Interview with Actor Ed Landers of Red Victoria
Hell-o all you Horror Lovers out there, I, The Dhampir have been working hard at bringing you yet another interview from the independent horror scene. This time I bring you one Mr. Ed Landers who plays Carl in Anthony Brownrigg’s new film Red Victoria (review) I met Mr. Landers at the Red Victoria Premier in Dallas, spoke with him a bit there and somehow convinced him that he should do yet another interview with me. I thought that those of you who hadn’t read my previous one on the Myspace blog, might enjoy reading an all new one here on Fatally-Yours.com, why? Because you love horror and here at F-Y we tend to do things, For the Love of Horror! Here’s how our conversation went!
The Dhampir: Ok first and foremost I’d like to thank Mr. Landers for taking the time to sit down and talk to us here at Fatally Yours.
Edward Landers: Wow, thanks for that, to be honest, I am more standing…my cat took my chair.
The Dhampir: I’m certain that the fans will appreciate that you were willing to endure that to give us an interview!
Edward Landers: LOL, well we all have to suffer for our art at some point!
The Dhampir: So let’s jump right in. Red Victoria is your acting debut, how did it all happen?
Edward Landers: Well, Tony [Brownrigg] had this brain child one day and decided to write a movie. He knew me from some role-playing games we had done together and gave me a call. It was just some idle Tuesday and when I picked up he was like — “Do you want to be in a movie I am filming?” I was like HELL yeah. So I went over to his house to hear more. I thought it was just a bit part so when I got there and he handed me the script I totally lost it when I saw how much Carl was on the page.
The Dhampir: It is a substantial role, how long did it take you to wrap your head around it, so to speak?
Edward Landers: wow, well lets see we started filming like 2 years ago and I still wake up some days and can’t believe it. I mean I was given an AMAZING role with a great film as my break in to acting!! So I guess I will let you know if I ever “wrap” my head around it!
The Dhampir: How easy was it for you to transition from Ed into Carl?
Edward Landers: The transition from Ed to Carl was hard at first, If you watch the movie the very first scene we filmed was the “murder and maiming” scene. I was very nervous and it was showing. So at one point Tony just grabs this prop from his kitchen table and says: “hold this, NO QUESTIONS!” I was too worried about why I had this flower in my hand to think about being nervous. After that the transition was easier. Heck, my mother called me after watching it and said “So do you act at all in the film, or do you just play you?”
The Dhampir: Having met you at the premier, I notice that there are some similarities between Carl and yourself, and you’re both very funny guys. How do you think that helped you in the role?
Edward Landers: I think you use what you have. I like to think I can make people laugh, and the whole point of Carl in the film is comic relief and a character you can fall in love with. In the end, in low budget Tony always says you use what you have.
The Dhampir: So, one gains a lot of insight into the film and the personalities behind it by watching the audio commentary. Do you still have a problem with chocolate syrup? and why not tell the readers why you did?
Edward Landers: OMG! So, there is this scene where I take a spoon full of chocolate syrup. Not having been on set much I was not used to taking 5,6,7… 20,000 takes. So in each of these takes I would take another spoon full. I got to be horrible tasting, to the point I blew the scene a few times because I could not force myself to do it. Of course, Tony was there by my side helping me through it, mostly on the floor laughing and pointing at me, but in the end I think I ingested 3/4 of a bottle of that stuff a spoonful at a time. Yeah.. chocolate syrup…oh, how I loathe you!
The Dhampir: Also, there were some continuity flaws you brought to light in the commentary, did you notice them during filming or some time after?
Edward Landers: yeah, when you watch the film just watch my side burns. It is like a video record of my hair styles during the filming. Heck in the van scene I am totally bald. Never fall asleep in the chair when your stylist does not speak much English. But to the point, no I didn’t notice them right away. I still see more and more every time I watch it.
The Dhampir: Like the fact that Carl’s spontaneously married in a scene?
Edward Landers: Oohh.. you saw that? Yeah, not sure if Tony caught that one. So yeah I got married after most of the film was shot, and I totally forgot to take the ring off for like 2 scenes!
The Dhampir: Let’s talk about your “Acting Choice,” as Tony calls it, with the eye poke scene with him. What brought you to try to poke him in the eye?
Edward Landers: The eye poke was just a simple choice to bring Carl back to reality. It was my way of “pinching” Carl to see if he was dreaming. If Jim stopped him, or if he poked Jim in the eye and the poor guy feel to the ground screaming in pain, Carl would know that this was all real. But, mostly I wanted to see what would happen .
The Dhampir: Also, there’s a scene where you’re sitting on the couch and supposed to be “checking out” Victoria, yet you chose to be a gentleman. Can you tell us about it?
