What does it takes to make a career in Hollywood these days? Cydne Schulte is a woman that seems to have the answer to that question. As the star of Terrence Williams’ rape/revenge flick The Hood Has Eyez, Cydne plays a girl driven to murder, and it’s definitely a role that allows her to stretch her acting muscles. Right after the film’s release, I had the chance to talk with Cyd about performing, passion and women kicking ass.
Thanks for talking with me, Cydne. Let’s start at the beginning. Where did you grow up?
I grew up in the high mountains in northern New Mexico. I spent most of my time either riding horses or exploring the woods.
Have you always been interested in acting and performing?
Yes, I come from a long line of performers, artists and musicians. It has always been a natural part of life for me. I was on stage as early as four years old.
Is there any one particular moment that made you realize that acting was your destiny?
Sorta. I remember one time when I was very young, maybe five-ish, and we went to see my aunt star as Marguerite in a production of the opera Faust. Her character jumped out of a second-story window in despair, and I was in such shock because I thought it was real. At the end of the show, when everyone was meeting the cast, I went up on the stage and danced around the fabulously built set. I climbed up the stairs, looked though the window and saw a big huge mattress hidden below where you land when you jump out the window. I was so impressed! I remember jumping out the window, landing on the mattress—unscathed—and thinking that I’d found where I belonged. Such magic!
So, when did you make the jump to L.A.?
I didn’t actually move to L.A. until August 2006. But the year previous to that, I had been there at least four times for acting work.
That’s a big move, Cyd. How did you know that you were ready for such a life-changing risk?
My whole life, everybody kept telling me that in order for me to be successful as an actor, I’d have to be based either in L.A. or New York, and since I’m from New Mexico, L.A. seemed most reasonable. So I always knew it was inevitable.
I totally enjoyed your performance in The Hood Has Eyez, Cydne. Terrence Williams [the film’s writer/director] told me he wrote the role of Kimmy especially for you. You get to show quite a bit of range in this flick—it’s quite a showpiece. Is this the most challenging part you’ve got to play in a film?
Thank you, Theron, I really appreciate it. I’ve had to do a lot of challenging roles, but as far as having the opportunity to show my range, The Hood is probably on the top on the list.
How did you first meet Terrence?
A casting call in Backstage West for his film The Curse of La Llorona. We submitted and he called me in to audition for the role of Hana. He cast me as Sonia.
The Hood Has Eyez is a pretty intense flick. Did you have any reservations about taking the role of Kimmy?
Yes. Some pretty big ones, because the themes of the film are very controversial. As you probably know, Terrence set out with the intention to offend everyone. Well, this is not my style at all. I understand shock value, but I don’t necessarily agree with it. I just wasn’t into some of the actions of my character and of some of the other characters. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to be responsible for such senseless violence being put out in the universe. But in the end, I decided that Kimmy was an awesome role and that it was a story worth telling, even if I didn’t agree with the execution of it—no pun intended. Terrence and [producer] Nicole [Williams] were great to work with as well as the rest of the cast and crew.
You’re a smart, strong woman, Cydne. What’s your opinion of movies like I Spit on Your Grave and The Hood Has Eyez:
(a) They Promote Female Empowerment (because, hey, the women kick ass)
(b) They Glorify Violence Against Women
(c) Sheesh, Relax, People, They’re Just Movies
My answer would be (d) all of the above, because there is a new trend in films and society of female power—portraying strong woman kicking ass. Audiences seem to be eating it up and loving it! But, I’ve always felt that violence in films only desensitizes people and gives predators ideas. But in the relevance of entertainment, it’s all just a story and meant only to be that.
You’ve done a lot of work in “genre” movies, including the remake of the J-horror favorite The Eye. Do you enjoy horror movies?
It’s funny, no. I love epic fantasy like The Lord of the Rings.
You have studied with some of the most respected people in the industry, Cydne. How do you approach a role, in general? Do you do a lot of research and preparation?
Well, it is different for every role. But I do like to do research and to be as prepared as possible. For The Hood, I researched the effect of rape. For The Eye, I chose not to see the original because I didn’t want it to affect my performance. But I tend to not like to over-rehearse because I like it raw and real. Usually before I shoot, I meditate, do some emotional preparation and then go for it.
Other than acting, what are your passions? I think I saw bass guitar and dance listed among your many talents.
I am very passionate about all the arts. I paint, dance, play bass, just to list a few.
I am also very passionate about the environment. In fact at this very moment, I am developing, producing and starring in a TV series with Blur To Focus Productions called Eco Warrior. The show is solution-oriented and addresses some of the hottest environmental issues. Because we’re still in development, I can’t divulge too much, but I can say that Eco Warrior is a cutting-edge environmental reality show, featuring celebrity guests and unscripted confrontational journalism, designed to entertain and educate.
Wow, you’re really working! I can tell you’re serious about your craft, but you’re also smart enough to know there’s more to acting than just craft. There’s business (eesh). Whose career do you admire? Is there any one actor whose career path you respect and/or would like to emulate?
Ian McKellen. Hands down. First off, he’s a Shakespearean-trained actor—I highly respect any actor that has the discipline and talent to conquer that. And it seems that anything he touches turns to gold (referring to his acting that is). He is just really passionate and his presence rocks the world! I could only ever hope to be a fraction of what he is. He truly inspires me and motivates me to follow my own passions and always give 110%.
