Horror movies &stuff Interviews actor A. Lee Perkins
We recently chatted with rising horror genre star A. Lee Perkins, who is building more and more of a name for himself in the genre as of late. "Edges Of Darkness", "Carnies", and "Psychomatika" are just a few of the upcoming horror films he will be appearing in. Now...he chats with us about all of that, and more!
MR. H:Okay so how did you first get interested in acting?
Lee:My mom says I started when I was in first grade, but I don't remember that. I guess I always wanted to be someone special, and acting allows me to do that. A killer one day and the hero the next. Now to me, that sounds like fun. I do remember lying in front of the TV and watching all those old great war films. I think that is when the bug hit me. Someone has to save the world...or destroy it!
MR. H:As of late, well over the past 2 years...you've strayed towards doing more horror projects. Is that because that's where the work is currently for you, or are you trying to purposely build a reputation in that particular genre?
Lee:I would love to build a reputation in horror (and hopefully I am). The fans are great, and the filmmakers are very supportive of each other. "KatieBird" opened the door for me and introduced me to a whole new world I knew nothing about. I still do non-horror, and it seems like it's 50-50 mix. My goal is to get in a big-budget horror film, but I will never leave the smaller ones. That's where the creative ideas live and great roles are created.
MR. H:Right now you're currently working on a film. Can you tell us the name of that movie and what it's about?
Lee:It's called "Psychosomatika", and it's a thriller/horror that has some good people in it, like Lynn Lowry. Don't want to give too much away, but the script is cool. I play a guy who is that weird neighbor everyone has had once in their life. You know the guy -- the one who is just a little off and is always watching everyone.
MR. H:Your most controversial film to date is "JOB", which has yet to be released. Going into that picture, in which you play Father Jackson Carpenter, were you worried at all about the controversy the film would raise in religious circles?
Lee:Not really. The brothers who wrote it (John and Spencer) were very straightforward about what they wanted. It's a tale about how if you do something bad...bad will find you. The sad part is that the film has been put on hold. Twice things were ready to roll, and twice schedules and money have been problems.
MR. H:On the subject of "Job", do you think it's important to do films, horror or not that deal with touchy issues, yet at the same time issues that need to be addressed?
Lee:Sure. Films can be enjoyable and also educational. I learn a lot by watching them. Do all films need to have a message? Not really, but it's cool if they do. And it's even better when the message is hidden and doesn't hit you till later. I think that is where storytelling came from. It was a way to educate people in a creative way. The films I hate are the ones that try to beat you over the head with their message.
MR. H:In "Job" you got to work with director John Gray, in "Carnies" it was Brian Corder, and in "Edges Of Darkness" Jason Horton. From Your point of view...what separates those three directors as far as directing style goes?
Lee:With John and Brian, they were both first time directors. With first-timers, you get a lot of passion. This is their baby that they have dreamed about for a long time. That kind of power can infuse a set. Bring everyone to another level. With Jason, I knew him from New Orleans. We were both evacuated because of Katrina. Jason is a writer, director and editor. When he tells you what he wants, you know he has already seen it from the final edit. He has his style down and is good at controlling the set. That is something only experience can bring.
MR. H:Now here's something alot of people may not know, you actually played death in a low budget vampire flick called "Web Of Darkness". What was that experience like?
Lee:It would have been cool...except that it's not true. That is one of those weird things that IMDb.com has wrong. I know the filmmaker and some people it, but I never had a role. I've tried to get it corrected, but IMDb is tough. It's like it's written in stone. But thanks for asking!
MR. H:Do you ever think you might get into directing or producing some day?
Lee:I did a short a few years ago as co-writer, director and producer. And what I found out is that I should stick to acting. I really wasn't good at those other jobs. Glad I did it, so now I know. The short (before you ask) was about the Verizon Guy killing the Sprint Guy. You can find it on You Tube...but why???
MR. H:In "Carnies", you play Professor James Algonquin, in "Job" Father Jackson Carpenter, and in "Edges Of Darkness" Paul. Tell us a bit about each of those characters respectively, and how are they alike and or different from one another?
Lee:For "Carnies", I just took the character way out there. It was my first horror role after "KatieBird" and I wanted to make it very different...and I did. "Carnies" was set in the 1930s, so it had all that great vintage equipment and clothes. "Edges of Darkness" was set in the near future (when the world is coming to an end), and Paul is a renegade priest trying to killing the Antichrist. So just because of the eras in which the movies were set, the characters were very different. The Professor was a kind of bumbling idiot who was in love with his son, a "pickled punk" -- basically a deformed baby in a bottle. (I told you the character was way out there.) Paul was just quiet and powerful. He was on a mission from God, just like the Blues Brothers. (I wonder how many of your readers are old enough to get that joke?!)
MR. H:What's the current release status you've heard so far for "Carnies" and "Edges Of Darkness"?
Lee:"Carnies" has been shooting some additional scenes. I think they wanted to expand the story, which I think is smart. Too many filmmakers just want to get it out there. I'm glad they are taking their time. "Edges of Darkness" is still polishing the editing. I know that they have been contacted by distributors, but I don't think they have made any decisions. I think they are going to hit some festivals and cons first. Both should be seeing daylight in the first half of 2008.
MR. H:Have the directors of said films discussed with you the matter of bringing you back for any possible sequels to those movies?
Lee:Normally I'm not a big fan of doing a role a second time. Once I've done the film, I want to move on. Play someone else. But nothing is ever written is stone (except on IMDb). The producer for "Edges" wants to shoot a prequel and a sequel. So there was some talk during shooting. I guess it's all up to the horror fans and what they want to see.
MR. H:What's the funniest thing to ever happen to you at a con, movie premier, or industry event?
Lee:I don't know about the funniest, but one of the coolest things happened in Texas at a con. A fan had his car painted with his favorite horror films and then had people from those pics sign it. It looked kick butt!
MR. H:Other than "Desolation", what other projects lie in the future for Lee Perkins?
Lee:"Desolation" is an interesting script, and it looks like that will be shot right after the first of the year in North Carolina. In post is "Live Evil". It's a story about vampires, set in a time when human blood becomes unfit for them. It has a ton of action, including car crashes. Also in post is the "The Red Machine". It's a period film (non-horror) set before WWII. I play a Navy spy, and I have high hopes for that film. I love going back and forth, doing horror and non. That way it never gets boring. Of course, a horror set is never boring. Bring on the blood! It's like sex...you can never have enough!
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