Some unsuspecting elementary school students in L.A. area might have a professional zombie in their classroom.
Actor Jed Rowen specializes in low-low budget horror films, but he supplements his income, in part, by working as a substitute teacher.
“As expensive as L.A. is I have to do other things,” Rowen explains.
The actor, best known for horror titles like “Orgy of Blood” and “Zombie Farm,” understands how hard the film industry can be.
He’s been through a half dozen agents over the past five years, but he’s also racked up an impressive number of screen credits over that time – 21 over the past three years according to imdb.com.
Starring in mostly horror films means getting to know some truly gifted craftsmen, he says. The “gore people,” as Rowen calls them, simply don’t get the credit they deserve.
“They’re artisans,” he says. “They spend a lot of time in this craft. The stuff they come up with very few people can do.”
That doesn’t mean Rowen’s film shoots all go according to plan.
He recalls shooting a sequence in which an elaborate pipe accessory was inserted up his shirt to spill faux blood on cue.
“Then, the producer and director got into a shouting match with each other and left the set. They left me with the entire apparatus sitting there,” he says.
Another time the crew forgot to bring paper towels to the set, all the while Rowen stood in character, red-colored corn syrup dripping all over – and hardening – like he was a “big M&M,” he says.
Rowen loves the horror genre, but he hopes to spread out to other types of films in the future. He’s already shot some experimental shorts and has two 35mm films slated for this summer which will expand his repertoire.
“It seems like that big wave is over for horror,” he adds. “I feel I’m at a transition point. Now that I‘ve established myself solidly in the genre I‘m picking and choosing more.”
Rowen thinks he’s a good choice to play the heavy on a popular cop show, and he doesn’t fear being cast based on his hulking appearance.
“Typecast means you’re working a lot. Very few actors have that luxury,” he says.
(Photo: Actor Jed Rowen has forged a successful career in the independent horror genre, but he wouldn’t mind branching out into other projects.)
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