Terry Jernigan
as
"Doc"
Trisha: That's really a good question because initially when Pepper asked me to come
here it was more for DJ... you know, that was what we were talking about. I don't
know if you know the history between me and Pepper but I was the one that was
supposed to go with her to Michigan for "AN ORDINARY KILLER".
Terry: Oh, okay! (to Eva) "AN ORDINARY KILLER" was a feature that DJ and I did
up in Michigan a few years ago.
Trisha: I understand it is a very good film but I haven't seen it yet.
Terry: Well, I'd say...'shame on you' but it's not out at Blockbuster yet.
Trisha: Yeah, well, when it gets there, don't you worry! I do have "WICKED
SPRING" so... you ARE sitting in my living room whether you know it or not.
Terry: Oh Lord!
Trisha: To start this off, give me some background history between you and DJ, how
you met, friendships, what...
Terry: DJ and I met a few years ago on the set of "The NEST", Kevin Hershberger's
first film short, and DJ and Kevin built a relationship and they've worked with
Lionheart and done some things. And that's where he and I started becoming friends.
(talk about Lionheart) The last I talked with him, he was working on a project, "The
Monacacy" - Kevin Hershberger was working with Historical Entertainment on "No
Retreat From Destiny: The Battle that Rescued Washington". And that is at
www.monocacymovie.com . That was the last that I spoke with him. That was back in
September so I really don't know what Kevin's doing. But DJ and Kevin started
working together and then, of course, I was working with Kevin on a couple of things
and then I've worked with him on "WICKED SPRING", and DJ came down and
needed a place to stay - he was doing some research - he stayed with me and,
unfortunately on that research jaunt, I just got there too late - miscommunications,
arrival time - they went on their little adventure. I'm sure he's mentioned on his site
several times about his excursions. If not, ask him about that because his excursions on
that weekend in that historical reenactment are certainly fodder for a great story. Me?
I was late. I was coming down with a cold, and so it was just the best thing for
everybody anyway. But he and his partner Kurt Hall stayed for about a week with me.
And, you know, that just started a friendship that's lasted to this time.
Trisha: So that was the seed that since has taken over and grown into this. You've
done several things with DJ and also with Terry Knox. I'm a big Terry Knox fan.
That's how Pepper and I originally hooked up.
Terry: That's the connection with you and Pepper, okay.
Trisha: Well, initially. But since then it's kinda grown and taken on a life of it's own
with DJ and you and several others but, tell me something about Terry Knox. I'm one
step away!
Terry: Well, he gave me one of the best compliments I've ever seen. He came on set,
you know, he's a great guy. It was just one time during a read-through and he said,
'Come on in here and read!' And I said, 'I'll be there in a minute there lamb chop. I
see where I'm at in the script. I'm getting myself some coffee. I'll get you a cup. I'll
be back so don't you worry about me. I'm coming.' You know, they're going through
the dialogue. I don't need to be sitting there while they're going through the dialogue.
I'm sitting there in the scene, I'm coming back, I'm listening to them. I don't have
anything to say. All we're doing is passing lines back and forth. It's not like we're
rehearsing the scene, we're just doing lines. Anyway, just fun stuff like that. And he
told me later, you know, he's a boxer. I don't remember how many...
Trisha: He only lost one.
Terry: Exactly. So, I mean, he's a champion. So... and he likes that sparing. He likes
to push people's buttons, he likes to see how far he can go, and he's very much like that
on the set. He's very much a practical joker. We got along great with that. And he just
told me, he said, 'You don't back down.' 'You hit the wall and you get back up and you
fall down and you keep going. You give 150 percent.' He said, 'I like that about you.'
And coming from him with his background and his track record, that was just like the
best compliment that you could get. So, that was the best thing that anybody could have
said to me.
Trisha: I can imagine.
Terry: I mean, to me that's what the work is all about. And watching him work, and
then you watch the final product, it's just amazing.
Trisha: I know I read something I think Pepper did with you in an interview and I
think there was something about the cashews...
