Supernatural Russia’s Interview With Todd Stashwick

Our good friend Marta Kent at Supernatural Russia recently did an interview with Todd Stashwick, who played the Dracula shapeshifter in “Monster Movie.”  He’s also done some recent episodes on “Detroit 1-8-7″, ”Private Practice” and “Better With You.”  Todd has become somewhat popular with Supernatural fans, attending a Salute To Supernatural convention in NJ and also meeting with fans at Comic Con.  He’s also on Twitter, @ToddStashwick.

As with other interviews, Supernatural Russia has given us permission to repost the interview in English (they tend to publish our interviews in Russian on their site).  I’ve met Todd a couple of times before and each time he’s been a riot (He calls me the redhead from Cherry Hill since I got to talk to him at length at that con).  He truly does love meeting fans and having fun with them.     

The interview in Russian can be found a the link below.  Enjoy!

http://www.supernatural.ru/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=622

Could you tell us something about yourself so the Russian fans could get to know you better?

I’m a huge fan of Charlie Chaplin, actually Chaplin is my son’s middle name. I love Coney Island. I love horror and Science Fiction. Soul Coughing is one of my favorite bands.

How would you describe yourself?

I’m a family man that likes to act, tell stories, surf and play video games.

Why did you choose to be an actor?

At a very young age I enjoyed making people laugh. Acting was a way to make a living at something I already loved doing.

Are you from an acting family?

No.

How did you first hear about “Supernatural”? 

Saw a commercial for it on TV.

How did you end up auditioning for this show?

My manager called and asked if I could look and sound like Bela Lugosi. She said Supernatural is casting the role of Dracula. I said that sounds like fun.

You were simply fantastic in the “Monster Movie” episode of “Supernatural”. What was the worst complication during the filming of “Supernatural”?

My biggest worry was catching my cape on the wheels of the vespa and choking myself.

Most difficult scenes to shoot?

Fight scenes are always tricky. If you saw the bloopers from that episode you’ll notice Jensen and I had a mis-hap.

Your favorite moments in this episode?

I loved walking around the set also the scene where I’m going to electrocute Jensen was fun. The pizza scene was fun too.

Could you share with us any funny stories that happened with you on the set of Supernatural”, maybe funny bloopers?

Jensen and I laughed alot. We were both dressed ridiculously.  At one point we were doing a scene where I was about to bite his neck. I have these fangs and I look at him and said “We are both grown men.” He busted up.

Having worked for this show, you got to know main leads Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki. Please tell us your impressions about them. Jensen once said in an interview that he’s better in comedies. It seems Jared thinks otherwise about himself. If you had an opportunity to work in one project with Jared or Jensen, who do you prefer for a comedy? And for a drama?

They are both great, easy going guys. I loved working with them. I had done a pilot with Jared years ago. It was drama. He was a kid, like 17, he was great back then. I’d work with both of them again anytime in any capacity. They are both talented guys who can flow from comedy to drama with ease.

As we know you and Jensen Ackles worked together in “Dark Angel” season 2, episode “Boo”. Please tell us about that time. Your character Sally is pretty weird even for “Dark Angel” people. I’m sure there were a lot of funny moments on the set those days. Did you talk to Jensen about working on “Dark Angel” during “Supernatural” filming?

I don’t think we worked on the same episode of Dark Angel. In fact I didn’t even know he was on that show till after I did Supernatural. I worked mainly with Jessica Alba and Kevin Durrand.

From various interviews, we know that Jared and Jensen like to play pranks on set. Have you been one of their victims? If yes what about payback? Have you ever prank your colleagues on other sets?

They never pranked me. I’m sure it was out of fear of retribution. I’m kidding.

Do you prefer to play keeping strictly to the scenario or are you one of those actors who is always eager to contribute to the character image? We heard that Jensen Ackles, for example, contributes his own ideas to the script during the actual filming, and that these ideas often blend in successfully with the big picture. Has it ever happened with you in “Monster Movie”?

As far as Monster Movie goes they let me really do my own thing. the director, Bob Singer, really trusted me and gave me a whole lot of room to play. I never change the words. The scripts are always great. When I was on the Riches, I was a series regular and was in a very collaborative place with the writers.

Speaking of “Monster Movie”, are you fan of old fashion black and white horror movies?

