Brian: Who/what were your first
performance influences - A showing of Snow White
in the first grade - Heather Locklear riling up
the party on 'Melrose Place' -
Sue Storm?
April: I think that the first time I thought, "Hey,
I wanna be in movies" was probably when I
saw the childlike empress in 'The Never
Ending Story'. I thought she was so
beautiful. Today I really admire the works of
actors like Meryl Streep and Robin Williams.
Brian:
Speaking of Streep-like abilities, is there a
particular effect that you aim to achieve with
each performance?
April:
I don't really think too much about the end
result as much as I think about whom the
character I'm playing is, how they are unique and
what makes them tick. Every character is
different. I always want the audience to enjoy my
performance though.
Brian:
You've had some pretty heavy movie experiences.
How does it feel to play a drug addict's
girlfriend ('Marvin') or to
portray a ritual murder victim ('Chosen')?
April:
I felt like a drug addict. I felt like a victim.
I think for any role I've drawn on my own life
experience. I may not have been a drug addict,
but I think we all know on some level how it
feels to be addicted to something and need it, or
to love someone who is. As far as being a murder
victim, that's just fun. I'm good at being scared
and screaming it seems. Bottom line is that no
matter what role I'm playing I try to live in the
moment as I'm acting so that I react and feel
like my character.
Brian:
Cool. When you first read the script of 'Dead
Meat' (which ultimately became
'Andre the Butcher') did you immediately
scratch your head and think "What the
hell?" or did you automatically see its
potential as a horror with comedic elements?
April: Oh
my, gosh, this is a good question! I loved it! I
read it and thought, "Brilliant! This will
so get distribution." Then I just had to
convince the director to cast me, which of
course, he did. The director, Phil Cruz and I are
still good friends.
Brian:
Referencing friends, how closely did you bond
with your fellow cheerleaders in 'Andre
the Butcher'?
April: Oh,
you know, she's my girlfriend now. (Editor- IE:
Heather Joy Budner who played 'Cookie',
Billingsley's Sapphic playmate in 'Andre'.)
LOL, I'm just kidding. I think anytime you do a
film your fellow cast and crew really become your
family. So we got pretty close I suppose.
Brian:
Were there any impromptu cheerleading training
sessions to get everyone up to speed?
April:
We didn't really do much actual cheering. The
main thing for me was getting the fighting stuff
down. I trained for a few months before the film
to get up to speed and back in shape.
Brian:
You did do a lot of combat and running around in 'Andre'.
What was the most physically draining aspect of
the shoot for you?
April:
I would have to say all the running around and
combat was fun! I think the crew had it a lot
rougher than me! It kept raining in the middle of
the day so they had to keep moving all those
really big heavy lights a lot more than usual.
Plus it was really hot and they were working
really long hours. I did my best to keep them in
good spirits when I was around.
Brian:
All right - it's the question that begs to be
asked. What was it like to work with Ron Jeremy
as 'Andre'? I understand he was
only the set for a few days.
April:
He was really respectful! I guess it makes sense.
You wouldn't make it in porn unless you were
respectful. LOL. He's a very nice, very horny
guy. He kept trying to get the girls on the set
to flash him. A few of them did.
Brian:
Oh, the powers of persuasion! - If you could
create the perfect project for yourself
(including character and plotline) what would
that production entail?
April:
I can and am creating a project for myself as we
speak. Let see, though- if I could create a
project with a really big budget I'd definitely
be a superhero. I'd be the bad-ass super chick
that saved the world from an evil threat or
something like that.... Ooo, I just had a
thought. I could be Wonder Woman in the movie!
Brian:
I'd buy that! - Lastly, any upcoming projects or
words of wisdom (IE: When combating an emissary
of Satan, make sure your male hero counterpart
has consumed plenty of water) that you'd like to
leave us with? And thanks for doing this! It's
been swell!
April:
I'll be acting in Phil's next film, currently
untitled, and also in a project of my own, also
untitled. I'm out in LA auditioning right now, so
maybe I'll book something else too! Check my
website for updates, www.aprilbillingsley.com . And girls, if you ever
run into Ron Jeremy and he wants to give you a
back massage, let him. Thanks! |