Fighting Slashers and Cutting Film: An Interview with Forris Day JR

Interview by Geno McGahee

“I like the fact that we are making something that people can watch and enjoy a hundred years from now.” –Forris Day, JR.

When I wrote my latest production “FAMILY SECRET,” there were several things that needed to be done.  I needed a budget, cinematographer, special effects team, and skilled actors.  I acquired a large budget, acquired the cinematographer (John Golden), and employed a special effects team to bring the gore.  I held auditions and met an actor by the name of Forris Day, JR.

Forris Day, JR., delivered and was an easy choice for the lead role right from the start.  There was no doubt about it.  Unbelievably, we would not see his best until filming began and he picked it up another level, stealing the show with his delivery and passion.  From June 7, 2009, to October 4, 2009, Forris maintained his enthusiasm through the grueling days of filming, and brought his knowledge of filming to FAMILY SECRET, making the end product all that much better.  

Another thing that I demanded for my new film was a professional editor.  Up to this point X Posse Productions were “Guerilla Filmmakers,” doing everything from filming to editing to acting and although it can work on the micro-budget level, it won’t work beyond that.  Forris Day, JR., an experienced and trained film editor has taken on the task of molding and shaping FAMILY SECRET, ensuring that the film looks sharp and sound.  Thus far, what I have seen him do in the editing room is amazing.

Forris is also responsible for a big change in the screenplay.  He is responsible for “The Bowling Alley Massacre.”  After reading the entire script, Day suggested that I consider using his bowling alley “Diamond Junction Bowling” in Palmer, Massachusetts.  After a trip down to the location, I was sold and quickly began writing up the new scenes and casting more actors and actresses to fill the location.  It turned out to be one of the longest shoots of the film, spanning over three days, but it was well worth it and ended up being one of the more memorable parts of the film.

Forris Day, JR., sat down with Scared Stiff Reviews to discuss his history of stage and screen work, and his opinions on the movie industry.

Ladies and gentlemen, Scared Stiff presents Forris Day, JR.

GM: What got you into acting and who were your influences?

I did one play in high school. I had two lines and loved it. But I really got involved in acting about ten years ago when my three kids tried out for the play “Damn Yankees” put on by our local community theater group “The Monson Arts Council”. I fell in love with acting and have been doing plays and dinner theater (and helping build sets) ever since. My kids didn’t stay involved but it was a real treat to be in a play with them. I guess my biggest influence would be Harrison Ford. I Love his acting and the fact that he started out as a carpenter on sets. I’ve been a carpenter most of my life so he really inspired me. My son Sam got his middle name “Harrison,” from Harrison Ford.

GM: Your earliest work was on stage.  What stage productions were you in and what was your favorite and why?

I’ve done many shows including “Damn Yankees” but have done about a dozen other shows including “Silver Whistle” which was my first lead. The list includes “Never Too Late”, “I hate Hamlet”, “Music Man” and my favorite “On Golden Pond”. That one was my favorite because I had the most fun on it with the cast and developing my character Charlie the mailman. I had to learn an authentic Maine accent. It was truly a great time. I got to work with my good friend Brent Northup (Detective Dwyer in FAMILY SECRET) on this one also. By the way, Brent and I co-produced “Music Man”. I love working with him.

GM: Was acting always something that you wanted to do?

No. I like many, kind of dreamed about acting, but never thought I could do it, so I just did the usual get up, go to work, go to bed routine for many many years. It wasn’t until I did “Damn Yankees” that I realized I could actually do this! I still have to do the get up, go to work, go to bed routine…but now I get to throw in some “go to rehearsals” in there too.

GM: You were involved in radio.  Can you talk about that and are there any parallels between the radio and acting?

Radio is acting. The shows that people love the most are hosted by the best actors. I’m talking radio “personalities.” They are characters that they have developed, in many cases, for years. I have so much admiration for these folks that can entertain with great energy every day. Whether you like a certain personality’s “act” or not, they are on the air because they are good actors, particularly good at improv. Live radio does not give you a second chance to take back what you say!

