Amos Crawley [Interview]

 

Today’s interview subject is another incredible performer who has been in the world of entertainment longer than he has had full functioning memories. We’ve managed to talk with quite a few of these folks in the past, but it is always interesting how their experiences aren’t always similar. Fortunately for us, one similarity is that it all has worked out pretty well for them. But the main similarity is that they are all truly talented people who have continued to do incredible work through careers lasting over 30 years, yet they aren’t even 40 yet!

Such is the case with today’s incredible performer, the great Amos Crawley. Amos has been working both on screen and in the voice over world on some of the greatest projects you know and love. Some projects that have been reoccurring here at TWS quite frequently would be classic programs like Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Goosebumps, and the more recent Netflix Original Series Anne with an E, which features our guest from last week, Helen Johns, and our previous guest Philip Williams!

In the wonderful and inspiring words below, Amos gives us some great words about his beginnings in the world of entertainment, some antidotes about being a teenager on the set of Billy Madison, and so much for great stuff. So Folks, please enjoy some wonderful words from the incredible Amos Crawley!

 

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What inspired you to get into the world of entertainment? Was it an aspiration you can remember having since adolescences, or did you just happen to find yourself in this world one day?

I actually just went into the family business. My paternal grandparents, Budge and Judy were filmmakers in the early days of the Canadian film industry, though they both died when I was very young. My parents, Alexander Crawley and Mary Long are both actors; my sister does hair on set and my brother is a post production guy. Which is to say that I don’t remember any particular aspirations so much as the world of film, TV and theatre has always just sort of been… like gravity or something. The story goes that my mother went for an audition and didn’t have a babysitter, casting needed a kid and there I was. From that point on I worked fairly consistently throughout childhood, though to be honest, I wasn’t particularly planning to do it beyond what was then the immediate future. Like all kids I had other fantasies of what I would be when I grew up. The turning point came for me at about 13. I saw a production of Waiting For Godot starring Tom McCamus and Stephen Ouimette and I remember sitting in the theatre afterwards simply stunned. I guess I didn’t know the length, width and breadth of what was possible on stage (and by extension in other entertainment mediums) and seeing the rules as I understood them be broken by a play like that was formative. At that point I took another look at this thing that I had been doing since the age of 4 and decided that I would invest more time, energy and thought into it. That’s what led to theatre school and genuine study.

 

What was your very first paid gig in the world of entertainment? And were there any sort of lessons learned from this experience that still affect your work today?

So because I was so young, I don’t actually remember my first gig. Certainly most of my youth is littered with various memories from film sets and recording studios they way some kids have images in mind from summer camp or working at a fast food restaurant and I would like to think that there have been any number of lessons that were learned that are at least informing me from time to time. Acting, like many jobs is cumulative. You run into an issue on a gig and you solve it– therefore you’ve added a new tool to your kit. The more comfortable you get with yourself too, the better you are as an actor. That said, there is a rarely a point during any creative endeavour where I am not absolutley convinced that I haven’t forgotten everything and undergo a pretty intense bout of imposter syndrome. The lesson that I continuely come to peace with with each passing job is being okay with that feeling and not letting it interfere with the actual task at hand. I have a friend who rather eloquently talks about letting your nerves or your bullshit be in the car with you but making sure that all of that stays in the passenger seat, not letting the jitters take the wheel.  For the past several years, I’ve been doing some teaching and audition and on-set coaching, and getting the opportunity to look at the work from that remove as been wonderful with regard to the mechanics of what we have to do– once those are in place the  intangibles of the work feel less daunting. I imagine that it’s like a pianist knowing their scales cold so that they can improvise, or an engineer figuring out a structural solution because they understand function so well. I can go off on a bit of a tangent from time to time, but suffice it to say, the best lesson I have learned is that the work is ongoing, hopefully evolving.

 

At a pretty young age, you gave a now legendary performance as Rod in the now classic comedy film Billy Madison. I am curious to know how it was working on a film of this nature? Was it as fun to work on this film as it has been for audiences to watch over the years? Any fun on-set stories that you can recall?

It’s funny– between that film and a handful of other things I was lucky enough to be in as a teenager I find that I end up having these conversations with my peers and finding out that I was a part of their adolescence in some way. That movie strikes a real chord with people– I think it has a genuine sense of anarchy about its comedy that’s not really definable but that hits you where you live– though I have to admit it’s been many years since I have seen it.

Certainly it was the biggest project I had ever been a part of and everyone was so gracious to all of us kids. I was 13 and worshipped at the altar of SNL (my generation is pretty lucky to grow up with the casts that we got), so all the behind the scenes stories that I got to hear from Tim Herlihy and James Downey felt like being admitted to a secrect society. Mark Beltzman took my family and me to a Second City show where he jumped on stage with the cast. Josh Mostel told me stories about Henry Rollins (then as now an idol of mine) and Tamra Davis, along with being as formidble a director as she is, was tapped into such an amazing world because of Mike D, and her associations with Sonic Youth. She was super generous with her time telling backstage tales to a dorky young kid. Steve Buscemi was Mr Pink and he introduced himself to me. Norm MacDonald and I talked about Samuel Beckett and country music. And of course Sandler was a total sweetheart to us– way more than he needed to be… does a killer J Mascis impression.

 

 

You have done a lot of really great work in the world of voice over projects. We have spoken with quite a few folks from this world, and I am always curious to know how they not only enjoy the work, but how do you manage to project a bit of your own presence into the characters using only your voice? How do you manage to make a character that was already given an appearance, truly come to life in your own personal way?

I’ve been so fortunate to have been able to cultivate something of a career in the voice world. It’s a great gig, as any actor will tell you. To be honest I am not sure that I have ever conciously thought about projecting my own presence into the animated character– like with all acting, I think that your own presence is essentially a given, the only thing you can really do is get in the way of allowing an audience to hear and or see it. That said I do think that there is an art to expressing yourself using only a limited set of tools– in this case, volume and inflection– to convey intention. I personally like limits and boxes when it comes to creating something, I think that it can force you into your best, most expressive choices.

I think the voice is an underutilised tool in general– how many times have you been unable to convey your meaning in a text or e-mail (unless of course you’re a writer who is versed in the nuance of that?) Breath and voice are all you’ve got in the world of cartoons, so you cultivate a wider range of expression and you allow it to be your body, your facial expression etc. At least that’s what we try do do– speaking form myself, it’s not always successful– but if it’s not, at least hopefully it’s funny or something. Plus the animation and the editing on a well produced cartoon do SO much of the work for you– you try your best with your little corner of the project and once in a while everything comes together in an effective manner. I’ve got a new cartoon about to start airing called The Remarkable Mr. King, and though I’ve only seen some of it, I’m very excited because I think everything is in concert, from the writing down and I think it’s going to be a very sweet series, perfect for the preschool set.

 

You have worked in just about every gig available to a performer. From film & television, to voice over work, to the stage, and so on. With that in mind, I am curious to know what your favorite method of performing may be? If you some imaginable reason you were only able to work in one field for the rest of your career, what would it be?

While the delivery methods at play in all the different mediums I have been lucky enough to work in are distinct, I actually think that at it’s core the job is essentially always the same. We play our small role in producing something that allows an audience to disappear from the world for a few minutes. As we do this interview I am backstage before the first preview of a play and while it’s true that the tightrope walk of a 2 hour show in front of living breathing human beings is a welcome scare, the actual work that goes into it is not SO different than the way I would prepare for a scene in front of the camera. You turn the volume down on the stereo and you dim the lights, but it’s still the same song and the same apartment if you know what I mean. But I suppose I am avoiding your question– I would happily work in any medium that would have me for the rest of my days. I don’t really have a lot of real life skills, and am blessed to be able to play make-believe for a living, so any way I can do that and get to spend ample time with my wife and my kids is ok by me.

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

I mentioned The Remarkable Mr King which will be airing by the time this interview goes live. I’ve got a cameo in a film called The Oak Room that I was thrilled to be a part of– it’s produced by my friend Ari Millen who also stars along with RJ Mitte. It’s based on a play that I worked on in the Toronto Fringe festival about six years ago– I have high hopes for it. I’ll also be featured in this season of Anne With An E, which I think is a pretty remarkable show in it’s own right, but also amazes me in that they’ve been able to breathe new life into a story that has been told so many times. I am very proud to be a part of it. 

What was the last thing that made you smile?

I’ve got 2 amazing sons, so I’m allotted more than my fair share of smiling moments. Corny but true.

