Owen: Hi Zoë,
you've studied acting and worked on
stage and in a variety of mediums and such.
Did this entire career in horror and your
subsequent scream queen status come somewhat
unexpectedly with your role as Piper King in
Tony Urban's KLOWNZ (2003)?
Zoe: Yes, Piper was my first lead female horror scream
queen. Previously, I had worked on a short
thriller in which I played a killer named "Forsythia"
but never a scream queen.
Owen: So tell me
about that "click" when you realized
horror could be a big career move? How
did the promotional aspects of being a scream
queen snowball from there? And what does
maintaining that title entail in your experience?
Zoe: I am still getting used to horror being a career
move. I spent my first 20 something years
studying for the musical theatre and
singing/dancing so it was a big stretch from
that. What I found was the horror genre and
filmmakers construe a relatively small world, so
it was eventual that Klownz would lead to other
horror roles. As for maintaining, I am
continually making new contacts and auditioning
for horror roles as well as others. Also, I have
plans to build an extensive website with new
photos etc. in the horror and gore genre.
Also, I have a couple of projects in the works
and look forward to expanding to sci-fi and
thrillers as well.
Owen: Well, what helped cement that status was your
title as July 2005 Scream Queen of the
Month from the magazine/site. How is that
title chosen? Do you submit pix and a
resume? Do they approach you? I'm
curious.
Zoe: I dont quite remember how I received that
title...I just remember receiving an email that I
had been selected and I could promote the link
and site a couple of weeks beforehand.
Owen:
Now you are currently wrapping filming in Houston
as Skylar in 'Witchcraft 13: Blood of The
Chosen'. Tell me about your work
in that film.
Zoe: I wrapped my work on the film this past Monday,
and it was a wonderful experience. The crew was
very professional, the set was amazing and Mel
House (our director) really worked new life into
the series. I think it will be the best one
ever! Plus 13 is my lucky number, so it has
to be successful. As for my role, Skylar was fun
to play. Diabolical, sensual and
cheeky
those were my motivational adjectives
while playing her. Great fun.
Owen:
So what draws you to choose your
projects - is it location, money, the part, the
challenge, the exposure, a gut feeling...how do
you decide?
Zoe: Hmm
Generally, I choose a project that
challenges me; a role that I havent played
before or find really fun. Also, I love to
travel so I am really open minded to
scripts/projects that shoot in other parts of the
US or abroad. I am dying to shoot a vampire
film, and love historical horror as well, with
corsets and bustles.
Owen: So as a trained actress how does one
"act" like a zombie --- I'm referring
basically to your work as Natasha, the zombie
sorority girl in 'Alpha Dead'
(2004)?
Zoe: Natasha
was really fun to play as she started out
extremely jaded and bitchy (as well as slutty) so
it was easy to love her zombie side or should I
say zombie slut side. I basically cleared
my mind, got the drool going, let my eyes roll
into the back of my head and went with it!
Owen:
I also see you have the deliciously
titled 'Psycho Cheerleaders'
lined up this year. Who can resist a title
like that? Tell me about your work on that
project as Angel.
Zoe: We are in preproduction for that project (it was
pushed back for the spring), so I dont want
to ruin too much of the plot...lets just say that
Angel is a cheerleader without a heart. She
also gets zombiefied and I cant wait!!!
Owen:
You also worked twice in 2004 with Crazy Ralph
Productions in 'A Pound of Flesh'
(as Tiffany) and 'Kottentail'
(as Buffy). How was your experience working
with that production company? What about
working with him made you come back a second
time?
Zoe:
Working with Tony Urban and the whole
Crazy Ralph family is always gut-busting fun. I
love the scripts, and working with a lot of the
same actors makes for a wonderful ensemble
cast. We always have a great time shooting
and I look forward to shooting with him again.
Owen: So as a woman deemed a scream queen I'm sure you
are asked to do some pretty gruesome things on
screen. Do you have boundaries in that
regard...i.e. -- I will do this, but not
that...if so would you care to share one or two
of them?
Zoe:
One of my favorite aspects of
working in horror is the blood and guts. I love
the gore. I dont really have limits as for
dying, though I am slightly claustrophobic so I
dont think I could shoot a "buried
alive" scene or one in a coffin or
trunk. I love being shot, burnt, drowning,
etc, great challenges for any actor.
Owen:
What other projects do you have lined up in the
future?
Zoe: I am currently in preproduction for a romantic
comedy feature shooting in NYC called "Together",
as well as the previously mentioned "Psycho
Cheerleaders" set for the spring
06. Also, I am shooting a small part in an
indie feature this week, "Playing
Doctor" and have several auditions
over the next few weeks.
Owen: What frightens you in real life?
Zoe:
OOh...I love this question, although I
am sure it will be used against me by some
director who reads this, haha. I am afraid
of really high heights, being buried alive and
short haircuts..lol...no really. I cut my hair
short for a role in college and cried for 2
years. I looked like a mushroom head. I am
also afraid of Pam Anderson look-alikes, long
nasty needles, and sports fanatics. |