Greg: At what age did you see yourself
as an entertainer?
Ken: Back
when we were kids, my brother, a friend and I
used to memorize and perform skits from old
comedy teams for our families. I even lied about
my age to perform in a teen talent contest doing
Lou Costellos part in Whos On
First? I was only twelve.
Greg:
Did you see yourself acting in horror
flicks?
Ken: No, I saw myself working in comedy. Acting in
horror films is great fun, but they scare the
hell out of me. Im the wuss in the back row
covering my eyes. I never went out and actively
pursued it. It just kind of happened.
Greg:
What was your first acting gig?
Ken:
My first acting gig was playing a car-stealing
creep on 'Superior Court'. I
think whats more interesting is my first
time on a movie set. I was an extra on 'The
Terminator', and it changed my
life. No one had any idea it was going to
be a great movie while it was being shot. I know
I didnt. If you look closely, Im the
bartender in the scene in the nightclub. I can
also be seen leading up to the nightclub.
Theres that moment when Sara Connor is
walking down the city street looking for a phone
and the good guy, Reese, has yet to approach her.
He comes out from a doorway and follows her but
leaves a one-person distance between them.
Im that one person -- drinking a diet coke,
I believe.
Greg:
How did you come across your film
'Creepozoids'?
Ken:
'Creepozoids' was actually an
audition for a friend of mine. Back in those
days, he and I used to crash auditions all the
time. So when I showed up with him, I asked
if I could read also. I read and got the part and
he didnt. It was quite thrilling because
that was my first film
other than being an
exta that is.
Greg:
Is it true that the director David
DeCoteau and Ellen Cabot are the same person?
Ken: I wouldnt know because Ive never been
formally introduced to Ms. Cabot.
Greg:
What experience would you like to share
with us being on the set of the film?
Ken:
As mentioned, this was my first film,
and the very first thing shot was an eating
scene. The food was canned yams, and I, wanting
to be in character, ate them heartily. I ate them
during the rehearsals, I ate them during the
scene, I ate them during other peoples
close-ups I practically ate them all! I
was stuffed. The prop guy had to tell me to slow
down or we would have run out. I didnt
realize youre not supposed to eat when the
camera is not on you; I just kept on eating. When
we wrapped the film, Linnea Quigley gave me a can
of yams signed by the whole cast. I still have it
(though its starting to leak a little after
all these years).
Greg:
Who did you enjoy working with the most?
Ken:
Linnea, Linnea, Linnea. How can you not love
Linnea Quigley?
Greg:
What memorable scene did you have doing
the film?
Ken:
Well, being naked on the set for a shower scene
with Linnea is pretty hard to forget.
And,
it wasnt even a shower! We were standing in
the middle of a room, in a plastic baby pool,
freezing our buns off alongside some piping that
was supposed to be our shower. Just out of frame
was a guy on a ladder pouring water from a
five-gallon bottle down the pipe so that it would
come out of the shower head. Voila, movie magic.
Plus, soap doesnt read on camera, so what
you see us lathered up in is really shaving
cream.
Yep,
standing naked together I had to caress Linnea
with shaving cream while kissing her. Tough job.
Unfortunately, during the scene I had to think of
everything in the world BUT that! I was
counting the lights on the freakin set!
Greg:
Was scream queen Linnea Quigley who
played Bianca in the film a lot of fun to work
with? Tell us your experience working with her.
Ken: As mentioned, I was completely new to the
business, and Linnea made me feel so comfortable
in every respect. She wasnt stuck up and
didnt have any ego or attitude; in fact it
she was just the opposite. One of the most
genuine people Ive ever met. Shes
cool.
Greg:
What about Kim McKamy who played Kate in
the film? Do you know what made her move on to
pornography? Usually its the other way
around for actors and actresses.
Ken: I remember she wouldnt take her top off for
one scene. I think its the scene where
shes sleeping or in bed or something and
she insisted on keeping her bra on. So it shocked
me to learn years later that she moved to porn.
Ive never seen one of her films. Cant
imagine it to be honest. Just proves that
shes a good actress.
Greg:
Was the flick Davids idea if a
take on those old cheesy monster films?
Ken:
I have no idea; I cant speak for
David. I always thought it was inspired by Alien.
Greg:
Now 'Creepozoids' received
a quick theatrical release. Was it shown in
theatres nationwide? If not what countries
did it show in?
