Exclusive Interview: Actress Melanie Robel Vs. Brian S

Melanie Robel has only been acting in the "biz" for a few short years and she's already added the "executive producer" status to her resume with the upcoming Post Mortem America: 2021. Check out the interview below where she talks about her projects, what she does in her spare time and her guilty pleasures. Melanie also surfs and I needs me some lessons, I wonder if she's up for this kinf of task? This first image of Melanie is from artist Dennis Willman who does these amazing "Playzom" pieces inside his upcoming Ginger-Stein series and also does work with Comic Book Divas.



Brian  S- Hi Melanie, so how'd you get into acting?

Melanie- When I was very young we discovered that I was able to memorize movie dialogs by listening, and then I would do one man shows. Complete with voice and expression changes. I remember my sisters and I would reenact the songs in Annie. My dog Bear played Sandy. It was all in fun, so I never really pursued it. Instead I was a musician, a ranking bassoon player. After a hand injury I couldn't play anymore and we moved to Florida. Hoping that my injury had healed, I tried it again. It wasn't, I couldn't, so I was really depressed. This one kid, a redhead, kept picking on me so I punched him. Between that and making the Band Director cry, I was sent to the office. They called my mum and were going to expel me. My mum said that’s what I wanted, so it wouldn't be a punishment. So they put me in drama class. That’s how it all began. I also was in training to be a classical ballerina. During a performance I was dropped and that was that. What a lot of people don't realize is that this is my second time at acting. I've been to Cali, but at the time I was marketed wrong and couldn't get an agent. I decided to take a break from it all. What got me started again was meeting Jason Liquori, from Hocus Focus Productions. I was on set for a short film and he took pictures of me. Then people started to notice me. He also cast me in his movie Stopped Dead, as a cheerleader, which was a lot of fun. Then I was cast for Into the Basement, which is directed by J.L Botehelo. Then for Zen Hunter, directed by Jim DeVault. I also feel that Joel and Cathy Wynkoop have helped me a lot and we have become good friends. I met them on the set of For Nicole's Sake, by Dustin Hubbard. The Wynkoops have supported, helped me and have introduced me to others. I can't list everyone, but you know who you are and as always, thank you.

Brian  S- Tell me about about some of the projects you have going on!

Melanie- 'The Perfect Serial Killer' is a project that I think it’s amazing that I am a part of. I mean, have you seen the cast list? Courtney Gains, Erin Moran, Tony Todd, Camden Toy, Larry Laverty and DeeDee Bigelow to name a few. Wow! It’s about two detectives who are faced with the challenge of figuring out who could be The Perfect Serial Killer. When you think about it, it really gets your mind going in circles. I am Mary Crawford and I am the only one with movie parents. When you look at the character list, you see a lot of Marys and a lot of blondes. Could there be a pattern here? Guess you will have to watch the movie and see.

'Bikini Monsters' is directed by Terrence Muncy. Picture this….“In a laboratory somewhere along the coast of Florida, a scientist is working feverishly on a grisly experiment. Known by the local transients only as the “Beach Bum” he is trying to create his vision of ultimate beauty, a mermaid. But test after test end up in failure, leaving behind a series of mutated abominations. Still, the experiment continues.” I am Rose who becomes a 'bikini monster'. This movie was a blast to do. We got airbrushed, played in the sand and ran around in Bikini’s the whole time. Some of the actors are Sara Maas, Brad Guerrie, Ray Martinez, Jamie Lea, who looked scary as hell airbrushed green, and Mike Christopher, who we all know from Dawn of the Dead. I am really excited  about this, the DVD Release is for September 2010.   

'Zen Hunter' 's directed and written by Jim DeVault, who describes the film as “a sexy vampire tale set in modern day America. Zen, the title character, is captured by centuries-old vampire Quintana, a descendent of Spanish nobility, to serve as both obedient servant and (if she has her way) Zen's eternal lover. As Zen becomes accustomed to her new life, a battle of wills rages between her and Quintana that can have only one victor! As they clash, Zen's best friend Joni, and her boyfriend Brent, follow a trail of murders to Zen and Quintana. For Joni, what she finds at the end of the trail will be the ultimate test of friendship.” I am Joni. There is Nicole Kruex, Elissa Dowling, Tim Taylor, Sarah Virgina Brock, Larry Laverty and Thomas Daniel who is Brent. Lucky me.   

'Into the Basement' is written by Norm Applegate and Nicholas Grabowsky. It’s based on the novel by Norm Applegate. Women are disappearing, hunted by a sadistic killer and the Police Department call in an unlikely hero to stop the madness. I am Susie Smallwood, a very young “entertainer”. In the project also are Courtney Gaines, Naama Kates, David Fine, DeeDee Bigalow, Larry Laverty and Jonathan Breck, from Jeepers Creepers.  

'La Fleur De Mai' is a web series that is about three young men.  One has aids, one he thinks has aids, and one doesn't want to get tested, or just doesn't care. It's about how their decisions affect the family and those around them. I am Tiffany Geary, a renegade high school student that doesn't give shit about people. I love what Durand St. Hilare, the writer of La Fleur de Mai has done with her. We start shooting in September. I already know that as her I am going to be listening to a lot of Tom Waits and Joan Jett, the original renegades.  We have an awesome cast and still casting for more members. This show is going to be a breakout role for newcomers in the industry. I am looking forward to working with everyone.

Brian  S- I'm really looking forward to Post Mortem 2021 and Alien Vengeance, the names just sound awesome! Are they awesome Melanie?

