Horror movies &stuff Interviews actor Scott Whyte
Actor Scott Whyte is certainly one on the way up in the movie biz. After appearances on NBC teen shows back in the mid 90's Whyte's career over the last few years has really begun to take off. Mostly because of his appearances in recent and upcoming horror films, one of which being David Payne's "The Reeker". In this interview, Whyte talks about the recognition he still currently get's from his NBC days, as well as his various upcoming projects.
MR. H:Now alot of people may not remember this, but back in the 90's you were a huge part of NBC's Saturday morning/afternoon teen lineup with roles in "City Guys" and "Hang Time". Do you feel lucky or thankful that you were one of the few actors who managed to come away from those shows back then with some great exposure all the while keeping your career in an upswing? Because alot of actors from the NBC teen shows back then haven't really been seen since while others you might see here and there.
Scott:I feel so lucky to have been part of the nbc teen lineup...it was a great experience (working with director frank bonner, known for his role as herb tarlek on wkrp in cincinnati), worked with alot of great talent (not just the immediate cast, guest stars included fred willard, gary marshall, and 98 degrees to name a few off the top of my head)...It is a bit strange coming off of a show like that because in the biz, its not a credible show (its not friends or any hit like that)...so to some casting people or whomever, city guys was like didnt mean much of my resume...but when it comes to street credibility and the people that watch, I still get recognized almost every day...but getting back to the subject of coming out of that show and having a career after...I would say I am just determined to work, and this buisness is all about talent and perseverence...alot of people get a job and get comfortable, not me...I always am trying to get to the next level...
MR. H:You were born and raised in California, so unlike some other people you didn't have to pack up everything and hit the road to make your name as an actor. Did you make the move to L.A. to pursue acting or did you still reside in Manhattan Beach while hitting L.A. for gigs when necessary?
Scott:I've lived in manhattan beach my entire life....I love the manhattan beach....to me, it's the best place to be... its a great escape from the stress and traffic of hollywood...manhattan beach still retains a 'small town' feel...almost like, if you asked someone on a street corner in manhattan beach where I live, they will point ya in the right direction...haha....I know soo many people in my home town, they usually know me too...its nice...
MR. H:Wesley Jonathan is another actor from your old tv show days who has risen to stardom somewhat since then and of course is on the show "What I Like About You" currently. Do you still keep in touch with him, as well as other people from your old tv show casts?
Scott:Oh wes....yes!!! that guy is amazing...I still keep in touch with wes and other cast members to this day, yes...he was the one guy on the show that really knew exactly where he wanted to be in hollywood...I mean this in the best way, he always wanted more than city guys, and he wanted it bad... he was like a caged tiger on that show, just itchin to get out to get to the next level in his career....and he did it...I think he booked 'what I like about you' within a year from ending city guys and hasn't stopped...with both tv and movie fame.... really focused, really a sweet guy!
MR. H:So your last few films, save for about maybe 2 have been horror movies. "The Reeker", "Voodoo Moon", "Haunted Prison", "Ghosts of Goldfield", and "Dead Man's Hand". Was this a fate thing, like where there's work you've taken it...or did you make a conscious effort to do more scary movies for awhile?
Scott:I owe my entire career to horror films...I started acting cause of horror films....long story short, I was 10 and wanted to be a special effects guy for horror films...at 10 I had seen almost every horror film I could see, had subscriptions to fangoria and gorezone....AT 10 (special thanks to my family memeber Doug for that) !!!! I went to a fangoria weekend of horrors, a horror film convention...and it was there that I met soo many actors, writers, producers which solidified that I had to do this someday... however, it was a particular writer I met that got me into changing my path from special effects to actually acting in the films....I had always been an entertainer growing up, putting on costumes, copying voices, telling jokes, but that experience at weekend of horrors really changed my dreams.... so cut to 16 years later, I finally book my first horror film (the genra that started it all), and I was sooo excited to finally get killed....ha... next thing I know, I'm on a roll, knocking out one horror film after another.... so I guess, it wasnt a conscious effort, but definately a goal I wanted to achieve in hollywood....
MR. H:Ok so "Voodoo Moon" just recently came to dvd, but "The Reeker" was scheduled to hit this October but was yanked at the last minute. Can you update the current status of that films future dvd release, or are you out of the loop on things like that?
Scott:Reeker (michael ironside, eric mabius arielle kebbel, derek richardson) was the first horror film I did!!! such a great experience, and a really really good film...I'm very proud of that one...that movie I believe has suprised everyone, including cast and producers...what was supposed to become one thing has now become sooo much more...as of now, reeker has had theatrical releases (with great success, I might add) in the England, Spain, France, Mexico, South Africa, and many other countries....I dont have any info on release dates in the US or what is going on, I am told beginning of next year stuff will happen in the US, but basically, studios are re-visiting the film because of all the success we've had around the world...
MR. H:What was it like working with Eric Mabius and Charisma Carpenter in "Voodoo Moon"?
