Ian Whyte might not be a familiar name and – until recently – he wasn’t even a familiar face, but Ian has acted in a number of high profile projects and pivotal roles in both television and film.

Remember the gigantic Engineer in Prometheus? That’s him.

The White Walker in the very first episode of Game of Thrones? Ian.

The flame-sworded Reaper in Solomon Kane? Ian.

Think what you will of the much-maligned Alien vs Predator ‘franchise’, we can all at least agree that the Predator is an ice-cold badass. And yep, Ian played him too. Twice.

Often the ‘man in the suit’ is the unsung hero in the world of film and TV, but he’s begun shedding the mask and has recently appeared in Game of Thrones as Ser Gregor Clegane, proving he’s one of the most diverse actors working in the industry.

He is also incredibly tall. We had to say it here. Seriously. He’s 7 foot 1 inch! Yet rather than being an imposing scary bastard he’s – seriously – one of the nicest blokes you could ever meet. Ever. Patient, kind, funny, a total gentleman and a dedicated family man.

As versatile as they come, Ian enjoyed a period as a professional basketball player with a 9 year international career, clocking up 80 caps for England, before hanging up his oversized shirts and moving into a very different career.

Luckily b-ball’s loss was our gain as Ian jumped straight into acting and – after a number of years doing some particularly spectacular work – he very kindly accepted a role in Bloody Cuts’ “Don’t Move“, bringing his immense talent to our eighth episode as the “Demon”.

And he was fantastic.

Fully masked, clawed, and forced to wear a huge black rag that accidentally acted like a giant banana-skin (sorry Ian!), he took the role of the Demon in his (immense) stride, providing an incredibly imposing monster that dominated every moment he was on screen.

We had the pleasure of interviewing Ian about his work on “Don’t Move” and beyond, so sit back, relax, and read what our unmasked Demon has to say…

BLOODY CUTS: Firstly, lets get a little bit of background on you – how did you get started in acting?

IAN WHYTE: Well, you know when actors say, “I was in the right place at the right time!” Or “The phone just rang one day!” Well that’s what happened! The truth is I didn’t really know I wanted to be an actor until I was given an opportunity to be one and I grabbed hold of that opportunity and didn’t let go! That opportunity was Alien Vs. Predator back in 2003 and it was a baptism of fire quite literally!

BC: It’s more than likely that a large percentage of our readers will have seen you in films or TV on more than one occasion, and probably not even realised it! Can you tell us some of the roles that we might have seen you in?

IW: Yes, I am the most unrecognisable actor nobody’s ever heard of! I was the Predator in Alien Vs. Predator and the sequel AVP: Requiem. I have been in two Harry Potter films doubling for Francis De La Tour… (I had lovely frocks!) I played the Devil’s Reaper in a film called Solomon Kane which I always say is the best fantasy film nobody’s ever seen! I was Sheikh Sulieman in Clash of the Titans and I was the Engineer in Ridley Scott’s Prometheus… amongst others!

BC: And out of those, who has been your favourite character to play and why?

IW: Well, they all mean a great deal to me for different reasons. The Predator is one of the most iconic characters of Sci-Fi ever conceived and it was my first film. Being in a Harry Potter film surrounded by denizens of film and theatre was just a magnificent experience and a great way to learn on the job! The Engineer was a figment of Ridley Scott’s imagination for over 30 years, to finally bring that to life was an absolute honour. But if you put a gun to my head and say: “Choose ONE” I would have to say the Wolf in AVP: Requiem. The film was cooly received that must be said, but I put so much work into preparing for that role and had so much more of opportunity to explore its character… I’m still quite proud of it!

BC: You’re currently playing Gregor Clegane (and the White Walker!) in Game of Thrones. What’s it been like to be in such a highly regarded and popular TV show?

IW: I’m actually playing “The Giant” in season 3 (episode 1) and I do hope we get to see more of him, he really was an awesome character to play and ironically, the first time I’ve actually played a PROPER giant! George R.R. Martin has created such a vast and wonderfully diverse stage for actors, so it’s an absolute privilege to be a part of something that is proving to be so popular and is so lovingly adapted from its source.

BC: Onto Bloody Cuts, and your starring role in “Don’t Move”. What first attracted you to the project?

IW: Quite simply I love playing this sort of character. As an actor you can watch people getting on the bus, or having a coffee, or walking down the street, but you can’t watch a demon eviscerating a helpless victim. That you have to make up, so I love the creative process involved in just inventing this sort of reality.

BC: Your performance in “Don’t Move” is so well played that it’s easy to forget there’s a human under all of that monster makeup! How long did it take you to work out the movement and physical performance of the character?

