PopHorror Let's Get Scared
Christopher Annino is honestly one of the greatest people I have met. Christopher works very hard in life and shows no signs og slowing down from a journalist to an actor, director, SUV pulling, and so much more. We had a chance to sit down with Christopher and ask him some questions, highlighting his love for work and creativity. Christopher has talent in many different aspects of the entertainment industry.
PopHorror: What sparked your love for both horror and wrestling?
Christopher Annino: I was always a fan of both, especially the classics. My favorite horror film of all time is Frankenstein, starring Boris Karloff, because of the amazing balance of realism, horror, and beauty that Director James Whale was able to create. The beauty behind Frankenstein is that it demonstrated the beauty of imperfection, which set the foundation for great characters like The Toxic Avenger, Swamp Thing, etc. Similar to professional wrestling, I have been an athlete my whole life, and I love how they have the ability to capture the passion of athleticism in professional wrestling.
A few professional wrestlers who have always been my favorites and, in my opinion are the best of all time are tag teams Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart (The Hart Foundation), Bam Bam Bigelow, Big Boss man Ray Traylor, Demolition with Axe and Smash, The Killer Bees with Brian Blair and Jim Brunzell, The Pitbulls with Gary Wolf and Anthony Durante, Harley Race, Ted Arcidi, Velvet McIntyre, Susan Tex Green, Leilani Kai, Debbie Malenko, Carlene Begnaud aka Jazz, Rodney Mack, Owen Hart, Greg the Hammer Valintine, Natalya Neidhart, and Jimmy Valiant.
I can safely say I have had the honor of meeting all of these amazing people, and I am glad that I was trained by probably the best in the world, WWE Hall of Fame Inductee Jimmy Valiant, NWA inductee Susan Tex Green, ECW original Gary Wolf, and New England Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame Inductee Jimmy Valiant. I am now living a dream as Pitbull #3, part of the ECW Pitbulls tag team with ECW original Pitbull #1, Gary Wolf, and Jimmy Valiant himself has allowed me to use his name to be Chris Valiant, Rescue 911, a firefighter character I have.
PopHorror: You have an extensive list of writers to directors and much more, everything in between, which
in your favorite position, what do you find the most interesting?
Christopher Annino: The only way I can answer that question is to explain that it is not so much that one is a favorite but, like tools in a toolbox, each one serves a purpose for the overall final project. I wanted to be as versatile and useful as possible in everything I did or joined. A sports comparison: Baseball player Pete Rose was the most versatile baseball player who ever existed because he could play any position well enough to earn several Gold Gloves and be in the starting lineup at that level. As a result, he helped his team win several world championships. As a player, he would do anything in his physical power to help his team win; that is what I want to do as a filmmaker and as a person.
PopHorror: Do you have any awards under your belt?
Christopher Annino: 82 international film awards as an actor, director, writer, and composer Christopher Annino – IMDb, and numerous athletic awards in amateur and professional sports such as Olympic Style Weightlifting, minor league baseball, semi-pro football, fencing, judo, Purple belt in Shorin Ryu Karate, Basketball, Track and Field, NCAA rugby and lacrosse, rodeo, equestrian, and Highland Games.
PopHorror: What drives you to work hard on so many different projects?
Christopher Annino: I harness the negative energy around me and utilize it to fuel me. I then utilize knowledge from my mentors, like Stan Lee, to strategize my next move. I also go with my gut; if something doesn’t seem comfortable or if an individual displays warning signs, take my advice: walk away from that individual. These warning signs are very basic 1. If they are self-absorbed, 2. If they manipulate or lie, and 3. if they create a negative atmosphere. This is the best advice I can give. Stay away from toxic people; put your real family and real friends first. Also, have a small circle. I have unlimited energy and am always working on a project because that creates positivity. Also come up with solutions, not complaints.
PopHorror: Have you always enjoyed women’s wrestling?
Christopher Annino: I respect women’s professional and amateur wrestling greatly. The women’s wrestling hall of fame www.womenswrestlinghallofame.
PopHorror: How did you first get into the industry?
Christopher Annino: I failed a lot but kept going, learning, and kept dreaming.
PopHorror: You have worked with legends of horror and the comic industry. Any story that sticks out?
