Top Of The Flops schrijfsel: Mailen met Gunnar Hansen (Engels)

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Actually I never had a goal of acting in horror movies. I was newly out of graduate school, working as a carpenter, and heard that there were some filmmakers in Austin and that they were looking for someone to play the killer. I interviewed for the role because I thought it would be interesting to work in a movie. That movie was "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre." Its success led to other roles, and because the people who knew of me were making horror movies, that's what I worked on. *Did you always want te be an actor?* No, I never did. I was in a couple of school plays as a young boy and I hated it. I was very shy and did not like to be in front of people. *What are your favourite kind of movies and could you name a few titles?* I like all kinds of movies. Some of my favorites are "Chinatown," "Silent Running," "The Haunting" (1961 original), "Blade Runner," "Ran," " *If you would rate your character and your acting in Texas Chainsaw Massacre, what would be the rate and how do you define it?* I think that Leatherface is one of the most horrifying characters in horror movies. He is almost human -- but not quite. He is also unknowable -- for all we know, if we pull off his mask, there might be nothing under it. As for my acting, I leave it to others to judge that. *With which Texas Chainsaw Massacre actors did you get along most?* Allen Danziger ("Jerry")and Ed Neal ("Hitchhiker") became good friends after we made the movie. Over time I got to know Marilyn Burns ("Sally") and Jim Seidow ("The Cook")better. And then, in recent years, I got to know Paul Partain ("Franklin") -- he was a great guy. I also keep up with Teri McMinn ("Pam")and Bill Vale ("Kirk"), though I do not see them often because they live on the west coast. Other than actors, I also became good friends with Bob Burns, the genius art director. We have all kept in close contact over the years, though sadly, Jim, Bob and Paul have all recently died. *Did you put aspects of yourself into the character of Leatherface?* No *Was it difficult to play the part of Leatherface?* It was physically very difficult because of the physicality of the character and the conditions under which we shot (long hours, Texas summer heat). Mentally, though, it was not difficult -- once I had figured out who he was and how I was going to represent him physically. So I suppose the mental difficulty mostly came before the filming, when I had to work very hard to figure him out and create a physical representation for him. *I see you sporting a beard on every picture and in every movie. I assume you shaved for TCM. Was this a difficult thing to do?* Yes, I did have a beard before film. But, no, it was not difficult to shave it off. *Looking back, what is the most fulfilling aspect of Texas Chainsaw Massacre for you?* It was the experience of working in an environment in which everyone was very good at what he did and everyone was giving his best effort. I had never been in that circumstance before -- I liked it and wanted to do the same myself. *Often Leatherface, Jason Voorhees and Freddy Krueger are viewed as the 3 ultimate movie maniacs. What is your opinion about this? And who is your favourite?* I agree with that. Leatherface is my favorite, of course. *You've also played parts in many other movies. Does it bother you that most people don't know that?* No, it's fine. "Chainsaw" was bigger and more successful than any of the others, so it of course dominates people's awareness. I am surprised now and then, though, when a supposedly hard core horror fan does not know that I have worked on other movies. I mean, who wouldn't love "Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers?" *Is there any movie you've ever played in that you regret being a part of?* No. *Which movie is the worst ever, according to you?* Probably "Demon Lover," which I acted in a couple of years after "Chainsaw." There was another one, "Exploding Angel," which was never released, so I can't be sure whether it would have won my vote as worst. *What do you think of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake that was recently released?* I did not like it much. I think it missed the point of the original and reduced itself to being a bloodbath, instead of a dark psychological horror, like the original. *And what are your feelings towards the prequel that has been announced?* I have no opinion of the movie at this point -- I know nothing about it. I am not impressed with the idea of doing endless sequels in general -- it seems as if they are motivated by money, not by a desire to make a great movie. *Which character do you really want to play and why that one?* I would like to play a viking, even if it's just one in the background hoisting a horn full of mead. This really is just a result of my background. *You also write, next to acting. What are you currently working on and could you tell us something about it?* Actually, writing has always been my primary work. Right now I am writing the script for a documentary film that I am directing for the Passamaquoddy Indians of Maine. Otherwise, I co-wrote (with Gary Jones), the script for "The Last Horror Picture Show," which has been optioned and which we hope will go into production later this year. Kane Hodder ("Jason") and Robert Englund ("Freddie") have agreed to be in it, and the three of us will play the killers. *Are there other things not related to movies that you like to do?* I enjoy photography and sailing. *How was your visit to The Netherlands. Have you been here before?* I enjoyed it very much, though unfortunately I did not get to see much of it. I have been to The Netherlands once before, when I was a teenager. My family stayed in Amsterdam for a couple of days. *Thanks for your time.*
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Titel: Mailen met Gunnar Hansen (Engels)
Auteur: Sander
Categorie: Interview
Datum: 11/06/05

Na een zeer geslaagde editie van New Star Con III. En een uitermate leuk gesprek. Is hier dan het speciaal voor Top Of The Flops beloofde interview van Gunnar Hansen bekend van o.a. zijn rol als Leatherface in de originele Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

Ik was en ben er dol enthousiast over. En ik hoop dat jullie je er ook een beetje mee vermaken.

