I recently at the chance to sit down with two of the awesome cast from the up coming indie horror film “You Found Me” based on the short TV Movie that aired on BlackFlagTv from the twisted, evil mind of director and writer Lawrence W. Nelson II, those of you following the story know that he’s pinned The Mangled to be shot this year.
This is part one of a two part interview that I did with both actor Steve Booth who plays the sinister slasher and killer in the woods and our beautiful leading lady Mariya Protsenko.
I sit across from the intimidating Steve Booth, who drinks a hot coffee. He’s actually a big softy once you get back the sear mass of him. He takes a drink and pauses for a second. Then gives me the signal that we can start our interview.
1. To break the ice, what are some of your favorite horror films growing up?
Steve Booth: Black Christmas – really scared me, lots of the scenes were actually filmed in my neighbor hood, which mde it more realistic……….The Exorcist – Bad ass, Religious implications had my young mind spinning.
2. What is it that you like about doing horror films and being the slasher villain?
Steve Booth: I am open to most acting opportunities, my physical appearance and intensity I feel blend’s in well with these type of roles, I don’t think I would make a good Peter Pan or Willy Wonka…….I don’t mind bringing the darkness to eternal celluloid, we all have a certain amount of ‘darkness’ inside regardless and I have always felt my intensity would be given its rightful shot in this business.
3. What was the inspiration for the character that you play?
Steve Booth: That would be a question best left for the writer, I am an extension of his vision, here to bring the character to life.
3. Will You Found Me be your first full feature, or is there other projects that you’ve been involved in or are working on that you want to tell us about?
Steve Booth: I have taken a very extended leave from the movie business while raising a family rurally, in the late 90’s I was a semi regular, special skills performer on Nikita and FX The Series, my son was born in 1998 and my wife and I left Toronto shortly after………This is a re-birth of such, I have always felt I could bring much more than many actors I have seen, only now I will find my place in the industry and sustain. You’ll also be able to check me out in B.A.D. Movers.
4. You Found Me seems to be your typical killer in the woods slasher movie, how did you go about making your character different from other slasher villains that we’ve seen?
Steve Booth: The Beast I play in You Found Me, is your typical blood thirsty fiend but although he is intimidating, shows his human side by making mistakes…..anytime you are dealing with frantic violence?? as a human, we are all prone to error, the best way to perfect your craft is to practice it, so the more you practice?? the better you get at your craft..
5. Can you tell us any information about what the full feature is going to be about, if not what your role is going to be in it?
Steve Booth: He’s going to chill viewer’s to their spine’s, hair tingling shit.
6. In the short, your character seems to be going through a lot of emotional struggles, was it hard going to a dark place?
Steve Booth: I don’t have a hard time going to a dark place, my life has been far from a picnic..
7. You do a lot of action in the short was it hard doing all of your own stunts and did you help coming up with ways to make the action feel real, even though we don’t see a lot of blood?
Steve Booth: The action is right up my alley, it was all easy except at one point in my rage I grabbed a Thorn Tree and ended up with three very sharp thorns broken off in my palm, stung like a bastard the next day .
8. There’s this pretty hot scene with you and actress Maryia Protsenko in the short, that’s just plain creepy, what was it like to film that scene, and did you and Maryia talk about it prior to shooting it?
Steve Booth: Mariya totally impressed me with her intensity and acting ability, she made it easy to work with because of her ability get “into character”.
9. What was it like working with director Lawrence W. Nelson II?
Steve Booth: Lawrence was great to work with, he had his vision for the scenes and was patient with us even though we were pressed for time.
10. Just for fun, what horror films are you looking forward to in 2013, and what do you think of all the recent remakes lately ie…the new Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3D?
Steve Booth: I’m definitely looking forward to the Brad Pitt Zombie movie, he’s a such a versatile actor and rarely picks bad scripts…….The New Texas Chainsaw Movie, i am personally “boycotting” due to them not casting my friend Andrew Bryniarski who starred in the last one. I generally do not like remakes as much as the originals but I suppose someone will get it right one day.
11. Is there anything that we didn’t cover that you like to add?
Steve Booth: Hoping that this coming year will lead to big opportunities for myself and the people I am working with in film.
I want to thank Steve for the awesome interview. Everyone look out for “You Found Me” in the coming year.
