d3rang3d Interviews : Tim Thomerson

d3rang3d managed to catch up with movie veteran Tim Thomerson, the star of countless sci-fi/horror movies over the past 20+ years. Tim has recently starred in vampire horror flick Live Evil due for release in early 2008.

We wanted to know more about the upcoming movie plus find out some info about the man himself and thankfully he was good enough to give us some of his time.

For more info and trailers on Live Evil you can visit the myspace page HERE

d3rang3d: To start things off, what can you tell us about your character in Live Evil?

Tim Thomerson: My character the priest is a highly agitated individual who had a very difficult childhood and he’s seeking requiem.

d3rang3d: Live Evil’s premise seems to take a subtle twist on the vampire sub-genre, in that it’s been described as being a cross between a western and horror movie, would you agree with that?

Tim Thomerson: Well, I did wear a cowboy hat and there are vampires and there is blood and I would describe it more as an action/horror movie and to quote Steve McQueen while making Bullitt, “we’re shooting a western”. So to sum it up, they’re all westerns.

d3rang3d: How tough was it making the movie?

Tim Thomerson: Very tough due to the fact that we only shot on the weekends. We were on a very tight budget. We shot several weekends over the course of a few months. But under Jay Woelfel’s keen direction and great sense of humor along with Mark Terry’s tenacious dedication, we soldiered on.

d3rang3d: What’s your favorite scene from the movie?

Tim Thomerson: My character killing the vampire baby with a samurai sword.

d3rang3d: You’re also involved in the movie Wicked Lake, due to be released next year. What can you tell us about that?

Tim Thomerson: Well not much, I was sworn to secrecy. I can tell you we shot it in El Paso, Texas and in the mountains of New Mexico. Footnote: the film was shot on 16mm, not HD.

d3rang3d: Any interesting stories from the set of either movie?

Tim Thomerson: To be honest what is the most interesting for me on any movie is having the camera, crew and actors all working as one and getting the shot right on the day.

d3rang3d: Arguably your most famous character is Jack Deth from the Trancers series. How much fun is it to play Jack Deth and would you put yourself in his shoes again?

Tim Thomerson: Jack Deth was always a gas to play and I had a lot of gas while playing Jack Deth. As far as wearing his shoes again, well who knows?

d3rang3d: This is probably an unfair question, but of all the characters you have portrayed, who is your favorite?

Tim Thomerson: A two-parter on the Steven Bochco TV series Hill Street Blues, I played a slum lord and the new Twilight Zone series which was on CBS in the 80’s where I played a comic who stole someone else’s act and had to perform in hell for eternity. It was directed by Gus Trikonis who also directed me in Take this Job and Shove it. A character I played in a movie called Last Chance directed by Bryan Cranston is another favorite.

d3rang3d: Of all the talented, creative people you’ve worked with in your long career, who have you most enjoyed working with?

Tim Thomerson: Richard Pryor, David Letterman, Helen Hunt, Fred Dryer, Carol Burnett, Gene Hackman, Clint Eastwood, Richard Farnsworth, John Candy, Dolly Parton, Mel Gibson, Geraldine Chaplin, Anthony Perkins, Adrienne Barbeau, Chuck Norris, Anthony Zerbe, Sam Peckinpah, Lance Henrickson, Michael Worth and stuntman Tom Huff just to name a few and I owe a special thanks to Sly Stallone. I’ve been very fortunate.

d3rang3d: There is growing concern in the horror/sci-fi community about the number of remakes that are appearing nowadays. What is your opinion on the creative health of these genres and the movie business as a whole?

Tim Thomerson: As long as they don’t remake The Treasure of Sierra Madre, I don’t have a problem with remakes, however I’ve heard rumblings that they may redo Near Dark. That would be a mistake in my opinion. Under the direction of Kathryn Bigelow and the brilliance of Adam Greenberg’s cinematography it is a well acted, very frightening story by Eric Red and take note: this is way before any CGI. I was very happy to be a part of that movie.

d3rang3d: Any funny stories to tell from your long time working in the entertainment industry?

Tim Thomerson: Once while working with David Letterman I asked him how he stayed so fit and trim. His reply: “I only eat things I find in my pocket”.

d3rang3d: Could you name some of your favorite movies?

Tim Thomerson: Treasure of Sierra Madre, The Searchers, Steel Helmet, The Man Who Would Be King. Bullitt, The Sand Pebbles, Layer Cake, Mona Lisa, Uncommon Valor, North by Northwest and anything with Miss Bette Davis.

d3rang3d: Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?

Tim Thomerson: Hopefully still paddling out into the line-up.

d3rang3d: Finally, an open question; if there is anything you wanna say to the world, here’s your chance. Any subject to your liking.

Tim Thomerson: The world will take care of itself, it’s the people that you got to keep your eye on.

d3rang3d : And with that, we, and all of our readers, would like to say thank you to Tim for his time and also a special thanks to Teri Thomerson for her help. Don't forget to check out Live Evil on the movies Myspace at http://www.myspace.com/liveeviliscoming