Mr. May: Joe Zaso

Joe Zaso is an actor, filmmaker, and great-looking guy with a body that's just incredible. He looks like a model- but he doesn't act like one. He's a down-to-earth and sweet guy who doesn't indulge in nefarious acts or bad habits (though he often plays villains in action, horror, and sci-fi films). He's an entrepreneur who owns his own film production company Cinema Images, a smarty-pants, and a damn fine man. What makes Joe tick? What will he do next? is that a GUN!??? Find out why this sexy guy is our Scary Stud of the Month...

Describe your perfect woman...

Patient, sweet, health-conscious, demanding in a fair way, creative, unique, kind to my loved ones and above all, a truly original one of a kind person.

Are you a lover, or a fighter?

I'm a gentle giant, afraid of my own shadow, even though I don't know my own strength. Seeing as I'm not coordinated and not aggressive in real life, I think you have your answer....

How do you feel about male nudity in horror films? Is there too much of it? do we need more of it? How do you personally feel about doing nude scenes?

There's nothing wrong with male nudity in horror films. Horror films in general, as you probably know all too well, are dominating by female nudity. This has always been a major selling point all over the world. I see no reason why not to have nudity from both sexes. Personally, I have no problem doing nude scenes. (Of course, this interview has been conducted during my blissful age of 35, so years from now, I might change my tune :) ) I guess my attitude is very psuedo-European, but I just don't see what the big deal is. The American media and American audiences tend make male and female nudity out to be A LOT MORE sensationalistic than it really is. Unless there's a major problem, there's nothing offensive about the human body.

What are your turn-ons?

Kind people, sophisticated people, politeness, articulation, elegance, open-mindness, people who aren't afraid to be unique, espresso, Italy, 70s and 80s movies.

Your turn-offs?

Bars, clubs, rudeness, ignorance, racism, smoking, fish.

Tell me about your company Cinema Image Productions; For those who know nothing about you, what movies have you created through Cinema Image, and which roles have you played in said movies?

My company, Cinema Image Productions was started in 1986 when I was a Junior in high school. After years of making many amateur films, I started branching into semi-professional features until I met up with a college friend named Joseph Parda who wrote and directed our first collaboration, 5 DEAD ON THE CRIMSON CANVAS. We collaborated on other projects including GUILTY PLEASURES, SZAMOTA'S MISTRESS and MACHINES OF LOVE AND HATE. I usually play the troubled lead or a pervert or a villain (or even a cameo as a mauled circus clown) in these films. I've acted in a lot of other genre films like DEMONIUM, NIKOS THE IMPALER, RED MIDNIGHT, ADVENTURES OF YOUNG VAN HELSING, RAGE OF THE WEREWOLF, DEMON RESURRECTION and ANGEL'S BLADE both in the US and in Italy. I hope to go to Germany in August to act in a horror film for Timo Rose called BARRICADE.

What's it like having a really really awesome body? Is it cool?

PLEASE - it's never awesome to me, because I'm never satisfied with it! But, thank you anyhow...

What do you do to maintain your awesome body?

I weight train 4 nights a week locally at the gym and I am high-energy (hyper, as my friends say) by nature. Plus I don't eat wrecklessly. I eat standard food, but no MacDonalds or anything like that. I prefer a simple diet of food made the way it meant to be eaten.

Are you better in horror films as a villain, or hero, and why? don't cop out and say "both".

While I would like to play more heroes, having pointy eyebrows and a shaved head usually has me pegged as a villain. I'm not against playing villains, it's just that I'm offered many poorly-written parts in poorly-written films that make being a villain actually quite boring.

What's the best pickup line a woman has ever used on you?

Once I was in the hardware store and an African-American shopgirl asked if I needed any help. I said, "No, thanks. I'm fine." She remarked, "You got that right" and walked away...!

If a woman was to cover you in chocolate sauce and lick it off of your body, slowly, would you prefer to nibble on:

Strawberries!!!

In your opinion, who is the sexiest woman in horror films today?

I can't answer that question because there are no legends like Barbara Steele, Jamie Lee Curtis, Edwige Fenech, Barbara Bouchet or Jessica Harper anymore. The cast of the WB just doesn't cut it.

Visit Joe Zaso at his website www.cinemamages.net