|
First
off, when did you start working as a professional
"real bearded" Santa?
I began appearing
as Santa for friends and certain businesses over
25 years ago. But it wasn't until about 2002 that
I created the website that evolved into
GenuineSanta,com and began spending my Christmas
seasons as "the man in the red suit"
consistently. Now, I appear in media, in parades,
and in various other events, as Santa.
You played
Santa Claus in last year's horror flick 'The
Box' with Cameron Diaz. Why don't
you tell me a bit about that experience?
It was a
wonderful experience! It was actually filmed
during the Christmas season and every time I put
on the suit, people treated me with warmth and
regard. One location, in particular, had a lot of
children in the shoot: I arrived at the
background holding area with my suit in a large
duffle. After checking in, I proceeded to an area
where I could put on my suit and as I got ready,
I saw parents and children watching me. After I
was dressed, someone asked if he could get a
picture of me with his daughters. Then a couple
more asked. On the following day, after I got
dressed, I learned that almost everyone had
brought cameras so that they could get their
pictures taken with me! It was like a day at the
mall, as children and adults alike queued up to
get their photos taken. There were several other
"magical" moments on that film project
that I'll never forget. Of course, I also met,
and briefly spoke with, Cameron Diaz -- a real
treat in itself! It was a love scene, I'll never
forget! Oh wait -- that only happened in *my*
recollection!
So what is the
craziest thing that has ever happened to you as
Santa Claus?
I have so
many wonderful stories from my experiences as
Santa -- and many of them are quite enchanting.
But the craziest experiences come from my times
at horror conventions. During one visit to Cinema
Wasteland, in the Cleveland area, Brenna Roth
asked me to don my Santa suit so that she could
film some "virtual Christmas cards".
Afterward, I walked around the dealers' room
wearing the suit and many there asked to get
snapshots with me. At subsequent
"Wasteland" visits, I would put on my
Santa bib overalls and boots and put in my black
sclera lenses and many of the "Wasteland
partiers' would ask me to pose with them -- some,
quite provocatively! Last year, one fellow even
asked to "motorboat" his girlfriend
while he snapped a photo. Occasionally, one of
these photos gets "leaked" out onto the
web.
You've also
recently starred as Hillbilly Bob in 'Hillbilly
Bob Zombie' with Brenna Roth and
Lloyd Kaufman. Give me a little teaser about the
movie that will make it irresistible to the
readers.
Hell,
just an opportunity to see my scantily-clad
daughter, Bobby Sue (played by Danielle Webster)
should be reason enough but since you asked....
"Hillbilly Bob Zombie" was Ray Basham's
first movie and there are a number of filming and
continuity issues in it. But Ray knew that he
would make some mistakes but at least had the
balls to do it, anyway. And he wanted the movie
to be a disgusting, distasteful, zombie spoof. In
doing so, some of the "ooops" moment
contribute to the hilarity of the movie. For
instance, at one point, I threw open the door and
it's very obvious that there is no wall behind me
-- but that simple oversight drew big laughs from
the audience. That movie pokes fun at everyone
and is an equal opportunity offender -- nothing
is off limits! But no matter how disgusting the
content, Ray still left out a particular bit of
footage where I was in bed with Brenna Roth, At
one point, while I was getting out of bed, my
"walnuts" made their own appearance!
While Ray joked that I had already signed the
release, he spared the viewer that sight! For
your readers who haven't seen the video, it can
be purchased online at either http://hillbillybobzombie.com or on my site at http://actorsal.com . By the way, did
I mention that I got to sleep with Brenna Roth?
I also want to
hear a bit about your recently completed horror
project 'Wicked Business'.
Anything in particular you would care to share?
I played
"Grandpa" in that suspense thriller. It
was the most professionally ran Independent film
set that I was ever on. I also met a great many
actors and actresses from mid-Ohio that I
consider good friends. It's also where I met Ray
Basham, who played a homeless man in that film.
In addition
you have also been in a few more horror pics like
'Seepage' and 'Abe's
Tomb' as well as non-genre films
like 'I Am Legend'.
What is the wildest, scariest, or strangest that
has ever happened to you on a film set?
"Seepage"
was later renamed "Creature from the
Hillbilly Lagoon" and was my second Richard
Griffin film. It was Richard's film,
"Feeding the Masses" that started my
feature film career. It's also where I met
actress Nikky Irene. In that movie, I performed
as three different zombies, and as Dr Scott
Shannon, the scientist TV commentator on the
growing zombie problem. In "Seepage", I
had the role of Buford. The night before we were
to shoot my scenes, I drove the entire night from
south-central Ohio to Connecticut for the shoot.
When I got to the location, I was pretty tired
and had to learn some new lines. there was one
particular line that i just could not recall, for
some reason. But it was a fun shoot that lasted
all night long and I finally got to bed at
daybreak before continuing on to Boston to do a
stand-up gig, that evening. I have the utmost
respect and hope for Richard and have enjoyed
each acting project with him. I hope to work with
him again, someday. My appearance in "Abe's
Tomb" came about from my previous
experiences with Ray Basham and Nikki Irene. When
I met Carl Merritt, at his casting call, he gave
me the role of Ted Williams without an audition,
because of what these two actors -- close friends
of his -- had told him about me and my acting
ability. And when I think of "I Am
Legend", the first thing that I recall is
how cold it was! I was a part of the big NYC
evacuation crowd that was filmed in January at
the base of the Brooklyn Bridge. Those scenes
were shot over a period of six nights and it was
very cold. But, on that set, I was really
impressed with Will Smith, the actor. On a very
cold night, there was a problem with his mic, and
the director asked him for a sound check. Will
Smith began a five-minute rap about everyone
being out there and freezing their butts off.
