Tom Savini Interview
Tom Savnini
Tom Savini the splatter king was a huge influence on me when I was growing up. I wanted to be a special FX aftist. Tom Savini could make the blood spurt with such ease and the results, more than satisfactory. He worked on such movies as: Dawn & Day of the Dead. Creepshow, Friday theh 13th parts I & IV, Maniac & many others. He directed the remake of Night of the Living Dead and you would probably know him best as "Sex Machine", the phallic gun/cod piece weilding biker in From Dusk Till Dawn. Tom Savini has his own website, chat-room & email address so I contacted him for an interview. Tom agreed. "Tom Savini is a prick" says J-sin from Mr. Monster. "I've met him a couple of times at some conventions"....We'll let you be the judge.
When Tom agreed to do the interview he said that he would do it in his chat room I asked if he'd be willing to do an over the phone but he didn't want to . His chatroom is open all the time but it's posted on his site that you can catch him in there on Friday and Monday nights after 8pm if he's not busy.
So I sit in this chat room for an hour waiting. He stood me up. I write him (he doesn't write me) and ask him about it. He says that he tried and tried but couldn't get into his own chat room. I'm like okay then let's try it again. We set up a date but this time I stand HIM up. Not on purpose, I got side tracked helping my daughter put together her Titanic movie puzzle (go figure). I wrote to Tom and apologized. I told him that we couuld do it the following Friday (the next posted day he would be in the chat room) if he would like to and to please get a hold of me and let me know.
I never heard from him but that Friday night I went into the chat room and finally was able to catch him. I said hello but got no response. I said hello again, and again no response. I was ignored by everyone (this often happens in a chatroom). Finally I said: "Will someone please say something so I atelast know tha tmay text is showing up and peopple can see me in here?" Finally people started saying hi....except for Tom. I eventually got Tom's attention in between him joking around with the other caht room occupants. Although I had really no idea at all what any of them were even talking about because I popped in right in the middle of it all, he seemed to be having a good time. I then asked him about the interview and when we could do it. "Now" he tells me. Well alright then, let's see what happens here tonight.
I asked Tom a couple of questions. His answerers were short but I had already anticipated this. When I worte Tom I expressed my admiration for his work and went into detail about the zine and some interviews that we'd done in the past. I assumed that he probably didn't listen to punk or ever hear of most bands that we'd gotten interviews with except for maybe the MISFITS (Bobby Steele) but knew that he would know of the people that we'd interviewed on the horror side of the zine but I begin to feel that he was not taking me seriously. My first clue (well actually the first was when he would not do the interview outside of his chatroom) was when I asked him if he had any religious belieefs. Now to me religion and politics are two ways that you can definitely get to know someone and you just may be surprised by their response (as I was with Bobby Steele). Well Tom was evidently offended by this questiohn and replied: "Oh geez Chad, give me a break" and then went on to say that his religion was something like Zen or meditation and the art of dating, not, I'm sure, to be taken seriously.
I was correct on my assumption of various "chattters" answering some of the questions that I had asked Tom. Some of the questions that I DID get a straight answer on were:
CORNFLAKEOVERDOSE-What do you feel the most difficult project for you to work on was?
TOM SAVINI-Doing Fluffy in Creepshow.
COD-Why is that?
TS-Because I've never done anything like that before.
COD-Any films that your embarrassed about or wished you had no part in?
TS-Yes, The Ripper.
COD-Becuase of your acting or the effects?
TS-The acting.
COD-I realize that being in your line of work that you need to do research, some of which includes studying cadavers. Does this ever get to you?
TS-No, I was a photographer in Vietnam.
Some of the questions I had to repeat more than once. Either because he wasn't paying attention or he asked me to. Here's a couple of other questions with responses that pretty much blew my mind.
COD-Any funny or embarrassing stories that have happened during the making of a film?
TS-Yes, lots of them. Get one of my books and you cna read all about them.
I told Tom that this was an interview and our readers might be interested in a story he's got to tell. He gave me no story. Here's another:
COD-What movies are you currently working on and will be working on in the near future?
