The Green Room

By: Jason M Burns
Suddenly there is a new star on the horizon and not the kind that fades away and falls to the earth. This one is poised to be the next big thingboth in his career and in the way he keeps packing on the pounds. Matt Schulze is Vin; the greasy road racer that opposes pretty boy Paul Walker in the surprise summer hit "The Fast and the Furious." If you remember him more than you probably should, there is a reason for that. His screen presence is commanding and if there is a scene that he is involved with, you better believe you're focused on everything he is doing.

Matt is paving himself a career highway complete with smart decisions and the proof is in the pudding by looking at his next role. He will land in another "Hollywood" film, opposite Wesley Snipes in the feature sequel Blade 2. He not only donned a mohawk but also hit the gym to bulk up even more than he did when racing cars in a 100 million-dollar moneymaker.

I caught up with Matt early in the morning while he was back at home in Los Angeles.

MS: How are you?
JB: Good, and yourself?
MS: I'm alive.
JB: That's always a good sign. Hold on one second. I'm going to try and turn the volume up on my phone. I'm having a hard time hearing you.
MS: I speak lightly.
He certainly does. It definitely is not the kind of voice you would expect from the rowdy, in your face Vince. I told you this guy could act.
JB: There we go. First off let me congratulate you on being involved with a film that has made over 100 million dollarsThe Fast & Furious.
MS: Thank you.
JB: That's got to be a good feeling?
MS: Yeah. You always set out to try and be in something that's going to be successful and when something like this happens it's kind of overwhelming.
JB: Does it make you feel that your stock has risen in the eyes of casting directors?
MS: In certain ways, yes and no. I've always tried to set out and be the best at what I do but now I get recognized on a larger scale. So yes, I guess it does have an affect.
JB: Have you already started to reap the benefits of that as far as getting auditions that you may not have before?
MS: Yeah. I mean I don't generally go on auditions anymore just meetings and things like that, which is a nice thing. So, I've raised to that level. But with acting you're always raising and now I'm reaching for the next direction. This movie is something that is not necessarily the type of films that I want to be representing at all times. I want to do more artistic style films and hopefully I'll be able to do that now.
JB: The Fast & the Furious was obviously geared towards young males. Was it a surprise for you when it opened at number 1 and made 40 million in its first weekend?
MS: (Laughter) What has been a surprise for me is that a lot of adults love the film. They walk away from the movie feeling very happy and excited. That was the only surprise I really had. I knew the film was going to be a success I just didn't know on what level. But, when it opened at number 1 and did 40 million out of the box - it was pretty unbelievable. Also, people are really supportive of the whole cast for some reason. Maybe it's like a spiritual connection, I don't know. (Laughter)
JB: So you've seen yourself being recognized more since the film has been released?
MS: Yeah, people go crazy, especially kids. They love it. It's been nice.
Being noticed is something that Matt needs to get used to. If things continue the way they seem to be headed, he will be in contention for the often talked about and absurdly ridiculous Hollywood, "It" list. (I say "it" is ridiculous because I am not on it.)
JB: What about taking a role and physically changing yourself into each part that you play?
MS: This role I did. Before I got the role I was 160lbs. When I started working I was 203 and then with the last movie I did I got up to 225lbs. (Blade 2) I'm always changing. It's funny that I'm getting these more physical roles where I'm an action hero because it's not what I set out to be. I do enjoy it; it is just that I don't want to forget about the other side.
I want to have a balance with doing this and doing films with people like David Lynch - people on the opposite spectrum.
JB: Something that I thought was funny in your bio was that it mentions you grew a full beard for the role as if it was a life-changing event. Is growing a beard that significant?
MS: The funny thing is, I didn't have to do anything. It was originally geared as a teen movie and I showed up with a beard and all of these things that I don't think they necessarily wanted. I was to be more clean cut and they fought me the whole way because I refused to fit into that system. I think in turn it made my character stand out more. In any type of teen movie you don't really see somebody that is covered in grease with a beard. (Laughter) So we kind of went against the norm in what moviegoers were used to. To you or me growing a beard and putting on all of this weight may not be a big deal but in the system of Hollywood it is something that you have to fight for.
