- Debbie Rochon has appeared in many, many movies, including a starring role in "Splatter Disco". Anyone looking for more info on Debbie or her films, can visit her at her IMDB page or her website: www.DebbieRochon.com.
Q: Ms. Rochon, can you explain how you first got into the movie business?
A: The short version is: I worked as a featured extra in the 1981 film LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: THE FABULOUS STAINS! And caught the acting bug then. Worked hard and saved money and by my mid teens I moved to New York City in 1984 to study acting there and by 1988-89 was getting small roles in indie horror movies. By the early to mid 90’s I was starring in some. Everything happened from there. But it is a commitment to the long haul not some overnight thing like most people in this business want or assume it is.
Q: Would you please explain your acting role in "Splatter Disco."
A: I play the wife of Trent Haaga’s character. We own a club in a town that becomes victim to a killer. I don’t want to give away too much because I think it’s more fun for people to discover it on their own! But Ken Foree is in it and many other really great actors! I just worked with the director, Richard Griffin, again in a new and really funny comedy called NUN OF THAT which spoofs the 70’s grind-house films. It was great fun. I got Lloyd a role in that as The Pope that I think he enjoyed a lot.
Q: Knowing how movie reviews may skew the perception of one's product, give us in your own words what you want people to know about the film.
A: It’s more a comedy than a slasher film. I think if you get it expecting a serious slasher film you will be deeply disappointed. If you get it for the laughs and humor, as intended, you will love this movie.
Q: If there were one part of the filming that was more difficult than you expected, what would that be? Getting a costume to work? Appearing in a certain scene? Certain lines?
A: It was very difficult kissing Trent Haaga. Not because it’s difficult kissing Trent Haaga but because we had been friends for so many years before that it was like kissing your brother. Weird! But funny! After much laughter we got through it OK!
Q: Was there any one day, one moment where you just knew the film would work the way you thought it could?
A: I really wasn’t on set for more then a day or two so it really didn’t occur to me whether something worked or not in such a short time period. That’s why I enjoy being on movies for a longer period. But I still do enjoy doing the one day stints on films if for no other reason than to work with, either new people, or see people I know again. SPLATTER DISCO completely worked so it must have clicked!
Q: Looking back, I know that you’ve also appeared in other films. Can you tell me a little about them and your experience with it? First, the 3 “Bikini Bloodbath” films?
A: The BIKINI BLOOD BATH films are so much fun it should be illegal! Talk about a really cool, great group of people! Man I love these guys/gals and I hope to always be friends and work with them. I play a continuing character Ms. Johnson in the film series who is the lesbian coach at the school. She’s verbally abusive towards the girls, yes, but she loves them all in her own special way!
Q: How about “Rapturious”?
A: It was so much fun working with Kamal Ahmed. He is a great talent when it comes to directing and a really funny guy. I respect him a lot. The lead actor Robert Oppel was just stunning to watch work, he’s a terrific talent too. He plays a rapper that goes insane from a weird drug that’s on the streets. A really good indie movie not enough people have seen.
Q: How about "Dead & Rotting"?
A: I had a really cool time in Ohio making this movie. So many people like it too I was really happy to see. Great story about a witch that some locals mess with and she gets revenge on them. Pretty simple story but done very well with cool practical effects.
Q: And finally “Santa Claws”?
A: This is my favorite bad movie that I have ever done. It is so funny. I watch it and double over with laughter. It’s so classic and out of it that I can’t laugh enough. I quote from it with my friends all the time. More often you hate being in a bad movie but once in a long while you can be in something that is MORE than just a bad movie and this is it! I love it.
Q: What's next for you? Can you tell me what you have going on in 2009?
