Hey Melissa, can you start us off at www.racksandrazors.com with a visual and
describe the room where you are answering these
questions?
A
visual huh. Well, I am in the middle of moving
and I have an obsession with pillows and candles.
So right now I am sitting in an office with tons
of new pillows that I just bought and candle
sticks everywhere. My bedroom is being painted so
I am storing my new stuff in the computer area. I
also have my two cocker spaniels by my feet and
my little white bunny. My bunny loves to jump all
over my dogs while they try to sleep!! I have a
big comfy leather chair and a hand painted desk.
You started at
Troma right out of college...that must have been
an experience. Did you have any preconceived
notions or idea of the "Troma Product"
when you got that part in 'Citizen Toxie:
The Toxic Avenger IV'?
Well, I
have always been a huge fan. But I wasn't quite
sure what to expect and the first day I shot my
call time was 6am. I took that really seriously
so I actually arrived on the set at 6. I found
the address and the house looked abandoned. It
was super dark but the door was opened. I walked
in and immediately tripped on a rolled up carpet.
Someone yelled and in about 30 seconds people
started waking up and crawling out of the rolled
up carpets that were everywhere. Then from
somewhere a box of donuts appeared and the crew
was literally fighting over the food. It was
great. It was literally a movie. I was totally
confused. But not really that surprised. At that
point the only other set I had been on was for a
major soap opera. And you rarely found people
rolled up in carpets on that set!
Looking back on
it do you recall the first bit of direction you
were given in that - your first movie?
Oh my God
yes! The set was freezing and Lloyd Kaufman made
it very clear that cold girls in tube tops make
for good cinema. That was pretty funny but the
first actual direction was a nightmare...My first
line (which I said to James Gunn!!) was something
like, "You're just a shriveled up old guy
who can't get it up." I decided to say it as
if my character was disgusted. Lloyd wanted me to
say it with no emotion but having my voice go up,
sort of like a question, on the word UP. I was
pretty used to being directed with emotion and I
seriously had to say that line 20 times. Finally
I just imitated Lloyd and he was happy. But that
was sort of hard for me. I couldn't justify the
line reading. I had to sort of kick myself and
remember it was Troma and it didn't have to make
sense!!
Now that you've
had more experience what do you think is the most
unique thing about the way Troma does business?
Well,
Lloyd is obviously brilliant. But the thing about
Troma is that no matter how tired, hungry and
overworked everyone is. It's a total family when
you are on the set. Everybody really respects
each other and the art of filmmaking. No matter
what someone's job is on the set everyone their
knows it's important. Even the guy that brings
the box of donuts. It's really cool. There is no
attitude or pretentiousness! (is that a word?)
I see on your
resume you are also a writer and have two sitcom
ideas in development -- how has being in front of
the camera made you a better writer and vice
versa?
It's
really funny because people have always told me
to write and I have always insisted that I am not
a writer. Finally about 6 months ago an idea was
presented to me by an actor that I am friends
with. I liked it, so I sat down and started to
write. In about two days I had a full script. I
have pitched it to a major network and they like
it! I am not sure what is going to happen at this
point. But I think that is pretty damn good. I
think acting has made me realize that the best
scripts are the ones that everyone can relate to.
So when I write I do it the same way that I talk.
Sort of like this interview. I am all over the
place but in the end it comes together. Plus
reading the amount of good and bad scripts that I
have I sort of know what works.
Tell me about the
acting studio you have founded called The Network
Studio. What makes it an especially unique and
great place to study the craft?
Well the
fact is that it's not about learning how to act.
It's all about learning how to book a job. I
think sometimes actors worry to much about their
craft. It's important to have the basics but in
all honesty if you are a great actor but can't
understand the techniques and technicalities
behind booking a job and being on a set...You are
F*cked. Sort of like my Troma experience. I had
to let go of what I thought was right and just
listen to the director. It's not about being a
good actor it's about giving the people who can
hire you what they want!! That's why at The
Network we hire Casting Directors to teach the
actors. Who better to teach you how to book then
the people who do the hiring!
Tell me a little
bit about your work as Vicky in the surreal
vampire (is that redundant?) opus 'Strange
Things Happen at Sundown' (2003).
LOL.
Surreal + vampire...sort of. Ummm. Vicky was fun
and brutal. There was one scene where I had to
writhe around on a nasty mattress in my underwear
for 4 minutes while gurgling on chocolate syrup.
(The worst part was the syrup.) Then I had to lie
on a nasty bathroom floor, in my underwear, and
have toilet water poured on my head.... Actually,
it was really fun and the movie looks fantastic.
So all the inconvenient underwear stuff was worth
it. Plus we filmed the whole thing in a music
studio and on day we were shooting Liza Minnelli
was recording there. I pretty much have no shame
so I had no problem walking around, wet, half
naked and bloody.... So, I ran into Liza on the
way to the bathroom and her face was priceless...
Do you have any
other projects or career developments you would
care to let the www.racksandrazors.com readers know about?
I would
love to tell everyone about the project I am
working on right now but I am sworn to secrecy!!!
Which sux. I have a really cool TV shows that I
am producing in development. I also have my pilot
I am waiting to hear on and a couple other
things. I am ready to get back to some horror
stuff though. The secret thing is more Sci
Fi...That's all I can say about it!!
What does it for
you horror wise Melissa - vampires, zombies,
witches, creatures, aliens, mummies, werewolves,
psychos, mad scientists, telemarketers, mimes?
What genre frightens you more than anything and
why?
I have a
love hate relationship with any good
psychological thriller. The mummies and vampires
are damn cool and I like em. But the
supernatural, other realm, afterlife stuff gets
to me. Oh and the telemarketers...They are the
best. I can't help but take everyone of those
opportunities to my full advantage. I found that
if you pretend that you are really old and you
can't hear them. It drives them crazy.
Okay - we're
pulling the car into the Melissa Bacelar Drive
In. What three horror flicks are on the triple
bill tonight and what goodies are they going to
be serving up at the concession stand?
A bottle
of Pinot Grigio and a bag of Ruffles w/ french
onion dip! As far as the movies.... 'Slither',
'Rosemary's Baby', 'The Shining'
What makes you go
psycho in real life?
Growing
up in NY I need things now. I moved to LA about 3
years ago and the people here are so F*cking
slow. I seriously can't take it. I can't stand it
when people are doing a job and they act like
they are doing you a favor when you are their
customer. Bad Drivers...Cheapness and anyone who
is cruel to animals in anyway. That is a biggie.
I will seriously stop my car and take an animal
away from someone who is abusing it. I do it all
the time. If I see any animal being neglected and
kept outside I will knock on the door and offer
to buy the animal from the owners. 90% of the
time they say yes and then I find the animal a
better home....
What frightens
you in real life?
Not
much...I try to face my fears as often as
possible. I have learned that most things that we
fear are in our minds and the more we worry about
these things the more likely they are to actually
happen. With that said.... Sharks scare the F*ck
out of me. Even right now in my computer room
with all my candles and pillows I can think about
the rows of teeth in a Great Whites mouth and
freak out. (It's all in my Mind!) |