You are the writer and star of The Adventures of Electra Elf? Could
you tell us about it? How did the project begin?
I write the majority of the episodes but Nick also writes some. The project began quite
casually. Nick and I were brainstorming and it just happened. I wrote
the first episode in what can only be described as a creative trance.
The characters, costumes and concepts already existed the depths of
my subconscious. I think, at first, it was almost like we wanted to
make something sexy, put me in a spandex costume and in peril and
voila: fetish film! A few episodes later the show become a real
vehicle for social and political satire.
OK Jen Here we go. Could you tell us about your first magazine that
you edited A.S.S.? What was your idea for this early project?
Actually, the first magazine I created was called “Jen” and I made it
when I was 12. A.S.S. happened because I was at the bookstore and I
noticed that practically every magazine was superficial and written by
rich people with no shred of imagination. I knew so many talented
writers who were part of the art star scene and I’m the type of person
who, if I don’t like something, does something about it. Rather than
bitch about shitty magazines, I started my own. It was hard to keep it
going because of money.
Could you tell us about the Anti-Slam open mike night. Where many
new stars discovered over the years? Could you tell us about them?
No one ever got discovered at my open mike. The great thing about it is
that it’s so far under the radar people can go there and work out new
stuff and not think or care about in bullshit. Many people who did
work out comedy and prose there are doing very well. Janice Erlbaum
and Bob Powers were recently published and as far as the comedians go,
it’s weird: I see people who tried things out at my show all over the
TV. I just saw the new New York magazine and Demetri Martin is on the
cover. I remember when he showed up at my open mike something like ten
years ago and he was just starting comedy. A lot of people have gone
on to write for SNL and Conan, stuff like that. It would be was too
exhausting to list all the people who passed through the Anti-Slam’s
hallowed halls.
Could you name some artists that you admire?
This was my full answer: 4) Could you name some artists that you
admire? Picasso, Dali, Fellini, Anais Nin, Kerouac, Cher, Alfred
Jarry, whoever writes Spongebob, Bob Dylan, Keith Moon, Mel Brooks,
Vermeer.
You help to foster new young talent. What is the best way to
discover new talent?
I never intended to foster young talent. Actally,
when I started I was young talent. I started my open mike in order to
create an artistic community wherein art stars could thrive. I am
lucky in that my open mike attracted so many talented people, young
and old. I’ve had 21-year olds and 71-year olds perform on the same
stage.
What do you choose to write about?
Each written project is different. If it’s for my column on Artnet, I’m often assigned
something to write about, which is challenging and fun. Mostly I just
write about my life because it’s stranger than any fiction I could
think up.
The process of writing just as important as the actual written
text?
For me, process is everything. I have to be away from people,
somewhere quiet and sober. If not, it won’t work. Sometimes I’ll write
for 12-hour stretches. I like waking up, drinking coffee and then not
stoping till I feel like my eyes are bleeding. Sometimes I’ll spend 4
hours on one sentence. I am a psychotic perfectionist. If I’m not
laughing out loud while writing Electra Elf, I’m not happy because I’m
not going to waste anyone’s time with crap.
Could you tell us about your your role in the Troma film “Terror
Firmer”?
I play “Tina, the script girl” on the fictional set of a
B-movie where cast and crew are being murdered by a hermaphrodite
serial killer. I got the part after writing Troma a fan letter.
How did you meet Nick Zedd?
I met Nick on the set of Terror Firmer. He was wearing a lab coat and a Bride of Frankenstein wig and
examining a pregnant Toxic Avenger who was giving birth to a midget in
a Toxic Avenger mask. That scene was cut from the final film. A few
months later he asked if he could visit my Troll Museum. He visited
and I invited him to a Valentine’s Day party. We went to the party and
he asked if he could be my valentine. We dated for the next four
years.
Do you enjoy acting as much as writing and performing?
I don’t like acting that much. In fact, I don’t like anything as much as I
like writing, but I also know how I want certain characters to be so I
end up playing them. There have been a few instances where I’ve really
liked acting. In the play “House of Trash” I played Charles Manson’s
daughter. That was fun and challenging (and a good script.)
How do you view all of your works?
Once they’re done I don’t think much about them. If an artist thinks about their own work too much,
they’re doing something wrong. I’m more curious how others view my
work.
More information about Jen Miller at www.revjen.com/ or myspace.com/reverendjen
