five with frights:- sal lizard
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SAL LIZARD, Actor, producer, Vampire Santa, Zombie stand up comedian, there's nothing this guy can't do and do well. I know, I've worked with him.
http://actorsal.com
http://lzpfilms.com
IMDB
MR. FRIGHTS: So Sal, what are you up to these days?-
SAL LIZARD: Well, I've been traveling a bit and making guest appearances at horror conventions. Most recently, I was one of the guests at the
Famous Monsters of Filmland Horror Convention in Indianapolis. It was a great event and I hope to do it again, sometime. I am getting inquiries from other shows now and hope to fill up my calendar a bit more. Of course, I'm still very busy from Thanksgiving to Christmas, too. -
MR. FRIGHTS: How did you make the leap from actor to producer?
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SAL LIZARD: I don't mean this as a slight to anybody but as an actor, I worked on a lot of film projects where I didn't get paid. Then I joined the union and suddenly there weren't so many jobs available except in the "big budget" films like "THE BOX". It was quite frustrating -- I wanted to act and most of the jobs were "non-union" and no longer available.
Last year, a director that I had worked with previously, wanted me and another SAG actor to be in his film. He asked me to work with SAG to see how we could make it happen. I found out that SAG actually offers the "Ultra-Low Budget Agreement" which allows films with a budget of less than $200K to be produced with union and non-union actors. As I studied this more, I figured, "I can do this." I was able to raise the capital to produce "NEXT DOOR". It was my first film project and the first film that I was on where every scene was completed on schedule.
Now I am working with Shane Michaels and Monique Dupree to raise the capital for "PREY TO GOD" with the hope of being able to shoot this fall or early next spring. -
MR. FRIGHTS: Are you still acting?
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SAL LIZARD: Actually, I am. I still audition for roles that I think will propel my career forward; however, I am now a member of the Screen Actors Guild so I can only accept "union work". But I do watch for opportunities to audition for other films and I had one of the lead roles in "NEXT DOOR" and will appear in "PREY TO GOD". Eventually, I may have to decide which path to take -- actor or producer -- but right now, I recognize the limitations imposed on my ability to be cast in many projects and am working around them. I've also recently joined the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) so that, hopefully, I can get some commercial work, too.
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MR. FRIGHTS: What's your best work that fan can check you out in?
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SAL LIZARD: Well, my biggest role, so far, has been in "Hillbilly Bob Zombie". I had a lot of good lines in that one and had a lot of fun doing it. don't expect political correctness in in. I really am looking forward to fan feedback on my newest film, "Next Door" which will be screened on the first weekend of October at
Cinema Wasteland in Strongsville, OH.
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MR. FRIGHTS: When Sal Lizard picks up some horror movie to watch, what does he reach for?
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SAL LIZARD: I like a variety of films. A good zombie film is always great but I do like vampire films. Lately, I've been watching more slasher-type films, too.
Hit the Grab Bag Questions below to go on with the interview...
GRAB BAG QUESTIONS
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MR. FRIGHTS: Can you tell us a bit about your Zombie crossover persona?
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SAL LIZARD: Well, I've always enjoyed comedy but it's hard to do comedy when you look like Santa, especially "blue humor". But once, while working at the
Gates of Terror Halloween attraction, I started telling jokes while I was dressed as a gravedigger. It caught on when I added the zombie element so I created "Abner
Zombie, the standup comedy zombie (and part-time gravedigger)". It caught on and I started doing comedy as such. Abner hasn't worked much lately, though. I've been concentrating too much on another character, "the Vampire Santa" who shows up for the parties at the horror conventions that I attend.
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MR. FRIGHTS: Is there any horror icon out there you'd really like to make a movie with (starring or producing)?
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SAL LIZARD: Well, I did get to wok with
Lynn Lowery on my project "NEXT DOOR" and I plan to have her back (as my wife) in "PREY TO GOD". Plans also have me working with
Michael Berryman and
Bill Mosely in "LONGWOOD".
Ed O'Neal will be in "PREY TO GOD". I am also looking for an opportunity to work with
Adrienne King. As with
Lynn Lowery and
Michael Berryman, I became friends with
Adrienne King through the
Cinema Wasteland Horror Convention. But I really want to work on a
Tom Savini project, someday.
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MR. FRIGHTS: If you had a ham sandwich but the ham was actually people meat, would you still eat it? What if it had mayonnaise on it?
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SAL LIZARD: I've actually been known to do some eatin' but I told those involved that I wouldn't "kiss and tell", if ya know what I mean. And gals have told me that there's nothing sexier than a "toothless zombie" for some fun. Mayo? I don't need the extra calories!
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MR. FRIGHTS: I noticed your picture on your Facebook profile: Vampire Santa?
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SAL LIZARD: Yeah, it's a character that appears on Saturday nights at the horror conventions I do. It started out when I did a video shoot for
Brenna Roth at the
Cinema Wasteland a few years back, Afterwards, I walked through the dealers room and several people wanted their photos taken with me. Later that evening I put in my black sclerals and everyone really started asking for photos. Later I added the teeth and it's been a reoccurring hit.
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MR. FRIGHTS: Any thing else you want to tell us in parting?
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SAL LIZARD: Just to be sure to check out my websites, periodically.
My actor site is at http://actorsal.com and my production site is at
http://lzpfilms.com. I am also in the IMDB (http://imdb.com) and I'm on several social networks. If your readers get a chance to see me at a festival, I would certainly welcome their thoughts and feedback. And finally, I am always looking for work -- I think about going to conventions with a sign that says something like "Will Act for Credits" but I really need money, too..