Edward Landers: Yeah, so in one of the montage scenes Victoria is in human form and Carl has this bit of a crush on her. So if you watch you can see my eyes check out her bosom, I then turn to the camera and smile. I was a bit nervous about it, but make the easy choice of looking at her knee, but on camera it looks like I totally checked her out. After that I never really thought much about it, until my wife was watching the film one day and smacked me a good one at that scene. So I felt like on the commentary I should let people know I am not a lecherous slime ball. Well, at least in public!
The Dhampir: You mentioned in commentary that you own an Alienware computer, are we the fans to take that to mean that you’re into video games?
Edward Landers: HECK yeah! I am a total child of the video game age, I play everything from First Person Shooters, to MMORPG’s. I also have a PS3 and am loving “ROCK BAND.” I forgot I said that on the commentary.
The Dhampir: Ok, let’s get back to the film, a little. You character is the “horror expert.” How well versed in horror are you really? What’s your favorite horror film?
Edward Landers: That is where myself and Carl differ. I like horror and would have to say my favorite all time horror flick is A Nightmare on Elm Street as I still have nightmares about it. I am more of a B-movie fan. Putting Waterworld as my favorite. But, I used to watch movies all the time with my friends growing up. But I am by no means an “expert” on horror.
The Dhampir: Aside from the jitters in your first scene, what were some of the other challenges for you as a first time actor?
Edward Landers: You know, that is the hardest question I have been asked to date. I am not sure because it is hard to filter what was “first” time and what is every time. I would lose my mind over wardrobe, sadly the pumpkin outfit was what I wore that day before and after the shoot. OMG where was my wife that day.. Gosh, we hear it joking all the time “time is money” so I was so worried to mess up and ruin anyone’s time for fear that they would kill me. At one point Tony and I had to talk about how everyone messes up it is a part of film making. After that I got more relaxed.
The Dhampir: So, how have the screenings and fan interaction been going for you thus far?
Edward Landers: The screenings went very well. It is so good to know people like the film. Every time I watch the film at a screening it is like watching it for the first time because of the audience. The audible reactions to the film are amazing. Fan interaction is just OVERWHELMING in a good way. I have gotten to meet some of the neatest people. It is still a weird feeling to be asked to take a photo or sign some piece of swag for someone, in the back of my mind there is always this moment of, “you want to take a photo with me?” and every time my mind screams “THANK YOU!”
The Dhampir: Yes, I’d noticed at the premier that you seemed, I don’t know if astonished is the word I want here, but amazed that people recognized you and wanted a picture with you before the screening even started. Does it really surprise you that much?
Edward Landers: Yeah it does. I just never want to take it for granted that people like my performance, or something I am in. I also think of the times I asked for peoples autographs and how they made me feel good about asking and took time with me. So I want to return that. Heck movies, songs, art…t is all for the fans not me.
The Dhampir: I noticed that you’re very self deprecating and it doesn’t seem that any of this has gone to your head, which is cool. Let’s talk about your death for a moment. Were you actually on set that night, or were you inserted on the bed after the fact?
Edward Landers: I was there.. OMG I was there, covered in 7 year old salted pig parts, that “Evil” John kept in his fridge. So I was all excited to do this death scene and Tony tried to warn me about sticky blood and nasty makeup and stuff, but I was all gung-ho. Let me just say it was fun, but staying still in a bed covered in blood concoction with stuff oozing out of your ears was an experience I will never forget. Worst part is after the shoot Tony sent me some production stills and I was so happy I wanted to share them with my mom and grandmother. Well my mother called me screaming that I should NEVER put her thought that again, and my grandmother thought it was a crime scene photo..
The Dhampir: Now that’s horror!!!! LOL! So we know from the interview with Tony that Red Victoria is a trilogy…what are the chances that we’ll see Carl in some fashion in any of the sequels?
Edward Landers: Well, it is a horror film so I am hoping to get a cameo part as a zombie, but maybe a flash back or two. But, I think Carl is a good one shot character, just not strong enough to revisit.
The Dhampir: So what other projects do you have coming up, that we might catch you in?
Edward Landers: So far I am submitting for everything under the sun that I fit the bill for. So hopefully something will pop up. But, right now I have not too much in the works.
The Dhampir: Anything you’d like to add? Shout outs, or anything like that?
Edward Landers: I would like to give a shout out to my wife, Jennifer, without her support, not only emotionally, but financially I would not be able to follow my dream to it end. Was that too sappy?
The Dhampir: Not at all! I would like to once again thank you for taking this time to sit or stand as it may be and talk with here at Fatally Yours. I know that we the staff appreciate it and I am certain that the fans will love it too!
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