Christopher Annino: Stan Lee, international filmmaker, Biju Viswanath, Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, Guy Perotta, Olympian Johnny Kelley, whom I knew personally, taught me to always give back when you can, do not be afraid to learn, and always be modest. That might sound like a rather boring story, but it is what has kept me focused and somewhat successful.
PopHorror: In 2014, you pulled an SUV by yourself. How far did you make it?
Christopher Annino: A mile as seen here on WTNH New London man tries setting world record – YouTube for breast cancer research.
PopHorror: How much did it take to train for something like pulling a vehicle?
Christopher Annino: NPC Champion Nikki Moccia, NPC Champion Dawn Whitham, Gabe Glaza from Old School Iron Gym in New London, Ct trained me for about six months. At the time, I was struggling with my own personal demons and depression. I found out my friend Claudia Marks was diagnosed with cancer, so I wanted to put that negative energy towards that.
PopHorror: Would you do it again?
Christopher Annino: My original intention was to do it for my friend Claudia Marks, who was associated with the Terry Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation. Nobody had ever trained for this before, so I rushed the training, causing a broken foot and internal bleeding. I was pulling 3000 pounds of metal in an icy parking lot with a broken foot. I would do it again if I had proper time, and I would dedicate the record to bodybuilding legend Dawn Whitham, the person who got me involved with lifting weights. She is a fitness legend and unfortunately passed away several years ago. The charity I would choose would be for maybe the Cauliflower Alley Club, which helps professional wrestlers in need, or Sails Up 4 Cancer, run by the amazing human Bob Davis.
PopHorror: What wise words would you share with someone who may be afraid to explore their surroundings?
Christopher Annino: Stay away from people who detour you, stay away from drama, stay away from manipulators, and always stand the fuck up for yourself; never let anyone force you to apologize for something you never did wrong. Have faith in something positive, focus on the trees instead of the forest, and remember any negativity you put out there will return to you. Stay physically and mentally fit. Always be organized, get an education and keep learning after you receive it.
PopHorror: What can we be we expect in the future work?
Christopher Annino: I am working with former American Gladiators Erika Andersch (aka Diamond), Deron Mcbee (aka Malibu), Sha-ri Pendleton (aka Blaze), and Japanese professional Wrestling legend Debbie Malenko on a project that will soon be announced. I will be working on my Master’s degree, studying for my next rank (Brown belt in Shorin Ryu), producing the experimental erotic comedy thriller film Russian Manimal Volkoff Russian Manimal Volkoff – IMDb , training for highland games I was just featured on PBS Audacious Scotland: CT’s Highland Festival & Games, plus quarrelsome dames seek justice for witches | Connecticut Public for my rookie season.
I will be training for USA Track and Field in the discus and shot put. My next athletic endeavor will be training for sumo wrestling. I will be working on NEMHOF News, the New England Music Hall of Fame induction, and the Women’s Wrestling Hall of Fame inductions for Jasmin St. Clair and Debbie Malenko. My goal is also to do a benefit music album with some music friends and myself to perform on.
You can find an awesome news report on his big heart here.
Christopher Annino quotes
- ” I don’t give compliments or insults; I tell the truth. ” Christopher Annino
- “Small towns create small minds but provoke those who have vision to be more open-minded.”-Christopher Annino
- Acting is believing your own bullshit. Therefore, they should have a special category at the Oscars for used car salesman
- “I don’t listen to FOX or CNN news, I listen to Huey Lewis and the News, because it’s hip to be a square.” Christopher Annino
- “I don’t work with actors, I work with people. And I don’t make films to win awards, I am awarded by the films I make,” Christopher Annino.
- “It’s better to live a dream when the world is a nightmare,” Christopher Annino
- “Strategize, organize, improvise,” Christopher Annino
- “Psychology is like meteorology, it’s helpful but not accurate,” Christopher Annino
- “To qualify as an artist, you need to be an outcast,” Christopher Annino
- “The challenge of humanity is the tolerance and acceptance for one another,” Christopher Annino
- “Been banned, suspended, arrested, detested, but I am still standing, walking, talking, breathing, and succeeding,” Christopher Annino
- I don’t conform to the norm….-Christopher Annino
- Never be ashamed of where you come from, but be proud of where you are going. -Christopher Annino.
