‘Of course nothing makes sense, it’s Sharknado.’ Tara Reid says ‘ridiculous’ sequel tops original

WHAT’S it really like for the actors on a film like the Sharknado sequel? When she can stop laughing long enough to scream, jobs don’t get any better, says Tara Reid.

‘Of course nothing makes sense, it’s Sharknado’

IT’S the B-grade made-for-television movie that became a cult hit and saved us wondering what the heck happened to former 90210 star Ian Ziering.

Former American Pie actress Tara Reid signed on to the original Sharknado for a laugh.

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Indeed, who couldn’t laugh about a film shot in just 18 days with a budget of just $1 million, which saw angry sharks laying siege to Los Angeles.

And with Sharknado 2: The Second One hitting screens this Thursday, Reid tells Debbie Schipp she’s still seeing the funny side.

Sharknado stars Tara Reid and Ian Ziering.

You took the original role as a joke. Sharknado became a cult hit. Who’s laughing now?

When I read the first script I was laughing and I haven’t stopped. None of us have. It became this huge hit and we laughed even harder. Then all of a sudden we’re making the second one and I’m like, “What is going on?”

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How do you top sharks swimming along Rodeo Drive (as happened in the first Sharknado)?

I’m telling you, hand on heart, this one is worse. I didn’t think it was possible to top the first one, but we actually pulled it off. You can’t tease what happens … sharks flying around the Statue of Liberty … there’s all kinds of stuff going on. Just imagine everything you could possibly imagine in New York City, and add sharks.

<i>Sharknado 2</i> promises more bloody battles against the sharks, this time in New York.

The film was shot in a hurry — did that offer any problems?

In the movie it is supposed to summer time in New York. So of course we shot in winter time during what happened to be in the two weeks of the two biggest blizzards in the city last year. It’s supposed to be summer and we are shooting scenes outside and there is snow everywhere. Nothing matched, nothing makes sense.

So lack of continuity wasn’t an issue?

No. We were like, “of course nothing matches, of course nothing makes sense, it’s Sharknado”. It’s so ridiculous. You see us in scenes and we are freezing to death. There is like smoke coming out of our mouths and it’s supposed to be summer. Then it cuts to stuff we shot in Los Angeles so it makes even less sense.

Tara Reid shows off her screaming credentials in a scene from the first movie.

Is this the most fun you’ve had making movies?

Yeah. Because you don’t even know what you’re doing. I mean, you are screaming at sharks that aren’t even there (they are added later in the CGI process). And the producers are like, “OK, so the ‘x’ right here is the shark and when the shark comes out at you, react”. And you’re like, “OK, I don’t know what the shark looks like ... is it a two-foot shark, is it a 20-foot shark, is it a great white?” So everyone’s reaction is different and we’re all looking at a different ‘x’ area. You could be screaming your head off and then it turns out to be like a goldfish going by, or it could be a massive shark. Nothing matches. And that’s why this movie is so funny and so much fun.

Ian Ziering, second left, in action against a shark in the original <i>Sharknado</i>.

How do the actors keep a straight face when filming?

Oh, it’s hard. I don’t know if they have a bloopers reel but if they do, it’s funny. I think people watch it and think, “I wish I could do what they’re doing”. I mean, we’re grown-ups and we’re acting in this ridiculous film.

Reid, right, with Natasha Lyonne in <i>American Pie</i>.

We’re playing with sharks that aren’t there, and having to pretend we are saving New York City. Like come on — jobs don’t get better than that.

What’s your favourite scene from the original Sharknado?

It can’t get much funnier or ridiculous than the ending when Fin (played by Ian Ziering) uses a chainsaw to cut himself out of a shark that just ate him, then pulls a girl out. It was just like, really, how are we going to top that in this one?

And do you top it?

I promise you, we do. I don’t know how they (the creators) thought of it, but it’s ridiculous.

Do you have a favourite cult movie?

I think I’ve been in a bunch of them. The Big Lebowski was a cult movie, American Pie is a cult movie — somehow I just get involved in cult movies.”

Originally published as ‘Of course nothing makes sense, it’s Sharknado.’ Tara Reid says ‘ridiculous’ sequel tops original