Interview with cast member: DAVE

Blake Gardner as undercover cop heading to Roy Thomas's Halloween Party

TBA:  You are a native of South Carolina.  What's it like filming on location at the pre-Civil war residence?

BG: The set location was so beautiful and full of so much history and character.  I can't think of a better setting for the film to take place.  I have to admit I was a little creeped out by some of the stories behind the house we filmed in, but it grows on you.  I miss being there.  It saddens me that more film makers don't shoot here in South Carolina considering so many of the beautiful cities and historical and modern sites it has to offer.

TBA:  How has this experience been different than any of the other films/television productions you have been a part of?

BG: Well, I'm still new to the industry and this was the longest project I have worked on so far.  In the past I haven't been a part of any projects long enough to form relationships with the people I work with.  The difference here was my privilege to connect with cast and crew of the film.  We dropped all boundaries and had such a fun time making the movie together.

TBA:  What was your favorite part of participating in the improvisational scenes in the movie?

 BG: Anytime you get to do improv it's such a fun release.  The freedom of getting out the box and exploring the unscripted details of your character's personality can be a fun experience if you let yourself fall into it.  When you rehearse your lines, you have to think about what your saying and interpreting the character's motivation.  But in improv, there's no thought.  It's an exciting natural overflow of your character.

TBA:  Are there any directors you would love to see this film so that they can cast you in their next movie?

BG: Truth be told, I promised my wife I would take off the rest of the year once I wrapped on "III" so I'm trying really hard to make good on that.  We're expecting our first child in April so we're both super excited about it!  Next year I hope to hit the ground with my feet running on new projects and promoting "III", but I'll probably take another sabbatical when the little guy gets here.

TBA:  What leading lady and/or actor would you love to work with?

BG:  Rob Lowe.  I've always been a big fan of him ever since Wayne's World back in 1990, and even now his character on NBC's Parks and Recreation is so funny.  He looks like he would be a lot of fun to work with but he's so pro at the same time.  Much like John Stamos, he's very underrated and overly good looking.  If I could look half as good as he does pushing 50 years old then I think I'll be doing okay.

Interview with cast member: JESS

Amy on set looking like her very own South Park character.

TBA Producers had a chance to talk with Amy Elizabeth Chadwell
about acting for her first time before she moves to Vail where she'll be
sitting pretty high on the mountain.

TBA:  How did you get started acting?

AC:  I pretty much just fell into it. My good friend and mentor, Julie Wheat, talked me up at a meeting and I got an audition. I happened to get the part and the rest is history. I am a very dramatic person so I guess it comes pretty natural to me.

TBA:  How is acting different than modeling?

AC:  Acting is much more in depth than modeling.    Modeling is all about looks and what is on the surface. Acting is about looking good as well, plus much more! You need to sound realistic and believable when you act. You need to study a lot more for acting than for modeling. You need to be able to adapt and understand what the director and producers want out of you as well as understanding your character. Not to mention the hours are longer and there are lines to memorize!

TBA:  Do you have a day job?

AC:  Yes, I am an assistant buyer at a local Charleston boutique called House of Sage. I just recently ended a two year stint working for Juicy Couture under Liz Claiborne LLC. I love the ever evolving Fashion Industry and I plan on working in the industry as long as I can. I still model and babysit on the side. Not many people know-I am the baby whisperer. I also have a style blog http://thestyleblazer.tumblr.com/ and will be launching my website when I move to Colorado to work at Vail.  You can expect to see all that is fashionable on the mountain, and perhaps some of my own fashions available for sale!

TBA:  What is is the best part of staying on set with the other actors?

AC:  My favorite part about being on set is definitely just interacting and hanging out with everyone! It is quite a fun dynamic when you take a bunch of people and throw them together for a few days at a time :) I met quite a lot a new awesome friends!

TBA:  How did you prepare for the improvisational scenes in the movie?

AC:  I didn't prepare for the improv at all! I just let it flow. The whole trick is: if you believe what you are saying, others will too.

TBA:  What is your favorite line in the movie III?

AC:  My favorite line would have to be "weed makes me horny..." I had to practice that one quite a few times!

TBA:  What TV show would you love to be seen on?

AC:  I would love to be on Gossip Girl! Obviously for the wardrobe. I would also love to be on Its Always Sunny In Philadelphia! It is pretty much my favorite show.

Amy looking like a model while acting.

