I CALL IT MY DUNGEON LAB COMPUTER ROOM.... IT’S WHERE I DO MOST MY WORK OUT OF...HOME SWEET HOME...CABLES EVERYWHERE, 5 HARD DRIVES ON THE FLOOR, TV ON, 1 COMPUTER, CD'TAPES ALL OVER...AND ABOUT 1000 POST ITS FULL OF REMINDERS...TYPICAL SCIENTIST BACHELOR’S PEN.

You've done a lot of work with director Scott Goldberg - 'The Night They Came Back', 'The Day They Came Back', 'Dead End Massacre', the upcoming 'Danielle's Revenge', as well as the upcoming 'All I Want for Christmas'.  How exactly did you two hook up in the first place?

I MET SCOTT WHILE HE WAS STILL IN COLLEGE; I ANSWERED A CASTING CALL FOR ONE OF HIS FILMS. HE LOVED MY WORK AND BEEN WORKING WITH HIM EVER SINCE.

So tell me about your newest movie (a zombie opus) with Goldberg 'The Day They Came Back' - is it more a sequel to 'The Night They Came Back', a remake, or something different?

IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A SEQUEL TO "THE NIGHT THEY CAME BACK" BUT THE STORYLINE WAS DEVELOPED AND IT TURNED INTO SOMETHING A BIT DIFFERENT, THOUGH WE STILL CALL IT THE SEQUEL IT TOOK THE ZOMBIE THEME A BIT FURTHER,

The film looks great and your part especially looks and sounds pretty physical.  What was the toughest stunt you were asked to do for the filming?

A LOT OF THE STUNTS I DID WERE ON THE FLY... UNPLANNED... I HAVE A VERY GOOD IDEA OF WHAT LIMITATIONS ARE SO MANY OF THE STUNTS WERE MY IDEAS AS WE WERE GOING THRU DIFFERENT AREAS.... ALTHOUGH THERE WERE SOME STUNTS WHERE I TOOK DIRECT HITS TO THE CHEST KNOCKING THE WIND OUT OF ME...THESE NEVER MADE THE FILM...SO I'D HAVE TO SAY ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT STUNTS WAS "RAFAEL'S DYING SCENE" (Enrique's father), RAFAEL GETS SHOT MULTIPLE TIMES (ARM AND BACK) AND THEN BLOWN WHEN A GRENADE LANDS IN FRONT OF HIM, AFTER WHICH I ROLLED DOWN A HILL BACKWARDS INTO A FLOWING CREEK, THIS MADE A DRAMATIC SHOT.... OTHER THAN CATCHING A FEW THORNS IN THE HEAD, ARMS AND LEGS (which I got to pluck out the next day)...THE THING THAT MADE THIS SEQUENCE VERY UNCOMFORTABLE WAS THAT I WAS ALREADY WET FROM 3 PINTS OF BLOOD AND TO LAND IN THE CREEK WITH MY HEAD UP AGAINST A ROCK AND STAY DEAD UNTIL SCOTT CALLED CUT.... IT WAS ABOUT 10-20 DEGREES...I FELT LIKE A POPSICLE.... I TELL YA, WHEN SCOTT CALLED CUT...I JUMPED UP OUT OF THAT WATER LIKE A HUNTED GUINEA PIG.... SOME OF THE CREW SAID THEY WOULDN'T DO THE SHOT. OTHERS SAID THEY COULDN'T...HELL, I DID IT ONCE BEFORE ALREADY BUT IT WAS ALOT WARMER AND THE TAPE WAS DAMAGED.... THAT’S WHEN I KNEW I HAD TO DO IT AGAIN. I SPENT MANY YEARS AROUND RIVERS AND MOUNTAINS SO ONCE I TOOK THE WET CLOTHES OFF IN THE WOODS I FELT ALOT WARMER. WE GOT THE SHOT.

Why do you think filmgoers are so drawn to zombies?  What makes the undead so fricking scary?

