MS: One of Blade's producers was quoted as saying that this wasn't a vampire movie, but the introduction of a new super hero. What do you think this movie's about?
Dorff: It is a vampire movie - a present day, pop-culture vampire race for the human race. There are two races in the city, basically, and you're not gonna know who's a vampire until you go home and ... die. It's a present day, vampire action thriller. I haven't really done a movie like this before. I really believed in Stephen Norrington, the director. I saw that we were gonna walk a fine line between making a comic book and making a movie. Most comic book movies tend to be quite silly, but I think this one has an edge about it.
I saw my character, Deacon Frost, as sort of a young entrepreneur, a businessman vampire. He has a clear vision of what he wanted to do - he's buying real estate, he's doing his clubs, living in a penthouse. There's obviously a much more 90's sensibility to the guy. I don't think we've seen a vampire movie like that, which is kind of neat.
MS: You were quoted as saying that you don't really get anything from big Hollywood movies, but you were hoping 'Blade' would be different.
Dorff: I've resisted Hollywood action films before. Wesley and I talked about it, and most action movies are about the action, and there's no real substance in the characters. I think that's why people were disappointed with some of the big hyped-out summer movies, because there wasn't much of a story. I think an audience is smart, and needs characters to follow through a movie. In this kind of film, you have that action movie, but you also have Blade, who has a major backstory as a character, and you're introducing Deacon Frost, and you have an idea of where he's coming from, and it just adds to the tension because it allows two actors to get into the juice of it and bring it to the occasion.
MS: How much of you is in the Deacon Frost character?
Dorff: Not too much. I don't like the sight of blood. I'm not as angry and as evil as him, I don't think. I'm not trying to take over the world, though, just trying to take over the movie industry. I usually play characters that aren't like myself at all. I guess elements of me come out, my expressions, but I'm not a vampire, I don't think.
MS: You've been in a lot of films, and have gained a lot of valuable experience. What advice about life would you give to some of your younger fans?
Dorff: Probably just say to be safe, and to be careful about the things that my generation has to look out for. We didn't get the fun and games that my parents had, we have to worry about a lot more things. I think you want to be safe and know what the dangers are, but at the same time have fun, because you're only going to be young once. (Editors Note: ... Unless you're a vampire.)
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