Debbie Rochon

SCREAMING DISTANCE

David Boyer interviews Debbie Rochon

Debbie Rochon started out as a New York stage actress. She belonged to numerous theatre companies during the 1980s, honing her acting skills in classical and contemporary works. After several bit parts in indie films she found her true love: film. By the mid-1990s Debbie was starring in dozens of horror features. Although mostly associated with creepy features and thrillers, she has garnered acclaim for her turns for comedy and drama. Rochon has also co-hosted a number of radio shows in New York City which focused on film and pop culture.

In addition to her acting talents, Rochon has written for numerous publications including GC Magazine, Videoscope, Femme Fatales, The Joe Bob Report, Draculina, Scream Queens Illustrated, Scan and Sirens of Cinema. Debbie currently works for Fangoria Entertainment both as talent, and hosting her own show called Trailer Park, as well as producer on numerous other projects.

Horror Garage: What films or actresses were your early influences?

Debbie Rochon: My earliest influences as a pre-teen were watching the midnight movies on TV. I saw mostly the sexy Hammer films and A.I.P. films. Once I was a little older I saw The Road Warrior in the movie theater and that blew my mind. So I have always been a fan of horror and cult movies from as far back as I could remember and wanted very much to be in them. The edginess and atmosphere and the filmmaker's ability to create an entirely fictitious but believable world, really excited me as a young viewer.

HG: What were your high school years like? Typical teenage angst and rebellion?

Debbie Rochon: Definitely angst filled! I only went to grade seven. I was taken from my family and put in the foster care system but after some bad experiences I ran away and have been on my own ever since. For all the horrible things that I went through; rape, brutal violence, homelessness, I am, oddly enough, happy I have gone down every road I have because it has lead me to where I am today. I am very happy with my life now.

HG: How did your breakthrough role in film come about?

Debbie Rochon: That depends on what film you're talking about. I have yet to yield a breakthrough film in the mainstream sense but have had a number of cult films do very well and have reached the underground and genre audiences. Tromeo and Juliet was a pretty special film for me; I was introduced to the terrific fans of Troma because of it. I had been working with Lloyd Kaufman for a couple of years before that on cable TV skits for his company and various promotional projects. Then in 1995 he said to me, "I would like you to take a look at this script for Tromeo and Juliet" while we were filming The Troma System, which was a parody of late night infomercials; if you bought the Troma System your life would change and everything in it would be fantastic and happy. After we made Tromeo it was released theatrically in 1996 and brought in enough coin for a few cities to keep it running as a midnight movie for a full year after it finished its regular run. Then I would say in 2001 I shot American Nightmare, which gave me the opportunity to really go crazy, literally, with a role. The director, Jon Keeyes, had seen my work in Hellblock 13 and thought I would be good as a crazy female serial killer. Genre fans seemed to really enjoy it and it continues to do nicely on DVD via the online stores today. A moody H.P. Lovecraft movie that was released in 2010, Colour From the Dark, afforded me to work with a master director/cinematographer Ivan Zuccon in Italy. He has an amazing eye and really knows how to capture a performance. I think people are really enjoying Colour, which is a very satisfying feeling after I had such an intense time making it.

HG: Who could you honestly say has been a mentor for you in the film industry?

Debbie Rochon: I would say I have a lot of respect for a number of people and I have been lucky enough to be hired by some very talented people over the years. I really wouldn't be able to say I have had any mentors at all. It's been a long road and while there are some really terrific women I have worked with, often a lot of them feel like there is not "enough to go around" when in fact there is. The business brings out a lot of fear and anxiety in some people. For all the times I have picked up the phone to hook up a horror sister with some work, I can honestly say the favor never was returned. Not until recently with some great actresses that I have met over the past five years. They don't qualify for the true definition of mentor though. I would say the closest thing to a mentor I have had is Lloyd Kaufman in a few ways. He has taught me a lot about the business, filmmaking and entertainment in general. I have learned a lot also from Dee Snider after four years of doing the Fangoria Radio show on Sirius/XM with him.

HG: Or... a nemesis? [laughs].

Debbie Rochon: Oh yes! What good guy or even anti-hero in any story doesn't have one! There's been a few really low characters over the years that have tried to trip me up or stop me and I have no doubt there will be more. Simply because any sort of happiness or success will always draw hate from some. When you are first coming up in the business you can run into some devious people that can waste your time or try their best to hold you down if they don't get what they want from you but you get strong because of it.

HG: Did you enjoy working with April Burril on The Good Sisters?

Debbie Rochon: I think she is an amazing talent! I loved working with her. We really click as scene partners and I really like her as a person -- she really is amazing. She is certainly one actress that I would work with anytime and I enjoy her company as well. I consider her a very good friend. I look forward to working with her on some new stuff soon.

HG: What has been your favorite film to work on so far?

Debbie Rochon: Almost impossible to say. There are many people out there I enjoy working with for many reasons. I love working on comedies with the Hocus Focus Production team, the Bikini Blood Bath gang, the Low Budget Picture folks, and of course, all of the above mentioned people as well. I just recently had an amazing time making Slime City Massacre with director Greg Lamberson. That was really a special experience getting to do a sequel to the 1988 cult classic Slime City. I also enjoyed working with James Morgart on the evil offspring film Won Ton Baby! recently. It was fun to work on material that is so multi-layered in its messages but then on the outside a very funny, light, killer baby movie. I just made Voodoo Cowboys with director Sean-Michael Argo which wound up to be a really fun experience getting seriously down and dirty shooting a post-apocalyptic western in a tiny town -- DeValle's Bluff, Arkansas. Because there is voodoo involved in the story line the Baptist church leaders went around to all the local businesses and convinced them not to allow us to shoot on their property -- even after they had already agreed and squared away the location deals. We ended up finding new, better locations out of sheer happy accident karma, but it was a real trip to watch this sort of thing go down in person.

HG: Have you ever been injured on the set?

Debbie Rochon: Yes. I was making a movie and the weapons master as well as the director and producer knowingly switched out a fake knife for a real machete and I didn't know it hadn't been filed down as it should be -- that it wasn't a prop. So when I picked it up and started stabbing my (fake) dead body, with all my might, my hand slid down the handle and onto the blade with terrific force severing all four of my fingers, except for the bones, off. Two operations and a number of years later I am much better but have a slight disability that is permanent. It hurts everyday. I hope others learn from this and be really careful when making their movies. Let's face it, horror movies are action movies so you have to be as careful as you can.

HG: What is on the agenda for you right now?

Debbie Rochon: I look forward to the film festival and convention appearances I have lined up. That's one of my favorite things to do, is to talk film with like-minded people. I have a few cool projects coming up. Of course being from the School of Superstition I don't want to name them 'til they are fully financed and in pre-production but suffice it to say there are some nice little ditties percolating! I will also be continuing to write my book, an ongoing process. Walking Distance will be hitting soon, and that is one crazy messed up movie I am really excited for people to see!

END

***
WWW.DEBBIEROCHON.COM

UNDER THE VOLCANO
WINGED DISK
PRINTING SERVICES