What are your earliest recollections of the horror genre? Were
you always a fan?
Probably when my dad went down in the cage in "Jaws".
I was able to go see the shark on a day that they weren't shooting.
Talk about cool! I was like 7 years old. At that point for me,
that was the closest thing to a horror film that I had seen. After
that, I was hooked! Even now I like to see what new things that
horror films are doing. There are some very cool new ones that
have come out lately. |
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Your role of the
'boom box boy' was a quick addition to Halloween 2 during the
extra days of shooting with John Carpenter, correct?
Correct. My dad got a call saying that John was coming in to do
3 days of additional shooting and did I want to go. Well the answer
was obvious! I always went to work with him whenever it was an
option. Little did I know that from then on, he always got me
work. That was the starting point.
Did you have any idea how this particular scene would play
in the film before hand?
No clue. All we had were 3 pages written out of the scene that
was to be filmed. I remember that John didn't even know who would
play the "boom box boy". It was my dad asking him if
I could do it. John said "sure"! That was all I knew.
Thank you John! |
You were 12 at the time. Did you have any urges to persure acting
as a potential career? Or did you just enjoy hanging on the set with
your father?
Both. I always had great experiences on the set with him. I worked on
different films every summer for about 4 - 5 years. But then music came
into play for me and I started getting more involved in drumming. I
did the "band thing" for years! That was the direction that
I really wanted to go into. Now it has come full circle and I've been
getting into scoring films and other projects.
What were your
initial reactions to seeing Halloween 2 on the big screen? Is
it less scary when the main villian is your father?
It was a blast to see it on the big screen! Especially my part.
That cowboy hat and boom box seemed huge! It was more fun to know
that it was my dad chasing Jamie Lee and everybody else around
with a scalpel! It's an interesting concept, and now it's
my kids saying, "That's just my Grandpa"! |
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Whats your favorite scene from Halloween 2?
I dug the part where dad gets blown up at the end and comes out
on fire. He did a lot of very cool things in that film. My brother
Billy also has a small part in one scene. It was kind of a family
affair! |
Halloween 3 is,
in our opinion, an overlooked and underrated film. What's your
take on it?
I have to say that I'm biased. I liked it. Not only is dad in
that one as well, (the assassin) but I doubled one of the grey
suits at the beginning of the film. I understand why some of the
fans don't care for it, but if you take it as a separate film,
I think it's cool. More cool music from John Carpenter and Alan
Howarth. |
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Your father was
Kurt Russell's stuntman for many many years, and you used to hang
on the set a lot with your dad. Got any good Kurt Russell stories?
We love that guy.
Bummer is, I was very young during the Disney days with Kurt.
I have heard stories from my mom and dad about Kurt hanging out
with me, but Kurt was 19 when my dad starting doubling him. I
wish that as I got older, I could have hung with him, I'm with
you guys, Kurt's a great guy! |
You're listed
on some movie sites as doing a few uncreddited stunts. Did you
ever consider following a career in stunt work?
Yes. Again because I would see things from my dad, and being on
the set, seeing how things are done. The whole process of making
a film is very interesting and very involved. Most of the people
that we as viewers don't see, work their butts off! It's a very
cool thing to see how it all works. Plus I thought it would be
fun to take after what my dad had started! But then the music
took over!
It's movie magic to us, the viewer, when we see stunts performed.
Was it ever stressful having a dad whose work centered around
sometimes dangerous stunts?
It was, but I was very used to it. I grew up around it. I never
knew what he would come home saying that he did that day. Then
when I went to the set and saw for myself, it was just way too
cool! He was always very careful in every stunt that he did or
set up. He really knows his craft! |
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You know the ins and outs of stunt work--when you were on sets were
there any other aspects of the productions you remember being fascinated
with as a kid?
Not so much. I just hung out with everybody and they were always cool
to me. I remember liking the attitudes of the crew. Besides working
very hard, they all seem to have a lot of fun. I was always able to
look through the cameras at the different shoots, and have some special
privileges that any young guy would dig!
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Have you kept
up with the Halloween films as a fan?
I have.
Which ones are among your favorites and how do you personally
feel about the direction certain entries have taken?
Halloween Resurrection I thought was the most innovative with
bringing the Internet into play. Plus Brad Loree was a great Michael!
He's a great guy! The others I didn't care for as much. |
You've mentioned your interests in music, especially scoring. Can you
tell us a bit about your background in music, any bands you've played
with, or any scores that you've been working on?
| I have been playing
drums since I was 4. I did the "band thing" for years
performing, touring, and recording. But that got tough when I
wanted to start my family with my wife of 20 years! I have always
had a strong interest in film music. It is such a strong part
of a film that sometimes is so silent that some people miss it,
but you always feel it! We have been working on some very interesting
projects lately. The newest thing is a science fiction short film
that we wrote and produced ourselves called, "The Radio
Mechanics". We also wrote the score. I have a small part
as an escaped mental patient. Check out the trailer at www.radiomechanics.com. |
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Will do. What can you tell us about the production company you
own?
It is called Unit 12 Productions. We specialize in musical scores.
We are always looking for different projects to work on. We also keep
an open eye for feature films to produce. Our website will be up soon
at www.unit12productions.com
until then we can be reached at unit12@charter.net.
You took part in the 25th anniversary convention for Halloween in
Pasadena in 2003. What was that experience like from your perspective?
Surreal?
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A total blast! I
had the best time meeting all the fans that really follow the
series. They are incredible! I would love to do more conventions
if it is at all possible. I met and have stayed in contact with
several great people. One of my very good friends is Paul Swearingen
who was one the convention coordinators. I have even gone back
to LA to see him. We have decided to join forces on some upcoming
projects! |
Are one of those upcoming projects going to be 'The Second Line'?
I'd love to be involved!
Can you tell us so far what your involvement might be?
It would be doing the score. When the script was in early development
by Paul Swearingen, we wrote a main title theme that he gave his input
of what he wanted. As it has gone into the hands of Moves Productions,
we have expressed interest in doing the feature. It's really becomes
out of our hands, but we'd love to!
Anything else
you'd like to share with the Icons Of Fright audience?
I just want to thank you for your interest in what I have done
and am currently doing! Your support is much appreciated! If there
are any fans that would like to contact me directly, feel free
at, lancewarlock@charter.net.
Take Care.
Thanks Lance!
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