» Acting 101

Shavar Ross, Dr. Gore’s Funhouse Interview: Friday the 13th 5

Shavar — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 02:37:44 +0000

Here is my interview I recently did for Dr. Gore’s Funhouse on my time making Friday the 13th 5.

Cool people.

Not quite confirmed but I think I will be at the Camp Blood: Friday the 30th Convention in August.

Will keep you Friday the 13th 5 horror fans posted!

Check out the interview here

Friday the 13th 5

Shavar — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 04:14:56 +0000

To all my loyal Friday the 13th 5 fans out there, this is a post to let you guys know that I have officially set up “ShavarRossShop” on Ebay. There are several reasons why I’ve set this up:

For one, there’s this guy on Ebay who has been selling my FORGED signature on Ebay for years but I never did anything about it until last night, lol. I finally got around to alerting Ebay. And fans, feel free to let Ebay know that this Ebay Seller is a fraud.
Two, I’ve signed many things over the years for fans (at no charge). For years, those who I thought were “true” fans would take my autograph a re-sell it on Ebay.
Three, I didn’t realize that I had a loyal fan base of thousands of Friday the 13th 5 fans and Friday the 13TH movie collectors out there who appreciate my work in “Part 5″ enough to go out their way to actually pay for an autograph. I want to say “Thank You” again to all my fans who support me. The love and kindness you showed me at MonsterMania last year was a blessing. You really made me feel special. A horror convention was the last place I expected to receive so much love and kindness! I’ll Be Bock!
People ask me for autographs all the time, Ebay is a great way for me to keep track of things and it’s one of the ways I make a living, to be quite frank and honest. I’m sure you guys understand.
Ever since Paramount recently repackaged “The Friday the 13TH Franchise,” I get a lot of people telling me they enjoyed my audio commentary on the new DVD. I also get asked if I’m gonna be at a particular horror convention. Well, I can’t make them all, lol, and you guys can’t make them all, lol, so my autographs are available through my new shop! If you’d like to book me at a convention, please contact ConventionAllStars.com
I have a few signed autographs for my “Diff’rent Strokes” fans and I’m working on getting some signed photos up for my “Family Matters/Weasel” peeps too. I’ll be adding more things whenever I can.
If you have a special autograph request, hit me up on Ebay.

Anyway, when you get a chance, please let the folks in all of the F13 sites and forums know about my new shop. I appreciate your support, God Bless, and I hope to meet you or see you again soon!

Here’s a couple of videos from my time at MonsterMania in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. (August 2009) I think I will be back there this year.

Friday the 13th 5 Fans: Check Out My Autograph Shop!

The Official ShavarRoss Shop on Ebay is Here

Shavar — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 14:32:14 +0000

To all my loyal fans out there, this is a post to let you guys know that I have officially set up “ShavarRossShop” on Ebay. There are several reasons why I’ve set this up:

For one, there’s this guy on Ebay who has been selling my FORGED signature on Ebay for years but I never did anything about it until last night, lol. I finally got around to alerting Ebay. And fans, feel free to let Ebay know that this Ebay Seller is a fraud.
Two, I’ve signed many things over the years for fans (at no charge). For years, those who I thought were “true” fans would take my autograph a re-sell it on Ebay.
Three, I didn’t realize that I had a loyal fan base of thousands of Friday the 13th Part 5 fans and Friday the 13TH movie collectors out there who appreciate my work in “Part 5″ enough to go out their way to actually pay for an autograph. I want to say “Thank You” again to all my fans who support me. The love and kindness you showed me at MonsterMania last year was a blessing. You really made me feel special. A horror convention was the last place I expected to receive so much love and kindness! I’ll Be Bock!
People ask me for autographs all the time, Ebay is a great way for me to keep track of things and it’s one of the ways I make a living, to be quite frank and honest. I’m sure you guys understand.
Ever since Paramount recently repackaged “The Friday the 13TH Franchise,” I get a lot of people telling me they enjoyed my audio commentary on the new DVD. I also get asked if I’m gonna be at a particular horror convention. Well, I can’t make them all, lol, and you guys can’t make them all, lol, so my autographs are available through my new shop! If you’d like to book me at a convention, please contact ConventionAllStars.com
I have a few signed autographs for my “Diff’rent Strokes” fans and I’m working on getting some signed photos up for my “Family Matters/Weasel” peeps too. I’ll be adding more things whenever I can.
If you have a special autograph request, hit me up on Ebay.

