Acting and music usually go hand in hand for many creators. Sharing a love for both crafts, the Bostonian known as Slaine has built a career both as a Hip Hop MC and an actor in big-time Hollywood films such as The Town (2010) as well as Killing Me Softly (2012). Splitting time as a solo artist and a member of supergroup La Coka Nostra, Slaine makes time to expand his filmography, most recently taking the frightening role as Loverboy in 2015 Slasher Girl House. Recently we sat down with the diversely talented Slaine for a look at his acting career, getting into character for Girl House, music, and much more.
CrypticRock.com – You have been involved in entertainment for quite some time now. As well as your music career, you also are involved in acting. Was acting something you always had an interest in prior to music, or did the two concede with one another?
Slaine – Well, I always loved film. I actually went briefly to film school for about six months and got kicked out actually. I wanted to be a writer or director and it just did not work out. I love Hip Hop music and I loved movies ever since I was a kid. I used to cut school and go to the movie theater for the day. I did not know that I wanted to be an actor, and it was not until Ben Affleck discovered me through the newspaper; an article about my music. Then he called me in for an audition and that is when I started acting, or considered it.
CrypticRock.com – You mention Ben Affleck, you have been in such films as Gone Baby Gone (2007), The Town (2010), and Killing Them Softly (2012). Most recently you star as Loverboy in Girl House. How did this role come about for you?
Slaine –Well, these guys actually contacted me. It was somebody who worked at the casting agency in Boston that cast me in Gone Baby Gone and The Town who was friends with the writer of this movie. They reached out to me and asked me if I would be interested in playing this role. I read the script and it was something that was a lot different for me so I figured I would give it a shot.
CrypticRock.com – Upon first glance, viewers may have a misconception about this film as soft-core porn, but that is not the case at all. Do you like that the lead-in and trailer to the film sort of keeps the true essence of the film a mystery?
Slaine – Yes, it has that element to it, but I think you know that porn and these cam sites are so prevalent in society now. It is a part of the internet and the internet is a huge part of the world. I thought this was relevant to the way that society is now. You can parallel it to media and I am pretty sure that any attractive female has numerous weirdos or creepy kind of experiences with people stalking them. I think it hits home for a lot of people. I do not think it is too hardcore in that essence. I think it is a story that a lot of people can relate to.
CrypticRock.com – Absolutely, Girl House certainly takes an old school Slasher idea and brings it into the 21st century of the internet on a new level. What is truly frightening about this film is that it could certainly be reality.
Slaine – Yes, absolutely, that is what drew me to it. I thought the script was well done and the whole concept for it is just very current. I think we pulled it off pretty well.
CrypticRock.com – You certainly did. Seeing as your role as Loverboy is extremely intense and frightening, was it difficult for you to get into character?
Slaine – Yes, absolutely. It is different than a lot of these Slasher movies because you get introduced to the character first. You see what makes him lose his mind to really take it to the next level. I had to find something that I could relate to the character with because obviously I am not similar to this character in a lot of ways (Laughs). I felt like he was a heartbroken guy, he could have been ostracized till he just hit his breaking point. Obviously there is a lot of delusion in the character, but a lot of the stuff is just the mechanics of action, especially with the murder scenes. I think that the stuff that was really tough to get into was just those feelings of isolation, delusion, being heartbroken, and ostracized. That was the real meat of the role.
CrypticRock.com – Right, now, as an actor, is that something that you have to do? You just mentioned a little bit about the character Loverboy. Do you create a fictional back-story for this character as in where are they coming from and why are they like this? Is that something that you do as an actor to get into that role ?
Slaine – Yes, I think you do a little bit of that. Some of that was already provided for me too. Some of the stuff you just have to take from your real life that makes you feel a certain way and then internalize that where as the actual story is going to play itself out throughout the movie. Finding those feelings that are going to make you to be able to emote that from your own life is sometimes really helpful as well.
CrypticRock.com – That makes a lot of sense. Seeing that you are involved in music, as mentioned earlier, what is on the horizon for you with a new record and will there be something new from La Coka Nostra in the near future?
Slaine – Yes, we are about 70% done with the La Coka Nostra album. Madchild and I actually have a side project that we are doing called Supreme Villain. We did a song for the soundtrack of Girl House and we recently dropped the video for it. It is kind of the theme song for Loverboy’s character.
CrypticRock.com – That is great to hear as well as exciting news about La Coka Nostra. A lot of people are going to be excited about that. My last question for you is pertaining to movies. CrypticRock.com covers music and Horror films. If you are a fan of Horror films, what are some of your favorite Horror films?
Slaine – When I was a kid, the movie that really scared the shit out of me was A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984). I think I must have seen it when I was about 7 or 8 years old and I remember, for about a year after that, I was afraid to take a bath. I would pick up the phone and hold the phone away from my mouth because I was afraid that a tongue was going to come through it. I was afraid to go to sleep. It just hit me at the right age where there was no suspension of disbelief. I just thought it was real, and that movie just scared the death out of me. That would probably be my favorite one. I love Friday The 13th (1980). Now, I think the movies that would scare me the most, and probably the best Horror movie ever made, it is not a slasher film, but Rosemary’s Baby (1968). To me that is one that scares me because I believe that could be real.
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