Debbie Kopacz
| Debbie's fans can drop her a line at dkopacz@http://www.facebook.com/l/;si.rr.com |
| Debbie in "Grave Danger" |
| Debbie in "Witchmaster General" |
1. Jim always refers to you as one of his 'amazing
discoveries' as you hadn't acted before. How did you
come to be one of the big names at Yellow Ape?
Well, Jim gave me a call after seeing my profile on a
modeling website. I'd never acted before beyond
plays in grade school and was surprised to get his call
for the audition. He said he was making a film and that
he thought I had the right look for a part he was trying
to cast. He asked me to audition for the part of Carol,
the long suffering housewife in the 2nd short story in
the film. I auditioned for the role and didn't get it, but
Jim said he had another part he thought I'd be good
for. That part was Becky. I was surprised and excited
to get the role and had alot of fun doing it. I guess I
did a good enough job that Jim wanted to work with
me again and I really enjoyed working with Jim and
Susan.
2. How long have you been interested in acting?
Well, I never really had a serious interest in pursuing acting because of my fear of public speaking,
but I have always been interested in it as something I thought would be fun and exciting to do if
that wasn't a factor. With films it is less of an issue than with something like a play which is done in
front of a live audience, so that wasn't really an issue. Plus, the excitement at actually getting an
opportunity to be in a film was definitely enough to make me overcome any nervousness and push
myself to do it. I also really hadn't allow myself to think it was something that I would ever have an
opportunity to do because there is so much competition out there and who needs the rejection? I
am so grateful to Jim for allowing me to have the amazing opportunity to live out one of my dreams.
3. Were you always a big fan of horror movies?
I wouldn't call myself a big fan of horror, but I was exposed to a number of them as a kid because a
friend of mine loved them. He would rent them all the time and invite me over. I definitely like the
ones with some humor or a story that is sort of like a mystery or there is a supernatural element to
it and you have to figure out why the killer is doing what he's doing. So I liked the first Halloween
and Nightmare on Elm Street, but I find the sequels less interesting. I also like some of the Stephen
King type stuff like the Shining. I need to watch the movies on the small screen though because
they scare me too much at the theater.
4. You've done a lot of nudity in Jim's films (Jim has said you have the 'best ass of any actress he's
ever worked with') - do you ever get uncomfortable doing the
nude scenes?
Yeah, there is a certain degree of discomfort involved, especially
if you're the only one without clothes on in the scene or as the
number of people on the set gets larger. There's always a bit of
self-consciousness involved, but I usually try to tell myself that
if I didn't look that good nude, Jim would cut that part out or
change the scene or use a body double or something, lol. I'm
really flattered by his compliment. I'm sure that's the only reason
I'm in his movies, lol. "Well, she can't act for shit, but she's got a
great ass!" haha. So maybe that's why I'm always naked in his
movies? Maybe someday I'll get to be in a movie that my family
can actually see, lol.
5. You have a fairly prominent role in "Grave Danger." How did
you prepare for such a large role with so much dialouge?
It was tough. I used to have a really good memory. I could
memorize so much and did really well in school, but as I get older
it's gotten harder. I just worked really hard to memorize the lines
and was rehearsing them on the long drive over to Jim's place.
It probably would have been good if I had actually run them with another person to so I could get
some feedback on my acting, but I didn't really have anyone to do that with. I didn't really realize
how hard it would be to remember the lines on set sometimes. I would just get nervous and go
blank at times and skip lines or repeat ones from earlier. That was so frustrating after working so
hard to memorize them.
6. What's the vibe on set usually?
It's usually kind of casual and laid back. Jim shoots fairly quickly and he's usually got a good
amount of patience. At times he can get a little flustered, but he's always been great to me.
7. Jim has said you're very cool and laid back and always a pleasure to work with - what's the secret
to staying calm, especially when you're doing something nerve-wracking like acting in a film?
Well, I'm the kind of person who always appears to be calm on the surface I think. I just try to relax
myself and take deep breaths and think like calming thoughts, although at times when I'm forgetting
my lines it takes a bit of time to do that and when I finally can shake off the first nerves, I can
remember them alot better. I think alot of it is appearances and that I have a calm looking outside
more than anything.
8. What's your role in the upcoming "Witchmaster
General"?
I play a woman named Colli who is fed up with her
boyfriend's scheming, and she becomes possessed
by the forces of evil. She becomes under the control
of the Witchmaster General and his minions. It's not a
very large role, but I have some good scenes.
9. How much fun was it finally seeing yourself on the
big screen at the "Grave Danger" premiere?
It was amazing. The movie was very entertaining and the best part for me were the parts when I
wasn't on screen because it's so weird to watch yourself on screen. I'm so critical of myself and I'm
probably harder on myself than anyone else would be. I thought my acting could have been a bit
better, but it wasn't bad for someone with no experience. Maybe people get used to seeing
themselves on screen. But it was still something really exciting and something I'm very proud of. I
was looking forward to it for a very long time and it was great to finally see it and to have the film
come out so well.
10. Any funny stories from the set?
It was so long ago, it's hard to remember, but I can remember a couple of things that were funny.
One was when I had to scream at the end. I never practiced the scream because it didn't occur to
me that I would need to and I also didn't want to scare the neighbors! Well, when it came time to
scream on cue it was so hard to do. Some of my attempts came out so funny. The other was when
Jonathan came up behind me and put his hand on my shoulder and I spin around and am shocked
by him. I'm supposed to let out a little scream or something like that, and one time when we were
filming I turned around and forgot to scream and then I remembered, so there was a 2 second delay
or something and it was just so funny, a delayed reaction, like I had to think about it or something.
discoveries' as you hadn't acted before. How did you
come to be one of the big names at Yellow Ape?