Jackie Garcia [Interview]

 

Hello Folks! We have an absolutely incredible line up of interviews to share with you all this week, just before we take a short break, regroup, and head into December with a massive End of Year celebration and a smattering of film showcases to round up 2019, before jumping right back into the interviews at the beginning of 2020. It’s all happening so fast, and it is always a pleasure.

Today we have some words from a very inspiring person that transcends any borders in the world of entertainment, and has managed to do some work in some of our favorite fields here at TWS, including what would arguably be the top 2 – Stand Up Comedy & Horror. We’ve celebrated the two always equally here, and the amazing Jackie Garcia has officially become a master of both. Jackie has been entertaining audiences with her no holds barred comedy styling, and recently made her horror debut in a major way, appearing in the Rob Zombie’s latest venture, 3 From Hell, in which she is phenomenal in!

Jackie Garcia is truly an artist who has it all, and we are so stoked that she was able to take some time out of her busy schedule to grace our digital pages today! She’s an incredible human being, and we are so excited that she is here with us today. So Folks, please enjoy some wonderful words from the amazing, Jackie Garcia!

 

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What inspired you to get into the world of entertainment? Was it something you have always dreamt of doing as a youth, or did you happen to find yourself in this world one day? 

I was always in love with the camera and modeling and singing and acting. I  just loved performing even as a young kid I remember singing Whitney Houston or Madonna songs on top of the washer and dryer with my cousin to the empty back yard. And I really believe that my mother and Lucy Ball were the ones who really inspired me to get into the world of entertainment. Lucy and my mom were just so perfectly crazy and silly. As a young girl I felt so happy watching Lucy. No matter what was going on in my life, she was amazing. I could forget the world watching her. I wanted to be just like her, making people forget their own problems for a while and laugh, just for being my goofy self. Out of all the TV shows that I watched back then, she was the only one that was starring a woman. I’m glad that times have changed and now there’s more funny female-led stories being told on different platforms.

When did you first discover that you were a hilarious human being that you wanted to make people laugh for a living? 

I first discovered that I was a hilarious human being when I kept making all my classmates laugh when I was growing up but it really hit home when my psychiatrist said I should DO that. I had to see somebody after I lost my mom to brain cancer. From some of my life stories about my pain, I guess in the way I worded it, would make him burst out unexpectedly in loud laughter. 

Even though I had been an actress and studied for many years,  I was afraid of comedy. It’s so raw to get in front of people and reveal my true self with my own story  lines. When that doctor asked me what I wanted to be and what would make me happy, I responded that I would love to be a stand-up comedian. He encouraged me to start learning how to become one. That I could do it. I asked an acquaintance on how she got started and she introduced me to a comedy coach in Orange County California, Bill Word.

It turned out that the first day of class was the same date of my mother’s passing anniversary. To me that is another amazing signature moment. I now remember November 18th with bittersweet memories because that’s the day I started my journey in comedy and my mom transformed (RIP). I know she just would want me to keep making people laugh and enjoying life for the beautiful gift that it is. Bill had also told me that he had lost his mom 6 months before so if could teach the class then I could definitely sit there and listen and I did. I definitely cried that first day of class. It went well and I continued to get more bookings for more shows after that.

What was your very first paid gig in the world of entertainment? And where there any sort of lessons learn from this experience that you still utilize in your work today?

My very first private paying comedy gig was for a Facebook comedy fan that wanted to do a comedy/roast show in honor of her late mother. Another monumental signature moment that I am on the right path. It was incredible to me. It was held at the Historical Idyllwild Lodge where Elvis Presley filmed Kid Galahad. The lesson I learned from that experience that I still utilize in my work today is to have fun and just be yourself. If I could put my ass and sit in the same seat that Elvis THE KING sat in, anything is possible. Never give up on my dreams, that’s the best lesson my mom taught me. We have infinite possibilities.

As an actress, you recently appeared in the wonderful Rob Zombie horror film 3 From Hell along with our dearly missed friend and past guest Sid Haig. We LOVE horror around here, actually having just come off a full month long celebration of the genre. So, how was your experience diving into the world of horror?

My first experience in the world of horror with Rob Zombie was honestly like a dream. Working with Rob was super cool! I have always loved his music and White Zombie is still one of my favorite bands. He is also a wonderful brilliant director and writer. I felt so honored to be chosen to be part of his movie. The scenes were so fun to shoot and so artistically beautiful, even though I die.

3 from Hell is a great film, I loved it. It [was] in theaters on October 14th . Its available online. 3 from Hell [arrived] on 4K Ultra HD combo pack, a blu-ray combo pack, and on-demand October 15th. It’s available [now] digital HD from Amazon videos and iTunes.

If you were handed the opportunity to create and portray any legendary figure in American history in their biopic, who would it be? 

Lucille Ball again. Actress, comedian, singer, model, film studio executive, TV producer. Everything that people said I couldn’t be.  Ball became the first woman to run a major television studio. I want to empower other people to believe in their dreams and to follow their hearts. I would want to show all the sides of her from her family life, growing up, marriages ups and downs, and being head of her (first woman ever) own studio. 

What does the future hold for you? Anything you would like to plug to our readers? The future holds many things for me. 

I was recently reached out to from a producer I auditioned for 3 YEARS AGO, (talk about patience) for a major cable network starring as myself in a comedy weight loss competition show so I am pretty excited about that.

I’m working with a comedy mentor and he’s helping me produce my first comedy album which is being released on CD Baby, Spotify and iTunes in the near future. It’s really fun to have such a great writer and professional comedian helping me figure this comedy game out. It really is a business and people don’t really teach this side of comedy. It’s not just about the funny. Please follow me on Instagram @funnyjackiegarcia.

What was the last thing that made you smile? 

The last thing that made me smile was hearing that you wanted to interview me. Honestly thank you so much! I want you to know you touched my heart in your email to my manager!  Before that smile I had a fantastic time laughing and smiling, performing stand up comedy at the Pacific Palms Resort in City of Industry where I will also be having another show this Saturday night Oct 12 featuring for Comedian Jeff Garcia. The tickets are already sold out for both shows!  My next shows are in Porterville CA, 2nd Annual Thanksgiving Comedy Bash, Sat 11/30/2019 at 8:00 pm and in Fresno CA and at the Rec Room in Huntington Beach California the night before Thanksgiving this year. 

 

 

 

Nicole Dambro [Interview]

 

Hello Folks! And a happy Friday to you all! We have an incredible new interview to share with you all today. It’s the brilliant star Nicole Dambro! Nicole appeared in the newly released and critically acclaimed film Groupers that is being hailed as one of the best films of the year, with great cause. She is an absolutely brilliant performer with a range as wide as the Wyoming plains, only far more interesting consisting of far less bored out of their mind cops. Whoops, little inside baseball there, Folks, my apologies. What I mean to say is that Nicole is wonderful, and we are so excited to have her join the TWS family.

So without further rambling from me, please enjoy some wonderful words from the brilliant Nicole Dambro!

 

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What inspired you to get into the world of entertainment? Was it something you have always dreamt of doing as a youth, or did you happen to find yourself in this world one day?

I suppose I had always dreamed that I would be an actress someday, but I had no idea how to go about making that happen. So I got very involved in dance, got a scholarship to a great university, and I tried to get a normal job… but I still had the bug. I just knew I wouldn’t be happy and reach my full potential unless I was in the entertainment business. 

What was your very first paid gig as a performer? And where there any sort of lessons learned from this experience that you still utilize in your work today?

Before I made the Miami Heat Dancers, I worked for an entertainment company on South Beach, putting on day shows. We would get together on a Friday evening and choreograph an entire number to perform on Sunday… it was a quick turnaround. It was a lot of pressure! And yes, sometimes we would goof. But you had to KEEP GOING! I think that was the best lesson, that no matter what, you have to keep going.

I really dug your work in the recently released film Groupers. Could you tell our readers a bit about this film, and what drew to the project?

Thank you so much! Yes, Groupers was a very special project for me. Our producer, Max Landwirth, is the one that connected me with Anderson to audition. We had worked on another film, The Axiom, the season before that, so I got to work with a lot of the same crew, which is great. I was also drawn to this project because Anderson had written a very intelligent, strong female character who got to kidnap and abuse bullies to prove a point in defense of the LGBTQ community… uh, I’m in. 

