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Continuing our coverage of Angel’s Blade, we’ve got another interview with one of the film's stars. This time on the receiving end of our questions is Antonio Saillant, who plays Ed. For those of you who haven’t been following our Angel’s Blade coverage, check here to find out what I’m talking about.
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Jason: Hello Antonio, glad you could answer some of our questions. Would you please start things off by telling us a little bit about yourself and your acting career?
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Antonio: Sure, wow where do I start. Well, I was a skinny boy, constantly picked on and called names. My older brother, who I looked up to, let me borrow his weights, so I worked out and ended up on the track team, football team, baseball team, and even joined the drama class. Due to the ribbing I received from teammates and the practice schedules, I dropped drama. This is something that really upset me, but I dare not mention that to anyone.
About 11 years ago, my brother and I were in a terrible car accident and before I knew it, the one person who I looked up to, admired, and always got the best advice from was gone. My life has never been the same. I gave up everything, even a career of baseball when the Mets and Yankees scouts wanted to sign me. I think it was more of my father's dream anyway. He ended up not talking to me for years when I declined to sign.
I then became a top aerospace & electrical engineer in the contracting business in New Jersey, but one day I woke up and realized that acting is what made me feel happy in life, so I started on my quest to find happiness. Acting to me is not about making money for myself, it's about making a dream come true.
Frustrated with not pursuing my dream of acting, I became an engineering consultant, which enabled me to have a more flexible schedule. I entered the TVI Actors Studio in New York City for two years and then went to LA and joined the AIA Actors Studio in Burbank, CA, for another two years. Since leaving LA and returning to New York City, I have been studying with acting coach, Sandi Shurin.
I appeared on television as a casino owner on the HBO series, The Sopranos; football owner in the TNT film, Monday Night Mayhem and as a wedding guest in the film Jersey Girl; directed by Kevin Smith and starring Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez,. In addition, I played one of the Saudi Arabian delegates during the General Assembly of the United Nations in the film, The Interpreter, directed by Sydney Pollack and starring Nichole Kidman and Sean Penn. I also appeared many times in the daytime CBS soap opera, As The World Turns; and I have a recurring role on the ABC soap opera, All My Children. I recently completed filming a guest star role in the Urban Feature Film KILLA SEASON, playing the part of an Italian henchman. The director is the famous Harlem rapper Cam'ron, (DVD Release Date: April 25, 2006). My most recent masterpiece is my first horror film, which I just completed, Angel's Blade, directed by Robert Stock, where I played a supporting role as a police officer called Ed.
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Jason: In Angel’s Blade, you take the role of Ed. Can you tell us a little bit about this character? Was it an easy role to play, or a challenging one?
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Antonio: My character, Ed, is a supporting role. It’s one of the most unusual I've played in a long while, since I'm actually playing a cop that fights a demon called the reaper. My character takes a lot of abuse fighting a demon, so it was a challenging one. Preparing for this role required a lot of concentration because of all the crazy stunts and the long hours involved.
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Jason: You got some rough treatment during filming, including getting yanked on wires from a chest harness, being thrown through a window, and getting smashed against the ground repeatedly. What was that like for you? Have you faced similar "stunts" before? Do you agree with Joe Zaso that the blood tasted terrible?
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Antonio: It was rough, but the crew I was working with was very experienced and they kept me safe. I stayed in character the whole time as it helped me get through it all. I have done stunts in other films, but never to this extent. Working against a green screen and doing my own stunts helped me as an actor. I actually felt like an action star.
I can't lie … having the chest harness on wasn't so bad, but getting yanked on the wires into the air, then finally smashed against the ground repeatedly did hurt a bit. I used the pain and the feeling to develop the last moments of Ed’s life as he was trying to defeat this unholy demon, the Reaper. These complex stunts were my first ever and I am proud in how everyone on the crew kept me safe so I didn't have to worry about any danger, and I could concentrate on my character and what he was doing.
I must say I absolutely agree with fellow actor, Joe Zaso; the blood had the worst taste ever! It took me hours just to get that bitter, burning taste from my mouth.
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Jason: What about Angel’s Blade attracted you to it? Are you generally a horror fan? If so, what are some of your favorite horror films?
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Antonio: To be honest, the title. My brother's name was Angel, so I felt that it was my destiny to do this film.
I love horror films, but my all-time favorites are The Exorcist and The Omen.
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Jason: How would you describe your time working on Angel’s Blade? How did the filming compare to some of your other work?
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Antonio: My time was spent building my character and getting ready for my stunts. Like I said, I needed total concentration because of the danger involved.
All of the cast members bonded right away. They were a pleasure to work with and I must say are some of the most talented actors I’ve worked with so far. I also found the crew amazing to work with and I bonded with them as well. They are very talented in their field. The proof will be this movie.
I think I reached a new level of creativity working on Angel's Blade. Working with film talents such as Raine Brown and Joe Zaso, who are of indie horror fame, definitely helped me understand and build my character.
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Jason: How did Angel’s Blade impact you as an actor? Do you feel you learned anything from the experience?
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Antonio: This was my first horror film, the first time I worked against a green screen, and the first time I've done stunts of this magnitude. It impacted me in a way where I feel like I've graduated into a new level of creativity. I believe in myself a lot more after doing this role.
I learned a lot from this experience. I learned that you have to take chances and risks, but importantly know that whatever is put in front of you, you can do it. Believe you can do it. Feel you can do it, and most importantly have fun doing it. If you believe in yourself, the world is your oyster.
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Jason: Aside from the upcoming release of Angel’s Blade, what can we expect to see from you in the near future?
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Antonio: Next, I travel to Brooklyn, New York in May to shoot my latest movie by Miguel Aviles, called (44). I will be traveling there to star as the supporting character of a drug smuggler's right hand man. The story is about a son who takes over his father’s illegal drug business.
I will appear as famous rapper and now director Cam'ron's Italian henchman in his film, Killa Season, DVD Release Date: April 25, 2006. Cameron Giles (also known as Cam'ron) takes on the grim realities of street violence with this urban thriller. Inspired by gang and drug-related bloodshed in the director's hometown of Harlem, KILLA SEASON stars rap artist Juelz Santana alongside Cam'ron himself.
My talent doesn't stop there. I am also a writer, so I am developing an outline for a drama series, which will be presented to the networks for a future television pilot. I also completed two spec screenplays called "American Legion" and "IF...", recently submitted to major film companies.
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Jason: Do you have any closing statements you'd like to make to wrap things up?
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Antonio: People describe me as a man who is warm, talented, and lighthearted, but serious about the task at hand. This movie gave me the inner strength, personal confidence, and power to prevail against all odds. I was given a chance in this film and I know I can prove myself again to be able to succeed in this business.
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A special thanks goes out to Antonio for participating in this interview. Keep an eye out for Antonio when he appears in the upcoming film, Angel's Blade!
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