Actress Interview:

Cardinal Rules: Talking With Actress Tara Cardinal

Okay Tara, it's the day before Halloween, what are you dressing up as this year?

I've been dressed up all month. I'm taking a day off! I was a dead civil war bride last week, a sexy flight attendant (Ghostflight promo at scream fest) the weekend before that, and the Red Reaper the weekend before that. I'm declaring a holiday from corsets!!

So tell me about your work as Bibi in 'Delivery' which I am told is sort of old school 80s horror.

I didn't do any work as Bibi in Delivery. Jose just pointed a camera at me and said "Do what you did in rehearsal". :) Bibi is a dorky, artist type who at first feels sorry for Monty and then really falls for him. The pressing needs of her family (parents are dead, she and her older abusive brother are taking care of their ungrateful younger brother) cause her to break up with Monty. The character of Bibi is very much the catalyst for the premise of the film.

Do you agree. Do you see 'Delivery' as fitting in that older horror genre and if so in what way?

It's certainly light on the cgi special effects. More of the work is in camera, which I prefer. The story is good. Some of it is spelled out for the audience, but there are huge chunks that you actually have to think about it.

Congrats too, I've read it's just been picked up by > Warner Brothers. Any additional news on that front?

New artwork, and rumor has it there should be some special features. I'm hoping the blooper reel makes it in. We had some VERY funny moments on set, as well as spontaneous dancing (for which I am completely to blame). I made Matt laugh at all the wrong times (durring the kiss, and when I had the monologe about my parents death - which is MUCH longer in the original version - they cut it WAYY back). I would also occasionally break into song. The dancing thing actually lead to a little scene in the film. Jose would point the camera and monitor at me and walk away. When I was dressed up in my corset and vinyl dress, I thought I looked like a doll. So I was doing my manquinn routine. Ralph, the producer, who never missed a day on set, came up with the little spot that you'll see in the movie. But it wasn't originally in the script.

Tell me about your work in the upcoming horror flick 'Ghost Flight'. What can we expect from that?

Ghostflight is in preproduction still. Matt Dean is the writer on that. We met during my audition for the Rescuers, and he's put me in every project since. Ghostflight is still looking for funding. Echelon Entertainment has sent us an offer to option. They're looking to produce it for a nice budget. I'm hoping that deal goes through. I got to meet up with Gloria Morrison, and she is just the most wonderful lady. My character, Ali, is not what you would expect for a "lead character". At first she seems incidental to the film. Quiet, a little shy, very girl next door. She rapidly becomes the only crew member alive or conscious as Ghosts tied to the plane begin to take over. Ali is faced with a choice and a sacrifice. That choice is taken through a series of future films that impact the future of the world. That's about all I can say for now. I can tell you more about "Haunted" though. Also a Dean Production Group Production, with guarenteed distribution through Echelon (and actively looking for independant funding - for all you investors out there - contact me for an investor's package). The film is about a young woman who was abused as a child. The abuser is dead, and is haunting the young woman. It's based on a true story. We've gotten a lot of support from suvivors of abuse, organizations as well as individuals. I'm staring in the film.

I've also seen a clip of you in the Dean Production Group movie 'Legend of the Red Reaper' which reminded me a little bit of Beastmaster meets Alien. Can you tell us a little about that project as well?

This is just the best film I've ever worked on. It's got a Lord of the Rings feel to it. It takes place in a world and a time that never happened. It's like a Renaissance period with demons and Reapers. Demons, angels fallen from heaven have reaked havoc on the earth until the Reapers come along. Reapers, trained from birth to fight and defend, work in families to protect humans from the demons. One night an entire family is wiped out except for one, Red (so named for the color of her hair). Red goes on a revenge rampage that devestates the demon population. And then she finds out.... Well, I can't tell you that. I can tell you that we have a STUNNING location scouted down in the Florida Keys, and a group of renactment sword fighters I'm negotiating with to do the background fighting, and train me - which I am especially looking forward to.

Tell me all about Screamfest. I always like to hear people's take on horror conventions.