So the film centers around the question, “Is homosexuality a choice?” My character, Meg, seduces and kidnaps her little brother’s high school bullies and ties them up at the end of an empty swimming pool, where she informs them that they can only escape by “choosing to be gay for each other.” Even though it seems like a sadistic kidnapping story, actually has several layers that start to peel back in surprisingly hilarious fashion. In fact, when I first read the script, I thought it was going to be a thriller – until I read the entire thing and realized, OOOOH this is a comedy!  

 

 

One genre of film that you have done some amazing work in is the world of horror, including the hit film The Axiom from Nicholas Woods. We are huge fans of the world of horror around here. With that, I am curious to know what you enjoy the most about working in the world of horror? And what sets it apart from the several other genres you have worked on?

I never planned on specifically seeking out horror scripts, I was just lucky enough to be cast in some pretty awesome ones. The genre itself has grown to become THE most popular genre in the past few years, with horror flicks being some of the year’s biggest surprise blockbusters. What’s fun about horror is that has its own rules and expectations, so it’s fun to either follow those rules or break them completely. And the GORE. Ooooh the gore! Seeing the behind-the-scenes of what goes into making those bloody special effects happen is SO COOL.

You have done so much incredible work in the world of television, film, stage, and more. So with that, I am curious to know what your favorite medium is to work in? If you were only allotted the chance to work in one field for the remainder of your career, which would it be?

 I really feel like I have only scratched the surface in my career, so it’s difficult for me to answer this one. I really love film, but I think there’s something really special about getting to work on a series as the same character for many seasons/years. I would love to have the opportunity to work on the same character with the same people for many years and create something iconic, like Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad, the Sopranos, etc. 

If you were handed the opportunity to portray any legendary figure in American history in their biopic, who would it be?

 Ooh this is a GREAT question! Since the Ruth Bader Ginsburg biopic has already been done, I think I would go with Alice Stokes Paul. She was a fierce feminist and activist for women’s rights, credited with being one of the primary organizers of the Woman Suffrage Procession of 1913 (the first large, organized march for political reasons.) Eventually, she became one of the lead strategists of the campaign to implement the 19th amendment, which allowed women the right to vote. Plus, the woman has wicked eyebrows (just like me!)

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

Sure! Besides keeping an eye out for Groupers to be released on digital soon, my Christian film fans should be on the lookout for my next film, A Walk With Grace, which will be released on digital platforms on November 5th! 

What was the last thing that made you smile?

Puppies? Always puppies. 

Oh, and Jodie Cromer in the show Killing Eve. Phoebe Waller-Bridge is my new hero.

 

Helen Johns [Interview]

 

Hello Folks! Today we have a wonderful interview with an extremely talented actress that I know you are all going to love. It’s Helen Johns, Everyone! Helen has already done some very exciting work in the world of film, television, and in the world of voice over work, which you all know we appreciate greatly around here at Trainwreck’d Society. Whether it’s her work on the hit Netflix series Anne with an E alongside our friend Philip Williams, or her appearance in the brilliant sci-fi film Deep Space with another friend of ours Olunike Adeliyi, or her VO work on the beloved video game Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate, Helen has worked on some incredible projects that you all know and love.

So, I will forgo the normal babbling and just let you all dig right into the words from an absolutely incredible performer. Folks, please enjoy some words from the brilliant Helen Johns!

 

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What inspired you to get into the world of entertainment? Was it something you have always dreamt of doing as a youth, or did you happen to find yourself in this world one day?

I’ve definitely always wanted to do it. I started telling people I wanted to be an actor when I was three. I suppose it must have started with the little plays we did at my kindergarten and then school, but honestly I don’t remember ever not knowing I wanted to be an actor.

What was your very first paid gig in the world of entertainment? And where there any sort of lessons learn from this experience that you still utilize in your work today? 

My first paid job was on a short film written by Malorie Blackman, when I was a kid. It was about a group of young girls who get trapped in a cycle of bullying and telling lies about other people, and my character ended up stabbing one of the other girls. I was very young, and I thought it was so cool all round, especially working with fake blood and all that fight choreography stuff. There are the obvious things you start to learn during your first on-camera job – I remember thinking it was hard to “hit my marks”, which is a way to describe moving into the perfect spot so the camera can focus on you. On a broader scale, I remember noticing how social all the crew were with each other, and observing that it’s important to build relationships with as many people on set as you can. I think there are two reasons for this – firstly, you never know who you’ll end up working with again, and secondly, it’s the best job in the world, so you’d better have fun with it!

One incredible project you have been working on is the Netflix Series Anne with an “E”, along with our friend and past guest Philip Williams. I am curious to know what drew you to this project? Were you a fan of the books growing up? 

Yes, Philip and I have had quite a few scenes together over the past three years. He’s a lot of fun! Although I hadn’t read the books growing up, I was very much aware of what an iconic character Anne is and how well-loved the stories are. I’m always drawn to period pieces, I love imagining what life was like in other times and working in period costumes. I was also excited that it was a Netflix project, because it means that my friends and family across the world get to see it.

And how has your experience been working on Anne? Is there anything about this particular project that sets itself apart from other projects you have worked on?

It’s been fabulous. We have a pretty healthy budget for TV, which means we have a lot of time to shoot, and a lot of attention to detail with sets, costumes hair and makeup. So overall I think the show looks incredible. And the head of our show – Moira Walley-Beckett, and all our brilliant writers, have done such lovely work creating new storylines and scripts that remain true to the spirit of the original novels. I’ve also loved working on the show for all of its three seasons. I really feel like I’m part of something special.

 

 

If you were handed the opportunity to create and portray any legendary figure in American history in their biopic, who would it be? 

Gosh. I wish I could play so many. I love reading and researching before starting a project, so when you’re portraying a real person there’s even more fuel for that. I recently saw the musical Hamilton, and at the end of the show they give you a little taste of what Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton achieved in her fascinating life. She worked for 50 years with widows and orphans, founding New York’s first orphanage. There is even evidence to suggest that she had helped draft her husband’s essays too. And she lived to 97, so maybe I could get a series of biopics, rather than just one!

What does the future hold for you? 

I’m just settling into life in California, and starting to audition for new projects. Stay tuned!

What was the last thing that made you smile?

My one year old son has started pretending that objects are telephones. Today it was his toothbrush, and he started chatting into it.

Steph Tolev [Interview]

 

The world of stand up comedy is truly a weird beast, to say the least. I say this merely as a fan and avid listener. Honestly, I don’t get to see as much live stand up as I would like. But in this day and age there are so many ways to follow the world of comedy. In fact, live shows are probably a smaller portion of how the average fan enjoys comedy, which in itself, sucks, because this how they get paid and get to continue doing what they love. But alas, we as fans should appreciate the benefits and make every attempt possible to see live comedy when able.

So what the hell does this babbling mean? First of all, watch your tone. And second of all, it means we have an absolutely amazing comedian to feature on the site today who happens to have appeared on one of those “other” mediums that I enjoy immensely. Which would be podcasts. Podcasts are an almost necessary means of communication for comedians to fans, as will be discussed below. As we have done several times in the past, the absolutely hilarious Steph Tolev was recently a guest on one of the finest podcasts available right now, the incredible Who’s Your God? hosted by our dear friend & past guest Amy Miller, and Steve Hernandez. By my count, Steph is the fourth (fifth?) comedian I learned about directly from this podcast, was able to get them on this very site, and continue to enjoy to this day. So at least in my own manipulative world, the system is working?

No matter how you find yourself enjoying the absolutely hilarious Steph Tolev, I can tell you that you are going to be glad you did. Her new album is HILARIOUS and should be heard by all. There are plenty of videos out there for a Steph Tolev YouTube rabbit hole, and for God’s sake people, get out there and pay for live comedy! See Steph live, especially if you are in the L.A. area. I couldn’t imagine if I lived in that area, the pressure of what to see every single damn night. But, that’s neither here nor there. Or it is there? And not here? Anyway, Folks, please enjoy some amazing words from the absolutely brilliant comedian Steph Tolev!

 

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When did you first discover that you were a hilarious human being and that you wanted to make people laugh for a living?

I think the exact moment was in high school, I was in A Midsummer Night’s Dream playing Nick Bottom and my teachers got this giant donkey head for me to wear and I got REALLY INTO it. The first night of the play I waltzed off stage in it and walked through the audience, stepping all over people and they were loving it. I remember thinking wow, I’m literally being an ASS right now and people are losing their minds. I didn’t really think I could make it a career until a few years after that, but that was the moment I knew I wanted to make people laugh.