Ken: I dont know the extent of the release, but
I saw 'Creepozoids' at the old
State Theatre downtown Los Angeles on a double
bill with 'Slave Girls From Beyond
Infinity'. It was a pretty funny
experience. I had forgotten my money and they
wouldnt let me in. I pointed to my name on
the poster on the wall and said hey thats
me will you please let me in. I could have
sworn she said, Have a nice day so I
said thank you and proceeded to enter the
theatre. Well, she started screaming bloody
murder, and I turned and said what is your
problem, you just said have a nice day. And she
said, No, I said dont RUIN my
day!
Luckily,
a friend showed up and paid for me to enter the
theatre. So much for my big screen
Hollywood debut.
Greg:
Did you get any good feedback from
viewers or were you interviewed in talk shows or
horror magazines like Fangoria for your role as
Butch?
Ken:
I didnt do any interviews after 'Creepozoids'
to my knowledge, but I remember seeing reviews
that werent all that positive. But you know
what, that was my first movie, and I was in a
position of doing what I love and having people
review me. It was pretty cool.
Greg:
You did a non horror flick called
'Deadly Embrace' with Linnea and it was
directed by Ellen Cabot as it was credited and
produced by David DeCoteau so maybe you will know
by that if Ellen was really David under a
different name.
Ken:
I never worked with anyone nor met
anyone named Ellen Cabot. If that's what
DeCoteau chose to put in the credits, you just
have to ask yourself why? Personally, I
dunno.
Greg: I
heard that David, you and Linnea weren't proud of
it was this true? It didn't have much of a plot
and showed alot of skin.
Ken:
The reason 'Deadly Embrace' was
disappointing was that Karen Black was orignally
supposed to play the therapist, and she
pulled out literally days before
shooting. In the end, it's just two
sets of hands, none of which are mine, and a
voiceover that I did at non-union rate as a
favor. (the movie was a union film soley because
of Karen Black, and when she pulled out I'm sure
it pissed some people off--finacially speaking
that is).
It was when I was looping the film (adding the VO
track) that I saw the words "A great cast is
worth remembering" on the screen. I
told DeCoteau that was putting salt in the
wounds. He told me it was put there as a
joke and it wouldn't be on the final
product. He lied. Or changed his mind
because I said "salt int he
wounds." He must've written that
sarcastic remark because he didn't like the
film. I only assume that because, as you
mentioned, he's not listed as
director. Instead it says Ellen
Cabot. And as I stated earlier, I never
heard of Ellen Cabot.
Greg:
What was your next horror flick after
'Creepozoids'?'
Ken:
I worked on a film that was never released
called, 'Max Blood'. Id
say of all the low-budget movies I did it was the
coolest. Stephen Quadros played the bad-ass
leader of a bunch of punks that kill someone, and
hes later brought back from the dead. I
worked on that at the same time I had a small
part in 'Hobgoblins'. 'Max
Blood' I shot all day, then I went and
filmed 'Hobgoblins' at night and
went right back to 'Max Blood' in the morning.
Ah,
those were the days.
Greg:
Now you played a Thug in the horror
spoof 'Hobgoblins' directed by
Rick Sloane as you worked with him in the future
with films like 'Vice Academy', 'Mind,
Body & Soul' and 'Marked for
Murder'. I enjoyed your performance in
it although the film was extremely cheesy. Did
you have a good fight choreographer for the film?
Ken:
The fight scene in 'Hobgoblins'
was fun and we just winged it. Im sure I
came up with the part where he flips me because I
used to be able to flip pretty easily (that was
like 17 years ago- Id kill myself now). My
favorite fight scene that I did choreograph was
in the movie 'Lethal Pursuit' opposite Blake
Gibbons one helluva actor. Now that was a
great fight scene.
Greg:
What is Rick Sloane like to work with?
Ken: Rick Sloane does it all. Writes, directs,
produces, edits. Fucking amazing. I
insulted him once through some gossipy half-wit
that took what I said out of context. We
were shooting in his brand new home in an
extremely affluent neighborhood in the hills, and
I was dumbfounded that his movies were so
successful that he could live there. Of course,
when you have some ass-kissing, drama-loving,
sycophant run and tell someone what you said it
never sounds very pleasant. The guy knows what
hes doing, and obviously deserves
success. Can I be shocked by the extent of
that success, sure. Should some little fuckhead
go run and tell him my thoughts, no. So to that
person. Fuck you.
