Robert Steven Rhine's fiction collection, "MY BRAIN ESCAPES ME," (Sun Dog Press) was heralded by PUBLISHER's WEEKLY as "a successful mix of humor and horror." METRO LONDON was, "fascinated with the blurred boundary between reality and the darkest recesses of imagination... doused in gallons of acid black humor." Famed writer WILLIAM F. NOLAN (author "Logan's Run" and other 60 books) called Rhine a "bold new writer with powerhouse ideas and the talent to bring them to life." And EON MAGAZINE said, "Horrifying yet unbelievably compelling. You may close the book, but the memory of Rhine's words will linger."
Rhine has published fiction in eighty magazines and the published anthologies: "THE FRINGE," SCREAM WHEN YOU BURN," "THE ALTRUISTIC ALPHABET," and "CONJURING DARK DELICACIES," alongside STEPHEN KING and CLIVE BARKER. In 1997, Rhine received the prestigious HERMAN M. SWAFFORD Award for Fiction.
Rhine wrote, produced and starred in the 35mm filmed pilot, "VINNIE & ANGELA'S BEAUTY SALON AND FUNERAL PARLOR," grand prize winner at the Australian International Film Festival 2000 and winner at Worldfest Houston 2000. The film sold in 2001 to UNIVERSAL's HYPNOTIC website. Rhine also wrote, produced, directed and starred in the epic/cult/satire "ROAD LAWYERS AND OTHER BRIEFS," winner at the Chicago, New York, Houston and Australian film fests, distributed by A.I.P.
Rhine's dark animated series SICKCOM is now premiering on FantasticTV.com. His comic book, "SELECTED READING FROM SATAN'S POWDER ROOM," with artists Frank Forte, John Cassaday and Rich Longmore will be released June 2002 by Asylum Press. Rhine was also a contributing writer for Insidious Tales and was a staff writer for Cracked Magazine.
While writing, Rhine freelanced for ten years as a unit publicist for Universal Studios, TriStar/Columbia, Dreamworks and Imagine Entertainment on such features as: The Craft, Mousehunt, Hush, Tremors, Problem Child, Double-Team, Toy Soldiers, amongst others. He's worked as an entertainment publicist, book publicist and film advertising copywriter for B.D. Fox and Friends and Robert U. Brown & Associates. He was a segment producer for PM magazine and worked for CNN.
As an actor, Rhine has appeared in over a two dozen plays (including two L.A. premieres), television series, film, print and commercials. He will be forever immortalized portraying Rod Serling for director Joe Dante's "Twilight Zone - Tower of Terror" ride at Disney, Orlando Florida.
The Zone's Eye View
By Laura Alber
First of all, welcome and thank you Robert Rhine for taking the time to
answer some questions for The Entertainment Zone!
Z:You are an ex-publicist turned, actor/writer/producer and so much more!
You have written and starred in short films, written 2 comic books, 2
animated comics, and have been published everywhere with your short stories.
Do you ever sleep? Tell us a little about your background and these projects
if you would.
RR: I sleep, a little, when I'm not flying around sucking the ideas out of
skulls at night. Actually, I sleep with a pad and paper by the bed with a
flashlight. If I can't write anything, I make funny shadow animals on my
ceiling. Sometimes the animals start fighting and I have to stop.
I used to work as a personal publicist then as a studio unit publicist for
Universal Studios, TriStar, Columbia Pictures, Dreamworks and Imagine
Entertainment. I thought if I wrote one more press kit I would be the guy on
the news with the shotgun standing on the freeway overpass. I baby-sat the
biggest stars in Hollywood. I know things. Things that would make your hair
curl. I've gotten stars out of jail, drunk tanks and fights. But I'm sworn
to secrecy by the unspoken publicist rule - You never talk about your
clients... even after they're dead... even after you're dead.
Z:I have watched your animated cartoon "Sickcom" and it literally had me
rolling. You definitely have a twisted sense of humor, which I certainly can
appreciate! Will we be seeing episode 2 anytime soon on FantasticTV.com?
RR: Thanks. We're getting tons of hits. There is an entire series already
written for SICKCOM. But we're seeking financing to do the flash animation
or someone to buy the series. I had a great meeting with MTV's President of
animation, John Premier, who came to my house and watched SICKCOM on my
computer. He kept saying, "Oh My God... Oh my God..." over and over until
the funny wagon picked him up. He presented the series in NY to MTV chief
Abby Terkuhle but MTV was getting sued for quality shows like "Jack Ass" and
were worried we would be offending someone (more likely everyone). For
instance, on SICKCOM we have the "funny neighbor" who's a priest and a child
molester who wears an ankle bracelet. This was a little 'too extreme' for
them, although now it proves somewhat prescient. HBO wouldn't give us the
time of day unless it was Steven Spielberg's SICKCOM starring Tom Hanks. I'd
love someone to see it on Comedy Central. Anyhow, maybe one of your
"connected" readers will catch it over at my website robertrhine.com or at
FantasticTv.com and get it before the right eyeballs.