What was your very first paid gig in the world of stand up? And were there any sort of lessons learned from this experience that still affect your work today?

I honestly can’t recall the VERY first paid thing I did, I’m sure it was a weird stand up show that I had to drive pretty far to get to, most likely in white out snow in Ontario. But I know that the first time I got paid made me really realize I need to work MUCH harder to make this a real career, cause I can’t live off of $50 once a month.Thinking back now I can’t believe someone paid me for whatever the hell I thought was worth getting paid for. Stand up is very rewarding in that sense to see how trash you used to be to where you are now. The biggest lesson I would say is don’t get cocky and think your good 5-6 years in, the more time you put into this the more valuable you will be.

Having been performing in the states for quite some time now, I am curious to know what it is like to go back to Toronto to do shows? Do you feel a different sort of vibe returning home after spending your days in the L.A. area?

I do feel a different vibe but in a good way. Since I’ve been gone so long I feel very out of touch with the Toronto scene, so many new comics and shows I don’t know but I still feel like its home and the I have no stress on any of the shows. I can just go home see my family and friends and do shows with no consequences I guess? In LA you feel like every set is a showcase set, and you never know who’s in the crowd so you want to make sure you are doing a tight 7 IN CASE. But in Toronto I am so laid back and I always feel comfortable at my favs venues around the city like the Comedy Bar, the second I get on stage I feel like I didn’t leave. Also Torontonians are less sensitive then the people out here in LA. I get a lot more groans when I’m self deprecating out here and more laughs back in Canada.

I came upon your comedy from hearing you on our dear friend and past guest’s podcast, Who’s Your God? And I’ve noticed you’ve done a ton of other podcasts as well. So, with that in mind, have you found this to be a trend of sorts? In your professional opinion, do you believe that doing podcasts these days are actually necessary for a carrier to flourish?

LOL my professional opinion! I actually do think its necessary at this point, I never really did but I see so many comics having a way larger fan base because of them. Especially ones with good themes that people can really relate to.  Plus you found me through one, so it helps other comics get their names out there as well! I am currently working on one that will be released SOON with my co-host Daniel Webb called Chunter. Its really the opposite of what I just said, its the two of us plus guests talking about truly anything at all. Daniel and I co-host a show called Hags in LA and we host like two old hags screaming at the audience, but people seem to really enjoy our wild energy and wacky topics. Ignore my shameless plug, but yeah I think its a great platform to hear comics much more candid and off script so you can really get to know them.

Having performed your comedy all across the globe, from your native homeland of Toronto, to L.A., Edinburgh, and back again, I am curious to know what are some spots you have performed at that may be a bit off the radar? What are some rooms you have worked in that many people may not immediately recognize as great places to perform?

I would for sure say Edmonton, Alberta Canada is a really cool scene that I didn’t even know about until I went there a few years ago, lots of great rooms and supportive people in that city. I just went up to Humbolt, CA recently and really liked the show I did up there, it’s a weird place but they love comedy. Victoria BC is also a really nice place, being on an island the room “Hecklers” there is amazing and I just did “Rumors” in Winnipeg, Manitoba CA anther great room, staff, and all the comics make you feel really welcome. I have to shout out the Canadian places no one knows about cause who the hell else will! But also the Toronto scene is VERY VERY GOOD and I do miss it.

 

 

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

My album is out on vinyl now so I am really excited about that, link is in all my social media crap. Also I am doing my first ever ONE WOMAN SHOW at Dynasty Typewriter on Wednesday December 4th at 8pm called “I’ve Always Been Fucked”. I am nervous/excited for it!! If you are in LA please come! Also my show HAGS at the virgil with Daniel Webb is the last Tuesday of the month!

What was the last thing that made you smile?

My puppy SUSAN!!!!! I love her so much and all I do is stare and her and smile, literally all day long and have been for the last three weeks.

 

Steph has a straight up smattering amount of shows lined up in the L.A. area over the next couple of months, as well as a headlining gig back in her homeland, Check her out. To learn more about the amazing Steph Tolev, check out her WEBSITE:

 

Nov 11- Mermaid Comedy @ The Hollywood Improv 8pm

Nov 12- Blair & Greta @ Gengis Cohen 8pm

Nov 14- Deanne Smith @ The Lyric Hyperion 9:30pm

Nov 17- Golden Hour 7pm

Nov 18- Kibitz Comedy @ Canters

Nov 19- Take On L.A @ The Red Lion Tavern 8pm

Nov 20- Super Serious @ The Virgil 8pm

Nov 22- Green Screen Show @ UCB Suset 10pm

Nov 24- Chatterbox in Covina 9pm

Nov 26- HAGS @ The Virgil 8pm

Dec 4-  ONE WOMAN SHOW ” I’ve Always Been Fucked” @ Dynasty Typewriter 8pm

Dec 7-  Good Heroin @ Stories 8pm

Dec 11- Junior High 7:30pm

Dec 12- Hard Times @ The Hollywood Improv 9pm

Dec 13- 14- Headlining Chuckles in St Johns New Brunswick, Canada

Dec 30- Hags @ The Virgil 8pm

Doug E. Doug [Interview]

 

Hello Folks! Oh, do we have a great interview to share with you all today! Today’s guest is another person that I have been wanting to get on Trainwreck’d Society since the site’s inception. He is an incredible actor who I have been watching on several different formats for as long as I can remember. It’s the incredible Doug E. Doug, Everyone! He iconically portrayed Sanka Coffie in the classic comedic rendition of true events known as Cool Runnings. And with a career spanning 30 years, he has had a lifetime of incredible roles that you all know and love, and we are just so damn excited to have him grace our digital pages today!

A man of several talents, Doug is also a brilliant writer who’s first novel, The Fall of ’87, coming soon! Be on the lookout for that! Below we will discuss his incredible career, Cool Runnings, the new book, and more! So Folks, please enjoy some incredible words from the absolutely brilliant Doug E. Doug!

 

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What initially inspired you to get into the world of entertainment? Was it a yearning you had since your youth, or did you just happen to find yourself in this line work at random?

Initially. I was just trying to cheer people up and stop then from wanting to hurt me. Later I discovered this was a primal form of  entertainment.

What was your very first paid gig as a performer? And were there any sort of lessons learned that stuck with you and affect your work to this day?

My first paid gig was as a standup comedian at the Savage night club in NYC . I learned that even if you do well as a performer some people are reluctant to pay you. I show up to get paid like I wont leave without money now.

It would be remiss of me to not ask at least one question about your infamous role in the 1993 film, Cool Runnings. It’s been 26 years since the film was released, but the love for the film has never faded away. In your personal and obviously knowledgable opinion, what do you believe it is about the film that has made it a staple to this very day? As somebody who lived it at the time, what do you believe made the film special?

It is about the little guy persevering and earning respect. All over the world people have this struggle . They root for the bobsledders in the movie because they are deserving of respect. Everyone is.

 

 

On a personal level, your lead role in the 1997 film That Darn Cat is probably the most memorable and most watched roles for me. Well, full disclosure: I was 12 years old and haplessly crushing hard on Christina Ricci, so that may have been a factor as well. Anyway, there is the old saying, ‘Don’t work with kids or animals”, in regards to working as an actor. And I guess Ricci was in her teens at the time, but you get it. So you did both on this project and it turned out great. With that, how was your experience working on a zany and fun family comedy of this nature?

I love making movies for families and children in particular.

That Darn Cat was a lot of fun. Christina had way too much responsibilty at a young age. I treated her like a kid. It scared everyone who was dealing with her like a porcelian doll.  My goal was to respect the kids in the audience and behind the camera.

You have worked in just about every job possible in the world of entertainment. From acting to writing, producing, stand up, voice over, YouTube….the list goes on and on. With that in mind, I am curious to know what you find the most appealing of all the types of work out there? If for some strange reason, you were forced to only work in one avenue of creativity, what would you want that avenue to be?

If I were forced to do one thing I would write . Nothing brings me more joy.

When you look back on your decade spanning career in comedy, film, television, and beyond, what would you say you are most proud of? Doesn’t have to be a specific project (although it could if you wanted), but when you look back on all the great work you have done, what brings you the most joy overall?

I am most proud of the novel I have just written.  I have always wanted to do it. I just didn’t have the time set aside to climb that mountain.

 

 

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

I have a book that will be available soon it is called the The Fall of ’87. I am also in post production on a film I co-wrote and co-directed called Lil’ Girl Gone. (Im in it too.)