I’VE NOTICED THAT SOME ZOMBIE MOVIES HAVE NO STORY TO IT.... AND IT’S STILL ENTERTAINING TO MANY VIEWERS...JUST LIKE EYECANDY "ZOMBIES" ARE SOMETHING YOU DON'T SEE IN REAL LIFE, IT VERY WELL FALLS INTO FICTION, SCI-FI, FANTASY AS WELL.... BUT SO CLOSE TO HOME WHERE PEOPLE RELATE TO IT...IT ALSO ADDS TO THOSE OLD SPOOK STORIES LIKE THE BOOGEYMAN, GHOSTS AND GOBLINS...UNLIKE THESE OTHER MOVIES.... ITS HARD TO LOOK AT ONE OF THESE WALKING CORPSES AND NOT IMAGINE HOW TERRIFYING IT WOULD BE TO LOOK LIKE THIS...THAT AND THE FACT THAT THE DEAD ARE SUPPOSED TO STAY DEAD JUST ADD TO THE FEAR OF "WHAT IF". UNTIL IT HAPPENS FOR REAL WE LOVE TO CALL IT FICTION, AND THAT IS SUSPENSE.

Hey, 'tis the season.  I want to hear about your twisted new Scott Goldberg flick 'All I Want for Christmas'. 

THE NEW FILM WE'RE GETTING READY TO SHOOT IS A TOTAL CONTRAST TO WHAT PEOPLE BELIEVE XMAS SHOULD BE...WE WENT THE OTHER WAY.... SINCE IT'S STILL IN DEVELOPMENT I DONT HAVE MANY DETAILS ON IT...ALL I KNOW IS THAT ITS SICK, TWISTED AND THE SICKEST PART YET IS THAT THERE IS STILL A JOLLY XMAS FOR THE CHARACTERS IN THIS MOVIE AFTER ALL.

Do you think it will be disturbing, therapeutic, or just another role to play a rapist Santa so soon after the holidays?

NOT AT ALL.... THE HOLIDAYS ARE JUST A STATE OF MIND .... THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE THAT STATE OF MIND TO CELEBRATE ANYTHING.... WE SOMETIMES CELEBRATE JUST BEING ALIVE.... I AM VERY SERIOUS ABOUT MY ACTING AND SHOOTING DATES LANDING ON OR AROUND THE HOLIDAYS HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT...IF I AM AROUND AND AVAILALBLE AND TAKE THE ROLE I'LL DO IT.... THOSE THAT BELIEVE IT WOULD BE DISTURBING ARE THE SAME PEOPLE THAT WON'T DARE SHOOT IN A CEMETARY ON HALLOWEEN LIKE I PLANNED.... BUT MOST LIKELY WILL BE THE SAME TO RENT OUR MOVIES AND WE NEED THAT FANBASE, AFTER ALL WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARS IT'S ALL FUN AND MAKE-BELIEVE...THIS FILM-MAKINF BUSINESS IS ALSO A HARD JOB, AND LIKE ACTING ITSELF IT'S A LOT MORE COMPLICATED THAN IT SEEMS, BUT I LOVE THE CHALLENGE AND THE PROCESS OF IT.

Tell me about your role in the upcoming Scott Goldberg movie - 'Danielle's Revenge'.  It sounds awesome.  The cast includes some great folks in that like Felissa Rose and Paul Kratka (your costar from 'The Day They Came Back'). 

OH YEAH, IM LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS ONE...MY CHARACTER IS STILL IN DEVELOPMENT...BUT IM BEING TOLD THAT HE IS A SICK PUPPY...SINCE THAT IS STILL A WAYS AHEAD I HAVEN'T ASKED FOR DETAILS ON THE CHARACTER...BUT THERE IS TALK ABOUT EXPANDING MY ROLE. I'M EQUALLY EXCITED TO PERFORM ALONG SIDE PAUL AGAIN. AND MEET FOR THE FIRST TIME FELICIA ROSE AND THE OTHERS...

I also want to hear all about your work in 'PDA Massacre'.  What was it like working for a Troma production?

WHEN I GOT CASTED FOR PDA MASSACRE I DID NOT KNOW AT THE TIME THAT IT WOULD BE A TROMA RELEASE. I DIDN'T EVEN AUDITION FOR TROMA --. HONESTLY I DIDN’T KNOW TOO MUCH ABOUT TROMA AND DIDNT REALLY CARE...AI WAS JUST EXCITED TO AUDITION FOR A ROLE WHERE I WOULD GRUESOMELY DIE...THAT WAS MY AUDITION...I DIED IN THE LIVING ROOM AND OF COURSE KNOCKED DOWN SOME THINGS INCLUDING A COATRACK, FORTUNATELY I DIDNT CAUSE ANY REAL DAMAGE, EXCEPT THAT I GOT THE ROLE...LATER I FOUND OUT DEBBIE ROCHON'S WAS IN THE FILM, THAT WAS VERY EXCITING. AS FOR TROMA, IT IS WHAT IT IS AND NOTHING HAS COME OF IT...EXCEPT ANOTHER NOTCH ON MY RESUME, WHICH I'M STILL GRATEFUL FOR.