What made you want to be an actor in horror movies?
Actually I never had a goal of acting in horror movies. I was newly out of graduate school, working as a carpenter, and heard that there were some filmmakers in Austin and that they were looking for someone to play the killer. I interviewed for the role because I thought it would be interesting to work in a movie. That movie was "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre." Its success led to other roles, and because the people who knew of me were making horror movies, that's what I worked on.

Did you always want te be an actor?
No, I never did. I was in a couple of school plays as a young boy and I hated it. I was very shy and did not like to be in front of people.

What are your favourite kind of movies and could you name a few titles?
I like all kinds of movies. Some of my favorites are "Chinatown," "Silent Running," "The Haunting" (1961 original), "Blade Runner," "Ran," "

If you would rate your character and your acting in Texas Chainsaw Massacre, what would be the rate and how do you define it?
I think that Leatherface is one of the most horrifying characters in horror movies. He is almost human -- but not quite. He is also unknowable -- for all we know, if we pull off his mask, there might be nothing under it. As for my acting, I leave it to others to judge that.

With which Texas Chainsaw Massacre actors did you get along most?
Allen Danziger ("Jerry")and Ed Neal ("Hitchhiker") became good friends after we made the movie. Over time I got to know Marilyn Burns ("Sally") and Jim Seidow ("The Cook")better. And then, in recent years, I got to know Paul Partain ("Franklin") -- he was a great guy. I also keep up with Teri McMinn ("Pam")and Bill Vale ("Kirk"), though I do not see them often because they live on the west coast. Other than actors, I also became good friends with Bob Burns, the genius art director. We have all kept in close contact over the years, though sadly, Jim, Bob and Paul have all recently died.

Did you put aspects of yourself into the character of Leatherface?
No

Was it difficult to play the part of Leatherface?
It was physically very difficult because of the physicality of the character and the conditions under which we shot (long hours, Texas summer heat). Mentally, though, it was not difficult -- once I had figured out who he was and how I was going to represent him physically. So I suppose the mental difficulty mostly came before the filming, when I had to work very hard to figure him out and create a physical representation for him.

I see you sporting a beard on every picture and in every movie. I assume you shaved for TCM. Was this a difficult thing to do?
Yes, I did have a beard before film. But, no, it was not difficult to shave it off.

Looking back, what is the most fulfilling aspect of Texas Chainsaw Massacre for you?
It was the experience of working in an environment in which everyone was very good at what he did and everyone was giving his best effort. I had never been in that circumstance before -- I liked it and wanted to do the same myself.

Often Leatherface, Jason Voorhees and Freddy Krueger are viewed as the 3 ultimate movie maniacs. What is your opinion about this? And who is your favourite?
I agree with that. Leatherface is my favorite, of course.

You've also played parts in many other movies. Does it bother you that most people don't know that?
No, it's fine. "Chainsaw" was bigger and more successful than any of the others, so it of course dominates people's awareness. I am surprised now and then, though, when a supposedly hard core horror fan does not know that I have worked on other movies. I mean, who wouldn't love "Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers?"

Is there any movie you've ever played in that you regret being a part of?
No.

Which movie is the worst ever, according to you?
Probably "Demon Lover," which I acted in a couple of years after "Chainsaw." There was another one, "Exploding Angel," which was never released, so I can't be sure whether it would have won my vote as worst.

What do you think of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake that was recently released?
I did not like it much. I think it missed the point of the original and reduced itself to being a bloodbath, instead of a dark psychological horror, like the original.

And what are your feelings towards the prequel that has been announced?
I have no opinion of the movie at this point -- I know nothing about it. I am not impressed with the idea of doing endless sequels in general -- it seems as if they are motivated by money, not by a desire to make a great movie.

Which character do you really want to play and why that one?
I would like to play a viking, even if it's just one in the background hoisting a horn full of mead. This really is just a result of my background.

You also write, next to acting. What are you currently working on and could you tell us something about it?
Actually, writing has always been my primary work. Right now I am writing the script for a documentary film that I am directing for the Passamaquoddy Indians of Maine. Otherwise, I co-wrote (with Gary Jones), the script for "The Last Horror Picture Show," which has been optioned and which we hope will go into production later this year. Kane Hodder ("Jason") and Robert
Englund ("Freddie") have agreed to be in it, and the three of us will play the killers.

Are there other things not related to movies that you like to do?
I enjoy photography and sailing.

How was your visit to The Netherlands. Have you been here before?
I enjoyed it very much, though unfortunately I did not get to see much of it. I have been to The Netherlands once before, when I was a teenager. My family stayed in Amsterdam for a couple of days.

Thanks for your time.