We have to imagine Bo Keister had some kids make fun of his name when he was growing up. Think about it…Bo. B. O. Kids can be so cruel.
The Daily Quarterly: What made you want to be show business?
Bo Keister: As a kid, I was always into movies. I watched everything I could get my hands on, and it left its mark on me. I did plays in school, performed in choirs, and loved being on stage. But being from a small town, making it a career seemed impossible, so I kind of gave up on the idea.
When I got to college, nothing really caught my attention. There were just no majors where I said, “Yeah! I want to do that for a living.” I still had an avid love for movies, and decided to take a chance.
My dad did some snooping around and learned that Wilmington, NC had a lot of film work going on, so I drove down and checked it out. A week later, I moved there and dove in head first.
It’s one of the scariest things I have ever done, and thankfully it’s worked out. I guess I just couldn’t live my life always wondering “what if,” so I went for it.
TDQ: What was your favorite horror movie growing up?
BK: Oh, geez! That’s a tough one! There were so many great ones when I was growing up. If I had to choose one, then I’d have to go with the original “Friday the 13th.” That was my first.
TDQ: Who are your influences?
BK: I’ve had too many personal mentors in my life to name, not the least of which would be my parents, so I’ll narrow it down to actors.
I’ve always been a huge Tom Hanks fan. He has such a perfect “every man” quality to him, and he plays his roles so flawlessly you forget you’re watching him. As far as intensity goes, it doesn’t get much better than Denzel Washington. It’s a thrill to say I’ve worked with him on Remember the Titans. Lastly, I’d say Kevin Spacey. He spent a great portion of his early film career playing smaller character roles, and then when he got his shot with The Usual Suspects he blew it up. It’s hard not to admire a person who made the most of an opportunity and wowed everyone with his skills.
I can only hope to be as great as those guys one day.
TDQ: What is the best advice you’ve ever gotten?
BK: My first acting coach once told me, “In this business, a thimble full of boldness will make you rich.” That’s always stuck with me. When I question taking a chance in an audition, or making a bold choice for a character, that always pops into my head and gives me the gumption to try something I might have otherwise been too afraid to attempt.
TDQ: What is the worst advice you’ve ever gotten?
BK: Early on, I had many that I considered friends tell me to give up; that I was chasing a pipe dream and would never succeed. All of them said, just finish school and get a regular job. Very few thought I would make it this far; yet, 17 years later, here I am. Still going, and not going anywhere but up.
Truthfully, I should thank them. They were the fuel to the fire and drove me.
TDQ: Tell us about “The Hillbillly Horror Show”
Between shots on the set of Hillbilly Horror show we see Scott Geiter and Bo Keister presenting a makeshift birthday cake to fellow cast member Rachel Faulkner who, we must say, looks great for a 69 year old.
Volumes 1 and 2 are out on DVD, with 3 available for pre-order via Amazon, and volume 4 coming later this year. In addition to DVD, we’re on multiple Roku channels, VOD in the UK, South Korea, and India, and we’re hoping to launch on iTunes and Amazon Prime soon.
TDQ: What other projects are you working on?
BK: I’ve got several in varying stages of development or completion, the most primary being Finding Waldo.
It tells the story of my character, Chance Reed; a former pro football quarterback, who falls from grace due to his battles with alcohol and a fateful night of drunk driving. Now, out on parole and working in the dismal mail room of a Lloyd’s of London-esque insurance firm, he is failing to pick up the pieces of his life. That’s until he is summoned to the office of Cyrus Motley (Richard Riehle), the president of the firm, and tasked with interviewing eccentric novelist, Waldo Greene (Matthew Jacobs). Waldo’s brain is insured by the firm, and the writer is now claiming to be insane. The validity of his insanity holds an $80M policy payout in the balance.
Waldo has already dispatched 3 previous insurance adjusters, so Chance is sent in to fool Waldo and make a determination. It’s at this point all goes awry, as Waldo kidnaps Chance, busts out of the psych ward, and the two are launched into a series of misadventures through the Arizona desert.
Neither Chance, nor the audience, knows the end game to this road trip, but Waldo is not all he appears to be. As the game plays out, a bond is formed, Chance will have to face the transgressions of his past, and all roads lead to forgiveness and redemption.
We’ve got an outstanding cast & crew attached, with more to come, and high hopes for its success.
I’m also slated to star in a post-apocalyptic thriller entitled The Endless Whispers as well.
We’ve also been promoting the film Where I Begin too. I had done it a while back and it just released on Indieflix, which can be watched via Roku or online streaming. It’s a gritty Southern drama, and the darkest character I’ve ever played. It’s a terrific film, and well worth a look.
TDQ: You grew up in Dublin, VA, and after spending a few years in Hollywood, you moved back to Virginia. Was that a family decision? A professional decision?
BK: It was a combination of factors. My dad had gotten ill, luckily he’s better now; and my first son had just been born, which was a major consideration. I was also slated to film Immortal Island in Florida that fall, so it seemed like the right time to come back.
As for my career, I really lucked out. The industry had just started trending to online casting, and opened the door for me to work from anywhere. That, plus a fantastic team of agents, has been a great recipe for success.
TDQ: Quick: Wes Craven or George A. Romero?
BK: Love them both, but got to go with Romero.
TDQ: Where do you see yourself in five years?
BK: Well, obviously, I hope to be happy, healthy, and still working. As far as goals, I certainly would love to see Hillbilly Horror Show find a consistent late night television slot with a network like USA or Chiller. I’d also love to be at a point where I can split time between LA and Virginia, since my boys will be a little older then. Lastly, if the opportunity were to present itself, I wouldn’t mind to try my hand at directing. I guess we’ll just ride the wave and see what happens.
Thanks so much for taking time to interview me. And please be sure to follow along on Facebook () and Twitter, .