An Interview with Melantha Blackthorne, Star of A Grim Becoming

by Mike Haberfelner

January 2014

Films starring Melantha Blackthorne on (re)Search my Trash

Melantha with Bill Oberst jr

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.

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?

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.

Feeling lucky? Want to search any of my partnershops yourself for more, better results? (commissions earned)

The links below will take you just there!!!

Find Melantha Blackthorne at the amazons ...   amazon.com   amazon.co.uk   amazon.de Looking for imports? Find Melantha Blackthorne here ...   eThaiCD.com Your shop for all things Thai

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!

© by Mike Haberfelner

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