TS-Chad, have you even been to my website?
Okay now I'm getting pissed and it's taking everything I"ve got not to tell this guy off infront of his fans. Instead I remind him that we are doing an interview and that our readers might like to know straight from him what he is working on. In our letter exchange which is included in this section, he did make a point about me taking the interview to a different extreme. I guess I could have done some research concerning his site and included a summary or long intro talking about the various projects that he is, or will be doing. Personally I feel that's the ONLY point he DID have.
That evening was a time where you just really had to be there and witness all that was around. A person telling em to chill out (only one person said this) after I had basically told Tom tha this answers were not complete and that my friend (Dave, from Horrorbiz....check this killer magazine out) who interviewed him told me tha the was a very intense persons and could really go indepth on some of his answers. Tom's response was that if he was being asked some original questions that maybe that would be the case. I kept my composure, impressing myself, and thanked him and said goodbye. It was chaotic. It sucked. I hated it, and I felt very let down. I had really loked forward to "meeting" Tom and speaking with him, .I did not hate Tom but I did lose much respect for him. After I cooled down for an hour or so I wrote this letter to him:
Mr. Savini,
Well I don't really know what to say Tom. To be very blunt I felt that the interview went horribly and am very disappointed. I feel that you did not take me seriously and am disappointed because for the last 15 years I have looked up to your and your work. This interview for me was not something to just "throw" in the next issue of our magazine. It was also for peronal reasons. To be able to talk to the "splatter king" & to find out more about someone who's work that I , among many, many others have admired for years, and hopefully more years to come. I was hesitant on doing the interview in your chatroom with others present for fear of the nightmare that happened tonight. I realize that you didn't want to do an over the phone interview and I respect that. I think that a private chatroom would have been a more sufficient place if it were to occur online or even an e-mail interview. I can't help but tell you that the lack of professionalism in this whole ordeal is amazing and I hope that it wasn't from a self-made egotistical "superior" position that your uninterested answers flew from but the fact that your room was full of your fans and you wanted to please them all at the same time. I went to show parts of the interview to someone and they did not save as planned, therefore I have no interview for the next issue of our magazine. Which is just as well because I was debating on whether to use what I had or not. The interview itself (minus your fans and friends dialogue) would have been a half page (if that) embarrassment to both you and me. I would love to do an email interview with you where you can get more in-depth with your answers and have more time. You can either laugh, get pissed at my letter or give me a good interview. Tom I thank your for the time that you DID write me and I hope to be hearing from you soon.
Chad Overdose
This was Tom's response:
Actually your insight was right on about pleasing fans and seeing to everyone's needs. Whether you realize it or not, you were part of what everyone thought was a good time. If you were a regular on the chat, and knew more about me, you would realize that every question you asked has been asked a thousand times, and if you got simple responses sometimes, it's because it is very difficult to go "in depth" on things that everyone knows about from simply reading anything about me. If you don't think I am professional I suggest you read my resume and understand that no one can achieve such a body of work wihtout being professional. Name calling is one of the many ways fans who think they own you try to get back at you when they are disappointed to find out they don't own you. I don't run your magazine and am not responsible for your next issue no matter how much you try to blame me. "What religious beliefs do I have" who the hell wants to know that? And whose business is it anyway? That is extremely personal. If you had paid attention to what was being said by other people and my responses e.g., capitol punishment, and other horror movies, you would have had more information than just your questions were bring out. Another writer or interview would have tuned into the fun we were having like "everyone be rude to me" and said to your readers that a Night In The Tom Savini Chatroom was fun for all and Tom even asked his fans to be rude to him to break the ice, to make them feel closer to him, to be one of the party goers. More than once people were telling you to chill and join in. All you seem to want to concentrate on is the limited scope of your interview questions, and not the experience of being at what can be thought of as a little party, a little get together, a jam session if you will, at my place. You missed the whole picture, a slant your interview could have taken. You were invited to a party, and missed it because of your limited attitude. I'll never lie to you, but you have to willing to want honesty. I appreciate that you are a fan, and you want to tell other fans things in your magazine, and that I would not be where I am withouth fans, and they exist because of liking what they observe of my talents and personality, but your slant was limited to your questions and you missed what was happening around you. I can't teach you how to do your job, though I was a journalism major and have a degree in communication, but I can suggest what I am suggesting about you missing the overall picutre with confidence as another approach. If you weren't satisfied you should have said so last night, instead of thanking me in front of everyone, and then unthanking me here.