Anyway, when you get a chance, please let the folks in all of the F13 sites and forums know about my new shop. I appreciate your support, God Bless, and I hope to meet you or see you again soon!

Here’s a couple of videos from my time at MonsterMania in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. (August 2009) I think I will be back there this year.

Friday the 13th Part 5 Fans: Check Out My Autograph Shop!

Robin Williams, Pam Dawber, Shavar Ross (Mork & Mindy Cartoon)

Shavar — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 10:37:51 +0000

Someone recently uploaded a few really old school Hanna-Barbara cartoons on Youtube and I must say that I haven’t had the chance to see these Mork & Mindy cartoons since its original airing back in the early 1980s.

I’ve been waiting for someone to upload some of these cartoons on Youtube for a few years now.

I got to work with Robin Williams and Pam Dawber along with Jonathan Winters and a host of others on this Mork & Mindy cartoon series. I forgot how many episodes were recorded but this is a real treat for me. I was under contract with Hanna-Barbera at the time (I was just 11 or 12) and I also did The Little Rascals cartoon series (you guessed it, I was Buckwheat), The Challenge of the GoBots, Star Fairies, etc. I also did an episode or two of The Smurfs and some others.

Hopefully someone will upload The Little Rascals Series as well. There’s a fan site called ToonTracker that is dedicated to maintaining the legacy of many of these old cartoons. They have kept in touch with me for many years now.

The cast of the Mork and Mindy series lent their voices to this animated version of the show. The series chronicled alien Mork’s experiences as a student at Mt. Mount High, where he had enrolled under orders from Orson, his superior from the planet Ork. Orson wanted him to report back on the lifestyle of teen-aged Earthlings. Voices from the live-action series included Robin Williams (Mork), Pam Dawber (Mindy), Conrad Janis (Mindy’s father, Fred McConnell) and Ralph James (Orson). They were joined by Stanley Jones (Mr. Caruthers, the principal), Shavar Ross (Mork’s friend Eugene) and Mark Taylor (his friend Hamilton).

Trivia: My friend actor Jeffrey Jacquet was the actor who played “Eugene” in the original television series. Not sure why they didn’t use him for the cartoon.

Note: Not being vain placing my own name in the title of this post, lol! It’s sort of a tag, so that years after I’m gone and when Google takes over the world, a little part of me will be in the “search engine” of everyone’s mind and hearts, hehe.

Additional Website

Jet Magazine, September 17, 1984

Shavar — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:57:27 +0000

From Google Books. This one is REAL old school, lol. Don’t recall seeing this one before but a Google Alert led me to it. Love the Internet. Jet Magazine, September 17, 1984. You should scroll down and see what the top songs were back then, wow. And what a privilege to be in a blurb under Michael Jackson. Will add this to the Flickr archives. For the grandkids.

Just for dat, I’m gonna get my old butt out and find the latest issue of Jet Magazine. Been years. Thank you Jet!

Google Books: Jet Magazine-September 17, 1984 issue

Flash Alert: Arsenio Hall Spotting!

Shavar — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:29:03 +0000

Is it just me? Seems like we hardly ever see Arsenio Hall anymore, right? Well he finally got out the house, lol, and was spotted at the premiere of “Black Dynamite,” a film which stars actor Michael Jai White, Salli Richardson and many others. Arsenio has a role in it too. They call him “Tasty Freeze,” lol. I saw the trailer to this several months back and it looks really good. Funny, too! Arsenio’s ma dogg.

