What can you tell us about the upcoming film Christmas with the
Dead and your role in it?
The film, based on Joe Lansdale’s [Joe
R. Lansdale interview - click here]
story, is about
letting go of the past, dealing with the present, and
preparing for the future… and there are the zombies.
I play the part of Ray, Calvin's neighbor. How would you describe
your approach to your character, both before and after zombification? Before
zombification, fear and panic dominated reasoning and inhibited focus.
After zombification, almost everything that could be focused upon
was simply ignored. How
did you get pulled into the project, and did you have any prior acting
experiences?
I read the script and liked
it. I had done some work on
stage, but never before in a motion picture.
After a few auditions, I was asked to memorize lines. Though being a Christmas-themed movie, Christmas
with the Dead was filmed (and is set) in the heat of of the Texan
June. Was the heat at all taxing to you personally? No
more than usual. Just like
anything else, you adapt to the heat and overcome it… without griping
excessively or hurting innocent bystanders. Most
of the Lansdale-family was involved in some way or another in Christmas
with the Dead. Did it at all feel like a family-movie, and what can
you tell us about the atmosphere on set?
Since
this was my first involvement, it just felt like a movie.
I imagine that being a family member helped to clear the lines of
communication. Being part of
the film, it was easy to understand all that was required of my wife and
to know when to give space. The
S.F.A. film crew members were always respectful and accommodating. A few words
about your director Terrill Lee Lankford [Terrill
Lee Lankford interview - click here]? Lankford
was Tenacious (with a capital T). He
was determined to get the shots he needed, no matter what it took.
He made it clear from the beginning that he wanted to make
something that we could all be proud of.
I guess
due to family ties, you must have read some of Joe R. Lansdale's books [Joe
R. Lansdale interview - click here], but were you familiar with
his story Christmas with the Dead prior to filming, and your
thoughts about it? Christmas
with the Dead sat quietly on my book shelf and minded its own business.
Then one day it jumped out, grew fangs, and bit me on the leg.
I’ve kept my eye on that shelf ever since. With Christmas with the Dead
being essentially a zombie movie - is the zombie genre at all dear to you,
and your genre favourites? I like a
strong character more so than genres.
I’ll walk to any section of the movie store if needed. I've heard that in your
"real" life you are a science teacher. What can you tell us
about Adam Coats, the teacher, and your scientific take on zombies?
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Well,
let’s take your skin. The
epithelial cells on the surface are keratinized for moisturizing purposes,
and consequently, are highly resistant to nutrient intake.
Being avascular, they completely rely on the diffusion of
life-giving materials from underlying cells.
This is their struggle. As
more cells are produced from below, these surface cells are pushed further
and further away from their food source… to the point of starvation.
They die and become particulate matter in our favorite recliners.
Zombies, much like the cells of our skin, need sustenance to exist.
The further they’re removed from humans, the more sluggish they
become. Class dismissed. Any
future film projects lined up at all? Like
I said, I’m watching that shelf. Actors who inspire
you? Paul
Newman. Your favourite movies? Cool
Hand Luke. ... and of
course, films you really deplore? Clooney’s
Batman and Robin, Pauly Shore’s Bio-Dome. Your website,
Facebook, whatever else?
http://www.facebook.com/adamlcoats
http://www.youtube.com/user/Adamlcoats1 Thanks for
the interview!
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