Reported By: TheTerminatorFans.com
on Thursday, October 01, 2009

Paul Plesca is an Arnold impersonator (oooohhh), he also specializes in making his own Terminator props ( aaaahhh ), so, we sat down to ask the metal giant a few questions...

We've read that you were a professional rugby player, did it help to gain you the Terminator physique?

Of course it did!
I was only 17 years old when I started playing rugby and I played for 5 years. It's a tough game and we trained hard running up to 15 miles a day on rough terrain and also 6 hours a week in the gym lifting weights. I loved the gym so much that I always doubled that number. The idea was to prepare you both mentally and physically for What I would call a "Terminator style" combat. It really felt it like a combat. No helmets, no padding, so your body had to be strong and prepared for it. This was no girly men's sport!

How many times a week do you get stopped by Mr. Schwarzenegger's fans for an autograph?

People turn their heads when they hear me talking and some say " Wow! You look so much like him, like a younger version!" I'm twenty years younger than Arnold.
When I go to Conventions and events ( I tell you the truth) people are forming circles around me asking me for pictures and calling me Arnold and then some would say (imitating Arnold) "Ahnold go baaak to thah chappaahh!, It's only a tumaahh"! etc. When they hear it from me they love it. Also people ask me for autographs and I sign Clohne Ahnold.

Have you ever pretended to be the Governator to get free merchandise?

No, I didn't think about it. Maybe... might be a good idea! I'm thinking, "how come the people don't realize that the Governator has enough money and doesn't have to call anybody to just get free stuff?".

You've performed as a stuntman, have you ever had to stand in for Arnold in a movie if not would you like to?

I think there was a possibility to stand in for Arnold when he was filming True Lies in Miami Florida. Around that time I was attending the Fire Academy and couldn't miss school.
I would be honoured to have the opportunity to work with him on a movie set.
That will be Faaahhntaahhstic !

What is it like acting on stage for T2: 3D Battle Across Time?

In 1996 I was selected for the job couple of months before they opened the ride to the public.I was very excited for the opportunity. I went on stage and I did all the acting that was for the most part stunts.
I found out that they are not going to use my voice and that, really, it's not that important to look like Arnold. I wasn't happy to hear that and also, I had to relocate and was not the right time to move my family.

James Cameron mentioned T2 3D was the bridging of a gap between the second movie and a 3rd theatrical release. Do you think this is what was orginally intended, before the legal wranglings and the demise of Cameron's attempt to make the movie in 1996?

I'm sorry, I don't really know anything about it.

Do you still have involvement with T2:3D? As we reported with TheArnoldFans.com recently, the ride has had an update have you seen them?

NO, Not any more.

Do you think they will keep the ride forever? (we think they should)

Of course, it should be there forever! The show is fantastic and the Terminator is a real Highlight attraction at Universal Studios. I would like a job there as Terminator, riding my bike around looking for John Connor talking to people and taking pictures. I really love to see people and kids smiling when they see their favourite character Back from the future. That is the reason I attend so many Science Fiction Conventions.

Do you ever get so far into the role that you come up smelling of Arnold?

When I am in the Terminator character I get deeply into the role and I'm happy when I see the audience gets that "Smelling of Arnold" like you said it. I like that!

How did you discover you enjoyed making your own T props?

Well, I'm an artist in sculpture, painting and architectural design and construction. Talking about sculpture... now I'm sculpting a 3D life size Arnold as T-800 damaged. I believe I have the talent to create just about anything I see. First and most important of all is that I have the passion and ambition of doing something different and unusual. I started with the damaged eye. It took me couple of weeks of my spare time to figure out the materials, make up etc. Finally I got in the make up chair (spent more time than I thought) and finished at 2AM. I was so excited and dressed as Terminator with all the make up on my face and the eye red light on, leaned over the bed and asked Maria (my wife) how I looked and to take pictures of me. Her face looked like Sarah Connor's face When she saw the Terminator at the Pescadero facility "Come with me if you want to live!"

Would you ever consider making props for sale? They look great!

Thanks! If the time permits, maybe in the future. Now I am still working and perfecting my actual props plus I am building new props and costumes like the Gatling gun from T2, the coffin from T3 and a Conan the barbarian costume. Conan the Barbarian is a dual work of art (On Costume and pumping up in the Gym) I am always trying to do it better and better. I never stop!

Which is your favourite Terminator movie and why?

I really like Terminator 2! T2 has an excellent balance of action,humor, drama and I like that special bond between Terminator and John Connor It's my favourit ! I also like Terminator 3! I think was a great movie, theTerminatrix was so sexy and... deadly I think there is a good lesson for us men to learn from it that beauty is only skin deep and you really don't know what is underneath... But anyway... Maria is the real Terminator!Lucky me, she is reprogrammed.