What was the last thing that made you smile?

My daughter coming back home from college on a break.

Peter Tolan [Interview]

 

Hello Folks! And happy November to you all. We are just off a whirlwind of emotions after 31 straight days of horror related fun. And while we love it so much each and every year, it can be taxing to be focused on the frightening for so long. That’s why we are now coming out the gates swinging with an incredible interview with an absolute legend outside of the world of horror. It’s Peter Tolan, Everyone!

Tolan is damn near a magician when it comes to writing hit films and television series. Seriously Folks, his credits are simply astounding. From hit films like Analyze This (as well as That) and the seriously underrated reworked adaptation, Guess Who? and just so damn many more films, which will be discussed below. And then there is the television! We talk about Home Improvement and The Larry Sanders Show below, but how can we not at least bring up even briefly such incredible projects like Rescue Me and Murphy Brown (also mentioned below). He’s also a force behind the project Buddies, that was previously mentioned just days ago due to the appearance of our new friend Robert Zappia.

So Folks, welcome back to the real world of Trainwreck’d Society. Nothing better than adding another incredible Emmy award winning writer to the TWS family. We are so excited that Peter was able to spare some time to answer a few questions for you all here. So please enjoy some words with an absolute legend, the great Peter Tolan!

 

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What inspired you to get into the world of entertainment? Was it an aspiration you can remember having since adolescences, or did you just happen to find yourself in this world one day?

I was not inspired; I was pushed. I was a bit of a class clown in school, and in seventh grade (I think) my homeroom teacher strode over to my desk and informed me I was going to be the lead in the play the drama club was doing – very shortly. She was friendly with the teacher who oversaw the drama club, and when the kid who’d been cast as the lead dropped out, my teacher told her, “Don’t worry, there’s a kid in my homeroom class who thinks he’s funny. I’ll show him.” So I was in the play – which is not something I would have sought out by myself – and I was nervous before going on, but I got that first laugh on the little stage at the Scituate (MA.) Junior High School – and that did it. I was hooked.  Everything that’s happened since grew from the seed planted by that first laugh.

 

What was your very first paid gig in the world of entertainment? And were there any sort of lessons learned from this experience that still affect your work today?

Hard to remember.  I’m sure I was so happy about being paid that I wasn’t able to focus on learning anything! Years later, when I was in my early twenties, I worked at an improv theater in Minneapolis called Dudley Riggs’ Brave New Workshop (it’s been around for a long time, and it’s still in operation).  I learned a lot there, because I was on stage in front of a paying audience doing seven shows a week in addition to improv sets after the main show.  You can’t be on stage that much and not learn something. And even though I stopped acting after a certain point and focused solely on writing, my writing is completely informed by the hours I spent on that stage in the Twin Cities.  It put a clock in my head in terms of storytelling – knowing how long to spend on one story beat before moving to the next – that sort of thing.  Out of entertainment, my first paid gig was a paper route – where I learned that a lot of people don’t like to pay on time.  Which I still deal with.

 

In 1991, you worked on the debut season of one of my favorite series from my time as a kid in the 90’s, Home Improvement, which happens to star our dear friend and past guest Patricia Richardson. I am curious to know what it was like to work on the early days of this now legendary series? Could you tell that it was going to be a hit right from the beginning?

I was working at Disney on a show called Carol and Company, starring the great Carol Burnett.  (I wrote a couple episodes of Murphy Brown at the same time, but technically Carol’s show was my first job in LA.) When that show ended, I should have had a clear exit to join Murphy Brown, but for some reason Disney held me back and said I’d have to work on the pilot and first six episodes of Home Improvement before I could go to the other show.  While Home Improvement was not my complete cup of tea, it was very funny, Tim made for a great lead, and it smelled like a hit from very early on.  In fact, Matt Williams (one of the creators of the show) – knowing that I was leaving for Murphy – told me flat-out, “You should stay. This thing’s going to be huge.”  I responded, “I have no doubt – but I came to LA to work on Murphy Brown, so I feel like I sort of have to follow that initial dream.”  But yeah, very early on it was in the air that Home Improvement was going to be big – and that rarely happens – where people just know.”  This was a long time ago – back in the days where the writing staff took a keen interest in the ratings – and mostly because the numbers (for both Murphy and Home Improvement) were huge.  I mean – huge.  I look at the ratings now and see popular shows pulling down a 1 share. I mean – how do you get excited about that?

 

The following year you moved to the absolutely legendary series, The Larry Sanders Show. It’s a brilliant program that deserves every bit of the acclaim it has received. I am curious to know what it was like to work on such a revolutionary project? And how was it to work on such a hilarious project? Was it as much fun to work on as it has been for audiences to watch?

Sanders was interesting in that we were keenly aware we were doing something very different, but as opposed to thinking it was going to be a big hit out of the box, we actually wondered if it would work at all!  So as much as we were excited about doing something out of the ordinary, there was a lingering sense (during the first season) that the whole thing could just crash and burn.  I remember very early on getting exactly what Garry was going for; he and I were in sync and doing a lot of the rewriting on the scripts – which was challenging but really enjoyable.  In terms of the “fun” of working on the show – yes, it was quite satisfying to be doing “adult” work (and I’m not referring to the language we were allowed to use; I’m talking about writing behavior as opposed to jokes), but it wasn’t all sunshine and roses. Rip Torn, while absolutely brilliant as Artie, could be a massive pain in the ass to deal with.  He was a bully, and he’d target other people in the cast or directors or crew members (never Garry) for punishment; it was pretty terrible.  Garry and I finally had to sit him down to confront him about it, but he was ready for us!  He just sat down, spread his legs wide and stared us down – knowing he had us by the balls – because he was so good in the show, he knew we couldn’t fire him! I’m a fairly even-tempered guy; I rarely lose my cool.  But I had a roaring fight once with Rip – that ended (once the dust settled after a number of months) with me writing a script for him – secretly about our working relationship – that won him an Emmy!  Which just goes to prove: the entertainment business, she is sometimes not fair.  One more thing about Sanders – in stark contrast to Murphy and Home Improvement – nobody watched it!  Those were the early days of HBO, so the only audience we know of was people in the business.  They loved it!  People in the rest of the country, whenever I’d mention what I working on – they’d scratch their heads.  It was only in the later seasons that it become slightly better known – and even then, only slightly.

 

 

Your 2008 film Finding Amanda is an absolutely brilliant and touching story that you both wrote and directed. I am curious to know where this story came from on a personal level? What made you want to put this story out into the world?

The bare bones of the story happened to an acquaintance of mine; he had a niece who – he was very surprised to find out – was working as a prostitute in Las Vegas.  He asked if I had any connections in the Vegas Police Department (because back in the day I was a bit of a gambler and spend some time on the Strip) and wondered if I’d go with him to Las Vegas to maybe look for her and get her some help.  And in that moment – sick gambler that I was – I thought, “Hey, great.  I get to go to Vegas!”  Like, it had nothing to do with helping this poor woman; it was all about me having a good time.  And I caught myself in the moment and thought, “That’s a movie.”  So the details about the young woman and the prostitution are all made up; the details about Matthew Broderick’s terrible gambling – pretty much all from my actual life.  I mean, I lost millions of dollars betting the horses.  My wife at the time worked on the film, so we’d be shooting those specific scenes – where Matthew’s character would be stealing checks from his wife’s checkbook and lying to her – and I’d look over at my wife on the set, and she’d just be shaking her head, like, “You sick bastard.”  I guess more than anything I wanted to tell a story not about redemption, but about the first baby steps toward redemption – because addiction of any kind isn’t cured easily, and representing that in a film seemed false to me.  But seeing characters taking very small first steps – that interested me.

 

We always like to ask our statue holding friends this two part question: Where do you physically keep your Emmys? And does their physical location hold any sort of significance and/or symbolism?

I’m not a huge fan of awards.  I’ve won a number of them (and have been nominated for a great, great many more), but the truth is – I only wanted to win one: the Best Writing for a Comedy Emmy Award.  For whatever reason, I just wanted to be in that rarified company.  So I won it (with Garry, for the series finale of Sanders) and then I stopped caring about awards altogether.  I don’t even put my work up for consideration – because the whole award thing – who really cares?  All the times I won an award, you know what I was thinking about?  The thing I was writing at that moment– not the thing I was winning the award for.  But to answer your question: some years ago, I lived in quite a fancy home in Pasadena, and my office was off the foyer inside the front door.  The Emmys were on the mantle above the fireplace, but when you prominently display your Emmys, visitors see them and want to pick them up. It’s like a compulsion!  And then – because the awards were heavier than they thought – when they moved to put them back on the mantle, they’d hit the mantle – and soon little chips of paint would be missing.  That’s when we discovered the mantle wasn’t stone; it was wood painted to look like stone.  They’re currently on the buffet in my dining room – a little more out of sight.