Z:You certainly do not follow the mainstream expectations, and I think
that's a wonderful thing. We could all use a dose or two of some totally
twisted humor to lighten things up! Have you always been a fan of this genre?
RR:I like to wander the dark crevices. But what's dark today is mainstream
tomorrow. For instance, my favorite TV shows are, "Six Feet Under" and
"OZ." I met "OZ" writer/creator Tom Fontana, who read my book "My Brain
Escapes Me" and gave me the cool quote on the back of the book. Most of the
dark writers I've met, such as Fontana and horror writer Richard Laymon (who
I did a signing with) are totally normal guys... like some serial killers.
The only difference is that horror writers get out their carnage on paper.
Z:What are some of your main influences?
RR:Kurt Vonnegut, Stephen King, Ray Bradbury, Mark Twain, Mad Magazine,
R. Crumb, George Carlin, Gahan Wilson, SCTV. But my father, Larry, was
probably my biggest influence. He had a brilliantly funny mind. Every
morning driving me to school as a kid, instead of testing me on homework,
he'd say, "Give me any subject and I'll give you a joke." I'd say broccolli,
or Kleenex, or doorknob and he'd do a joke. He was a true joke man and did
wonders writing for such comics as Bob Hope, Red Skelton and Lucille Ball.
He was a staff writer for "All In The Family," "Here's Lucy"," Mr. Ed," "The
Odd Couple," "Archie Bunker's Place," "The Red Skelton Show," "The Brady
Bunch," "Bachelor Father" and others. He passed away about a year ago and I
miss his humor. The last thing he said on his death bed was a joke. The
doctor came in and said loudly in his ear, "Mr. Rhine, how are you doing?"
My father opened his eyes and replied, "You're the doctor, you tell me."
Z:Tell us a little about Robert Rhine. You boast on your site "Robert Rhine
is merely a formaldehyde brain under lock and key at the Institute for the
Criminally Insane". This is very intriguing! You don't usually get to hear so
much honesty like that. We're interested in hearing "From" Robert Rhine
"About" Robert Rhine. Can you indulge us?
RR: You'll have to ask my therapist. But I'll tell you that you don't want to be
me. The voices in my head argue. My book "My Brain Escapes Me" (available
at Amazon.com) is based on a story of mine where two sides of a guy's brain
are doing battle so he tries to release them using his skill-saw. Also, my
website divides a brain into the id, ego and superego. I believe that the
soul's squeezed somewhere in the brain and that we're just shells
transporting them around for a few years... like a rental car.
Z: You have done two short films, "Vinnie and Angela's Beauty Salon &
Funeral", and "Road Lawyers and Other Briefs". Are these meant to be
parodies? Tell us a little about them, and how they were received on the
festival circuit if you would.
RR: I made "Road Lawyers" first. I loved the Mad Max movies and wanted to spoof
them. So I came up with the idea of lawyers taking over the world looking
for the last client on the planet and powered by coffee. Not a cheap idea
for a short film. I wrote, produced, co-directed and played the title
character Mild Milt. It was shot in 16mm and had stop motion special
effects. My friend actor James Karen ("First Monday") was featured. It did
really well, winning several festivals, it was spotted by A.I.P (Sam
Arcoff's old company) and released/distributed on tape. A.I.P had the idea
of doing a comedy anthology of short films. So, I called the anthology "Road
Lawyers and Other Briefs." I found three other short films (to fill in the
required eighty-six minutes) from top U.S.C. and AFI student films. I think
it was the first time anyone ever did this and certainly the first (and
last) time anyone got any films out of the hands of USC Film School.
More recently, I wrote, produced and played the title character in
"Vinnie and Angela's Beauty Salon & Funeral Parlor" which also won several
prestigious awards including 'Best Movie of the Festival' at the Melbourne
Australia International Film Festival. It was shot in 35mm with Dolby
Surround Sound. Friend and actor Bruce Kirby (Bruno Kirby's dad) also
starred. I eventually sold the film to Universal Studios Hypnotic website.
