Exclusive Interview: Ed Neal, Talented Fiend!

Satan’s Playground – Can you tell us how you got "the gig" and a little bit about the part you played?

…so I’m shstoopin’ this assistant casting dolly in the ladies loo at Musso & Frank’s..no..wait..that’s how I got into "JFK"…

..oh yeah..

I was making an ..uh..delivery…for ..uh..a ‘pal’..uh..who knew a guy..who knew a guy… what wanted to talk about a ‘movie thing’..so you know..like ..uh..we talked.  That was Christopher Garetano from NYC.  He’s a cool young turk who’s gonna make some great films someday, if we can ever find that ..uh..delivery  we were supposed to make for his ..uh..uncle.  Sooooo…he tells me he knows this other cool young turk…Dante Tomaselli… and he’d like to..uh..you know..know a guy who might wanna talk about a ‘movie thing’…so..we..uh..talked and that was that.  Next thing I know..I’m in a Cranberry Bog in South Jersey freezin’ my cahones off… and there’s long-shore-man clothing washing up evry 2o min with a leg in it in the marshes.   Garetano & Tomaselli…you’d think I’d know better…but I’m from Texas…

..soo Sir Dante tells me that if I do this gig..he’ll drop a dime and call HIS uncle…and get me a recurring on "The Soprano’s".  After many seconds of agonizing about playing a character called "Boy"…in a Cranberry Bog…in 9 degree weather… where your urine turns to popsicles  and you have to take it outta yer shorts w tongs!..I sez…."uh..Ok.."…and that was that.

I’ve read that you have "one of the worlds largest" movie poster collections.  Is this true and how many posters do you really have?

Welll..it was true at one point…but an evil Ex-wife decided I should sell most of them to keep her in the brand of diamond-dust nail polish she’d become accustomed to.   I have a lot of original Polish film posters…all pre-1990  (the good ones printed on the flat stock paper with great inks)…(smuggled them out of Poland w/ a Texas Baptist minister doin’ missionary work..true story..)  if you’re not familiar with them you should be there when  I show an American director/actor/ screenwriter  a Polish poster for their film..man..they freak ..the art is stunning..and….wayyyyyyyyyyyy out there..

What’s is the most "obscure" and "prized" poster in your collection?

Hmmmm…the most  "obscure"  has to be a poster I just this week delivered to Heritage Auction House in Dallas, Tx to sell during their next auction.  It’s a French poster..47" x 63"….late 40’s… for an Arabic film..and since it’s all in Arabic..I never had a clue what it was for..but it was really interesting with a guy on a carpet…and Mosques in the background…very colorful…I figgered some terrorist might buy it to keep it from the "infidel’s" hands..and then we could trace him and dump him in those Cranberry Bogs…

Most prized?...hard to say..have so many faves…but one of my all time faves is "King Creole"…the King w a guitar around his waist and doin’ that "hip" thrust thing..what can I tell ya..I’m straighter’n a board but I’da done ‘im…..and then..other days..it’s "Plan 9 From Outer Space"…and NO..IT’S NOT FOR SALE…

Do you still own Leatherface’s apron and have you ever BBQ’d with it on?

I owned the "apron" for many years but just a few months ago Heritage Auction sold it for me to a nice man in England…(remember the evil ex-wife??...yeah..if Tobe Hooper had ever paid me for ‘Saw’..I’d have a lotta stuff I don’t have now..)  …and yessss..I did bbq in it…much to the delight of the squeamish…seems it wasn’t too sanitary…the original stage blood (Karo syrup base!!) was never washed off…for obvious reasons..

How was it working with Dante Tomaselli?  We are big fans of his at MoviesOnline.

I like directors who have "visions"…who look at a black cat and see ten shades of gray in their whiskers…so I took to this kid really quick…you hang around this biz as long as I have..you know within 2 minutes if they’re gonna "stick" or not…this guy’s not only gonna "stick"…he’s gonna whirl …and spiral…and dazzle…can’t wait to see what comes out of his imagination…

Can you give our readers some insight on what they are going to experience when they see Satan’s Playground?

All I can tell you is…that as an ‘actor’ you pray for two things….One….a Craft Service lady that looks like Monica Belucci and has a sense of humour…..and…Two… kick-ass ‘co-stars’ so’s they’ll make you look better than you are…and if you ever get a chance to work w/ Felissa or Ellen or Irma St. Paule  …you better take it...

I think when you see their talents married w/ Dante’s "visions" pull off an eye and mind treat that you WON’T leave the theatre screamin’…."Crap..I hate CGI..!!!!"

