This information is according to the Advance Campaign Material from Buena Vista Distribution Co., Inc.
"After I read the script, I knew I really anted to do the film even though it would be tough since the whole movie takes place at night," Furst said. "We had a shooting schedule that started at 6:00 p.m. and ended at 6:00 in the morning. It was also difficult working for two directors. There were alot of differences in the two, different techniques and temperment.
"Our group, the blue team, became really close, even though there were more than 30 people in the cast, it felt more like five.
"Harold was a difficult role because someone that mean who screams alot, shouldn't be overplayed, otherwise it becomes a cliche. I enjoyed being a comic villain. I played a villain once beefore in the TV series 'The Bastard,' but he was really mean."
Just two years ago he was delivering pizzas while struggling to establish his acting career. Then came "National Lampoon's Animal House," his first screen role.
Furst grew up in Virginia and graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a degree in drama and a long list of stage credits ("Fiddler on the Roof," "Once Upon a Mattress" and "MacBeth"). He moved to California with his life, Lorraine, in 1976 because he wanted to be in movies. but when Furst tried to get an agent, he couldn't get past the receptionist.
"I finally went to the Screen Actors Guild and asked a lady the best way to get an agent? She said to knock on doors and I told her, 'I already did that, and it's not working.' So she gave me a list of brand new agents who needed clients."
Furst started the round of agents again, this time being accepted by two. He asked his SAG advisor which agency would be better. She recommended one; the other folded six months later.
"I went through nine months of interviews withouth getting any work. I hardly got callbacks. Then my agent phoned me about a general interview being held for a movie called 'Animal House.' I went, but I'd been rejected so much, my hopes weren't too high.
"After six auditions, I got the role and have been working steadily ever since."
Following six weeks in Oregon filming "Animal House," Furst then went to Utah for the movie "Take Down," in which he played a timid tuba player drafted for the high school wrestling team.
"While in Utah, I was anxious to get back home, my wife was pregnant and we both missed each other. I also had a TV series ready for me for ABC, 'Delta House.'
"Delta House" disappointed Furst. Although he reprised his character Flounder from "Animal House," the series lasted less than a season.
"We had a lot more freedom on 'Animal House' than on 'Delta House.' Everyday we were answering to the networks. They kept moving our time slot. I don't think they gave us the right chance."
Furst next worked on several independent films and had guest spots on television series before landing a role in Mel Simon's "Scavenger Hunt."
"Now that 'Midnight Madness' is in the can, I'm starring in a thriller called 'The Unseen' This time I play a sympathetic villain: the offspring of a brother and sister relationship who's severly retarded. There's a two-hour make-up job each day because I'm supposed to be really grotesque looking. Barbara Bach plays a newspaper reporter who gets locked up in the basement with me."
Furst isn't worried about being typecast as a villain. AFter he finishes "The Unseen," he'll star in "Animal House II."
"Animal House II' will take place in Chicago. All the cast will be back including John Belushi. I'm looking forward to the film, it will be like a big reunion.
"Midnight Madness" also stars David naughton, Debra Clinger, Eddie Deezen, Maggie Roswell and Brad Wilkin. In color by Technicolor, the film was co-produced, directed and written by David Wechter and Michael Nankinf ro producer Ron Miller. Buena Vista releases.
"I've come a long way from delivering pizzas," said Stephen Furst, 24, star of "Midnight Madness." He plays the spoiled, pampered leader of a motley band of degenerates.