The hook of "Vinnie and Angela" came from personal experience. When a
relative of mine passed away, the funeral 'cosmetologist' asked for a
photograph of the "deceased" to prepare the body for viewing. The photo we
gave him had two people in it. The night before the funeral I realized I
didn't say which person in the photo was deceased. I had this nightmare of the mourner/relative looking in the casket and seeing themself inside. So,
that was where the comedy came from. Also, my co-star 'Angela' was from Rhode
Island and told me about these funeral home/beauty parlor businesses and I
thought it would make a funny unique short film/pilot. This was, of course,
before HBO's "Six Feet Under."
Z:Your comic "Selected Readings From Satan's Powder Room" has all the
makings of a cult classic comic. Do you think that's where that particular
comic is leading?
RR: I just hope it doesn't head to the bottom of someone's birdcage. I've always
loved comic books, since a kid, and I think it's a great place to showcase
stories. I'm blessed to work with a terrific partner and talented artist
Frank Forte of Asylum Press (at asylumpress.com). Frank is drawing one of
the stories for "Selected Readings From Satan's Powder Room" along with hot
comic artists John Cassaday ("Plantery") and Rich Longmore ("Iron Guns").
We're now working on "SPR 2."
Z:You have recently signed with AEI for writing representation. What can we
expect now from Robert Rhine? Will this change your writing style in any way?
RR:Ken Atchity and Chi-Li Wong at AEI are very supportive managers and also
successful producers. What makes this a good combination is that they can
develop the material with you and also produce it themselves as they have
done on "Joe Somebody" starring Tim Allen and "Life, or Something Like It,"
starring Angelina Jolie and Ed Burns. They are working with me on several
scripts and books. Ken Atchity has quite an impressive roster. I, however,
reside in a dark little corner of AEI. They've put me in a little petri
dish, seeing what I grow. (You can check them out at AEIonline.com)
Z:You mentioned in your letter about "having your head cracked" you now
have me very curious!! What exactly is that chiropractor doing to you???
RR:I don't know but it made me yell really loud. I have TMJ (from jaw
clenching) and someone suggested I see this 'amazing' chiropractor in Santa
Monica. So I drive over there and as I say hello she's already got her hands
in my mouth twisting my gums into balloon animals. At one point her hands
were so far up my mouth I could feel her fingernails in my nostrils. The
popping and cracking sounds reminded me of all-you-can-eat night at the Red
Lobster. I don't know what childbirth feels like but I needed an epidural
for my face. Afterwards, I apologized to the chiropractor for yelling and
she said that, "I wasn't too bad, usually they can hear the screams from the
street." All said - it actually worked! I feel better. But I'm scared to go
back.
Z:Will you continue to broadcast your animated comics on FantasticTV.com or
expand your audience? And, the same question for your short films, will you
maintain your relationship with Universal's Hypnotic website? (all links can
be found below this interview)
RR: If I can find an audience, I'll try and keep it.
Z: You have a new animation coming soon, when can we expect to see that?
And, is it in the same satire as "Sickcom"?
RR:It's a noir detective series about pubic lice called "Da Crabs - Undercovers
Cops." I think it's self explanatory.
Z:Will you be attending Comic Con this year? If so, what will you be
featuring there? Please be sure our man in the trenches (your buddy Al
Ortega) gets some shots of you if you do attend!
RR:Yes, I'll be at Comic-Con in San Diego this year with my partner Frank Forte
promoting "Selected Readings From Satan's Powder Room" at the Asylum Press
Booth. P.S. I love Al Ortega and if he is there, he can shoot my mug shot.
Z:Tell us what's in the future for Robert Rhine.
RR:If I could rub a crystal ball I would see... hands... and hear screaming...
and cracking... Oh God!... she's back in my mouth!!!
And, there you have it...the mind that is...Robert Rhine! Check out the related sites listed below. And again Robert, thank you for giving The Entertainment Zone the opportunity to talk with such an interesting yet somewhat deranged mind! We look forward to all your upcoming projects, and wish you all the best!
Robert Steven Rhine's fiction collection, "MY BRAIN ESCAPES ME," (Sun Dog Press) was heralded by PUBLISHER's WEEKLY as "a successful mix of humor and horror." METRO LONDON was, "fascinated with the blurred boundary between reality and the darkest recesses of imagination... doused in gallons of acid black humor." Famed writer WILLIAM F. NOLAN (author "Logan's Run" and other 60 books) called Rhine a "bold new writer with powerhouse ideas and the talent to bring them to life." And EON MAGAZINE said, "Horrifying yet unbelievably compelling. You may close the book, but the memory of Rhine's words will linger." 
