11.17.2005

Interview with Abbey McBride

Here's our third interview, this time with Abbey McBride. She is also a Mechanical and one of the most professional karaoke hosts in the Southland. — Number_5

R-K.net: What role do you play in Southland Tales?

Abbey: Sheena Gee.  She is an x-porn star and one of the “Krista Now” girls.  

R-K.net: How did you get involved in the project?  Did you know Rich before being cast?  How did you meet Richard?

Abbey: Rich had come to see my sketch comedy group, The Mechanicals, perform for years.  We had always wanted to do a project together and so he cast all 8 of us in the film.

R-K.net: The Mechanicals, is that your full time job - making a fool out of yourself, or do you also run a Fortune 500 company?

Abbey: My full time job is making a fool of myself.  I am a voice on a cartoon for Comedy Central called “Drawn Together."  I am the voice of Ling ling, the Asian trading card battle monster.  Can we say “Type cast?!!!”

R-K.net: Yes we can. What went through your mind when you read the script for the first time? This is assuming you were still awake when you finished. Or sober.

Abbey: Well, funny you should ask that.  The very first time I read it I was a bit confused and honestly I felt like I was a big fat dummy.  But soon after reading it I realized we all felt like that.  And I still do.

R-K.net: Some people have called Southland Tales a musical.  Without giving too much away, it appears that you have a fantastic “musical” performance in one scene, although the instrument you play is somewhat unorthodox.  Did you feel a lot of pressure having to carry the weight of musician in this film?

Abbey: I have been playing my “instrument” for many years now.  Although people will disagree when calling it a talent.  I stand by my talented “unit” always.  Luckily, I felt no weight from this role.  It was pure fun.

R-K.net: People say that adult film actresses have trouble landing “mainstream roles.”  Since you are playing a porn star in a mainstream film, do you feel you are stealing opportunities from the thousands of starving adult actresses out there who might have wanted this role?  Do you like awake at night with guilt?

Abbey: I always feel guilty.  For just that as well as the time I farted in a room full of people and blamed it on my grandma.  Pooooor grandma.

R-K.net: Well, if she reads this site at least she'll know you owned up to it. Speaking of having trouble finding crossover work, do you think you are going to have trouble landing mainstream roles in adult movies after Southland Tales?  Do you think you won’t be accepted because of the stigma?

Abbey: Jesus, I hope not.  I mean I can do a mean “pizza delivery scene” and I think the casting people will agree.  If I don’t have my confidence, I don’t know what I got.

R-K.net: What would you say you have most in common with your character in Southland Tales?  Least in common?

Abbey: Most in Common would be the craziness of the character.  Sheena is nutty.  And I can be definitely be crazy myself.  Least in common would be the wardrobe.  Sheena dresses really slutty but Abbey Mcbride dresses really really slutty.  Ha!

R-K.net: What is the best thing about working with Richard?  How about the worst?

Abbey: The best thing was that he was such an easy audience.  We loved being able to make him laugh.  And it egged us on when he did.  The worst?  Are you kidding?  He was just great.

R-K.net: Talk about your background in comedy – where did you come from and how did you get here?

Abbey: Well I come from a family of funny people.  They all are hilarious.  Also, I grew up in a town with not a whole lot to do but sit around a make fun of it.  I have always loved comedy and did many comedy shows growing up.  Then when I made the move to LA, I started classes at the groundlings and met The Mechanicals and have been making stinky funnies ever since.

R-K.net: "Stinky funnies" - like farting around grandma. What would be your ideal next project?

Abbey: I want to create a television show with fellow mechanical, Jaret Gardiner.  We have been perfoming together for a while and just did our first two person show in the LA fest of sketch.  We have such a killer show idea that we shot and want to get it out there to people.

R-K.net: Were there ever fights between The Mechanicals on set over who got the best role?  Or over who got the last package of Twizzlers at the craft services table?

Abbey: No. Thank God.  We got nothing but love for each other.  Except for when Gianna screwed up her line and we all felt the need to scold her.  So we threw cold water on her and yelled thing like ” You’re making us look bad!”  to her face.  But for the most part, nothing but love.

R-K.net: Nothing says love like cold water. Except maybe hot water. What did you think of the Assistant Directors on Southland Tales?  How about Steven Poster’s work?

Abbey: The Marks (the ADs) rocked.  Too funny.  And Steve made you feel beautiful even though I looked like a trashy whore.

R-K.net: What did you think of Sarah Michelle Gellar and Jill Ritchie after teaming up with them?

Abbey: Sarah and Jill rocked.  We had sooo much fun together.  I hope to God I work with them both again.  I think that we spent the majority of the time laughing.

R-K.net: What was the best improv line you came up with, if it isn’t a spoiler?

Abbey: Gosh, I don’t even remember what we inproved.  However, I know someone mentioned to me that I improved a line about using  cum as a fuel alternative.

R-K.net: What was your favorite sketch with The Mechanicals?  Do you enjoy writing your own material?

Abbey: Although the writing process can be rough, I do enjoy it.  My favorite sketches would have to be……. Oh god, that is a rough question.  I would have to say it would be between The Weaver Twins, which is about conjoined twins that are attached at the genitals or Musical About an Online Orgy. 

R-K.net: Another musical... What will you wear to the premiere of Southland Tales?

Abbey: Hmmm……. Either a nice black Calvin Klein dress.  Or pasties and a tampon.  You pick.

R-K.net: It depends on what brand of tampon. What was your opinion of Donnie Darko when you first saw it?  If you could have played a part in Darko, what role would you have wanted?

Abbey: Donnie Darko rules.  So good.  It took a couple times to watch it before I really had my take on it.  I would’ve liked to have played the role of Donnie.  I mean, people mistake me for Jake all the time.

R-K.net: You both do dress pretty slutty. Anything else you’d like to add?

Abbey: Yes. I would like to say that I think this whole process has been so fun. Thank you all for being interested in actually reading this…..seriously….that is kinda cool.

R-K.net: No, thank YOU for taking the time to answer our silly questions. And not farting during the process. Good luck on the TV show, and we look forward to checking out your scenes in Southland Tales.