Though his name my evade overuse in most domestic households, actor Eric Balfour’s chiseled face has been on screens for over a decade.
The edgy performer, model and musician has been a presence in everything from HBO’s hit TV show Six Feet Under to the blockbuster (and bloody) 2004 remake of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, to the current Stephen King series Haven. Yet mysteriously, Balfour has yet to break through to the mainstream.
The actor hopes to rectify that problem with his leading role in The Strause Brothers’ big budget sci-fi shocker Skyline, a bizarre, FX-driven global disaster epic that sees mankind falling prey to hordes of invading alien hypnotists.
The Strause Brothers, Colin and Greg, also directed AVPR: Alien vs. Predator – Requiem, and have done visual effects for more than 50 moves.
But while the visual razzle dazzle may be the hook, Balfour believes it’s the human element that gives the picture its spine.
“There are wall to wall effects in this film,” says Balfour.
“But it’s really a much more intimate story, something that takes the scope of an epic genre movie and uses that to tell a story about a group of people in a survival situation.”
Earlier this year, Balfour also headlined Dinoshark, another genre potboiler with a considerably more — ahem — modest budget than that of Skyline. But it did give Balfour the chance to work with a living legend, producer Roger Corman.
“Roger is iconic, I couldn’t resist the chance to meet him,” says Balfour of the near mythical mogul.
“Is Dinoshark the proudest moment of my career? No, not really. But we did things on that movie that I would never have gotten away with on a big Hollywood film. And to learn philosophies about filmmaking from Roger firsthand was incredible.”
Whether or not Skyline pushes Balfour into the higher tier spotlight he so clearly belongs in, the tireless, always enthusiastic artist is keeping busy with myriad projects, including directing, writing and continuing with his other love, music.
“Look, when people in my world say they have no time to do the things they want to do, that’s nonsense,” he urges.
“If it’s something you want to pursue or express, you gotta make the time. And I do. I always will.”
