WAMG Interview: Sid Haig

Well, as I mentioned before, I got to sit down on Friday and talk with Sid Haig! I gave him a call and this is what we talked about … enjoy!

WAMG: Thank you for sitting down and taking the time to talk with us Sid, we really appreciate it.
Sid: No problem at all.

WAMG: We just had a few questions and if there is anything you want to add in at the end…

WAMG: First question, you worked with George Lucas on his first film before he was the big Star Wars guy. What was that like?
Sid: Uhh, it was a little weird, he would come in first thing in the morning and give us some things to do, some suggestions and then he would just leave. Then he would come back later in the afternoon to see what we had done, and that’s the way it went for like a week. It was a little different way of working, but hey!

WAMG: Awesome, you have done so many projects over the years from TV, to movies … for our readers that aren’t really familiar with your work, what would you suggest they check out?
Sid: Oh my god! Well you know I have done so many films. The list is pretty long. So lets start close to the beginning, not actually at the beginning, but I think Spider Baby because it has generated fans over 4 decades, and Uhh, basically the first film that dealt with crazy families blooming up, killing and eating people, ha ha, and for horror fans that’s always a good thing. That’s definitely something that should be checked out.

WAMG: What was your favorite role to do of all of your movies, TV and getting to work with so many great directors and actors as they were coming up? What was your favorite project to work on?
Sid: You know, that is so tough to say when you have done so much, and have nothing but thrilling good experiences in everything you’ve done, its kind of a touch selection. One thing I say when people ask me that question is I say “Do you have any kids† and if they say yes, I say “Tell me which is your favorite because you have to eat the rest of them.†

WAMG: ha ha
Sid: Not to be a smart ass, but I am.

WAMG: Absolutely, that is why we love you!
Sid: If I wasn’t a smart ass I wouldn’t have any ass at all. So, I hate to get into my favorite role sort of thing because as soon as I say it, I think of something else.

WAMG: That is completely understandable. So, in 1992 you decided to take a hiatus from acting, then Quentin Tarantino decides to write a role for you in Jackie Brown, were you a big fan of his before and have you guys talked about do something previously and that’s why he wrote it in? Or, was it because of Pam Grier?
Sid: Quentin had a lot going for him, and we almost had an opportunity to work previously and that didn’t work out and so he had me in mind, and I had him in mind. Plus the fact that he flat out demanded that I take the role, the fact that you can call someone up and demand that they take the role … hard to say no.

WAMG: How did you first get hooked up with Rob Zombie?
Sid: Well I didn’t actually know what the connection was until his wedding. I was at his wedding standing there talking to his brother and he said “This is really weird† and I said “What the wedding? And he said “No standing here talking to you.† I said “what are you talking about† and he said “Well when Rob and I were kids we used to wake up every Saturday morning and watch you on Jason of Star Command and you used to scare the crap out of us.” So that’s how far back Rob’s association with me at least goes as a 9 year old kid. So I was pretty impressed.

WAMG: Was this before House of 1000 Corpses came up?
Sid: No, that’s when it came up.

WAMG: So he was talking to you about it that day?
Sid: No, I got a call from my agent and he said go to this office and sign a letter of non-disclosure and take the script home and read it, if you like it’s the parts yours. Rob and I had never talked, and so I took it home and read it because I always do what I am told. So I thought that I could have so much fun with this role. Rob and I actually didn’t meet face to face until the work room call.

WAMG: So thus created Captain Spaulding and put a new spark into everything for you guys.
Sid: Certainly for me, yeah.

WAMG: Personally, House of 1000 Corpses blew me away, with Rob being a first time director, and you sorta knew he had it in him with the Rob Zombie/White Zombie video’s and the darkness of all the music and everything. I was really blown away with how awesome it was, and that was one of my first experiences with you. As soon as I got done watching the movie I had to see what else you had done. I was just blown away, the Captain Spaulding character intense, I think I had nightmares that night.
Sid: See I don’t get that, I don’t think it was that scary.

WAMG: ha ha, well it was scary in a good way.
Sid: Yeah.

WAMG: You got inducted into the Horror Hall of fame.
Sid: Well it was cool, it wasn’t like a ceremony or anything, I got notified through email that it happened, so that was cool.