Scott:Eric is an amazing actor, I have had the pleasure of working with him on reeker and voodoo moon, along with going to the same acting class and other encounters....he is a great guy, very smart, and obviously very talented....learned alot about character study and staying focused from watching him work....Charisma I did not meet on the set, I had no scenes with her, but from meeting her at other events, I can say she is very nice...and she did a great job in voodoo moon!
MR. H:In "Ghosts of Goldfield" you play the character of Dean. Tell us a bit about him and how he fits into the story, and also what's the basic jist of "Ghosts of Goldfield"?
Scott:The ghosts of goldfield is a film about a group of students working on a college thesis that visit a famous hotel known for being haunted, do a mini documentry about the place....my character dean is one of those students, who, long story short, is clueless about the history of the hotel (which by the way, is a real haunted hotel in goldfield, nv....known as one of the 7 most haunted places in the world).... he soon becomes all to aware of the ghosts that roam the halls....
MR. H:Awhile back we heard "Ghosts of Goldfield" would carry the "Urban Legends" title but then recently we heard that was dropped from the film. So will the movie carry the "Urban Legends" series banner or not, or you don't know for sure? And when can we expect the movie to be released?
Scott:Yes, there was quite an issue with this film and the urban legends title added to it...I cant really say, nor do I know too much, I believe there were liscensing issues and deals that never finalized which caused name changes and whatnot...I think its more complicated that any small tidbit of insight I can offer....the film is no longer 'urban legends' affiliated....I think they are still in post production with this film, with something happening early next year....
MR. H:."Haunted Prison" is coming up, it debuts on SCI-FI on the 14th of October. In it you play Brian, describe your character in the movie and did you guys film this movie at an actual prison or was a set built for the picture?
Scott:I play the role of Brian, the shaggy of the 'scooby doo' type bunch who are making a documentry about this abandoned prison (did I mention the giant riot in which all the inmates and guard killed each other)...he is kinda shy, kinda a nerd, and kinda doesnt wanna be at that prison at all....definately one of the comic releif characters of the film...we filmed this movie entire on location at real abandoned jails in the los angeles area... freaky!
MR. H:What nasties do you come up against in "Haunted Prison"? Ghosts, demons, zombies, what? And what was it like working with Jake Busey?
Scott:The haunted prison is full over hundreds of ghosts of both inmates and guards that killed eachother in a giant riot at the jail....we run into pretty much all of them at some point in the film...a few in particular keep popping up, my favorite was an inmate who was sentenced to the eletric chair, perhaps by other inmates during those riots...on the set, he received the nickname 'sparky'...ahhh jake busey...I had just as much fun working on the set as I had hangin off the set with him...a fellow musician and a down to earth guy, we would sit around on the set playing guitar and joking around...and being on the set wasnt much different....he has some great jokes and his stories are even better...I really looked forward to going to work everyday to get to do scenes with him....and his character in this film is amazing!! he is the star of this film!!! so evil and sooo hilarious, the perfect bad guy!
MR. H:When people think haunted prisons, the first one that comes to mind is the infamous Alcatraz. Have you ever gotten the chance to tour it? If not would you ever want to?
Scott:Never been to alcatraz....heck yeah, I wanna go there...alcatraz has got to be one of the more interesting jails ever!! simply because of it's location...it's definately on my 'things to do' list....
MR. H:You're also in Charles Band's "Dead Man Hand" which comes out next year. What was it like working in that film with Sid Haig and Michael Berryman?
Scott:Hahahah...all I seem to do is say how great everyone is, and these two guys are no exception... sid and michael are just really great guys, I cant tell you how many hours I sat on the set hearing them tell these amazing stories about their lives, and experiences they have had being in the biz....they both have been at it forever, and have done tons and tons of projects over the years...one of the main reasons I did 'dead man's hand' was the opportunity to work with them (I am a huge fan of house of 1000 corpses, and loved michael in weird science), and they did not let me down....they are both great actors, but on top of that...class act people...sid is hillarious on (and off) the set, and the stuff he comes up with is brilliant....and michael is just so genuinely nice, its hard to believe him as a tough guy after you talk to him.
MR. H:Tell us about your character in "Dead Man's Hand" Matthew.
Scott:In "Dead man's hand", I play matthew dragna, a young guy barely able to scrape by for rent, who aquires an old abandoned casino which his uncle left him in his will...unbeknownst to him, the abandoned casino houses the ghosts of some of his uncles enemies, whom his uncle killed when they tried to take over his casino one night....my character is sort of the strong character of the grounp, not afraid to stand up to these ghosts to claim the casino that is rightfully his...
MR. H:What's coming up for you next, sticking with horror or moving on to other genre films?
Scott:I really do love the horror genre and would love to continue working as long as that genre will have me....but I think it's time for me to shift some gears and get in some romantic comedies all while re-establishing myself in television and sitcom work....that is where my heart is, I love tv...I love live audiences, I love making people laugh....
End. Visit Scott Whyte on My Space!
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