ROBBI MORGAN INTERVIEW: BORDERING ON CAMP BLOOD

Robbi Morgan Friday the 13th Interview

“It was a low-budget feature and I was grateful to have an acting job,” writes Robbi Morgan Walberg (then cast as Robbi Morgan) about her memorable part in the original FRIDAY THE 13TH. “No idea it would turn into what it has!”

Robbi on the run

After almost ten sequels, a remake, another reboot in the works, and countless imitations, the first movie, directed by Sean S. Cunningham, still holds up as not only an important piece of horror cinema history, but a really entertaining film. And actress Robbi Morgan has something to do with that legacy: Following a prologue set in the 1950’s, Robbi’s character isn’t technically the first to die in the movie (and franchise), but she is the first victim in the present time – igniting a massacre that would include Kevin Bacon and a handful of other unlucky young men and women working at Camp Crystal Lake, a rural location with a sinister past, known as Camp Blood and, released in 1980, Robbi’s free-spirited hitchhiker, Annie, seems like a throwback to the early 1970’s: a spontaneous, assertive, independent, natural beauty found in looser projects like THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE or THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT...

Original Poster Artwork

In fact her entire sequence, existing beyond the main camp, is a story in itself: a kind of gritty exploitation Drive-In Road Movie leading to the more structured Body Count template that would kickstart not only an entire franchise, but a sub-genre of woodsy horror flicks that are still popular today. And so, thrust into a sudden nightmare, Annie, who was on her way to join the others at the camp, doesn’t go down without a chase… In that, she is the first character to run through the woods with the killer at her heels!

Along with her inevitable demise, the main scenes involve two rides: one with a trucker, the other an off screen menace that Annie will experience before anyone else: For Jason’s mother, Mrs. Voorhees, is the original villain. Only we don’t know what Annie knows… And now here’s some real insight about Robbi’s significant role as the doomed "White Rabbit" in this groundbreaking, timeless classic…

Robbi Morgan gets picked up

How long did it take to film scenes, and was it complicated doing shots on the road?

It took 2 days to film all my scenes. It was a bit complicated because the camera was not actually in the driver's seat so I had to cheat my eye line. But it was still just a scene with Sean directing, riding in the car.

What was it like working on this movie, overall, and did you have any idea or opinion on what the turnout would be?

It was fun! I met Sean, Tom Savini and Taso Stavrakis, and we had a ball. As for the script, I only really focused on my part and didn't really work with anyone else, nor could I get a feel for whether or not it would be successful. As an actor, you show up and do your best work.

That's All She Wrote

The second pickup gets a bit more intense, and you really come to life… How does this intensity come alive?

Gonna Hitch A Ride

It's acting. As the driver gets further away from my destination the more nervous Annie becomes. You have to put yourself in that moment of "OMG, this guy isn't stopping!" And Taso was also driving the jeep. And I did that stunt as well.

Last but certainly not least… How was the chase and death scene filmed?

I shot the scene with Sean Cunningham following me with the camera and directing me as I ran through the woods. He'd say "Fall!”... “You hurt your leg!" like that. And then we shot the first part against the tree without the prosthetic on my neck and then, cut, put the latex on back at the camp and then walked back to the location. We were losing the light and only did the actual knife/blood scene once! Then they quickly put me on Savini's scooter to get me back to the camp and shower the blood off before it stained!