"BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE FOUNDING
FATHERS AND THE FIRST AMENDMENT."
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Lee Perkins: Actor
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1. Please tell us a bit about your background. Where are you from and what inspired you to become an actor? I grew up in Florida and Northern California, and I later lived in Italy and England, racing cars there. As a kid, I always lived in my imagination. I’m very curious by nature, and I’m a people watcher. Acting gives me the opportunity to experience human emotion at its most extreme. Much like driving a race car at its limit. 2. Who is your biggest influence as an actor? When I was younger, I used to lie in front of the TV and watch anything John Wayne and Kirk Douglas did. They had such great screen presence. For the cool factor, I was amazed by Steve McQueen. Nowadays, it’s the character work of Daniel Day-Lewis or the comedic timing of Paul Giamatti. 3. Tell us about your recent roll in "KatieBird *certifiable crazy person". I play a third-generation serial killer named Merl “Daddy” Wilkins. Merl is a pretty twisted guy and the father of KatieBird. The film takes the viewer along on the ride of how KatieBird is transformed from a sweet innocent little girl into a homicidal murderer. Merl teaches her the only thing he knows, that truth can only be found through death. Through the use of a hammer, saw and tooth extractor, KatieBird and dad teach their victims what truth and truthful pain are. 4. Of all the film and television that you've done, what would you consider your most memorable roles? That’s a hard question. For me, I haven’t found that one memorable role yet. Merl is very close. But in my mind, there’s a role that has not been created. One that takes advantage of my driving background, like in the film “Bullitt”. Has the action of a good Clint Eastwood western and the darkness of “KatieBird”. So that would make a modern-day cowboy who drives fast cars and kills people. Yep…that would work! 5. What aspects of characters do you identify with? With all the characters I play, I try to bring as much of myself to the role. I always try to find what I have in common with them. The acting comes in creating the things you don’t have in common. On each film, I also learn a life lesson. With “KatieBird”, it was what true perseverance is. Anyone who listens to the behind-the-scenes footage on the DVD will see what it took to get the movie made and sold. The director, Justin Paul Ritter tells it all. On another film I recently shot, I’m learning how to live in the present (not in the future) and to have zero expectations. There’s a Zen feeling that comes with that. Damn…I’m deep. 6. Tell us about your upcoming projects. Give us the scoop! On the horror front, I just received the script “Retard”. It’s very dark. Christopher Alan Broadstone is directing, and it has John Franklin (“Children of the Corn”) and Christopher Webster (executive producer for “Hellraiser I & II”) attached. This summer, I’ll be shooting “The Red Machine”, a spy thriller set in the 1930s. There’s another thriller called “Vagabond”, in which I’ll get to do some driving. I’m also going to make a few appearances. “KatieBird” is going to be screened in Dallas at the Texas Frightmare Weekend on Feb. 4 & 5 and at Fangoria’s Weekend of Horrors on March 4 & 5 in Chicago.
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7. From an actor’s standpoint what is the most important thing a Director can bring to the set? On set, it’s organization. Some one
has to be running the ship. I also like someone who will take
chances and try something new. I steal from anyone who has an
idea. I once got one from a little kid who was an extra. I was
playing a reporter at a hostage standoff, and the gunman’s mother was
driving by. The little kid said, “Why don’t you stick the microphone
in the car window as she goes by?” I took the idea to the director,
and he loved it. It made for a better scene, and the director gave
the kid some air time. In editing, I want trust — trust that the
best performance will end up on screen. I’m not a big fan of
directors who edit for the beauty of a shot and not
performance. The only thing they know is that they don’t know. If Justin had listened to some of the distributors he met with, the title “KatieBird *certifiable crazy person” would have been changed. And this is after Fangoria Magazine had picked it title of the month. A pop song would have also been added to the opening. What a joke. One distributor even said that they didn’t want to offend mentally ill people. The story is about a mass murderer. Get real. 9. Do you have any advice for aspiring actors? Yeah. Don’t do it. If that statement stops you, then you’ll never make it. You have to understand that rejection is part of life. Some people will be nice, but most will be rude. Hollywood is about power. If you have little and others have more, they’ll make sure you know it. But if this is something that you must do, then don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t. Get rid of anyone around you that says you can’t. At the end of the day, they’ll only hold you back. 10. When all is said and done, what 3 things would you like for people to remember about you? I believe in God. I’m sorry about some of the things I’ve done in my past (mostly to women). And if you screw me, I’ll squish you like a bug. 11. Here's where we give you a word or phrase
and you give us the first Hollywood: Makes me sick to my stomach. Toxic Shock TV (shameless plug): A kick-ass site. And, I hear, a kick-ass T-shirt. Hint! Biggest regret: I wish I could sing or had some musical talent. Trust me, I suck big time. Biggest prick: My roommate in college. I’ve never seen a white man hung like that. The funniest thing that has ever happened to you on a set: I almost got fired on “Freejack”. Emilio Estevez wanted to drive the race car. So I said why not, after all, he’s playing a race car driver. I later found out that you’re not allowed to kill off the star during the first week of shooting. Your biggest "break-thru" moment: Haven’t had it yet. I’m waiting… You can only watch three movies for the rest of your life, which three: “The Godfather” for great acting.
“Tora! Tora! Tora!” for great action. “Porky’s” for a great love
story. I listen to songs, not albums, and that changes by the day. I haven’t bought a CD in years. The last thing I bought was a soundtrack to a film. I’m such an actor. I bet Steve McQueen would’ve had a great answer. Visit the KatieBird Movie Site for more info!:
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