Melissa Bacelar: Eating Our Hearts out with Skinned Alive’s Talented, Exciting Lead By Brian Kirst
Activist, Humorist and incredibly creative actress, Melissa Bacelar is one notch away from the big time – and has no problems killing a few dudes in sexy lingerie, as well. (As long as it’s in character, you freaks!) From her early days with Troma films to more recent projects like the cannibal hooker opus Skinned Alive, Bacelar has been offering up committed, intelligent performances. Now with her superheroine alter ego Canina, Bacelar is getting ready to change the world! Don’t believe me? Well, just read on below, my agitated hounds of horror!
Brian: Who were your first performing influences – Madeline Kahn romancing the monster in Young Frankenstein – Josie laying down the beat with the rest of the Pussycats on Saturday morning cartoons – A favorite household pet who could wail out in the tuba?
Melissa: My Mom explaining and justifying to my Dad how $700 heels are better than $50 ones. Honestly, for me I was just always an actress. Only child, only grandchild on both sides. So I had an audience before I could walk. It was so natural. I would talk and all of these adults would attentively listen. It’s kinda sick.
Brian: What was the most important thing that you learned from working with Lloyd Kaufman and Troma?
Melissa: Cold girls in tube tops make for good cinema. When making a horror film there is never enough blood or boobs….and of course you better love what you’re doing because you are not getting paid.
Brian: As a recurring character on One Life to Live for three years what was the biggest benefit for you – a steady paycheck, discipline, connections?
Melissa: The paycheck was awesome but I made more working as a bartender at Coyote Ugly in one night then I made on the soap in a week. I made some friends but not many connections. But now I memorize almost everything I read. Which comes in handy! So overall OLTL was a great experience.
Brian: What has been the biggest disappointment to you in your career thus far and how did you overcome it?
Melissa: There have been a few. But the biggest was recently. I was up for a lead in a big budget film, 4 callbacks; everyone kept telling me they loved me. Called my agent, made sure I was available and had a passport. Offers were literally on the table. Then I get a call that one of the producers thought I was too tall. I am 5’8 and I always wear heels but still…The director told me that after seeing 400 girls I was the best actress but it was a no go because of my height. I was bummed. But that’s the business and I can’t really control my height. So, I come home. Bitch and play with my dogs. They always cheer me up.
Brian: How do you make some of the smaller roles you’ve played memorable? How do you give each role a special ‘kick’?
Melissa: You just do your job. Some roles you do because you love them. Some for the money and some because you really respect the director or other actors. They are all choices and I think that people hire me because I am me. On film I can only play that especially if it’s only a few lines.
Brian: Pink Eye has gone on to receive quite a bit of positive press. What was the most unique thing about your experience on that film?
Melissa: Well I found out that there is a possibility that your Vagina can fall out when you give birth. I really have never wanted kids. But after hearing that story on my way to film at the insane asylum…I pretty much decided to never have them. The image will never leave my mind especially because it was described in detail before I even had coffee that morning…… I am sure that is not the kind of experience you meant but it was the most memorable.
Brian: Skinned Alive (Eat Your Heart Out) has given you some of your best notices yet. What was it like digging into such a meaty role? (Any puns fully intended!)
Melissa: It was the best. I loved every minute of filming Skinned Alive. From the shopping for lingerie to wear to the filming in the middle of Time Square on a Saturday night. It was just a fun crew, fun script and fun character! Oh and one of the other hookers asked me to pinch her nipples if they weren’t hard…that was an interesting day!
Brian: Do you have a favorite or unique onset moment from working on Skinned Alive? (A prop that wouldn’t work? – A scene that was incredibly enjoyable to film?)
Melissa: Because of all the flesh ripping and crazy blood and the fact that I was at all moments supposed to look hot…most of the gore scenes were done in one or two shots. Which was challenging! But the most unique onset moment was THE TOE BITING! So, one of the actors shot in the morning and then had nothing to do but hang out on set while the rest of us shot some night scenes outside. He couldn’t leave because we shot in NJ and he needed to get a ride back to NY. Anyway, we are all outside and he is sitting in the green room with the food. Someone went to go get a soda and caught him biting his toe nails. That was funny.
Brian: You have created your own successful superhero. What kind of film project would you develop for yourself if you had unlimited time and money?
Melissa: I would do a horror film. Canina, Half Woman Half Dog all Bitch! Would basically live as a waitress in a Vegan restaurant by day and torture people who are cruel to animals by night. The cool twist is…She tortures them the same way they torture the animals…Example…Canina is walking home and she sees a woman in a fur coat. She stops and seduces the woman goes home with her and then pulls out an electric rod…She shoves it up the woman’s ass and electrocutes her over and over…That’s what they do to mink and rabbits so not to hurt the fur! People better watch out!! Anyway, I don’t want to give it all a way but it will be totally twisted, sexy and dark. I would need Tim Burton for sure!
Brian: Lastly, any words of advice (IE: Never trust a hungry lady of the night with a fork in her fist) or future projects that you’d like to tell us about? And thanks – this has been better than a walk on the cannibal side any day of the week!
Melissa: So, check my website, www.MelissaBacelar.com. I have a bunch of projects and I try and update them there!! Don’t buy dogs adopt from a rescue or shelter!! (Or Canina will find you!)
