Kevin Woods Thanks for taking the time to talk with us.
Parrish Randall Absolutely. It was a pleasure meeting you and your group at last year's Texas Frightmare Weekend. I enjoyed talking all things horror with you guys!
Kevin Woods Tell us a little about yourself.
Parrish Randall Well, I have been a fan of horror since I was a really young kid. I had this aunt that used to sit with me when my parents would go away for these political events that they were involved in at that time. While they were away my aunt Carolyn would allow me to view all of these great old horror flicks on TV...the ones that my parents thought I was too young to see...and my affection for the horror genre grew from there. Hell, it is still growing! I was making 8mm horror films in my parents backyard by the time I was 11 years old, casting friends, family and anyone willing to be splattered with stage blood. Holy shit, come to think of it...that's what I still do! I married my high school sweetheart, got sidetracked in the REALLY nightmarish world of a financial management position within corporate healthcare...you wanna talk true horror, we can talk corporate horror! What they do to folks is really much more terrifying than any horror film! Ahhh, but back to film. I finally started to really pursue my true goal...film...back in 2000. Chuck Norris gave me a huge break in the form of small bit parts on the old "Walker Tx. Ranger" show during it's final season. From there I had small parts in shows like "LAX", "The Anarchist's Cookbook" and others. I learned so much during those years, working with some super talented folks from Norris to John Savage, Heather Locklear, Blair Underwood. In many cases it was just a matter of watching these pros work and create their characters. You could learn so much from seeing them excercise their acting techniques on set. It was awesome! As well, seeing the technical crew members at work, lighting, orchestrating camera set ups, and so on...it was freaking mindboggling! I was where I wanted to be...only I wanted to do more! I also wanted to do horror, so I did an indie horror film called "Snuffed!", which maybe ten people have seen, but it opened the door to horror for me!!!
Kevin Woods When I first met you at last years TFW the one thing that really stood out to me was how willing you were to stop and talk to fans, shaking hands and taking pictures. I think you earned quite a few new fans and friends over that weekend.
Parrish Randall Hey, the fans of what we do are number 1 in my book. I am a fan of horror too...so I am excited as hell to meet other horror fans! If they want a photo of me for any film work that I have done, then I am super honored! That is ultimately the biggest honor that we as actors/filmmakers can be awarded when someone appreciates your work and expresses that to us. I never charge for a picture either. That's just me. Man, if someone wants a shot of my "mug" then I am going to sign it and gladly give it to them! These are the folks that enable us to do what we love to do. They are the folks who really write our paychecks when they support our films. I appreciate them 110%. The fans are our life's blood and I enjoy talking to them more than they do me probably! I will not leave a venue as long as there is one fan wanting to talk to me...I don't care how long the day has been! I think the most shitty thing an actor can do to a fan is not sign an autograph, not take the time to take a photo with someone or take on that bullshit "I have to run" attitude. That fan will never forget that kind of treatment and shouldn't.

Parrish all bloody on the set of "Slaughter House"

Kevin Woods For this years TFW you'll be a busy guy, with two films you worked on screening. One of them, "The Flesh Keeper", marks the second time you've worked as an actor for Gerald Nott, following "The Quick And The Undead". Tell us little bit about "The Flesh Keeper"....what should we expect?
Parrish Randall "The Fleshkeeper" is classic horror. It was a blast to do! It has elements of "Texas Chainsaw Massacre", "Wrong Turn" and a bit of "Deliverance". The majority of the film was shot in Limestone, County, Texas, with only a few sequences shot in California...so the film has that Texas horror look and feel. I think those films shot in Texas have a certain atmosphere, a feeling to them that just cannot be duplicated elsewhere...you know? It tells the story of a very twisted group that lives and dominates an area of backwoods Texas and the atrocities that they inflict upon several unfortunate urbanites who enter into that domain. From rape and torture, to dismemberments to a bit of cannibalism...this film offers it up. It's very gory. My kind of movie!
Kevin Woods How was it working with Gerald again?
Parrish Randall Gerald is a really cool director work with in that he allows an actor the latitude to really flesh out a character. He understands that as an actor the more you're able to understand why this character is crazy or twisted, then the better backstory you as an actor can create which enables you to give a more well rounded performance. He's open for suggestions when it comes to certain lines of dialogue that you might feel just "won't play", so to speak. It's great to work with directors who understand actors and Jerry does.
Kevin Woods And, let's see....you also have a screening of "Slaughter House", a movie that you wrote, directed, and starred in. Tell us a little about that one, also.
Parrish Randall "Slaugher House" is a twisted blend of "Last House on the Left" and "The Desperate Hours". It tells the story of four thugs that escaped prison and then break into an isolated safe-house retreat for abused women. It is a very graphic little film in it's depiction of what these type "bad guys" would really do in a setting like this. I wanted to do my own variation on the rape/revenge storyline...one that would illustrate the strength that existe in all women. Know this, the bad guys fall...but the ladies really go through pure hell in the film before that occurs. There are some truly disturbing twists in the film that I don't want to give away that make it a more of a "horror crime thriller" if you will. It is a film that was shot on a very low budget...very gritty and shot intentionally in a very frenetic way...this lends a strange quality of realism to the feature. That's what I loved about "Last House on the Left", it had almost a "you're watching while it happens" look and feel to it. I hope that we captured a bit of that feeling...I think we did! The film stars all Texas actors...from Dallas, Central Texas, Houston, and east Texas! My distributor has bumped the DVD release on until late February...but there will advance copies for sale at TFW 2008 if anybody wants to pick up their own copy.
It must be nice to be Parrish Randall