Well to tell the truth, I did not know what to expect when and IF Tom wrote me back. The response tht I did get was a pleasant surprise. Although he was in error on a few things and I let him know:
Tom, first of all I would have LOVED ( and still would), to simply hang out at your chat room "party", but I came for a one on one interview and it's hard to type back out when your answering 4 other questions along with mine. Some of the other questions that were asked from others were stemmed off from mine and your answers were to answers to both of the questions. When I type my questions on the page with your interview and then type your answer it would sometimes look confusing because the reader would not know exactly why you answered if the way that you did. I would have to type in EVERYONES responses and stemmed questions in order for a complete understanding. That would just be too confusing in itself and hard to read.
I never said that you weren't a professional, I simply stated the professionalism on the whole ordeal, my interview included. You made a statement regarding "namecalling" which is something that I DID NOT or WOULD NOT do to you or anyone else that gave me the time of day for an interview, and in no way was I blaming you for how my magazine turns out. I merely expressed my feelings on the issue in hopes of you agreeing and giving me a better interview. As far as the questions go, your right. They were rather cliche and I'm sure that you've heard them all before. Okay so maybe I'm nervous: An interview with Tom Savini. What do I ask him. If I have to ask different questions to get another interview (via e-mail) so be it. No problem. But when I DO ask you a question and you answer it by telling me to get one of your books and read it or go to your website I think that rather defeats the purpose. If I wanted to just tell everyone about you, using my magazine, then I wouldn't have bothered contacting you. I would just write: "Hey everyone it's Chad and boy do I love all that gore that Tom Savini creates. He did this movie and this movie. If you'd like to hear more about him go to your local bookstore and order Grand Illusions I & II."
Religion & politics are two ways that you can really find out about a person. Your telling me that, that is just to much of a personal question (the one about religious beliefs), I was taking the place of a journalist, someone to construct a paper out of knowledge that is obtained. In this case through an interview. by telling me that I'm getting personal is like telling you that your getting too gory. It's my job. It's up to you to answer teh question or not but you can't expect questions liek that not to be asked. You dont' want to anser that particular question becuase you feel that it is too personal....fine....respected.
As far as paying atttention to what others were saying I came in late when discussions and goofiness were already at hand. I tried to read what everyone was saying but I was more worried about getting to your responses (or repeating the questions at least 4 different times) responding to your answers (if there was one), trying to save them and trying to figure out if you were answering me or someone else. Never once did I hear about : capital punishment, you asking to be treated rudely, I was either not there yet, had left, or maybe it had been during the couple of times that I kicked myself out (lol). Yes, I was concentrating on the "limited scope" of my interview but that's exactly why I was there Tom, though (I appreciate your feedback and input on a different "slant" to the interview. I'm rather new to this and I just wanted a strightforward interview. Any other time I would love to come and hang out and partake in the fun....believe me.
At this point I knew that I had no hopes for another interview but....then he shocked me again:
"Good answer....maybe over the phone would be better....are you able to tape from phone interview....that really is the only way to do a phoner."