Interview with cast member: FRANK, producer/writer Braxton Williams

Hear from Braxton Williams about III from three perspectives:

TBA:  You are the writer of the script as well as an actor and producer.  What is the most gratifying part of seeing your work come to life?

BW: The most exciting thing is that it IS coming to life.  This is, by far, the most work I have ever put into a project, and finishing it is just so satisfying.  Trey and Alissa almost worked themselves to death. Everyone gave so much; the cast and crew were amazing every day. I am proud to work with these guys.  There were several shots where I was literally jumping for joy when they called cut.

TBA: What was your inspiration for the script/screenplay?

BW: I think the primary inspiration was the house itself and the area around it.  Trey and I tailored the script to the location, since it is such a great location.  That being said, Trey and I are huge fans of the horror genre and there are tons of references, and homages (subtle and not so subtle) sprinkled throughout the movie. 

TBA: How did you decide on selecting cast members?

BW: Well I had some actors in mind before casting started (myself obviously and a few others), but the bulk of it was auditions.  And let me tell you, it was not easy.  We had several solid auditions.  It took a long time to finalize the cast.  And, oh what a cast; we were lucky to get such talented people.

On a side note, I want to mention something that really shocked me during the auditioning process. There were a few actors that submitted themselves for the movie, an R rated horror movie, who didn't want to cuss during the audition.  They wouldn't do it.  I mean, it blew my mind. Some people even refused to audition for an R rated movie.  I understand if an actor doesn’t want to do nudity, but not wanting to cuss, that is ridiculous.  If you want to be an actor, a successful film actor, you are going to have to use foul language, play ugly characters, do things you wouldn't do in real life. That is what acting is, that is what it means to be an actor.  If you won't do it, you need to be in another business.

TBA: Who would you most love to see your movie?

BW: I would just love for it to be seen.  Especially by horror fans, I think they will love it, and enjoy the numerous film references.  Getting it out, putting it on the screen, that is our ultimate goal.  Now that being said, I am really excited for my wife and parents to see it.  They have been my support system for so long; I can’t wait to see it with them.

TBA: What actors would you most like to work with?

BW: Christopher Lee.  I would love to work with him.  He is an icon.  The man is in his 80s and is still working.  I am huge fan, and I would be honored to work with him.

TBA: So you want to make more horror films?

BW: Yes, I would love to make more horror films. Actually, Trey and I have a few ideas in the works right now. Like I said above, we love the genre. However, I don't want to work exclusively in horror.  There are so many other areas I want to pursue.

On Set: November 18-20

Crew before extras.

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Dough helping out for setup.

Extras waiting on deck.

Script Supervisor, Dali.

Before extras

AD, Charlotte Savage assessing the situation w/ Producer Alissa Guterman.

Blake gets lubed up...

...for this.

Hanna contemplates how things can be fixed in post.

Interview with cast member: ADAM

Dough explains the submission part of the casting process.

Robert Lyle Dough III is one of III's lead characters.  He is the son of a Doctor but does not aspire to be one outside of the script.  Robert has an exceptional sense of style, level of integrity,  Southern Charm (he even calls his 4 year old cousins 'Ma'am'), and work ethic.  Local ladies in St. Matthews know him as the 'Young Robert Redford'.  TBA productions is proud to introduce Robert Dough to the silverscreen as a relatively new personality in classic American full length features, and as a Best Boy.

TBA:  How is this film unique from the other work that you have done?

Dough:  Well, I don't think there are many people, especially in the world of independent film, that can say they have worked on a 3D production.  It's been such an amazing experience being able to work on a project in a new medium of film making. There are so many technical differences between 2D and 3D so it's been real interesting watching the crew interact with the new Panasonic 3DA1 camera and work out shots.  This is also my first full length horror project as well as my first time being involved in shots that have required an extensive amount of special effects.  All of the effects are done on set so there has been a lot of fake blood and guts floating around.  And by fake, I mean the most realistic small intestines I've ever seen outside of Anatomy class. 

TBA:  You've done a lot of acting in the comedy genre.  How is horror different/challenging/easier?

Dough:  Every genre has it's specific challenges so I wouldn't say horror is easier or more challenging, but it's definitely different.  Comedy's a lot of fun to do, but I prefer to be on a set with a little darker undertones to the story.  Now don't get me wrong, comedic moments are definitely apart of this film, but ultimately when things start to get scary and bloody is when the real fun starts to happen.   I really enjoy the constant focus and intensity that a horror film requires of you as an actor.  It can be difficult to stay scared for your life for hours, days, and weeks at a time and keep it believable to the camera and yourself.  

