Carmine Capobianco: “Now I want to do a (‘Psychos in Love’) sequel!”

Carmine Capobianco is the star and co-writer of the immortal cult-classic “Psychos in Love”. You may have also seen him as Eoj in “Galactic Gigolo”, in which he plays an alien vegetable that Earth women find irresistible. Carmine took a moment to chat with us about his film career as well his political aspirations.

How did your relationship with director Gorman Bechard come to be?

Gorman and I met in 1981 when he called me at my photo studio/modeling agency in search of a model for a music video he was making. After talking in my office for a few minutes, we realized that we shared the same passion for movies – I for horror and classics and Gorman for Bergman and midget porn. We both loved Woody Allen and the Marx Bros. He invited me to be in a short he was starting and we soon began work on our first feature, “Disconnected”.

I was to work behind the camera and Gorman allowed most of the crew to do some onscreen work. I was cast as Detective Joe Tremaglio (a name we used over and over again and then backwards in Galactic Gigolo as Eoj Oilgamert) and my first role went down in cinematic history as a genius performance. Unfortunately, few saw this film, preferring, as Gorman did, to rewatch “Bridget The Midget: Love on a Stepladder”.

What was the inspiration behind “Psychos in Love”?

After “Disconnected”, we cowrote and taped a video feature that was so terrible I can’t even think about it without taking Dramamine. For some strange reason, I won a “Best Supporting Actor” award from a local cable access station. Gorman took this as a sign from Saint Celluloid of Mesapotamia that he needed to star me in a motion picture that would make me a star and possibly get me chicks. Where the actual inspiration came from, I don’t know. But I do know this. Gorman turned out a rough draft in about a week and gave it to me. I rewrote it and made it funny and gave it back to him. He re-rewrote it and took out some of the funny stuff and I put it back in and added even more. We went back and forth several times until we had a finished script that was very funny. It really didn’t matter much since I cannot remember lines. So I ad-libbed from the script “The Virgin Spring” and “Psychos In Love” was born.

How difficult was it to find people to act in the film? And where did you find them?

It was easy to get actors back then. I truly loved them all. They were all a lot of fun. It was amazing how easy it was to convince an actress back then to take her clothes off and cover herself in red corn syrup. Sometimes it was even easier when there was a camera around.

Today some people revere this movie as a microbudget masterpiece while others write it off as cheap shock tactics. What was the general response to the film when it was originally released and how did the film affect your life?

We had so much fun making this movie. We thought, at first, that this was our ticket to Hollywood. (It wasn’t til years later that we found out that you can get them at any airline.)

It was released with a little fanfare and then disappeared quickly as we were in the midst of shooting “Galactic Gigolo” – a second attempt at making my star immortal. “GG” was the first of 2 features of our 4 picture deal with Full Moon. We never were able to finish our contract but “GG” played theatres nationwide.

In the 90′s, as eBay was emerging as a major player, a VHS copy of “PIL” would turn up for sale for as much as $100. Fans starting hunting me down for autographs and I would get fanmail over the internet. Yes – and the inevitable grape jokes.

When MySpace became popular, the fanbase got bigger and FaceBook proved that “PIL” had become a classic!

My daughters have seen it recently and 2 out of 3 loved it. Having my 17 year old call me a genius and hearing her praise the film – well – what more could a Dad ask for? My 18 month old son won’t see this film for another 3 years.

“Psychos in Love” took a while to get a proper DVD release. In fact, it only became available through Media Blasters this year. Why did it take so long for a film with such a cult following to be re-released to the general public?

We didn’t own the rights to the movie. The German people (of Germany – in case there’s any confusion) began a letter-writing campaign to a DVD distributor to plead for a release of “PIL”. They contacted Gorman and, since the rights had reverted back to him, he agreed. Gorman called me (we had had very little contact over the past 20 years) and asked if I would be willing to record an audio commentary. Naturally, I agreed and we talked over the movie as if we never missed a day apart.

The response to that was incredible and Gorman struck a deal with Media-Blasters/Shriek Show and, to everyone’s joy, it was finally remastered and released in the states. Two weeks ago, a fan got it released in Denmark, Belgium, the Faroe Islands, etc. Now I want to do a sequel!

Is it difficult to do normal things like go to the grocery store when you know there is a risk of being ravaged by nubile female fans at every turn?

It’s difficult to do normal things anyway. I’m always willing to please fans but not all are nubile. Some are oldbile. But everyday I am so flattered that people love the movie and even call me a comedic genius. Kinda makes me wonder why I don’t get very much work and live in a mansion. I even still wear underwear and have yet to serve any jail time.

“Galactic Gigolo” seemed more… “polished” than “Psychos”. How was the experience of making “Galactic Gigolo” different from your original effort?

We made “GG” for someone else who would do the music and edit it. We tried to make it look like a “cartoon” by using bright colors and brightly-colored lighting. Unfortunately, the powers that be toned it down and did a crappy job of editing it.

It wasn’t as much fun. There were a lot of problems on the set with some of the personalities but we managed to get through it and still have a good time. People’s biggest complaints were all those mentioned above and the fact that Eoj never boned Hildy.

The next film you did with Gorman Bechard was “Cemetery High”. Generally, the film wasn’t well received. How did you personally feel about it?

We had filmed a funny dark comedy that the Hollywood bosses claimed wasn’t what they expected. (Duh – we sent you the script.) So our crew refilmed it (my character appeared for about 2 seconds at the end for no reason). I have never seen the movie. What I have seen – it’s crap. Needed more Carmine. Heehee!

After “Cemetery High”, you disappeared from the film industry for a little over a decade. What were you doing during that time?

I was running a chain of video stores and making babies. I did do a few things here and there but it was all in pretty mundane or only barely amusing stuff.

Regardless, the world of film is better off with you in it. Is there any recent work you are particularly proud of?

Thank you. No. Nothing recent. I did get a few good reviews in “Land of College Prophets”.

Although, one of my daughters will be directing a play I wrote. That, alone, is a double dose of awesomeness!

Do you have any aspirations to write or co-write another film? To direct???

I have had a few ideas. One is a sequel to PIL. That would be an easy sell. Another is a mockumentary that crosses “Paranormal Activity” with “Best in Show”. I just need a bit of prodding.

According to your Facebook account, you may be running for political office. Could you explain what lead you to this point and if your platform has anything to do with grapes?

I’m not a political guy really but it’s another “save the world” phase I’m going through. I believe in helping people not the parties. I’m a little tired of all this tax money disappearing and kids’ education getting shafted. I’m tired of all these little bouts of corruption and mayors going to jail. People are spending too much time in office and getting too comfortable. Out with the old and in with the new. Let’s shake things up and return the government to the people. Let me vote what’s good for you rather than what will make me, as a politician, shine.

And if a grape will get me a vote – hey – I’ve dealt with fruits before.

After your amazing work on the “Psychos in Love” soundtrack, have you considered picking up the casio keyboard once again to record a solo album entitled “A Capobianco Christmas” to capitalize on the impulsive buying nature of Americans during the holidays?

Ha! There is an instrumental CD out there called “Christmas With Carmine”. I will be posting a track or two on my webpage as soon as I can locate my copy.

Carmine, thank you for cutting the couch with us. It has been a pleasure. If there are any projects or websites you would like to shamelessly plug, now would be the time.

Well, if anyone is a fan, friend me on Facebook. If you want to hear the love theme from “PIL” go to www.psychosinlove.com. In a few weeks you may be able to hear a track from the old Christmas album, read a few stories and an article from a magazine or two at www.carminecapobianco.com.