ChromeSkull: Laid to Rest 2 - Interview with Mimi Michaels
ChromeSkull: Laid to Rest 2 - Interview with Mimi Michaels
Laid to Rest 2, ChromeSkull, Nick Principe, Robert Hall, Mimi Michaels, Brian Austin Green, Thomas Dekker
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Staci Layne Wilson reporting
Be sure and read our full LAID TO REST 2 SET VISIT REPORT, with photos
INTERVIEW WITH MIMI MICHAELS
QUESTION: Tell us about your role... we haven't seen you in front of the camera yet.
MIMI MICHAELS: I play Jess. She’s sort of just your happy-go-lucky young 20’s gal, and basically she gets shell-shocked when Chromeskull has chosen her as one of his targets, and he shows up in her home and all the craziness ensues from there. To add insult to injury, she has early stages of glaucoma. So while this maniacal bastard is chasing her down, everything is very blurry. She doesn’t know what’s going on, and she can’t see. It’s just craziness.
QUESTION: How does he target you, though?
MIMI MICHAELS: That’s the thing. For my character, she never knows why he decides to pick her. This whole crazy journey of confusion and not knowing or understanding why she is one of his victims. Yeah, I guess you will have to ask Chromy that. (Laughter) But the whole time, she’s like “Why me? What the hell is going on?” and she is very puzzled the whole time.
QUESTION: And the glaucoma thing is just ‘tough shit’?
(Laughter)
MIMI MICHAELS: “Yep. You’re going to have to deal with that too.” But it’s been cool, because I’ve never had to play blind or going blind, and it’s hard, especially with all of the emotions of being chased down by this crazy man. Like I also have to create this word where I can’t really see, and it’s difficult, so…
QUESTION: Did you draw upon any other actor’s performances for things like that, like Jessica Alba in THE EYE? That’s really odd. (Laughter) But is there anyone you drew upon as an actor?
MIMI MICHAELS: Actually my mom, who’s been dealing eye issues recently. I was talking to her, and it’s a lot of things dealing with your periphery. I unfortunately have 20/20. But yeah, just dealing with that and walking around with my eyes shut or bleary eyed. I’ve been using stuff to put in my eyes to make it blurry for myself, so it’s more realistic for me. Just trying (not necessarily watching others), but trying to find it within myself.
QUESTION: I can imagine. That’s rough. So, talk about working with Nick (Principe aka Chromeskull), who has quite the height on you now.
MIMI MICHAELS: He’s what 6’7”? He’s huge. Actually the other day, we were filming a scene where he just throws me over his shoulder, and throws me into a coffin. I felt like a feather. And he so kinda, “Meh.” It’s just so easy being so big. Nick is amazing, which is so funny. Because when I first met him, he’s very intimidating. I mean, his a big guy, playing Chromeskull. And it was nice to feel a little bit nervous because of the health of my character. But he’s such a nice guy. And it’s been really cool, the scenes that I’ve had with him – with the mask on, he’s so menacing and intimidating, and it really helps me get into character so easily. He’s really great. In the film, in one of his attacks, he gashes my leg, and Nick gave me some advice to put some pebbles in my shoe, which helped with the walk, because it’s actually really painful. But it was a nice suggestion on his part. He’s really great to work with.
QUESTION: Besides the knee dagger, were you privy to any other kills? Is your exposed to any of that kind of stuff?
MIMI MICHAELS: She sees some stuff go down. I don’t want to give too much away. But yeah. In her blurry vision, she does get to see some things don’t think she’d forget too soon. Kind of a whirlwind for her. But she’s privy to some scary things.
QUESTION: Is there a future for your character after this movie? Possibly?
MIMI MICHAELS: There could be. I was talking to Rob (Hall) – the director – and I love his idea of a Chromam. (Laughter) It would be the 3rd installment. And maybe Jess experiences “Stockholm Syndrome”. (Laughter) Could be interesting.
QUESTION: Sounds like CANNIBAL.
MIMI MICHAELS: Exactly. But I may live to tell the tale. Maybe.
QUESTION: So you want to work with these crazy guys again?
MIMI MICHAELS: It’s been such an awesome experience. Everyone is so cool, so great. Rob is so amazing. It’s such a good feel on the set. There’s this kind of camaraderie and everyone loves this kind of genre.
QUESTION: And you too?
MIMI MICHAELS: Yeah, I love it! I just find it so much fun. I just love watching all of the stuff they do with prosthetics. I like the gore and the blood. I just find it exciting. It’s exhausting though, for my character. I’m running around, screaming and crying and being bloody a lot. But I enjoy it.
QUESTION: Who else do you get to work with besides Nick?
MIMI MICHAELS: Well, Brian Austin Green is right now getting his bald cap put on. So, it might be his big death scene today, or not. I don’t know. So, that should be an interesting scene to watch. He’s great, working with him. He plays a disciple of Chromeskull, and he’s really good at playing this evil character.
QUESTION: I saw a little clip. He looks really menacing.
MIMI MICHAELS: Totally. And we had a couple scenes where I believed I was “in there”, because he was really scaring the shit out of me. Yeah, everyone I’ve worked with: actors, crew, everyone are really just so cool.
[End]