My name is Alex Gonzalez.

I’m originally from South Bronx,NY but I moved to lousy old Springfield,MA when I was 11 and a half. Unfortunately I’m currently still living there. I’m an aspiring actor and special make-up fx artist.
Now under Mr. Kaufman’s request…I’m posting this blog about myself and my interest in Troma.

Well Troma interests me because they have produced some of the most craziest,funniest and sickening films ever and get away with it. And they have gotten away with it for over 30 years. Besides they are the only ones who believe in each and every aspiring film maker from all over the globe. Especially when they hire some people with lack of experience to be involved in making their movies. Most importantly I see that Troma helps aspiring film makers get known by distributing their films and orginizing film festivals in which niether submitters or patrons are not charged for and are treated equally.

Now first of all…the first time I had ever watched a Troma movie was back when I was 6 years old. I slightly recall that day. I came home from school and noticed a couple of videos sitting around in our living room. Being the little nosey brat that I was…I took a peek at them. One of them was labeled “The Toxic Avenger” It just so happened that this tape along with the other was borrowed from a friend of my mom’s at the time. Anyway The Toxic Avenger title on the tape sounded like an interesting movie to watch. After asking to watch it…I was given permission to do so as long as I watched it with my mom sitting near me since she knew it contained serious material. Once I was through watching…I quickly adopted Toxie as a new childhood hero.

I was able to relate to little old Melvin since I never really had any friends growing up. I admired the way Melvin came out of his shell and stood up for himself eventhough the price required a bath in Toxic Waste, serious pain and deformation LOL. I enjoyed it very much despite two scenes that bothered me a little. One was the little bike bound boy’s head-crushing death and the other was Sarah’s seeing-eye dog getting shot. But hey…I was always reminded by my mom that it was all pretend. Besides I knew that I wanted to get into the horror film industry when I grew up.
Once that video was returned to my mom’s friend…I begged her to look for it in a video store and rent it. And so it was found and we rented it again and again. From then on…I never saw any other crazy/unique films such as Troma’s.

Until a year went by then 1988 followed. We rented “Redneck Zombies” Once I saw it I was reminded of the Toxic Avenger because of how equally hilarious and violent it was. Not to mention it’s play with a vat of Toxic Waste. I chuckled alot between scenes instead of looking away. During that same time we rented and saw The Newlydeads (another film which became tromatized in the future) Since the acting was slightly serious and the movie itself was pretty scary…I got a bit afraid while watching. But it was all good fun…especially knowing the main villain was a cross dressing gay zombie/ghost LOL. I loved that film too and asked mom to rent it some more times along with “Monster in the Closet” .

Now on one night my family and myself went out to a movie theater in Times Square for my mom to see Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects. By the way my mom was and still is a huge fan of Charles Bronson’s. May he Rest in Peace. Anyway the coming attractions come on and to my surprise…one of them was the trailer for Toxic Avenger 2. I began to get excited about it but at the same time a little nervous. I say that since the trailer included scenes of Toxie killing bad guys in more crazier ways. One was molding a bad guy’s nose into a fish shape and the other was boiling a fat one in a hot tub making stew out of him. At that point I didnt know if I wanted to see Toxie’s 1st sequel. It came out on video a year or so later and my mom rented it. But I was too nervous to watch it. So nervous that I locked myself into my room once it was popped into our vcr. Ofcourse I wasnt afraid of Toxie…I was afraid of the new crazy ways I expected to see him kill bad guys after watching the trailer. Unfortunately I was too late on gaining the balls to watch it because it was due back in the video store on the next day. Even worse…that video never appeard returned during the times I asked to rent it.

But my spirits were eventually lifted. It was 1991 and I saw a t.v. spot for Toxie’s Toxic Crusaders cartoon show. It later became one of my favorite t.v. shows to watch after a day in school. Even better…I saw commercials of Toxic Crusader action figures. Ofcourse like every other child…I ran to mom begging for one. Many times of my good behavior resulted in a reward of a Toxie Figure. However it wasnt easy for my mom to find any Toxic Crusader toys since they were the newest on the market at the time. She had to go all the way to a big Toys R Us-like store called Toy City. Now it was a real bitch that Toxic Crusaders was cancelled too soon. Damn those t.v. execs!

One year later I finally got the chance to see Toxic Avenger 2 when it aired on Cinemax. I saw it and then called myself the biggest pussy in the world. I realized it was too silly and cartoonish to be taken seriously let along getting scared of it. But I still enjoyed it. Later on I found out there was a third installment in the Toxic Avenger series. I rented,watched and enjoyed it. Compared to part 1 and 2…I found it a little eerie since Toxie ended up tangling with a scary looking Satan. For a couple of years I havent seen too much of Troma on t.v. until 1995 when Cinemax had aired “Blood Hook” “Chopper Chicks in Zombietown” “Class of Nukem High 1 and 2″ “Frostbiter” and “Mother’s Day” all in a row. These were new Troma films to me since I havent seen them before. But indeed I enjoyed them after I saw them.