WAMG: Yeah … so lets get into The Devils Rejects. I think it has transcended into something more than just your run of the mill horror movie, and is now a Cult Classic in its own right. Did you have more fun working on The Devils Rejects than House of 1000 Corpses?
Sid: Yeah I did, it just gave me an opportunity to flesh out the character more and give the audience a better look at just how whacked out this guy is. So yeah I enjoyed it a lot, I think it’s a better picture myself. I don’t know if you are familiar with the Wild Bunch, its like a modern day version of that. It just has that feel, the gritty, nasty … like everybody is just kind of messed up.

WAMG: The opening dream sequence of The Devils Rejects was probably one of my favorite parts of the movie … its funny and strange all that the same time.
Sid: ha ha

WAMG: People always ask me about my favorite part of the movie and I tell them that, and they always say that I am weird, but that is my favorite scene.
Sid: ha ha, you definitely are a weird kid.

WAMG: So you guys are working on the Haunted World of El Superbeasto, now this is going to be all animated, correct?
Sid: Yes.

WAMG: Well, obviously you are going to be Captain Spaulding, but what form is he going to take into this movie … whats the story line going to be?
Sid: Well as rob explained it to me, and I haven’t seen the full script … the script is being read, being written daily. More and More people are coming on this board, its like everyone in Hollywood is going to be in this film.

WAMG: ha ha
Sid: Yeah its amazing, but its like if you happen to walk into a laundromat and just spent the day in there, all the weird people you come across in that time period … they are all in there.

WAMG: So you finally married Suzie in November, so how is married life going for you guys?
Sid: Good!

WAMG: Good?
Sid: Yeah, its good.

WAMG: Well we just wanted to congratulate you, so. Congratulations.

WAMG: So the last door … your directorial debut, go ahead and give me some info about it. We are interested in getting some details on it.
Sid: I really cant give you any info besides what you already know because its kind of hanging by a wire right now, but uh, if anything happens with that, Suzie will be shouting it from the rooftops, but for now I am concentrating on some other things.

WAMG: What other projects do you have going on right now?
Sid: Brotherhood of Blood, which is a vampire vs. vampire slayer film is scheduled, I say scheduled to be released, lets not make that a firm deal, its scheduled to be released in October and from all reports, it’s a pretty good film. I haven’t seen any of it myself, so I cant say, but people’s opinion I respect say its pretty good. Also looking forward to a non-horror genre film I did which is called Big Top, so hopefully that will be released soon. So I got some things pending and in the works that will hopefully happen soon. Once again, if anything goes on it will be all over the Internet.

WAMG: ha ha
Sid: I don’t mean to be closed mouthed about it all, but too many things happen to get in the way of projects, and I just don’t want to say anything until its started and I am standing in front of a camera and things are rolling.

WAMG: Absolutely, we completely understand. Sid, it sounds like you are keeping very busy and that makes us all happy, we hope that you continue doing great stuff. Is there anything you want to fill our readers in on, or put up on the site?
Sid: Oh yeah, one thing I can tell you for sure is that I am running for President.

WAMG: ha ha ha ha
Sid: Sid Haig for President in November!

WAMG: Seriously? Legitimately?
Sid: Yeah, it will more than likely have to be a write in thing, but everyone knows how to spell Sid Haig.

WAMG: Absolutely!
Sid: Looking forward to that, and the conventions, most of the conventions that I will be doing between now and then, the promoters have been kind enough to setup a town hall meeting thing at the conventions so I can address issues, which is more than the candidates are doing right now … they are just playing in their sandbox right now.

WAMG: Wow! That’s exciting. You definitely have my vote Sid, so put one down … I’ll make sure I write you in.
Sid: Hey, the thing the mainstream doesn’t realize is just how powerful the people that are into the genre of films are, how much we add to the economy and everything else that is going on. I am just going to make quick.

WAMG: Give them a run for it man.
Sid: yeah yeah

WAMG: That is awesome. I am really excited to hear that. We will promote the hell out of it on the site man!
Sid: ha ha … OK, sounds good.

WAMG: Sid, thanks so much for sitting down and taking the time out to talk to us, it means a lot to us.
Sid: No problem, thank you.

WAMG: Take care, Sid.
Sid: Thanks!