It's a Cinderella story.... An interview with Cindy Morgan

50 cents left?! How did I have only 50 cents left? Surely that

wouldn't buy me another game?... I scanned the arcade, clenching my two measly quarters in my palm... There were cool driving games but they were at least a couple of dollars, there were shooting games, but again too much for me... Then I saw a sign, it said 'Retro Gaming' in blue neon and had an arrow pointing to the corner of the room, so I followed it, no harm, I thought... The sign took me to a strange and darkened little nook of the arcade, full of PacMans and Space Invaders... I scanned the room and after briefly considering a golf game called 'Caddyshack', I saw it... The game that I'd remembered hearing about... The game that I thought was just a legend, and it was only a quarter to play... The game... This awesome, mythical game, was Tron... 

I quickly slipped a quarter into the slot and pressed the one player mode, the game started and, wo! it was as cool as I had heard, ok the graphics were a little dated and the buttons a little clunky, but as I zipped and twisted my way round the neon maze I felt totally exhilarated, but then suddenly Wham! I hit the edge and my game was over... Blast! Ah well I had one more coin... I popped it in and started to play, but this time, as the game got faster and faster I got better and better... And oh my goodness, I was beating it! I was actually beating it!!! The top score was way below mine, but I was still going, left right, up, down... faster and faster... This was incredible! After a while I had the sudden realisation that a crowd had formed around me, cheering me on... I liked that... And as the game got faster the crowd began to cheer louder and louder and a voice started to scream at me to bare left... A familiar voice... A very familiar voice... A voice that would come from a person who would know this game well... My mind wandered and then Crash! I was out of the game and my crowd of supporters dissipated back into the main room to cheer on the next winner...  But one person was left, the one with the voice and no wonder I knew the voice and no wonder she knew the game, because the woman standing there was Cindy Morgan... Yori from Tron... 

Cindy Morgan (born Cynthia Ann Cichorski; September 29, 1954) is an American actress best known for her appearances as Lora/Yori in Tron and Lacey Underall in Caddyshack.

We grabbed a coke from the machine by the change machine and got chatting...

So, Cindy, how did you start acting?
"I started out in broadcasting, working in many areas of radio and television. I was based in cities in the Midwest during and after college. I wrote and read news and commercials, and in some cases produced my own work. I hosted a local talk show and did the weather at 6 and 10."

And was it your first career choice? - I knew that as well as beauty, she an academic and extremely intelligent - did you ever consider leaving it behind and returning to academia? 
"Acting was a career I fell into by default. While I was a DJ in Chicago doing morning drive, I was making $135 per week and felt that I was grossly underpaid. I registered with the Chicago talent agencies, but no one would hire me for on-camera work because I was the voice on the radio. So I moved to LA, and scored the movie Caddyshack within 8 months."

So, did you ever consider leaving it behind and returning to academia? 
"Always considering leaving it all behind!"

She said with a cheeky grin and a wink.

Now I'd always considered changing my name and I know that Cindy actually had, she was 

born Cynthia Ann Cichorski, I wondered... Why Cindy Morgan? 

"While in college, I had two jobs at two radio stations in DeKalb, IL… reading the news at a student station, and writing the news at the commercial station as a paid news stringer. I was told that I could keep both jobs as long as I had a different name at the two stations. After graduation, I sent out resumes as Cindy Cichorski. Not a bite. Then I sent out resumes as Cindy Morgan. Cindy Morgan got the job."

I  remembered the golf game in the retro section of the arcade, Caddyshack... From the

iconic 1980 Harold Ramis comedy and the film in which Cindy got her big break and a big favourite of mine... 

"Caddyshack was my first movie. I was hired for a day to do narration on a "Love American Style" project called "Up Your Ladder". It was later re-cut into something weird.

I DID get an amazing break with Caddyshack. Couldn’t believe I was cast as Lacey Underall after 12 years in Catholic School, 4 of those years in a Catholic girls high school in an advanced curriculum program. (All I did was study, but I didn’t let that get in the way.)"

So, how did you get the part? 
"I auditioned. I remember reading the script for the first time, and thought, "They’ll never cast me in this role. I can do anything I want with it." That sense of freedom won me the role."

