How did you first get in touch with Kevin Smith?

While in the middle of a stage production I heard about an audition for a film at a local community theater I had worked at, the First Ave. Playhouse in Atlantic Highlands. I went to the audition and had to do a monologue. From what I understand, as soon as I finished my monologue Kevin said Veronica. Kevin called me a few days later to go to the convenience store to read the script. That's when I saw the dialogue that I would be saying and he asked whether I was still interested in doing it. I said 'why not.'

I actually didn't have any idea what the script was all about or what the characters were like and who they were. I just auditioned for a chance to be in a movie.

I was doing community theater at the time. I had done some extra work before 'Clerks', but 'Clerks' was my first film project

Yes, I worked with Brian in the community circuit and had known him about 4 years prior to 'Clerks'. I guess it helped that I knew Brian, but I also would like to think that it was mostly my acting ability to be able to do the job I did. I also credit myself to being easy to work with. I first saw Brian playing the part of Renfield in 'Dracula', he was great, then I got the opportunity to work with him not long after that in "Wait Until Dark" where he played the bad guy "Roat" and I played a blind woman "Susy". At the end I got to stab him. Fake knife of course. Then we did 'Clerks' and after 'Clerks' got picked up at the Sundance Festival we did an Off-Off Broadway show together titled 'Sabona', and original script written by New Jersey Playwright Andy Oosthuisen, slightly autobiographical, based on Apartheid in South Africa where we both played brother and sister. It's a wonderful show. Hopefully in the future it will make it to Broadway. I feel that strong about it.

It's a movie I first found out about through The Back Stage (actors trade paper). It originally was going to be shot at the actual Red Lion Pub on Bleeker St. in Manhattan. Then I got a call saying that the budget wouldn't allow that and that it would be filmed in California. But the director was going to be in town, would I audition and would I still be interested. Looking at all the information I got, I decided I was still interested and auditioned in New York. I waited one long week before I found out, which was last year '95 during Thansgiving. I went to California on December 11th, rehearsed the first week, filmed the second week, and flew home on the 22nd in time for Christmas with no time to get over jet lag. But it was a great experience with great people. The story is about a Jewish young man who loses his father and is given a job at The Red Lion from his father's friend. I play a waitress that takes him under my wing and looks out for him with a little teasing. He gets used by another waitress, abused by the bartender, and beat up by yellow rugby players. It's been compared to 'Brother's McMullen' in atmosphere. Jeremy London (Mallrats) is also involved with the movie so we compared notes about Kevin. Brian Krauss was also on the crew. He's also a well known actor, maybe mostly by sight. All the other actors, director, writer, and crew were very talented and great people. I made some great friends and would love working with them again.

Kevin was great to work with and he had belief in the film and in us to bring out what he wanted. And we had fun filming. Kevin is a low key person and very laid back, from my experience with him. I'm sure his family and friends could tell you better.

Honestly, none of my scenes were with him and I very rarely had much contact with him, the most being when we did publicity shots for 'Clerks'. My only story is getting him in touch with someone at a casting agency that was a fan and kind of hooking him up. I don't think anything became of it though.

I actually got to see that on the screen for the first time. Poor guy just got abused night after night during filming.

Sad to say but I've not received any fan mail. I don't know if there ever was any. Now I'm almost afraid to say that I would love to receive fan mail, I don't think any actor would hate it. The fans, aside from yourself are the one's you work for. But I say afraid because I would hate to think that I might not be able to respond to everyone and would hate to dissappoint anyone in that way. I would certainly try my best and no I don't mind giving autographs. It is a bit mind blowing though. Never in a million years would I think I would be giving out my autograph. When I get recognized on the street, in the mall, at the movie theater, or on the set, anywhere, and people come up to me and ask me if I'm the one in "Clerks", it's their enthusiasm that gives me the strength to keep persuing my dream.

At the most unbelievable times and at work. Yes I still have a "regular" job because unfortunately I'm still not making money off of acting to live off of. I'm a hairdresser and people are shocked to see me still there. In fact I'll go shopping around town in New York and people are not sure and start to ask if I am who I am. I usually don't let them finish before I confirm that yes, it is I. The one thing about 'Clerks' actually having made the big screen is that people will title me as a movie star, and that's just hard to swallow considering I'm still working hard to pay my bills like everyone else.

