How did you get the role in Psycho IV?
I can't remember what I did for my first audition, but I do remember that everyone had been told it was a party scene for a commercial. We had no idea it was for any type of movie. At the first audition hundreds of kids were there. I received a call back which had maybe thirty kids. Then I had one last call back and it was between me and two others. We also found out it was for a motion picture. On that third audition I was very sick and one of the things they did in the audition room was tickle me on camera to see if I would act hysterical (which wasn't what they were looking for). Since I was sick, I didn't laugh very much. Anthony Perkins (who was in the casting room when I auditioned) came outside and talked to my Mom. Mr. Perkins said "You should be very scared because this is what I looked like when I was his age." Two days later my agent called and said I got the job.

How old were you at the time?
I was six years old.

Describe what it was like working on the film and the shoot in general
My role wasn't very large but I was still on set for about 3 weeks of shooting. I remember most of the cast was from Los Angeles and I was the only child actor in the movie. Everyone was extremely nice to me and friendly. There was a few middle of the night shoots so they had a trailer set up for me so my Mom could put me to sleep for hours at a time so I would be able to stay awake at 2 or 3 am for filming.

How was it working with Anthony Perkins? Henry Thomas? Olivia Hussey?
I didn't get to talk very much with Anthony Perkins but when I did he would mistakenly call me Bryan, which I thought was funny. He even signed an autograph for me to "Bryan".

Henry Thomas?
I remember Henry Thomas was a very cool, nice guy. He was a young adult at the time so he was giving me advice on being a child actor. I can't remember much of what he told me because all I kept thinking was "He's the boy from E.T.!!" Come on I was six :-)

How was it working with Olivia Hussey who takes on the role of Mrs. Bates?
Olivia Hussey was the sweetest woman. She was very nice and really looked after me when we had our scenes together. In the funeral scene she slaps my face, before we went to film that scene she was afraid of hurting me. So I let her practice a couple times to show what a tough six year old I was. I do remember we had to do that take multiple times and I could feel my cheek getting red.

How was it working with the rest of the cast and crew?
It was really a great experience. I had so much fun and everybody treated me very well. I became very close with Kurt Paul on the set and we kept in touch after the movie wrapped for many years. (see photos on the left)

Describe the experience working at Universal Studios Florida.
I loved every single minute of it. Being only 6 years old it was like walking into a candy shop and being able to eat anything I wanted! I was showered with attention because I was the only kid there. As much as I liked acting I loved watching all the behind the scenes stuff even more. It's what sparked my interest, and made me want to go to film school.

What else do you remember from the shoot?
I remember it going by really fast and didn't want it to end. I found everything interesting. I even found watching the wardrobe people do there fittings to be fun. I remember how they set up pipes against the trees behind Sand Lake Hospital in Florida to simulate rain for one of my scenes. I recall getting bites from the mosquitoes because they were bad that summer. In fact everyone was bitten up pretty bad. The weather was really bad. I never complained and remember Mick Garris commenting on how professional I was at the age of 6. One of my most vivid memories from the set was the actor that played my dead father. He wore prosthetic make up showing fake bee stings all over his face. He was eating lunch with me and wasn't allowed to take it off. It looked so real, I couldn't understand that it was part of the movie making experience. I was on the verge of tears and had to leave the trailer. He felt terrible.

Did all of your scenes make it into the film?
Two of my scenes are in the final movie. I believe I had two additional scenes but I only remember one for sure because I have pictures of it. I was dressed up in pajamas walking around a corner. I know I was suppose to act surprised for some reason and the title of that scene was called "Peep Hole" so I'm not sure exactly what the scene was about but I know it was cut.

Why is your last name spelled differently then in the credits of the movie?
I'm guessing it was a post-production error. Not sure why but they spelled my last name "Finnigan" in the end credits rather than the correct spelling --- Finnegan. I really don't mind though, it's a common mistake.

What was your childhood like after the filming wrapped?
Doing this movie is how I got my SAG card. I went on to do other national commercials, episodic TV, soap opera, and some voice over work. My Mom and Dad decided early on not to go out to California (we had been offered to relocate there for me to work) so I could have a normal childhood. I'm really glad they ended up doing that. They spoiled me on the set of Psycho IV. I could have ended being a huge brat. Not saying all Child Actors end up being that way though. I went back into acting later on.

What are you up to now?
I'm currently studying film and working full time. Writing screenplays and making shorts. I know it sounds cliche, but what I really want to do is direct and write.

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