Mr. May: Eric Stanze

Eric Stanze has one of the only truly respectable independent horror filmmaking companies out there. There are no vicious rumors about him; no stories of drunken manias or outraged cast and crew who want revenge; no nasty tales of money gone missing or ex-girlfriends buried in the backyard. Which is odd, because he's been in the business since 1994 when he released his first film The Scare Game. Since then, the respectable-yet-so-sexy writer/director/producer/editor has created and co-created some truly dazzling displays of independent genre filmmaking like China White Serpentine (with Robin Garrels), Ice From The Sun, Scrapbook, and the upcoming Deadwood Park. His company Wicked Pixel Cinema is comprised of St. Louis, Missouri's best indie horror talent, and has provided a place for women like Wicked Pixel members Emily Haack, Jessie Seitz, and Brandi Nelson to hone their horror filmmaking talents. Eric chats with Pretty/Scary as he takes his place among the ranks of Scary Studs he belongs with.

What's a date with Eric Stanze like?

I don't put out on the first date, if that's what you're asking. I'm old fashioned.

Cremation: are you for or against?

For. It's a space-saver.

What's more painful to watch: golf, or the director's cut of Ice from the Sun?

Golf. Ice From the Sun has slightly better pacing.

How many people have you seen naked, in person, that you haven't had sex with?

Too many to count.

What's the difference between a moron and a Mormon?

That extra letter "m" in there.

What are your turn ons?

Artful cinema, entertaining cinema, making movies, old drive-in theaters, good coffee, roller coasters, music by artists I like, rum on the rocks, and all the many naked people I'm surrounded by each day.

Turn-offs?

Baby Boomers.

Recently, cat hair came out of me in a really terrifying, unnatural way. True or false?

False. I don't like cats and I generally keep a good distance between them and my person.

Can you tell us about your latest film projects in excruciating detail?

I'm an actor in a movie called Savage Harvest II: October Blood. It hits DVD this summer. Also in the movie is the lovely Emily Haack, as well as former Pretty-Scary stud o' the month Eric Spudic! Also... The most recent movie I've directed is Deadwood Park, which comes out this Fall. It is a creepy, atmospheric ghost story flick... very different from most of my past work, which has tended to be rather aggressive and jarring. I'm very proud of Deadwood Park, which I can't say about most of my past movies. I'll stop describing my current projects now... 'Cause I suspect you really weren't sincere about that "excruciating detail" part.

Why did you choose to devote so much energy to the question about cremation? It was pretty disgusting. Not to mention, I found the rest of your answers infantile and deeply inappropriate.

What the hell's going on here?

What's so Wicked about Pixels?

Lady, have you SEEN my Pixels???

Who is the hottest woman in horror right now?

Honestly, I don't keep up with today's "horror hotties" or "scream queens" or whatever the kids are calling 'em these days. Laura Gemser or Linda Hamilton or Barbara Crampton jump to mind when I consider hot ladies of the motion picture screen, 'cause they were the ones who caught my eye when I was a younger lad. You know what's pretty hot? Ladies working behind the scenes. I always take an extra interest in a film when it has a female production designer, editor, or other position not traditionally filled by a female... especially (gasp!) director.

Visit the Wicked Pixel Cinema www.wickedpixel.com website to learn everything you ever wanted to know about Eric Stanze, but were afraid to ask.