Gerald Webb, originally from New Jersey, a renowned DJ and acting career that began in Philly, an actor in numerous Asylum films and films directed by Fred Olen Ray ‘Super Shark’ & ‘Turbulent Skies’ Chris Olen Ray ‘2 Headed Shark Attack’, ‘Reptisaurus’ & ‘Shark Week’ and Jim Wynorski ‘Camel Spiders’. He also won the 2011 Golden Cob Award for Best Rising Actor.
In addition to film Gerald was named American DJ Association’s 2004-2005 Night Club DJ of the year, national spokesman and endorsee for Pioneer, American Audio and Technics (Panasonic), named “world’s first digital turntablist” for scratching CD’s like a record and there’s more DJ achievements that can be found on his websites.
You’ve worked with several great directors and producers as mentioned above. What did you get out of working with each one?
GERALD: Everyone is different. I learn from each of them in very different ways. There’s always an adjustment period when you start filming with new producers and directors. I just come in prepared and then I’m ready to make whatever adjustments are necessary to properly get the job done. As far as the directors you mentioned:
Fred Olen Ray is great because he’s so no nonsense. He points the camera and expects you to be prepared. If you are, then you and Fred will be cool and probably will work together again. I’ve worked with him several times and am working on a project with him as we speak.
Jim Wynorski is a B-movie legend but honestly he probably doesn’t know who I am. I only worked for him one day in a very small role and he had bigger concerns.
Chris Olen Ray and I worked together on his first feature and I don’t see us stopping anytime in the foreseeable future. Chris is great at rallying the troops. He probably learned that in the Navy. He’s a great guy and it makes people want to work with him and work very hard to deliver their best. This year we actually produced (Chris also directed) several episodes of the webseries Silicon Assassin, starring BattleStar Gallactica’s Richard Hatch. We’re also working on a horror film that will go into production in early 2013.
You’ve been the casting director for over a couple dozen films by The Asylum. Can you summarize your procedures once you have a list of characters, how does the budget affect your search process, and do you try to set a role on the side for yourself?
GERALD: I can’t talk budget but there’s the budget and then the cast budget that I get. That number definitely affects what talent we can target. I read the script, review the character list, make the adjustments to the characters I feel are necessary then start making list of ideas for each of the major characters. At The Asylum, I’m fortunate to have a lot of leeway on tweaking the characters ethnicities, genders, ages etc. and in creating our target lists. The partners really allow me to sculpt our casts in ways most casting executives are not. Once I have a list of casting ideas, I go and pitch names to the producers. They scale them down and sometimes add a few new ideas. Next I go through that revised list and see what personal relationships, agent relationships or angles I have to aid in locking down the targeted cast. Then I get on the phone.
The casts in Asylum movies are getting more diverse and better and better.
As far as me being our films, most times the director or one of our producers will mention a role they think I’d be good fit for. Occasionally we book a talent that I really want to work with on camera and I’ll put my name in the discussion.
Considering your exceptional DJ background I can’t see you giving that up. Do you get a chance to DJ these days at all?
GERALD: I spin occasionally and stay up on all the new DJ technology. It will always be one of my pursuits. There’s actually a new DJ controller from Pioneer and an update on the Traktor DJ software I’ve been wanting to check out. Finding time is the hard part.
Actor, casting director, line producer, voice overs, and several other jobs. Any chance we’ll see a film written and directed by you?
GERALD: I don’t know any other way then to keep pushing forward and learn as much as I can about every aspect of my craft. It’s funny you ask about directing, I have written some stuff, mostly comedy skits. We will be filming one later this year with me directing a celebrity friend of mine starring.
Anything in the works you’re acting in or casting you can tell us about?
GERALD: Besides hanging out with the #SnarkAlecs on twitter on most nights, I appear on an episode of It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia this season. (Season 8, episode: Maureen Ponderosa’s Wedding Day Massacre).
One more quick question because I have to know. How was touring with Sammy Hagar?
GERALD: My summer with Sammy and Michael Anthony from Van Halen was a lot of fun. Tour buses, great cities, great food, groupies, a few good friends and plenty of Cabo Wabo tequila. What’s not to love??!!!
Thanks for the time and talk. It was fun.
Thanks Gerald!!! For more information and to keep current with Gerald be sure to check out his sites below:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2230938/
https://twitter.com/GeraldWebb
http://www.facebook.com/#!/actorgeraldwebb
For additional DJ information:
http://www.digitalscratch.com/ds/djwww.html
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