By Phil Villarreal
Actress Elske McCain has five indie films to her credit, including director Lloyd Kaufman's "Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead," a horror comedy now playing at the Loft.
The 31-year-old mother of two, who works as a dancer at Curves Cabaret, says she hopes to be a full-time filmmaker. She's executive-producing and starring in "Jessicka Rabid," which is scheduled to start shooting in November. McCain, who was born in Yuma and has lived in Tucson since 1997, spoke to the Star via telephone.
What role do you have in "Poultrygeist"?
"I basically play one of the protesters. The movie is about a fast-food place similar to KFC built on an Indian reservation, and they have a bunch of protesters out. I play one of them. Actually, I shot my scene last December — a year and a half after principal photography was completed."
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How did you get the role?
"Troma (the production company behind "Poultrygeist") headquarters is located in New York, and I was in town shooting a wrestling video and called up my friend Lloyd Kaufman, whom I've known for years, let him know that I was in town and asked him if I could visit the building. He said, 'Yeah, come down, we're shooting a scene tomorrow with Debbie Rochon, the scream queen. She's doing a cameo tomorrow. We can get you both in a scene.' "
Is it your goal to become a scream queen?
"I wouldn't say it's my goal. As far as I'm concerned, I already am to some extent. I've been in several horror films. My goal is to become a filmmaker, as far as when I'm done doing the screaming I'll still be working. . . . I do have another job, at Curves Cabaret, the finest topless nightclub in Tucson. I work there because it pays the bills. Indie films do pay you, but you don't really make enough to sustain."
Is it tough to find time to go out on auditions?
"Actually, I don't really like auditioning. I get most of my roles through word of mouth."
Why do you stay in Tucson?
"I have two children and joint custody with my ex-husband. My youngest daughter is handicapped. She has autism. She keeps me in Tucson."
So family comes first for you.
"Of course."
What keeps you going?
"Basically getting a lot of encouragement from people I look up to telling me, 'You're great.' These people are established horror icons and maybe know what they're talking about. I've got to at least give it a shot, but I don't take it too seriously or pound the pavement to make it as an actor. Whatever opportunity comes my way."
Does your acting take priority over dancing?
"The good thing is Curves gives me a flexible schedule, so if I need to leave for a while, they allow it. Basically what I've been doing is scheduling film appearances and working around them."
What do you think about "Poultrygeist"?
"I love it. It's a throwback to Troma's older classics from the '80s. It has some songs in it, and that makes it a little bit different from others. It's very gory, not for kids, but teens, preteens, yes. It's borderline some pretty extreme stuff, but people really like horror. The movie takes it to the extreme, tries and takes it as far as it can go without getting in trouble. That's what Troma does."
What's your next project?
"I'm working on a movie (Jessicka Rabid) right now and wearing multiple hats. I play the title character, I'm executive producer and location manager. My best friend (Matthew Reel) wrote it for me. We're shooting in town in November. The characters are loosely based on people in my own life. All I'm really at liberty to say is it's about a dysfunctional family. I play an abused girl in the family who eventually gets her revenge."
If you're involved in filmmaking and would like to be featured in a Q&A, write to pvillarreal@azstarnet.com.