IW: That’s the trick isn’t it; convincing the audience that you’re not an actor! When a character is so well defined by it’s look, you never really know how it’s going to play until you get in full costume for the first time. I had a basic set of criteria that I wanted to use based on other characters that I have played, but it really comes down to the moment you are there doing it with the other actors, on location… being inventive.

BC: What’s it like wearing prosthetic makeup, it must be quite an endurance test?

IW: Well, yes, it is, but it’s something that you get used to and really, the only thing you should be concerned about is delivering a performance for the director. After all, it’s not the makeup or the costume that’s telling me how to act.

BC: What’s your favourite memory from the shoot itself?

IW: I actually made a lot of new friends on the shoot and reconnected with a few old ones which was great.

BC: Cliff Wallace is a bit of a legend in makeup, what was it like to work with him and what did you think when you first saw his design of the Demon?

IW: Cliff was great! I first saw his design about a week before the shoot, I thought it had a beautiful simplicity… absolutely not the sort of thing you’d want to find lurking in the shadows of your own house!

BC: If there was a “Don’t Move 2″ or a “Don’t Move” feature – would you be interested in putting on the Demon makeup again?

IW: HELL YEAH!… is there?

BC: No comment! Finally, we know you’re a very busy man, so what do you have planned over the coming months and what else might we be seeing you in?

IW: I’m off to parts foreign very soon to begin shooting a studio feature… very exciting stuff!

BC: Good luck with that – we look forward to seeing it!

For more information on Ian Whyte check out his website HERE, have a gander as his impressive filmography HERE and socially appreciate him on Twitter HERE.

And, if you haven’t seen it (where’ve you been?!) check him out in Bloody Cuts episode 8 “Don’t Move” below:

‘Don’t Move’ won!

For those who aren’t aware, ‘Don’t Move’ was one of three finalists in the Popcorn Horror ‘Blood Games’ competition held at the Texas Frightmare convention.

Voted in second by the public vote – damn those cheeky public-people! – ‘Don’t Move’ was subsequently screened at the Texas Frightmare convention, alongside first place ‘Blood Roulette’ and third place ‘Twinkle Toes’.

These three game-based horror shorts were watched by a horror-loving crowd in Texas, which included ‘Queen of the Cyber-Goths’ Gabrielle Faust.

Miss Faust was also the Judge and Jury (and possible executioner) for Popcorn Horror, there to decide which short would be crowned the victor of the Popcorn Horror ‘Blood Games’ competition.

We waited. We bit our nails. We prayed to a goat-headed deity called Mr Bobbinsack.

And we won.

We freakin’ WON!

Gabrielle Faust first broke the news over at the Texas Frightmare Facebook page. Rather than paraphrase her beautiful words, we’ve cut ‘n’ pasted them in all their enthusiastic glory below:

“And the winner of the BLOOD GAMES short horror film competition is…. “DON’T MOVE” by BloodCuts!!!

Congratulations to BloodyCuts, as well as all of our finalists! YOU GUYS ROCK!!!!!!

And thank you to Evil Jester Press and Popcorn Horror for all of their hard work organizing and promoting this film contest! Let’s do this again next year! Cheers!

Check out “DON’T MOVE” and the other finalist films at http://www.popcornhorror.com/bloodgames”

This was also confirmed on the Popcorn Horror Facebook page:

“We are very pleased to announce that the final winner of our Blood Game’s competition is Bloody Cut’s Don’t Move! Massive congratulations to everyone involved with Bloody Cuts.

Thank you also to everyone who submitted films, promoted the competition and voted, as well as our partners Gabrielle Faust, Evil Jester Press and Texas Frightmare Weekend”

When asked his thoughts on this superbness, ‘Don’t Move’ director Anthony Melton said:

“Wow! I received the news that “Don’t Move” had won the Blood Games short film competition earlier today and I’ve been grinning from ear to ear ever since. I am so pleased for the whole of the Bloody Cuts team as winning this competition is a public recognition of all the hard work and generosity that went into making “Don’t Move” a reality.”

Anthony continues: “Big thanks to “Popcorn Horror” and “Frightmare” for allowing us the exposure at such a prestigious event and further thanks go to everyone who voted the film into the final 3 of the competition. Last and most definitely not least, huge respect goes to our Kickstarters and Contributors. Your support makes Bloody Cuts possible, we are very happy that you are enjoying the series. BE TERRIFIED.”

Fine words from a damn fine man.

A truly spectacular result and an absolute honour.