Greg:
Your other horror flick with Rick was
the role as Sean in 'Mind, Body &
Soul' which starred Ginger Lynn Allen.
From what I understand from other people that
worked with her that she is not so pleasant. Was
she difficult for you to work with?
Ken: I liked Ginger. I liked her a lot. I think people
were nasty to her and spoke badly about her
behind her back because of her career choices.
They judged her. And being judged puts people on
the defensive. Perhaps she overcompensated by
playing the diva. She certainly was
the antithesis of Linneas no-ego
personality, but I liked her. Years after we
worked together I was walking down Melrose and
she was driving by. She saw me honked,
screamed, got out of the car and gave me a big
hug. Seemed like a real sweetheart to me. In
fact, I just saw a comedic short she did where
she gives birth to a cartoon character. Adam
Corrolla is the voice of the kid. So, so funny!
Greg:
Wings Hauser was also in the film as the
cult leader John Stockton as he has a string of
b-films and is a name. What was he like to work
with on set? Do tell us!!!
Ken:
One time after working on a particular
take that Wings wasnt in, I walked up to
him and asked how it looked, he said, What
am I fuckin 411? I laughed my ass off. I
still use that line to this day. Wings was good,
really new his shit.
Greg:
Why were you credited as Ken Hill in the
film?
Ken:
Dunno
Greg:
What was it like making 'Terror
Night'?
Ken: It was so, so long ago I
barely remember it. One of the few things I
remember is that it was at a time when I was in
peak physical condition. I remember working
out like a fiend during that movie.
Greg: What
was the story all about?
Ken: 'Terror Night',
recently released as 'Bloody Movie' (which I just
found out yesterday), is about a silent film star
who comes back to kill a bunch of people messing
around on his estate. Something like
that. I never saw the movie.
Greg:
Who did you play in that film and
what was his character like?
Ken: I have no idea who I
played in the movie. Honestly, for a
million bucks I couldn't guess my character
name. I'll have to look it up. I know I was
the jerk-off, asshole guy of the group.
Greg: There
were alot of known names you worked with that
have done movies for so many years like John
Ireland, Cameron Mitchell, Alan Hale Jr., Aldo
Ray and Dan Haggerty. What kind of an enviroment
was it like working with them?
Ken: Alan
Hale Jr. played the Skipper on 'Gilligan's
Island', and I was thrilled to meet him
in person. In fact, one of my fondest
memories from the film is when I told Mr.
Hale how I grew up watching him on TV and
was honored to be working on the same set as
him. He looked down at me (he was a very
tall man, much taller than he appeared on
television) and said, "Well, young man,
that's the kindest thing anyone could have said
to me." I melted. My only regret
is I didn't ask him to call me "Little
Buddy." I actually wanted to but
wussed out. How cool would have been to
have the Skipper himself say, "hey, little
buddy!" the guy was great. he
died soon afterwards. I was happy to have
met him.
Aldo Ray was a hoot. I remember being in
his trailer and him going off on Patty Duke, the
then president of SAG, for throwing him out of
the guild. He freely called her some
colorful names and told me how "Chuck"
got him back into the guild. It didn't
occur to me until days, perhaps weeks later, that
the "Chuck" he was referring to was
Charlton Heston, the new president of the Screen
Actor's Guild.
Greg:
What actor or actress were you most fond
of working with?
Ken: I
loved working with Denise Stafford aka Jamie
Summers. I had a major crush on her and
thought she was the cutest thing ever. I
had no idea of her adult film background; in
fact, I was totally clueless. I
remember we had a bathtub scene together and she
was topless. Me being the ignoramus that I
am and not knowing about her adult film career, I
felt embarrased for her, like they were
exploiting the poor girl. It even effected the
scene a bit because if you watch it I'm extremely
shy and reserved. The irony is
staggering. It's funny that two of my
girlfriends in these low budget films have been
major adult film stars ...Jamie Summers and
Ginger Lynn.
Another actress from the film went on to be a
soap star-- from what I heard. She was very
nice on the set, and certainly a better actress
than most hacks you find on low budget films, but
I don't recall much more than that.
Wait, it's coming back to me... I did hang out
with Michelle Bauer and Jimmy Elwell during the
film. They were the biker couple. I
lost touch with Jimmy but I did stay friends with
him for a while. Michelle was so
cool. I remember being shocked at how
pretty and down to earth she was. It's a
shame, bit those two don't always go hand in
hand. For her they did. She was
awesome.
