Director/Actor/Writer Interview:

DON'T PUT TIFFANY IN A BOX: TIFFANY APAN Is More Than A Tromette

Hey Tiffany, so did folks who knew you when you were a little girl expect you to go into acting and entertainment or is this all a big shock to them?

No, it definitely was not a big shock to any of them:D I've been dancing since I was three, had opera training beginning at age 12, and drama lessons beginning at 13. I did many plays both in school and with local theatre groups and conservatory companies. I began with having a background in musical theatre and opera. I was being taken to the ballet and the opera since a young age and it was always the highlight of my week when it happened. I also had been intrigued by old hollywood photos, movies, magazines, things like that. I was also exposed to and into all sorts of music from a very young age ranging from Led Zepplin and Pink Floyd to Johnny Cash and Patsy Cline to Michael Jackson and Cyndi Lauper. I was always locked in my room singing as a child and the idea of performing always excited me. My family and friends definatly saw it coming:P

Tell me all about your work as Janet in 'Meat for Satan's Ice Box'. I like the title. Can you give me a teaser for the movie that is going to make 'Meat for Satan's Ice Box' irresistable to the Racks and Razoirs readers?

Janet is Cindy Cavatelli's mother who works for the antagonistic group of people but then has a change of heart as she tries to save her daughter. She gets killed in front of her daughter and Cindy is later screwed up by it in life to put it mildly. It was alot of fun to shoot. The movie is EXTREMELY gory. If you like gore, this is the film for you:) The Troma King, Lloyd Kaufman, also makes a cameo appearance where he plays a unrine-drinking gynocologist:D It is probably the craziest film I've ever done and ever will do:)

And what is something that's always in your icebox?

Now, if I told you I may have to kill you.....

And speaking of great titles I've got to hear the plot synopsis of another new flick of yours 'Fetish Dolls Die Laughing' from Kiss of Death Productions.

It is a dark comedy. It is about a man possessed by the tickle monster who preys on young women trying to break into te modeling industry and the pursuit by the authorities to find him. Think Law and Order meets John Waters meets Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde meets Jack the Ripper....I don't know what else, but it is definatly in a class by itself. When I auditioned and took the part, it was simply titled,"Die Laughing." The title changed later on into filming. I believe it is coming out in the spring of 2007.

How did your role as Darlene in 'Fetish Dolls Die Laughing' come about?

I was called to come in and read for the part because they apparently were having a hard time casting the part. I guess they liked the way I read it, because they gave me the part. She is basically a young, naive, and very ditzy young girl who wants to be a model and actress. My inspiration for the part came from the character Hillary Banks from the "Fresh Prince of Bel Air," pretty much all the characters in the film, "Clueless," and last but not least Jessica Simpson in her 'tuna or chicken' phase:P I also just studied young women that were my character's age (which I think is 18) and looked at how they act and recalled how I was at 18.

Has horror always appealed to you?

YES, YES, YES!!! I was blown away by the old Vincent Price films, Alfred Hitchcock, Edgar Alan Poe, any version of "Phantom of the Opera" (and the Gaston Leroux novel), Halloween, Childs Play, Rod Serling's "Twilight Zone" and "Night Gallery," Romero, etc. From the moment I got into performing and considering it for a career,I knew that I wanted to integrate horror film into it.

What was the first movie you saw that scared the shit out of you?

That would be a toss up between Stephen King's "It" or "The Monkey's Paw."

'Windslow Asylum' is another film you are involved with that I don't know too much about, can you enlighten me a bit?

I am REALLY excited about this film. It is with Dark Wind Woods Films. We are shooting it this month into March and it will be released to DVD in September of 2007. It is a film reminiscent of Lon Chaney, Vincent Price, and Hitchcock. It is a film that covers the historical "Windslow Asylum." It takes place during the time of the White Plague when the asylums where jam packed and the plot and script is just phenomenal. They are planning on releasing it in a couple select theatres during Halloween of 2007. My character is Sadie Rae, a 16 year old patient with a very twisted story. It is sort of a 'Romeo and Juliet' in the asylum with an old horror twist to it. I will wear prosthetics that will deform my look a little...gotta love that:D

So what are the perks to being a Tromette of the Month?

