The Independent Film Corner: Melissa Bacelar review

Melissa Bacelar is an actress in Hollywood that got her start as an actress right out of college when she had the chance to work with Lloyd Kaufman on Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV. Since then, she’s had guest appearances on TV’s shows like “One Live to Live” and "Without a Trace" and has had serval comic book heroines based after her. Today, she is here to talk about “Skinned Alive” which comes out on DVD this Tuesday and “Pink Eye” due out on DVD September 30th from Halo-8 Entertainment.

1) Tell my readers about yourself.

I live in LA by way of Dirty Jersey. I have 7 dogs that are my life and 3 bunnies. I act, model, produce and run a crazy acting school. Life is hectic but I love it.

2) I noticed that you run your own production company called Los Angeles Films. Tell me about your company?

I started Lost Angeles Films with Jeff Spinner a few years ago. So far we have produced two horror films, a webseries and a reality show. We look for projects that we believe in and try to enjoy everything we do.

3) You have two films that are coming out on DVD in a month's span your film "Skinned Alive" that comes out on DVD on August 26th from Lionsgate and "Pink Eye" which come out on September 30th from Halo-8 Entertainment. Tell my readers about these films.

Well these are both amazing horror films that we made 7 months apart. And they could not be more different. Skinned Alive is a quirky story about a Zombie Hooker..It's a bloody love story and it is fun and gruesome.

Pink Eye is terrifying. Also extremely bloody it has a very real feel to the story and is focused around an insane asylum and a masked killer. Both have lots of nudity and gore.

4) For those who don't know Skinned Alive was originally titled "Eat Your Heart Out". What are your thoughts about the title change?

I wasn't sure at first...I didn't get it. But once I saw the trailer I realized that Skinned Alive gave the movie the creepy edge it needed.

5) What was the process like, getting these two films picked up for major distribution?

Long..It's alot of work. We have been in festivals, promoted, done 100's of interviews, radio shows and it was still difficult. We were lucky enough to have both films represented so they did most of the pitching.

6) I noticed a common thread with "Skinned Alive" and "Pink Eye" that both director James Tucker and actor/writer Joshua Nelson are involved in both film. Tell me how you first met both of these gentlemen?

Well Joshua I met 10 years ago in NY. He wrote a play that I auditioned for and he cast me on the spot. There was literally a waiting room full of potential actors and as soon as I read he handed me the script. We have been friends ever since. I actually have no idea how he met James. But Joshua cast me in Addiction which James directed and that was it.

7) How did you become involved with both of these projects?

Basically, Joshua sent me the scripts to read. I did and we made them.

8) Tell my readers about your characters Pandora in "Skinned Alive" and Delilah in "Pink Eye ."

Pandora is a sexual predator. She is strong and controlling and she eats flesh. She knows how to get what she wants.

Delilah is a regular girl. She has a big heart and she always puts her families needs before her own. She is strong as well but in a much different way

9) What was the shooting for both of these films like?

To fast. Filming is so fun...You are working insanely hard but you are having a blast. When its over it's super depressing.

10) What was your favorite moment on the set of both of these films?

On eat Your Heart Out it was all fun. The cast and crew just got along really well and we had an amazing time everyday. Pink Eye was alot of work....We had no time to mess around but in the end it was worth it.

11) What was working with James Tucker and Joshua Nelson like, on both films?

They are great. They each have such amazing talents and they are really great with the actors. Joshua amazes me on set. He handles everything, organizes everything, schedules everything, makes sure everyone is ok and then acts??? I mean it's ridiculous. He is insanely talented.

12) Before I end this interview, I was looking at your filmography on imdb.com and I noticed that you were recently interviewed for the Lloyd Kaufman documentary Tromatized: Meet Lloyd Kaufman. Tell me how you became involved with it and your thoughts on Mr. Kaufman?

The director contacted me through my site, http://www.melissabacelar.com/ We met and talked about Lloyd. It's so easy to tell a Lloyd story after you have worked with him. He is such a character all the time. Smart, funny and he knows what the fans want...

13) I noticed online that you host a show called "The Blood Stream" at http://www.thestream.tv/. Tell my readers about that show.

This is very cool. It's on Wednesday nights at 10pm. It's fully interactive and you can im in your questions for me or the guests. We talk about horror news, play games and have cool directors, actors ect.

14) Are there any upcoming projects that my readers and I should be on the lookout for?

Well of course the 2 films that are about to come out!! I also am shooting an interactive horror DVD called Slaughterhouse Slumber Party!!! Check out my site for details.

15) What advice do you have for any actress, who's looking to become an actress?

Get used to no sleep, hard work and alot of corn syrup in your mouth.

Ms. Bacelar, I would like to thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to talk about your two films "Skinned Alive, which comes out on DVD, this Tuesday from Lionsgate and "Pink Eye" comes out on September 30th from Halo-8 Entertainment.

To read my review of "Skinned Alive", you can goto: http://www.filmarcade.net/2008/04/reviews-from-horror-chamber-kinky.html

And my review of "Pink Eye" at: http://www.filmarcade.net/2008/06/reviews-from-horror-chamber-otis-pink.html

Also don't visit Melissa Bacelar's official website at: http://www.melissabacelar.com/

Until next time, my name is Anthony Thurber and that's 10 Questions