True Story: I remember when I was 18 and living on my own. I had to sell my BMW (it was fierce, tan and with a kit on it, lol) for cash and had to start taking the bus. Oh, the life of a struggling actor! Anyway, while getting on the bus I remember it being a long line behind me and I was asking the bus driver how to get somewhere. He was telling me about transfers and bus passes and all that, lol. People were gettin’ mad ’cause I was taking so long, lol. I didn’t even know how much bus rates were so I just put $5 dollars in there. Somebody was like, “Man, you ain’t gotta pay all dat!”

I can dedicate a whole category on this blog to my bus riding experiences in the late 1980′s, lol. Next time I will tell you about the time when Michael Bivens (New Edition) and MC Brains, recognized me, and saw me at the bus stop and gave me a ride somewhere! OMG how embarrassing! LOL.

It never had to be like that, I was just hard-headed.

The worst part was always being recognized on the bus but I have never been rude to my fans. In hindsight, it was all good for me ’cause I know what it’s like to experience what people go through everyday in the “real world.”

Anyway, I was riding on bus one time and I was like, “Lord I need a job AND some money, get me outta this!” And God as my witness, I got a call from my agent (while I was on the bus) telling me that they had fired someone and wanted me to audition for the show “Amen.” The title says it all doesn’t, it?

I jumped off that bus and jumped right on another one–headed for Paramount! Booked the job and was called to rehearsal immediately afterward. Mind you, all of this happened within 2 hours of my prayer so no one can tell me there isn’t a God. I have many experiences like this. The whole entertainment business is very supernatural.

Now this part is really amazing! Here I am, fresh off the bus, rehearsing on the show, and here comes Arsenio with the cameras!! The video says it all, lol. Arsenio was like, “Boy ya doin’ good.” But in my heart I was saying, “Thank you Lord, for this job, YOU are sooooo GOOD to me.”

And God IS good, AMEN somebody?

Late at night, and while on that lonnnng bus ride home, a family member from New York paged me and said they had spotted me on The Arsenio Hall Show.

Whatchu Talkin’ Bout? Gary Coleman.

Shavar — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 07:14:20 +0000

I recently came across some video footage from my time at Monstermania in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, August 22, 2009. This 48 second video gives my take on what it was like working with Gary Coleman on the television show “Diff’rent Strokes.” I was privileged to recur on the show from 1980 up until the very last episode in 1986.

I’m still one of Gary Coleman’s biggest fans, only he doesn’t know it.

Shavar Hits Monster Mania 2009-Friday the 13th 5

Shavar — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 21:50:44 +0000

I cannot express how much fun I had at this year’s Monster Mania Convention in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. If you don’t know, Monster Mania is one of the largest horror conventions in the nation. I went to reunite with my friend who starred with me in Friday the 13th Part 5: A New Beginning.

I had a great time, and signed autographs for the majority of the time I was there. I also got to meet director John Landis, Kelly LeBrock, Dee Wallace Stone, and Michael Biehn. I reunited with Erin Gray, and John and Makenzie Astin. And of course, hanging out with Miguel Nunez is always and exciting event.

Above is short video clip from the event. If you’d like to see some of the photos I took from the convention, click here.

Friday the 13th Part 5 Fans: Check Out My Autograph Shop!

Fake Tyler Perry Production on Craigslist

Shavar — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 12:21:13 +0000

Los Angeles, CA – Someone put an ad up on Craigslist saying that Tyler Perry’s production company was casting a movie in Los Angeles, California. However, The REAL Tyler Perry wants his Facebookers, Twitter friends and Tyler Perry board members all to know that it’s a LIE and not to FALL for it.

Good thing us industry folks already know that when someone tries to charge you a fee of $29.95 (such as what this fake Tyler Perry company is doing) just to be CONSIDERED for the role; it’s a scam.

Talent agents and managers get a commission. Period. No up front fees.

Unfortunately, there are many aspiring actors and actresses who do not know this. Shame that these scammers prey on ignorance and people’s desire to fulfill their dreams. Never pay a manager or talent agent any up front fees just so they can represent you. They’re ripping you off.

And finally, to any aspiring actors out there; learn as much as you can about the business. You’ll need that knowledge later on in order to sustain you.