Terry: Oh Lord! I think that's Pepper's favorite story. We were sitting there. It was
freezing cold. It was up in Michigan. March in Michigan, it was cold. Terry had just
come in from LA, he's freezing. Dan Haggerty - Grizzly Adams - he's freezing, he's
from LA. And, you know, I'm a Virginia boy, you know, I'm cold. So we're sitting
over there and we're all huddled up. We're quadrant off. The four of us are standing
there tlaking and they're setting up a light or something. And we're looking at the fact
that maybe it's gonna take about ten or fifteen minutes before they're ready. I mean,
that's generally how it goes. So, I pull out a bag of cashews, a bag of organic cashews
and I'm passing them around. And we're all eating them. Dan's got a mouthful, DJ's
got a mouthful, I've got a mouthful, and Terry pops a handful in his mouth. We're all
chewing cashews and then they yell, 'Alright everybody, back to one. We're ready...
GO!' And so, you know, we're just standing there and a minute ago we're chitchatting,
and the next thing you know, Terry just launches off into his dialogue spitting cashews
all over the place. I'm looking at Dan to my right, he's getting pelted. I look at DJ.
DJ's like getting sprayed. I'm getting ricocheted all over the place. I turn, and if you
look very, VERY closely, you can see me begin to smile and look away from camera,
and you can see DJ kinda smile and turn and walk away. I mean, he just... and if you
look very, very closely, you can see cashews coming out of his mouth. It didn't phase
him a bit that he had a mouth full of food. He just launched into dialogue and that was
it.
here it was more for DJ... you know, that was what we were talking about. I don't
know if you know the history between me and Pepper but I was the one that was
supposed to go with her to Michigan for "AN ORDINARY KILLER".
Terry: Oh, okay! (to Eva) "AN ORDINARY KILLER" was a feature that DJ and I did
up in Michigan a few years ago.
Trisha: I understand it is a very good film but I haven't seen it yet.
Terry: Well, I'd say...'shame on you' but it's not out at Blockbuster yet.
Trisha: Yeah, well, when it gets there, don't you worry! I do have "WICKED
SPRING" so... you ARE sitting in my living room whether you know it or not.
Terry: Oh Lord!
Trisha: To start this off, give me some background history between you and DJ, how
you met, friendships, what...
Terry: DJ and I met a few years ago on the set of "The NEST", Kevin Hershberger's
first film short, and DJ and Kevin built a relationship and they've worked with
Lionheart and done some things. And that's where he and I started becoming friends.
(talk about Lionheart) The last I talked with him, he was working on a project, "The
Monacacy" - Kevin Hershberger was working with Historical Entertainment on "No
Retreat From Destiny: The Battle that Rescued Washington". And that is at
www.monocacymovie.com . That was the last that I spoke with him. That was back in
September so I really don't know what Kevin's doing. But DJ and Kevin started
working together and then, of course, I was working with Kevin on a couple of things
and then I've worked with him on "WICKED SPRING", and DJ came down and
needed a place to stay - he was doing some research - he stayed with me and,
unfortunately on that research jaunt, I just got there too late - miscommunications,
arrival time - they went on their little adventure. I'm sure he's mentioned on his site
several times about his excursions. If not, ask him about that because his excursions on
that weekend in that historical reenactment are certainly fodder for a great story. Me?
I was late. I was coming down with a cold, and so it was just the best thing for
everybody anyway. But he and his partner Kurt Hall stayed for about a week with me.
And, you know, that just started a friendship that's lasted to this time.
Trisha: So that was the seed that since has taken over and grown into this. You've
done several things with DJ and also with Terry Knox. I'm a big Terry Knox fan.
That's how Pepper and I originally hooked up.
Terry: That's the connection with you and Pepper, okay.
Trisha: Well, initially. But since then it's kinda grown and taken on a life of it's own
with DJ and you and several others but, tell me something about Terry Knox. I'm one
step away!
Terry: Well, he gave me one of the best compliments I've ever seen. He came on set,
you know, he's a great guy. It was just one time during a read-through and he said,
'Come on in here and read!' And I said, 'I'll be there in a minute there lamb chop. I
see where I'm at in the script. I'm getting myself some coffee. I'll get you a cup. I'll
be back so don't you worry about me. I'm coming.' You know, they're going through
the dialogue. I don't need to be sitting there while they're going through the dialogue.
I'm sitting there in the scene, I'm coming back, I'm listening to them. I don't have
anything to say. All we're doing is passing lines back and forth. It's not like we're
rehearsing the scene, we're just doing lines. Anyway, just fun stuff like that. And he
told me later, you know, he's a boxer. I don't remember how many...
Trisha: He only lost one.
