Brinke Stevens Interview
Interviewed on the 23rd August, 2009
   
How did you come across the role of Vampire Girl in John Johnson's Plan 9, the
remake of the Ed Wood classic?

Several years earlier, I was cast in Darkstone Entertainment's "Skeleton Key".  I stayed
in touch with the producer, John Johnson.  When I read about his upcoming remake
of "Plan 9", I asked him if I could play the Vampira-role.  He says he wrote the
updated role with me in mind.  I'm excited about working with him again, as I had
such a good time on the previous project, where they very elaborately body-painted
me to play a Spider Woman.


Of all the films you have been in, what film do you think personally help you grew
as an actress in terms of pushing yourself to your fullest potential?

"Haunting Fear" was my first major leading role, and the biggest part I'd had so far.  
When director Fred Olen Ray asked me to read his script, at first I thought he had me
in mind for the smaller role of a sexy secretary.  But he wanted me for the lead, a
woman who's cheating husband tries to drive her crazy to collect her inheritance.  It's
a very complex role -- on any given shooting day, I always had to first ask myself,
"How crazy am I today?"  By the end, I'm playing it totally insane.  It was an amazing
opportunity to stretch my range as an actress, and I'm grateful to Fred for his faith in
me.

I read that you were cast in Slumber Party Massacre for a larger role then the role you ultimately had in the film due to a
scheduling conflict with a modeling job. Looking back upon that, do you regret having taken the modeling job instead of
the bigger acting role in Slumber Party Massacre?

"Slumber Party Massacre" (1981) was my first feature-film role.  (Earlier, I'd only done one USC student film, "Zyzak is King",
plus non-speaking "extra" parts in a few movies.)  It was a really big deal for me.  I was so excited to get hired for it, and it
didn't matter that I had to take a smaller part due to a modeling job.   In fact, it was enough to launch my "scream queen" career
-- it was the first time I was chased by a maniac, screamed, and died horribly.  It was also the pivotal role that made me decide
to continue seeking work as an actress.  Before that movie, I still wasn't totally sure if I was any good at acting.
Having earned a Masters degree in Marine Biology before becoming a model,
actress, and Scream Queen, at what point did you decide you wanted to get into
the movie business after earning your degree?

In 1980, I left my marine biology job in San Diego and moved to Los Angeles to marry
my college sweetheart, artist Dave Stevens.  While in LA, I tried in vain to find any
science-related employment.  But this surely isn't the town for that sort of thing, and
I was never able to find work as a scientist here.  I'd already done some modeling in
San Diego, so I took my portfolio around to various advertising agencies in LA,
seeking work as a print-model.  One day, I happened to pass by a movie casting
agent's office -- and I was immediately hired on the spot, to be an "extra" the next
day in "All the Marbles".  It was my very first time on a movie-set, and I liked it a lot.
 I started to pursue casting calls, and soon landed that first big speaking role in
"Slumber Party Massacre".   
Fans that have seen your films know that you are not shy in front of the camera in
regards to nudity. Has there ever been a part that you were offered that had a
nude scene that you felt was just too raunchy or uncomfortable for you to do and
that you turned down?

That's true, I've never been shy about nudity in films.  Good thing, too -- because
those early
B-horror films all required it from actresses.  My willingness to undress landed me a lot
of good roles and helped to get me better noticed by fans.  However, I was never
very comfortable doing explicit "love scenes" with a guy, so I tended to avoid those
kind of parts.  Fortunately, I've stayed in great shape and am still asked to undress for
the camera, which is very flattering.


When did you and long-time friend Linnea Quigley first meet and where? Was it on
a film or before you got into movies?

Linnea had arrived in Hollywood a couple years before me.  We tended to show up at
the same auditions in the early 1980s.  We quickly became pals at these casting calls,
and on the numerous "extra" jobs we both worked on, such as a shower scene for "The
Man Who Wasn't There" and so forth.  I got her involved in some "Playboy" modeling
shoots ("Girls of Rock & Roll" and "Flashdancers").  She helped introduce me to Dave DeCoteau and Fred Olen Ray, who later
cast me in many horror films.  For a brief time, I joined her all-girl band "The Skirts", playing bass guitar.  I really believe that
Linnea, Michelle Bauer, and I were the first true "Scream Queens", so it's wonderful that we all became good friends off the set,
as well.
Many Scream Queens of the past peaked in their younger years and as they got
older slowed down the number of films they did or just were offered less roles.
You, on the other hand, seem to be doing just as many films if not even more
films. Why is it, in your opinion, that you keep getting offered roles and steady
work in film?

Oh, thank you for noticing my career has lasted so long -- 30 years now!   Fact is, I
love acting.  I love making movies and being on-set.  It's a real high, an adrenalin rush
to run, scream, die... or slay.  To turn into vampires or get possessed by demons.   It's
an amazing fantasy world, and there's nothing else like it.    I think the others got
tired of the daily grind... it's incredibly hard work.  Instead, I've built a respectable
reputation for being a "player", a good sport.  Filmmakers still want to hire me,
because they know they can put me through hell and I'll probably enjoy it.
     
Is there any advice you have for aspiring actresses that hope to one day achieve the notoriety that have achieved as a
leading Scream Queen?

The film industry is so different now... and I doubt if it's even possible to follow in my past steps.  By a happy accident, I was in
the right place at exactly the right time... and the home-video revolution made me a cult star.  In the 1980s and '90's, there
were dozens of independent studios busily churning out hundreds of B-movies.  That's not the case anymore.

I'd advise any young, aspiring actress to learn a skill, a useful trade you can fall back on, besides acting.  It's an extremely
difficult way to earn a living.   Attend all genre conventions in your area, where you'll undoubtedly meet many indy filmmakers
at their tables, promoting their latest releases.  Talk to them, give them your headshot, resume, and maybe a DVD actor's reel,
and try to stay in touch with them.  Find a local talent agency, and sign up with them -- if a film production comes to town, you
might get hired as an "extra" or for a small speaking part.  Some girls I know get hired for movies off Internet casting sites like
"One Model Place".  Network like crazy, too.  It's really true that "It's who you know."
The film Psychosomatika is now in post-production. Are you able to tell me a
little bit about this film and what fans have to look forward to?

"Psychomatika" is entirely the brain-child of horror actor Jeff Dylan Graham, who
stars in it and is also a first-time director.  He's got a great vision for it, and is a
remarkably talented guy.  In it, he plays a young man who apparently has suffered
some traumatic event, yet now has total amnesia about it.  I play his somewhat
sinister psychologist who seems to be trying to help him regain his memory.  Nothing
is what it seems.  I can't wait till they've finished the editing process so we can all
see it on the big screen!


In the film The Ritual, the plot involves a serial killer.  I enjoy reading books on
serial killers and find that real-life events are usually more fascinating than any
type of fictional accounts.

Due for release this winter, "The Ritual" is a highly unusual film, because it was shot
entirely ad lib -- there wasn't a written script.  In it, I played a serial killer's mother.  
To prepare for the role, I read a lot of books about serial killers, and also interviewed
some psychiatrists who've actually dealt with such criminals.  I learned that almost
every serial killer's mother follows a specific pattern -- she's a strong-willed ball-buster who runs hot and cold emotionally, and
degrades her child with insults and humiliating punishments.  It was rather hard for me to play such a terrible character -- but
dang, you can sure see why my kid would eventually turn into a vicious killer!