Kate Lister [Interview]

Welcome to Day 2 of Trainwreck’d Society’s Annual Month of Horror Showcase! We have a fully loaded month of all things horror for you fine folks! October is our favorite month for this very reason, and we are so excited to share 31 full days of film showcases and interviews with some of the finest folks from the world of horror, just as we have been doing for the last 5 years. What started as a simple 5 day showcase, has now blossomed into a full blown month long event. You’re going to love this! Enjoy!

We are officially up and running here with Day of our MoH showcase and have some wonderful words from a brilliant working actress who has done some amazing work in and out of the world of horror. It’s Kate Lister! Kate is an absolutely brilliant performer who has been lighting up the Australian television world for several years, and has moved on to work on some pretty amazing films. She has some pretty incredible work in the world of horror coming up that we are so damn excited and honored to have her digitally here today to tell you all about.

So Folks, please enjoy some wonderful words from the amazing artist that is the great Kate Lister!

What inspired you to get into the world of film and television? Was it an early aspiration to do so, or did you just happen to find yourself in this world one day?

It was a gradual thing for me, I took lots of little classes and then I found myself in a class with a teacher (Lyndelle Green) who pushed me harder than anyone else had at the time, she opened my eyes up and made me pay attention to the psychology and responsibility in building and playing a character. 

What was your very first paid gig you can remember getting in the world of performance? And did this job leave any sort of lasting impact on you that still makes its way into your work today?

My very first paid gig as a performer would have been as a dancer, that was my first love. I honestly can’t remember what it was but I was so lucky to fall into the right hands when I started my dancing career. My first year of performing for a living taught me that you must be talented BUT you need to be easy to work with – no one wants to hire you with a bad attitude. I watched many talented dancers enter the industry and leave it just as quick. 

While the world of horror is not the only one you work in, you have certainly have done some great work in the genre as of lately.  And it is our Month of Horror Showcase after all, so I am inclined to ask you how you enjoy working in this genre? What sets it apart from other genres?

Horror is such a scary genre for most Actors, just the thought of having to make yourself scared and cry on set day in and out is terrifying. I have honestly had so much fun working on the Horror films I’ve been part of but I must say I do come home extremely exhausted. Horror is set apart from most other genres because it’s a heightened state of reality majority of the time so as an actor you have to prepare yourself mentally for some really crazy circumstances. It’s lots of work yet so rewarding and fun at the same time. 

Can you tell us a bit about one of your latest films that has been on our radar lately entitled Curse of the Scarecrow? What can you be seen doing in this very intriguing film?

I laugh every time I think of this film, to be honest this was a film that I shot in conjunction with another film called Deadly Call Back. Deadly Call Back was the film I fell in love with and The Curse of the Scarecrow was just on the side line. It was a fun, silly horror that I think will be an easy watch for all those Horror Fans. The title says it all ☺  

Audiences can also find you in another intriguing, and seriously creepy, film entitled Mandy The Doll. Can you tell us a bit about this one? FYI…I am frightened by the concept alone, dolls are already scary enough!

Dolls are so creepy, I am so glad you said that! There are films like Chucky that introduced the killer doll and now I will say, I wonder what all of the dolls do when we are sleeping haha! I shot the opening scene of Mandy the Doll and I am so glad I didn’t have to spend months looking at that doll, I would have definitely had nightmares. I am the blonde girl running up the stairs when I should have been running out the front door,  a good one to tick off my bucket list. 

What else the future hold for you? Anything you would like to plug to our readers?

I have just arrived back to Australia after filming Drive me to the End in London. This film was one of my favorite experiences as it was a dark comedy and I just LOVED my character. This film touches on themes like autism, death, disabilities, unlikely friendships and more. My character Sunny was on the Autistic spectrum so I personally felt blessed to be able to play a strong character like this. The writer ( Richard Summers- Calvert) is so clever, the script is so deep yet has so many quirky, funny moments in it.

At the moment I am focusing on Murder a TV show (8 Ep) Crime Thriller that Phoenix Raei and I (Little Fish Films Australia) have just completed the pilot for, this is extremely exciting for me and something I am really passionate to get up and running. I am auditioning and am hoping to get into some more theatre projects. You just never know what is around the corner in this industry so for me I like to keep my self busy and jump back into class when ever I can.

Kate Lister in “Murder”.

What is your favourite scary movie? 

Martyrs, is my favorite horror film because it messed my head up so much that I will never watch it ever again – it has had the most impact on me. 

What are you plans for the upcoming Halloween? Any kind of traditions you try to uphold each year?

My family for the first time last year celebrated Halloween, I have a niece and nephew so it’s fun for them to go trick or treating. I am hoping that we will keep it all going this year. 

What was the last thing that made you smile?

Today, I am staying with my parents in between jobs and I have the flu. My dad walks past me with a big fume mask on so he doesn’t get sick, he hasn’t taken it off all day – I couldn’t stop laughing and I just love his commitment.