Terry: Exactly. So, I mean, he's a champion. So... and he likes that sparing. He likes
to push people's buttons, he likes to see how far he can go, and he's very much like that
on the set. He's very much a practical joker. We got along great with that. And he just
told me, he said, 'You don't back down.' 'You hit the wall and you get back up and you
fall down and you keep going. You give 150 percent.' He said, 'I like that about you.'
And coming from him with his background and his track record, that was just like the
best compliment that you could get. So, that was the best thing that anybody could have
said to me.
Trisha: I can imagine.
Terry: I mean, to me that's what the work is all about. And watching him work, and
then you watch the final product, it's just amazing.
Trisha: I know I read something I think Pepper did with you in an interview and I
think there was something about the cashews...
Terry: Oh Lord! I think that's Pepper's favorite story. We were sitting there. It was
freezing cold. It was up in Michigan. March in Michigan, it was cold. Terry had just
come in from LA, he's freezing. Dan Haggerty - Grizzly Adams - he's freezing, he's
from LA. And, you know, I'm a Virginia boy, you know, I'm cold. So we're sitting
over there and we're all huddled up. We're quadrant off. The four of us are standing
there tlaking and they're setting up a light or something. And we're looking at the fact
that maybe it's gonna take about ten or fifteen minutes before they're ready. I mean,
that's generally how it goes. So, I pull out a bag of cashews, a bag of organic cashews
and I'm passing them around. And we're all eating them. Dan's got a mouthful, DJ's
got a mouthful, I've got a mouthful, and Terry pops a handful in his mouth. We're all
chewing cashews and then they yell, 'Alright everybody, back to one. We're ready...
GO!' And so, you know, we're just standing there and a minute ago we're chitchatting,
and the next thing you know, Terry just launches off into his dialogue spitting cashews
all over the place. I'm looking at Dan to my right, he's getting pelted. I look at DJ.
DJ's like getting sprayed. I'm getting ricocheted all over the place. I turn, and if you
look very, VERY closely, you can see me begin to smile and look away from camera,
and you can see DJ kinda smile and turn and walk away. I mean, he just... and if you
look very, very closely, you can see cashews coming out of his mouth. It didn't phase
him a bit that he had a mouth full of food. He just launched into dialogue and that was
it.
Trisha: Well, that's professional!
Terry: Yeah. Well, we weren't supposed to have cashews.
Trisha: Now, I understand that you are going to be... you and DJ have something
coming up...
Terry: Pepe and Rowling...
Trisha: "Wild Michigan".
Terry: Oh, "Wild Michigan"! I don't know if we're supposed to talk about Pepe and
Rowling so we won't talk about that.
Trisha: Oh, okay. Well, no! Go back and stay on that. Go back to that first and then
we'll go to "Wild Michigan".
Terry: Well, that's just a little project that DJ and I are working on that we're shooting
for hopefully October. Something to be produced here in Virginia.
Trisha: Locally, here?
Terry: Throughtout the state, wherever we find the locations. It all depends on... DJ's
writing it now and we're talking about it with another fellow by the name of Keith
Gregory.
Trisha: History...?
Terry: It's a story of two sidekicks who, basically, they're the sidekicks. They don't
know... they know how to load the gun, they know how to clean the gun... but they
don't know how to shoot the gun. They know how to oil the whip, but they don't know
how to crack the whip. And it's up to them to fulfill the mission. Two hapless guys that
are always there to support someone else are now thrust into the sea of adventure to
fulfill their destiny. But "Wild Michigan", he's looking for funding on that, and we're
doing that... when that's coming through.
Trisha: Is that set to start in spring or is he still working on trying to set everything for
that?
Terry: He's still looking to get everything set for that because, as far as I know... you
know as much about that as I do.
Trisha: You were really good in this. You were really good in "WICKED SPRING" in
the part that I saw. That's him!
Terry: (laughing) Who's that surly guy?
Trisha: But the one thing about you that I notice more than anybody else lately that I'm
paying attention to, is the makeup and the change in you. I mean, from your picture to
what makeup and costume ends up doing to you, you look totally like someone else. I
mean, really, I had to stop and say, 'well no, that's not him.' And then go back and
watch it again and, 'well yeah, that is him.' I mean, you just, you change so much with
just this makeup and costume. Do you have any kind of underhand trick behind this?
