Canadian actor Quinn Lord has done more before his 10th birthday than most actors have accomplished in their entire careers. A true prodigy, the über bright young thespian is an eloquent, funny, quick study who is as fascinated by the technical side of film as he is of the creative.
Quinn can currently be seen in the Warner Bros. feature film "Trick R' Treat," an anthology of four Halloween-related horror stories, starring as the lead role of "Sam" out on DVD and Blue Ray on October 6, 2009. In this macabre horror anthology, 'Trick R Treat' features the mysterious trick or treater Sam, who wears a burlap sack with button eyes for a mask and is always in the background of each story until taking center stage for the final spooky segment. It's very good, and scary.
Born to be in the spotlight, Quinn is one of the most watched emerging talents in the entertainment industry today.
Quinn has had a love for acting since he was two years old. From the moment he could speak, Quinn's love for improv and his knack for storytelling were apparent, and this spurred his parents to enroll him in a children’s improv class.
At five years old, Quinn had booked his first role in a television commercial and by age six had appeared in over twenty-five commercials and was ready to take
His first television role was for "Terminal City" in which he played the role of “Marmaduke.” Some of Quinn’s most notable work to date includes appearing in the dramatic feature film "Things We Lost In The Fire" as “Cousin Joel” alongside Oscar winners Halle Berry and Benicio Del Toro, and the Christmas comedy "Deck The Halls" with Danny DeVito and Matthew Broderick.
He has also done voice work, starring as the lead voice “Linus” in "Peanuts" for Warner Bros.
By age 10, Quinn has worked on the productions of "Blade," "The L-Word," "Stargate SG-1," and "Supernatural."
Quinn can be seen currently in the Warner Bros. feature film "Trick R' Treat," an anthology of four Halloween-related horror stories, starring as the lead role of "Sam" out on DVD and Blue Ray on October 6, 2009.
In this macabre horror anthology, 'Trick R Treat' features the mysterious trick or treater Sam who wears a burlap sack with button eyes for a mask and is always in the background of each story, until taking center stage for the final spooky segment. It's very good, and scary.
In addition, Quinn has four projects in the works, including two films which premiered at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). "The Hole," a 3-D film, directed by Joe Dante and starring Nathan Gamble and Haley Bennett, is the story of two brothers who stumble upon a mysterious hole in their basement that leads to the darkest corridors of their fears and nightmares. Quinn stars as Julie Campbell’s (Haley Bennett) most terrifying childhood fear. It is scheduled for release in 2010.
This coming Christmas day, December 25, 2009, Quinn can be seen in the highly anticipated feature film, "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus," directed by Terry Gilliam.
Monsters and Critics sat down with this dynamo kid and picked his brain about film, life, and what he knew about it all so far.
Quinn, at such a young age you have done so much. What is the work to date you are most proud of, and why?
Quinn: I am most proud of 'Trick 'R Treat' because Sam could be an icon for Halloween and that is really, really cool!
And the Hole because it is my first 3-D film. And I love creeping people out. Oh and Joe Dante said a reviewer said 'I have seen Joe Dante's Hole and it doesn't stink' (laughs) And it really doesn't, it's an awesome movie. It smells like roses!
Being in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus was a dream come true, Terry Gilliam has millions of creative and cool ideas. I loved it so much I have watched it three times at screenings, and I notice different things everytime I watch it, it's so cool!
Quinn: Well, I will have to say the special effects team who did the Lord of the Rings movies for sure! They were really good, they had like three horses and used the effects to make them into a ginormous amount!
The Helms Deep scene was a mini model and they added mostly CGI to it with a bit of real footage, well the people were real and they duplicated them. I love watching the behind the scenes and special features for films, I can learn alot that way! Ironman has really great effects, there is lots of CGI in that one.
I love when he builds his own version of his suit and learns to fly, it's hilarious!Any film you can site as an example that made you interested in this element of filmmaking?
Quinn: Army of Darkness! I love it because it's a cheesy horror comedy. I like that Ash has a chainsaw for a hand and his trusty boomstick close at hand.
If I had the Necronomicon I would raise an army of the dead and have one big undead party and invite Bruce Campbell!
Then we would all go and play a huge multiplayer game of Halo, Zombies against the humans, then maybe have a big slumber party and order from Zombieway, eat flesh! I made that up, it sounds like Subway, eat fresh! I love Subway!
It's a fun movie just like 'Trick 'R Treat.'Vancouver is one of my favorite cities. Tell me where you take your friends visiting (that have never been there before), what restaurants, spots, sights, places, that are most special to you?
There is Stanley Park, Science World, hockey games and also the aquarium. My favorite restaurant is Cin Cin for the Penne Alfredo!
There is a Zombie Walk event, but I didn't know about it. I will go and be a zombie for sure next year!You worked with Danny DeVito, on "Deck the Halls." Was he hilarious to work with? Any good stories from that set?
Quinn: Danny Devito was really nice, we talked about school and math, he's pretty funny! The most fun on set was having a snowball fight with the fake snow, it was a little hard to make them but still as fun to throw at people!You also worked on the Terry Gilliam film. Gilliam is such an interesting man, do you have any great stories from that set, with such a diverse cast and amazing crew?
Quinn: Terry Gilliam is amazing! He has so many creative ideas, everything comes from his own brain. His artwork is really cool too! I like new and unique ideas and it's really fun to stretch your imagination like he does.
I try to write unique scripts for fun and it's hard to write something that has not ever been written before. There are lots of very talented people in the film and I was lucky to get to meet and work with some of them.
It was sad on the set when I was there because of what happened to Heath. Everyone was finishing the film for Heath Ledger which is really cool; everyone missed him a lot.
Favorite Canadian TV show:
Quinn: That would be 'How it's Made,' I love watching that one!Favorite American TV show:
Quinn: I love 'House', he is so sarcastic. I love that! And 'Fringe', Walter is hilarious!Favorite(s) actor(tress) you want to work with:
Quinn: Ben Stiller, Tom Cruise and Johnny Depp for guys! And Jodie Foster and Drew Barrymore for the girls!Best Ice Cream you ever had was:
Quinn: Tiger ice cream and chocolate chip mint are my favorites.Secret guilty food pleasure:
Quinn: Arrowroot baby cookies, shh don't tell anyone!Last meal you ate was:
Quinn: Penne Alfredo, I would eat it everyday if my mom would let me.Animals you have owned or will own:
Quinn: I have owned pet Chinchillas and a rat. I would like my next pet to be one that cannot poop! Maybe a robotic hamster or dog or something. Or, a cat that goes in the toilet like my on-set tutor has.
Quinn: When all the good donuts are gone when I get to Craft Services!Favorite subject in school is:
Quinn: Definitely Math and Science, I love technology... History too!Music on your iPod you are listening to right now:
Quinn: The theme song from Portal, The Stones, some 80's hits and The Black Eyed Peas. Oh, and Monster Mash.If you didn't act (or have interest in performing), you would be preparing to be a:
Quinn: Something to do with technology. I love thinking about ways to make the future really cool!Most underrated comedian, in your estimation:
Quinn: Thomas Lennon, who is Ned in '17 Again' is really funny, maybe he's not underrated though. I don't know, but I like his humor!
Quinn: In ten years I hope I am acting in and directing Holographic films. That is one of my dreams. It might be harder for wardrobe and hair people because you will see the actors from all sides!
Everyone will get to be inside the film, there are alot of things that have to be worked out for it to happen. Theatres would be different. Maybe the audience would interact with the characters and the film would be different each time because of the audience. That would be cool.
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