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Behind the Mask: The Rise Of Leslie Vernon: Star Scott Wilson
By: Elaine Lamkin
With a career spanning from roles in such legendary films as “In the Heat of the Night” and “In Cold Blood” to a recurring role on the CBS hit series, “CSI”, actor Scott Wilson is a familiar face to almost everyone. Now, with the hilarious and terrifying “Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon” making the festival rounds and getting great word of mouth, Wilson’s character of Eugene, the retired serial killer who mentors Leslie, is certain to bring him even more fans. Bloody-Disgusting recently spoke to Wilson about Eugene and just HOW familiar Scott Wilson is to the Average Joe.
BD: Hi Scott and congratulations of “Behind the Mask” winning Best Film at the Fantasia Festival.
SW: Thank you. And I hadn’t heard about that. I do know about “Behind the Mask” winning the GenArts Audience Award – now THAT’S quite an honor!
BD: “Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon” seems to be your first true horror film. How did you get involved with the film and what about the script led you to accept the role of Eugene?
SW: I had met Scott (Glosserman, the director) at a mutual friend’s house where we would all congregate to watch football. He gave me the script to read and I loved how humorous it was – a very clever story.
BD: Your character, Eugene, sounds fascinating. Director Scott Glosserman describes him as a “retired psycho-slasher who married his surviving girl, is a sausage enthusiast, has a perfect life and is Leslie’s mentor”. How would you describe Eugene?
SW: Eugene is a role model for all of the young slashers-to-be. He has set the standard of excellence.
BD: Did you do any research into serial killers to create the character of Eugene?
SW: No, Eugene has no basis in fact. I just interpreted what was on the page.
BD: You co-star with one of the icons of horror movies, Robert Englund. I have interviewed him and found him delightful as well as a font of encyclopaedic information on theater and acting. Do you have any anecdotes from working with him on “Behind the Mask”?
SW: I didn’t actually have any scenes with Robert but I did know him socially – from “Raincheck”, a neighborhood bar in LA (laughs).
BD: This is the first feature film for Nathan Baesel who stars as Leslie Jordan. What was is like working with him?
SW: Nathan is a terrific young actor! He was a perfect casting choice.
BD: What has been the fan reaction to “Behind the Mask”?
SW: So far, the film has played at numerous film festivals and the reaction has all been extremely positive. At South By Southwest, the audience went ballistic. And now, winning these awards…
BD: How would you describe the film to those who may not know anything about it?
SW: “Behind the Mask” spoofs horror movies but not totally. There are moments where you’ll laugh and then moments where you’ll jump.
BD: What other projects do you have coming up?
SW: I will be returning in the first two episodes of the new season of “CSI” as Sam Braun. I just finished a film with Rob Schneider entitled “Big Stan”. I’ve also done “Sensation of Sight” with David Strathairn, “Come Early Morning”, directed by Joey Lauren Adams and co-starring Ashley Judd and Diane Ladd and “Open Window” with Cybill Shepherd and Robin Tunney.
BD: Are you a fan of horror movies and if so, what are some of your favorites?
SW: I remember the first horror movie I ever saw was the original “The Thing”, with James Arness. Scared me to death! I have been impressed by the films of Alex Aja, “High Tension” and the remake of “The Hills Have Eyes”. He knows what he’s doing. I like “The Exorcist” – I was actually in “The Exorcist III” so I got to work with William Blatty. George C. Scott was in that one too. And I was in “The Ninth Configuration” which Blatty also directed. I still get fan mail from fans of “The Exorcist III”.
BD: What is one thing about Scott Wilson that no one knows but you think they should?
SW: Oh, wow…let me think a moment…I’ve been eating a lot of watermelon lately (laughs). I have a hard time believing people actually know who I am. People are always saying they know me from somewhere but it’s never from TV or a movie. I once had a man accost me on a flight, insisting I had gone to high school with him in Chicago. I’m from Georgia so that just wasn’t possible but this gentleman just wouldn’t believe that I hadn’t been his classmate (laughs).
I also get a lot of attention from children due to the “Shiloh” series I’ve done. I play the old man, Judd Travers, and I did the first film back in 1996. I just did the third one so the kids who saw the first one are older now and a new group of children are discovering me.
Oh, and I read Bloody-Disgusting. Really!
August 2006
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