This interview is from a late bloomer, I would say.  But he definitely has the skills to get far quickly.  I am talking about Chad Armstrong and his company LC Films.  He has the skills to go far in a short amount of time.  And as far as his company goes, it is there to help all independent filmmakers, who want their visions seen.  But without further ado let's see what transpired between us, here is his 10 questions:

     S. 1.  Did you do have any college to prepare you for filmmaking?

     Chad Armstrong (CA):  1: I actually majored in Theater Arts, however I didn't take many filmmaking classes. I had the pleasure of meeting Robert Rodriguez when I was in my teens at a Fangoria Weekend Of Horrors convention in the late 1980's, his advice was to take the money I would spend on film classes and make films. I took that to heart and shot about 15 short films in the following ten years. Best advice I ever got.

     S:  I love Rodriguez work I wish I met him, that's awesome advice.

     S: 2.  Did you start making short films or jump head first into full length filmmaking?

     CA: 2. As per my last answer, I shot a ton of short films in my teens and throughout my twenties. It was back in the days when everything was shot on film, and editing was a bitch, by hand rolling the print through the monitor, splicing and gluing the film together. Much more tedious than making films today.

     S: That sounds awful, but we do a lot to see our films become reality, I did a short (award winning) with a friend and was willing to put a mouthful of maggots on me and my face but FX man stepped in to do it.

  S: 3.  With so little directing experience, what would you consider the best attribute you've learned?

             CA: 3. Well I would say I have little experience in directing feature films, but not directing in general. The best attribute I've learned is the new techniques available today. After my short films early on I took about 15 years off of making films, moved to Alabama. So when I got back into it, it was a whole new process, sure camera setups are the same, but lighting for digital, editing, and sound have a much more different process. I have learned a lot in the process of shooting my current film Deimosimine, I learn something new everyday and it's great to have technically knowledgeable people surrounding me to keep me grounded.

              S:  I really didn't know how many films you had done, my bad, but the process being so much easier is great for new filmmakers can get their visions to screen easier.

   S: 4.  What is your all-time favorite horror film?

              CA: 4. There are so many it's hard to really say. But Blood Beach and Scanners will always have a soft spot in my heart. Those were the first two horror films I saw when I was very young, for some reason my dad felt it would be a good idea to take my brother and I to a drive in double-feature of both. But the film that got me into makeup fx and horror movies in general was A Nightmare On Elm Street. I know it's cliche to say, because everyone does but I guess that just shows how amazing that film was, and that it spawned a whole army of aspiring little filmmaker's and horror addicts.

              S:  Nobody has said any of those three, so you have laid claim to it. lol. Couldn't agree more with Scanners or Nightmare never seen Blood Beach so I guess I need to check it out.

   S: 5.  You made the decision to start your own company, Legless Corpse Films, now LC Films, how or why did this come about?

              CA: 5. I actually made some of my early short films under the name LeglessCorpse Films (Leglesscorpse is from Return Of The Living Dead, the little zombie with no legs was credited in the in credits as LeglessCorpse and it stuck with me). So about three years ago I was diagnosed with Heart Failure and my heart was only pumping 15% of my blood and almost died. During that time I couldn't work for over a year so I started a horror news site so I wouldn't die of boredom. So that's really how LeglessCorpse was resurrected after all those years.

              

     S:  I'm glad you're okay, cause you've definitely got a voice in the horror genre that needs to be heard.

    S:  6.  Now you opened your own distribution company, as if your plate wasn't full enough, was this out of necessity or to help other indie filmmakers with deals to spread the horror?

              CA: 6. It was, I heard so many horror stories of filmmakers getting ripped off by distribution companies.  Companies that wouldn't take the chance of releasing indie horror films on BluRay and just on DVD, and that got me thinking to give it a try.  We are no where we want to be yet, but we are growing, it's a VERY tough business, and for a very small team with a lot it's even tougher. But we are doing our best to grow, keep fans happy and are always learning new things, new distribution outlets, which ones work, which ones don't for the indie guys.  So our business module changes as we continue to test the waters.

