Interviews:
Interview with Brinke Stevens: I have the chance from time to time to get interviews on camera when time and location allow. The following interview was sent to Brinke Stevens, scream queen and previous scientist, because I couldn't sit down and talk to her. Brinke currently calls California home and I'm located in Flordia. A country apart but after sending questions through emails, she generously answered and sent them back. I tried to think of questions that I thought she may not often be asked and questions I hadn't asked previously.
I first met Brinke when working on the set of Corpses Are Forever. Ironically, her character was one of a scientist/doctor. 
Between takes, I had the opportunity to talk to her. She was very approachable and fun to talk to. I remember seeing her in various films, such as "The Slumber Party Massacre", "Private School ", "Hell Night", "Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-A-Rama" and many, many more. Now I'm working on a film with her, pretty cool if I say so myself. We wrote from time to time after the shoot was a rap.
I attended the FX Convention in Orlando, FL back in 2007. I got my tickets and found out later that Brinke was going to be one of the guests. I looked forward to seeing a friend. It was an interesting con and I had a chance to sit at Brinke's table and catch up. I brought her up to speed about the reviews show Woody & I had been submitting to Youtube. That's when I approached her about an interview. I had no camera or recorder but asked if I could email them to her. She was interested and the following interview is the result of that generousity. Please take some time and visit Brinke's site at www.brinke.com to get a little history about this fine lady. If you haven't had the opportunity to see a film with Brinke Stevens, take a look at the awesome list of previous films as well as what she's working on now and in the near future.
Hell, drop her a line and tell her Jerry sent you...enjoy.
Jerry: Brinke, what made you decide that you wanted to work in the film industry?
Brinke: I always say that my carreer chose me, I didn't choose it. I was happy working as an environmental scientist, until funding cut-backs put me out of work. It was never my fondest dream to become an actress--honestly, it never even occurred to me. Then one fateful day, I happened to wander past a casting agency in LA. They put me in a movie the very next day, as an extra in "All the Marbles". I enjoyed acting so much that I stuck with it for the next 28 years, and I have appeared in about 140 films now.
Jerry: What would you say was your favorite film you worked on and why?
Brinke: I'd have to say "Haunting Fear". It was the biggest part I'd ever played--of a housewife slowly being driven insane--and I was in
almost every scene. Also, I was able to work with stellar actors like Jan-Michael Vincent and Karen Black. Oh, it was one of the first films where I actually stayed alive till the end-credits.
Jerry: I know you're known as a "Scream Queen" but is Horror and Sci-Fi your first choices when it comes to working in a particular genre?
Brinke: My first big movie job was for Roger Corman in "Slumber Party Massacre". Quickly, many more B-movie roles followed. I was almost immediately type-cast in Hollywood, which is a hard thing to break out of. Fortunately, I've always loved to watch horror and sci-fi movies, so I can't complain.
Jerry: What type of role would you like to play in the future?
Brinke: I think it would be fun to work on a lavish, historical costume-drama set in some foreign land. I haven't done that yet.
Jerry: Who was the most memorable actor you've worked with, why and if you had your choice, live or dead, would you like to work with?
Brinke: I've worked with Tony Perkins, "Psycho 3", and Rob Reiner, "Spinal Tap", who were delightful. In recent films, I look forward to co-starring with Debbie Rochon, who is a great gal. I wish I could have worked with Roddy McDowell...he had such an understated grace in "Hell House". I'd love to do a musical dance number with Christopher Walken.
Jerry: Do you prefer working in front of or behind the camera?
Brinke: So far, I've been satisfied being an actress. But I'm also a writer--I just sold my 5th screenplay, "Devil's Highway". I've been a producer on horror documentaries like "Shock Cinema" and "Something to Scream About". Presently, I'm attached as a director to Ted Newsom's fabulous script "Alias Dr. Ghoul". I'm looking forward at trying my hand at somehting new, like directing.
Jerry: What so you do when you're not at a convention or working on a film, I guess I'm asking what you're home life is like when you have some down time?
Brinke: It seems my work is my life. In 2006, I did 12 conventions and 15 movie shoots--I lived in various hotels for most of that year. In 2007, I deliberately stayed home more to write two new scripts; I only did 6 conventions and 8 movie shoots. On rare occasions when I'm home in Los Angeles, I hike in the beautiful canyons, cook gourmet meals for my friends, watch a lot of DVD's and explore any new art or museum exhibits.
Jerry: From your experiences, what advice would you give to actors or actresses trying to break into film?
Brinke: First, it helps to know a bankable skill apart from acting--like website design or even data entry. It's always good to have something to fall back on in those lean times. Second, it truly is "Who You Know". Networking is vitally important. You can use the internet, or go to conventions to meet filmmakers in person. Get your photo and resume out there. Once you've achieved some film credits, then create an actors demo reel of clips.
Jerry: If you had the opportunity, is there anything you would do differently in your carreer?
Brinke: Nope, nothing I would change...I'm happy with it all. I certainly made the most of it, soon parlaying my first few acting roles into a prosperous cottage industry: comic books, model kits, trading cards, posters and so on. I absolutely gave it my all, and as a result, I will be remembered in cinema.
Jerry: When can we expect to see your name on an Oscar nomination?
Brinke: Currently, I'm working on my "Magnum Opus"--a surreal script about my life; it revolves around a time I spent with director Federico Fellini in Hollywood. It'll be a weird, wacky art film that just might get me noticed by the Academy...I sure hope so!
Now, I received Brinke's reply to my questions a few months ago and I must apologize to her as well as you for the delay. I hope you enjoyed an inside look to Brinke. If you're ever at a convention and she this beautiful lady's name as part of the guest list, do yourself a favor, stop by her table and say hi.
Brinke thank you for being so candid...talk to you soon. Keep kicking ass!!