 

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

I’m currently writing and executive producing a reboot of the 90’s show Mad About You with Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt (the original stars), and we’re having a hell of a good time doing it.  The shows are quite funny.  It will appear on Charter/Spectrum – twelve episodes – six dropping on November 20^th, and the second six dropping on December 18^th.  It’s a multi-cam – and I haven’t done one of those in many years, but it’s been fun flexing those muscles again.  In January I start an overall deal at FX – for whom I did Rescue Me – so I’m looking forward to rejoining that fold.

 

What was the last thing that made you smile?

Probably seeing one of my lovely kids.

Jack Sholder [Interview]

Welcome to grand finale of Trainwreck’d Society’s Annual Month of Horror Showcase! We have a fully loaded month of all things horror for you fine folks! October is our favorite month for this very reason, and we are so excited to share 31 full days of film showcases and interviews with some of the finest folks from the world of horror, just as we have been doing for the last 6 years. What started as a simple 5 day showcase, has now blossomed into a full blown month long event. You’re going to love this! Enjoy!

Well here we are, Folks! We done did it! Welcome to Day 31, our final day of our Month of Horror for 2019. And we have an absolutely incredible interview to share with you all today. It’s Jack Sholder, Everyone! Jack has been working for quite a long time in the world of horror, writing and directing projects you know and love. In fact, this is personally a pretty huge moment for me, as Jack is actually the man who brought to the world what I consider to be my personal favorite horror film of all time. And that would be the brilliant second installment of the A Nightmare on Elm Street franchise, Freddy’s Revenge. As he will even say in the words below, I found this to be one of those rare occurrences (although less rare in the world of horror) that the sequel was actually better than the original. It’s a real Godfather (or Critters?) moment in this respect. I fucking love this film, and always have. I’ve even had a burning desire to ask one very specific question, which I do below, that has been burning at my soul for damn near a lifetime. And I finally got to ask it!

Yes, I am so happy that Jack was able to take some time out of his busy schedule to headline our 2019 Month of Horror series. He is a damn fine person, and this absolutely marks a highlight here at Trainwreck’d Society. We love all of our guests equally, of course, but of the 500+ we have had, Jack ranks up there as a true inspiration and the person behind a project that I have been in awe of for as long as I can remember.

So Folks, please join me in welcoming the absolutely legendary Jack Sholder to the TWS family. Enjoy!

 

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What inspired you to get into the world of entertainment and filmmaking? Was it an early aspiration you can always remember having since your youth, or did you just find yourself in this world one day?

I always loved art. In the beginning it was classical music. I studied to be a trumpet player, and if I’d been just a little bit better that’s what I would have done. Then it was literature, mostly poetry. I dropped acid while a student at the University of Edinburgh and decided that words were meaningless, so that was the end of writing. My girlfriend loved movies and we saw a lot. The good ones really affected me, and I thought it would be great to be able to make them. It never occurred to me that this was a nearly impossible dream. It still surprises me that I actually succeeded through some talent and an equal measure of luck.

What was your first paid gig in the world of entertainment? And were there any kind of lessons learned from this project that still affect your work today?

I think it was playing trumpet in the Philadelphia Accordion Orchestra, an organization run by an accordion school where every instrumental part was play on an accordion except, for some reason, for trumpets and timpani. I was around 14 and got fired because someone heard me say I thought the accordion was the worst instrument ever invented. I guess you could say I learned not to bite the hand that feeds you, though I’ve bitten a few since. I did a lot of performing when I was young and into my 30’s, and I loved the fact that the trumpets sit in the back of the orchestra, or sometimes we’d play in a pit if it was a show, so everybody could hear me but almost nobody could see me. That’s a lot like what it’s like being a director. Unlike an actor, I can go to the supermarket or the mall and nobody knows who I am.

In 1985, you directed the second installment, and hands down my favorite one, of the legendary Nightmare on Elm Street franchise. I am curious to know what intrigued you about this franchise, and what it is you believe that you did differently in your installments?

Many may disagree, but I was never that impressed by the original and I felt I could make a better film, so I wasn’t intimidated in that respect. The main thing that scared me was how the hell to make it. It had a great many special effects, none of which I had the slightest idea how to do, and I only had 6 weeks to prep the movie since Wes Craven had just quit and I had to take it over. Fortunately, I had an experienced special effects guy, an old timer, and a terrific director of photography, Jacques Haitkin, who had shot the original Elm Street and knew how to do everything.  The only rules I was given by New Line were to keep Freddy dark and to make it scary. Also, keep in mind there was no franchise at the time. Elm St 2 was an attempt by New Line to wring a little more money out of the original and, if all went really well, to do an Elm St 3. Fortunately for both New Line and me, it went well.

 

 

One specific, and not entirely scary even, moment always stands out to me in Elm Street 2, and I am dying to ask you this question: There is a moment when the teacher drops a human heart onto a table, and some kid yells “YEAH!”. It makes me laugh so hard EVERY time I watch it. Was this scripted? Was this a bit of the Jack Sholder touch?

It was in the script. With so little time to prep the film, and with a script New Line was happy with, I pretty much shot what was on the page. What I will take credit for is my point of view, namely, what is the real story the motivates the plot and all the characters? For me the movie was about teen sexual anxiety which Jesse is in the throes of and which Freddy represents. I know the film has developed a reputation as an icon of gay cinema, and that interpretation is certainly valid and interesting. But that is not what I was going for even though that’s certainly one aspect of male teen sexual anxiety. I will take credit for the casting, performances, the way it was shot and edited. I feel the most important part of a successful horror film is to create characters the audience care about, otherwise it’s just an exercise in empty scares and special effects. Hopefully I did that.

In your own personal opinion, what do you believe it is that makes the horror genre special? What sets it apart from other genres you have worked in?

I’m not an expert on watching horror films, only in making them. But I think the good ones deal with people’s deep-seated fears and insecurities. And it presents those things in a way that is essentially safe. You’re sharing it with others, whereas you face your own fears alone. There’s almost always some laughter, at least in my films. And it’s only a movie. It’s over when the lights come up. Kind of like a rollercoaster: one moment you’re plunging to your death, then you’re not. It also is a genre that really makes use of the language and tools of cinema in a way that, say, a rom com does not, so it’s fun to watch on that level.

What is your favorite scary movie?

The one that scared me the most was Wizard of Oz when I was about 5 years old. I was terrified when the witch melted. Horror films in general don’t scare me since I know they’re not real, and there are things in life that truly do scare me.  But I did find The Exorcist pretty scary. And also the Spanish film Rec, not the mediocre American remake.

Do you have any plans for this coming Halloween? And fun traditions that you try to stick to every year?

It was fun to take my kids trick or treating. But they’re grown now, and I live on a somewhat remote road, so no kids ever show up. I certainly don’t dress up. I leave that to the actors and the fans.

 

 

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

I’ve got a vampire movie very loosely based on Carmilla, a novel written ten years before Dracula, that I’m hoping we can put the financing together for. Like any good vampire movie, it’s about a lot more than vampires, and the script is terrific. I’m also involved in a bio pic about a woman, child of British parents, who grew up in Calcutta in the worst kind of poverty and deprivation, lost five of her sibling in childhood to malnutrition and disease, who worked her way out of poverty, moved to the UK, became wealthy, and went back to Calcutta to set up charities to help people who are in circumstances like those she grew up with. She won the Mother Teresa Award a few years ago. It would seem like quite a change for me, but it’s actually the sort of film I thought I’d be making when I first dreamed of being a filmmaker.

What was the last thing that scared the hell out of you?

My Great Pyrenees, Beau, almost dying of accidental poisoning.

What was the last thing that made you smile?

Beau coming home, healthy again.  And a few episodes of Seinfeld I’ve been catching up on. Particularly the one where George and Jerry take someone else’s airport limo and end up in a Nazi rally and the Yada Yada episode.