Terry: Well, I've been blessed mainly playing antagonists. I guess that's a blessing. I
mean, you get good screen time and the characters, the antagonists, are always a lot of
fun to portray. But Kevin wanted a big beard. He wanted what's called a wagonwheel
which is a large, large beard. And my beard got the full length of four inches long,
without a mustache, it's called a wagonwheel. And that was the look that he was going
for specifically for the character of "Hogg" in "WICKED SPRING". That just pretty
much set a tone, the fact that "Hogg's" personality, his reluctance to share any
information or anything with people, his surliness, his arrogance, as well as his
determination to do what he felt was right, coupled with the beard just really set the
template for the character. Any sort of back history that I developed for the character
just gave more meat to it. As far as the "Doc", you know, I mean, a lot of things just
happened. They had a certain set of wardrobe and Tim Smith said, 'Well, hey, I have
this tophat, I have this frockcoat.' So, let me see if I can get this, and they liked it. And
I thought of the idea of putting a scar on there and, you know, he didn't say much. So,
why didn't he say much? You know, so certain things will come in to add on to
embellish the character. I mean, if they give you a totally different set of shoes than
what you're thinking, you know, that's gonna change the way you walk. I buy shoes
and whether I buy them because they're on sale or whether I buy them for a certain
fashion, there's a specific reason why that shoe was chosen. And of course, that says a
lot about a person. If you take that into a character, that says a lot about that person.
You know, you really never know a person until you've walked a mile in their shoes.
And the important thing about that is, you know, you'll be a mile away from them and
then you'll have their shoes.
Terry: Yeah. Well, we weren't supposed to have cashews.
Trisha: Now, I understand that you are going to be... you and DJ have something
coming up...
Terry: Pepe and Rowling...
Trisha: "Wild Michigan".
Terry: Oh, "Wild Michigan"! I don't know if we're supposed to talk about Pepe and
Rowling so we won't talk about that.
Trisha: Oh, okay. Well, no! Go back and stay on that. Go back to that first and then
we'll go to "Wild Michigan".
Terry: Well, that's just a little project that DJ and I are working on that we're shooting
for hopefully October. Something to be produced here in Virginia.
Trisha: Locally, here?
Terry: Throughtout the state, wherever we find the locations. It all depends on... DJ's
writing it now and we're talking about it with another fellow by the name of Keith
Gregory.
Trisha: History...?
Terry: It's a story of two sidekicks who, basically, they're the sidekicks. They don't
know... they know how to load the gun, they know how to clean the gun... but they
don't know how to shoot the gun. They know how to oil the whip, but they don't know
how to crack the whip. And it's up to them to fulfill the mission. Two hapless guys that
are always there to support someone else are now thrust into the sea of adventure to
fulfill their destiny. But "Wild Michigan", he's looking for funding on that, and we're
doing that... when that's coming through.
Trisha: Is that set to start in spring or is he still working on trying to set everything for
that?
Terry: He's still looking to get everything set for that because, as far as I know... you
know as much about that as I do.
Trisha: You were really good in this. You were really good in "WICKED SPRING" in
the part that I saw. That's him!
Terry: (laughing) Who's that surly guy?
Trisha: But the one thing about you that I notice more than anybody else lately that I'm
paying attention to, is the makeup and the change in you. I mean, from your picture to
what makeup and costume ends up doing to you, you look totally like someone else. I
mean, really, I had to stop and say, 'well no, that's not him.' And then go back and
watch it again and, 'well yeah, that is him.' I mean, you just, you change so much with
just this makeup and costume. Do you have any kind of underhand trick behind this?
Terry: Well, I've been blessed mainly playing antagonists. I guess that's a blessing. I
mean, you get good screen time and the characters, the antagonists, are always a lot of
fun to portray. But Kevin wanted a big beard. He wanted what's called a wagonwheel
which is a large, large beard. And my beard got the full length of four inches long,
without a mustache, it's called a wagonwheel. And that was the look that he was going
for specifically for the character of "Hogg" in "WICKED SPRING". That just pretty
much set a tone, the fact that "Hogg's" personality, his reluctance to share any
information or anything with people, his surliness, his arrogance, as well as his
determination to do what he felt was right, coupled with the beard just really set the
template for the character. Any sort of back history that I developed for the character
just gave more meat to it. As far as the "Doc", you know, I mean, a lot of things just
happened. They had a certain set of wardrobe and Tim Smith said, 'Well, hey, I have
this tophat, I have this frockcoat.' So, let me see if I can get this, and they liked it. And
I thought of the idea of putting a scar on there and, you know, he didn't say much. So,
why didn't he say much? You know, so certain things will come in to add on to
embellish the character. I mean, if they give you a totally different set of shoes than
what you're thinking, you know, that's gonna change the way you walk. I buy shoes
and whether I buy them because they're on sale or whether I buy them for a certain
fashion, there's a specific reason why that shoe was chosen. And of course, that says a
lot about a person. If you take that into a character, that says a lot about that person.
