So did you grow up with stars in your eyes in
Forest City, North Carolina? Did the people there
always know you would grow up to be an
entertainer?
As a third grader I wrote
down "actor" as the answer to the
question, "what do you want to be when you
grow up?" but as it turned out the piano is
what came naturally to me since the age of five.
I did, however, know that i wanted to entertain,
with whatever means necessary, for the rest of my
life. I didn't know it was going to be this
difficult. but what more could you expect from a
third grader? The folks back home in Forest City,
NC are very supportive of me. I have a long list
of names of the people I've promised to walk down
the red carpet with. (and some of these girls are
married now, so I dont know how I'm gonna handle
that whole situation.) what building do they hold
the Academy Awards in? Maybe I can rent that out
for everybody in Forest City.
Now you have
moved from there to Atlanta -- so is LA part of
the plan in the near future?
I came to
Atlanta to make a living as an actor and I plan
to make that happen. I'd like to start what I
call an 'empire' in the heart of Atlanta, and
just let things prosper from there. I think it's
time for me to bring my own ideas to the
entertainment industry. It's not fair for me to
keep them all to myself any longer. It's 2007! We
need to wake up people! Ya'll do! But to answer
your question, I do not plan to move to LA. but
you know how persuasion goes.
One of your
big successes in Atlanta has been starring in the
"meaty role" of Benji in 'Motor
Home Massacre'. How did that part
come about?
I showed
up to a bar one night to participate in an
audition Allen Wilbanks, director of MHM, was
holding. I was approached later to play the part
of Benji, an uptight, overdressed momma's boy to
be specific. it was easy to get into character
because those are the characteristics that make
up exactly who I am. and I'm also clean.
What was your
favorite thing about creating the character of
Benji?
I enjoyed
helping pick out the wardrobe for Benji, which
luckily for me, I was dressed in layers. It came
in handy for those long nights filming in
temperatures as low as 17 degrees. As Benji I
found myself obsessively cleaning the motorhome,
and with dozens of people trampling in and out of
there all day, it became a bit of a chore.
Can you give
us a synopsis/teaser for the movie that will make
MHM irresistable to the Racks and Razors readers?
MHM is a
throw back to the 80's horror genre filled with
skin and blood. It's one of those movies that the
more people you watch it with, the more
entertaining it is. I would say that after
viewing it, if you walk away and you weren't
entertained, then you probably didn't watch it
right.
So what is the
experience like going from the lead in a movie
like 'Motor Home Massacre'
to an extra role like your work in 'Pirates
of the Carribbean' III. What
strikes you when you go to work on a HUGE budget
movie like that?
MHM took
10 consecutive days to shoot. we worked long
hours to ensure that we made out deadline of
completing the filming. Unlike Pirates of the
Carribbean III, I had a character that I was able
to concentrate on who had lines and an arc. But
being a part of 'Pirates' was altogether a
different experience. I was able to live in
Freeport, in the Grand Bahama Islands for seven
weeks while sharing a room with another actor and
good friend of mine, MHM's very own West
Cummings. We had an amazing time with the cast
and crew and despite our busy schedules, we
managed to find time to relax on the beach,
snorkel and hunt lobster, and create back stories
for our background characters (which I like to
refer to as moving props). West became Harvey
Scars, while I took on the persona of Captain Red
Lobster. I think there was a Seymour Clamstrips
too.
Do you have
any other pending projects you would like to let
the Racks and Razors readers know about?
I'm
currently involved with a group called The Lillie
B. Ross Society. We are still in the beginning
processes but to find out more about this secret
society, visit www.lilliebross.com . ...I think
that's all I'm gonna say about that. On another
note, no pun intended, I've recently been putting
some of my original compositions online. I've
been playing the piano since age five and with
the loss of my hearing in my left ear since about
five months ago, I've really tried to increase my
productivity in the music side of my life. A few
songs can be heard at www.myspace.com/grabonya . and if you ever
get bored and just wanna surf online for some
comedy, try Bucky Higgins. He's just a local
actor I'm sponsoring.
Do you recall
the first movie you saw that scared the shit out
of you?
I don't
remember one specific film, but the collection of
Freddy Krueger, Poltergeist and Tremors always
had me hiding under the bed. and a couple
episodes of Unsolved Mysteries.
What horror
role do you think you would be born to play in a
remake - and why?
I dont
feel the horror movie I am born to remake has
been made yet. if I'm lucky, maybe I'll be cast
as the original, and then someone will get to
play me in the remake.
Okay, we're
pulling the car into the Justin Geer 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?
My
marquee would read Nightmare on Elm Street,
Scream, and Evil Dead. as far as snacks go, I'll
let you in on a secret that my friend showed me
once. All you need are two ingredients. Cinnamon
graham crackers and whip cream. Put some whip
cream in the middle of two crackers, freeze until
frozen, and then you have a homemade icecream
sandwich so good it will make you masticate for
more. And on a side note, keeping cereal in the
freezer is an amazing discovery as well!
What scares
you in real life?
Falling
and loud unexpected noises. But I think I was
born with those.
What makes you
go psycho in real life?
Being
surrounded by people who show no patience or
compassion for others. Actually, just being
surrounded by people. Crowds kinda freak me
out...a lot. |