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Interview Copyright ©27th Nov. 2007, CreepshowCreeps.com™.
Property of CreepshowCreeps.com - Not to
be used elsewhere.
Interview conducted by Nicholas
J. Murgatroyd. Special thanks
to Phil Mallon ('Old
Chief Wood'nHead' on our boards)
Marty,
First of all, let me express on behalf of all of us at
Creepshow
Creeps Online my most sincere thanks for agreeing to be
questioned for the site!
Question 1: How did you become involved in acting
originally?
I decided at the age of 10 that I was
going to be involved in films. My father gave me my first
movie camera, an 8mm Kodak, when I was 11 and a full on 8mm
editing system when I was 12. In those days in Pittsburgh
there wasn't a great deal of film work, pretty much none, so
I got involved in theatre. I did over 20 plays by the time I
was 18. I acted, did lights, built sets, ran props and
rigged scenery. I was hooked full on. I entered Point Park
College (University) in 1974 as an acting major. While I was
at Point Park Dawn of the Dead was being cast. I would start
out as a stunt zombie...actually catching Tom Savini during
a stunt where he gets hit by a truck...and eventually become
one of the motorcycle raiders.
After graduating from Point Park I moved to Los Angeles. I
was very fortunate to work on two more Romero
films..KNIGHTRIDERS and of course CREEPSHOW. I returned to
LA in November after wrapping CREEPSHOW. I signed with the
Light Company as my first theatrical agent. I was visiting
with George and John Harrison who were at TODD AO mixing the
audio for CREEPSHOW when I got the call from my agent that I
had be cast in my first TV Series...THE BOOK OF
LISTS...hosted by Bill Bixby. I then spent the next 15 years
working on Television and occasionally a film.
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Marty
(right) acts on the Creepshow set
alongside friend and make-up special F.X. guru, Tom
Savini... |
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"...Creepshow is the definitive anthology film...
It's one of the greatest experiences of my
professional career and I'm so pleased that it lives
on." |
Question 2: Who are some of your idols and influences in the
film industry?
By all means George Romero was my
first influence. The way he works is really amazing. He can
see the edited shot in his mind as he is shooting so for the
most part he only shoots what he needs. The other wonderful
thing was the set was fun 99.95% of the time. George's sense
of humor got us through some very long days and nights.
I was also very influenced by the Pittsburgh film community.
We're a family..sometimes a dysfunctional one....but for the
most part there is a lot of love and support there that you
don't find in other towns.
Question 3: I know you were an assistant director on the
1984 film,
"The Party Animal", but have you ever considered directing
a film yourself? Is directing somewhere you would like to take your
career at some point?
I enjoy Directing but prefer the
dreaded Producers job. If anyone rents Party Animal I will
personally refund their money.
Question 4: Can you share your thoughts on George Romero?
How do you
find him as a person and as a director?
I found George Romero to be one of the
nicest guys in the business. When it comes time to
work...nobody works harder but he has a wonderful sense of
humor...that shows in his films. He approaches directing
from a very intelligent perspective and having acted for him
three times...I'm here to tell you that he's an actors
director. He knows how to get performances out of you
without giving you line readings. He and I spent a lot of
time making each other laugh. "Dueling Brandos" is still one
of my favorites.
Question 5: ...and Stephen King?
Stephen King was really fun to work
with. He knows me only by my nickname "Moonbaby". When we
did CREEPSHOW he was writing CHRISTINE (Named after Chris
Romero) and would jump up in the middle of a party or a
conversation and head to his room to write. I'm glad to see
his son Joe is out there writing now. Joe was the little
boy, Billy, at the end of the film with the "VOOODOOO" doll.
Question 6: It must have been exciting working with some of
the big
names in Creepshow such as Hal Holbrook and Leslie
Nielsen. Were you star-struck at any point during the production?
I was never really "star-struck". I
had been in LA for a few years at the time we were shooting
CREEPSHOW. If you look at the credits I'm also credited as
one of the grip crew under "Moonbaby Schiff". There was a
strike going on in Hollywood that year and so I signed on to
work crew on the film as well as act in it. So meeting those
guys was like "Hollywood 101" for me. I was MORE...so
instead of star-struck I was sponge-like. I spent as much
time as I could talking to those actors who had been around
the block a few times.
After wrapping CREEPSHOW AND returning to LA I would see
several of the cast at different times. Leslie Nielson and I
ended up working together on a show called 227. He was
great, a really funny, funny man. Hal Holbrook and I were
neighbors in Marina Del Rey. We had breakfast together a few
times at a place called Jamaica Bay . Ted Danson would go on
to star on CHEERS and my partner at the LA Film Actors Lab,
Tom Babson, had a recurring role on that show. I would see
Ted often while visiting Tom on the set. Ed Harris and I
were friends from KNIGHTRIDERS and played on the same
softball team in the Vally...Ed is one hell of a shortstop.