And what was the filming like? Did you get nervous? - You know, being your first film, I asked her...

"I would have been nervous if I had let myself. I didn’t. When I found out that I had this job, I stopped watching any of the Chevy Chase’s and Bill Murray's work. I wanted to react to them just as they were. Good thing I did.

Filming was nuts, like Animal House on a golf course. Five years in broadcasting and an excellent comedy improvisation coach prepared me for what was to come."

Ha... 

Now my mate reacons Rodney Dangerfield is a total genius…  I couldn't leave this place -

and Cindy - without asking what he was like in person and were the quips constant, or all scripted? 
"Not quips, full-on comedy standup routines. Sure, Rodney was a genius. Perhaps a mad genius, but who cares? He took over scenes and rolled through them like a comic juggernaut, much to the chagrin of Ted Knight. Ted had a script, and did not intend to play straight man to Rodney."

My mate will LOVE that! I thought.

There is an iconic scene in Caddyshack which no man, young or old can forget, it's a scene where Cindy seductively sashes along the side of the pool, kicks of her heels, climbs the           ladder and

dives into the water... And then there's all the guys in the pool with their jaws literally hanging open... Mine wasn't that different when I saw it in the cinema! But I had to wonder... Could she really dive like that?! 
"Hell no, I can’t dive! I just had to look like I could dive, and then take the chance of a lifetime by waking the board and making it look like I knew what I was doing."

So, have you seen the Family Guy parody of that scene? I asked
"Yes! It’s awesome!"

Loved that scene!

And I remembered a scene where her character was described as Madonna with meatballs? Ha!
"One of the Los Angeles papers reviewed Caddyshack and called me (as Lacey) "an oversexed Olivia Newton John". I took that as a major compliment."

Ha, that's fantastic!

And Chevy, I had to ask about Chevy 
"Chevy was one of the most talented actors I’ve known, and a big challenge. I think I’ve done some of my best work with him." But would his "seduction techniques have really worked you? "On me? Do you think I’d really answer that question? ;)"

Oh! And Bill Murray, what was he like? Did he stay in character when not filming?
"Billy" - I loved how she called him Billy! "was (and is) awesome. Does he stay in character? Difficult to tell where reality ends and fantasy begins. Bill and his characters are often one and the same."

With all those incredible comedians around (Including the late great Harold Ramis) it must have been a riot on set?! 
"No time for a riot. Plenty of time for partying."

The film was actually directed by Harold Ramis, how did he direct you? 
"Harold was sweet and soft-spoken, with a great sense of humor. He used to whisper naughty little suggestions for Lacey into my ear."

Oh to be She didn't tell me what, but I had a pretty good imagination!

What was the set like? Was it a real resort??
"The entire golf course was the set, even inside the hotel where we were staying, so we never had to leave the set to socialize. We were on the golf course almost day and night for six weeks, occasionally going out to a restaurant for dinner. All of us."

Did you get to meet the Gopher? Do you know what happened to it? 
"Uh… the only gopher on the set was a hand puppet used briefly in one scene.  - That's the one! - The entire gopher sequence was shot after the fact. Probably because the original story about the caddies was lost, and the brilliant vignettes with four of the funniest men on the planet."

How many times did you get hit on? 
"Every day."

Come on, I thought to myself, that was an obvious one!! 

Suddenly my cell phone went off... Darn, it was my mom, wondering where I was I bet... I quickly answered it and told her I'd be back soon and who I was talking to... She screamed so loud that I had to pull the phone away from my ear... It was if she was trying to deafen me! She asked me to pass the phone to Cindy...

But Mom... I whined

"Pass it over!!" she shouted "I just want to ask one thing...

I passed it over explaining that it was my mom, Cindy switched it to speaker so we could both hear. 

She spoke softy and politely and in her best telephone voice and asked "Cindy, now... Woman to woman... Did you ever wear a bra in that movie?" 

Mom!!! I shouted and started appologising, but Cindy seemed unfazed

"Woman to woman," she answered "I didn’t need one. ;) It was 1979, and not wearing a bra was a fashion and political statement."