 

 

Mark Torgl [Interview]

 

Welcome to Day 30 of Trainwreck’d Society’s Annual Month of Horror Showcase! We have a fully loaded month of all things horror for you fine folks! October is our favorite month for this very reason, and we are so excited to share 31 full days of film showcases and interviews with some of the finest folks from the world of horror, just as we have been doing for the last 6 years. What started as a simple 5 day showcase, has now blossomed into a full blown month long event. You’re going to love this! Enjoy!

 

Happy Halloween Eve, Folks! We are reaching the end of our 2019 edition of our Month of Horror. And if there is one aspect of the world of horror that we simply can not stress enough to be absolutely wonderful and exhilarating, it has to be the world of Troma! Over the years we have featured dozens of key players who have done some absolutely amazing work in within the proverbial love child of Lloyd Kaufman. Therefore it seemed only fitting that when we were handed the opportunity to talk with one of the most legendary figures from the world of Troma, it would have to be during the grand finale of this whole event. We have showcased Troma figures in and out of the Month of Horror for years now, but this one is HUGE! It’s the motherfucking Toxic Avenger himself, Mark Torgl!

Mark is a delightful human being who portrayed the ultimate nerd turned superhero(?) just 35 short years ago in what could arguably be Troma’s best film, The Toxic Avenger. The cult following behind The Toxic Avenger and Troma in general is hands down one of the most fanatical groups of people the world will ever know. Loners and shut-ins, gore porn junkies, and comedy horror aficionados all know and love this film and production company for obvious reasons. It is a masterpiece of a B-Horror film. When one wants to even begin to have a conversation about the best B-Horror films of all time, it is practically a crime to not talk about this masterpiece of indie horror cinema. And Mark Torgl is a key figure behind it all. And what an absolutely fascinating figure he is in and out of the world of horror. By weekday Mark is an award winning television editor who has worked on some damn fine programs. And then comes the weekend where you can catch him at any given Con anywhere in the country keeping the spirit of The Toxic Avenger with very personal and forthright appearances.

Mark is a truly incredible person, and we are so excited to have him grace our digital pages on the second to last day of this year’s Month of Horror series. Also, I would implore you to check out the incredible documentary Mark has put out recently entitled The Toxic Tutu, which he will discuss below. It is actually available on Amazon Prime, so if you are up on that, it’s free! You have to see this incredibly unique and so much fun documentary that is detailed and again, just so much fun.

So Folks, please enjoy some wonderful words from the brilliant Mark Torgl!

 

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What inspired you to get into the world of entertainment and filmmaking? Was it an early aspiration you can always remember having since your youth, or did you just find yourself in this world one day?

I was a completely normal kid, I liked to capture flies and tie a string around their necks and fly them around as my pets. I had a large mayonnaise jar where I kept my collection of toenails like all kids have. I was inspired by Surreal filmmakers like Bunuel and Dali and Lynch while attending Michigan State University. I loved the way they stretched the normalcy of life into fantastical ideas. Bunuel’s “Un Chien Andalou” especially made me want to pursue film in some way.

 

 

 

What was your first paid gig in the world of entertainment? And were there any kind of lessons learned from this project that still affect your work today?

I worked with Troma on their film The First Turn On the previous year before Toxic Avenger. I was going to New York University Film School and Troma put a notice on our Job board to come work on a real feature film, it also said there was no pay, just good experience.  I met with Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz and they asked me what I wanted to do on the film?  I said I wanted to be the Script Supervisor so I could work with the director. Lloyd said ok you can be the Script Supervisor, what else do you want to do? I said, “I like writing”, Lloyd said, “Ok you can write some additional scenes, what else do you want to do?”  I said, “Can I direct?” Lloyd turned around pulled down his pants and said, “Only if you tickle my ass with a feather”. So I just did script super and additional writing. I didn’t sign on as an actor, but typically everyone on the crew of a Troma film ends up in the movie somewhere.  When the actor who was hired to play a major role, Dwayne a socially awkward super nerd, didn’t show up, Lloyd said, “Mark you go in and do the part”. The rest is history.

Dwayne was the obnoxious boyfriend of the sexy sleep away camp counselor. I had a famous scene where I met her parents and spread mashed potatoes and gravy through my hair, and fellated a corn of cob at dinner. I learned later that they had auditioned Madonna to play the camp counselor before she hit it big and they rejected her. It would have been epic to act with Madonna, oh well. The next year when they were auditioning for Toxic Avenger, after auditioning, they said hundreds of kids; Lloyd and Michael said what they were looking for  was the super geek nerd character like what I did in The First Turn On. They called me up and said, “If I want the part of Melvin, it’s mine.” I accepted and also did the script supervising. I still couldn’t bring myself to tickle Lloyd’s ass with a feather.

Working for Troma on my first gig has definitely affected my work in entertainment today, I now like to get paid.

 

 

In your own personal opinion, what do you believe it is that makes the horror genre special? What sets it apart from other genres you have worked in?

That sounds like an essay question worth 50% of my grade. Horror is the ultimate thrill escape! The same way people like roller coasters, they like to be scared and then to survive. I think that is what makes horror so repulsively appealing.

 

 

 

We are huge fans of the world that TROMA films has assembled over its time. You have appeared in several TROMA projects, including possibly the most renowned one of them all, The Toxic Avenger. So how do you enjoy working in the TROMA world? What makes it unique in your opinion?

 

Working on the set of Toxic Avenger was about as surreal as it gets! The sheep I had to kiss in the humiliation scene in the gym was full of jumping gnats and fleas and other unsightly bugs and worm like things.  After the transformation scene, the makeup I was in would not come off, after the makeup department tried unsuccessfully to remove it, they took me to a nearby YMCA where I went to scrubbing at the makeup in the shower they used for the swimmers. When a group of young boys went to the showers after their swim lesson, they came upon me, a naked 20 year old man violently scouring what looked like melting skin. I’m sure they were tromatized for life after seeing me. 

Troma movies are shot on a shoestring budget so there’s always some problem to overcome. When we shot the scene in Shinbone Alley where Toxic beats up Cigar Face, we disrupted a street person’s living area and he started waving a gun at us. The car in the chase scene when it flipped on it’s top, the roll bar protecting the stunt driver collapsed. We all ran to the car and saw only the passenger side collapsed, the driver was ok. Lloyd said if the driver died it would have been the end of Troma.  As far as I know no one has ever died on a Troma set. But stuff like this happened all the time; I could go on for pages.

 

 

 

What is your favorite scary movie?

The Toxic Avenger of course.  I’m also a huge Stanley Kubrick fan.

 #1 A ClockWork Orange A life changing journey.

#2 2001 A Space Odyssey An inspirational journey of evolution.

#3 The Shining. Redrum.  Are some of my favorites.

 

 

 

Do you have any plans for this coming Halloween? And fun traditions that you try to stick to every year? 

I might be doing a convention in New Jersey. I used to enjoy the parade in NYC, I now attend the West Hollywood parade or have a party at my house. I hear they are trying to make Halloween a holiday that always falls on the last Saturday in October, I think that is a great idea. 

 

 

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

I’ve been working on an homage to Toxic Avenger called Toxic Tutu.

It’s the almost true story ff whatever happened to Melvin The Mop Boy, Mark Torgl of Toxic Avenger. I made this film with director Joe Nardelli. Joe and I went to film school together. So I’ve known Joe for over 30 years. 5 years ago I was contacted by the Mad Monster Party Convention to make a guest appearance. I called Joe and told him about it.  Joe said, “ I’ll come and bring my camera and we’ll document it”. So Toxic Tutu evolved from a 3-day convention documentary to a 5-year feature length narrative film production. Toxic Tutu is now available world wide, streaming on Amazon Prime, GooglePlay, Vudu, Apple I Tunes, and available on DVD at Amazon, and other outlets.

 

 

 What was the last thing that scared the hell out of you?

I was making a guest appearance at Comic Con sitting in with the Troma Group when a dude showed up and pulled up his pant leg. He had a tattoo of my face on his leg, scared the shit out of me.

 

 

 What was the last thing that made you smile?

My day job as a TV editor. I enjoy working in dark stale rooms with producers looking over my shoulder as I create magic. I love the fact that I have never had to pound the pavement as an actor looking for work. It’s inevitable though that every once in a while I get that call, “Could you do this part for us in our new movie?  We loved you in Toxic Avenger”. I’ve recently done a role in a new movie, The Monkeys Paw and a Mercedes The Muse production of Mopboy I was also in Greetings From Tromaville! And Troma’s new movie Return To Return To Nuke Em High, I have a very disturbing self-pleasuring scene in this movie! Lloyd’s wife the Comish, objected to the scene, and it stops the movie into a freeze frame while she complains. Ha ha ha.

