Chad
Michael Collins 'howls' about High Moon and The Frankenstein Monster.
Versatile
actor, Chad Michael Collins, not only battled creatures on screen but
had the opportunity to portray one! I had the pleasure to interview
Mr. Collins about his monstrous encounters!
Fred
Grandinetti: FulvueDrive-in.com: There have been numerous werewolf
films what makes High Moon different?
CMC:
It's true, there a lot of great werewolf and supernatural films.
Their enduring popularity was why we were excited to make HIGH
MOON.
And while we didn't try and reinvent the wheel, ours definitely
feels like a throwback to the fun action movies of the 1980s. We
also play with a time-jumping element, as my character Colt is from
the old West but finds himself mysteriously transported to the
present day to hunt werewolves. So it becomes inherently comedic at
times as he tries to navigate a strange new world. We also throw in
a hot rod and a lot of custom motorcycles that our villains ride
around on, so it's definitely a fun, fresh take on the werewolf films
we know and love.
Any
particular reason it's set in the old west?
CMC:
HIGH
MOON
predominately takes place in the modern day, but we do several
flashback scenes exploring Colt's origins and his hatred for
werewolves. We jump around a bit, but it gives the movie a dynamic
feel seeing Colt in his western duds and then trading them in for a
tactical vest.
Describe
your character's background? Without giving away to much how does he
end up battling a gang of werewolves?
CMC:
Colt is on a quest for vengeance. After bumping up against some
nasty werewolves in the Civil War, he decides to flee the danger
which catches up with him eventually. He then transforms into a
lycanthrope-hunting slayer, finishing the task in his timeline but
awakening in the present day to find out that he has to once again
eradicate these evil heathens.
Looks
like you had a very physically demanding role. How did you prepare
for it? Any hazards on the set?
CMC:
The Colt role was definitely physical, as it involved a lot of fight
choreography and action sequences. Which is a lot of fun, but I've
always looked at playing such a lead role as a responsibility to show
up in shape and look the part, as well as do all or as many of my own
stunts as I can. Since these are the roles I enjoy the most as an
actor, I always stay pretty fit. it's much easier to maintain that
than to have to start from scratch for each role, in my opinion.
There are always occupational hazards when doing an action film - no
one gets away clean! A stunt will go sideways, a fake punch will be
a real punch here and there, so we all walk away with our bumps and
bruises. But I'm happy to report that there was no trips to the ER
on this shoot!
This
is not your first time being involved with well known monsters. You
portrayed the Frankenstein monster on television. What was that
experience like as an actor stepping into the shoes of the like of
Boris Karloff and Lon Chaney Jr?
CMC:
Yes, I played Frankenstein's Monster on the ABC show Once
Upon a Time
several years back. Obviously there's a huge pedigree with the
actors who've interpreted the classic monster. But thankfully, our
take was somewhat original, as was the look and the feel of the role.
It's one of my favorites to this day. I've found that what we
accomplished still resonates with so many of the fans on that show,
and the character was a favorite of many of them, so we must have
done something right!
Your
roles have shown a lot of versatility. Do you prefer one genre
over
another?
CMC:
I've been fortunate to play a nice mix of roles, across TV and film,
and many different genres. I'm a comic book nerd and a sci-fi and
fantasy fan at heart, so I always relish those opportunities. But
I've played a lot of soldiers and those are my bread and butter, and
perhaps my favorite thing to do. From the SNIPER
films to those types of roles on TV series, there is a respect and
admiration there that I hold for the members of our military past and
present, so I feel honored to be able to do them justice as an actor.
When
will High
Moon
be released? What format? Does the film have a website? FB page?
etc.,
CMC:
HIGH
MOON
will be released digitally on 5/14 and on DVD and Blu-ray on 7/2.
More information, photos, clips and the trailer can be found on the
following platforms:
Official
Site:
www.highmoonthemovie.com
Social:
www.Twitter.com/HighMoonMovie
www.Instagram.com/HighMoontheMovie
www.Facebook.com/HighMoontheMovie
Purchase
Links:
Amazon
http://bit.ly/HighMoonMovie
IMDB:
www.imdb.me/chadmichaelcollins
Official:
www.chadmichaelcollins.com
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/chadmichaelcollins
