Melantha with Bill Oberst jr
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Your upcoming movie A Grim Becoming - in a few words, what is
it about, and what can you tell us about your character?
A Grim Becoming
is about Life and Death - personified
in full skeletal form and sporting a scythe. A young man named Raphael
(played by the talented Brandyn T. Williams [Brandyn
T. Williams interview - click here]) witnesses The Grim Reaper
do what he does best, take a man's life. This sighting leads to a
turmoil of gut-busting insanity!
I play Raphael's sister, Meryl, and my son's tragic death is what
kickstarts all of the madness.
As
far as I know, you and your on-screen husband Bill Oberst jr [Bill
Oberst jr interview - click here] have changed
your characters quite a bit from their original concept - so how did that
come about, and since we're at it, what was your collaboration with Mr.
Oberst like?
Bill is a rare talent and genuinely nice guy. It was such a
pleasure and a lot of fun collaborating with him on this project. We
took on small but pivotal roles as mourning parents. A Grim Becoming
is a comedy but when the director, Adam Steigert [Adam
R. Steigert interview - click here],
initially contacted me to discuss my character, he suggested that my
portrayal be straight. Considering I'm known for being cast in such
roles as Lucifer or the nymphomaniac cannibal, I considered this to be a
great opportunity. Adam wanted to showcase my abilities in a new light
and I'm grateful to him for that. Not that I don't enjoy playing the
evil bad-ass but this new role would allow me the opportunity to explore
a wider range within my craft. He is such a generous director who
instills tremendous trust in his actors.
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Melantha with Devanny Pinn |
After that initial conversation, "straight" is how I
prepared my scenes. However, over coffee the morning of our first day on
set, Bill and I got to thinking how much fun it would be to play Phill
and Meryl Looney as a perverse couple who sexually molest everything in
their paths. He credits me for coming up with this idea but I'm certain
it was a joint effort. Adam thought our idea was hysterical and saw it's
potential, but because it deviated so much from his original vision
wanted to see how it would play out. Later that day we shot the first
scene. It was at our son's funeral and amidst the mourning that the
molesting began. Bill and I were both feeling up Devanny Pinn's [Devanny
Pinn interview - click here] character, Jamie, and right in front of our son who lay dead in an open
casket. A little dark? Yes, but everyone was in hysterics because the
comedic timing was right on cue! I then suggested we molest our son's
lifeless body. Bill thought this was a great plan but it didn't go over
so well with one of the producers and I completely understand why.
Without giving too much away, Phill and Meryl get progressively
stranger throughout the film. Adam was extremely happy with how
everything was unfolding and contributed to the weirdness by adding a
sexy peanut butter scene for Bill and I towards the end of the shoot.
I'm told that A Grim Becoming
will no longer have a PG 13
rating because of our deviant ways.
All that in mind, what did you draw upon to
bring your character to life?
The cool thing was that amongst all of the outrageous humour, I
was still able to showcase some of the intense emotion that Adam and I
initially planned for. I became Meryl Looney drawing upon instinct.
Actor Mike Sarcinelli, who played my son, was extremely supportive and
the fact that we shot these scenes in an actual funeral home helped a
lot. Poor Mike had to lay in a rent-a-coffin for the duration of the
scenes. What a great sport!
As for the comedic segments, I'm naturally goofy and have a dark
sense of humour so they were quite easy for me. I let loose and had fun!
How did you get involved
with the project in the first place?
I initially met Adam at the Buffalo Screams film festival in 2011.
One of his first films The Final Night and Day was scheduled
to screen and I was there as a featured guest. We discussed a possible
future collaboration, stayed in touch, and A Grim Becoming
is what finally united us!
What can you tell
us about your director Adam R. Steigert [Adam
R. Steigert interview - click here], and what was your collaboration
like?
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Melantha with Adam R. Steigert |
Aside from what I've already mentioned, Adam is
extremely ambitious, intelligent, and puts 666% into everything he does.
I've watched him grow as a filmmaker by leaps and bounds in a very short
period of time and he possess the type of talent that is more apt for
helming Hollywood blockbusters. Things move very quickly on Adam's sets,
he's organized and leaves no time wasted. Filmmaking is what he's meant to
do! I also admire Mr. Steigert's gift for unique storytelling as every
great film starts with a well written script. Our collaboration was a lot
of fun and I trust in him very much. I love how he allowed me the freedom
to perform a very quirky version of his Meryl but was also there to set me
straight when I needed guidance. Great team work! What can you tell us about A Grim Becoming's
brand of humour, how easy was it to adapt to it, and since we're at it,
what can you tell us about your own sense of humour? I
appreciate bizarre and politically incorrect humour so this project meshed
very well with my dark sensibilities. The only adaption required was
perhaps to tone down some of my over the top ideas. i.e. feeling up our
dead son.
Do
talk about the actual shoot and the on-set atmosphere for a bit!
A
lot of us bonded in a very short period of time. The DefTone Pictures team
are talent driven professionals and it was nice to witness the camaraderie
and support that they have for each other. No egos or drama on this film
shoot. Something I tend to stay far away from. Producer Mike Sciabarrasi [Michael
Sciabarrasi interview - click here]
and I are now close friends and his kindness never ceases to amaze me.
Bill Oberst Jr. [Bill Oberst jr
interview - click here] and I hit it off from day one! We both stayed at Adam's
house. He taught me how to iron my pants properly and I shared skin care
secrets with him. Devanny Pinn [Devanny
Pinn interview - click here] is an absolute sweetheart and a supportive
actress. The list goes on! Everyone deserves a special mention!!! In
short, the DefTone Pictures team are a tightly knit family living a dream
and I'm very proud to have been a small part of their magic. Any
future projects beyond A Grim Becoming
you'd like to talk about?
2014 is proving to be a KILLER year! I recently got back from
Middletown New York and New Jersey where I was filming two movie
projects back to back with friend and fellow actress Suzi Lorraine [Suzi
Lorraine interview - click here]. It
was nice to reunite with this beautiful talent. If memory serves me
correctly, we have now shared the screen in seven films! Our most recent
endeavour was with the multi-talented and critically acclaimed Kenneth
Del Vecchio [Ken Del Veccio
interview - click here] on Rock Story. Ken is a great guy and extremely
loyal. He wrote a scene specifically for me opposite television legend
Joyce DeWitt and I'm grateful for his generosity! I first met and worked
with Ken on his roller coaster ride of a serial killer film entitled Bleeding
Hearts, which will be released this year through
Maxim Media. For updates on these projects please visit
http://www.justiceforallproductions.com.
The second film that Suzi and I recently finished was Bloody
Slumber Party, written and directed by the award winning Larry
Rosen. It was a fun shoot even though we spent the entire day trembling
in the freezing rain. A bonding experience to say the least, and
according to Suzi the icicles that formed in my hair were very pretty.
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For a full list of my future film projects please visit my IMDb
page. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1520852/
Your
website, Facebook, whatever else?
My official website: http://www.melanthablackthorne.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MelanthaBlackthorneFans
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Melantha_B
IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1520852/
Anything else you are
dying to mention and I have merely forgotten to ask?
I'm dying to say that I <3 Search my Trash! Thank you Mike
Haberfelner for your endless support!!!
You're so welcome, and thanks
for the interview!
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find Melantha Blackthorne at adultvideouniverse.com