You know, you really never know a person until you've walked a mile in their shoes.
And the important thing about that is, you know, you'll be a mile away from them and
then you'll have their shoes.
Trisha: (laughter) Well, the thing, I think, is it allows you to play this whole spectrum
of characters. Because, I mean, you can go from this clean-cut looking guy to this man
with this full beard. I mean, you look totally different. But one other thing, the last
thing I want to ask you about, is that you actually grew up down here and went to ODU,
if I'm not mistaken.
Terry: I did... I did attend ODU for quite some time, yes. They had a wonderful theater
department at that time, and they still do. Erlene Hendriz headed it then and
Christopher Hanna is heading it now. And, ah, a few years ago, my good friend,
Michael Howard, and I started the first film productuon at Old Dominion, which has
now turned into a film festival and now they've begun a film school there under the
tutelage of Konrad Winters, I believe. But, yeah, we started the first project there,
"Pathetic Losers", and he had done one also. So we were actually the first ones to start
the festival there at Old Dominion whether we're recognized for that or not.
(Discussion about website information)
Trisha: You were one of the main people that I wanted to talk to, you know, especially
being here to represent DJ's site, and then I found out that he wasn't going to be here,
and I said, 'Just please say that Terry Jernigan is going to be there... just, PLEASE!'
But I have really met some very nice people down here. I am very impressed.
Terry: This is a very nice school. They've done a lot of good things here. But as far as
a body of work, I mean, I've played quite a few villians but I just recently got a chance
to play... because I'm trying to break away from that.
Trisha: Typecast?
Terry: You know, that's what most people see. They see, okay, you can play this villian
and that is one reason to play a villian but that's not...
Trisha: But you do, and you do it well.
Terry: Well, I can also do the nice guy. I can also do the doctor... the detective... I do a
better detective than anything.
Trisha: In "AN ORDINARY KILLER" you were a detective.
Terry: I did something with the "King of Detectives" which married film nuar and
slapstick comedy. It's a shame it's never seen the light of day because it was brobably
some of my finest work.
Trisha: I won't keep you. I know I've probably kept you away from things. I would
like to get a picture with you and I would like for you to sign these (DVD's) And I think
that will be it.
of characters. Because, I mean, you can go from this clean-cut looking guy to this man
with this full beard. I mean, you look totally different. But one other thing, the last
thing I want to ask you about, is that you actually grew up down here and went to ODU,
if I'm not mistaken.
Terry: I did... I did attend ODU for quite some time, yes. They had a wonderful theater
department at that time, and they still do. Erlene Hendriz headed it then and
Christopher Hanna is heading it now. And, ah, a few years ago, my good friend,
Michael Howard, and I started the first film productuon at Old Dominion, which has
now turned into a film festival and now they've begun a film school there under the
tutelage of Konrad Winters, I believe. But, yeah, we started the first project there,
"Pathetic Losers", and he had done one also. So we were actually the first ones to start
the festival there at Old Dominion whether we're recognized for that or not.
(Discussion about website information)
Trisha: You were one of the main people that I wanted to talk to, you know, especially
being here to represent DJ's site, and then I found out that he wasn't going to be here,
and I said, 'Just please say that Terry Jernigan is going to be there... just, PLEASE!'
But I have really met some very nice people down here. I am very impressed.
Terry: This is a very nice school. They've done a lot of good things here. But as far as
a body of work, I mean, I've played quite a few villians but I just recently got a chance
to play... because I'm trying to break away from that.
Trisha: Typecast?
Terry: You know, that's what most people see. They see, okay, you can play this villian
and that is one reason to play a villian but that's not...
Trisha: But you do, and you do it well.
Terry: Well, I can also do the nice guy. I can also do the doctor... the detective... I do a
better detective than anything.
Trisha: In "AN ORDINARY KILLER" you were a detective.
Terry: I did something with the "King of Detectives" which married film nuar and
slapstick comedy. It's a shame it's never seen the light of day because it was brobably
some of my finest work.
Trisha: I won't keep you. I know I've probably kept you away from things. I would
like to get a picture with you and I would like for you to sign these (DVD's) And I think
that will be it.
