Eric Spudic [Interview]

Welcome to Day 4 of Trainwreck’d Society’s Month of Horror Showcase. Every day during the month of October, we will have a horror related interview and/or film review for your fright-filled reading pleasure! The set up will be the same as usual, but the topics will be far more terrifying. Enjoy!

As most fans of horror know, there is always a little something called a “sub-genre” within this beloved genre. Well, journalistically speaking, we would sort of like to do the same thing! Now, actor/writer/filmmaker/horror artifact (VHS tapes, to be exact) dealer Eric Spudic is a brilliant mind in the world of horror all on his own. He has appeared in dozens of some of the finest independent horror cinema to be released in the last couple of decades. He is a real force to be reckoned with in his own right, and we are so happy he has joined us here today.

But on the topic of the sub-genre, Mr. Spudic also has something else going for him that you will soon notice emerging as a minor theme for this year’s Month of Horror Showcase. If you remember back a few years ago, we named a certain filmmaker, Steve Sessions, as Trainwreck’d Society’s Person of the Year. We have written about Steve many times over the years as or admiration has yet to dissolve. So what we are going to do here, is actually manage to slip in a few interviews with some of the brilliant folks that have appeared on screen in something created by Mr. Sessions. And Mr. Eric Spudic is a brilliant man to help kick this whole thing off. Spudic appeared such Sessions classics as Aberrations, Zombie Pirates, and one of my top 5 Sessions projects, Dead Clowns.

So please enjoy some great words from the brilliant Eric Spudic! Enjoy!

When did you decide you wanted to join the world of acting?  What initially drew you into the business?  And what keeps your passion growing for this business?

I was one of those guys who became an actor by accident.  I’d made a movie in high school and sent copies to some of my favorite producers and directors.  One person called me up and complimented me on my amateur moviemaking skills.  He said that if I ever visited Hollywood, he’d put me in a movie.  A few months later, I took a trip to Los Angeles and he stuck to his word.  $750 for three lines of dialogue in a movie called Micro Mini Kids.

This was 1999.  I had such a blast doing it that I decided to pursue the whole acting thing more.  I grow my passion by changing it up.  One day I’m acting in a horror film.  The next, I’m doing stunts on a SyFy Channel movie.  Then, I’m writing a family movie.  That way I never get bored.

You have worked on a quite a few projects with our old friend, director Steve Sessions, so I was curious to ask how your experience was working under the guise of a filmmaker like Sessions?  Does it differ in any way from other projects?

I’ve always had a fantastic time working with Steve.  We met around 2000 on Ebay.  It is indeed different working with Steve.  First, he doesn’t look at his cast/crew as employees.  He treats them like family.  One second you’re in his living room, dressed up as a zombie terrorizing a hot blonde.  The next thing you know he’s asking if I need anything to drink and to help myself to the fridge.

I never even have to get a hotel room.  He provides me a spot to stay at his place, which is above and beyond what we actors expect.  Biloxi, MS is a fantastic place to shoot.  Very accommodating, nice people.  The thing that is different about Sessions is he’s almost a one-man army.  When he makes a movie, he’s shooting it, editing it, writing it, casting it, composing it.  Very multi-talented.  I hope he has a few more left in him.

You also jumped into one of finest horror franchise with some stunt work on Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3D, produced by another old friend of TWS Christa Campbell. What was it like digging into this truly fascinating and surreal world?

That was one of my favorite shoots.  2011 in Shreveport.  I was originally hired as a photo double, but next thing you know they got Leatherface tripping me with a metal hook onto these concrete steps.

They gave me kneepads to cushion the fall.  I only worked two days on the film, but was paid for four.  Super hot, sweaty shoot…..but it turned into a nice film.  It was called Leatherface 3D when we shot it.  Ever since then, I’ve heavily pursued more stunt work.

What is it about the horror genre specifically that makes you enjoy working within it?

I’m an energetic guy, so I need some monsters….blood….screaming….running….fight scenes.  I love the effects.  These days I almost prefer to be under makeup or mask.  It’s more fun being a bad guy.

What is your favorite scary movie?

Perhaps The Changeling with George C. Scott.  Incredibly creepy, great score, cool plot.  It still gives me shivers.  Watched it in a theater with a packed audience earlier this year.  I’ve seen it 15 times now.  Jooooseph….

What are your plans for this coming Halloween?  Any traditions you try to stick to each year?

I usually hit up the New Beverly Cinema and Cinefamily for their horror screenings.  Grab a soda and some popcorn and enjoy the blood and gore!  Maybe I’ll have a George Romero marathon since he was my favorite director and is very much missed.

What does the future hold for you?  Anything you’d like to plug to our readers?

I’m doing stunt classes now and trying to pick up more gigs.  I have a few movies out recently. Giantess Attack is on Amazon and Land Shark is on DVD.  I have one called Doomsday Device coming out soon.  Blink and you’ll miss me!  I would love to sell another script, so that will be my next goal.

What was the last thing that made you smile?

I run a company called Spudic’s Movie Empire.  We sell movies, books, cds, comics, games, everything.  A good friend just donated a few hundred VHS and DVDs.  I was ecstatic!  It certainly brought a huge smile to my face.