 The Interview:
So Leslie, how are things today?
Anything out of the ordinary going on?
Well, I’m on vacation in LA this
week, so it’s a pretty exciting day.
I know the people behind The 8th
Plague are horror junkies. Are you a fan of the genre?
I love horror films-- I’m
definitely not as educated on the horror genre as say,
Franqui, but I’m working on it. In fact, I’ve had many
arguments with Eric Williford about various film genres, and
in order to hold my own on this topic, I’ve been branching
out lately beyond my favorites.
What are some of your favorite
horror flicks?
JAWS! It was original (aside from
the fact that it mirrored Spielberg’s Duel) and used a
realistic element of fear, which still makes me nervous to
swim in the ocean. But the characters and dialogue just make
it a great movie, horror or not. I also really enjoy monster
movies, Dracula, Interview With the Vampire (not really a
horror, but nevertheless), American Werewolf in London…I’d
love to make a movie like that.
 What
kind of horror flicks really scare you? Ghosts? Serial
Killers?
You guessed it! I don’t
particularly believe in ghosts, but so many people you meet
in real life do. They all have their ghost stories, so the
idea that they might actually be true will keep me up at
night. That, and the idea that a psycho killer could sneak
in your house while you’re sleeping or making a bag of
popcorn. I admit, many horror movies have made me crawl into
bed with my mother at night….as a kid…ok, as a teenager. My
parents still make fun of me.
You and I were talking earlier
abut The Wicker Man remake. What were your thoughts on the
original?
I’m sure a lot of people would
disagree with me, but I didn’t find it to be scary. The
musical aspect was a trend of its time, but I suppose it
stood out to me since you don’t find that style integrated
in many films today. I did enjoy the story, however, sort of
a modern take on cult sacrifices or sacrifices made to
compensate for hardships like during the Black Plague. And I
like that it was eerie even with a bright, daytime color
scheme. I don’t think you see that very often in modern
horror films.
I noticed that The 8th Plague is
your first feature film, where you play a prominent role
anyway. Was there anything about the process of filmmaking
that surprised you?
Everything. I’ve only previously
acted in theater and hadn’t done anything in about five
years, so I felt rusty in the beginning. It was really
challenging to adapt my movements, facial expressions, etc.
to the camera, which is something I’d still like to study
and improve on. Luckily, I was able to learn from the other
actors who had more experience.
 What
was your audition like? Did you have to swing an ax around?
For those of you who haven't seen the film - Leslie spends a
good portion of the film axing people to death.
Haha. No axes at all. They called
me in to read a few scenes from the script. Sometimes I read
with other actors, sometimes not. I’m just glad I got there
on time! I was running late after work and barely made it! I
was the last person to read for them.
One of your main locations is
the run down Lorton Prison. Did you guys find this location?
Do you know if the film was written with this location in
mind?
As I understand it, Eric Williford
drove by Lorton on his way to work everyday and was inspired
to incorporate it into a movie somehow. From there, I think
he developed the idea for the prison closing due to some
outbreak, etc. After several brainstorms between Eric,
Franqui and John Whalen, the final story was written.
 There
are a lot of cool effects in The 8th Plague. Anyone is
particular stand out as your favorite?
Well, because Paul Goldblatt is a
god among men, all of the effects stood out. Without giving
too much away, I think certain scenes with an ax to the neck
and an ax to the face are pretty impressive. His effects
have a grittiness to them that, to me, computer effects just
don’t capture.
This cracked me up when we spoke
over the phone earlier. The 8th Plague contains Demons, not
zombies, can you explain the difference between the two? I
think this kind of information is essential for everyone
reading. You never know when you could be asked this kind of
shit.
Haha! Yes, there is a big
difference, believe it or not. Typically, zombies are
mindless eating machines that spread the illness through
attacks. In The 8th Plague, there are demons, which are
undead humans overcome with evil. They have the ability to
speak, to control their actions, etc. So I think that
difference makes it much more of an intimate, emotional
conflict for the main characters who have to fight off these
“things” that still resemble their friends in many ways. To
speak seriously on how that difference affects the story,
those factors drive Launa’s constant hesitation and regret,
rather than it becoming an emotionless fight for survival.
The film is pretty intense. I
don't even think there's one funny moment in the whole
thing. What was the atmosphere like on set?
The opposite. We honestly had such
a great time on set together, and not just the actors, but
the whole team. I’m pretty sure a few takes made it in the
final cut where I had to turn away from the camera because I
couldn’t look at Terry without laughing. That man has some
crazy eyes that are just…off-putting.
 Anything
major changes happen from script to screen?
Probably not from the final, FINAL
script. Franqui had a very clear image of what he wanted and
I think that’s the final product you see. The story,
however, went through several changes, including a whole new
beginning, which we re-shot long after principle
photography.
At one point in the film one of
the characters cuts his own eyes out to survive. Do you
think this is something you could do? I mean, you don't want
to be a demon do you?
In real life?! No way! I’d cry like
a little girl and hide in the corner. I mean, I think I’m a
pretty tough woman, but that’s just over the top.
What element of The 8th Plague
are you most looking forward to audiences seeing?
As an actor I’d like to think that
they’d be impressed with the emotional scenes near the end
of the movie, but I think it’s the action that they’ll most
enjoy.
Anything else in the works that
you would like to mention?
I have a few projects in the works,
but I most recently was signed to a comedy series called,
Script This. It’s sort of a comedy sitcom based on
characters in an office who often say how they really feel
as an aside to the camera, which is a dream to many people
who “love” their desk jobs. The twist is that it’s also a
script writing contest where people submit short scripts for
the next episode. Judges pick the top three, we produce and
air them, viewers vote, and the winning script writer gets
some kind of award each month. It’ll currently air online at
www.scriptthis.com and
will launch in October.
Many thanks for your time
Leslie. And final comments? Oh and about your message. Yes,
I am available for dinner Friday night. Is In and Out Burger
OK? I bring all the ladies there.
Haha. Yes, Gregg. I remember us
having that conversation in your NIGHT TIME FANTASIES!!! No,
but thank you very much for speaking with me and for
supporting The 8th Plague. Franqui, Eric and John (Two For
Flinching) put a lot of time into this movie and I’m happy
that people are already starting to acknowledge their hard
work and talent. I’m lucky to have been a part of it.
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