Interview: Shavar Ross (Reggie, Friday the 13th 5: A New Beginning)

Shavar — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 00:36:34 +0000

Source: Fridaythe13thFilms.com

Steve De Roover of www.moviepulp.be / www.dvdinfo.be recently interviewed Shavar Ross who played Reggie the Reckless in 1985’s Friday the 13th 5: A New Beginning. Shavar discusses his expreriences in the film, what the film did for his career at an early age and what he currently is doing now.

How did you get involved in the movie/entertainment-business and especially in Friday the 13th Part V?

My father was the actor. My parents separated and my father took off to Hollywood to become an actor. He was a well known stage actor in New York and was signed with the prestigious William Morris Agency. He guest starred on television shows like Lou Grant, Police Story and MASH. I got discovered by an agent when I was seven while visiting my dad in California during my school’s Christmas vacation.

Next year Friday The 13th will celebrate its 30th anniversary. The Franchise is still going strong after all these years. What is the enduring appeal of this little horror film and the following franchise?

I have no idea (lol). The blood and the gore, I suppose. People are fascinated with death, blood and gore–and of course, the masked man called Jason, lol.

At the time of Part V there was a lot of controversy about the gore in the previous Friday the 13th films. Was there any kind of pressure on the set about this? And how did you experience are the bloodshed and scary Jason/Roy, because you were very young at the time of shooting?

I just remember seeing a dummy (mock up) for the torso and legs for Violet’s (Tiffany Helm) character. It was gross, man. I was like, “They’re gonna show that in the movie?” I remember people on the set being upset ’cause they couldn’t use it, lol.

Some fans and critics call Part V one of the worst in the entire franchise, due to the fact that Jason isn’t the killer. Other enjoys it for sleaze, the kills and the nude scenes. Do you understand the backlash and what is your personal point of view?

I can understand the backlash but I thought they were tryin’ to be different with this film. They already knew they would continue the series so this was the one film that would be different from all the rest. Gotta admit, it was different. We’re The Black Sheeps of the series, lol.

The movie is almost cut to shreds due to the courtesy of the MPAA. Everybody at Paramount claims the footage is lost, but aftert he release of the first box set there is again some new footage found for parts IV, VI, VII and VIII for the new DVD’s. Do you think it’s true that all the footage for Part V is gone or is it always a way to promote the new DVD’s? And how did Danny Steinmann and you/the cast react on the cuts imposed by the MPAA?

I’m not aware of any lost footage. If there is, I’d like to see a blooper reel. They should’ve had blooper reels from all the films in the series on the DVDs.

You were involved in the “Crystal Lake Memories” book, in Daniel Farrands documentary “His Name Was Jason” and in the new Deluxe Edition of Part V. It looks to me that you are a huge supporter for the franchise. Am I wrong about that?

Well, I’m a pretty down-to-earth guy. I’m very approachable and most people sense that from me. I’ve also matured to appreciate all my accomplishments in my career thus far.

You were a famous child-actor in the eighties thanks due your work in some successful sitcoms. How was that like?

It was fun and respectable times. People respected those shows back then. I don’t think they respect people like Gary Coleman nowadays. His attitude isn’t the best but fans don’t understand the psychological effects and trauma a child actor experiences after a show gets cancelled, after he/she is considered “washed-up.” Gary Coleman is still a genius to me, no matter what people say about him.

How did your own production company come about? Now you are CEO and you also produce, write, edit and direct. That is completely different than acting. Can you tell us more about that?

I just got tired of going on auditions. I don’t like to wait on people. So far, I’ve produced, wrote, directed and edited two short films and a feature film that is in stores on DVD. From now on I’m gonna start writing myself parts in my own films. I’m actually interested in making a horror film now so you horror film producers hit me up. I hope you guys support it if I produce one lol! You guys can even help me with the storyline, lol, just give me one of the lead roles. No red suit though!!

What will the future bring for you? Can you shed some light on some of your upcoming projects?

I would like to continue my directing career. It’s not easy making independent films but I think I will eventually become very successful at producing them. I’m just realizing that I can do much, much more than I’ve done in my past. Unlike other former child actors, I don’t sense that I’m through with my career.

Special thanks to Steve De Roover for bringing us this inteview.