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Marty on modern horror:
"It's ALL flying down the hill full throttle.
There is so much blood and gore that by the time
the film is half over you are desensitized to it.
I find myself thinking about the characters; "Who
CARES if they get killed!" |
Question 7: Are you a horror fan? If so what are some of
your
favourite horror films of all time? Any favorite directors?
What do you think of the current Hollywood horror film
remake craze?
They're even thinking of remaking Creepshow! What are
your views on that?
I am a horror fan. I feel that Horror
should be a roller coaster ride. Sometimes you are going up
the hill...not knowing what to expect once you reach the
top...sometimes you are hurling down a double dip that lifts
you out of your seat...and sometimes you are taking a curve
that has unknown thrills on the other side. Modern horror
has abandoned that. It's ALL flying down the hill full
throttle. There is so much blood and gore that by the time
the film is half over you are desensitized to it. I find
myself thinking about the characters "Who CARES if they get
killed..."
I think that THE EXORCIST is still the most frightening film
around as well as ROSEMARY'S BABY and the first OMEN. My
kids disagree...the EXORCIST makes them laugh. My mother
thought that FREAKS was the most frightening movie
ever...and it makes me laugh...so maybe it's a generational
thing.
CREEPSHOW should be left alone...like CASABLANCA, GONE WITH
THE WIND and THE WIZARD OF OZ. Some films should not be
remade. If they want to do a CREEPSHOW 4, 5, 6, 7 and
8...why not...but leave the original where it is.
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"I
think that The Exorcist is still the most
frightening film around, as well as Rosemary's
Baby and the first Omen..." |
Question 8: Are you a fan of the old E.C. horror comics upon
which Creepshow is based? Any favourite artists or stories
to share?
I was a MARVEL comic fan...I watched
my horror films on the big screen at the Monroe Theatre in
Monroeville PA (Where the mall is where Dawn was shot) and
on Saturday nights on the small screen watching CHILLER
THEATRE with Chilly Billy Cardille.
Question 9: Did you improvise on the spot any of your
performance as Garbageman #1 with Tom Savini at the end of
the film? You seem to have had a lot of fun with the
performance!
Yes...that whole sequence was created
on the spot by Tom and I. If you watch very closely you can
see us juggle a trash can lid and a bag of garbage before
making it to the closer shot in the scene. I thought it
would be funny to make as much noise as we could, so I
smacked the truck with a trash can lid and yelled "CHEW YOUR
FOOD BEFORE YOU SWALLOW!!" Tom and I were always comfortable
working together so the scene just flowed. The only scripted
line in the scene was "Authentic Voodoo Doll..." etc.
Everything else was Tom and I and George letting us do it.
Question 10: Do you still like to keep in contact with many
of the cast crew of Creepshow today? Any lasting friendships
because of Creepshow in particular?
I do keep in touch with Savini as well
as John Harrision. Bob Tinnell, who was a pa on the shoot
and went on to direct and produce in Hollywood, and I speak
often We've all moved on to busy lives and really don't talk
as regularly as we should perhaps, but, when we get together
it's like we've talked every day of our lives. The
Pittsburgh Film community is very tight and very much like
family. It has its moments of dysfunction, like any family,
but most times we work it all out.
Question 11: Looking back at Creepshow today, do you enjoy
the film? How do you think it turned out? And what is your
favourite story in the film? Do you have a favourite
performance? How do you think it stands up today? It would
be great to hear your thoughts on the finished film in
general!
I think CREEPSHOW is the definitive
anthology film. The stories are all great and I have
memories from each of them. My favorite may be SOMETHING TO
TIDE YOU OVER but it's hard to choose. I can't really say
there was one performance that stood out over the rest. Hal,
Leslie, Ted, Adrienne, EG, they all did a great job in
making this film a classic. I was involved in every story.
You may not be aware that I also was on the grip crew for
the film and did most of the color background changes by
hand using theatrical lighting boards. Nick Mastandrea asked
me to be involved due to my theatre lighting background. My
grip credit is under "Moonbaby" Schiff.
Question 12: What advice would you give to those who are
interested in pursuing a career in the acting/film industry?
Commit, commit and commit. Don't do it
half way or you will not make it. You need to have the
ability to market yourself like a product. Don't think of
yourself as an artist at first, you can be an "artist" after
you succeed. Be a pair of shoes. What makes someone take you
off the shelf instead of the shoes next to you? Be realistic
about your limitations and strengths. Most of all...be
passionate about it...love it...and live it. If you can't do
those things choose another profession.
Lastly Question #13, do you have a message you'd like to
give for the visitors of CreepshowCreeps.com?
Thank you for loving this film! It's
one of the greatest experiences of my professional career
and I'm so pleased that it lives on.
Marty, thanks so much once again for your time! We really
appreciate it!
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Marty today.
(From "Just Desserts:
The Making of Creepshow") |
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