Which is your least favourite Terminator movie and why?

I expected Terminator Salvation to be a little better. It lacked that balance of a little bit of everything but, it made sense for the other Terminator movies. I think that if McG will do another Terminator movie he will do it better.

What's your next event?

October will be a busy month. I will attend the Spooky Empire convention in Orlando Florida and then I hope to go to New York for the Big Apple Con to meet the original Sarah Connor Linda Hamilton and T-1000 Robert Patrick and then Adventure Con in Tennessee and some Florida local events. In november I hope to go to Las Vegas for shooting of a TV commercial that will be broadcasted nation wide.

How can people hire you for an event?

They can go to www.Gigsalad.com/paul_is_arnold and there they can find contact information, biography, pictures, audio and video performance samples. I always add new pictures and new videos so people can make an idea before they hire me for an event.

How is it working with your sons?

I should say that i am working with my two sons Nicholas and Dennis. Nicholas is playing John Connor. He is very supportive and we just discovered that he is an awesome and talented actor. Dennis is playing T-1000. Dennis is a wrestler and a real Terminator in the ring. I weigh 255 pounds and he lifts me like nothing. Nicholas is a wrestler too, going to practice with his older brother. It was world war 3 to convince my stubborn boys into acting. They love it now and they like to travel with me and our relationship is better then ever.

What's his favourite Terminator movie and why?

Their favourites are Terminator 2 and 3 and Terminator Salvation because they like Arnold, special effects and the machines from these movies.

Which is his least favourite Terminator movie?

They All Love The Terminator Franchise. Every Single Movie Is Their Favourite. EXCEPT ONE!!! Terminator, Just Because They Have Never Seen It. Haa,Haa!

If Terminator Salvation turned into a show, would you appear naked for 30 seconds, or just get them to create you on a computer screen?

Why not? After all ,Terminators are machines without human emotions.Forget about computer as long as I'm real !

Do you want Arnold to come back to the Terminator universe?

That would be great! I know that also many fans wish that so, let's just hope that He'll... Be Back!

We think more of an emphasis on models should be created in the movies. We like you as Terminator and we like Kickinger too (without a cgi head). If you know the whole model series number rule: model 101 flesh (arnold) You could star as Model 100, Arnold 101, and say Kickinger 103. What do you think of the idea of all being lined up in skynet pyramid and all being activated in a naked men scene? (We think it would Work! Plus would show the development of the Terminators flesh).

Wow! What a great idea !There is only one problem...You see, this model 100 was created to infiltrate into the womens camp so he is equipped with a special telescopic piston that must be kept undercover...It's a secret weapon!

Do you think it is important that James Cameron return to the series?

I believe that James Cameron did a fantastic job with the Terminator movies. After all, he is the father of it and "He Should Be Back!"

Have you ever met Arnold? If not what would you like to say to him in person?

No I didn't. Probably I will go to Arnold Classic next year dressed as Terminator. When I'll meet Arnold I will introduce myself as a clone and tell him : I need your clothes, your boots and your Hummer! Give them to me NOW!!! and Arnold's answer:You forgot to say please! Then I'll say: I need a role with you in a terminator movie PLEASE!!!

Do you find yourself slipping into Arnold's accent without realising?

People say that i sound like Arnold. It's just my normal natural talking accent without any effort. I remember when I met Greg Thompson (the founder of Sunburst Celebrity Tribute Artists) in Orlando Florida He was like : "Are you in the character or- that's how you talk?" Sometimes when my kids are not listening to me or when my wife Maria Is bothering me I Find Myself Screaming Like Arnold.

Anything you want to say to the fans of the Terminator franchise?

As a fan myself I think that it's very important to support the Terminator franchise so that, the resistance will march on into the future.

Thanks for the interview.

My pleasure! Thank you very much for this interview opportunity! I really appreciate the work you do keeping the fans informed with very valuable information.You guys are my Heroes!

Thanks Paul for a great interview and thanks for the compliment. We wish you every success in your ventures you deserve it.

This is not the last we will be hearing from Paul either. We will be keeping you in the loop with any "Plesca" news that comes to surface and any upcoming events, so you can check him out doing his stuff in the flesh.

What could be better than this guy, riding a Harley around universal studios killing every visitor to the park!

Good luck with the upcoming events!

Remember to check out Paul's gig salad profile with all his latest news and remember...... He'll be back!

Click the Gig Salad Banner below to be taken to Paul's Gig Salad.