- Elissa Dowling has appeared in over 50 movies, including "Orgy of Blood". Anyone looking for more info on Elissa or her films, can visit her at her website, her IMDB page or her myspace page.
Q: Elissa, can you explain how you first got into the movie business?
A: It's an ironic story. During my senior year of college my friends and I were hanging out at my pad sipping on PBR and watching some random b-grade horror flick. I was like "Man wouldn't it be cool to star in a Lions Gate horror flick". Six months later I did.
Q: Would you please explain your acting role in "Orgy of Blood"?
A: In Orgy of Blood, I place a reckless party girl whose curiosity and mindless self indulgence gets the better of her in the worst way.
Q: Knowing how movie reviews may skew the perception of one's product, give us in your own words what you want people to know about the film.
A: I just like to make films not analyze them (laughing). I feel that you should see them for yourself and draw your own conclusions. It was a fun shoot. I felt like I was working with family and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Of course the added benefit of sexy naked people was a big plus. If that doesn't help sell it I don't know what will? (laughing).
Q: If there were one part of the filming that was more difficult than you expected, what would that be? Getting a costume to work? Appearing in a certain scene? Certain lines?
A: Basically Orgy was smooth sailing, Everything seemed to come very naturally to me. Admittedly maybe because I tend to be an overindulgent party girl in my everyday demeanor (laughing). The only minor setback was that we had to reshoot some scenes due to some technical issues but I it worked out well because the second round was better than the first.
Q: Was there any one day, one moment where you just knew the film would work they way you thought it could?
A:
There was that moment when Chandler Maness spun me around and bent me over. I thought to myself... hmmm this could definitely work (laughing).
Q: Looking back, I see that you’ve also appeared in many films. Can you tell me a little about each film and your experience with it? First ”Live Evil”?
A: Live Evil recently hit theaters. The cast includess Tim Thomerson, Ken Foree and Tiffany Shepis. I'm not sure how much I'm allowed to reveal until it hits the shelves but I can tell you that my character gets into a very hairy predicament (laughing).
Q: How about "Caged Lesbos A-Go-Go"?
A:
I play a mean prison guard whose stoicness and brutality is very Ilsa-esque. It worked for me because I filmed 8 consecutive films that month and worked the Fangoria Convention. I don't think I had any emotion left in me at the point. I had a somewhat minor role but I understand Llyod Kaufman plays President Obama. That ought to be interesting!
Q: How about "Dracula's Curse"?
A:
Believe it or not, I actually got that gig off Craigslist.com an hour before I had to be on set. Although it was a heavily featured role it had no dialogue. I arrived around noon along with another actress, but had to wait until 2 am to shoot. By that time, the other actor had left so by default they had me. I was brand spanking new and I remember being scared shitless. As it was my first flick, and the director wanted me to cry on cue. I somehow managed to pull it off and I've worked with the director several times since..
Q: How about "His Name Was Jason: 30 Years of Friday the 13th"?
A:
It was shot at Universal Studios, they even drove me around in a fancy pants golf cart (laughing). It required a whole lot of screaming and I walked away hoarse and with lovely array of black and blues from throwing myself around. The thing is: what matters most to me is what's on film, the rest takes care of itself. It aired on cable on Starz and I believe went straight to dvd. The end result was we had a great time and I ended working with Tom Savini again on a promo for the Verses Network the following weekend.
Q: Finally, "The Legend of Bloody Mary"?
A:
Listen to the commentary on that on that one, it pretty much terrified everyone on set. Even the editor in post was frightened(laughing). Fortunately the Director,the Producer and I had shared some beers on a previous evening, so they knew it wasn't the real me. The character I played was a severely traumatized hospital patient who had witnessed Bloody Mary massacre her friends as a teen. Later you find out the only reason she's spared is because she is a direct descendant of Mary. I arrived in character for the role and pretty much stayed that way until I woke up the next morning, it was important for me to play it as genuinely as possible.
Q: What's next for you? Can you tell me what you have going on in 2009?
A: I can't really talk about a lot of projects until they've been shot because unfortunately most are subject to change. Life as an actor is a f'n rollercaster and there are times when you feel like jumping off (laughing). I can tell you that I have a western and a thriller lined up. Both have some established actors attached whose work I admire. I have a cameo in a larger scale horror film with several horror icons. Is that vague enough for ya? (laughing). I've got several films lined up with Creep Creeperson as well as another horror film called Poe with Metropolis Pictures Entertainment, the same production company that I worked with on Never on Sunday. It looks like I may also working on a film based on the life of Charles Manson.
Q: Is there any movie director or producer you’ve never worked for that you really want to work for one day?
A:
Tarantino or Burton.
Q: What do you look for when picking projects?
A: Yeah I do have some requirements, like will they pay my rate (laughing). Actually the characters are very important to me even more than the overall script. As long as I can find myself in their skin and don't have to show too much skin, most often I'm in. For me nudity is not completely out of the question but it has to be the right project (laughing). I also try to work with people that have heart in the project, learned that the hard the way. If I don't see respect, drive and passion in the production, it's hard to stay motivated.
Q: Anything you wish to add for my readers and visitors? Something special about you that they probably do not know?
A: Okay so true story I have an extra rib on my left side that juts out and is longer than the others. Sexy huh? One day when I can afford to I'm going to have it removed so I can toss it around like a boomerang: Flintstone style. Either that or like Adam I'll use it to create a new species of man, depending on my mood.
Q: Finally...this is an "Obscure Horror Movie" website. Can you name the last horror movie you watched either at the theatres or on dvd, etc? How about name a favorite horror film that you have seen that most people probably haven't seen?
A: My favorite somewhat obscure horror film would have to be Dead Alive.
Q: Thank you very much for doing this.
A:No sweat, that's why they pay me the big bucks. (laughing)
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