GM: You have film experience.  We’ll start with the editing of film.  You have stated that editing is an art.  Can you explain that?

I will use an analogy of baking a cake. You can give two cooks the same exact raw ingredients for say, a chocolate cake. They will mix these ingredients to their liking, and create two totally different tasting chocolate cakes. Editing is the same thing. Two editors take the same raw footage and put it together and create two different movies. Albeit the movie will be the same story pretty much, but by using their artistic talents create two different films. I say editing is an art because you have to be very creative in how you set the tone, speed, and general feel of a movie. A good editor can take a bad actor and make them look brilliant. A bad editor can take a brilliant actor and make them look terrible. Pretty much everyone has editing software nowadays, but having the artistic creativity to use it correctly and is a whole other ball game.

GM: You have been in film and editing for quite a while.  Can you talk a little about the differences between editing with a program like Adobe Premiere or Final Cut vice the old methods of editing programs?

Warning…techie talk! The old way of editing tape to tape is called “linear editing.” It quite simply means that you would take two or more tapes and edit them to one master tape starting from the beginning and finishing at the end. It involved looking at all raw footage tapes and “logging” or writing down what was on each…very time consuming. When you edited you had to have the vision of the finished product because you really couldn’t go back and change things once it was edited. Oh yea…and you had to know how to turn on and operate about a dozen pieces of equipment including tape decks, mixers, audio board, audio effects machines and on and on. The new way of editing…well not so new now…using a computer and a program such as Final Cut is called “non-linear editing” which means you don’t have to start at the beginning and work to the end. You can start anywhere! If you make a mistake you can change it easily. I find that while editing, sometimes new ideas emerge that weren’t even thought of in the beginning of the process, but because of today’s technology and non-linear editing they can be added easily.

GM: You have landed the lead role of “Geno McGee” in FAMILY SECRET.  This was your first time as the lead in a full length film.  Was there any apprehension about taking such a major role?

This is actually my first film in general other than doing background work which involves no acting skills. Apprehension abounded. I was pretty much freaking out because I knew film acting was way different than acting on stage. I read a couple books on acting in film after I got the role and it really calmed me down once armed with some knowledge of what to do.

GM: Can you talk about your experiences in the film and what was the highlight of your experience on the film, without giving away any secrets?

What a wonderful experience. Not to sound like one of those corny DVD extras, but I truly love the cast and crew of this movie. I feel we all worked so well together. Everyone seemed to have the same goal to create a great movie. I have made what I know will be lifelong friends on this film including yourself (Geno). To nail down a favorite experience is tough because I loved every day of filming. So many days were spent laughing…how can you beat that!

GM: It has been said that actors get to know their character more and more as the film goes on.  Did you feel that way?

Yes. This character is so similar to the way I am anyhow I just put a lot of me into it. It seems once you really know the character, filming is done. The same thing hold true in theater. You almost become the character and then when the run is over, you get a feeling of mourning in a way knowing that you won’t be a your character and you won’t be with the other characters of that particular show. It’s pretty weird I know, but it is true. Now that principal filming is done I do miss being Geno.

GM: You were in other movies in one capacity or another, and have most recently done some minor parts in other films.  Can you talk about your other experiences from “grip” to supporting role and so forth?

I was a zombie in a movie called “Cathedral Pines”…really….I just walked like a zombie in the background, not very challenging at all. What I did get out of that movie was being a grip. I helped set lights and run cables so I was very involved with background stuff. It was great. The great comedy actor Peter Scolari of “Bosom Buddies” and “Newhart” fame was in that film and I got to talk to him. What a great down to earth guy he is and what an honor that he actually talked to me. On that film I met a screenwriter named Scott Kittredge who wrote a film called “Terminal Conversation.” I eventually worked as a grip on that and learned more about lighting. Scott is yet another very talented writer. I then worked as a grip on a horror film called “Divine Intervention.” Again I worked with the gaffers (lighting crew) and learned a ton. In all these movies I wanted to act, but I figured if I didn’t get acting roles I could get on the sets and be a part of it by volunteering as a grip. It worked and now, in FAMILY SECRET, I get to act…YAHOO!!! (Sorry for yelling in your ear.)

