BRIAN: 1. You, recently, worked a out a major distribution deal for Silver Moon Productions, your company, with Blockbuster, Best Buy and other major chains. How long did that deal take to make? And- congratulations!

STEPHANIE: A.)  Actually, I didn't just recently work out a deal. "The Bagman" and "Evil In The Bayou" has been picked up for distribution since 2003.  The STREET date was September 21st, 2004.  That’s when it was available to rent or to buy at Blockbuster Video, Best Buy, Fry's, Borders, Sam Goody, Musicland, etc etc.  "Tales From The Grave" was also picked up in August of 2004.  So that will be out early 2005 for people to rent.   The way you make deals isn't or may not be with one company. Certainly if you find a GOOD distributor who doesn't screw you over, you build a rapport with them and you continue to work with them for all your films you produce.  OR you can work with other distributors. Silver Moon Productions isn't exclusive with my distributor.  But they a re one of the best people out there to be honest with you and I went thru 3 distributors with "The Bagman" prior to finding these people.

BRIAN: 2. In "Headcrusher" you made a powerful presence with scant screen time. You, definitely have an amazing persona. Do you have any special memories about the filming experience in Chicago? Also, you appear as a truly powerful demon at the end of
"Headcrusher". How long did your make-up for that scene take?

STEPHANIE: A.)   Working on "HeadCrusher" was a fun shoot.  Given it was only a cameo appearance, the work with Ricardo Islas was one of the best as he is very talented and I hope one day to work with him again on something else.   One of the best memories was the blooper that happened on set while filming my love scene.   Ricardo wanted to show the love scene starting from another room. Meaning the camera began rolling and action was called and the camera's POV was shot thru a window.  I was placed on a table, on top of the other actor, topless, wearing my underpants of course and my slip and the other actor wore his boxers but rolled them up so it appeared he was nude.  When Ricardo called action, we began our "love making movements". Well the little fold out table left go and I and the other actor fell crashing to the ground. It was hysterical. That was my best memory.
The make-up took about 4 hours to do.  Getting it off was a nightmare.  Getting the rotted teeth look off my teeth was murder.   I remember I didn't sleep while filming. I was only there like 2 days and I had to leave on a 6am flight because I had another film to shoot here in Los Angeles, so I remember I went to the airport covered in oil that was put on my face for tears and make-up. I looked REALLY bad.  But it was all worth it.

BRIAN: 3.You excel at playing powerful women in a business -show business- that is known for its toughness and, often, impossible rejection. Do you find that you draw upon your inner strength - all the fortitude you have to survive in the real life- to bring these women, so honestly, to reel life?

STEPHANIE: A.)   I really enjoy playing a powerful role.  I don't like to play the victim too often.  Yes I think I do draw on my own strengths, probably more so being a woman in Hollywood and trying to make it as a director and a producer and trying to do what was meant to be a "man's world" or so they think.    It’s tough.  And I fight all the way 100% everyday to battle it all.   So when I am given a chance to portray a woman who is tough and strong, it’s wonderful.

BRIAN: 4.I remember catching you playing a bartender, one Sunday morning, on a local station repeating a Heather Locklear made-for-TV-movie. I was thrilled to see you - and you got a lot of airtime. Can you tell me what it was like to see yourself -and so much of yourself - on network TV for the first time? It must have been so exciting!

STEPHANIE: A.)   To tell you the truth, I never saw that on TV so I can't tell you what it was like for that film.  I know it played or aired but I was filming something else when it aired.  I know remember what was the most memorable moment was when I was in New York in 1997 and I was on the Empire State Building and an older lady asked me for my autograph because she had seen me on Pay Per View for "Witchcraft 9, Bitter Flesh".  That was the most exciting moment for my acting career.

BRIAN: 5. I recently bought a used copy of "Blood Gnomes" at Blockbuster -and almost jumped out of my seat when I saw you appear on screen- I was so glad to see you in the movie! You did a great job! It was great to see you deliver such a knockout performance! Was there any place you had to go to, to get to the level of aggression needed for that scene?

