Exclusive Interview: Actor Adam Robitel Vs. Brian S.

Tim Sullivan and his Maniacs have wrapped their UK tour planted their feet right back here at home and now the good word has dropped that not only will 2001 Maniacs: Field of Screams make its US debut at Texas Frightmare Weekend (April 30-May 2) but that it will arrive on dvd and blu-ray in July via First Look Studios!  Adam Robitel returns in Field of Screams to reprise his role as Lester, the lovable and sheep chasing son of Mayor George W. Buckman (Bill Moseley). Being a son of Boston and a proud graduate of USC with a double major in film production and acting  Adam not only gives it his all on screen but he directs, produces, edits and writes as well. Sit back, take a break and join in on my continuing journey on the "Road to the Maniacs" and find out what Adam Robitel has to say about this much anticipated sequel and a few other things gong on.

Brian  S- Hi Adam, you return in 2001 Maniacs: Field of Screams reprising your role as Lester, Mayor Buckman's sheep chasing/ Jezebel loving son. What can you tell us about your character Lester in this 2nd installment?

Adam- Lester loves Jezebel, and he's just glad his Daddy saw fit to grant him passage on the bus. We got Jezzie a toddler safety seat and sedated her with special k.

Brian  S- Speaking of Jezebel, how is the old girl?

Adam- Jezebel has undergone some changes. Let's just say that age and time have not been kind to her, nor the formaldehyde. She is one static piece o' mutton chop, which makes mounting her sure as shit easier, but lessens the unpredictability, (which believe it or not added to the arousal). When she was still animated, Jezzy would occassionally bite my knotty bits or chafe the inside of my thighs... now, not so much. Though one time I got a paper cut on end of my main vein from the sawdust innards... needed Granny's toejam marmalade, to cool the sting...

Brian  S- One hard question Adam, how do you and the rest of the cast and crew keep a straight face when shooting the "Jezebel" scenes?

Adam- Aint straight, nor gay, or any other kind of face, other than the fierceness of lovemaking. When you are consumed by the fires of arousal and when your quadripedal love receptacle is geared up and ready to take you where you need to go, then the whole world disappears.  The burly, belching grips holding the lights, vanish. The tomboy art department gals, chain smoking and quietly wishing they didn't chronically fart..  and what you're left with... is a mystical sexual tango, between me and my lamb. 

Brian  S- Does Lester get to have any "killing time" in Field of Screams? If so explain for us?

Adam- My greatest heart pang to date is that Lester does not partake in a direct kills. He gets close, even got to pop out wearing a chinawoman's wig and channeling the late Mikey Jackson herself, but alas.... This leaves me with something to live for and hope eternal.  

Brian  S- Can you share any crazy/fun moments from shooting this crazy movie in Iowa? Any cool Maniac stories or weird experiences?

Adam- I remember one time our director, Tim, felt that the verisimilitude of the maniacs being cannibalis was important and so a few of the crew had actually gone to a local university, think in Omaha or something, and actually grabbed a vivisected arm from one of the bio labs. We all thought he was kidding and that it was an art department prop til we got wind of the stink! We didn't know what to make of the challenge. Later, when we broke for lunch, they had had craft service fry up a super small piece of the elbow meat... think it was mostly ligaments and stuff. Most passed, many gagged and only one of us swallowed!

Brian  S- Can you tell us if you'll be at any of the festival stops?

Adam- Hope to be at as many as my schedule affords. Would love to go to Dallas for May 1st, and definitely the Burbank Fango. 

Brian  S- Ok i have to say something, this might be the best damn looking cast a horror movie has ever seen! How can Maniacs look so good? How about your two new Maniac-ettes, Scarlett Red and China Rose?

 Adam- Scarlett Red induces a sexual fever in all those she encounters.  And  China Rose is so MSG hot, she'd make a celibate Pope, kick out a stain glass window. These ladies are fuego as in FU-ego.

 

Brian  S- Big question Adam , I ask all of ya'll this, how is it working with Tim Sullivan?

Adam- I've had the opportunity to work with Tim on two Maniacs movies now and you know, it keeps getting better. In a lot of ways, Field of Screams is really as close to the inner circus of Tim's soul as you're gonna get. As a director, he's very relaxed and his optimism is infectious. He's the most excited, animated and gleeful person on the set-- and this brings everyone else up.  He also knows exactly what he wants and is very specific, which takes a lot of the guessing game out of the acting process. From the production side, this movie is really a logistical achievement. We shot the movie in twelve days and Tim literally engineered the script so that it would maximize our locations and turn around time. The rapidity with which we moved and the page count each day was uncanny. I'm really proud of Tim's work on this  movie. It feels fresh and original and is a running commentary on all the taboos we hold near and dear, at the same time it really tows the line and doesn't become heavy handed. There are lots of nods and winks and Easter eggs that will invite repeat viewing. It's a lot of fun. As the editor of the film,  what amazed me about Tim was he was never precious about stuff and the pacing of even our first cut, was brutally efficient. He came right in cutting away, trimming the fat and shoe leather... if something felt leaden or unneccessary it was nixed. 

Brian  S- You do a little bit of everything, you act,direct, edit and write! Tell us a little about what all you have going on!

Adam- Well I love it all and am a bit schizophrenic that way. I love the thrill and discovery of acting, the immediacy and results of editing, but I'm really focusing my attentions on writing at the moment. I've got a script set up with a major producer in town and he's committed to raising financing. It's based on the true story of a family of serial killers that lived in the Kansas territory in the 1870's and it's really an amazing story that needs to be told.

Brian  S- Would you like to say anything to all of the 2001 Maniacs fans reading this?

Adam- Well, honestly... we're nothing without your continued support. It means so much to us, to know that we can put work out there and that people can respond to it in a visceral way-- either loving or hating it, either response is valid and fuck, it's better than walking through life apathetic or  worse, indifferent. So thanks for all the fans, nutts, rejects, geeks and outcasts...we've all got a little Maniac in us... we all go a little crazy sometimes....Just glad it's not always at the same time!

Brian  S- Thanks for your time Adam, good luck with everything and we'll be seeing you with the rest of the Maniacs real soon!

Contacting Adam Robitel:

ROBITEL MEDIA WORKS
www.robitelmediaworks.com
(p) 323.899.3957
(f) 310.581.0154  

PRODUCE
http://www.linkedin.com/in/adamrobitel
imdb.com/name/nm0733263/
http://www.evergreenmediamethods.com/

ACT
http://web.mac.com/arobitel/act/halo.html
http://arobitel.nowcasting.com/
Players Talent Agency 818.990.9577

http://twitter.com/AdamRobitel

Pictures courtesy of Adam Robitel and Tim Sullivan.