I do enjoy the classics. They are more funny than scary but the cinematography is stunning and the acting is a trip!

You have played various characters. We wonder how you choose roles, what you are guided by. Which of your characters is the closest to you?

I like characters that are conflicted, not just one thing. I’ve played a lot of villains. I like it best when the humanity of the characters can show through, they aren’t just “bad”. Such was the case with The Riches as well as Supernatural. I alos like it when you can blend the comedy into the drama.

Which points of your career are the most significant to you as an actor?

The actor Walter Matthau said “all an actor needs is fifty big breaks.” It’s true. We have many minor victories along the way. My first big break was getting hired to the comedy group “The Second City in Chicago when I was twenty three. Then several widely seen commercials, then guest spots on TV. Then television pilots. Little victories along the way. It goes from there.

Which roles are the most special to you as a person? 

I’ve loved working on shows like Buffy and Angel. As well as Will and Grace and $#*! My Dad Says with William Shatner. Playing a Romulan on Star Trek was fun. I’ve really loved doing Heroes, Supernatural and The Riches.

Have the roles you played changed anything in you, your habits, character and your behavior?

I’m still me. It’s just acting.

What genre do you prefer – comedy, drama, thriller, horror, detective? 

As a fan I mainly watch Sci-Fi and Horror. As an actor I love doing it all.

In which of it do you see yourself most of all?

It’s funny, my career has been evenly divided between drama and comedy. Right now I really want to work on sci-fi and horror.

Please tell us about your future plans and projects. Any particular role that would you like to play?

I’ve been spending a lot of time working on my action horror comic Devil Inside. It’s a collaboration with DC/Marvel artist Dennis Calero. It’s a free comic that we put out on my website.I also co-wrote an action/scifi/comedy film that we are working on getting made. I was just in Florida working on a show called The Glades. I’m in some upcoming episodes of Men of a Certain Age. I did a film with Jason Biggs called Grassroots. I would like to play George Tilyou, the founder of Coney Island at the turn of the Century. I would also love to play the Devil. Hee Hee.

Have you any movie cult figures of your own?

Like I said I love Charlie Chaplin.

What directors, actors and actresses would you like to work with?

I would like to work with Paul Thomas Anderson, Wes Anderson, Baz Luhrmann. Daniel Day Lewis is a big hero of mine.

If you hadn’t got into acting, what would you do for a living?

Good question. I would probably have been a cartoonist.

What else do you like to do except acting?

Spend time with my family. I like to draw and write. Surf and play video games. I love to travel.

Any hobbies?

I dabble in playing the Ukulele. I also do improvised comedy on stage.

What is your life motto or may be your favorite quote or phrase?

“The essential thing in ‘heaven and earth’ is that there should be a long obedience in the same direction; there results, and has always resulted in the long run, something which has made life worth living.”

-Friedrich Nietzsche

What are your favorite books, movies, bands or musicians?

I love books by Chuck Palahniuck and Milan Kundera. I have many favorite films but a few are Star Wars (the very first one) There Will Be Blood, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Shaun of the Dead, Moulin Rouge, The Royal Tannenbaums. I’m a big Beatles Fan and also love Rufus Wainwright and Mike Doughty.

Is there a question that no one ever asks you but you would love to answer?

What other era would i love to live in: I would be very at home at the turn of the Century, perhaps New York or Paris around 1890. I think I may have been reincarnated from that time.

Do you like meeting with the fans?

Love it.

We know that sometimes you participate in fan conventions. Do you consider this work or a welcome break from it?

It’s always fun to travel and meet folks.

Have you already visited Russia before?

Nope. I would love to see Russia some day.

Are you familiar with the Russian cinema?

Some

Have you seen any Russian movies?

I love Day Watch and Night Watch

Do you like any Russian actors or directors?

Timur [Bekmambetov, director of Day Watch, Nigh Watch and Wanted ].

What would you like to tell the visitors of our website and other “Supernatural” fans in Russia?

Thanks for taking the time out to read this. It means a lot. It was a thrill for me to be a part of Supernatural. Also I would love it it they checked out my comic Devil Inside on my website. If they like Supernatural I think they might like Devil Inside. They can also follow me on Facebook and Twitter.

We greatly appreciate your work and we’d be happy to welcome you to Russia one day.

Thank you so much. I would be honored to come to Russia. Take care.