Were you always a fan of horror even as a kid, did it develop later, or were horror flicks something you just sort of starting doing when the opportunity arose? 

THE VERY FIRST HORROR FILM I SAW WAS "NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD" THAT FREAKED ME OUT BUT NEVER THOUGHT I'D BE DOING A FILM LIKE IT...AS A KID I WAS ALWAYS PLAYING COPS AND ROBBERS...ALWAYS LOVED ACTION BUT HAD NO IDEA ABOUT FILMS. THIS IS SOMETHING I FOUND OUT ON MY OWN, I BOUNCED FROM THEATER TO MUSIC AND EVENTUALLY INTO FILM.... AS THE YEARS PASSED I SEEKED OUT MORE AND MORE DRAMATIC ROLES AND DISCOVERED MORE ZOMBIE, ACTION, GOREY PROJECTS AND ULTIMATELY HOW MY STUNTS COULD BE INCORPORATED INTO THESE PROJECTS....

You are also a fairly well known Latin recording artist.  Which gives you the greatest pleasure performing music or acting? 

ANYTHING I GET A CHANCE TO PERFORM ...MUSIC AND SONGWRITING HAVE ALWAYS BEEN MY FIRST LOVE.... BUT AFTER HAVING DISCOVERED THE WORLD OF ACTING IT IS EQUALLY REWARDING... LET'S JUST SAY IT'S A DIFFERENT FEELING ALL TOGETHER WHEN I'M SINGING OR WRITING. BUT WHEN IM PERFORMING FOR A MUSICAL GROUP...IT IS VERY MUCH LIKE THEATER, THERE IS A DEGREE OF ACTING AND ENTERTAINING THAT GOES ON.... ALL IN ALL...WHEN YOU HAVE FUN

Somewhat going along with the previous question.  You perform music live as well as record...and you appear on stage and in films.  What are the pros and cons of live vs. taped performance whether it's music or acting?

WELL, I'M PRETTY MUCH OLD SCHOOL AND A TRUE BELIEVER IN THAT THE SHOW MUST GO ON...NOWADAYS WE RELY TO MUCH ON TECHNOLOGY.... AS I MENTIONED BEING A PACKAGE DEAL.... I’M A BIT OF BOTH.... BUT ALWAYS FALL BACK ON OL' SCHOOL TECHNIQUES.... WHEN U SING LIVE ITS ALL REAL...WHETHER URE COUGHING UP CROWS -- LOL.... OR RAPPING IN FRENCH...IT'S A ONE SHOT DEAL...WHEN U RECORD YOU HAVE THE OPTION OF DOING IT MANY WAYS..BUT ITS ALSO PREMIDITATED AND THAT TAKES AWAY FROM THE EMOTION AT THAT MOMENT.... WHEN YOU LEARN TO PERFORM LIVE IN THE STUDIO THAT'S WHEN IT ALL COMES TOGETHER. I RELY HEAVY ON MY IMPROV AND ADLIBBING WHICH SEEMS TO COME NATURALLY TO ME, TO GET ME OUT OF SITUATIONS THAT ARE TOO TEHNICAL AND BECOME MONOTONE AND BORING. ALTHOUGH BEING A LIVE ENTERTAINER IS A GRIPPING SIGHT TO SEE AND BEING A PROFESSIONAL RECORDING ARTIST IS EXTREMELY REWARDING IN COMMERCE...I WOULDN'T BE ONE WITHOUT THE OTHER...THEATRE IS TO SINGING LIVE...AS FILM IS TO RECORDING.... WHEN YOU'RE DONE IN THE STUDIO YOU MUST NOW BE READY TO PROMOTE WHAT YOU JUST DID....I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES WE GOTTEN STRIPPED OF THE TRACKS AND CORNERED IN A RADIO STATION TO SING LIVE OVER THE MICS FOR THE FANS...I'M ALWAYS READY FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS...BUT THE FACES OF THOSE IN THE GROUP THAT WEREN'T.....SAME GOES FOR A FILM ACTOR VS. A THEATRE ACTOR...THERE ARE PROS AND CONS IN BOTH...BUT THE BEST PERFORMERS ARE THOSE THAT HAVE A BIT OF BOTH.... I THRIVE TO BE JUST THAT.