Kevin Woods You wore many hats on the set of "Slaughter House". I can only imagine how hard it would be to direct AND act in a production. How did you juggle your duties?
Parrish Randall Well, you do it because you love it...or you'd run away screaming! Seriously, it is exhausting to both act in and direct a film, I lost almost 20 pounds while making the flick, but well worth the effort. I'd do it all over again tomorrow! In fact, I will be doing it again very soon! If it is your passion then you don't collapse until you wrap, then you rest a day or two and go into post production. Then, in post, as you see the film come together you are never any less than glad that you worked your ass off for a feature and all the folks involved in it's making. I want my actors in any film that I direct to be proud of their performances...their work is up on that screen, so I work overtime to insure that they understand a character, each scene and so on. I listen to their opinions...and in "Slaughter House", many of the scenes contain ideas for dialogue and action that my actors contributed. This makes any film more of a group effort and usually a better film in my opinion.
Kevin Woods Well, I gotta ask: which do you prefer? Writing, acting, or directing?
Parrish Randall Tough question. I think as an actor cast in someone elses film I am thrilled being the actor only. If it is a film that I have written, then I want to direct if possible. It is that control thing that we all have over our own written works. If you can also direct you can insure that the translation of storyline from the written page to film stays more true to your original vision...and if changes are made you are the one, as director, who approves them! So it really depends on the dynamics of what any given project that I am working on are. My screenplay, I want to direct if I can. Your screenplay, I am happy to just be the actor!
Kevin Woods Networking is an important thing in the indie film world, and it seems that you are a networking machine. Over the years you've been doing this you've met and worked with a lot of people. Who were some of the more interesting people you've met or worked with?
Parrish Randall One of the most influential over my career has been Joe Don Baker, who played Buford Pusser in the original "Walking Tall", amongst many other films that he's done. I met him back in 1997 and he has since become a great friend to me. Joe Don has provided me with invaluable advice and guidance over the years with regards to the film industry. He attends every premiere that I have out in California. He is a super guy. Another is an actress that I met at the first TFW, Betsy Palmer. Betsy was awesome with so many stories of Hollywood's golden age. She is a fascinating person and a true first lady of horror. The list is long when it comes to great folks that I have been really blessed and fortunate to meet or work with. I absolutely loved Caroline Williams. She has the very same enthusiasm for this genre and for those who support it as I do. She told me that I am a showman. I told her that if I was a showman that she was an unstoppable force of nature when it came to her own showperson personality! This lady never ceased greeting fans with the biggest Texas girl smile that you ever saw!
Kevin Woods You did some acting work in Tyler Hayes "Dementia". How was that experience?
Parrish Randall Fantastic. Tyler is a young and talented director who loves the horror genre as well. We shot fast and furious down in Corpus Christi on "Dementia"...but it was a super experience. Tyler knew what he wanted of his actors and wanted what he asked us for. I play the lead bad guy, Von Ludwig. Tyler explained in detail who this guy really is and why he is responsible for some pretty evil deeds. I offered a couple of suggestions for the character and Tyler said "cool" and then we rolled film. It is great, again, to work for directors who understand and respect the genre...and Tyler does. Tyler is someone that I would glady work for and with again. He understands film and he understands actors. Watch out for this guy as he is up and coming as both a director and an actor...and check out "Dementia" as soon as it is available. It is a cool flick!
Kevin Woods You obviously stay pretty busy. What's next for Parrish Randall? What's in the works?
Parrish Randall I am currently collaborating on a feature film project with Joe Don Baker. We're putting it together. Very excited to work with Joe Don because, as I said earlier, he is a friend and a super talented actor. It is an honor for me to be in a film with Buford! As well, I have three other projects that my company, PRP, will be mounting this year, "The Legend of Axeman Abe", "Blood Stalk" and "Longtime Fan". I also have devoted myself to a long term TV project that is focused on the environment and the destruction of it and what we can do to save it! This last project is non - horror, but check it out. If we don't get a better grips on the way that we treat our world we or our children could end up living a true life environmental horror tale!
Kevin Woods Thanks again for taking the time to talk with us. Anything else you want to plug? Go ahead, the floor is yours.
Parrish Randall Just want to say that I look forward to seeing everyone at Texas Frightmare Weekend '08 in Feb. It's my favorite gathering, seriously! All of us who are fans of horror getting together to bullshit about horror! Loyd Cryer, who brings us this event every year, is a super guy who grew up a horror fan like the rest of us and he works his ass off so that the horror crowd can party large! I just want to say thanks to Loyd for bringing this super event to Texas and to all the fans who come out and support what we do in the genre. May the on-screen blood continue to splatter always. Thanks to you as well Kevin and to KillerFilm.com also for the chance to talk my favorite film genre with you guys! Keep the horror news coming our way dude!
Kevin and Parrish hanging at the TFW 2007