Give us a "career highlight"

Just had it..this New Year’s…I was subbed in at the last moment for an ailing perfomer…and got to appear w/ the La Lloranda twins at the Say La Vie Bar in Juarez….some fun…but I gotta tell ya…"Cuervo…It’s Not Just For Breakfast Any More …"

Naw..I’ve had a lotta ‘highlights’…but due to husbands who just don’t "get it"..and a coupla outstanding restraining orders I’m loath to go into tooooooo much detail…

I really got no bitch comin’…I’ve been immortalized by the  Master H.R. Giger …got to hang out w Oliver Stone on "JFK"..and was fortunate enough to have created a character that most Horror-Sci Fi people can relate to on an intense personal level…AND I got to carve up Felissa Rose with a 14" Bowie….stick me in the warmer, Mama…I’s done!!!

Was there ever a character or part in a film that you was like "Damn, that should have been me .. I would of nailed it!"

"Olvier"..in "Oliver"…the casting witch just kept screaming…"You’re TOO FRIGGIN’ TALL..!!!!"…sure..I was 6’3"…but a REAL actor coulda…oh well………….

I have to say this, "Lord Zedd" and "Dr. Robotnik!"  You’re my hero! Anything to add on this topic?

Man..we have big fun...catch the "Devil Lady" series…or "Sakura Diaries" series..or one I just finished "The Get Backers"…I do up to 5 voices in some episodes…and we have some great get-to-gethers where we play the new episode and my ‘colleagues’ try and guess who I did…..everything from ancient Domeki’s to 16 year old Gay Asian’s…train conductors…talking sharks…maniacal talking bubbles…hey..all In a day’s work….nothing makes a voice actor’s day until he hears.."THAT WAS YOU??!!!!"

What was the coolest gift you got for Christmas?

Hmmm..well..you’d have to understand the psychological need for ‘extreme retribution’ for all the weird stuff they got while growing up..but .uhh..I guess..it would have to be…the ..uh.."Self-Warming Bed Pan"…yeah..cold..

Any "New Years Resolutions?"

Just one:         

Jennifer…I KNOW Brad’s been on your case…and as Damian is my witness..next time..I Will CALL FIRST!! To make sure he’s in Vegas w/ Affleck..I Promise!!!

What’s next?  Any upcoming projects we should be on the look out for?

Just finished a killer script about a FAMILY of psychotic Sasquatches…yep..never been done!!...trying to arrange for Candadian funding as we speak…but if you want in..I’d hurry..little Amurican seed money couldn’t hurt…probably get us a better Hotel in Vancouver.

And I’m waiting by the phone also to see if these guys get funded for their Zombie movie in Oklahomo….hmmmm…there’s a tough one…Vancouver??...or Oklahomo??...yeah…tough….the decisions you’re forced to make in this business!!!

Tell us something we don’t know?  Give us some Edwin Neal trivia for the fans

I do NOT dream about Jennifer Connelly EVERY NIGHT!!!!! As widely reported..!!!!...Tuesday is Andie MacDowell night…

Finally, anything to say to the fans? And are you a reader of MoviesOnline?

My greatest appreciation for the fans comes from the fact that I’ve never had a heart-ache that they couldn’t fix.  No matter how bad it gets …when I am lucky enough to  just be  sitting there signing posters or photos or lunch boxes!! and hearing their stories of ‘where they were when they first saw it’…they always pull me through. Every time. And for that…they have my eternal thanks, and love.

Favorite comment:  (from over 8,235 couples during the years…)
"…when we were first dating….it was the only movie we ever watched…ALL THE WAY THROUGH!!!..."  

Man…does it get any better than that??  GULP!!!.. you mean…I’m responsible for an entire mini-generation not being born during the last 30 years!!!!..man…that’s just toooooooooo  much pressure for one laid-back Texan to bear.

And yassss..I really like MoviesOnline…know why??...because of the "depth and breadth" to which you cover the genres…not just rehashed press releases and the like…and you have stuff that just don’t come up on the "news" column on Yahoo!

But…I really should send you a picture of the elaborate "Cardboard Cut-Out  Masking Device" I had to invent…so I could read certain articles and interviews.   You know what I’m talking about.   I had to cover up THOSE FRIGGIN’ DANCIN’ COCKROACHES!!!!.   The invention had to be made ‘cause I’ve already shot one monitor out due to some Houston, TX (the Cockroach Cap of the World) childhold flashbacks.

Thanks for the ear, kidz…and…I’ll…see ya on the set…