The Reggie Bannister Interview
He is best known for his role in the Phantasm series, but Reggie Bannister is so much more then just a bad ass alien ass kicker. Reggie has worked in the business for well over 40 years but not only does he act, he also jams out on his guitar. So what did he have to say when I interviewed him? Well read below to find out!
Marcus:: So Reggie, when you aren't
fighting the Tallman, running a retirement home under attack by a 3000 year old
soul sucking mummy, or jamming on your guitar, what do you like to do? What is
the real Reggie Bannister like?
Reggie:: You know... I really dig everything you mentioned in your question.
Those 
things are really
a large part of my life and being totally involved in the creative process,
whether it's film or music, pumps me up with life. I love the idea that
something I'm a part of might actually mean somethigng to somebody, you know...
turn 'em on to something they hadn't previously realized. That's what I'm really
about, turning people on. The 60's and 70'S had a great influence on me. I
learned life lessons in those years and still hold those truths close. It's
kinda' difficult for me to seperate work form my social life because to me for
example, conversation should be creative like jamming music. So, I'm always
trying to take the vibe a step higher. I can't stand worthless conversation.
It's like playing music with somebody who only knows three chords in one key.
Marcus:: What has your experience been like acting in the Phantasm films? Out of
all of them, which are your favorites and why?
Reggie:: Phantasm was the third picture Don made and the third one I was
involved in so, it was a lot 
like
getting together with your best friends and going "Hey you guys, lets make
a really scary fuckin' movie!" So we did that. It's always been great to
work with Don it's always a team effort. Everyone
has their position on the team, Don coaches and we perform our jobs. He trusts
you to do your job. He's interested in your extrapolation on the concept of a
scene or the interpretation(s) of a line. Working on a Phantasm film, or any Don
Coscarelli picture, for me, has always been a
great and memorable experience.
It's hard for me to pick one movie as a favorite but when pressed I'd have to
say "Lord Of The Dead," since I worked nearly every day on that
picture... Did I mention I like to work?
Marcus:: You have been acting for well over 40 years now, when did you first
want
to be an actor? What or who was your biggest inspiration?
Reggie:: If you had asked me when I was just old enough
to talk, "Whadda'
ya' wanna be when you grow up kid?"... I would have said, "I wanna' be a singer,
an actor and a politician!"...in that order.
I pretty much loved all the actors from the 30's through the 50's. Paul Muni,
James Cagney, Kevin Mc Carthy, Hepburn and Tracey, Laurence Olivier they were
all great then and now. But when actors began to bring a greater sense of
reality to their performances, really 'wear' the character like Marlon Brando and James Dean it really turned me on. It's hard to give you a
single biggest inspiration but two guys whose peromances I have always admired
and studied very closely would be Clint Eastwood and Al Pacino.
Marcus:: The Phantasm movies are known for being weird and scary horror films so
what weird things have occured on the set of all 4 films? What are the weirdest
fan reactions you have gotten.
Reggie:: Well, there was the night when we were shooting in a mausoleum in
Compton California. It was a scene in Phantasm III when I had to reach up to a
crypt where I had just seen Michael entombed by you know who, when at the exact
moment I touched the marble, all hell broke lose 
outside.
a summer thunderstorm had unexpectedly struck with an unbelievable fearceness.
Lighting and thunder shook the building while hale poured down at an incredible
rate. It was pretty stunning 'cause it just all happened at once. as for me, I
had to just get through the scene. We were shooting MOS (without sound) at the
time so I just acted like nothing was happening but trust me, my heart was in my
throat. There were a few weird things that happened in III. One hot afternoon we
had to get though shooting in a mausoleum building where they had obviouly
entombed some bodies without benefit of embalming... yeah... the stench was
really bad. Nobody wanted to work in that wing and as I recall, the production
manager had to really do some talking to keep the crew working in there. Then,
same movie, there was the night when we were filming my goodbye to Rocky before
she takes off in the hearse. All of a sudden gunfire erupts just oustside the
cemetery gates about twenty yards away. Assholes and elbows diving behind the
hearse. We never found out who was shooting or what they were shooting at...
probably just a few of the local lads sowing some oats... sure scared hell outa'
us though.
Fan
reactions are generally cool regarding these pictures. They love to relive their
first Phantasm experience and get a kick out of trying to figure things out with
me. Some of them bring me little handmade gifts Like a sphere, or model of an
ice cream truck. They have tats of me, Michael, the Tall man or dwarves. I signed a guys arm one time and the next time I was in
town he proudly showed me my signature perfectly tattooed right where I wrote
it... cool.