This lead on to a 10 minute discussion between the two of them about bras and women stuff... I just didn't need to hear my mom talk about her...her... her woman's bits.... So I grabbed the phone off Cindy, told mom I'd be home soon and changed the subject.

Tron... I had to talk about Tron! So, I wondered... How did you get that part?
"I was dating a guy from my comedy improvisation class, and he took me to lunch, where I met the director of a cartoon he was about to star in. A couple of years later, I was called to Disney to audition with Jeff Bridges bypassing the entire audio process. The cartoon with my ex-boyfriend had become the first CGI film, TRON, and the director had fallen in love with me at lunch. I only put it all together many years later while talking to my ex, who’s still adorable. Thank You, Larry Anderson!"

Now today we are so used to effects laden movies, but back in 82 it must have all seemed strange. Could you even imagine what the film would look as you were filming it?
"Not a clue. As with Caddyshack, I put the script aside because it usually had nothing to do with what was in front of me. I would go in every morning, get into makeup and costume, and "go along" with whatever Steven Lisberger said.

I went along with everything until the morning I walked onto the soundstage, and Steven Lisberger said: "OK, you’re on the Solar Sailer crossing the Game Sea. That black riser is the ship. Go fly it" That’s when I had to ask "What the heck are you talking about? There’s no Solar Sailer. No Game Sea. Nothing". Steven pulled out the beautiful Syd Mead graphics to give us a picture of what we were seeing."

And how did it feel when you finally saw yourself in the ‘Tron world’? 
"Stunned. Mesmerized. Nothing I imagined could compare with Disney’s

beautiful CGI interpretation of TRON."

Beep Beep... It was my cell again, this time a text... Ask her about Jeff Bridges! Ask if it was hard acting with others virtually without a set? 
"I loved working with Jeff Bridges. A consummate professional and all around good guy. As for finding reality, it was in the eyes of the other amazing actors on the set: David Warner, Barnard Hughes, Bruce Boxleitner."

I'm not all texting that, I thought... I'd call her later...

OOOh I wondered. had she seen Tron Legacy?
"Nope. I think it’s someone's interpretation of the original."

You’ve done a lot of TV and film, but what do you consider your career highlight? 
"Things keep getting better. Check with me in a year. ;)"

Beep beep... Oh god what now? The text read, Your father asks to ask her what her favourite celebrity story is? 

"I was invited to a small dinner party at Kirk Douglas’ house and was introduced to Cary Grant. I did NOT say, as Lacey did, "Hey Cary Grant, you want to get high?" I mumbled something incoherent like "You sound just like Cary Grant." And I kept my mouth shut for the rest of the evening."

Ha! Brilliant!!

I found I was mesmerised by her big blue eye and... hold the phone... Were they contacts?!
"Without contact lenses or glasses, I’ve been told that I’m legally blind. This means that everything’s fairly blurry without correction. I wore glasses in TRON, but they were only props with regular lenses, and my contacts were underneath. Otherwise I could have walked off the set if I took them off."

My phone started ringing again... What now? I thought... She better not just want to know what Cindy said... I excused my self and asked my mom sternly 'What now?? I'm not asking her any more questions! Please mom, you're embarrassing me... I'm 37 for gods sake!"Calm down, she said... I'm only calling to say your father's outside in the car, waiting for you"


God, how utterly embarrassing... OK, one more question... Last one, so it had to be a goody!

Erm... Oh I know! you have copies of the film posters you appear on?  
"People keep stealing my TRON poster for some reason. I have a Caddyshack poster that someone made for me. It’s pretty cool!"

We said our goodbyes and she headed back towards the retro gaming section of the arcade, that was amazing I thought and reached down for my backpack, I noticed something twinkling on the floor, right where Cindy was standing. and leant down to pick it up, it was an earring... Cindy must have dropped it while we were talking, I looked over and saw her disappearing back into the corner and raced after her, but as I got near the section I saw a bright light just kinda' flash, weird... And then, just as I turned the corner and  in a flash of light she had disappeared...  I raced over to the Tron machine just in time to see Cindy, in full and spectacular digital neon, turn, wave and smile at me, before getting into her little digital car, slamming the door and speeding off into the distance......  My god, what I would have given for another quarter...

