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EZRA BUZZINGTON INTERVIEW JUNE 2007

EZRA BUZZINGTON has been in some of the best movies ever made THE PRESTIGE, THE HILLS HAVE EYES, GHOST WORLD, SAY IT ISN’T SO, FIGHT CLUB, ME, MYSELF AND IRENE, MAGNOLIA and so many more. His talents are so endless that he has even produced, written and directed OUTTA SYNC, OVER BREAKFAST and IRASCIBLE. I have not even touched upon all of the theatre and television shows he has done like, BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, PARTY OF FIVE, SABRINA, THE TEENAGE WITCH, TOWERING INFERNO and THE MOUSETRAP to name just a few. Ezra has even earned a part in the upcoming UNDERDOG and Rob Zombie’s HALLOWEEN.

LL: You can act, sing, play guitar, write, produce, hit targets, direct, do the splits and so many other things. Is there anything you can’t do?

EB: Yeah, but I never talk about it because I'm still trying to do it. Seriously, though, I come from a family background where creativity was supported and encouraged. We were always made to feel like we could do anything. So I grew up creatively fearless. I don't know where you got that splits thing, though. I tried to do them when I was, like, 12 and it took 12 more years before my voice dropped again.

LL: Doing theatre must be so difficult. I can not imagine how hard it is to remember all your lines. It is live so there are no second chances. What do you do to assure that you are always ready?

EB: There's nothing you can really do to make sure of that. I just did a show where I was onstage the entire time. No breaks. Lights up, Buzzington. More Buzzington, lights down. It was hellacious but a fucking blast. It was a farce called "Just Say No" and, if you know anything about farces then you know that it's like a roller-coaster on speed. Doors slamming, people running, falling down a lot. Crazy. I always start memorizing my stuff with a tape recorder, though. I recorded all of my lines on one side and all of my cues (the other actor's lines) on the other and just play it till I can't take it anymore but context also helps a lot. Once you get your blocking you can also depend on that to motivate what you're saying and if you fuck up a line, just keep on going and ad-libbing till you get back on track. Your other actors will help you, though they'll totally trash you over drinks later.

LL: In THE HILLS HAVE EYES you played Goggle, a rather sexy mutated cannibal (at least that is my take on it). How long did it take to get into that make-up and how comfortable was is?

EB: Sexy mutated cannibal. Is there any other kind? I loved Goggle. As soon as I saw his make-up over at KNB he melted my heart. He just seemed so lost and sad. But we never saw Goggle eat any people, you know. He only ate animals. There's a whole story I could tell you about why. You know, actor stuff. But it's not really your question, I guess. So anyway, about 4 hours in and about two hours out.

LL: Is it more fun to play a good guy or bad guy and which do you prefer? I’ve always wanted to play a serial killer but that is just me.

EB: Always the bad guy. Much more interesting because they weren't born bad, you know and they don't consider themselves bad now. Something happened that turned them. What was that? That's a lot of fun to figure out and play. Good guys are devices the screenwriter uses to hang all the other characters off of. I'd rather be the outfit than the hanger. I just played a serial killer in SKELETONS IN THE DESERT. Totally cool, fucked up guy, family man, religious man, righteous man and brutal murderer. Totally rules.

LL: What do you do when and if you have time off? Any interesting hobbies like tire collecting, speed dating or plate balancing?

EB: I spend most of the rest of my time working tirelessly for my theatre company Theatre of NOTE in Hollywood. We're a very underground, rock and roll kind of place. I'm doing press for them now and really throwing myself into it. We just got rave reviews for our current show (I feel pretty proud of that). Otherwise I head out to the desert and bake like a flat rock. I love the desert at night, comfortable danger. I also spend a lot of time at the gym because as an actor you have to always be in top physical form. (Such as it is). I haven't been in two weeks because of the work I've been doing on the Film Fest and I feel all floppy and blah but that changes tomorrow. Check out my theatre's myspace at : www.myspace.com/theatreofnote and the film fest at www.myspace.com/films4play.

LL: What type of movie is the most challenging to act in, drama, horror, etc.? How do you get yourself into the correct frame of mind? I once had someone tell me about how they got hurt and their balls shot into their stomach. Any advice on how I could have handled that without peeing myself laughing? Come on…it was pretty damn funny!!

EB: LOL! Not for him. My favorite kind of movie is probably the indie pic. You know, the one that'll play at Sundance or Venice or Berlin. My favorite kind of studio movie would, without a doubt be horror. I love horror people and the aesthetic they bring to the game. Rob Zombie is my new hero (sitting right next to Sid Haig and Alexandre Aja). I just shot a trailer for a Vampire play I'm directing in September (www.myspace.com/blooferlady) and the actors were all naked and bloody and beautiful but sticky. Horror makes you sticky. For me there really isn't a "correct" state of mind unless it's that state of "nothingness" that Buddhists talk about. That's where you're part of the process but not controlling it. That way, very creative things can enter your consciousness and flow through you to the audience. Acting's pretty easy if you don't get in your way that's the hard part but no state of nothingness could possibly make you feel ok about having your balls suddenly in your chest. Nu-uh.

LL: How was it working with Rob Zombie in HALLOWEEN? I can’t wait for that movie. HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES is one of my favorite horror movies…..so festively deviant. How could you not love that!

EB: Loved every fucking second of it. Rob was great to work with. He just kind of let me go off book and adlib a lot of stuff while I was driving around the cemetery in a beat up pickup truck with a giant hound dog in the passenger seat and told a lot of dirty jokes and some silly stories. Getting killed by Tyler Mane will forever remain in my life as a high point. Nice guy, big. Huge. Gigantor.

EB: Let's see. I'll be working on Sid Haig's WITTENBERG soon. Not sure when and this summer I'll be in Minnesota shooting an experimental horror pic with Camden Toy called TRICKERY/MIMICRY. I get to eviscerate him and since I've known Camden for over 10 years, it'll be a pleasure.
Take care, doll!

EZRA BUZZINGTON is not only an accomplished actor and creative person in general but a wonderful human being. I am hoping that in the future he puts out an exercise DVD because the first thing I noticed when I meet him was his perfectly toned arms. Go EZRA!