Well, Jim gave me a call after seeing my profile on a
modeling website. I'd never acted before beyond
plays in grade school and was surprised to get his call
for the audition. He said he was making a film and that
he thought I had the right look for a part he was trying
to cast. He asked me to audition for the part of Carol,
the long suffering housewife in the 2nd short story in
the film. I auditioned for the role and didn't get it, but
Jim said he had another part he thought I'd be good
for. That part was Becky. I was surprised and excited
to get the role and had alot of fun doing it. I guess I
did a good enough job that Jim wanted to work with
me again and I really enjoyed working with Jim and
Susan.
2. How long have you been interested in acting?
Well, I never really had a serious interest in pursuing acting because of my fear of public speaking,
but I have always been interested in it as something I thought would be fun and exciting to do if
that wasn't a factor. With films it is less of an issue than with something like a play which is done in
front of a live audience, so that wasn't really an issue. Plus, the excitement at actually getting an
opportunity to be in a film was definitely enough to make me overcome any nervousness and push
myself to do it. I also really hadn't allow myself to think it was something that I would ever have an
opportunity to do because there is so much competition out there and who needs the rejection? I
am so grateful to Jim for allowing me to have the amazing opportunity to live out one of my dreams.
3. Were you always a big fan of horror movies?
I wouldn't call myself a big fan of horror, but I was exposed to a number of them as a kid because a
friend of mine loved them. He would rent them all the time and invite me over. I definitely like the
ones with some humor or a story that is sort of like a mystery or there is a supernatural element to
it and you have to figure out why the killer is doing what he's doing. So I liked the first Halloween
and Nightmare on Elm Street, but I find the sequels less interesting. I also like some of the Stephen
King type stuff like the Shining. I need to watch the movies on the small screen though because
they scare me too much at the theater.
4. You've done a lot of nudity in Jim's films (Jim has said you have the 'best ass of any actress he's
ever worked with') - do you ever get uncomfortable doing the
nude scenes?
Yeah, there is a certain degree of discomfort involved, especially
if you're the only one without clothes on in the scene or as the
number of people on the set gets larger. There's always a bit of
self-consciousness involved, but I usually try to tell myself that
if I didn't look that good nude, Jim would cut that part out or
change the scene or use a body double or something, lol. I'm
really flattered by his compliment. I'm sure that's the only reason
I'm in his movies, lol. "Well, she can't act for shit, but she's got a
great ass!" haha. So maybe that's why I'm always naked in his
movies? Maybe someday I'll get to be in a movie that my family
can actually see, lol.
5. You have a fairly prominent role in "Grave Danger." How did
you prepare for such a large role with so much dialouge?
It was tough. I used to have a really good memory. I could
memorize so much and did really well in school, but as I get older
it's gotten harder. I just worked really hard to memorize the lines
and was rehearsing them on the long drive over to Jim's place.
It probably would have been good if I had actually run them with another person to so I could get
some feedback on my acting, but I didn't really have anyone to do that with. I didn't really realize
how hard it would be to remember the lines on set sometimes. I would just get nervous and go
blank at times and skip lines or repeat ones from earlier. That was so frustrating after working so
hard to memorize them.
6. What's the vibe on set usually?
It's usually kind of casual and laid back. Jim shoots fairly quickly and he's usually got a good
amount of patience. At times he can get a little flustered, but he's always been great to me.
7. Jim has said you're very cool and laid back and always a pleasure to work with - what's the secret
to staying calm, especially when you're doing something nerve-wracking like acting in a film?
Well, I'm the kind of person who always appears to be calm on the surface I think. I just try to relax
myself and take deep breaths and think like calming thoughts, although at times when I'm forgetting
my lines it takes a bit of time to do that and when I finally can shake off the first nerves, I can
remember them alot better. I think alot of it is appearances and that I have a calm looking outside
more than anything.
8. What's your role in the upcoming "Witchmaster
General"?
I play a woman named Colli who is fed up with her
boyfriend's scheming, and she becomes possessed
by the forces of evil. She becomes under the control
of the Witchmaster General and his minions. It's not a
very large role, but I have some good scenes.
9. How much fun was it finally seeing yourself on the
big screen at the "Grave Danger" premiere?
It was amazing. The movie was very entertaining and the best part for me were the parts when I
wasn't on screen because it's so weird to watch yourself on screen. I'm so critical of myself and I'm
probably harder on myself than anyone else would be. I thought my acting could have been a bit
better, but it wasn't bad for someone with no experience. Maybe people get used to seeing
themselves on screen. But it was still something really exciting and something I'm very proud of. I
was looking forward to it for a very long time and it was great to finally see it and to have the film
come out so well.
10. Any funny stories from the set?
It was so long ago, it's hard to remember, but I can remember a couple of things that were funny.
One was when I had to scream at the end. I never practiced the scream because it didn't occur to
me that I would need to and I also didn't want to scare the neighbors! Well, when it came time to
scream on cue it was so hard to do. Some of my attempts came out so funny. The other was when
Jonathan came up behind me and put his hand on my shoulder and I spin around and am shocked
by him. I'm supposed to let out a little scream or something like that, and one time when we were
filming I turned around and forgot to scream and then I remembered, so there was a 2 second delay
or something and it was just so funny, a delayed reaction, like I had to think about it or something.