Brian: Have you always wanted to be a
performer? Was there a specific event, you can
recall, in your life when the performing bug
really hit? Rachel:
No. At first I wanted to be in film
production. I went to college for it. But the
more I learned about life behind the camera, the
more I knew I couldnt stand it if I
wasnt in front of the camera! I guess I
just didnt have the balls to admit to
myself that I was a giant ham. I started off
modeling and the natural progression ensued from
print to commercials to film and television.
Brian:
You appeared in Tromas
'Terror Firmer' a modern cult
classic. There have been so many amusing tales
recorded about working on Troma productions. Do
you have any interesting tales to tell about the
making of that film?
Rachel:
I could sit here and tell you horror stories
about Troma til the cows come home. But the
reality is that they are a major independent film
company that actually gets their films done and
has a ton of distribution. It was hard to work
super long days for no money and sometimes no
food, but in the end what I got from them was
invaluable. I got a load of great press and made
a name for myself in the independent world. So in
the end it was worth all the mistreatment. OK,
Ill give you one funny horror story.
Picture this: its the first week of filming
and the craft service table consists of peanut
butter and jelly, accompanied by Wonder bread. By
the second week, we had peanut butter and bread.
The third week we had a jar of peanut butter, not
bread and no knives. You can imagine what the
fourth week was!!
Brian:
Was 'Terror Firmer' your first
film? If not what was and how to did it
feel to actually step in front of the cameras for
the first time?
Rachel:
Unfortunately it wasnt my first film. My
first film is called Little Shop of
Erotica and it starred the
infamous Marilyn Chambers. It was a bad film, I
was a bad actress, and to make things worse, the
damn thing played on Cinemax for years!! But it
taught me two good things: that I was so totally
happy being in front of a camera and talking too!
It took my love of modeling one more step. AND
that I never wanted to do one of those skin-a-max
flicks, ever again!! YUCK!
Brian:
Speaking of first times, you recently appeared in
your first stage production, Pieces
(of
ass). How was it stepping on stage for the first
time -as an adult? I started appearing on stage
as a youth, and had that fearless energy of the
young. I cant imagine doing stage for the
first time as a fully-grown person. It must have
been scary but fun.
Rachel:
It was one of the most non-sexual exhilarating
experiences of my life. And it continues to be
so. I was terrified, but it was nothing that a
few cocktails couldnt take care of. I did
need those two Absolut and sodas for quite a few
performances. But eventually I settled into the
stage genre and found it was better to do it with
out the drinks. Its hard to do theater to
begin with, but since our show is totally
interactive with the audience, it makes it even
harder. With shows that have a fourth wall, you
can ignore all those starring faces. But not so
with Pieces. I agree
with you that everything is easier to conquer
when you have the benefit of fearless-youth on
your side.
Brian:
Do you feel that you have grown as a person and
an actress because of your experience in 'Pieces'?
Rachel:
I have definitely grown as a person AND an
actress from my experience with Pieces.
We have an all female cast. Its kind of
like an evil sorority. 12 woman plus 4 hair and
make-up girls sharing a trailer can be a real eye
opener as to what kind of person you are. I was
never in a sorority, but if I were I would want
it to be exactly like the Pieces
of
ass one! I love all the girls Ive
worked with for different reasons. Some will be
my lifelong friends and some will never be a
friend but thru them Ive learned a ton
about myself and for that I am glad they were in
my life. The director/producer/conceiver, Brian
Howie, has become a dear friend to me (he was
even at my recent wedding) and he has been an
amazing supporter. He took a chance on me, an
actress who had never done theater, and gave my
career the jumpsta rt it needed. And
Pieces is not some little indie
movie. Pieces is quite a phenomenon -
getting coverage in all the major industry and
news publications. Stuff Magazine is our sponsor,
Guess and Bebe do our wardrobe celebrities are
banging down Brians door to get spots in
the show, the Hard Rock Casino has just invited
us back to do another limited appearance at the
Joint. And its been like that from the
beginning. So, you can image how much I
appreciate Brian giving me that chance.
Brian:
I really loved 'Screaming Dead'
especially your down to earth, full of
life performance. Is there an amusing story or
adventure that happened on the set of that
feature that you would like to share with us?