Needless to say, I was shocked. I walked around my house with my head in the air thinking to myself: "Boy, I really let him have it. I didn't let him walk all over me or treat him like a star and I think he respected that. RIGHT ON Chad!! Well I wrote him back and said yes I did have something to tape the conversation. When should we do it? He gave me a date and asked if I could do it. He said that he had another interview that same day at 2:30pm. and that we could do it after that. I agreed and sat and waited that Friday afternoon for him to email me back or call. I wasn't sure if he still had my number so I emailed it to him again. He never called. Since then I've written him 3 times. The 3rd time being th last. I told him that I would consider his lack of reponse his way of telling me to screw off....that I wasn't going to get an interview. Still no response....until almost 2 months later. Tom wrote this to me:
"Sorry Chad, don't know where we veered off. I never meant Screw You, and never say that to anyone. I am completely open to interviews and fans and that's why even my pohone is listed despite those fans who take advantage of this fact at three in the morning. The interview is still fine with me, just let's not make tthis a big deal. You can call anytime, I am listed. If I have the time, which I will fo rthe next two weeks, I would be happy to chat with ya."
I was a bit shocked at this but yet relieved. It looked like I was going to get my interview after all. I wrote him back and basically said hey that's great. I'll look up your niumber in the aol white pages. I found anumber for a Tom Savini and wrote him back asking if this was the right one. I was confused however on why he wouldn't just give me the number. But now I had it....he wrote back telling me that it was the right one. A couple of weeks went by before I could get the money to buy a phone card. I was also surprised that he didn't just call me. Most of my phone interviews no matter where they live are cool enough to call me, and these are poor punk swe're talking about. Not some Hollywood richie. I get the phone card....FINALLY and call. Now y phone card has this thing where if even an answering machine answers the phone and you are connected for a mere second, then it automaticllayy takes 5 jmmintues off from the card. I did not want to leav a meassage everytime I called because I felt tha ttom wouldn't call back anyways. He had my number already & had never called whe I asked him hif he could the first time when he bailed out on our fist over the phoner tha twas scheduled months prior to this (that was when I didn't have his number ans eawas waitning an eemail fo rit). So everytime the mahcine was about to dcome on I would hang up. I did hti sfor a couple of days until finally got to speak to Tom. It was early in the evening but I had awakened him. He didn't really sound all tha thappy & told me to call back the next day between 4 &5pm. Since welive in the same time zone I didn't see that as a problem at all and I agreed. Well needless to say I called and called but never got a hold of him. The closest I got was to talk to hi ssgirlfriend (or wife, I'n nbot sure) but she said he had just stepped out to go to the Post Office and to call back in 10 or 15 minutes. I waited about 25 minutes but still coud not get a hold of him. I then wrote him this letter:
Tom,
Hello, here's the deal. I don't have long distance and have to purchase a phone card whenever I make long distance phone calls. The type of card that I get is pretty good except for one thing. Every time an answering machine or anything picks up I lose 5 minutes automatically and if I wait and leave a message it takes off even more time. I've been calling every like 20 minutes or so since 4 and can't get a hold of you. I talked to Denise who said that you were at the post office but would be back very shortly. I can't get ahold of you now and my phone card is down to 30 minutes....or so....Are you online right now? If there is ANY chance at all of you calling me that would be just great. If not then just write me back & we'll try and reschedule something that will hopefully work next time around. If you can call I'll be home all night tonight and usually don't go to bed until around midnight (Eastern time). My number is: 555-5555....thanks.
chad
What he wrote next absolutely blew my mind....check it out:
Chad, maybe the only way is to do it online. Perhaps in the chatroom on Monday or Friday at 8pm EST, or maybe we could meet there another time, but I am usually there on these nights.
I could not believe it. Does he not remember anything? I just don't get it. Back to the drawing board. Well needless to say I didn't really get the interview for this issue like so many of you were told and that is the reasoning behind this whole waste of paper. I'm sorry guys....but who knows, with Tom he could all of a sudden show up at my door giving me an interview. It is important that you all know something about this story. I don't hate Tom or even dislike him. I've no idea how busy he is, if he cares, if he does'nt give a crap about me or my zine, or anything. We could possibly be on total different wave lengths here. Tom seems like a nice guy & I would have loved to do the interview. Maybe he's a good guy, maybe he's not, but I don't feel I'm yet in the position to judge him. I'd like to think that he doesn't put himself above anybody that's not in the "business', & I'd like to thank him for a bit of time that he did give....I just wish that it could have been more.