In our first awesome interview we have Damian Maffei up to bat! You may know him from Haunt or Strangers Prey at Night, however, his credits are extensive in the horror genre and he is confirmed for the upcoming Texas Chainsaw Massacre video game. We were able to have him answer 10 awesome questions! Here we go!
1. Since you have played both types of character, which do you prefer to act, silent roles or having vocal characterization?
The silent roles are fun, tremendous fun, although as mine are generally masked or completely unrecognizable, the challenge is trying to find any behavior or moment that makes it unique. In these masked villains most everything you worked on for years as an actor is taken away. It’s why these parts were never filled WITH actors, usually whoever could fit in the wardrobe. It’s not a glory position. Not what would likely be categorized as “acting”, but still a degree of challenge. I enjoy diving in and creating characters, finding behavior and what makes them stand out (or not). Generally speaking, the character with the voice allows for more play, I think most actors are going to choose the path with more to work with.
It depends on the project, I guess. The movie I’m heading to work on next, I was approached about a speaking role, a deputy, but Inhad read the script and asked about the very silent killer. I thought I could bring something special to it. So I fought for that and got it.
He's a gem I promise!
2. How long was the makeup process for your unmasking scene?
The Devil makeup in Haunt took about 3 hours to apply, time that went by quickly and in the best way, thanks to the two wizards applying it, Chris Bridges and Hugo Villasenor.
3. Did you have any say in the design of The Devil in haunt or was it fully fleshed out?
The character design was already fleshed out before I got the part, although originally he was going to be red. And I remember Chris and Hugo finishing up with the prosthetic application and then almost simultaneously saying they thought I’d look better as is. I completely agreed, so they took me down to see Scott and Bryan, pitched the non-red Devil, and they went for it immediately.
4. Your IMBD mainlines horror, is that your aspiration? Is so what drove you to want to pursue horror?
I suppose my aspiration is to make quality entries in the genre. I enjoy all genres, but whenever I’m thinking of pushing something, or being on the creative side, it’s always the horror genre, so sure. Being a lifelong fan, the genre being what excited me and the titles being what I’d actively seek out, that’s what made me what to be involved in it. I’ve done theater, which I absolutely love. Musicals, straight plays. And I hope to get back into it. But the theater tends to be lacking greatly in horror themed shows. The worlds have yet to click completely, but I’m always hoping.
5. Who do you feel was most comfortable to play in your movie career?
Ha, the masked villains! The Man in the Mask and the Devil are just shenanigans, just fun. Having your face and voice taken away, your sole purpose to just menace and terrorize, it’s very freeing. I filmed two movies this past year, The Events Urrounding A Peeping Tom and They Watch. Both horror, but very heavy, very dark, emotional. Uncomfortable. Easily my two best performances to date, but they both took a lot out of me, required me to go to places emotionally that definitely aren’t in the comfort zone.
6. Do you enjoy playing the villain?
Oh yeah. They’re the most fun. Standing up for what’s wrong, being a protagonist someone can root for is definitely nice (I hear), but being the baddie is the most fun.
7. What was the first horror movie that truly dragged you in to the genre?
ALIEN. My parents were watching it on TV. I was hiding behind the couch. When that sucker burst out of Kane’s chest, I was all in.
8. Was there any improv with your Strangers 2 character? It seemed the victims were truly terrified, is that all acting skill or were you allowed to be a menace to them for the movie?
Guess that’s just good ol fashioned acting! Johannes would always send me out there, say “Just play around.”, so most of that stuff was happening in the moment, safely, or through rehearsal and choreography. I’m not much for menacing the folks off-screen, I don’t find that to be very helpful. Quite the opposite. I find that the more comfortable people are together, the better the chemistry, the performances are, but some actors prefer to not get to know the antagonists off-screen at all. And that’s fine. But terrorizing them when the cameras aren’t rolling… I don’t see the point in that. If the actor is uncomfortable, it’ll be hard for them to… You know… Be in character.
9. Was the pool heated in Strangers 2 or did you jump in cold water?
The pool was not heated, no, but the first day we filmed in it, it was a fairly hot day, so the temperature was comfortable. The following day was much cooler, but thankfully I didn’t have to get back in. Just filmed Lewis floating over to Bailee. That was an uncomfortable temperature… I hear.
10. Are there any new projects you are working on you can share?
There are two movies that should be coming out this year that I’m quite proud of the work I did on them. One is They Watch, directed by Doug Henderson, starring myself, Ashlynn Yennie and Kate Kiddo. It’s a really powerful, spooky flick, with strong acting. The other is The Events Surrounding a Peeping Tom, directed by Hannah Fierman, with my favorite script of all time written by my oldest friend on the planet, Brian James Fitzpatrick. That movie stars myself, Kate Kiddo, Kamarra Cole, and Terry Kiser. It’s really original, something different. It was not an easy movie to make, and I’m very proud and grateful of the team that helped make it happen. A true village experience. I’m also a playable character in the upcoming The Texas Chain Saw Massacre game from GUN, the folks that made the incredible Friday the 13th Game. VERRRRRYYYYY EXCITED for people to get into that. Shortly I’ll head off to start filming The Skulleton, a slasher flick written by Anthony and James Gaudioso, directed by Ante Novakovic, starring Tyrese Gibson, Bruce Dern, and Shawnee Smith vs. myself.
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