For More information on Cindy Morgan visit her Website, her IMDB or her Wikipedia... Or just Google her! 

She ain't no fluke - An Interview with Jennifer Runyon

I scanned the university noticeboard... Rooms for let, cycling tours around Norway, a summer in Africa.. No, that was not  for me, not after that summer in    Mexico - beautiful countryand amazing food...  But did my stomach like it? No it did not! 

Anyway what I was searching for was way different  to the usual stuff you would normally find on this   board, Oh yes, I was looking for something more… Something more… Something more paranormal...

Then I spotted it, it was scuffed and tattered, my god it looked like it had been there since the mid 80s! The advert called for volunteers for ESP experiments and was offering payment… Perfect, interesting and the extra cash would come in handy, mind you… only 5 bucks? That wouldn’t even get you a coffee and a muffin these days… But money is money and I wasn’t in it for the cash anyway. I ripped off one of the slips at the bottom of the advert with the contact details on them… 

Dr Venkman… Why did that name seem so familiar?

I was deep in thought when I bumped into someone, literally bumped into them! Books, note pads and pens went flying, I apologised and helped the poor woman pick up her things, she noticed my scrap of paper, picked it up and laughed, it was then when I realised who I had bumped into... None other than Jennifer Runyon!

Jennifer Victoria Runyon was born in Chicago in 1960 and has appeared in a myriad of TV programmes    and films, from Another world to Charles in Charge and was even a Brady in 'A very Brady Christmas'! She starred in the comedy '18 again!' with George Burns, but what I will most fondly remember her for is as the object of Bill Murray's affections in the start of 'Ghostbusters'.

I offered her a coffee by the way of an apology and we got chatting.

So, what was it like appearing in Ghostbusters? How does it  feel to be in such a iconic film?

 “Such a great experience, of course I had no idea while filming would become such a huge Box-Office success...

…I was just excited to work with Bill Murray.”

Who wouldn't be? I thought...

And I bet people quote lines to you all the time!?  “I get that a lot from Ghostbusters especially... strangers have approached me saying "you're no fluke Jennifer" I'm always so flattered by that.”

So what were the guys [Bill Murrey, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis] like to work with... and for? “It was probably one of the most enjoyable days I ever had on a set....you never stopped laughing which really relaxed me... Bill was so easy to work with...”

Dear old Harold Ramis, all the people I've talked who knew him and they all say he was a lovely guy, wso what did you think? 

“Harold Ramis was such a lovely and kind man...”

So nice...

And did you socialise with any them off set?  “I went to dinner with Bill Murray once..he sang opera to the whole restaurant...then we ended up at Union Station in downtown LA...

…He somehow convinced the engineer of an Amtrack train to let us drive it...only Bill Murray could get away with that...”

I nearly spat out my coffee, I had heard so many crazy stories about Bill, about him turning up at peoples parties, pouring tequila or going up to people and just eating their food telling them "No one will believe you" and then just leaving.... I wondered if Jennifer believed them... So I thought I'd ask...

So do you believe the stories? “Yes I've heard the stories...and after driving an Amtrack Train and singing Opera with him...it doen't surprise me in the least....”

And I know Bill Murray is famous for his ad-libbing, did he do much during your scene? “Yes he did ad-lib a bit...I think that's what made the scene so great.” 

And did your character have a name?  “No my character didn't have a name in the script...I was "female student" but he called me Jennifer while filming the scene”

A perfect example of Bills Ad-Libbing, I thought.

So let's go back to the beginning... How did you get the part? What was the audition like? “I got the call to audition for a Bill Murray movie… I remember a lot of girls being there...I didn't hear anything for the longest time...I figured I didn't get it...I was working on another show when the call came...I was so excited..”

I'm not surprised I thought!

So have you been to the Fire station in NY? “I sadly have never visited the fire station...definitely something I need to do.”

Now we all understand Ghostbusters now, but it seemed a crazy idea back in 1984... How was it described to you? “They were very secretive while auditioning... we were not told the story line

...I am trying to remember when I eventually

was given the script????” 