Rachel:
Actually, its strange because everyone that
writes a review of Screaming
Dead shares your opinion of my
performance. But for some strange reason, since SD
Ive been cut out of any Brett Piper
projects. Im not sure what happened, one
day Brett was a dear friend, and then the next
day he wouldnt return any phone calls, or
e-mails! I even tried to write him a letter and
he never responded. Ive heard stories from
other actors that worked with him that he can be
very moody and vindictive. Maybe he had a crush
on me or something. I dont know. But that
has to be the weirdest thing that happened on
that movie. That is the first time in my career
that a filmmaker has just cut me off like that. I
usually get asked to work with past employers
over and over again. They just shot a movie that
he actually sent me the script for and then at
the last minute cast someone else. Strange huh?
Brian: All
performers judge themselves harder than anyone
else can. Do you find that you can look honestly
at your films, also? As I said, I thought 'Screaming
Dead' was great a full out, slam
bam 'House on Haunted Hill'-
type wild ride. That said and dont
read on if you havent seen 'Screaming
Dead'- can you, also, be critical of the
productions, too? For instance, it is so obvious
that Misty Mundae is not cut open and scarred for
life in the scene in the secret lab. Is there a
part of you that thinks, Cmon guys,
just say she was traumatized because some ghosts
threw blood on her and leave it at that? Or
do you think those inadequacies just add to the
fun of the film?
Rachel:
WOW! Thats a long question. OK, When I
watch one of my performances, its very
educational. I learn a lot about my strengths and
weaknesses that way. Can I look at them honestly?
It totally depends on my mood. Yes, Mistys
special effects, as well as MOST of the special
effects are very amateur (Brett Piper is a real
Jack-of-all-Trades, Master of none) . But with a
film like Screaming Dead,
the key word is camp. Thats
what makes films like that so much fun. Some
filmmakers have even managed to bring Camp over
to the big budget Hollywood films. I think I have
a good sense of humor, and I appreciate it when a
film can show me glimpses of humor while still
being scary/serious/suspenseful/etc.
Brian: 'Dr.
Horrors Erotic House of Idiots'
looked like it was a hoot to make. Were there a
lot of bloopers that occurred when filming your
scenes?
Rachel:
Paul Scrabo was wonderful to work with. He has a
wonderful vision and the abilities to execute
them. We did have a few funny bloopers. The
candle kept breaking every time I dropped it so
in the take that made the final cut, I had to
hold it so far up to prevent it from drooping
over in the middle of the scene! We had a lot of
fun filming those little shticks!
Brian: Dr.
Horror, if I recall, was filmed in September of
2001. Is it hard to wait so long for the films to
come out for the public to see them? (Or were
your parts filmed, separately, at a later date?)
Rachel:
My parts were filmed in 2003. Paul recognized
some holes that needed to be filled and
thats where my involvement came in. So I
hardly waited at all to see the film. However,
there are still films that Ive been waiting
for since 1999!! Yes, it can be annoying. That is
the great thing about companies like Troma or EI.
They get their stuff done!!
Brian: Tell
us something about 'Vampire Lesbian Kick
Boxers'. It sounds like an enjoyable
project to work on. Do you have any idea when it
will be released?
Rachel:
VLK is one of those films
Ive been waiting for for a really long
time. I really cant tell you why its
not done. I know they completed filming.
Ive lost contact with the production
people. Ive recently noticed that it has
been posted on INDB, so hopefully thats a
good sign. In VLK I
dont get to play a Vampire a lesbian or a
kick boxer. I play an aspiring porn star. My role
was very comedic. Something Id like to do
more of. But the people I worked with were really
nice and I hope the best for them on this
project.
Brian: Are
there any words that you would like to leave us
with? - Plans for the future? Projects you
are working on? Shout outs that youd
like to give to someone in your life? - Advice to
fellow pet lovers? (Ms. Robbins is an animal
lover with a puppy and a horseback riding
habit!)
Rachel:
How did you know about my horseback riding
habit?? Very sneaky! Yes, I have a Chihuahua
named Tony Montana (say hello to my little
friend) and I hope to have a horse very
soon. Im going back to Vegas to do a few
more Pieces shows
there. You can check out our dates and pix and
stuff at www.piecesofass.com. Then were coming
back to New York in time for the Holiday season.
Other then that Ive been setting my sites
on doing some television hosting work. Maybe
youll see me on the next ultra-cheesy
dating show getting couples liqu ored up and
naked!! I want to get on this reality TV train
ride without actually being a contestant!! Check
me out at Chiller this October. Ill be on
the cover of the program in an amazing Daniel
Horne painting I posed for. Shout outs? My new
husband, Michael Saltzman, big ups baby!! MAT at
Abrams, I like being in your hip pocket!!
To all the wonderful fans that make me feel so
good at the conventions, thanks yall!! To
all my pimps and hos, we outty!!
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