Who can forget the cover art for 1987’s The Video Dead? The image of a zombie bursting out of a television set trying to enter the real world is an iconic snapshot of the Video Cassette epoch. I am a big fan of the film, but I don’t think there is anyone on God’s green Earth that loves it as much as Chris MacGibbon. He found out about a bogus DVD release last year that was immediately scrapped. He contacted MGM about about releasing the title legitimately and they said it could be a possibility providing they find it is a cult film, that will, of course, sell on store shelves and would be a welcome addition to any cult film collector’s shelve.

Thus began the campaign to get The Video Dead released on DVD, in it’s original widescreen form, and out to the public. Check out the MySpace page dedicated to getting the film finally released. Chris is a good guy and a great supporter of Killer Film. He has granted us the opportunity to publish his interview with star Roxanna Manuel under the “Late Night Classics” umbrella.

Killer Film: How did you get involved in THE VIDEO DEAD?

Roxanna Manuel: I responded to an ad in one of the San Francisco papers for auditions for the movie. I auditioned at a small studio in San Francisco where I met with the director, Robert Scott. I can’t remember but I think he either offered me the part on the spot or called me within a day to make the offer.I was really excited. I had moved from Los Angeles to San Francisco to attend the Summer Training Program at the American Conservatory Theatre, and my meeting with Robert was my first audition for a film. Man, I was young.

Killer Film: What was the atmosphere on set like?

Roxanna Manuel: It was frenzied but friendly. By the time I was called to work, the crew and the zombies had been working together for awhile, and they all appeared to know and like each other. Robert was so great – he couldn’t afford to pay anyone up front, so people were working for free, which meant he had to schedule filming around people’s other work schedules. He was very professional and respectful of people’s time commitments, so when we were on set, we were totally focused on getting things done quickly.

But it was also really fun. Robert was very excited about the project and his excitement carried over to everyone that I dealt with on the set. The zombies looked like they were having a blast getting to ham it up, although I imagine the makeup can’t have been comfortable. Rocky was a sweetheart. Al and Patrick were crack-ups.

It’s funny, I was extremely nervous about the project because I had never acted in a movie before, but Robert gave me a lot of confidence. He treated me like a pro because I had so much stage experience (at the time, I had a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a certificate from the Summer Training Program at ACT, and I had been in a national touring company for a year before moving to San Francisco) that I stopped worrying and was able to have a really good time playing.

Killer Film: You had some very interesting scenes with the zombie extras where you had to act terrified, yet not at the same time, was this hard for you to do? What was going through your mind when you were around the zombie extras?

Roxanna Manuel: It wasn’t really that difficult. It’s such a funny, great idea — feeding chili to zombies to fool them into thinking they are alive — that it was blast to get to act it. More difficult was the breakdown scene just before Zoe opens the door and lets the zombies in the house. Robert wanted that to be an extremely dramatic moment and it was hard – I’d never worked on anything where I had had to go from zero to 60 when someone yells “Action” before.

I guess when I was around the zombie extras, I was thinking more about the actors than the characters. Those guys worked their asses off – they were there before I got there and stayed after I left because they were in almost every scene. And they spent all day in that makeup. They were just terrific.

I do remember one scene where I am sleeping on the couch and I have a bad dream that one of the zombies is petting me and eating my hand (I think it was Patrick). The makeup on his hand really felt like dead, disgusting skin. It was easy and fun to play the terror in that moment.

Killer Film: What was your reaction to the film after you saw it?

Roxanna Manuel: I thought it was hysterical and scary and loads of fun. I thought I was awful (and any reviews the movie received seemed to agree with me), but that is beside the point. It was exactly what it was supposed to be and I was so happy to have been a part of it.

Killer Film: Did you ever expect, 20 years down the road, for the film to still be around and actually become a cult film?

Roxanna Manuel: No. Although at one point the film was reviewed by Joe Bob Briggs, so that should have been a clue. We got a few stars and a “Check it out.”

Killer Film: Do you have any fond memories of filming or any fun stories you’d care to share?

Roxanna Manuel: Robert called me in to do some dubbing during editing and the editor, Bob Sarles, said he liked cutting to my reactions because I always had some outrageous expression on my face. So I must have been having a good time.

That fuchsia vest I wear when I’m feeding chili to the zombies? That belonged to Robert’s wife, Linda. I think I kept it. Sorry Linda!

Killer Film: What was the worst experience for you on the set?

Roxanna Manuel: Hate to disappoint, but I didn’t have a single bad experience. I guess the most difficult part was the shooting schedule. Because we could only work around people’s schedules and when the equipment was available (or affordable), there were a couple of gaps in the schedule that lasted several months. I think it would have been easier to work on the film if there had been some continuity in shooting.

Killer Film: If there is anything about your performance or anything about the film you would change, what would it be and why?

Roxanna Manuel: I wouldn’t change anything about the film. I sometimes wish it weren’t the only permanent record of my acting ability (only theater since), but . . . . C’est la vie.

Killer Film: Do people recognize you from the film from time to time?

Roxanna Manuel: When the movie was released I was still living in San Francisco. Sometimes I would take visitors from out of town down to Fisherman’s Wharf to do the tourist thing and a couple of times some Japanese men followed me around whispering “Video Dead, Video Dead.” Although none of my friends believed me.

The best was when I was in New Haven in the early 90s. I was getting an MFA in acting at the Yale School of Drama. I was playing Lady Macbeth in a production of Macbeth and I was walking down the street with my fiancé when a man walked up to me and said “I think I know you.” I said “No, I don’t think so.” He said “Yes. Aren’t you an actress?” I, feeling extremely full of myself, said “Why yes. You’ve probably seen me in the production of Macbeth that is going on at the school right now.” He said “No, that’s not it. “Video Dead! You’re in The Video Dead! It’s playing right now on Up All Night (or something like that).” My fiancé thought that was pretty funny.

Killer Film: What do you think about the film possibly making its DVD debut?

Roxanna Manuel: I hope it happens! Maybe I’ll set up a red carpet on my front lawn.

Killer Film would like to thank Roxanna Manuel for giving an insightful look into a “Lost” horror film. Thanks again Chris, you rock!

Tags: Al Millan, Chris MacGibbon, Douglas Bell, Late Night Classics, MGM, Michael St. Michaels, Robert Scott, Roxanna Augesen, Roxanna Manuel, Thaddeus Golas