STEPHANIE: A.)   Yeah...I was originally cast as the lead role in that film and John Lachago had given me the script and everything then I learned they cast someone else.   It was crazy.  That’s John's style though.  He has a habit of changing his mind without reason but it was a dirty trick. I have yet to see the movie as well getting copies of your films from producers is a pain.   I personally made it a point as a producer to never do that to people, but its true.....Try to get a copy of a film you were in is like pulling teeth.  I actually ONLY did that role because Vincent Bilancio was my DP and editor for "Evil In The Bayou" and as a part of an exchange.......They said come be a cameo appearance in the film and I will make 50 copies of your film for free.  So that’s why I was even there.      So being on set where I built my anger I guess.   I don't know.  It was just acting.  I had no inner anger.

BRIAN: 6. If I had to pick, I would say your performances in the "Witchcraft" movies, "The Bagman" and "Evil in the Bayou" are my favorites. Do you have a personal favorite role - or roles- out of all the characters that you have played?

STEPHANIE: A.)  I liked "The Evilmaker" cause I was a strong woman in that role.  I liked "Witchcraft 11" as well.   I also enjoyed doing comedy in "Bikini Planet". I played Princess Nibbi.   I had a blast filming that.

BRIAN: 7. Where do you get your inspiration for your screenplays and how long, usually, does it take for you to write them?

STEPHANIE: A.)  Thoughts or stories will pop into my head.  I wrote my latest film, "It Crawls" in 4 days.  I have a habit of finishing something and not stopping until it’s done which means I will not sleep, eat or anything until its finished.  I just get a thought and everything just flows.   I wrote one of the shorts for "Tales From The Grave, Volume 2, Happy Holidays"  in 1 day.   So things just come into my head rather fast when I write.

BRIAN: 8.You do everything! (And, very well, I might add!) You act, direct, produce and write! What do you enjoy doing the most - or are they all, equally, enjoyable?

STEPHANIE: A.)   I really enjoy directing.  Especially directing something I have written because you see what you created unfold right before your eyes.   I really found that filmmaking is truly for me, more enjoyable then acting.  I love being in charge of things and business and having control.  I want to put my company on the map and continue a long successful life for Silver Moon Productions.  That’s my goal now.  It's like when I first started acting.....I was so excited to see myself IN a film. I rushed my first film home and popped it in the VCR to watch it.  Then when I saw myself on TV in various films or TV shows, that was exciting.   I had a recent moment about a year or so ago when I thought about when you walk into any given video store and look up my name, you will find a few titles listed.  That was exciting.  And to grace the pages of Fangoria Magazine was a BIG thrill because I never dreamed when I was a kid that I would be appearing IN that magazine when I grew up and I LOVED that magazine and bought every issue when it came out.  NOW it’s exciting to walk in the video stores and see the films that I PRODUCED! The films that I MADE!  That is the most thrilling moment for me now.

BRIAN: 9. You have a great website with some neat collectibles! Is there anything that you have available for purchase, currently, that you are particularly excited about?

STEPHANIE: A.)  Well, nothing that is really any different. I mean, I do have available copies of my films, "The Bagman", "Evil In the Bayou" and "Tales From The Grave".  But I don't have anything new that I made available. I have been so busy with my company that I really haven't focused on my website lately.

BRIAN: 10. Finally - Are there any upcoming productions or events going on that you would like people to know about?

STEPHANIE: A.)   Well as you know, "The Bagman" and "Evil In The Bayou" are out on video or DVD now. "Tales From The Grave" , which stars Joe Estevez and music by Bill Moseley ( "House of 1,000 Corpses", "Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2", etc) will be out early 2005. I am in pre-production of "Tales From The Grave, Volume 2, Happy Holidays". I am planning on filming December 2004.  After that, I am shooting, "It Crawls".   Then who knows. I do have lots on my plate.  On November 21st, I will be signing autographs at The Shrine in Los Angeles.