Behind the Mask: Star Angela Goethals
By: Elaine Lamkin

Going up against such big guns as Scott Wilson, Robert Englund and Nathan Baesel in “Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon” had to be a formidable task for Angela Goethals, especially given that this was her first horror film. As Taylor Gentry, the ambitious journalism major hoping to get the scoop of the century by interviewing serial-killer-in-the-making Leslie Vernon, Taylor and her motley film crew soon find out they have gotten themselves into something they never expected. Bloody-Disgusting recently spoke with Goethals about the fun she had making “BTM” and how “Doug” and “Todd” made her performance just a bit tougher than she expected.

BD: How did you get involved with “Behind the Mask” and what did you think when you first read the script?

AG: I actually auditioned. It was my first film in a while and my first horror film ever. I auditioned in front of Scotty (Glosserman – the director) doing Taylor’s introductory speech. I thought the script was much smarter than I had expected. It isn’t a dig at horror at all. It’s all about how it looks at the genre and then turns it on its head.

BD: What was it like working with Nathan Baesel?

AG: The Baez!! He is incredible! So smart, an amazing sense of humor, self-deprecating and a total goofball. I got to audition with him on a callback and I was awestruck. And that continued throughout the entire shoot.

BD: It had to be something to work with Robert Englund and Scott Wilson. How was that experience?

AG: Robert was actually only there a few days but the first time we all met, we had dinner and Robert picked up the tab. He talked for hours and just had everyone mesmerized. Scott was dreamy. He came to the project with so many ideas for Eugene. I was really pretty shy around Scott, just like Taylor is around Eugene.

BD: Nathan told me that there must have been something in the water in Portland because the shoot was just so magical, so special. Did you feel the same way?

AG: I totally did. It started with Scotty’s exuberance about the horror genre, then how quickly everyone bonded when we were all together in Portland.

BD: Taylor is rather the straightman to not only Leslie but her own crew, Todd and Doug. How did you deal with all of those lunatics?

AG: Ben (Pace) and Britain (Spellings) drove together from LA to Portland and apparently had quite a few adventures on the way. Nathan said that’s where a lot of their banter came from. Both of them are improv comic geniuses so when they would go off, I would have to both react appropriately to what ever they were saying as well as stay in character. It wasn’t always easy!

BD: What has been the reaction to the film’s reception so far?

AG: “Behind the Mask” premiered at SXSW but I couldn’t be there. I did hear about the incredibly positive response it received. I saw it in New York and it was great to see people’s involvement and organic responses to the film.

When we all saw it at Screamfest LA last October, it was so much fun! It was exciting to share the film with people we knew as well as ones we didn’t. We had a party afterwards and it was like a reunion of camp friends.

When the movie opens March 16th, I’m planning on seeing it with The Baez, Britain, Ben and maybe Robert. Then we’re going to throw our own little party.

BD: I have to ask you about the orchard scene. You had to be freezing, just wearing that camisole!

AG: When I was cold, I would just look at Nathan’s bare feet and toughen up. Molly, the costumer, would always apologize when she had to take our warm coats off of us before another scene.

BD: I asked Scott Glosserman and Nathan this question so I’m interested in your response. If you had to sum up “Behind the Mask” in one word, what would that word be?

AG: Wow…let me think. The first word that popped into my head was “survivor”. Hmm…I think I prefer “reel/real”. I like the double entendre.

BD: What are some of your favorite horror movies?

AG: I am a total wuss when it comes to horror but Scotty really educated me about the genre. I would definitely do another horror movie. “The Shining”…I remember seeing that and it scared the piss out of me. Oh, and Nathan is a wuss about them, too. I remember his mom gave him a shirt that said “Cereal Killer” while we were shooting “Behind the Mask”. How perfect is that?

BD: What is one thing no one knows about Angela Goethals that you think they should?

AG: Hmm…well, my great-great-grandfather was the head engineer on the Panama Canal. He went on to become the head of Port Authority in NYC and there’s a bridge named after him, Goethals Bridge, that runs from Staten Island to New Jersey.