To celebrate, watch it again:

If you happen to be in Texas this weekend why not pop on by to Frightmare, one for the US’s most prestigious horror festivals.

Amongst a boiling cauldron of events, screenings and panels, you’ll find none other than Bloody Cuts’ own “Don’t Move” playing in the “Popcorn Horror” short film programme.

I’d like to offer many thanks to Popcorn Horror for affording us the opportunity to take part in the Blood Games competition, and bow down in evil ceremony to Frightmare for showing episode 8 of the Bloody Cuts series.

Be Terrified.

If you cant make it… then watch “Don’t Move” right here.

Second the best!

That’s the schoolyard chant we’re going to clutch onto after ‘Don’t Move’ came second in the Popcorn Horror Blood Games competition.

Boo hiss etc… I know, I know, but we’re okay. Anthony’s not come out of his dungeon yet and Ben is still sacrificing goats in an attempt to reverse time, but unfortunately we’re not wearing our winning pants today. Or any pants, for that matter.

The first place beat us by a good few votes, which were generated by ‘likes’ via the book of Faces.

You should check out the winning short HERE

We won’t reveal why it’s called Blood Roulette, but it’s definitely a game Basildon Casino won’t be emulating soon…

Naturally we’re disappointed ‘Don’t Move’ didn’t win the public vote (I blame Simon Cowell), but we can only presume we lost because all of our friends actually hate us….

…or that Blood Roulette is a better film than ‘Don’t Move’. Let us know your thoughts on that – drop us an e-mail at hello@bloodycuts.co.uk or smack some love / hate over to Twitter @BloodyCutsFilms

So, what does coming second place in Popcorn Horror’s awesome competition actually mean? It means something pretty freakin’ awesome is what.

‘Don’t Move’ is now officially part of the Texas Frightmare convention this coming weekend.

What’s Texas Frightmare?

You don’t know? For shame! 50 lashes and a chainsaw up the jacksy. Fair punishment for such horroring ignorance.

It’s South-West America’s premier horror convention, held annually in Dallas, and delivers a host of films, workshops, talks and photo ops with all your horror favourites.

Seriously, though, it looks absolutely ace and our brutal little short will be mixing with the likes of Ben Wheatley’s (fantastic) Sightseers, Neil Jordan’s Byzantium, talks from the cast of Pet Cemetery, Lords of Salem & The Frighteners and appearances from people like Tom Savini, Jeffrey Combs, Stuart Gordon, Danny Trejo and the Busey family… in a ‘talk’ called “Busey vs Busey”. I’m not even joking. Jake vs Gary. Expect insanity!

Check out full details HERE

So, will anyone from Bloody Cuts be in attendance at Texas Frightmare?

Do you own a teleporter? No? Then probably not…

Unfortunately BC Towers is located in a small space-rift between Norfolk and London and this tear in the universe doesn’t quite reach Texas. We have chainsaws, we’re willing to massacre, but unfortunately our lack of Texas spoils everything once more.

Maybe next year?

We’re incredibly proud of ‘Don’t Move’ and even prouder to have it shown at such a prestigious horror convention.

Our thanks go out to the 782 Facebook friends who helped generate enough support to get Episode 8 to Texas and also to those who shared, e-mailed and shoved this competition under the noses of friends, family, strangers and deadly enemies. Thank you!

On an even potentially-awesomer note (yes, ‘potentially-awesomer’ – copyright Scullion 2013) the Popcorn Horror Blood Games showcase will be judged by Gabrielle Faust and she – oh Queen of the cyber Goths – will choose which short out of ‘Blood Roulette’, ‘Don’t Move’ and ‘Twinkle Toes’ is crowned king of Blood Games. How cool is that?

Let’s hope Gabrielle Faust digs ‘Don’t Move’ as much as we do!

Although if we’re crowned runners-up (we do get a crown, right?!) then that’s cool too. Because second’s the best, right?

Right?

For more news, reviews and updates about ‘Don’t Move’, please check out our Facebook page HERE, which is jam-packed full of exclusive images, links and all manner of bloody goodness!

Oh, and one final thing:

This weekend, if you’re in Texas, go to Frightmare.

It looks f*cking amazing.

Anthony, Ben and Jonny chat with Ryan Connolly for FIlm Riot Mondays…

Bloody Cuts’ newest film “Don’t Move” has been entered in the Popcorn Horror Blood Games competition, for a chance to win some cash that we’ll put into a new episode and free admission (for Don’t Move) into the prestigious Texas Frightmare festival line-up.

Here’s the link or click on the image below… All you have to do is simply click on the like button below the film. (Bottom Middle)