The FilmMasons Interview - Brinke Stevens

The FilmMasons: First off, let me thank you Brinke for taking the time out of your busy schedule to do this interview.

TFM: You have had a huge career in film, but it could have taken a very different turn in the beginning. How did you go from a master’s degree in marine biology to something like Slumber Party Massacre?

Brinke Stevens: In the late-1970s, I was kicked out of graduate school (with a Master's
degree) for doing unauthorized communication experiments with dolphins... forbidden research at that time. I then married my college sweetheart, artist Dave Stevens ("The Rocketeer") and moved to Hollywood in 1980. While I was looking for a science job, I fell into doing "extra"-work in movies to pay the bills. Quickly, I landed a major role in Roger Corman's "Slumber Party Massacre" (1981). When I sat in a movie theater and watched myself on the big screen, I realized that I actually could act! I continued to pursue movie jobs, until my science aspirations eventually faded into the past.


TFM: You have many feathers in your cap, a writer, a producer and of course an actor; do you have plans to direct next?

BS: I accidentally became the assistant-director on a movie called "First Loves" in the mid-1980s. Originally, I was hired by the Italian director to rewrite his script. Later, I helped him to audition the actors by reading scenes with them -- and sometimes offering my own suggestions to better their performance.The director, Antonio, was so impressed that he invited me to their shoot in Salt Lake City, Utah. He lacked a certain confidence in his ability to speak English, and thus to clearly communicate with the cast and crew. In Utah, Antonio would take me aside to explain what he wanted, and then I'd step on-set to block, rehearse, and ultimately "direct" the scenes. Unfortunately, after five weeks of shooting, I came in one morning to find the stage-doors locked -- they'd run out of money, and everyone was sent home. I'm not sure if it was ever completed and released. (Monique Parent starred it it, by the way.)
It was a great experience for me, and gave me a good taste of how to direct a movie. So far, the offers just haven't come in -- but I'd love to do it again someday.


TFM: The term ‘Scream Queen’ was a crown you and a few of your friends wore for many years. Which actress would you say could wear the crown now, if any?

BS: I'm a huge fan of two younger actresses, Debbie Rochon and Tiffany Shepis. Debbie is wonderful in everything she does, and she's such a delightful, intelligent, spiritual woman. Tiffany's highly-charged emotional performance blew me away in her recent Rolfe Kanefsky film "Nightmare Man". She's a gifted natural actress, as well as a fun-loving person. I also like Suzi Lorraine, another sweet and talented gal, though I've only worked with her once and haven't yet seen many of her films.


TFM: You've had a few small roles in films like Naked Gun, Three Amigos, and This Is Spinal Tap, but most of your work has been in horror. Is that something you have always been attracted to, or is that just the way the cards fell?

BS: After I arrived in Hollywood in 1980, I started out doing "extra"-work on major films. Inevitably, I would be singled out for a bigger walk-on part, such as in Brian De Palma's "Body Double". When the video-boom hit in the mid-'80s, a lot of my filmmaker friends started churning out low-budget horror movies -- and they hired me for leading roles. I quickly became known for my horror films, and then I got so much B-movie work that there simply wasn't time to pursue any "mainstream" movie jobs. In a sense, I think it was just my fate and destiny to become a "cult"-celebrity. I always say, "My career chose me, I didn't choose it."


TFM: My favorite film of yours is Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama with Linnea Quigley & Michelle Bauer. It looks like it was a fun shoot. Can you take us through a typical day on the set?

BS: We shot on-location at a bowling alley near San Diego, CA. Since it remained open for business during the day, we had to begin shooting at 9pm (when they closed) and work all night till 9 am. As such, we felt like real-life vampires, sleeping all day and eating "breakfast" about 5pm! For that reason, it was difficult. But it was truly a lot of fun, too. I shared a hotel room with Michelle Bauer, and really enjoyed working with Linnea and Robin Stille on-set.


TFM: What’s your opinion of where horror is now as opposed to the hey days of the 80’s?

BS: The 1980s were more known for horror-comedies than now. In my opinion, the films I did then were more innocent and fun-loving. Later, horror got much gorier and even went into the "torture-porn" realm.


TFM: Will we ever see a re-teaming of you and your fellow scream queens, Linnea & Michelle in the future?

BS: Recently, the three of us were guests at "Monsterpalooza" convention in Burbank CA (April 2010). It was so much fun to be together again! Michelle and I pored over old "Femme Fatales" magazines that she was selling, and reminisced about those glorious days back in the 1980s. Michelle is mostly "retired" now, though Linnea and I continue to work a lot in films. A couple of years ago, we co-starred in "It Came From Trafalgar" in Indianapolis, which I hope will be released soon.


TFM: Filming 4 to 5 films a year must leave you with very little time for friends and family; what do you do to relax?

BS: My local LA friends are my cherished support-group, so I visit with all my pals when I'm home for any length of time. I love to cook gourmet meals and watch DVDs with friends. I'm also an avid hiker and enjoy exploring the scenic canyons around Los Angeles. I'm a pretty good sketch-artist and dearly want to take up oil painting eventually; I just acquired an easel and some canvases, so I'm well on my way. I think painting for a few hours every day would be incredibly relaxing.


TFM: If you had the choice, what role would you kill to do, or to have done?

BS: It's no secret that I'm a big fan of Christopher Walken. He's an amazingly talented dancer, as well. I'd be so happy to work with him on a horror film, and maybe do a dance with him too!


TFM: The Coffin is in pre-production at the moment and sounds fantastic. What can you tell us about it, and when will it be out?

BS: I wish I could tell you more, but it's been in pre-production for quite a while now. I suspect they're having trouble raising all the financing. I'd play a gypsy, and it is indeed a fun, creepy script. With any luck, we'll shoot it soon in Florida.


TFM: Brinke Stevens, thank you so much for your time.