I suddenly realised that I was going on and on about Ghostbusters when she had done so much more! I also noticed that I was nealy down to just the froth on my Cappuccino.

I know I keep talking about Ghostbusters, sorry... “No worries, I love talking Ghostbusters”

You played regular characters in both Another world & Charles in charge? “When I got the part I was so excited...I was nervous because 

I had always had a little crush on Scott Baio..."

What washe like, did he live up to your expectations? "He was great.. he ended up becoming like a brother to me...I learned a lot from working with Scott and Willie Aames...Willie by the way is one of my best friends...we do a radio show together with Susan Olsen called F.L.U.I.D. Amazing after 30 years Willie and I are working together again...”

Now you played two different characters in Murder she wrote, only a couple of years apart.. Did you ever question that? Did you ever wonder that people would realise? Is this a common thing to happen? “Murder She Wrote did this quite often...I wasn't the first to do multiple episodes...I remember someone telling me Angela liked bringing people back...

…she was wonderful by the way...”

You were in 18 again with the incomparable George Burns, what was he like? “Eighteen Again was another one I had such a positive experience filming...I loved the cast and crew..George Burns was so dear...always telling amazing stories and singing little tunes... "

And was that cigar always burning?

 "...yes he had a chair that followed him around with an ashtray attached and a cigar always lit...I adored him.”

As a very attractive girl in Hollywood, you must have had some attention from actors?! Do you   have any good stories? “You are very kind, but I really was very shy. I never felt comfortable with the whole "Hollywood"   scene. I was pretty much a homebody when I wasn't working...oh dear...that sounds so boring and  sad..LOL...”

No, it sounded rather sensible I thought! 

Your dad James R Runyon was a DJ, did you have an interesting childhood? Were you surrounded by music royalty? Did he ever want you to go into the music biz?  “I never got to meet any music royalty..but my Mom and Dad certainly did... they met the Beatles back in the day...but I was too young to appreciate how cool that was...the cool part about my parents being DJ's was listening to them on the radio every morning while getting ready for school...”

And you have some pretty big named in-laws? It must be excellent at weddings & Christmas?! Have you worked with your husband or in-laws? “Yes Roger Corman asked me to do a movie for him called Carnasaur, I was 4 months pregnant with my son at the time..I didn't tell him..I wanted so badly to do the movie. I also did a movie for my father-in-law Gene Corman called A Man Called Sarge, we shot the movie in Israel and had such a great time...the cast was wonderful...”

So you must get loads, but what is your best piece of fan mail to date? “I'm not sure I have a favorite, I'm always so touched someone took the time to write to me...”   

And what would your dream role be?  “My dream role..hmmmm...I always wanted to be in a western...I love westerns...”

I tipped the last bit of foam into my mouth and checked my watch... I was going to be late for my lecture... One... or maybe two questions and I had to go!

So, going back to Ghostbusters just for a second, do you think Peter Venkman and the student did meet up at 8 o'clock?  “I like to think they did...but I believe he got tied up in the library investigating ...”

And lastly, are you afraid of ghosts?  “No...I've had a few experiences...I'm fascinated...”

thanked Jennifer, grabbed my briefcase and dashed out of the cafeteria, that was fantastic, what a coup... Jennifer Runyon... Wow! I was going to be late I knew it, I was going to get in trouble and miss some of the lecture... But hey, call it fate, call it Karma, I believe things happen for a reason... And anyway my students could wait another 10 minutes...

For more information on Jennifer go to:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennifer_Runyon

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001690/

http://ghostbusters.wikia.com/wiki/Jennifer_Runyon

The woman behind the slime - an interview with Robin Shelby

"What the hell was that?" I thought, as I looked down at my shoe. I had stepped on some kind of goo... Green goo... disgusting green goo... 

I put my hand out to steady myself while I inspected my sole, but to my utter horror my outstretched hand connected with another glob of this green stuff. What was it? I smelt it... no odour. So curious, I thought. After collecting a sample to inspect in the lab later I looked for something to wipe it off with, but there was nothing. Where was the bathroom? I wasn't happy wiping it on my clothes, I mean they weren't anything special, but lord only knew what this stuff was.

