A: I first got into the movie business in the fall of 2006 on a whim. It was always a childhood dream of mine to be able to be in a movie. After years of finally tossing around the idea a co-worker finally encouraged me to go to Craigslist and check out the ads looking for actors for films. I went home that night and saw an ad on Craigslist looking for actors for a feature length horror film and I sent them an e-mail. At that time I had no resume and no head shot. But I told them I was a huge horror fan and they e-mailed me back within a day to set up an audition. I met with them in October of 2006 at the local Caribou Coffee down the street from where I live. I was so nervous since this was my first audition. After talking with them for an hour or so they offered me a part in their film. I remember telling them, "Can I think about it and get back to you in a few days?" I told them YES three days later with glee. Then we went into rehearsals in January of 2007 and shot on and off between February and March of that year. The film was "Tales of the Dead." My first film, and best of all, a horror film.

          A: I play Edward in the "Dinner Date" segment of "Terror Overload: Tales From Satan's Truck Stop," a full length horror anthology film from NFTS Productions. Edward is your average guy next door but with a secret. He is a quirky character that you actually might like in the first few minutes of the film until you find out how his dates end. Then you might not like him so much!!! A funny story about the casting of this film. I was not the original actor chosen to portray Edward. I was going to play Ray Rae in the "Mongo Chupa" segment of the film. Director Jason Stephenson e-mailed me and told me to trust him and that he wanted me to play Edward instead of playing the part of Ray Rae. He said this would work out for the best so I said yes and no other reason was given. I was excited when I found out that Ari Lehman, Jason from the original "Friday the 13th" was going to be playing the part of Ray Rae and was so happy to be in the same film with him after growing up watching "Friday the 13th" for years. You can purchase "Terror Overload" on www.amazon.com.

          A: I would say that "Terror Overload" is the kind of film that you can enjoy if you don't take it seriously and just have fun watching it. You have to watch it with a sense of humor and enjoy it for what it is as there are some great moments in it. It has an all star cast of independent actors such as Ari Lehman, Nicole Kruex, Scarlet Salem, Rachel Grubb, and Joe Knetter in it too. Maybe many years from now "Terror Overload" could be an independent cult film. Who knows? Only time will tell though!!

          A: One of the most difficult things about filming was when I had to cut the bra off of Rachel Grubb after using a real knife to toy with her. We had one take to get this right and when I started to cut the bra, the scissors I was using were very dull. That is when you see me take the bra and rip it in two to get it off of her. That part was not planned, it just happened. This was also one of the first times I was in a scene in a film that had any nudity in it. However, Rachel Grubb and I appeared in many films together and were comfortable with each other in working together and we trusted each other to pull the scene off. When I filmed the scene at the end of the film where Edward appears, it was cold as the scene was filmed near a lake in the early hours of the morning deep in the woods. We had a fire going to keep us warm. I was freaked out by the location, especially driving so deep into the woods on a dark night. Then when Nicole Kruex and I got to the location where we were filming, Joe Knetter came running at us with a real chainsaw. I thought, "Wow!! This feels like I'm in the middle of a horror movie." Then I realized we were filming one and thought how cool it was after all!! I was also worried when I had to fall face down on the ground for fear that I would hit a rock or something as I could not see where I was falling. But I lived to tell the tale and am glad the way it all turned out. Where are the stunt men on independent films when you really need them? LOL!!!

          A: "Tales of the Dead:" This was my very first film, a five part horror anthology in which I play the lead Vince Prize in "The Radio" segment and the victim in the "Mistress of the Tower" segment. I was so anxious, nervous, and excited to be a part of it. The first night we filmed at an antique store that was owned by a friend of my mom's. It was bitterly cold and the other actor didn't show up to shoot his scene. I thought my film career would be over before it even started. But Merle Johnson filled in at the last minute and stepped out from behind the camera to be in front of the camera and play the creepy shop owner who sells me the antique radio. We reshot my original death scene over a year later when the director Tim Rasmussen came up with a better death for me. After hitting my head so hard on the table while filming this scene, I had a huge bump on the back of my head for days. I kept trying to tell myself that "Pain is temporary. Film is forever." I had so much fun being in a film and have great memories from my time on this film. I think that no matter how many projects I do that "Tales of the Dead" will always be very near and dear to me since it was my first film and that because it has brought me to where I am now. You would not be interviewing me now if it weren't for "Tales of the Dead" and I'm so grateful to Haunted Autumn Productions for giving me this chance. For more information on "Tales of the Dead" you can check out http://www.hauntedautumn.com or purchase the film on www.amazon.com. This film also lead to me casting my first film, "Trinity," by Merle Johnson of Merle Productions.









          "Night on Has Been Mountain:" "Night on Has Been Mountain" is the second film I'm working on with Tim Rasmussen and Merle Johnson of Haunted Autumn Productions. It centers around a young news reporter named Burton Lapp who goes out to find out whatever happened to the monsters of yesteryear. Along the way he encounters many creatures of the night played by variuos independent actors such as Nicole Kruex, Rachel Grubb, Scarlet Salem, Ari Lehman, Joe Knetter, and Derek Dirlam. Linnea Quigley even gets in on the fun and gives some insight into acting in independent films. This film should be available sometime in 2011 for release.