At the time of setting the interview, I was in a Jersey theater playing in a one act about a guy who was actually held hostage in Iran. I played his captor that tried to make him confess. It was very intense, but great fun to be the bad guy. I'm also currently waiting and will be going to auditions. I also act in Murder Mystery Dinner shows around the New Jersey area, and occasionally we venture into NY and Pennsylvania.

I just got a part in a film as a reporter. The film is titled 'A Packing Suburbia' which will be filming end of '96. I also received a phone call from an L.A. production company. Details unknown, production company known, but I don't want to jinx it. Also doing some extra work in the feature 'In and Out'.

Yes. I am single and currently involved with someone special to me.

The sitcom talk actually started last year and I found out about it after they cast the part of Veronica. Jeff (Randal) Anderson and Brian did get to audition, but I heard not for their parts. Kevin was part of the project but not from the beginning. I also heard, not confirmed, that the pilot didn't relay as well as the movie. Could it be, maybe, because they didn't have the original cast? Hmmm...

Yeah. My mom saw it first before the final version, when nothing had been cut and it had a smaller soundtrack. She thought it was a little boring. They both saw it when it came out in the theater in New Jersey. The day of the opening we had an interview at a local radio station and then a poster signing session at the movie theater. Anyway, after the final version and after the movie, they loved it. They now live in Puerto Rico where they're originally from and retired there. And yes, they have 'Clerks' in the video store there.

Well on the downside, there was a handful of people there, most of them involved with the movie. The great part was Bob Hawk from the Sundance Organization that got behind the movie and made the rest history.

Wow, you got to see the audition tape. I haven't seen that. Actually I didn't even know that Brian had auditioned until we had our first reading or just prior to that. I wish I could see my audition. I'm my worst critic. Thanks for saying I was one of the best. I actually don't know that I gave it as much thought about really getting the part or a part as much as I hope for it nowadays.

For the love of acting! I know several people who didn't audition because "It was being made by some kid." Their words, not mine. And if they did audition once they they saw the script they didn't put much to it and didn't follow through to be in it. So when people tell me today that a particular project is beneath me or probably won't go anywhere, I say "People said that about Clerks."

Well Brian and I were at the Sundance Film Festival when the dealing was going on. Mark Tusk, whom is part of acquisitions at Miramax was handling things. They had 4 screenings. I missed the first because I was in flight there, which were all sold out prior to the start of the festival. Anyway they waited until the last screening and a couple of hours after, before Brian and I found out. We were ecstatic. Brian and I stayed up awhile having fun and talking about how unbelievable it was and planning the future and what to do.

About 8 or 9 years ago. I was going through some changes in my life and needed an outlet. I found my way to acting and found where I belonged in life.

Oh God! My first performance was at a local community theater based in the basement of a church in "The Good Doctor" by Neil Simon playing the role of "The Girl". It is about a writer telling the audience about his stories and mine was titled "The Arrangement" where a father is going to give his son his first experience with a woman. I almost didn't get my chance because someone had written the company that they were offended by that particular story, even though there was nothing disgraceful about it. It was a family comedy show. But it went on anyway.

None. Well I did work a trade show at the Javits Center 8 years ago for a company selling cameras that TV stations use. Myself and another girl sat at a table and put together some colorful foliage while people zoomed in on our pores to see how clean the picture was, or the foliage to see how great the color was. But anyway, I am too short to be "a model".

Both my parents are from Puerto Rico with Italian ancestry on my father's side, hence the Italian last name. But I am born in New York and lived most of my life in Jersey.

Yeah. The town drunk coming in at 1:00 in the morning to buy cigarettes. The bagels that we took from the deli 2 stores down and ate. A flourescent bulb falling out of the holder and just missing people. And I'm sure many other things while I wasn't there.

Sleep. Go back to work. As simple as that.

I make a great lasagna.

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Marilyn Ghigliotti
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