GM: What are the differences between stage acting and starring in a film?  Does it take a period of adjustment and which do you prefer?

In stage acting you rehearse over and over until you know your lines and blocking (where you are supposed to walk, what you’re supposed to pick up and put down etc.) You learn every line of the show from beginning to end because that is how the shows are done. It is up to you, the actor, to create a believable character that people either love or hate. You are the only person to take credit for or blame for how well your character is created. It’s an intense 2 hours performing the actual show. In film it’s MUCH different. You learn your lines in small chunks with very little if no rehearsal. You have to be extremely aware of where you are in the script, how your character is feeling or should be acting and if you screw up…well…you do another take. The hardest part, yet the most fulfilling is trying to be in the moment. In other words, if you can act angry and almost feel angry, or happy, or whatever the character is supposed to be and people who watch believe you are angry or happy then you have done a good job. Oh yea…and remember our friend the editor…stay on his good side. Remember he can make you look really good or really bad no matter how good your acting was. I LOVE acting regardless if it’s theater or film, but my favorite thus far is film. I like the fact that we are making something that people can watch and enjoy a hundred years from now.

GM: In FAMILY SECRET, a scene that has become known as “The Bowling Alley Massacre” was filmed.  It was filmed at your bowling alley “Diamond Junction Bowling” in Palmer, Massachusetts.  In the initial screenplay there was no bowling alley.  It came into play when you proposed it.  When did you acquire the bowling alley and when did you come up with the idea to suggest it as a location for the film?

My friend Buddy Hood and I purchased the building with the bowling alley in it at foreclosure December of 2008 and closed on it January of 2009. We bought it as investment property because we were able to buy it from the bank so inexpensively. He used his home equity and my wife and I used ours and here we are today with a bowling alley. When I met you (Geno) and you offered me the role, I was pretty excited, so after reading the script I saw that it was heavy on location shooting. I knew locations are sometimes hard to find so I offered the bowling alley thinking you could substitute one of the other locations if it fell through. I was pretty pleased to see you added one small scene with the bowling alley in it a few days later. Well once we started filming and your mind started rolling you wrote I don’t know how many more pages of script with the alley in it. The bowling alley is almost a character in and of itself now. It’s just one of those cool things that worked out.

GM: Diamond Junction Bowling features what is known as “candlepin bowling.”  It is a New England thing.  How many candlepin bowling alleys are there in the USA?  Is it only a New England sport, and how is business?

Candlepin bowling was invented in Worcester, Massachusetts. It’s played similar to ten pin bowling except the balls are much smaller, just over 5 inches in diameter and only around 2 ½ pounds. The pins are much thinner than ten pins too making them harder to knock down. One of the major differences is that you throw three balls instead of two and you play what is called the “deadwood” or pins that are knocked down. They don’t get swept away between throws like in ten pin. I feel when many people watch “FAMILY SECRET” they will be a little baffled when they see candlepins because it is pretty much only a New England thing reaching a small part of Canada too. I really don’t know how many candlepin alleys are left but they too are fading away as people gravitate towards video games. I gotta tell you though, there’s nothing like the “controlled destruction” of smashing over a bunch of candlepins!

GM: I have noticed that you have musical acts, stand up comedians, mystery dinners, and more to go along with the bowling and arcade that you have.  Why did you expand into entertainment on top of the bowling?

Because it’s pretty tough to survive on just bowling. Plus I figure if I have to spend so much time at the alley and can’t go see all these shows, why not bring them to me. Some people in the business roll their eyes when I say we’re having a mystery dinner theater in our alley, or a band, but in these times you have to think outside of the box. How many alleys have ever thought of filming a movie in them? I love doing unusual things, and I believe people really enjoy these coming to these events.

GM: You have done a lot of renovations to the bowling alley as well, and I think that with your entertainment, disco bowl, and sharper look, you are attracting a younger crowd.  Is that the part of the plan?