I was teathered to my booth! I had several models dressed as flight attendants handing out "boarding passes" with info about the film. We also sold buttons with the Haunted artwork on them for executive producer credit in the film, and raffled two black light posters (both won by Lee Johnson, who bought $100 in raffle tickets - what a man!). Other than my booth, there were TONS of people, and vendors. The vendors were all wonderful, fun, and supportive of eachother. The people were great too. Nothing like a horror fan.

Do you have any other projects pending that you would like to tell the Racks and Razors readers about?

I'm in negotiations for a Faisal Saif Bollywood film. Keep your fingers crossed for that one. It's called Sofia, and it's a really good script. I was supposed to do two films with Landon House Productions Kevin Dolan, but he cancelled the shoot the day I got up to Maryland to start work. The whole thing was very strange. He was too embarrassed to talk to me himself, and made his poor Production Manager do all the dirty work. The whole thing cost me thousands of dollars, so it's safe to say that I won't be working with him. I'm producing a short film called "Driven" featuring Extreme Stunts Amy Tomberlin (both acting and stunt driving) and Extreme Stunts Gail Bowen (acting, producing, and stunt driving) and driving legend Bobby Ore (gone in 60 seconds, Dukes of Hazard, etc..). I'm writing, producing, and staring in the peice, and I've invited Matt Dean to direct. The premise is a brother and sister have to race eachother for the lives of their respective children who have been kidnapped. I'm working on two tv pilots. Can't say anything about either of them yet. One is about stunt driving, and the other is a health show we're pitching to a new health network to broadcast in hospitals.

You've been on stage in some pretty challenging roles -- as Blanche in 'A Streetcar Named Desire', Agnes in 'Agnes of God'...Do you intend on having a much more mainstream movie career and horror is just sort of where you are now...or is horror something you are more actively pursuing. What's the career game plan I guess is what I'm asking?

I'm taking the long route to Hollywood. My career plan is to act and produce in meaningful and entertaining peices with social impact. In my spare time I'm a human rights activist. I also have a degree in psychology.

Do you recall the first movie to scare the shit out of you?

Poltergist. My babysitter let me watch it when I was 4.

Okay we're pulling the car into the Tara Cardinal Drive In. What three horror flicks are on the triple bill and what goodies are they going to be serving up at the concession stand?

An American Haunting (can I just tell you that I LOVE Courtney Soloman, and my dream is to co-produce a horror film with him) Delivery after I've reshot ALL of my scenes Legend of the Red Reaper - after I'm done shooting it. Now serving sparkling water (carry over from my film Genius), twizlers, and caramel corn with no milk.

Vampires, werewolves, psychos, witches, aliens, creatures, zombies, telemarketers...which one does it for you horrorwise Tara and why?

Psychos. I had my own stalking experience. A real freak. He killed kittens and left them on my front steps like some kind of sick offering. I have this Carrie type fantasy that I'm eventually going to make into a movie where I find out who the guy is. The rest of the movie is what I do to him.

What is the closest you have ever come to having a supernatural experience?

The mansion me and my crew stayed at for the Haunted film, was ironically, haunted. One room in particular still harbors the ghost of the original owner. Turns out he has a thing for pretty girls. I was in the room for all of 2 minutes before he starting... um... talking? to me. I promptly jumped into bed with Ria, my best friend, and moral support for the trip.

What makes you go psycho in real life?

Child and animal abuse.

What makes you scream in real life?

My mother. No, seriously, I'm not a screamer. I have a no screaming policy, actually. I hurt my vocal cords working for Satan. I did this show - outdoors in a park, 12 hour days, no breaks, no water on set, costumes that didn't fit, pizza for "food" doing a character that was supposed to be a guy. I developed a disorder with my vocal chords so now they don't close all the way. I have to be really careful with what I do and don't do. I was on vocal rest off and on for 2 years. They still hurt me from time to time. I can't end the interview talking about my vocal chords! I just did a photoshoot for Cerridwen Press, and one of my pictures is going to be featured on the cover of a book. They keep calling me a "cover model". It sounds so glamerous. The photoshoot was in a garage. I was posing with a very experienced cover model who was topless - I was SO nervous. The photos should be online shortly, along with a teaser trailer I did for USA today best selling author Lora Leigh. And that's all I can say about it for now... but keep checking my website, and any time you want to do a follow up, you know how to reach me! Thanks Owen! It was nice talking to you!