You've done a lot of work in various films including 'The Manchurian Candidate' with Meryl Streep and Denzel Washington, you've appeared on 'Saturday Night Live' as well as NBC's 'Law and Order', done voice-over work, there's your music, and you have an impressive list of stage credits too.  It's a very impressive resume.  What stands out for you as being the proudest moment of your career?

SOME OF MY HIGHLIGHTS WOULD HAVE TO INCLUDE...SNL. JAPAN TV, TLC'S JUNKYARD WARS.... ONLY CAUSE THEY ARE SHOWS THAT ARE SEEN BY MILLIONS...IRONICALLY THEY ARE TV SHOWS.... AS FAR AS FILM.... A COMPILATION OF MANY PROJECTS HAVE HELPED ME GAIN EXPERIENCE WHICH IS WHAT IM MOST PRODU OF...THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE. WHEN I LANDED SNL IT WAS A DREAM COME TRUE.... NOW, I'LL HAVE TO GO BACK AND HOST THAT MOTHA SOME DAY...LOL

Is there some brass ring you are going for as a performer?  Something you really have been focusing on this entire time in your performing career?

OF COURSE THE EPITOME OF IT ALL WOULD BE, A GRAMMY OR AN EMMY.... BUT I'LL SETTLE FOR A FEW GOOD FILMS OUT THERE REFLECTING AWESOME WORK...AND YES, PART OF THE PATH I'M SEEKING IS TO ESTABLISH MYSELF AS A SOUGHT OUT CHARACTER ACTOR...BUT I CANNOT HELP BEING A PACKAGE DEAL. I AM IN THE STUDIO. SO THE ULTIMATE ANSWER TO THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE...."TO BE THE MOST COMPLETE ARTIST I CAN BE"

Is there anything else pending you would like to plug, promote, or tell www.racksandrazors.com readers about?

OTHER THAN A FEW PROJECTS I'M WORKING IN MUSICALLY AND IN FILM.... I’D LIKE TO THANK ALL THE FANS OUT THERE THAT STAY TUNED...WITHOUT YOU GUYS WE ARE NOTHING. I APPRECIATE THOSE THAT APPRECIATE AND RECOGNIZE OUR WORK AND UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE...THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT...THANKS TO RACKS AND RAZORS.

You also have some experience behind the camera.  Is that something you would like to explore further somewhere down the line, something you had plenty of while it lasted, or was it mainly a means to get before the camera? 

HEHE...I'VE ALWAYS BEEN IN FRONT OF AND BEHIND THE SCENES AS WELL...THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I'VE BEEN DOING FOR A LONG TIME...I HAVE MANY YEARS OF COMPUTER, GRAPHICS AND WRITING EXPERIENCE.... I DO INTEND TO WRITE AND DIRECT IN THE NEAR FUTURE. ALTHOUGH I HAVE A VERY KEEN EYE FOR DIRECTING...IM TRYING TO LEARN AS MUCH AS I CAN AND HAVE A FEW IDEAS FOR SOME FEATURES...BUT IT ALL REQUIRES TIME TO GET THEM DONE THE RIGHT WAY ... IN DUE TIME.

So what does it for you Chiko and why --- zombies, vampires, werewolves, ghosts, witches, voodoo, psychos, creatures, aliens, etc?

I WOULD LOVE TO DO A PIECE ON ALIENS...WHY?? ...ALREADY DONE ZOMBIE FLIKS...I TURN INTO A VAMPIRE AT LEAST ONCE EVRY 3 MONTHS AT MIDNITE, I SEE GHOSTS ALL THE TIME, MY EX'S MOM WAS A REAL LIFE WITCH, VOODOO DOES EXIST, I AM A PSYCHO AND WE'RE ALL GOD'S CREATURES...LOL...ALIENS ARE OUR NEXT OF KIN! AND I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT MY COUSINS FROM SOUTH AMERICA! 

Okay we are pulling the car into the Chiko Mendez 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?

HMM...I THINK INSTEAD OF 3 FLIKS.... I’D POST A TRIPLE FEATURE...HOW'S THIS.... 3 MILITARY ZOMBIES HIJACK A SPACESHIP TO START A NEW POPULATION!!! IT OFFERS THE GORE OF ZOMBIES, MILITARY ACTION & COMBAT AND A CHANCE TO BREED WITH ALIEN LIFE.... FORGET THE POPCORN...WITH THIS YOUR CORNS WILL POP..........LOL

What scares you in real life?

FALLING OUT OF A 747 WITH NO PARACHUTE!!!!!