It’s defiantly part of the plan to attract younger crowds. I’m hoping to attract some horror fans too that just want to see the bowling alley where “FAMILY SECRET” was filmed.

GM: Are there any other plans for the bowling alley at this time?

We’re slowly doing improvements to the alleys and hope to make it a place where people love to come. We of course will have our “FAMILY SECRET” movie poster hanging up in there. One of my ideas that has stemmed from the filming of your movie is to have Indie film screening nights. We are going to get a screen and projector and plan on having filmmakers come and showcase their movies, much like a film festival, but just as a means to share our creations within our group of Indie film makers.

GM: You have begun to do standup comedy.  How is that going and what got you interested in doing it?

I LOVE comedy and enjoy making people laugh. Comedy is kind of a natural thing for me. I try to be funny without crossing lines. It of course happens on occasion but I try not to offend. I have begun doing standup comedy with my friend Ian Shea who is also in “FAMILY SECRET.” I’ve been wanting to do it for years and I credit Ian for making me take the plunge and go for it!

GM: How has the crowd reaction been to your routine?

Well so far it’s been pretty good. Generally the “crowd” is the other comedians waiting to come up and do their act. Do you know how much harder you have to work to make another comedian laugh! They really are a supportive bunch and it feels great when you get the crowd to have a belly whopper (to quote Frosty the Snowman) of a laugh.

GM: What do you think the key is to being a successful standup comic?

You have to talk about something the audience cares about. You can’t talk about, for instance, your favorite doughnut and why you like it. You have to talk about your experience in line getting that doughnut and all the silly things you had to deal with getting it. People have to relate to your act. They will laugh if they can relate. When you see people in the audience laughing and shaking their heads yes, meaning “yes…he’s right…I know what he means…Ha Ha Ha” you are successful.

GM: You are doing a lot of things that are out of the norm.  You are starring in a film, operating a bowling alley and expanding into entertainment, doing stand up, you’ve written your own original screenplays, and more.  These are things that other people without vision wouldn’t understand.  Do you get any negative feedback as you move forward and partake in these activities and does it affect you in any way?

In the beginning, when I was younger, I got lots of negativity in the fact of people saying “you shouldn’t do that…there’s no money in it” etc. etc., but I believe people do it to protect you more so than to shatter any dreams you have. Now that I’m older (45) I don’t get it as much because people who know me know I love doing all kinds of things that most people wouldn’t do. I do get upset still when people don’t see the vision that I see. I hate hearing “NO” or “It won’t work.” When people tell me that, I accept the challenge and make it work. I believe everyone has a dream but 95% of people will never chase their dream. They stop themselves by using excuses. Let’s face it…chasing a dream is work, and if you don’t do the work it’s just that…a dream. I really do feel sorry for the people who can’t overcome themselves and try to drag others down. I simply walk away from negative people now instead of getting sucked into their ideas.

GM: What advice would you give somebody that says: “I want to be an actor,” or “I want to own a business.”?

DO IT! DO IT! DO IT! That’s an oversimplification, but it’s the truth put simply. If you wanted a pizza you would order one right? Then why not become an actor. It’s much more work than ordering a pizza but it’s something you want. Acting is not always glamorous like you see in the magazines. It’s work and it’s a job. Even if you aren’t getting paid, treat it like a job! You have lots of people who are depending on you being on time and ready. As far as owning a business that is what acting really is. It’s a business in which you market your talents in exchange for pay. In the beginning the pay may be just the experience or the chance to work with other great actors, or if you’re lucky…that pizza you wanted.

GM: In your opinion, what are the key elements to being successful?

Not to sound cliché’ but it really is cliché’. Do something you enjoy. Don’t do it for only money but for enjoyment to. If you totally enjoy it, the money will more than likely come. I also have the luxury of having a fantastic and supportive family and friends. My wife Renee is so great I’d be lost without her. If you don’t have that, do not use it as an excuse for not trying to succeed, accept it and move on towards your personal success, whatever that is.

GM: Do you have anything to say in closing?

I just want to thank you for bringing me into your “X Posse” family and for the opportunity to act in and edit your dream “FAMILY SECRET.”