The Lowdown: Tyler Mane (Michael Myers, Sabretooth)

"Why would I want to go behind a mask?"

October 12, 2009, 06:36 PM

Views: 911   Comments: 1

Altsounds: When I saw Halloween, my friends and I were talking about how the role of Michael Myers has to be the sweetest job in the movie business. You have zero lines, you're wearing a mask most of the time... and you're the star of the film! Is it really an easy role, or do you just make it look easy?

Tyler Mane: I like to think I just made it look easy. To give the character the depth that he deserves, it took quite a bit of preparation. I wanted to make sure that his expression came through my body movement. All I really had were my eyes. It's so much easier when you get lines because you express yourself through words. Without having words it's just the physicality of the character. The research that I did, I went back and watched all of the Halloween movies, except the third one. I wanted to take it up a notch and give him depth and humanity. It's what the story called for.

How did you get the role?

It was interesting. I was in Canada, getting ready to talk to producers about another project. Rob called and said, "Hey, I want you to play Michael Myers in my next movie." I thought, why would I want to go behind a mask? Rob said he didn't want it to be a one dimensional character and thought I would be good to bring something different to the role. We talked about what he wanted from the character and next thing you know, we were shooting.

Would you say that you're up for anything when it comes to making a movie happen? Is there anything you refuse to do?

It depends, really. I would love to do a cheesy romantic comedy, but that would be putting me with a midget or something, so I don't think that's ever gonna happen! If it's a real character and the character is important to the story, I would definitely consider just about anything. It would have to make sense. It couldn't just be something like, 'Let's throw this giant guy in there and see what happens." It would have to be something that moves the storyline along.

Whose bio-pic would you most love to star in? Or what kind of movie would you most like to make?

Danny DeVito! [laughs] I have no idea. I am kind of limited with my size on that question.

If size wasn't a factor?

Hmmmm... wow. John Wayne is pretty cool. The Duke.

What has been the highlight of your career up to this point?

Oh boy... you know everything I do tops the last. You know, I have been very lucky. I played Sabretooth, an iconic character. I played King Ajax in Troy. And now I am playing a horror icon like Michael Myers. I'm lucky to be able to keep talking, so I would really have to say them all. It's hard to pick just one thing.

What's your fondest memory of your time as a wrestler?

Definitely when you walk through the curtain and you walk out into the arena and it's full of people yelling at you. For that 10 minutes or whatever you are out there, your job is to whip them into a frenzy. And the lowest time is when you go back through that curtain and you feel all of those aches and pains. You have 23 hours and 50 minutes of pain and boredom until your next show.

There are a lot of similarities between the music industry and the film industry and we face many of the same problems when it comes to the little guy getting attention. You have recently launched your own Production company with a very 'indie rock' mentality. What are your goals for this new production company and what can you tell me about your first project Penance Lane?

My goal for Mayne Entertainment is to put out the highest quality production possible on the most reasonable budget to get the biggest possible return for the investors. I've been involved in some big budget productions and it's like they take a big pile of money, put it in the street and light it on fire. The goal is to get as much in your pockets as possible before it all burns up.

It's supposed to be show BUSINESS. You want to make money and get a return on what you're putting into it. That's basically what we're trying to do. Our first project is Penance Lane and it's a horror/thriller. An ex-con gets out of prison and gets a second chance at life. But first he is sent on a mission and it's on Penance Lane. He goes to a dilapidated house and what he finds behind the walls is more than what he bargained for.

I've been involved in this industry for quite a few years and made good connections, so I want to bring the highest quality people to the projects to make the highest quality film possible and put out a good product for our investors.

Halloween is coming up- are you a fan of the holiday and all things spooky?

Oh yeah, definitely.

Are you dressing up as Michael Myers for Halloween?

That would be too easy! I haven't decided what I'm gonna do this year. Probably what I usually do- not dress up at all and just scare people with my own looks. That's more frightening that anything I could dress up as.

Give me some of your favorite scary movies:

The Shining- That movie when he goes up to the bar and starts drinking in the empty place, it's like ohhh my god. We did research in CT and stayed in a place that reminded me of the hotel from The Shining. It was creepy.

Of course Halloween 1 and 2. The ones I was in.

The Ring- The whole TV thing and all of that... pretty scary.

I saw a good one last night called Mirrors, with Keifer Sutherland. Very, very entertaining. I'm not gonna say it scared me! It was... interesting.

#1 | Subscribe | Send to Friend | Print | Discipline | Report