                S:  That should be awesome to hear to other indie filmmakers, that you're there if they can't find a good distribution deal.  I would give you mine, saying I finish a movie, trying very hard for camera to start something.


               S:  7.  What do most people not know about Chad?

     CA:  7.  Probably the heart failure thing. I try not to harp on it to much, but when you know you could at any time, drop dead , lol you tend to drive yourself harder and make sure you get as much accomplished as you possibly can. That was an inspiration to make our feature film Deimosimine, because it's something I've never done and said I always wanted to do, so I'm making sure I'm doing it. Funny thing is after Deimosimine wraps we are moving straight into Blood Dancers 2, which we acquired the rights to last year. So looks like I will be able to do at least two before the ride of life is over. Of course I'm hoping to do many more, but you just never know and can't take life for granted.

              S:  I must agree I have Nash's disease, and need a liver transplant, also very weak immune system another pancreatic attack could kill me.  I want to do a movie so bad, but have to save all vacation time from work for impending transplant, so I feel your pain.  Just glad to know dreams come true always gives me inspiration.

     S:  8.  Your newest film, Deimosimine, looks old school 80's horror, was that intentional?

                CA:  8. Of course, especially with the practical FX. There is a big boom right now for 80's style horror, with filtered film grain, picture noise, etc. We didn't want to go that route. I mean what's the point in shooting 4K if you are going to make it look like VHS? However, we are keeping the practical FX and creatures very 80's style, it will have it's campy moments but over-all it's a very dark film and my partner and writer Andrew Thompson did an amazing job on the script, so we don't want to make it into a camp-fest. That's what Blood Dancers 2 will be fore.

                 

       S:  That is a good point, I've seen a lot of 80's style coming out, but not with such a creature aspect to, which truly looks great in this film.

       S:  9.  Would you prefer CGI effects over practical FX if given the choice?

                 CA:  9. I'm not a huge fan of CGI. CGI has it's place when complimented with practical FX, which we have some shots like that in Deimosimine. But CGI blood, and 100% CGI monsters look fake. Now don't get me wrong, most practical FX creatures look fake too, however they are organic, physically there in front of you, to me that's more pleasing to see.

        S:  I couldn't agree more, some big name movies looks worse with CGI than if they would have went practical.  The perfect example to me would be when they added CGI to original Star Wars, looks made it very blatantly cheesy looking.  Total CGI on remakes is different but almost all the time, to me, originals are better.

        S:  10.  Do you believe that crowd-funding campaigns are an easier route to fund projects or do you need to find solid backers?

                  CA:  10. Crowd funding sucks, but unfortunately it's a necessity for indie filmmakers to get their movies made these days. The market is so saturated. It's not like it was back in the days when someone would invest 100K into a project because it was going to be one of 3 horror movies hitting the theatre's that year and they knew they would get their money back. Anyone can get their films onto Amazon Video these days, no matter how bad or good it is, so if you are a true indie filmmaker and want to make more films in the future, you have to think like a businessman and a PR person. You can't just release your film and let people try and discover it, you have to keep reminding people, keep pushing it, spend a little on a PR company and care about your film enough to do so. Keeping your return on investment in mind with every penny you spend. Sorry I derailed there. Short answer to the question is solid backers are much better, however you're more likely to raise funds from crowd funding than finding an investor that's going to fund your movie these days. 

                   S:  Great answer, seems that is the new trend, but I do understand people are tighter with their money nowadays.  Crowd funding gives true indie horror lovers a piece of the action never offered before also and we do get psyched about what little we can.  Most people don't, I think, understand how much extra work it puts on filmmakers and actors signing and buying trinkets that are given away for what little they pay.