          "Potpourri:" "Potpourri" is an independent feature length horror/comedy film directed by Elliot Diviney of Diviney Pictures. Brandon Van Vliet, the producer of the film, got in touch with me on behalf of Elliot to offer me the role of Preston Fenwick in the film. It is a small cameo but my character plays a significant role in the film. I had lots of fun being a part of this film and am looking forward to the release of it sometime in 2011. For more information on "Potpourri" and to check out the trailer, please check out the website at http://www.potpourrimovie.com/.

          "The City:" I have a cameo as a victim in the feature length shock film "The City." I filmed my scenes on a cold night in the middle of March at the old haunted Soap Factory in Minneapolis, MN. I was the last actor to shoot my scenes that night after waiting for the other actors to film for 7 hours. After filming I drove home during a blizzard. But it was worth it. "The City" was directed by James Vogel and should be available for purchase in the near future.

          "Camp Kill:" I heard about auditions for the feature film "Camp Kill" in the spring of 2008 when I was in the midst of filming about a half dozen films at the same time. Uff da!!! I was reluctant to find out that once I got the part it was filming in the summer and I could breathe a bit easier. I play the part of the camp counselor Lenny. It's a small part but a lot of fun. I remember being sprayed down in between takes with bug spray because the mosquitoes were horrible in the location where we filmed my scenes. "Camp Kill" is an epic horror/comedy film that was directed by Nate Hanley. You can purchase the film at http://campkill.com/. Sadly, while writing this, I found out that Ken Hanley, who served as a Jack of all trades on "Camp Kill" and who also played the killer in the film, passed away on September 2nd of this year. My thoughts are with his son Nate during this difficult time. Rest in peace Ken. You were a great guy!!!

          A: Oh yes!! There are lots of directors and producers out there that I'd love to work with someday. Tobe Hooper, John Carpenter, Sean S.Cunningham, James Cameron, Woody Allen, Martin Scorsese, Joseph Zito, Danny Steinmann, Marcus Nispel, and Adam Marcus, just to name a few, as well as any new director or director of independent films. I would love to film outside of MN so get in touch with me if you need the guy next door who has a secret, the crazy on the prowl, the gay party boy, or the quirky sidekick. I'm your man!!! Hee, hee!!!!

          A: I usually try to pick out projects that are creative and fun and that have a different character in them that I've not portrayed before. I try to look at the writing of the script and also try to analyze the character I'd be portraying to see if they have something in them that I can draw upon to relate to them in my performance. I have had some directors get in touch with me after seeing me in a certain role in a film and having a character in their film that they know I would be perfect for. I always feel humbled and honored when this happens and am glad that they have found something in my work that they enjoy and that they want to have me in their film.

          A: There are lots of fun and interesting things about me that most people don't know. I sometimes think that my real life is far more interesting than any film I've been in. But maybe that's just me. Let's see. For starters I am very shy. Believe it or not, yes I am. But never in the midst of a camera. Then I come out of my shell. I also have some Indian ancestry in me. My first job was at KFC. I was married on December 31st, 1999, at the Chapel of Love at the Mall of America. I was married for nearly 3 years before I came out of the closet on September 11th, 2001. Yes!! I do things in a big way I know. I have dined with Irish McCalla, the original "Sheena, Queen of the Jungle," and George P. Wilbur, Michael Myers from "Halloween 4 and 6," along with Warren Anderson and Nicole Kruex. I am a lyricist and have written lyrics to over 300 songs since 1998. I recorded my first song "Who Did You Call Baby Last Night" in 2009. The character of Lathan Bronx from the Ginger Stein: Rise of the Undead" comic book by Dennis Willman is based on me and I also modeled for the character. Aside from horror movies I also love classic movies from the Golden Age of Hollywood. My favorite actress/entertainer from that era is Mae West. I am related to Canadian strongman Louis Cyr (1863-1912), "the strongest man who ever lived." I am also related to the world famous Dionne Quintuplets from Canada and to Saint Brother Andre of Canada as well as King Baldwin V of Hainaut, France. My childhood was featured in the October 1988 edition of Country Home Magazine. And that's all I can think of for now!!!!!

          A: The last horror movie I watched was the documentary "His Name Was Jason." I love this DVD and it's so much fun to see the actors from the film series and what they look like today. Did I mention that the "Friday the 13th" film series are my favorite horror movies? They are. I grew up with these movies as a kid, sneaking behind my parents' back to watch them. I love them and still do!! They are great!!! I would love to be involved with any new "Friday the 13th" film shall they ever make some more down the road. That would be one of my dream roles. I'm also looking forward to seeing the new "Saw 3D" in the theater soon. And I love the "Sleepaway Camp" series as well and the gay-themed horror film "Hellbent." I also love some very obscure horror movies, particularly ones that were referred to as HORROR HAG movies, which refers to older actresses from the Golden Era of Hollywood in the twilight of their career appearing in a low budget horror film. Some of my obscure favorites are Miriam Hopkins in "Savage Intruder," Tallulah Bankhead in "Die, Die, My Darling," Gloria Swanson in "Killer Bees," "Joan Crawford in "Trog," and Anita Page in Witchcraft XI: Sisters in Blood." I love to watch these wonderful actresses step in front of the camera again during their later years and have some fun with their roles. I also have a huge collection of horror films, a lot of them obscure along with some of the classics as well.

          A:You're very welcome Rich. Thanks for interviewing me. I would also love to thank my family, friends, and fans without whom none of this would be possible.