Owen: Hey Ruben, why do you think so many gay men
are drawn to the horror genre?
Ruben: To
be honest I don't know. I can only speak for
myself: I like being a little scared (although
its been a while since I saw a movie that made me
jump out of my seat). I also enjoy not
knowing what's gonna happen next, who will be the
next victim. In this genre you just never know
which direction the plot will take.
Owen:
What drew you to it?
Ruben:
I blame my cousins. When I was a kid, I used to
spend weekends with them and they always wanted
to rent horror movies or read scary comics.
Owen:
What did you dress up as this past Halloween?
Ruben: As
myself. I didn't go anywhere; I just stayed
home and watched movies.
Owen: When
did it first strike you that making horror flicks
was what you wanted to do?
Ruben:
In High School I was in several
plays, they were dramas... My coaches always
told me I was pretty good playing serious
roles. Back then I really didn't care much, then
years later after college, I had the opportunity
to be in two short-horror films and it was a
blast, that's when I knew. 'Good-Bye
tear-jerkers', 'Hello Psychos', 'Zombies and
Monsters'.
Owen:
'Death House Massacre', 'Creatures of the Night',
'Revenge of the Happy Campers', 'The Parking Lot
Killer', 'Night of 1000 Screams Part 2',
'Nightmare Island', 'The House By The Graveyard',
'Twitch', 'Twisted Souls'...You've made so many
horror films. Do you have aspirations
about wanting to branch out or do you like
working within the genre?
Ruben:
I love working in this Genre. If I had to choose
between an intense drama and a slasher, I would
totally pick the slasher film.
Owen:
You mention loving the "unrestrained gore
and gratuitous nudity" of horror...does that
mean you would strip down and take a nude shower
scene for no apparent reason other than so your
character can be naked when killed - like is so
often the case for women in horror flicks?
Ruben: I have
actually done nudity (buttocks) and have no
problem with it. Now I'm not as skinny as I
was a couple of years before, but if anyone were
to ask me to do it, hell yeah!
Owen:
Ghosts, Vampires, Zombies, Psychos, Victims ---
Which do you have the most fun playing?
Ruben:
Victims.
Owen:
Which of the above do you feel the biggest
connection to and what characteristics do you
share?
Ruben: Unfortunately
victim... In the past, in real life, I have
been attacked and chased by low-lifes.
Fortunately I was never hurt, just scared...
Also, when I'm at a party or camping, I tend
to separate myself from the group to go make out
in the woods, play hide and seek and behave
in the unnormal way victims-to-be do in
films.
Owen:
Okay, you say you most identify and most
frequently play victims...so what in your opinion
is the ultimate horror movie victim role that you
would have given anything to play?
Ruben: Teri
McMinn's role in the original 'Texas
Chainsaw Massacre' (the girl leatherface
hangs up on the meathook).
Owen: What's the key to
being a convincing killer?
Ruben:
If I remember correctly, I've only played a
killer once (usually I play the victim, don't
know why, but it seems people like killing me). I
think you just have to take it seriously and
think of the person(s) you hate the most
and imagine you are killing THEM.
Owen: Do
you have a best and a worst film acting
experience to date?
Ruben: My
worst has to be when I was working in Twisted
Souls, I had to run down the side of a
very steep cliff, next to the cliff is this big
river, I was running down, couldn't stop, had to
throw myself to the side and landed on some
bushes scratching and cutting my hands and
arms... Next has to be 'The Parking Lot
Killer', I was supposed to play the
lead, but the producers decided they wanted a
girl, the script was changed and I ended up
playing the first victim. I was extremely pissed
off because I spent a lot of time looking for
locations, raising money, convincing actors to
work for free, etc
My best experience so
far has been in 'Revenge of The Unhappy
Campers', I got to play my first lead,
got to go on location, got paid, the actors and
crew were awesome and this has been the only film
to premiere theatrically.
Owen:
So from a casting perspective. You
have been in about 10 horror flicks or so --- Do
you still audition or is it more networking and
people saying things like, "Hey, why not be
in our horror movie"...how does the casting
work for you at this established stage in your
career?
Ruben: I haven't
auditioned for any roles during the last 2
years. I wouldn't mind doing it again,
it was a lot of fun for me...Nowadays people
email/call me and invite/ask me to be part
of their projects. I feel extremely lucky.
Owen:
So from your perspective has the indie horror
scene been pretty accepting of you as a gay
man/actor?
Ruben: Yes. Although
not all of the people I have worked with knew.
Maybe after reading this some individuals
won't be as accepting, but I don't care.
Owen:
What's something that makes you scream in real
life?
Ruben: Ignorance,
racism and when I find out those I trust backstab
me.
Owen:
What is something that makes you want to KILL?
Ruben: I don't know, maybe in a situation were
those I care about were gonna get hurt... My head
hurts, you're making me think. LOL.
Owen: If someone were to
come to you for advice about getting into the
indie horror business what would you tell him?
Ruben:
Just to go for it.
Owen:
When I was a little boy I wanted to grow up to be
_________________.
Ruben: A
doctor.
Owen:
What is the ideal horror triple feature?
Ruben:
The original 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre',
'The Evil Dead' and 'Sorority Babes in the
Slimeball Bowl-O'Rama'.
Owen: Do you have
any new projects in the work you would like to
mention?
Ruben: Right now
due to the Holidays I'm not working in
any films, but am re-writing a project I wrote a
couple of years ago called "Bloodbath
in Happy Woods". If everything goes
well, it will be filmed spring 2005.
Owen:
Where do you see yourself career wise five years
from now?
Ruben: Hopefully
still working in this business, or back in the
Health Care field.
Owen:
Thanks Ruben.
Ruben: If
I may, I would like to thank you for this
interview. The questions were different and fun
to answer...
Owen:
Thats sweet, youre welcome Ruben and
all the best to you both in life and career. |