Kevin Interdonato is a bad ass. I should know; I’ve known him for over ten years. That is besides the point, though. Personal relationship aside, the fact remains that Kevin is a great guy AND one hell of an actor.
A Jersey boy born and bred, he started his career in 2001, where he nabbed roles on The Sopranos, CSI: NY, and Law and Order. He took a break from acting from 2004-2005 to fulfill his military duty and served a tour of duty in Baghdad, Iraq.
As two Jersey guys, we take some pretty hilariously brutal jabs at each other. That’s just part of our friendship, and I can always count on him to say something that’ll make me laugh. That said, he’s going to make fun of me a bit for being this semi-sappy, but it needs to be said to fully understand him.
I first met him shortly after his return to acting, in the summer of 2006, when he came in to audition for a film I was making. He scored the lead role, and we’ve worked together numerous times since then. But from the moment I met him, I knew he was different. He’s an actor, sure, but he’s also a guy who cares about every single aspect of making a film.
While some guys come in, do their job, and then leave, Kevin likes to be involved where he can. Need some help finding some extra crew? He’s got you covered. Need to secure a location? He can help with that. Need story help to flesh out the script? He’s got some incredible ideas to make it all better. And I’m not saying he does any of this in a pushy sort of way; Kevin knows he boundaries, but he also wants to make whatever project he is involved in the best it can be.
That’s just one of his redeeming qualities. This man can always ACT. Seriously, I have thrown so many different roles his way, and he has conquered every single one. Any time I watch something with him in it, I always know he’s going to be fantastic. He’s the type of actor that will inhabit whatever role he is in, and fully embrace it. There is no half-assing with him…he jumps in, 110%.
On top of all that, he’s one hell of a nice guy. Sure, he’s got that New Jersey, Italian, tough guy exterior, but underneath, he’s a teddy bear. He jokes, but he cares. Directors, take note: this is a guy you want on your set. His mere presence makes any film better.
So why am I telling you, our readers, all this?
Well, he’s got a new film out called BAD FRANK, and hot damn, you guys and gals are going to love it. While not classified as a horror film, it does have some pretty brutal moments that fans of the genre will appreciate quite a bit.
I asked Kevin a few questions about BAD FRANK, and he was kind enough to answer. He told me I owed him one, though, whatever that means.
HORRORBUZZ: Tell us a bit about Bad Frank. What’s it about?
KEVIN: Frank Pierce is a medicated, severely mentally-ill man. His life appears to be normal, but his internal issues are a daily battle, something his wife and friends know nothing of. He is disowned from family, of which he desperately makes every effort to reconnect with. The movie depicts the moments in Frank’s life, after several years of straight-living and a controlled lifestyle, when things begin to fall apart…he’s also based on Jeff Heimbuch.
HORRORBUZZ: What about the film spoke to YOU before you signed on?
KEVIN: I guess I immediately felt sympathetic for this man, because he becomes a victim of circumstance, which causes him to spiral downward. He does try valiantly to be ‘good’, but some people were just born with a bad bone…and that’s what I unabashedly obsess about in people. The reasons. The causes of ‘why we are the way we are’. I like going after the pain and embracing its origin, exploring it.
HORRORBUZZ: Aside from starring in it, can you tell us a bit about your role as a producer as well. What did that entail?
KEVIN: I was lucky, got the offer to play Frank Pierce first. The script wasn’t completed yet, but the story was there and the producers were good dudes. When the script was presented to me, it needed little love. I jumped in and did some work on all the characters, fleshed out the relationships, and developed the story more. As far as producing, I’m fortunate to know some really talented folks in the biz, ones that I trust behind and in front of the camera. So, I brought them in. I helped execute the film in all areas of Post, Score, Edit, Sound Mix, and the Marketing plan. I was pretty involved, just doing everything I could to help ensure the film reached its potential.
HORRORBUZZ: You are getting a lot of attention from fans of horror films with the film. Why do you think Bad Frank speaks to fans of horror?
KEVIN: Yeah, its pretty damn cool! I’m really appreciative of all the horror fans seeing the film and reaching out. That’s the point man, it’s why I do this. I’m a movie fan just as much as the next guy or gal, so being able to give to people the same excitement or release that I seek in movies is rewarding in itself. I think horror fans dig it the most, even though its not a really a horror film, because Frank does some horrible shit…but it’s justified. I mean, I sympathize with him more than most because I played him. But I think that even though horror fans may sympathize with Frank as well, they just want to see Frank break, and the payoff is definitely there. The beast is always just below the surface.
HORRORBUZZ: Can you talk at all about balancing the emotional heart of the story, with Frank working to get his wife back, with the violence of it? Was it hard to maintain a balance between the two and still make it work? Because damn, does it get intense. Especially during the ending!
KEVIN: Haha, yes, it gets a tad intense. You hit it on the head, though, Jeff. There’s two conflicts in the movie: the external conflict of what happens when his past (Tom Sizemore’s character, basically) comes back into his life, and the internal battle of suppressing his urges, Intermittent Explosive Disorder, which has plagued his life and is now finally under control. It required a little more focus than usual to stay in that mindset, but after sitting in it for couple months before filming, I was ready to pop like two weeks before the first day. I had to keep myself busy. It definitely wasn’t the best head space to be in for weeks on end. I wasn’t very pleasant, but my wife is a saint for letting me do my thing. But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy it.
HORRORBUZZ: You seem to take on a lot of roles as characters who hide a lot of pain just below the surface…there is some emotional heaviness in this role that you pull off quite well. As an actor, was it hard for you to tap into that mindset of Frank?
KEVIN: It’s funny…my mom just said to me yesterday, “Why don’t you do a comedy?” I don’t go out of my way for these roles, they just seem to come my way. Yeah, it takes concentration to tap into certain sides of yourself, and then adjusting your personal life so you can completely focus. Being free to jump in with everything in you, no inhibitions. And when you get to that ‘place’, voluntarily falling into the mindset of your character is easier because there’s less interference. Frank was definitely unique, because I do not think like him. Not my thought process. I think every man has a purely primal side, and when you tap into it, sensibility, repercussions, and rationality are not even a thought. I think for Frank, his journey, was just that. So whatever is on screen is pretty much what I was going through to try and NOT let him out.
HORRORBUZZ: Any other things about the product you’d like to mention?
KEVIN: I’d like to mention that Jeff Heimbuch is a no-good bastard.
And I definitely want to thank anyone that sees the film, I appreciate it. Hope you enjoy it. But please don’t let your kids see it…my Mom was not a fan.
BAD FRANK is out now and is available on: iTunes, Amazon, Redbox, Google Play, and On Demand for most Satellite and Cable providers.
Follow Kevin online if you want. He’s kind of a jerk, though (I say that with love…but tweet him and ask about his dumb truck).
Twitter: @KevinIntro
Instagram: @TheKevinIntro
Facebook: @KevinInterdonato