That was another wonderfully fulfilling interview with  a great up and coming filmmaker, the sky is the limit for these new faces of horror.  Chad Armstrong may be a late bloomer but from the action and stills from Deimosimine looks awe inspiring.  I can't wait to get my hands on my copy, and also see what else is up his sleeve.  I appreciate all you do Chad and am so thankful from the bottom of my bleeding heart, thanks for the interview.  SUPPORT INDIE HORROR

      As promised my review of The Void, it was an excellent piece of film work.  From the opening, in the farmhouse to the end of the film, it was thrilling.  I would go so far as say a masterpiece of film work.  Sure naysayers will say it had this and that from these movies, so frickin' what.  I saw an excellent movie from old school FX, to the great storyline, and excellent characters.  It compelled me from the opening elements of the WTF moments to the crazy antics of that ensued.  I want to say so much but i can't give any moments away, I honestly wish for you to take the time to let yourself enjoy.  If you have the opportunity to see in a theater, DO, you won't be disappointed.  I have every intention of purchasing it soon.  If that doesn't sell you on it here goes: influences in the movie were Lovecraft, Cronenberg, Barker's Hellraiser, Coscarelli's Phantasm films and practical FX from most great 80's and 90's horror films.  If your not sold this gory-horror film is not your cup of blood.  I would say, so far, horror film of the year 10/10.

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From	Paul Taylor paulthomastaylor@gmail.comhide details
To	Steve Hergina stevesteve1121@aol.com
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     This interview is a special one, it has non-other than the newest Pinhead himself Paul Taylor.  He has been acting for years, he first got his movie start in the star studded Sin City film.  He has also done guest roles in a lot of TV shows, but mostly has done theatre work.  He gracious took time to let me do my 10 question segment with him.  So without further ado, here goes:

     S. 1.  Who came and offered you the job of Pinhead, or did you have to audition like everybody else?

     Paull Taylor (PT).  1.  I had to audition.  I have a great relationship with the casting director Chris Freihofer, who is basically the big cheese for casting in Oklahoma, where the film was shot.  He's a great guy and a very gifted actor himself.  He has cast me in several movies and commercials over the last several years.  He first sent me a notice that he wanted to put me on tape for another role called The Auditor.  Then I got a private e-mail about auditioning for Pinhead.  At the time, JUDGEMENT was the only title and the fact that it was a HELLRAISER film was a secret, but I knew it as soon as I read The Auditor's first line, which was a version of a classic HELLRAISER line.  I've been told the studio wanted to cast an L.A. actor, but this casting was really a victory for the "flyover" actors!  Chris was also the person who texted me early one Sunday morning to tell me the part was mine.  "Welcome to the movie, Pinhead."

     S:  Wow, that had to be a special day, nice how they disguised the movie.

     S. 2.  What emotions flooded your system when the job of Pinhead was offered to you?

     PT: 2.  Elation, Joy, Exhilaration, a Feeling of Victory.

     S:  I bet the feeling was overwhelming, to know you landed such a coveted role.

     S: 3.  How did you feel about replacing such an iconic character as Pinhead, who has never been replaced before?

     PT: 3. Actually, Doug Bradley was replaced before me (although the word "replaced" seems inappropriate since nobody can replace the original perfectly) with another actor named Stephan Smith Collins in HELLRAISER: REVELATIONS.  So I'm the third Pinhead.  Anyway, to answer your question:  Gary warned me that hard-core fans of Doug Bradley would not be happy with me no matter how good I was.  At first, this worried me, but not for long.  I have a job to do as an actor and that job has nothing to do with who has played the role before, it has to do with bringing myself to the role as written in the given script.  I love Bradley's work in several of the HELLRAISER's and I honored his creation as much as possible with my own, but there came a point where I had to give that up and do my own thing with the role.

     S:  I did forget about him, saw that movie so long ago and only once cause it didn't strike me as awesome.  I understand everything you say about being Pinhead, if you are that weak you shouldn't take on such roles.

     S:  4.  What did you feel you could bring to the Pinhead character?