Melanie- 'Post Mortem America 2021' is my first full length movie. Post Mortem America 2021 is what I would call a spaghetti western meets zombies movie. There are twists and turns that no one is going to expect. It’s a wonderful story about revenge and I think people are going to be able to relate to it. I couldn't be happier that this is my first full length. I mean it has Linnea Quigley, Larry Laverty, Jim O'Rear, Monqiue DuPree,  Nicola Fiore, and Ruby Larocco. Just to name a few. Its pretty amazing. It has a lot of gun fights, Zombies, it's not your typical horror movie. One thing I love about it, is you really can't tell who is the bad guy, who is sane and who isn't. I can't remember, but I think Jim O'Rear said it best, Its Quention Tartantino meets Zombie Movie. Its in black and white, and looks like it's shot on Film. I love it cause it reminds me of the old news reels from the 1940's.

'Alien Vengeance' is a drive-in rape, get back at them movie, it has funny moments. According to the beyondnerds.com review, "Its a movie that you've never seen before, with some cheesey acting. Its a series that will get better and a Ed Wood kind of a movie."  I am proud that I am the "over actor" and that my alien rape scene was deemed better than Evil Dead's, according to beyondnerds.com. I would like to say I haven't seen it yet, so if Evil Dead lovers read this, I can't say this is correct.  I thought the review was funny as hell. If it was written I would put in my scarp book. Let me tell you what, doing the rape scene was uncomfortable as hell.  I was only wearing a cotton sundress and it was one of the colder days in Fla. I had wet "stuff" on me and yea...then top of that, being raped by alien. Hahahaha! It was one of the greatest learning experiences I had onset, in so many different ways.

Brian  S- You even pulled the executive producer role on Post Mortem, is this something you'll be doing more of in the future?

Melanie-  I would love to do more of that, also I would love to be a casting director. I know at some point I am going to stop being in front of the camera. So, I am watching and learning now.

Brian  S- What's been the best experience in movie making for you so far?  

Melanie-  Being able to say I got to work with Linnea Quigley, and Larry Laverty in a very early stage in my career. Also,thinking back, I remember watching a movie with some friends and I was saying, about a character in that movie that, "That my friend is a true actor and if I get back into acting I want him to be my coach. Well, guess what. It happened and I am becoming a better actor because of him.

Brian  S-   What do you do in your spare time? Any hobbies? Trick R' Treating?  

Melanie- I take acting classes, I watch movies, starting to make jewelry, surfing, working out, taking care of my two cats, read plays, and different acting methods. I am a pretty boring person in real life.

Brian  S- What's your guilty pleasure?  

Melanie- Have to explain this for you to understand. My first best friend as kid, was a girl name was Becca. She was riding her brother's skateboard. She fell backwards and hit the back of her head, not even very hard and as a result she eventually went deaf. So, my guilty pleasure is that I will turn off the sound and watch movies with subtitles. To this day, I haven't heard Steamboat Willy, by Walt Disney with sound. So I don't have a lot of indie horror movies from conventions. If I can't put subtitles on, I won't buy it. I do have a few without them, but I only get them if I have friends in them or directing them. Its horrible, but hey I am being honest. I want Becca to be able to watch the movies I like too.

Brian  S-  What's your favorite scary movie?  

Melanie- That's easy, Wait Until Dark, with Audrey Hepburn. Susie's husband is asked to hold a doll for a woman as they get off an airplane. She disappears. Mike and Carlino are small time hoods who find the woman's body in Susie's apartment, placed there by her partner, Harry Rote. Susie's blindness is the key to them searching the apartment for the doll that contains smuggled drugs. Mike pretends to be an old friend of Susie's husband while her husband is away and together the crooks invent a story of a police investigation of her husband that only the discovery of the now missing doll can save him from. Rote is a killer, and his stalking of Susie becomes more and more obvious as the story unfolds, leaving us with the question, how does a blind woman defend herself? Written by John Vogel <[email protected]>  (from imdb.com) The movie was shot in black and white. I don't know about you, But I think that would be really scary! Anytime you lose one of your five sense it could be really traumatic.

 

      *Copyright:Wayne Collins*

Brian  S- You like the conventions, will you be at Comic-Con or any others through the rest of the year?  Will you be in costume? 

Melanie- As a guest, no. I have only been doing this for a year and half this June. But as Melanie,I go to them to see what's there and to meet people. Conventions are a great networking tool. Also,it depends on when my acting classes are. Acting classes first before conventions. No, I don't show up in costume. I use to when I was younger, and it was cute then, but now, no. I want people to remember me, Melanie. Not me as a cute characterr, with my boobs, or my butt hanging out. I used to do the booth-babe thing, but I remember seeing these two girls rubbing up against each other and thought oh my, that's disgusting. I want to be remembered for my talent. Not, some wannabe, with a short skirt and low-cut top. So when I go to conventions I dress nice. Well I've been told, I dress quirky and very androgynous. You know, I hope that one day I can go to Comic-Con as a guest, that would be a lot of fun.

         *Copyright:Headhunter*

Brian  S-  Ok Melanie, would you like to say anything to our horror and sci-fi fans out there?

Melanie- Yes, I would. Thank you for making this a fun and interesting year and half. I hope to have your support for  many years to come. Also, thank you to those who have been there for me and helped motivate me. The good and the bad. I try to turn a negative into a positive and learn from it. It doesn't always work, but hey, I try.