They SyFy (formerly Sci-Fi) Channel is set to release a new monster movie to add to their eclectic lineup of sci-fi, fantasy and horror. The Mothman stars Connor Fox and Firefly’s Jewel Staite. Skewed and Reviewed had the pleasure of learning more about the movie and a little bit about Connor when he answered a few questions for us recently.
What is the background and setting for Mothman and what can you tell us about your character?
Mothman is set in the small town of Point Pleasant, WV. The Mothman is a legendary monster that is out to exact revenge on a group of childhood friends who covered up an accidental killing. I play Derek, the good ole boy that never left his hometown and is still hung up on his high school sweetheart.
What type of prep did you do for the role and did it differ from your usual prep for a part?
I was working on a project in New Mexico when I got the part and I had to be on set to shoot in two days. So I didnąt actually have time to do much prep. One day I was robbing banks in New Mexico and the next I was battling the Mothman in Louisiana. Then again, I grew up in a small town in Virginia, so the first eighteen years of my life was kinda like prep. I usually prefer to have at least a month to prepare if that is an option. A big part of what I do with my character comes from how I look physically and how I hold myself as the character. Every person has a certain walk, a smile, a laugh, a body type, a hair style, clothes style, accent and many other subtle attributes. I spend days going through each attribute until I find the perfect fit. It’s actually a lot of fun.
Where was the film shot and what were some of the more memorable moments from filming?
The film was shot in Denham Springs, Louisiana. The entire shoot was memorable! But, if I had to choose something it would be doing all my own stunts. The director had a stunt double for me, but I wanted to try and do them and after I didn’t get killed doing my first one he let me keep going.
What was working with Jewel Staite like?
It was great. Jewel was one of the most professional, clever and down to earth people I have had the pleasure of working with. Not to mention, she is ridiculously good at the original Mario Brothers for Nintendo.
What sort of sci-fi shows did you enjoy growing up and what are some of your current favorites and why?
The Twilight Zone. It was so far ahead of its time. It is still one of the greatest shows ever in my opinion. I also loved the show Sliders. It was one of those shows that allowed you to look at the world from so many different points of view. It questioned reality and constantly asked the question “What If?” My current favorite sci-fi show is “Lost.” I love how one second you think you know what is going to happen, and then the nextsecond you are..lost. It’s brilliant!
The sci-fi genre used to get a bad rap, but is starting to get more attention from the mainstream, with Oscar nominations for “Avatar” and “District 9”. What do you think caused the bad rep, and why are attitudes changing now?
The sci-fi world never got a bad rap from me. But, for others it might have been a mixture of things. I could see people not connecting with the material and finding certain ideas to be to far-fetched. These days it seems people are starting to open up to the idea that anything is possible. With the Internet it is so easy to just click and see that things aren’t black and white in the world and for the sci-fi genre that is a good thing. The Internet allows people to question what they thought was true and expand the limits of their imaginations in trying to figure out what actually is true.
What can you tell the readers about your training in acting and about your first break?
I got a BA in Theatre at James Madison University. A great school if you want hands on training. I was able to audition for leads as a freshman and it didnąt matter how long you had been in the program for, if you were right for the role then you got it. I was in nineteen plays in four years. My first big break was being cast in “All The Kings Men” as a young Jude Law. After shooting the movie my part ended up on the cutting room floor, but the momentum was enough to get me an agent and into a lot of casting offices.
What movies have you seen recently and what do you have on your to-see list?
Recently I’ve seen Shutter Island, Cop Out, The Crazies, Alice in Wonderland, She’s Out of My League, Hot Tub Time Machine and Repo Men. My to-see list would be Clash of The Titans, Date Night, How to Train your Dragon, Death at a Funeral, A Nightmare on Elmstreet. Losers, Iron Man 2, Prince of Persia, Toy Story 3, Tron Legacy and Mothman on the SyFy Channel April 24th.
Nice plug. What sort of music do you like and what do you like to do in your free time?
I like music that either makes me want to party or mellow out. And in my free time I like to read comic books, play video games, lay out in the sun, hit the casino, go to hockey games, and play sports.
What future projects do you have coming up that the readers can look forward to?
I’m the lead in a new sci-fi/horror film “Yaksha” which begins filming this summer. It’s about a group of kids rehearsing a play in a remote countryside mansion that are visited by an ancient abomination, a descendent of the 18th century Hindu tribe known as Yaksha.
Catch Connor Fox in The Mothman, premiering on April 24th on the Syfy Channel.
