Interview with William Clifton by Tim Shrum for Next Tuesday Magazine:

When did you start acting and how did you meet Eric Stanze?

I began acting during my sophomore year of high school, in the fall of 1989. I was in a play, The Odd Couple by Neil Simon. I played Vinnie, one of the card players.

I met Eric through a mutual friend, Lisa Morrison. At the time, Lisa and I worked together at Six Flags in Saint Louis. She told me about being in Eric's movie, THE FINE ART. I was interested in doing film work, and asked her to let me know when they have auditions again. The next year, she told me about auditions for SAVAGE HARVEST. I auditioned, and was selected for the part of Mark. I met Eric at those auditions.

What is it like to work with Eric Stanze and the rest of the Wicked Pixel crew?
It is a fun atmosphere. We are all very serious about the films we make, but we like it to be fun at the same time. If it weren't, we'd all look for something else to do with our spare time. We joke around on set, but it doesn't go to extremes. We are there to get a job done also. Eric is an easygoing kind of director, who is open to suggestions. He is very mature when it comes to scenes involving nudity or disturbing subject matter, as in the movie SCRAPBOOK. Actors never feel uncomfortable around Eric. They trust him and his vision, knowing the end product will be something they will be proud of.

You starred in SAVAGE HARVEST. What was your most memorable experience from being in the film, and your worst?

Most memorable would be doing the special effects shoots at Tony Bridges's house. Blowing up heads, watching Tommy Biondo eat real animal guts, and melting the demon, Retlawkoob. Also, after an effects shoot, mopping up gallons of "blood." What a sloppy mess!

My worst memory was shooting the scene where I die. I get "shoveled" in the heart by Lisa Morrison. It was a summer scene, but we were shooting effects unit in late October or November, so it was very cold. Me, in a T-shirt and shorts, laying on the frozen ground with an fx assistant pouring fake blood from a milk jug into my mouth, nose, eyes, and ears.

What new projects or acting assignments do you have in the works?

I’m in the play, Inherit The Wind, at the Saint Louis Repertory Theatre right now. I have also been picked up by a local talent agency here in Saint Louis, so hopefully that will bring more possibilities. I definitely will be involved in future Wicked Pixel productions. I also like to produce and direct short films. I am currently developing an animated short film. The last short I made, SATAN EATS LUNCH, may be a part of the next compilation video WPC releases.

To all aspiring actors out there, what is the best advice you can give them?

Burt Lancaster was asked once, how do you become an actor? His answer was simple: just act. Act in anything. High school, college, community theatre, student films, drama and speech competitions, even act for family or friends. Any experience you can get is just that: experience. That is also how you build a name for yourself. Find people who are interested in the same thing. Networking with people involved with this business is key. Many of the auditions I go on are for projects friends have told me about. Take acting classes. You never can learn enough. Even Robin Williams still takes acting classes. Be professional, and always have a photo and resume handy for each audition. Speak clearly. Always remember this: the casting people want you to succeed, not fail. They want to see you at your best. So think about that when you do your monologues in front of them.

If you are in it for the money, do yourself a favor and try something else. There is no money in this in the beginning, and sometimes during. For more information, visit the Screen Actors Guild website at www.SAG.com. A great book on the subject is Promoting Your Acting Career, by Glenn Alterman.

Lastly, sometimes the greatest obstacles in our way are the ones we put there ourselves. Things like self-doubt and low self-esteem. If you ignore those things and go for what you want, you will be surprised at what happens. I hope this helps any aspiring actors out there. And who knows, maybe we'll work together one day. Wouldn't that be cool!