There are many:) I've had the oppurtunity of doing many promotional appearances with Troma and be able to make new connections and speaking to many filmmakers and being introduced to new fans to the point to where I was being offered great projects and my own table at events and conventions. While I love and appreciate Troma and the people who work there, I wanted to branch out and do my own thing. I wanted to be careful not to get too 'comfortable' with being a Tromette and not to rely on that too much. Being a tromette and Tromette of the Month is wonderful exposure and you are surrounded by the awesome Troma team and Lloyd Kaufman is one of the greatest individuals to know. But like everything else, settling too much into a role can get you pigeon-holed especially if you are female. While I wear my Troma title with great pride, I also make it known that my career also expands to other areas of the industry as well.

I want to hear a bit about your recording career as well. I saw there was recording with three songs and the title of one was 'Ghost'. Who do you think you resemble musically?

A few have told me I sound a little like Amy Lee (of 'Evanescence') when it comes to vocals. As far as music goes, my biggest influneces are Sarah Brightman, Tarja Turunen, and Nightwish. I love the combination of opera/classical with heavy metal, world, ambient, pop, and new age. I also draw influence from Enigma, Dead Can Dance, Led Zepplin, Dream Theatre, Lacuna Coil, to only name a few.

So if you could model your career along the lines of one actress who would it be?

Actually, one of my biggest role models is a male actor; the one and only Vincent Price! This one would have to be a toss up between him and Christina Ricci. My reason for saying Vincent Price was because he was an all around 'rennaissance man.' People like that I truly admire and respect. While he was primarily known for his horror films, he also did films outside of the horror genre like the epic, "The Ten Commandments" with the likes of Charlton Heston and Yul Brynner. He also did not just stick to acting as he later introduced his talent as a gourmet chef as he wrote many cookbooks and also had a cooking show. He had this air of gothic elegance around him that is difficult to find nowadays. I also admire Christina Ricci because I have always viewed her as being a woman who is dark, edgy, sexy, and classy all at the same time. I love that she chooses projects that are not what your typical 'hot actress' would choose. She has played many quirky roles, but she still comes accross as edgy and sexy in all of them. I admire people who aren't afraid to challenge themselves, welcome variety, and take risks as artists. That is what I look for when I seek out role models. I also admire Jamie Lee Curtis, Sissy Spacek, and Helena Bonham Carter.

Do you have any other upcoming projects you would like to let the Racks and Razors readers know about?

I am set to work on a few other film projects and have some releases coming out this year. I am finishing up the film, "Revenge Sweet Revenge" with Life or Death Productions where I play an apprentice to a serial killer. I also play an assassin in the dark satire comedy, "Bitch Bond" which is a female version of James Bond. We are also shooting a promotional short film for "Bitch Bond" where I am also doing production work as well as a smaller role. I will be in a film that is being directed and produced by Robyn Griggs tentatively titled, "The Tourists." From what I understand, fans of 'The Twilight Zone' with like "The Tourists." Musically, I am at work on an album, discussing deals, and wrapping up a maxi-CD to soon be released through the Morbid Curiosity Shop as well as an original song for "Bitch Bond." I'm also a model for The Screaming Bean Cafe, Morbid Curiosity Shop, Bastards of Horror, Zombie Apparel Clothing, and I will be working with makeup artist and clothing designer, Lily Wasik. My official website is also undergoing a 'facelift' early this year. The link to that is http://www.dropdeadbeauty.com http://www.myspace.com/dropdeadbeauty2 http://www.myspace.com/tiffanyapanmusc and http://www.numberonemusic.com/tiffanyapan

Okay, we're pulling the car into the Tiffany Apan 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, each flick will be preceded by an episode of "The Twilight Zone," "Night Gallery," and "Alfred Hitchcock Presents." The three films will be "The House on Haunted Hill," "Psycho," and "Halloween." I may try and squeeze "Nosferatu" or "Cemetary Man" in there somewhere as well:) The concession stand will have typical 'movie food' (popcorn, soft pretzels, etc), some organic snacks (since I eat organic), and definatly hot cider:)

What scares you in real life?

The dark, the unknown, and clowns (still traumatized from seeing "It" as a child:P).

What makes you go psycho in real life?

I'm not sure if you mean psycho as in getting angry or as in going insane, but I know cruelty to animals, ignorance, and people who play childish high school games is on my list of things that can really make my blood boil.