 

 

And a few more photos for you all, courtesy of Mark himself:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lin Shaye [Interview]

Welcome to Day 29 of Trainwreck’d Society’s Annual Month of Horror Showcase! We have a fully loaded month of all things horror for you fine folks! October is our favorite month for this very reason, and we are so excited to share 31 full days of film showcases and interviews with some of the finest folks from the world of horror, just as we have been doing for the last 6 years. What started as a simple 5 day showcase, has now blossomed into a full blown month long event. You’re going to love this! Enjoy!

 

Hello Folks! We have a very exciting interview to share with you all today! We have an incredible actress who we have been yearning to have on the site for quite some time. Pretty much since the inception of the site! And in recent weeks we have also be doting on a project that she was the lead role in entitled Room For Rent, having featured the film itself as well as having the film’s screenwriter and director featured here in our Month of Horror series. It’s the great Lin Shaye, Everyone!

Horror fans would obviously embrace this incredibly talented actress for her work in the Insidious and a plethora of other incredible projects, including our old friend David Dubos’s forthcoming NOLA-base thriller, Bayou Tales. Others will recognize her for her amazing character work in legendary Farrelly Brothers hits like Dumb & Dumber, There’s Something About Mary, and our most prized and personal favorite here at TWS, Kingpin which features our dear friend Vanessa Angel. Lin has amassed such a large body of work both within the horror genre and beyond. She has appeared in some of the most legendary films in the horror genre including A Nightmare on Elm Street, Critters 2, 2001 Maniacs, Wes Craven’s New Nightmare, and just so many more! We are so excited to have an absolute on-screen legend at the top of our Month of Horror!

So Folks, please enjoy some incredible words from the absolute legend, Lin Shaye!

 

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What inspired you to get into the world of acting? Was it an early aspiration you can always remember having since your youth, or did you just find yourself in this world one day?

What inspired me primarily is simple:   l love storytelling!…when I was little, I had no real “neighborhood friends”…(only my big brother Bob who definitely  would not play with me…!….but ironically would tell ME scary stories and also ironically would go one to becoming a champion of story telling himself, as he later created New Line Cinema, and some of the great Horror films of our time!)  …I spent lots of time by myself, with my dolls, and stuffed animals..I gratefully had a voracious and vivid imagination filled with detail and flights of fancy..I loved taking the clothes out of my closet, (much to my mom’s dismay!) and with my imaginary “stuffed friends”  I would dress up in different outfits, and me and my gang would make up stories where I would act out all the characters, and be the voices of all the dolls and animals.  I also loved pretending to be “someone else”…

What was your first paid gig in the world of acting? And were there any kind of lessons learned from this project that still affect your work today?

My first “paid gig” was when I was finally doing plays in New York.  I always pursued theater in high school and college though never thought about it as any kind of a career…it was just fun, and something I seemed to be good at….”pretending” to be other people…Most of the theater I did however was “equity waiver” which meant a play would run for 6 weeks, and the actors received NO PAY…I did not care in the least….My first “equity show” was at the Chelsea Theater Center.  It was The Screens:  a 5 hour play by Jean Genet.  5 hours….there was a dinner break for the audience!..I was non-union at the time.  I ended up understudying  the role I had auditioned for and wanted, but did not get, (which was usually the case!) and was given one line as a non-equity member in the ensemble…when I finally got to go on as “understudy” for a wonderful character I had auditioned for, (described as “the ugliest girl in the world,”  who wore a burlap bag on her head, covering it completely for the entire performance) that made me eligible to become a member of Actor’s Equity…the coveted and necessary union to be in, if you were serious about theater in New York…I think then, they “paid me”…the lesson learned?  Never give up, and you never know what will lead to what when you persevere….even if it looks bleak at the moment!

 

 

I absolutely LOVED your performance in the recently released film Room For Rent. I am curious to know what drew you to this delightfully bizarre tale? And how was your experience in making this wonderful film?

Thank you for seeing Room for Rent.  My “experience” with it is long and intense…and I love the character of Joyce almost more than any I have played.  The short hand is:  I had worked with Tommy Stovall the director 2 times before, and always loved and respected him.  He lives in Sedona…not a part of the “Hollywood scene”…a great person and talented artist.  He sent me the script on 2 separate occasions.  I did not like it at the first read…it was about “a psychopathic killer…blah blah blah…”  nothing new or interesting to me.  It did not impress me either on the second read, and as I was “turning it down for the 2nd time…and on the phone with Tommy…I tacked on to my “decline”…” you know?…it would be so much more interesting if this woman is not “crazy” but a victim of her circumstances, stemming from an abusive husband who pretty much “kept her as his ‘maid'” for the years of their marriage, and how, with his demise, she was left with no money and zero skills on how to navigate life for herself in this world…”  ..a woman who would lose herself in romance novels and fantasy because of her pain and loneliness”…bingo…yes…that was a good idea.!!!..and that was how Joyce began to evolve and  decline into a deranged madness when she felt betrayed. I actually wrote all the “romance novel” passages!….trying to marry the ideas in the novels  to the life and problems she was having for real!   I believe there are many women we will never know of,  who are “kept captive” by the men in their lives today..even with all the “me too” awareness, etc. now..and probably always….still all over the world, who are never allowed to experience love, freedom or themselves.

Beyond the world of horror, you also appeared in one of my favorite comedic films of all time, and gave another incredible performance. And that film was of course, 1996’s Kingpin, which also happened to feature our friend and past guest Vanessa Angel. So somewhat of the same question, how was your experience working on this insanely hilarious film?

Kingpin is still my all time favorite.  also truly long story.  The Farrellys did not want to see me for the role:  “the angriest ugliest woman God ever let loose on the planet”…their words…not mine.  I created that entire character…again in my bedroom all by myself !…wardrobe, hair coming out of my nostrils (actually eye lashes!) filthy hair, disgusting smoker, etc. and BEGGED over and over and over again to PLEASE LET ME COME IN AND READ.!!..but the answer was always:  “we love your work, but just don’t think you are right for this.”…..Finally a week before they were supposed to start shooting, I  got one of the producers on the phone and begged!!  BEGGGED!…telling him   “I have an entire presentation I have worked really hard on to show them”  He was in a good mood, liked me from Dumb and Dumber and said “Ok…sure, come in tomorrow”..OMG….Dressed totally as Mrs. Dumars I drove to Santa Monica to their office, sat on the floor (there were no casting chairs left!) for half hour while casting walked by me over and over…finally looking down in disbelief uttering:  “LIN???? I thought you were a homeless woman off the streets…we were just going to call the police!”…I guess I “nailed it”…!….or they were too afraid of me to say “no!”..

In your own personal opinion, what do you believe it is that makes the horror genre special? What sets it apart from other genres you have worked in?

Horror to me is special because it deals primarily with FEAR….experiencing fear with others in a safe place, is wonderful….and especially because it IS all “pretend,” but allows you to delve into your taboo places in public and safety.  Adrenaline is an addictive and  legal drug…

What is your favorite scary movie?

Favorite scary movie?  The Shining.

Do you have any plans for this coming Halloween? And fun traditions that you try to stick to every year?

I have no plans for Halloween….the most I have “celebrated,” since being a Panda and a Flapper as a kid.! ….has been at the Blumhouse Halloween party the last 2 years…!…Being “anonymous” is really fun..That is my favorite kind of costume, generally….Knowing people don’t know who you are is surprisingly freeing!…

 

 

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

Lots of goodies coming:  Grudge …a reboot of the original, produced by Sam Rami and directed by Nicholas Pesce (The Eyes of My Mother)  opens wide on January 6 2020!…I have a fantastic role and you will all be scared to death!..  I am also in the New Penny Dreadful for Showtime….a fantastic series unlike the last 3 seasons….it is all about Los Angeles and the evil and corruption that existed in 1938…a fantastic cast, and fantastic character…Also a film called Gothic Harvest, was released on DVD and Digital on Oct. 15, 2019 and will be on DVD Nov. 5, 2019,…AND.. my brother Bob Shaye who created New Line Cinema is releasing a film he directed,  called Ambition. which will also have a VOD, digital and DVD release later this year…….I gratefully have a cool role in that as well……all really cool stories!

What was the last thing that scared the hell out of you?

DONALD TRUMP.

What was the last thing that made you smile?

My dog…..and this last question…… xx