TBA:  We heard there's a lot of laughter on set that's script related.  How would you classify the type of comedy that's being featured in III?

Dough:  Laughter?  Us? Never........  The humor kind of reminds me of an American Pie version of An American Wereworlf in London.  Lots of fun, witty banter between characters with a bit of raunchiness thrown in for good taste, but ultimately I think it's more of the delivery than the line itself that's causing much of the laughter.  Trey and Braxton have given us great dialogue, but Trey has allowed us to take a very organic approach to the delivery of a lot of our lines, especially the comedic ones.  We have all developed very different and specific character choices so being able to mold our lines to our characters delivery has been great.

TBA:  Are you working on any other projects? When can we see you next?  Is there a project that you are dying (no pun intended) to work on?

Dough:  As of right now I have a couple of short films to shoot by the end of the year and auditions can come at any point so who knows what else is in store.  There are always projects filming and there's a lot coming to the Southeast in 2012 so hopefully I get the opportunity to work on something before heading off to LA next year.  After being around all these special effects I would really love a chance to work on the AMC series The Walking Dead.  I've been a huge fan of the show since it start airing last year and with it filming so close in Atlanta who knows, it just may happen!

TBA:  Jack Daniels or Maker's Mark?

Dough:  That's an easy one.  Makers with a splash of ginger.  Make that a double.

Genpop:  Move over McConaughey....

Interview with cast member: EMMA

Rachel as Sheena Queen of the Jungle heading to Roy Thomas's Halloween Party

III'S LEADING LADY RACHEL SWINDLER 
TALKS FOOTBALL, BEER, and STAGE vs. SILVER SCREEN

TBA:  We heard you are a football and South Carolina Gamecock fan. Who is your favorite Gamecock of all time and why?

RS:  Yes I do LOVE my Gamecocks. On Saturdays, on set you can find me in the breakfast room trying to watch the game between takes. All time favorite? I would have to say Sidney Rice. He was one of the main receivers for the gamecocks when I really started getting into watching football. It was a lot of fun to watch such an amazing athlete play.

TBA:  PBR or Miller Lite?

RS:  Well, that's easy;  Miller Lite.  It's the first beer I ever really drank.

TBA:  You are no stranger to the stage.  What was your most rewarding stage performance?  How is acting on stage different than in film?

RS:  My senior year of College I did a show called Dancing at Lughnasa. I loved this show because it is so out of my comfort zone, but taught me a great deal. I had to learn how to knit and speak with an Irish dialect. The people I worked with were amazing; the cast and director really made the experience that much more enjoyable. Theatre and film acting are very different. In theatre you go through an entire experience on stage and in film there is so much stopping and starting. You really have to learn how to stay in the moment with stuff going on all around you. Theatre is also a lot bigger than film. When you’re on stage you can be big with your gestures and reactions but on film it's a lot more intimate and subtle.

TBA:  This is your first full length feature film.  How has it been a challenge compared to the extensive stage work you have done?

RS:  It's definitely been a challenge for me- especially having to perform such emotional content that the script uses for my character and stopping and starting on a film set. This is helping me grow even more as an artist.

TBA:  We heard that you like to work out a lot and that you are notorious for doing so on set? What do you do to keep in shape? What is your typical weekly workout routine?

RS:  Well I did work out once on set. I should probably do it more. At home I go to the gym and do about 35 minutes with cardio. Then I move to weights for about 30 minutes. I also watch what I eat and make sure I don't eat too much fast food.

TBA:  We heard that there is a partial nudity scene in the movie.  Tell us about it.  Have you ever done it (before or) on stage? If so, how is it different on film than on stage?

RS:  The director of III made sure I was comfortable before hand and I told him I was. In college I performed in a show where I had to wear a bra and underwear on stage in a very intimate setting. It didn’t really bother me because it’s what the script called for.

TBA:  If any movie were to be remade, what role would you love to play and why?

RS:  Pretty Woman. Julia Roberts is such an amazing actress, I don’t know if I could live up to her. But I would love the chance to sink my teeth into such a great character and role.

TBA:  What actors would you most like to work with? What is your most glamorous aspiration as an actress?   

RS:  I would love to work with Rachel McAdams because she is brilliant. Or Will Ferrell because he has got to be the funniest man alive. I can only imagine what being on a movie set with him would be like. My most glamorous aspiration would just be to make it doing what I love. 

On set: Oct 16

sound of the murder weapon