Then a sudden noise stopped me in my tracks. This place was meant to be empty, but there was definitely something or somebody here and I felt the hairs on the back of neck begin to rise. Everybody knew the rumours about this place and the... happenings. Things flying about by themselves, strange laughter, sightings of things... ghostly things...

"H...H...Hello," I stuttered... "Is anybody there?" 

My heart pounded and armed with an old tennis racket - the only thing I could find to defend myself with - I tentatively inched towards the room the sound was coming from. As I got to the door, I took a deep breath, quietly counted...one...two... and then on "Three!" barged into the room, shouting and brandishing my weapon. I will never be sure what I expected to see that day, but what I did see was possibly the last thing I could ever have imagined.

There, sitting at a table just about to bite into a very tasty-looking sandwich was Robin Shelby: actress, stunt-woman, producer, costume character performer and the woman behind Ghostbusters' 'Slimer'! And she looked as surprised as me!

Quick as a flash, I dropped my tennis racket and joined her at the table. I was starving and that sandwich did look good, but more than that. I was more interested in getting to know her.

So, how did you get the part in 'Ghostbusters 2'? Were you trained in puppetry?

"I worked at ILM on the film 'Willow' (where I played a troll on a bridge that gets eaten by a two headed Hydra monster), and about a year later I was called in to audition for 'Slimer'. When they had lost the actor originally scheduled to play Slimer because of scheduling conflicts, they had remembered me from Willow and decided to call me in.  As far as puppetry goes, this was a job that was more a full body costumed character, not so much what I would consider a 'puppet'.  I was lucky that they were able to see what I could do in a full body costume with Willow."

So was the job advertised?

"They went to my agency to contact me for an audition.  I don’t believe there was any advertisement done."

It must have been an interesting audition? What did you have to do?

"They gave me a few scenarios that Slimer may be in to portray and see what energy and character I would bring.  I’m a fairly hyper and expressive person by nature…so it seemed to be a really good fit right away."

That costume was big, what was it like inside Slimer? Was he hard to manoeuvre?

"It took rehearsals and some getting used to, but after a few weeks of working with the team at ILM and watching rehearsals through a monitor so I could see what it all looked like,  it got easier as we approached shooting."

And heavy I bet?!

"For me, that was the biggest challenge.  The head had motors, wires, cable…you name it.  That was needed as every section of his face could be manipulated by puppeteers off camera.  The eyes, lips, nose, cheeks, eyebrows…everything was movable to create the amazing expressions that Slimer was capable of.  So that definitely meant there was some weight to wearing the costume."

And hot!!

"It was very hot, but they were so amazing about making sure all was well, and taking pretty regular breaks to cool off and get some water.  The good news…no gym was needed when I was working.  The sweat from the costume was more than enough."


While we laughed Robin could obviously sense me scanning the table; the bread, the cheese, the tomatoes and the large jar of mayonnaise. She handed me a knife and pushed the ingredients towards me. Oh yes, I thought and grabbed some bread...

So could you see inside him? Or hear? 

"Yes, I could see out of the mouth (when the mouth was open).  With the servos in the head running, it was equivalent to what you would hear in a noisy airplane." 

Oh, so how on earth did you take direction?
"Tim Lawrence who was directing me at ILM would basically have to almost shout direction out, but he was wonderful in making sure I was clear in what he was asking for."

And what was Ivan Reitman like to work for and as a person?  

"He came to ILM for a couple of days to relay what he needed from the special effects shots and the crew at ILM.  He wasn’t there at the time we were shooting, but knew what he was going for."

What about the guys? Did you get to meet them?

"All of Slimer's scenes were shot in front of a blue screen in Northern California, and then was later added to what had already been shot with the actors on set.  Because of that, technically I didn’t have to ever be in the same room with them or meet them at all.  I have been very lucky to have met some of the cast since then.

Bill Murray also showed up at ILM around the time Ivan was there.  He hung out with us, gave some input with Ivan, and also was goofing around as you might expect.  I was in awe of him and his work, and being basically almost a kid myself then…I was so nervous meeting him, but he quickly put me (and everyone else) at ease with him being around.  Such a great, funny man."