     PT: 4. A certain gravitas that was already written into the script. This chapter in the HELLRAISER world has a Pinhead who is a bit more internal than in some of the past HELLRAISER films.  And I brought my own affection for monsters to it.  I love playing monsters and the scarier the better.  This Pinhead doesn't laugh and never doesn't make jokes.  I'm a funny guy, but you won't see that in JUDGEMENT.

     S:  That sounds great.  Internalizing Pinhead sounds like a great script.

     S: 5.  Is this the biggest acting gig you have had the pleasure of doing?

     PT: 5. As far as film, yes, it's the biggest.  I have played many leading roles in theatre, but in my previous film work, it's been small character parts.

      S:  Hopefully this becomes your breakout role.  I have dabbled in acting I don't believe theatre work is for me, being honest.

      S: 6.  All I have heard about Hellraiser: Judgement is bad and that you had know right taking over Doug Bradley's character, did you expect this much backlash?  

     PT: 6.  I ignore the backlash.  Why feed on that unnecessary negative energy?  I have better things to do.  Mature people will give the movie a chance and not judge it before it comes out.  I was warned by the director, Gary J. Tunnicliffe, that there would be backlash. At first, that freaked me out.  But I quickly got over it and did my job. Haters gonna hate. And as far as having a "right" to take over the role...it wasn't my decision.  I'm just an actor doing his job.  I auditioned really well and got the part.  The End.

     S:  Agreed there are to many shallow people out there that believe nothing should ever change.

     S: 7.  What is your favorite horror film ever?

     PT: 7. THE SHINING.

     S:  I have heard that a lot for the unnerving suspense and overall feeling, of the film, you can't argue.

      S:  8.  You have worked with some big names in the industry, which film or TV show have you learned the most from, and which was the most fun?

     PT: 8.  My first film was SIN CITY.  When I walked into that studio and saw all the worker bees swarming about and at the center of it was Robert Rodriguez, sitting in his director's chair strumming a guitar, I learned two things.  First, Robert Rodriguez is the coolest cat in the world and second, the art of filmmaking is about the camera, not the actor.  This is obvious to a lot of people, but I had never actually seen it happening until that day.  It was amazing.  All those people adjusting all of those elements to get it down to one tiny camera lens.  It's a mind-boggling craft to the novice.

I would say the most fun I have ever had on a set was HELLRAISER: JUDGEMENT, no question.  First...I'm Pinhead in a freaking HELLRAISER movie!  I am a huge Halloween kid at heart, always was.  To play this terrifying monster on a movie set was such a head trip.  Fun may be the wrong word.  It was painful (as it should be with Pinhead), it was exhausting, it was grueling. but the fact that I was where I was and was doing what I was doing made it the most pleasurable experience I've ever had on a set.  The pleasure/pain correlation is not lost on me.

     S:  Any Halloween kid would be thrilled by that, wow, I have always heard good things about Robert Rodriguez from actors to some crew, he is just a class act.  And his movies always seem to have a certain flare to them, has to be his vibe on set.

     S: 9.  Why did you decide acting was your calling?

     PT: 9.  Because there is nothing else I can do for money that gives me such pleasure, and I happen to be very good at it.  My dad was an actor and his dad was a vaudevillian.  It's in my blood.

     S:  That is so cool that generations of your family have done this, it's know wonder you wanted to follow the gene pool.

     S: 10.  What do most people not know about you?

     PT: 10. I'm a wicked Pee-Wee Herman impersonator and a disciple of the Church of Tim Curry.

     S:  That almost frightening knowing there are Pee-Wee Herman impersonators out there, lol, given your background of generations of acting Tim Curry is a special sort of actor truly one-of-a-kind.  That is the best question for everyone I love the answers.


     This has been all my pleasure to interview Paul Taylor, what I believe, will be a huge star.  In the near future I expect him to be in with the horror greats, Pinhead is just the start.  He will be a (horror) household name very soon.  I see good things in store for this man in his future endeavors.  It has been a great interview with another quality individual such as Paul.  SUPPORT INDIE FILMMAKERS