Marcus::
Ok, I know you have been asked millions of times...so here is a million and one
:-P Will Phantasms End be made and if not, what was it going to be about?
Reggie:: I don't know what the next Phantasm will be titled but, if you're
talking about the Roger Avary script, Don's no longer interested in shooting
that one. It would have taken us to a truly apocalyptic world where the Tall
Man, now in high gear, had all but industrialized his mission in a juggernaught
to his successful conclusion of this panet. He has taken over the entire North
West of the country which is now called 'The plague zone'... which one may enter
but, can never come back out. Naturaly Reggie goes in. After that, it's Reg and
a group of military commandos doin' their damndest to take out the Tall Man for
good. Pretty exciting plot but for some reason it just didn't draw the kind of
interest you need to get these babies shot.
Marcus:: You have been working with Don Coscarelli for years, what is he
like working with and how was it teaming up with him again for Bubba Ho-Tep?
Reggie:: 'Bubba' was
great! Don, as usual, created a universe where free flowing expression was
paramount. Once again it was like family getting together to create something
special even important... never a throw away moment on a Coscarelli movie set.
Marcus:: Bubba Ho-Tep has been loved by critcs (myself included) and is making
some nice scratch at the video store. What was it like being in it? Also what
was it like working Bruce Campbell and Ossie Davis?
Reggie:: The Joe Lansdale story was so cool and when I saw Don's script I just
knew we were gonna' be rollin' in some really good shit! The ensemble cast was
great and very easy to be around and work with. Bruce was very open and made our
work together a pleasure. Just being in the same picture with Ossie Davis
represents a milestone to me. He's a very gracious and generous actor and
gentleman. Ella Joyce and Heidi Marnhout rounded out a very satisfying project
for me.
Marcus:: You run PM Inc (Production Magic Inc)with your wife, Gigi Fast Elk
Bannister, What can you tell me about PM Inc and what it does.
Reggie:: PMI is something Gigi and I
started back in the mid 90's. It was really her baby and her concept. The Idea 
was to produce TV, film and live events. Over the past ten years or so we've
produced some music videos, PSA (public service announcments) and industrial
videos. We've helped out on both Phantasm Oblivion and 'Bubba.' We've produced
concerts, pow wows and even the Native American section of Bill Shatner's wild west show and rodeo to
benefit his horse program called "Futures for Children." We've
produce haunted attractions, we have a music publishing company... well you get
the picture. If anyone would like to know more about PMI go to "http://www.productionmagicinc.com."
Marcus:: You have released 5 albums so
far, what can you tell me about your music, your musical inspirations and
what kind of music you like?
Reggie:: Music became incredibly rewarding for me when I got my first guitar at
age 15. I had always sung but that guitar opened up songwriting and performance
to me. I've 
had a wide range of musical influences as I performed in choirs and
sang everything from Bach cantattas to barbershop. My mom was from Texas so
there was always a pretty good dose of cowboy and country to waller in. Folk
music was the greatest single influence in my songwriting career. People like
Bob Dylan, the Kingston Trio and the Lime Lighters being some of my favorites.
When folk got into rock with the Byrds I was totally stoked... then I heard Jimi
Hendrix and he just floored me! How did he sing and play like that all at the
same time!? Like the master he was, he forced me to REALLY learn how to play...
how to make the melodies I was writing really soar with the best guitar
accompaniment I could come up with. Yeah Hendrix is the man!
Marcus::
What do we have to look forward to coming from you? Whats next on your plate?
Reggie:: I'm in a movie called "Cemetery Gates" that will
be out in
October. It's a movie about a seven foot tazmanian devil that just eats it's way
through the picture... sweet!
I'm working on one now called "The Ghastly Love Of Johnny X," a Paul Bunnel film starring Will Kennan and me with a nice appearance from Kevin McCarthy.
Of course there's always the possibilty
that Phantasm V could get a nod since the remake thing is going crazy in
Hollywood. It would be cool if that were to happen this year. There's a project
over at Lions Gate that's going to shoot very soon and there's a script I
want to direct within the next year so, we're pitching that now.
There are a couple indie (direct to video) pieces that will be out this
year. One is called "Absence Of Light," a very creatively put
together piece with cameos up the wazoo. Me, Tom Savini, David Hess,
Michael Berryman, Tom Sullivan, Tony Todd and Caroline Munroe. Wacky!
Well there you have it folks! You heard it right from the legendary Reggie Bannister, he's got a lot on his plate so we all have a lot to look forward to in the coming year. I want to thank Reggie for doing the interview with me and everyone should go and check out his awesome website at "http://www.reggiebannister.com" Check it out!