It must have been crushing for all who knew him when Harold Ramis passed away, do you remember where you were when you found out?

"Yes, I was at my computer and my Facebook blew up almost right away.  Started with a message, a few comments and then I went to check a news site and it confirmed it.  I was devastated as many were."

I grabbed the giant jar of mayo and slopped in on my bread. It got me thinking about Slimer.

OK… So being a ghost, Slimer must have once been a human. What do you think he was like, and why was he forced to spend the afterlife as a ‘disgusting green blob’?

"You know, while we were shooting, I was more focused on trying to outwit Lewis a bit, eating any food Slimer could get in his mouth (of course) and keeping that fun, manic energy about him.  I personally found Slimer pretty adorable…but I’m biased."

Slamming one slice of bread against the other I picked up my creation, and just before taking a
gigantic mouthful asked:

So do you get many gifts? The fans must be crazy! Do you enjoy seeing the fanart and reading the fanfiction?

"Yes, I do events and almost always am surprised with an amazing gift or two from a fan.  My husband last year set out to get as many franchise patches he could to put on a jacket for me.  The response was overwhelming.  The GB fans have always been so generous and just wonderful with me.  Definitely a mutual admiration society between me and the fans."

How lovely I thought. What a truly lovely woman. I smiled; a full smile, showing more than just teeth and gums, a smile revealing a mush of bread, lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise. Oh so much mayonnaise. I must have looked a sight! I quickly finished my mouthful, and downplaying my embarrassment carried on with my questions.

How does it feel to know that you were part of such an iconic film franchise?

"I feel so lucky to be even a small part of such a talented group of people and a wonderful franchise.  I’ll never take it for granted." 

When was the last time you saw it?

"I watched the re-mastered Anniversary Edition about a week ago.  Still made me laugh, which is 

testament to how good the writing and cast really was."

I can watch the films, and have watched them100 times and never tire of them. OOh, I thought maybe she would know...?

Do you know if 'Ghostbusters 3' will ever be made, and how could it now without Harold?

"I have heard so many different things about  GB3, it’s hard to get involved until it’s something that is concrete.  If they do make it, I truly hope it’s made because it’s a script that can hold up to the first two…and makes the fans happy again."

When was the last time you went to the firehouse?

"I sadly have never been to the firehouse.  I hope to change that soon."

Right, however much I wanted to talk about 'Ghostbusters', Robin has done so much more! 

Now you worked with Eddie Murphy on 'Beverly Hills Cop 3', what was that like?

"That was also a character costume.  I played the “fox” in the park that Eddie Murphy sees dancing in a character show in the park and ends up on stage in the show.  It was so much fun…got to be back in Santa Clara at Great America where it was shot, and got to work with a great group of people."

What is Eddie like? He is such a funny guy, was he a clown on set?

"We didn’t do a lot of interaction with Eddie on the days that we shot.  We had our dance rehearsals to get our stuff perfect, and Eddie and the characters we were playing were brought together at the last moment to shoot.  Even though the film wasn’t really seen as a critical success, you can still see Eddie’s comic brilliance shine through Beverly Hills Cop 3 as well."

And you were in 'Cybill'… I was a 'Moonlighting' fanatic, so I

hope she was nice… Was she? Is she just as beautiful up close?

"She definitely is as beautiful up close, and was a work-horse who was very driven to get a good product on set.  As I found out watching her, helming a popular TV show isn’t for the faint of heart.  I think sometimes that drive and determination can be taken the wrong way and people can be misunderstood and sometimes misjudged."


I took the last bite of my sandwich and wiped the excess mayonnaise from around my mouth, one more question I thought.

So, Robin, do you believe in ghosts?
"Truth is... I believe that spirits exist, and I do have a certain respect and fear for the paranormal."

Good answer! Yes, this had been so much better than seeing a ghost I thought, so much better. Mind you, I could have done with some chips...





For more info about Robin go to:
www.robinshelby.com
www.imdb.com/name/nm0623123/
ghostbusters.wikia.com/wiki/Robin_Shelby