically,
to make the transition to film?
Melanie:
Well it was a little tough in the
beginning but I got used to it
fast and actually like it a whole
lot better than stage. I think my
acting style and personality fit
better with film. What I love
about film is you film it and if
it doesn't suck then that's it.
You don't have to perform it 6
nights a week and then to a bunch
of blue hairs on Sundays.
Brian:
Okay - Sally Bowles in
'Cabaret' or Nancy in 'Closet
Space' was one role
tougher to play than the other?
Melanie:
Sally Bowles was a lot harder for
me to play because she is just so
over the top and so different
than me. It took me awhile to get
over myself enough to take it to
the level that character needed
to be. Nancy is very much like me
and very much how I would react
and talk in high pressure
situations. Nancy was much more
fun for me because I could
channel Heather Langenkamp who
just happens to be my hero.
Brian:
You're a musical theater veteran.
Did you force any of the cast
members of 'Closet Space'
into sing-a-longs on the set - or
would they have killed ya?
Melanie:
In a way there was
singing since the very first
night. Morgan (Kristen) and I
actually rode up together the
first weekend and we had just
seen this crazy ass commercial
before we left my house and that
ended up being a constant joke
between us. - But no musical
theatre moments. I actually don't
really dig musical theatre all
that much (S-h-h-h-h don't tell
anyone!)
Brian:
Your secret is safe. Now, I'm
sure that your character Nancy
had to endure many monstrosities
in 'Closet Space'.
What was the worst thing that she
encounters - and was it the
hardest thing that you had to
film as an actress?
Melanie:
Nancy has a few really bad
moments, but if I told you I
would have to kill you.... The
absolute hardest thing for me was
the very first weekend. Mel had
scheduled a really high intense
action sequence where James and I
basically go from 0 to 60 in no
time and it was hard for me to
grasp because all of the other
scenes we had shot that weekend
were very, very low key and you
could feel everyone watching on
pins and needles thinking
"Oh man how is this gonna
work"
Brian:
It appears that you
filmed 'Closet Space' in
a remote area. Did that provide
the cast and crew plenty of
opportunity to bond?
Melanie:
Oh yeah! There was also
only one shower in the whole
house so we probably were all a
little too close for comfort. But
seriously, everyone was awesome
and it was just a really positive
experience.
Brian:
Angela Bettis, a
frequent horror film actress,
recently proclaimed that she
admires all types of films -
comedy, drama, horror- as long as
they're good. Do you feel the
same way? Do you look forward to
doing more horror films? Besides
horror what other types of films
would you like to tackle? (Whoa!
That's a lot of questions. Even
I'm dizzy - so I hope you're
hanging in there!)
Melanie:
Horror films are my life! I like
other types of films for sure
(comedies are not really high on
my list, I actually just watched The
Blues Brothers last week
for the very first time...) But I
am ALWAYS in the mood for horror.
The Exorcist is
my favorite film of all time and
that coupled with
Nightmare on Elm Street are
the films I have seen the most
and I continue to watch them over
and over when I have time. I also
really dig Dirty Harry
movies, and of course sci-fi (Aliens).
Brian:
Lastly, any future projects or
bits of wisdom (IE: Don't break
dance with a porcupine) that
you'd like to leave us with?
Also, thanks for your time! It's
been a thrill doing this with
you!
Melanie:
I am currently working on another
horror film here in Texas called
Sway directed by Josh
Vargas and will be starting up Closet
Space 2 in the fall.
Advice, here is one piece of
advice, if you are shooting
something in Texas, just make
sure you travel with some hand
sanitizer and toilet paper
because you never know when you
will be somewhere with no running
water.
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