A Jeffrey Combs Fan Page

The following is an interview with Jessica Dollarhide, who played the daughter of Jeffrey Combs'
character in the movie Castle Freak.

Q: What was it like to play a blind girl?

A: Actually really interesting. I went to the Braille Institute for about a week, complements of Full Moon Productions, to study what it is really like being blind. Really it is no different from "being" anything else. I suppose being Hellen Keller would be difficult, but being blind just makes you acutely aware of your surroundings. With the contacts that I wore daily I really could see, but I could not see well. So I really was sort of blind. I hope I pulled off being blind. Just whatever you, do don't run with foggy contacts on, in a foggy room, with lots of furniture, being pulled by someone, while being chased by the "freak"...you're bound to run into something.

Q: What was it like to work with Stuart Gordon?

A: What a great guy. He is like a teddy bear. So friendly and warm, yet very intense with what he does. He wants it to work right, and he'll get what he wants. A great quality in a director.

Q: How old were you when the film was made?

A: Turning 16.

Q: How was the car crash filmed?

A: Well, that is a story all in of itself. That weekend before we shot we went to night shooting, which means we slept during the day and worked at night. The stunt team worked before we got there on setting up the wreck. When we arrived, I saw them perform the wreck. Amazing what the stunt men and women do for their job. Earlier that morning, a really big thunderstorm was brewing. Since it was a rain scene we had imported rain, (overhead sprinklers or hose), but it was filmed outside, so to add insult to injury, it rained. That would have been ok, but you can't see real rain on film, so instead of just letting the rain get us wet, we got soaked in the thunderstorm with the imported rain. So I am lying on my back in a puddle, acting like I am convulsing, while my dad (Jeffrey) was running around the car, in a panic. It was actually quite fun! Poor Alex (JJ) was such a good sport. A lot better than the roof scenes...I actually had clothes on.

Q: Had you heard of Jeffrey Combs before you did the movie?

Jessica as the blind Rebecca Reilly

Jessica alongside Barbara Crampton & Jeffrey Combs

Jeff reaches out to place Jessica's hand on a rocking horse.

A: He is a wonderful actor, very professional, and focused. I can see why Stuart likes to use Jeffrey in his movies. He is very dedicated to his work. His family came a few weeks into the filming. His daughter's birthday is a day after mine, and Stuart's is a day before. Jeffrey really is a family man. Dedicated to them. We really didn't see much of him, because he was always off doing something with them.

A: Hmmmm... I auditioned. I really can't tell you what posessed Stuart to hire me. I heard him say once that I had a similarity to his oldest daughter. But, I do remember that on my first try... I think the scene was the one where the "freak" comes into my bedroom at night and I freak out, (no pun intended)...I royally screwed up, as in, I didn't REALLY scream, or freak out enough. And the second time (a real rarity in auditioning, usually it's one chance and "NEXT, please!!"), he(Stuart) gave me the direction to free myself and essentially to let go and scream like there was no tomorrow. Not his exact words. But that was the idea, and from that I got a call back to see producers. From what I remember it was between myself and another girl who was like me but blond. This was because Barbara Crampton, the actress who played my mother, was blond. And the rest is history.

A: Roughly six weeks, in the Castle which we filmed in. This was actually Richard Band's Castle in Italy. He is the Full Moon Production Producer. That was fun. The town of Giove ("Gio-vey") was such a neat town. But REALLY QUIET... there was one gilatti, (ice cream shop/bar/coffeehouse/county seat) in town. It is actually in the movie. The really scary part was that I left my poor mom in the castle alone when the whole crew went out to film the car scene. She wasn't feeling well, and she wanted to stay behind and rest. She got so scared when the storm I told you about hit and the lights went out in this really big, medieval castle, at night, in a thunder and lightning storm, all alone.

A: Hmmm... just being there. Being in Italy was wonderful, learning so much, seeing so much. It is really easy on a set to get bored. My mom brought a lot of homework from school, but that too gets boring, and exploring the castle becomes your pastime. There was this really cool ball room, and supposedly the castle has 365 window, one for everyday. When we went to night filming, Stuart, Jonathan and I all played pool. As they got more tired I kept winning. I think they let me, but that was fun.

A: Oh it was silly, the scars put near my eyes were a type of glue. To get it off they had to use a TYPE of acid wash, kind of like nail polish remover. It really didn't hurt per say, it just burned, or stung. After six weeks of that, I was done in.

Q: How did you feel when you found out about working so closely with the "freak"?

A: Oh, when I read the script I was just glad that I wasn't Sylvana. Jonathan was so wonderful, and we (my mom and I) met his wife and such. He was a lot of fun to work with. The fun part about knowing the actor behind the mask is that you have to convincingly portray to the camera that you have no idea who the monster is, and to top it off you have to make the camera think that it is a real life monster.

A: Well, a lot like the car scene, just with less clothes. We had to do a lot more takes, and we were of course on the roof of the castle with our fake rain, and the wind is not warm at night. So you kind of do the best you can, in the shortest amount of time you can, because that is all that you CAN do.

A: I did for a year or so, and went to a screening of Space Truckers, a film by Stuart. Really very good. But, because I didn't stay with acting, I really don't run into any of them. I think I stayed in contact with Stuart the most. I see him in the stores near Disney studios, where his office is, now and again.

A: I did some sitcoms, like "In living Color" and "Major Dad". And some TV Dramas like "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman" and such. But, I stopped in 1997 to pursue my education, and have been doing that ever since.