Scout Taylor-Compton has been acting steadily since the late 1990's. In nearly thirteen years she has amassed a sizeable filmography that includes several genre titles: WICKED LITTLE THINGS which was one of 2006's After Dark Horrorfest titles, remakes of HALLOWEEN, APRIL FOOL'S DAY, and HALLOWEEN II, and TRIPLE DOG, a teen thriller. In addition, she has portrayed an exploited teen in SMILE PRETTY; a babysitter for Beyonce in OBSESSED (a modernized FATAL ATTRACTION), and can currently be seen in the new film about the all-girl band The Runaways titled...well...THE RUNAWAYS.
Scout talked with me regarding her career of the last few years.
Jonathan Stryker: The first time we spoke you had just completed HALLOWEEN and were several weeks away from shooting the remake of APRIL FOOL'S DAY. What was your experience on this film like?
Scout Taylor-Compton: Well, I really enjoyed working with the Butcher Brothers.
JS: Yes. They shot that film THE HAMILTONS, one of the "After Dark Horrorfest" horror films, in early 2005.
STC: Yeah, they were terrific directors, and it was the first time that I ever worked with two directors at the same time. It was a different experience getting notes from two different people but they sort of shared the same brain, so-to-speak. It was fun working with them and the cast, and the film turned out to be a little bit different than what I was originally expecting, but it was a good shoot and I liked making that coming on the heels of HALLOWEEN.
JS: What can you tell me about LOVE AT FIRST HICCUP?
STC: LOVE AT FIRST HICCUP is a child/teenage comedy. I don't really do comedies very often. It was also my first time working with a female director, which was very interesting. The film is about these two kids experiencing life and their first sexual urges, and how funny it can be. It really is, if you think about it.
JS: You also did a film called TRIPLE DOG.
STC: Yeah, TRIPLE DOG is a dark sleepover. I play this gothic chick that is kind of out of the loop of the other girls. There's this big game that turns dark and evil and ends up bad.
JS: OBSESSED was a good variation on Adrian Lyne's FATAL ATTRACTION. You played Beyonce's babysitter.
STC: Yeah, that one I just worked on for about a week. I took that role because I wanted to work with Beyonce and Ali Larter.
JS: Henry Bromley Davenport directed you in SMILE PRETTY. He's best known for his XTRO films from the early 1980's and mid-1990's. I thought you gave a terrific performance in SMILE PRETTY and was wondering how you approached the subject matter of teen exploitation.
STC: Thank you. Well, Henry is really interesting. He has a lot of input to say about things, particularly about the characters and about how you do it. He had us continue the scenes until we got it just the way that he wanted it. But at the same time, he is very easy-going. I've never worked with a director like him before. He's very different from what I am used to, especially given the subject matter of this film.
JS: What were the challenges that you faced portraying that type of role?
STC: Well, it was the challenge of being fifteen and having to pose for all of these (sexually suggestive) pictures. I did have my mom in the room while we were shooting. It was something that my parents and I talked about and they were okay with it. I felt very strongly that it was a story that needed to be told. My parents understood that and I really begged them to allow me to do this role.
JS: I preferred the director's cut of HALLOWEEN II to the theatrical cut, the latter of which I found to be convoluted. In the theatrical version, I didn't get that Laurie Strode dies. I thought that the knife was passed to her and now she was the killer after Michael died.
STC: Well, of course, Michael Myers never dies no matter what happens. I think that Dimension cut a lot out of the theatrical cut. They tried to make it more violent with all of the killing.
JS: You had to sustain a high level of hysteria in this film, as your character tried telling people that she's the sister of Michael Myers. Did you find this to be physically grueling?
STC: Well, what was really difficult was that I didn't get the script until I was getting ready to go film. At the last moment, I found out that the movie was all about my character. It was a shocking surprise to me, but I was very grateful to Rob for the experience. It was very difficult because I was emotionally up and down all the time, so it was draining to my body and my emotions. I loved ending it, because it meant that I didn't have to cry anymore, but I didn't like having to say goodbye to everyone when the film wrapped. That part is always tough.
JS: I really loved the Blu Ray of HALLOWEEN because it includes a four-hour-plus documentary on the making of the film, and it's a terrific in-depth look at filmmaking in general, and you don't have to be a fan of HALLOWEEN to enjoy it and get an education on how a film is made.
STC: Yes, well, there was a photographer on set every day for the making of HALLOWEEN, so I would not be surprised to see yet another HALLOWEEN II release with a similar in-depth "making of" documentary.
JS: I've heard rumors of a third HALLOWEEN, this time in 3-D. Have you heard anything about this?
STC: Yes, I was actually offered HALLOWEEN 3-D, but they didn't have a script or a director yet. I passed on it, and then they decided to go back and take more time to develop it. So, I'm sure that there will be a third film.
JS: Now that Laurie has died (supposedly!), do you know what direction it might go in?
STC: Oh, wow. Who knows? Knowing Dimension, they'll pick it up somehow. They'll maybe make it a dream, or have some crazy twist.
JS: Tell me about your experiences playing Lita Ford in THE RUNAWAYS.
STC: Oh, it was incredible! Probably the most amazing feeling I've had making a film. Joan Jett and Cherie Curree were always on the set. Having band practice with all the girls and then doing the rehearsal through the film, and then breaking up at the end of shooting because the film was done. I can't even describe the emotions that I felt. There was a lot of excitement, but then at the end, once again, I was really sad because it ended. It was a great opportunity, and I have met so many incredible people, really iconic, Rock and Roll people, during my career which is so weird to me. (laughs) The fact that I have worked with Rob Zombie and Joan Jett, Lita Ford, Cherie Currie. It's just been great so far.
JS: How about your rapport with Dakota Fanning and Kristen Stewart?
STC: Dakota Fanning I've known for a long time, since she was little. Seeing her grow into this young woman is pretty incredible. She did an amazing job and actually surprised me a lot with how she portrayed Cherie. And Kristen Stewart was just great.
JS: Yes, I was impressed with her in PANIC ROOM and THE CAKE-EATERS.
STC: I know! She's such a dedicated actress and she has this great energy about her and she's very down-to-earth.
JS: What did you do in the way of preparation to play Lita Ford?
STC: Oh, God, I watched everything that I could get my hands on about Lita. I rented DVDs, I watched YouTube videos of The Runaways, though it's hard to see Lita in those videos, so I watched a lot of her older stuff from the Eighties. And of course, having Joan and Cherie on the set helped me out a great deal.
JS: What's next for you?
STC: I have a new movie coming out with Helen Mirren called LOVE SHACK, which was directed by Taylor Hackford, and I have a couple of other projects lined up, so I'm keeping busy!
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