JUDY CERDA IS COMING SOON TO A THEATER NEAR YOU! by Owen Keehnen

Actress/singer Judy Cerda was born on New Year's Day so you can best believe that when 2010 rolled around the enterprising young performer made some New Year's as well as birthday decisions about her coming year. Given her level of determination, don't be surprised if those things (and more) come to pass.

Judy has been making an impact in commercials and in smaller feature films as well as shorts for the past few years. The talented blonde's movie credits include the horror-comedy 'Tele-Zombie' with Brinke Stevens, the forthcoming Halloween fairy tale 'Curse of the Smoke O' Lantern' , 'The Sorcerer' , the new film 'California Tango' , 'The Snake' with Margaret Cho, 'Spyware' , 'The Bailout' , 'Slapdash' , and the upcoming women in horror documentary 'Welcome to My Darkside' to name just a few.

So sit back and enjoy getting to know her a bit better in this exclusive racksandrazors.com interview.


 

 
Judy, did you make any New Year's resolutions for 2010?

Yes, I did. My New Year's resolutions are to travel more, to speak up more when I need to, to land some roles in major motion picture movies and get into SAG and to land a national commercial.

I want to hear about the film you just finished making, 'Curse of the Smoke O' Lantern'. That is described as a Halloween fairy tale which sounds very intriguing. Would you care to elaborate?

Yes, 'Curse of the Smoke O'Lantern' was a fun movie for me as I played three different roles in it. I played a hostess named Veronica at a "killer" party, a ghost of a woman named Mrs. Waters, and a band singer. I also sung the theme songs and band songs in it. It is still being edited but I look forward to it being released soon. One of the weekends of filming this included being there all night and sleeping until we were called to film our respective scenes. You can bet I slept good after that.

You were also in 'Tele-Zombie' with Brinke Stevens. Can you give me a teaser for that movie that is going to make it irresistible to all the racksandrazors.com readers?

Let's see... you can watch one of my scenes from it on the internet to see what can happen in a hair salon as I played Hazel, the hairdresser. As for a teaser, I'd say you'll find the whole movie interesting and suspenseful with many creative ways to die in it.

I also want to hear something about your movie 'Spyware'.

As for my movie 'Spyware' , this is an incredibly suspenseful and thrilling movie. I played the fun loving, spunky Karen Carter trying to help her friend who is being stalked. It's a real modern day stalker movie as it involves stalking through the computer, hence the name "Spyware". This movie already played several times at the Platinum Theatre in Gilroy and will be sure to get distributed around. The audience really seemed to love it and found it intriguing. It is also educational about software I might add.

You were also interviewed in Reyna Young's Women in Horror documentary 'Welcome to My Darkside'. What were the main things you wanted to convey during your interview?

I guess I'd like to convey that I'm an actress who really loves thriller and horror movies. I am always open to discussing new roles with directors for these types of films as well as comedies and dramas. I am open for new projects and love to keep busy in this fulfilling business.

Do you have any other projects lined up you would like to let the racksandrazors.com readers know about?

Well I've been cast in a few films but they are in preproduction right now, I will be doing a horror video very soon for the same director from 'Curse of the Smoke O'Lantern' , and I am currently working on a voice over project for a corporate film. I will be appearing as a guest in Last Doorway Productions Horror event on February 27th in San Francisco. That will be a fun event that horror fans should definitely attend.

You've been in a lot of movies, TV shows, the stage, etc. What is the most frightening thing that has ever happened to you while performing?

About frightening things that have happened to me when filming? When I was filming 'Curse of the Smoke O'Lantern' as the band singer, we were in a garage with electrical wires hooked up for the band instruments and camera equipment of course, and somehow a big jug of water got knocked over. I was pretty frightened about puddles of water being around the electrical equipment and the three of us in the garage surrounded by it all. It turned out okay though; it was just scary as water and electricity in the same room do not mix. I was worried about a big electrical shock and explosion!

Vampires, werewolves, zombies, witches, creatures, aliens, telemarketers...what does it for you horrorwise Judy and why?

I'd have to say both vampires and zombies scare me. Zombies because they are creepy looking and vampires because they bite! I would run from either one (except for maybe the good looking vampire lead in New Moon - I'd probably let him catch me). I have a vivid imagination so I enjoy seeing really suspenseful movies and not just gore and violence. It's not easy to scare me at the movies though as I have been in so many and seen so many horror films.

What was the first movie to scare the shit out of you?

The first movie to scare me? That happened when I was a little girl and went to a drive in movie with my parents. It was called 'Night of the Living Dead'. Seeing all those dead bodies come to life really terrified me especially since I knew my neighbor's grandmother had died recently and was afraid she would come knocking on my window at night.

And what was the last horror movie you saw that really annoyed you?

That really annoyed me? I can't think of one that has annoyed me. Sometimes I think they are shot too dark though and hard to see on the screen. That's the fault of the lighting crew.

Okay, we're pulling into the Judy Cerda 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?

Those movies would be 'Last House on the Left' (really intriguing and thrilling movie with a good ending), 'The Lovely Bones' , and 'The Orphan' . The concession stand would have to include my favorite snack which is red licorice vines.

And your favorite horror flick death scene?

My favorite horror flick death scene was the one in 'The Orphan' where the mother drowned the evil child in the lake after a big fight and said "I'm not your mommy!"

What's the best Halloween costume you ever had?

My best Halloween costume had nothing to do with horror; I never dress up in horror costumes, I'm more often the victim or the powerful, sexy woman in the horror flicks rather than the horrific being, so my best costume was the dancer costume with a pink satin skirt and black glittery top and hat. I used to dance in shows and this was one of my dance costumes that I also used for

Thanks Judy, and all the best to you in both life and career.