Greg: Was the
film like a big party to do?
Ken: I don't remember it being like a big party.
But then again, I barely remember it.
Greg:
What kind of a budget did this film
carry that you know of?
Ken:
No
clue.
Greg:
Do you remember what kind of release
this film got?
Ken:
I found out yesterday that it was released as 'Bloody
Movie'. Other than just yesterday,
I never thought it had a release.
Greg: In
'Vampire Knights', I understood from a critic that the
effects were terrible as there was a scene when a
pretty girl asks if someone believes in
monsters and the person says theres no such
thing as monsters so she goes in the back of a
van and then comes out with a brown face and
sharp teeth as the critic says it looked like she
was wearing a mask. Was that true? Were there any
good effects throughout that film?
Ken:
'Vampire Knights' was a miracle.
Originally, it was shot for just a few thousand,
a trailer was cut, and from that trailer the
movie pre-sold internationally. So it was a
success on paper. To look at it, it aint
pretty; but I still love it. If that movie was
shot with any kind of budget and I mean a
real budget it mightve been good.
As
far as the woman with the brown face and sharp
teeth, that wasnt a mask, thats
basically how she looks.
Greg:
Did the film ever make it to
theatres like 'Creepozoids' did
or was it just direct-to-video?
Ken: I dont know what the hell happened to 'Vampire
Knights'. I know it must be shocking for
anyone not involved with the film to watch it,
but for me, it was so much fun. It incorporated
comedy and we had a blast. Its the
kind of film that I dont care if anyone has
seen it, it was just fun doing it.
Greg:
In the flick you worked with the late
Robin Stille from 'Slumber Party
Massacre' and 'Sorority Babes in
the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama' fame as she
took her own life due to alcoholism. Were there
issues with her on set?
Ken:
Robin Stille was incredibly professional
and fun to work, and was Idevastated to hear of
her passing. I dont know the reasons
surrounding her death, but I find ones that sum
it up so easily and stigmatically attribute it to
just one thing, offensive.
Greg:
Did you ever attend to her funeral?
Ken: No, I didnt find out until years later.
Greg:
Were you ever asked by David DeCoteau to
be in 'Sorority Babes'?
Ken:
No.
Greg:
You also guested in an episode of
'Angel' which was a takeoff from
'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' and played
the part as Spivey. Was your role a major guest
starring role?
Ken:
Originally, it was a small scene of me
being interrogated by Elisabeth Rohm, but after
we shot it I got a call that they wanted to
extend the opening and that they wrote a scene of
me running and getting captured on the street.
Greg:
Was kind of a role was your character?
Ken:
My character, Spivey, was a low level
mobster.
Greg:
'Angel' was a top horror TV series. Did
you feel like it was a good break for you and did
you get well noticed in the show?
Ken:
'Angel' was a fun gig to get,
but I didnt get noticed from it.
Greg:
Were you ever asked to return to the
series?
Ken:
Nope.
Greg:
Do you have any future horror films you
plan to be in?
Ken:
I have a small part in 'The Forgotten',
but other than that Ive been pretty much
writing and producing lately.
Greg:
Now heres some fun stuff:
What
are your favourite horror films?
Ken:
'Silence of The Lambs', 'Abbott
and Costello Meet Frankenstein', 'American
Werewolf In London'. Like I said, I
dont really like them, I just like to be in
them.
Greg:
If you have a film youd like to
change. What would it be?
Ken:
I think you need to be more specific. Are you
referring to one of my films or any film? Because
if I could change any film I would change 'Citizen
Kane'. I would have someone run in
during the last scene and say, Asshole, you
just through the RoseBud on the fire. Its
his sled!! Hello!!
Greg:
What is the film you acted in that you
cherish the most?
Ken: I dont cherish any of them. I havent
seen any in years.'Vampire Knights'
was great fun, but its soooo low budget
that its pretty unwatchable. But I love it.
Then again I havent seen it in 15 years.
Greg:
If you were a top scream king for one
day whether this actor was alive or dead who
would he be?
Ken: Wouldnt want to be anyone for a
day. Now thats creepy.
Greg:
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Ken:
Perfect happiness is working full time
as an actor.
Greg:
What are your ambitions in life?
Ken: When I find out Ill let you know. |