Do you have
any other projects lined up you would like to let
the racksandrazors.com readers know about?
Well, I
am really proud of a movie titled
"Hooked" that's currently in post
production. I've seen most of the footage and it
is absolutely great! I play the role of a crusty
ol' fishing boat captain -- Captain DeBarko. I am
hoping to have a copy to take with me for some of
the horror festivals that I'll be attending this
year. I am also scheduled for a New Hampshire
film project with my friends, Michael Berryman
and Nicole Kruex, this year. Other actors that
will be in it include Brandon Quintin Adams,
Cindy Morgan, Bill Moseley, and Lloyd Kaufman. It
is a Matthew Dunont project and I can hardly wait
to get started filming. I have also formed
Laughing Zombie Productions, to produce
feature-length films and am producing my first
film, "Next Door". I have worked with
Andy Sawyer, an award-winning director and
editor. Andy co-wrote the screenplay with Allison
Lahikainen and the cast includes Christina
Rondano, Nicole Kruex and Lynn Lowry. I will also
be making some appearances this year as a guest
at the Dark Woods Horror Convention (Pikeville,
Ky) and Cinema Wasteland (Strongville, OH). My
manager, John Campanello, is working to schedule
appearances at other horror conventions, this
year.
You are also
the current Commander (President) of Starfleet,
the International Star Trek Fan Association. Why
don't you tell me a bit about the group and your
duties as President?
I have
been a member of STARFLEET, the International
Star Trek Fan Association, Inc, for just over 18
years, now, and I am currently in my third year
of a three year term as the STARFLEET Commander.
STARFLEET is incorporated as a non-profit social
organization comprised of over 4000 members
world-wide. Many of my closest friends were met
through STARFLEET activities. As a fan club,
STARFLEET provides opportunities for fans to
organize for group activities and opportunities
afforded large groups. Many of our members meet
together for community service, to hold
conventions and conferences, and to celebrate
their fandom. Others get together through various
online venues and create virtual experiences
through chat channels and gaming. We have members
from all walks of life: doctors, nurses,
attorneys, school teachers, police officers,
scientists, truck drivers, accountants, actors,
retirees and students -- the list goes on and on.
In more common terms, I am the President and
Chairman of the Board of Directors. It is a very
demanding job, at times, and there's no pay but
the rewards are great if you want to see them. If
anyone here is interested in learning more about
STARFLEET, check out our website at http://sfi.org.
Do you have a
favorite Trek episode or movie?
A
favorite, no. I really have enjoyed most of the
episodes and movies that I've seen. I was really
impressed with the latest movie, though, and I do
look forward to the next.
Vampires,
werewolves, zombies, witches, creatures, aliens,
Santas, telemarketers...what does it for you
horrorwise Sal and why?
I am
really fond of zombie films. Other than the idea
of re-animated dead, there are many variations
out there. Some crave all living flesh while
others seem to only want brains. Some move very
stiffly while some run and jump, some speak while
most don't. And the make up is so diverse. Anyone
can be a zombie and most films need a lot of
them! After that, I like vampire movies. I was
thinking the other day that I would like to do a
horror film involving IRS agents -- that would be
great!
What was the
first movie to scare the shit out of you?
I think I
was 8 or 9 years old. I was living in
Indianapolis and was watching "Nightmare
Theater". The movie was "The Screaming
Skull" and while I don't remember anything
else about the movie, I know if really scared me.
Fortunately, my sixteen-year-old baby-sitter let
me crawl under the covers with her and she hugged
me tightly. It was the first time I ever felt
"boobies" and that fascination replaced
the fear, if I recall correctly.
And what was
the last horror movie you saw that seriously
annoyed you?
I can't
say without pissing someone off.
Okay, we're
pulling into the Sal Lizard Drive In. What three
horror flicks are on the triple bill for >
tonight and what goodies are they going to be
serving up at the concession stand?
Well, I'd
have to show "Hillbilly Bob Zombie",
first. It's funny and I'm in it. Next would be
something like "Wrong Turn 2: Dead
End", I loved all the chopping, and dicing
-- the gore! And it had the elements of being a
cooking show, so there might be some ideas there
for some culinary cannibals. But I would have to
include "Night of the Living Dead" as
it was the original zombie film! I don't think
about food at the drive-ins. I usually focused on
the film or who was sitting next to me.
And your
favorite horror flick death scene?
Is
"Lifeforce" a horror flick? I really
liked Patrick Stewart's death scene in it -- with
all of his bodily fluids leaving the body and
collecting as a "stew of goo" on the
ceiling? Actually, I really like the scene in
Wrong Turn 2 where the actress gets killed. As we
see one of the brothers raise a long-bladed axe,
the camera shifts to a point behind her ankles
(looking through her legs). We see the splash of
her blood and then both legs as they fall away
from each other -- her body "cleaved in
twain".
What's the
best Halloween costume you ever had?
I dressed
as "The Grim Reaper" when I was in my
20's and working as an autopsy assistant at a
hospital in Indianapolis. To make it as real as
possible, I shaved of my moustache and beard and
wore a latex "skinhead" cap. Also
fashioned exterior teeth for outside my lips and
had a robe made for me. After visiting several
Halloween parties, I stopped by the hospital and
upon hearing of a death; I went down to the
morgue and greeted the orderly when he brought
the body to the morgue. I knew that this guy was
"creeped out" by dead people but I
didn't expect him to leave the hospital, never to
return.
What scares
you in real life?
The IRS |
|