JB: So it was your choice to put on the weight as well?
MS: Yeah. Everything was my choice. I tried to be the exact opposite of what Paul Walker was so I dirtied myself to oblivion to counteract him. Normally I looked sort of what Paul would look like. We looked like brothers so I was like; "I have to completely change my look so that there is no confusion.
I don't see how the two would have ever looked the same. It's time to dig up old Matt films to test my theory.
JB: You've also been shooting Blade 2 but you were in the first as well?
MS: Yeah, I was basically an extra in it. I was up for one of the lead roles and I wasn't ready or whatever - I was young. I was 23.
JB: Now what are you playing in the sequel?
MS: I have more of a lead character. I play this guy named Chupa and it's sort of like this Vietnam crew is assembled and I'm one of the leaders. We go into Prague trying to fight these reapers that have taken over the city. It's cool. It's futuristic but yet there is really no timeline on it. There is more of a story than the first movie and visually the director added more colors.
JB: Do you think this one will match the first in terms of popularity and fan response?
MS: Yeah, I think it's better. It's a different style. I think people are going to love it - I really do.
Fans of Goth lifestyle and fantasy films did turn out for the first installment in droves. Judging by all of the Internet talk going on about the sequel, there should be no problem making a line form outside of the theater. Time for the puns: They'll "sink their teeth" in it. No one will think it "sucks." They'll go "batty." There, that's enough.
JB: You started in music. How did acting become a part of your life?
MS: I think with music, I was overly sensitive, so therefore I had a harder time expressing myself in public with it. I originally came to Hollywood to be a studio musician and when I was 17 I taught music - I had 65 students a week. When I was here I was overwhelmed that you could actually make a living being yourself, but also playing characters. I had never been open to that before and I was swarmed as soon as I got here.
JB: You're living in Los Angeles. It seems that people like that city when things are going good and dislike it when things aren't. Does that sound familiar?
MS: I think that this is a very creative place to be. In one way it is sort of like Dante's Inferno because it sucks you in and dealing with the magnitude of everyone is based on the outside image. It eats away at you whether you are doing well or you're not successful. It doesn't matter. You still feel that surge in your stomach that it is tearing away at you. It's a love/hate relationship I have. (Laughter) I can't ever say that I'm fully happy here. I have to try and get out to see reality.
JB: LA often feels like you're in a bubble.
MS: You are. It feels like almost the rest of the world doesn't exist. It's a very misleading thing. It's an illusion here. It makes life seem as though it is a dream.
JB: It seems that one of the perks to being an actor is having the ability to costar with some of the most beautiful women in the world. Is that just a perk in my eyes - the eye of the moviegoer?
MS: It is a perk. It doesn't hurt. It's funny because a lot of these girls come from a background of a more pure type. (Laughter) And I came from all this debauchery, the street - all this crap. It's funny to have these two elements mix inside of a scene. That's what I enjoy about acting. You get a cluster of people that are really entirely different and you see what you can bring to the table as an individual.
JB: Who would be the ultimate perk?
MS: I enjoy working with all of them. (Laughter) If I single out any of them I'll get in trouble.
JB: You mentioned that you had a pretty ruff background growing up. Do you find that your type of roots is a scarcity in Hollywood?
MS: Yeah. I think it's really rare that you actually find people that have character anymore. I want to bring back that American icon stuff. If that will work within this system, I don't know. It may have an easier time working amongst the independent area.
JB: Let's say you woke up tomorrow morning and you were the biggest star on the planet. What would keep you grounded?
MS: The fact that spiritually I'm nowhere near where I should be. I'm trying to obtain a certain level of enlightenment through all the pain I went through to find happiness. I think that's what would keep me grounded.
JB: So is the next project you pick going to be less Hollywood and more indie?
MS: I say that but I know what's going to happen. (Laughter) I'm gonna end up doing another huge film but I have to continue to follow this path. Like I said, hopefully by doing this it will open the doors to meet the people I want to work with.
JB: As mentioned you had to bulk up for the role but with all of the empty carbs would you actually choose a bulky role when making a sandwich?
MS: (Silence) Yes. Of course! I love French rolls.