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Owen & Brian: Anyone slightly aware of the horror genre is more than likely, aware of your history. You started out in 'Slumber Party Massacre', went onto 80’s classics like 'Slave Girls Beyond Infinity' and 'Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama' and your favorite role in 'Haunting Fear'. But since you work constantly, I would like to ask some questions about your more recent history. I recently saw 'Vicious' (available on MTI Video) and thought your opening scene was classic – heart pounding, fun and you looked beautiful! Any special memories of that shoot – and how long were you bound up and hanging from that tree? Was it painful – or just movie magic? Brinke: I'm such a good sport that producers love to put me through hell, just because I put up with it. I've had to tolerate 4-hour make-up sessions with elaborate head-to-toe transformations ('SKELETON KEY'). Running through cornfields in 5" high heels ('IT CAME FROM TRAFALGAR'). Drenched and laying in copious amounts of fake blood ('ONE BLOODY NIGHT'). Bound and gagged in a chair for many hours ('MARK OF THE ASTRO ZOMBIES'). It wasn't too bad on VICIOUS; director Matt Green was very considerate and I had a pleasant day in a Georgia swamp. Owen & Brian: In your over 100 films to date you have been stabbed, submerged, demonically possessed (many times) axed, poisoned, buried alive, beaten, razored, etc. Which was the most difficult to film? Brinke: The toughest SFX gag was for 'GRANDMA'S HOUSE'. My father (Len Lesser) lays me out on a table and is supposed to slit my throat. They had a really hard time getting the neck appliance to work properly -- it had to hold in the blood, and yet separate easily when he drags the dull straight razor over it. It never did look right, so you don't get to see it up close in the movie. Owen & Brian: What makes you scream in real life? Brinke: Being stuck in LA traffic. Owen & Brian: You have a nice cameo as a bartender in 'Submerged' (on Paramount), a higher budgeted fun direct-to-video effort. Even without dialogue, your reactions to the goings on are priceless! Do you find that you are still learning on movie sets –particularly just by watching veterans like Dennis Weaver – who appears in this film - work? Brinke: I have a very blue-collar attitude about acting, where I will take almost any job - no matter how big or small - just to earn a paycheck at the end of the day. It's always magical and educational to spend time on a film set, even if you aren't a key player. Fred Olen Ray (the producer of 'SUBMERGED') has especially taught me a lot about movie making, just by way of me hanging out on his sets and observing things. I plan to soon put it all to good use as a film producer myself. Owen & Brian: What have been your best and your worst filmmaking experiences to date? Brinke: I've had a good time shooting all my movies, although some are more difficult than others. Too often, young filmmakers underestimate the amount of time they need, and we end up working 16 to 20-hour days, over and over -- it's physically devastating. Sometimes other factors add to the difficulty. While XELINE represents one of my best roles to date (a black ops army agent), we also had to shoot for a week in tick-infested Missouri woods. Our Humvee ran over a rattlesnake, and we were constantly knocking big spiders off each other. Owen & Brian: I found the recent Dr Horror’s Erotic House of Idiots, which you appear, briefly, in and co-wrote, to be a pleasantly humorous delight with an amazing performance from Debbie Rochon. Do you find it difficult to co-write a project? Do you prefer to work solo in this regard or is there something about having a partner in crime that appeals to you? Brinke: For "Dr. Horror", producer Paul Scrabo gave me full reign to write the outer space vignette on my own. I think he did some embellishments on it later. Over the years, I've enjoyed some wonderful creative partnerships - which I prefer over writing alone -- such as with Jeff Tinsley on 'THE RETURNING' and Sean O'Bannon on 'DEVILS HIGHWAY'. We work best by being in the same room, tossing ideas back and forth, and then taking turns doing the typing. Owen & Brian: Speaking of writing – your story 'Jacking In' appears in 'The Hot Blood Series: Stranger By Night'. How did you become involved with the 'Hot Blood Series' and where did the idea for 'Jacking In' come from? Brinke: I've known HOT BLOOD's editor Jeff Gelb since the early 1970s. He was kind enough to invite me into his anthology series. I first wrote a Foreword for HB #5, and then the short story 'JACKING IN' for HB #6. It's a nasty little morality tale about equality (or lack of it) in relationships. I wrote it when the whole computer craze -- GCI, virtual reality, etc -- was just coming into popular awareness, so this heavily influenced my story content. Owen & Brian: You have been working quite a bit lately with writer and director, Devin Hamilton. (In the beyond fun and campy, Delta Delta Die - with Julie Strain, Birth Rite and Bleed.) Has working with Devin been akin to working with David DeCoteau in the old golden days? Brinke: Devin certainly evokes the black comedy/campy element that typified Dave DeCoteau's earlier work. Of course, his sets are always fun -- and his films always feature a lot of cute guys in their underwear! I recently shot a similar new horror film, 'OCTOBER MOON' [co-starring Judith O'Dea (Night of the Living Dead) and Jeff Dylan Graham (Dead & Rotting)]. Written and directed by Jason Paul Collum (Something To Scream About), it's a vaguely gay fatal attraction story with a nifty twist. I play the boss of an advertising agency; I live till the end credits, and I don't kill anybody... imagine that! Owen & Brian: As a powerful woman, you must find it hard to work in the 'Men’s World of Hollywood'. You have so much experience. Do you believe that people, particularly the good ol’ boys, on the movie sets fully utilize everything that you could bring to the projects that you are asked to be involved in? Brinke: In the A-list movie business, there is definitely a tremendous prejudice against women, particularly as writers, directors and producers. I fought against that glass ceiling for years and never did manage to break through it. In the B-movie industry, however, I find a lot more equality and acceptance. There are such fewer limits for women in the independent field, which is one of the main reasons I enjoy it so much. Owen & Brian: You have done so much in your career- acting, writing, dancing, painting and producing film projects. Have you ever had the desire to attempt singing as actresses such as Linnea Quigley, Ava Cadell and Debbie Rochon have? Brinke: I WISH I could sing! I'd love to croon smoky torch songs in some dimly lit club. But despite my seductive speaking voice, I can't carry a tune to save my life. However, in the late-1980s, I spent a little time in Linnea's all-girl band THE SKIRTS, playing bass. Owen & Brian: Speaking of Debbie Rochon, you have said that if anyone could take over your reign as the 'Queen of Scream Queens', it would be her. What qualities do you believe she has that could make her your rightful successor? Brinke: Debbie is probably the best thing out there right now. She's had professional training (acting lessons), which is a rarity among B-movie actors. Despite some incredible hardships in her life, she's evolved into a beautiful, loving, spiritual woman, which makes her adorable. Owen & Brian: You have been known to lend a helping hand, hire or make introductions for people you feel are worthy and full of talent. You are kind of like a female Roger Corman! What person, of all those you have assisted, are you proudest of having helped and why? Brinke: I've always felt like a very lucky girl, because I have so many wonderful friends who care about me and help my survival. In turn, I believe in karma and I give back everything I can to others. It's true that I've opened a lot of doors and gotten a lot of jobs for people: actors, writers, crew. You probably wouldn't recognize their names, just average folks trying to make it in Hollywood -- but I know it means a lot to them. |