A: Mucho continued writing! I am working on putting together a couple of projects with past collaborators, including the extremely talented Jon Keeyes who directed AMERCIAN NIGHTMARE. I am going back to Texas to shoot again with Mel House in IAMGO, which is a huge honor, he is so talented! I am very excited to be in the 1988 SLIME CITY sequel SLIME CITY MASSACRE shooting very soon and then hooking up with Chris Seaver again to do another LBP flick for more fun! I love co-hosting and co-producing the Fangoria Radio show on Sirius/XM so I look forward to more of that of course too!
Q: If you and I were to talk 1 year from today, what do you think would be on your plate at that time?
A: I will have signed with a publisher for my book. I will be writing a speech for an awards ceremony, accepting an award on behalf of Lloyd Kaufman because he will be boycotting the mistreatment of indie film directors, and I will be eating bark from a tree because I read it is good for you and it will be approved by the F.D.A..
Q: Is there any movie director or producer you really want to work for one day? Or perhaps any actors or actresses you’d like to star with in a film?
A: I would love to work on a Tim Burton movie or in a David Cronenberg movie. So many great directors to work with it’s hard to name them off easily! Some other directors I have never worked with that I would like to include Mick Garris or Larry Fessenden as well. All really exceptional talents, all offer different estetics but I know would be equally inspirational. It’s really impossible to list them all. Actors and actresses who are really comitted to what they do and are true actors, i.e.: are giving in their work and are making movies for the work not ego, under those circumstances I would love to work with anyone that follows that description, they don’t have to be name actors.
Q: Are there certain types of films you enjoy doing? What do you look for when picking projects?
A: Well, I love comedy and drama. Pretty much equally! I have really had a terrific time doing comedic roles in films like TERROR FIRMER, DR. HORROR’S EROTIC HOUSE OF IDIOTS, MULVA II: KILL TEENAPE among others! It’s really a gas for me to pull out all the stops and really go for it in physical comedy! I really like to test my self with serious roles equally. I really loved making AMERICAN NIGHTMARE, NOWHERE MAN and BLEED which are good examples of that. For upcoming movies that will be released this year I would have to say I am extremely proud of and excited about the following movies: COLOUR FROM THE DARK, THE GOOD SISTERS, WALKING DISTANCE, STOPPED DEAD, GALLERY OF FEAR and GAME OVER as far as serious flicks are concerned. There are some really cool comedies coming up too that I am excited about! WON TON BABY!, HANGER and DEMON DIVAS AND THE LANES OF DAMNATION. So there’s a lot of real quality film work coming up I am extremely excited about! What I ask myself when I read a script is “Will I have fun doing this? Is there something about this that is challenging to me? Do I like the people I am working with?” Those are the questions I ask myself when deciding what to do. I have been very lucky. The recent couple of years have really proven to be the most interesting for me creatively. I have met some of the best and most talented people I have ever worked with. I definitely feel very privileged to have worked with so many really unique people recently.
Q: Anything you wish to add for my readers and visitors? Something special about you that they probably do not know?
A: I am waiting for the final surgery for my gender reassignment. Most people don’t know about that.
Q: Finally...this is an "Obscure Horror Movie" website. Can you name the last horror movie you watched either at the theatres or on dvd, etc? How about name a favorite horror film that you have seen that most people probably haven't seen?
A: The last horror movie I watched was DEAD SNOW as far as a first viewings go. I really loved that movie. I also just saw the remake of Friday the 13th but I had seen it before. I had to watch it for work related reasons both times. I think it was an OK movie I just don’t know that they had to call it FRIDAY the 13th as opposed to just making a new horror movie. But those are the times we live in! What’s obscure that I like? That’s tough because most of my faves are not all that obscure, but a really, really great horror film I love that most haven’t seen (yet) is WILDMAN OF THE NAVIDAD. Great film! Shot recently but completely authentically 70’s Bigfoot type of monster movie all the way. I also really dig I SELL THE DEAD which is coming out this year. It’s original and different and I highly recommend it to everyone!
Q: Thank you very much for doing this.
A: Always my pleasure, keep up the great work!
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