Now once again I havent seen anymore Troma films until two more years later. This time I didnt just have to wait for Cinemax to air them…I found a couple in a newly opened Hollywood Video. One of them was “Redneck Zombies” (a film I haven’t seen for 10 years until I found it again around that time) I re-rented it and saw that it included an intro featuring Mr. Lloyd Kaufman himself. Now many times I saw his name in his films’ credits as writer,director and producer. But I finally saw what he looked like. I was so shocked to see how such a conservative looking man could be responsible for producing such twisted films. Anyway eventually I rented and saw more Troma movies. Titles included: “Blood Sucking Freaks” “Cannibal! The Musical” “Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D.” “Surf Nazi’s Must Die” “Troma’s War” and “Tromeo and Juliet” I’ll be honest though…I havent seen each and every existing Troma film yet. I currently have many more titles to look for and watch eventhough I have a row of them in my dvd/video collection.

Around 1998/99 I heard that Troma was still around making movies and recieving massive support from fans all over the world. I heard about it through the Promotion of “Terror Firmer” featured on E!’s “Wild On” It then became another movie on my viewing list. Finally 2 years later I rented and saw it. Let me say it was among the craziest, funniest most disgusting film Troma has ever made. I loved every minute of it and thought the running blind and naked through Times Square moment was so priceless LOL! Oh before watching the “Terror Firmer” movie…I saw the trailer for “Citizen Toxie” in the same video. I got so over excited to hear that Toxie was back on the screen after 15 years prior to that time.

On the spring of that year I went to my first Fango convention visit in New York. Thats where I met up with Doug Sakmann (former Troma employee) I discussed with him as to how much of a Troma fan I was and would like to someday be involved in a few of their future films as an actor/special fx make-up artist. I also showed him a mini clay sculpture of Kabukiman and he liked it. He suggested to me to come visit the Troma Building in New York and show Mr. Kaufman some more of my tromatized artwork. Indeed I did just that. I was so over excited to have entered the headquarters of where certain of my favorite films of my past were produced. The highlight of it all was standing face-to-face with Mr. Lloyd Kaufman himself. He was seriously a wonderful and brilliant individual but swears like a sailor…but who the hell doesn’t? I was prepared to show him and other employees a couple of clay sculptures of Toxie/Noxie and Kabukiman which he so generously offered to buy from me. I had a fine time that day in the Troma office getting aquainted with Mr. Kaufman. It wasn’t the only time though. I eventually visited twice more to personally deliver some Troma character plush dolls which I used to make for fund raising purposes. On one of those visits I also met Debbie Rochon since she appeared in the Troma building. She was and still is a very sweet young lady to get to know in person. Unfortunately that would be the last time I would be able to make Troma plush dolls and bring over since the friggin craft store in my area would close down. But when a new one opens…I’ll have some more available.

Anyway two or so years pass and things get even worse. I ended up with no internet service. Meaning I wouldnt be able to keep up with the latest news in Troma’s website. Finally this past summer I would just be in time to be too late. I get my internet access re-activated. I re-visit Troma’s website and hear that their new film “Poultrygest” was being filmed in upstate New York. They were looking for chicken zombie extras. I really wanted to appear in the film as one in a half mask and make-up which I would have applied on myself. I also wanted to meet each and every talented cast and crew member on set…but I didn’t know about it in time to put some traveling money aside for a trip. I was so unhappy that I missed out. However I requested to Mr. Kaufman to appear as a chicken zombie in a future dvd intro for “Poultrygeist” So far he agreed but wanted to see some pictures of my chicken zombie look. I actually have a couple that will be posted. I hope everyone who read this blog gets the chance to see and enjoy them. Ok…I blabbered enough about myself already.

I ‘ll wrap this up by saying that I’m looking foward to watching “Poultrygeist” very soon. I saw the teaser and know it will be second wildest film next to “Terror Firmer” according to me. Besides I can’t wait for the latest Troma antics it has to offer which I can’t get enough of. Hopefully I’ll watch it during a screening if I can make it. I also hope to get the chance on working in a Troma film someday eventhough I hear its somewhat of a grueling experience.

Thanks for reading and I Love You All!

Sincerely, Alex Gonzalez
-Troma Fan/Aspiring Actor and Make-up FX Artist