Okay, let’s do a fun question: What you would consider to be your perfect weekend?
[Laughs] Well, to have a perfect weekend would imply that I had a perfect week—and that would consist of a full week of paid acting work! So, the perfect weekend to me would be dressing up in medieval garb and embarking on some adventure, like a scavenger hunt, in the mountains with family and friends.
You’re a rising, hard-working actress. What’s a “normal” day for you?
Well, I wake up and meditate. Then, depending on how late or early I got to sleep, have tea or coffee and figure out my game plan for the day—do any necessary correspondence, e-mails, acting submissions, etc. Then I usually have meetings with producers, directors, editors or whomever I’m working with at the time. Right now, it is my Eco Warrior producing partner Anton Kozikowski [CEO of Blur To Focus Productions]. Then, I do research, write, rehearse, edit or shoot, depending on the current project. That usually goes late. Then, depending on how late that all goes, I do any necessary correspondence, try to read either research or scripts and usually pass out before I’m ready to.
Wow, you do work hard. Thanks so much for talking with me, Cyd. Is there anything you want to touch on that we didn’t cover?
I think we covered a quite a bit, but maybe we could just remind our audience how precious life is and that it is important to live each day with gratitude and approach every situation with enthusiasm!
Well said. Finally, Cydne, I have to ask…what’s a nice, centered girl like you doing in a crazy place like Hollywood?
[Laughs] That’s almost a loaded question! I guess to make it simple, this is where the most opportunities are for an actor/producer like myself.
Living the dream…
~Theron Neel
Actor, writer, director, producer—Terrence Williams has done a bit of everything over the years. A self-described guerilla filmmaker, Williams and his wife, Nicole, run an independent production company called Cinema Threat Productions in Los Angeles. I caught up with Terrence in 2007 to talk about his film 
Where did you get the idea for The Hood Has Eyez?
Did you write the role of Kimmy with 
What moment in this movie are you most proud of? What part do you still love every time you see it?
The directors who have influenced me the most are Takashi Miike, Ruggero Deodato, John Carpenter, Charles Band, Umberto Lenzi. Those are the guys who I would consider influences. Roger Corman has had a big influence on my films as well. Although I hate saying that they, the filmmakers, influenced me. I think a better way of putting it is that their films influenced me.
It’s funny. A major studio film’s theatrical release is basically a commercial for its eventual DVD release. So it seems like you and other independent filmmakers actually are ahead of the curve. What do you think of the state of the industry and where do you see it going in the future?
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. And rarely has a woman been more scorned than Kimmy Valencia, the protagonist in 
Watching The Hood Has Eyez is akin to taking a step back into the ‘70s. The flick just feels like an exploitation classic. Everything from the score to the shot choices and lighting screams grindhouse. Obsessive horror fans will have fun playing “spot the references.” The film’s title is an allusion to the work of horror director Wes Craven, the filmmaker responsible for 
Terrence Williams has taken a huge step forward with The Hood Has Eyez. His cinematography has really opened up. The movie looks great—it’s bright and the entire screen is full of detail. Williams definitely makes the most of his many outdoor locations. And while he has always worked well with his actors, this time he manages to get excellent performances from his whole cast, most of whom he’s used before.
Although all the cast is quite good, most of the players aren’t called upon to give overly expansive performances. A little humor here, a little anger there, mix in some fear, rinse, repeat. All are fine, but Cyd Schulte must go from mild-mannered schoolgirl to psycho killer and make it believable—and hold the audience’s sympathy. It’s quite a task for an actor. Luckily, she pulls it off easily. Schulte is quite entertaining as she takes her vengeance on those who wronged her.
A young woman, Hana, is passed out, naked, in a bath full of crimson water—her wrists slit and a bloody razor blade resting on edge of the tub. She is found by Sonia (Cydne Schulte), who goes for help. As Sonia makes her way through the house, she discovers a dead man hanging from the ceiling and another body in a bedroom. This is the striking opening scene of 
The film begins well but seems to lose its way as it goes. Terrence Williams and his wife, Nicole, are running an independent production company that specializes in on-the-run, guerilla movie making. Considering the total production time for Curse of La Llorona couldn’t have been more than a few weeks at most, and the complete cast and crew can be counted on two hands, the end result is pretty impressive. It’s obvious Williams knows what he wants to see onscreen and how to get it—you can tell there’s thought behind the camera work—and the director knows how to work with his actors. But the script is not as tight as it could be, with the movie showing some problems in tone and pacing. Also, some of the performers are miscast, and the lighting and sound leave much to be desired. I’d really like to see what Williams could do with a bigger budget that allows for real locations (though the film is supposedly set in the country, it appears to take place in suburban Los Angeles). Little things like this add up and hurt the audience’s ability to suspend disbelief and lose itself in the flick.
I enjoyed Elizabeth Osbourn’s performance quite a bit. She was believable and a lot of fun as Patty, the spoiled teenager. Anne Stinnett was good though miscast; she seems too young to realistically be Patty’s mom. Mary Sanchez has been in all three of the La Llorona flicks and is talented but really doesn’t get the chance to do much but be ghostly.
