Asta Paredes [Interview]

photo by Justin Patterson Photography

Welcome to Day 4 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!

Today’s guest for our Month of Horror Showcase is an absolutely delightful human being who we are so excited to have grace our digital pages. Asta Paredes is an absolutely incredible actress who has had a wonderful career and in, out, and around the world of horror. She was absolutely amazing in the the beloved Return to Nuke ‘Em High film and its sequel which was brought to you by the brilliant folks at Troma Pictures, which is a world that we have explored with intense fervor here at Trainwreck’d Society. And we will continue to do so as they are some of the best people in the world of horror to ever create anything. So, it is no wonder that these fine folks would want to align themselves with the likes of an acting genius like Asta Paredes! She was kind enough to tell us a bit about how she got into the world of performance, what she has coming up, and to tell us a bit about her time spent in the world of Troma.

So Folks, please enjoy some wonderful words from the brilliant Asta Paredes!

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?

I have always been in love with movies but it wasn’t until after I graduated from college that I ever seriously considered entering the film world. I fell into it after a friend, Dave Herman, asked me what brought me to NYC and I said I was an actress. He asked me what I had been in lately and I went blank. Between survival jobs and harrowing personal experiences there was zip. He was one of those people who put me to task and back on track. Shortly after this talk, I took improv classes at Upright Citizens Brigade Improv Training Center and began to reawaken so to speak. He then wrote a sketch in which he enlisted me and another to film last minute. After a day filming this ridiculous sketch ( Battleship Pitch Meeting) I was hooked. After that I submitted for film projects left and right.

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?

I had to really think about this one and when I realized the answer a flood of memories came over me. In the summer between my Sophomore and Junior year of college, I was unable to find someone to sublet my apartment so I spent the summer in Minneapolis. I fell into a situation where I became a muse of sorts for a project and this led me to be part of running the Elysium Theatre Collective. We wanted to put on a play and I got to be part of the audition process. One of the auditionees was a classmate from my BFA program, Bob Galligan, and performed a monologue he wrote. Struck by the performance, a mission to make this into a play began. I spent that summer helping to create a play called Bob Meets Bob. A hypothetical story about Bob Galligan meeting Bob Dylan. The tale would follow both of the Bobs and see the eerie parallels in their lives and ultimately end with their meeting backstage at a concert. So, as I was in Minneapolis I poured over all things Bob Dylan. Every dive bar had visited. No stone was left unturned. I heard stories about him that only endeared me to the musician more. Besides producing this show, I was also playing Joan Baez. I met and befriended so many interesting people including music legend Spider John Koerner. All this culminated in a two performance event. One night we played our show at a nightclub called Trocadero’s for which I was paid a portion of door sales and a bucket of Coors. We marketed the event as a Bob Dylan Tribute and took an ad out in the local paper. Spider John Koerner was our opening act and I got to sing “With God on our Side” as Joan Baez to a full concert venue. It was a hell of a first paid gig. It left a huge impact on me. It taught me that only you set your limits. It also taught me that it really is easier to ask for forgiveness than permission. Hopefully one day, I can play Joan again in a more official capacity by going through the proper channels- of course.

We have spoken with a lot of folks who have worked in the world of Troma Films, as it is one of our all time favorite production companies and are putting out truly original films. You’ve done some amazing work with Troma over the years, so I am curious to know how you enjoyed working with Lloyd and co.? What sets it apart from other projects you have worked on?

There’s an energy about working with Troma that in many ways can never be duplicated. It is an insistent energy.  You are put on the spot constantly and asked to commit. I loved my time working on Return to Nuke ‘Em High because it forced me to explore myself as an unabashed performer. With Lloyd at the helm and a devoted cast and crew, it was an easy task to explore that part of me. I’ve learned that it’s truly set apart from some other projects that seem to wish to tame and refine which was quite the culture shock for me post Troma. The challenge I’ve learned is trying to balance this freeing experience with the expectations of the industry. However most days I’m reminded to continue to pave my own way which I don’t think I would have had the guts to do before Tromaville.

While the world of horror is not the only one you work in, you have a legendary status in this world already.  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?

Legendary. Nice. I honestly love the genre community. More importantly I love being part of good storytelling and if I suit a role in a stylistically heightened tale— all the better. I think what sets it apart is its ability to elicit visceral responses. Heart pounding, stomach churning, jump scares—genre fare wants you engaged and to experience it you have to suspend your disbelief. Then you need to go home and say “it’s only a movie, it’s only a movie”. At the end of the day, horror asks you to hold onto to your life more dearly and that’s pretty fricking cool. 

What is your favorite scary movie? 

Oh that’s a tough one. I honestly change my answer depending on the mood I’m in. However, my heart always comes back to Poltergeist. Great effects. Fantastic performances. Brilliant storytelling. Also, I’m drawn to tales about seeking truth and the power of love.

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

I have a Halloween party with some good friends in the city that I’ve been lucky to look forward to for the past few years. My husband and I have a long standing tradition of couple’s costumes. Typically Tragic couples.

We’ve dressed as:

Scream –  Sidney & Billy

The Terminator – Sara Connor & Kyle Reese

Edgar Allan Poe & Annabel Lee

It Follows – Jay & Hugh

Speed – Annie & Jack

Psycho –  Marion & Norman

The Shining –  Wendy & Jack

Habit –  Anna & Sam

Looking forward to this years…

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

Many good things I hope! Been working on a lot of neato shorts and developing some exciting feature length fare. I recently finished my writer/director debut on the short film THE SLIGHTEST TOUCH which I hope to release soon for public consumption. I acted as well as worked as producer in dramatic short EROS POINT which was written & directed by McKegg Collins and co-stars my husband Clay von Carlowitz. Speaking of Clay, he wrote and directed a short called THE SHADOW SCARF that we also acted in together that will be making its World Premiere at the Great Western Catskills International Film Festival this October. I was also fortunate to star in a comedic horror short called THE CREEPER’S CURSE directed by Blake Rice and written by Hunter Hoffman who also stars along with Evan Williams, Emeka Nwafor, and Ricky Ryan.

I’ve been working with my production company, Abandoned House Productions, towards developing a couple features which we hope to share big news about very soon. I’ve also been revisiting my other passions, including writing songs and dancing, which I will begin to share more of in an official manner later this year.  It’s been a year of creation and it’s been very renewing to be part of so many stellar projects. I’m so grateful for all the support I’ve received over the years-it really holds me accountable to be part of such a loving community of artists and fans alike. Feel free to follow my accounts for all the latest developments-to many more stories and adventures!

IG: @astaparedes

Twitter: @astaparedes

Facebook: https://facebook.com/astaparedes

Official Website: www.astaparedes.com

IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5168039/

Production Company site: www.abandonedhousepresents.com

What was the last thing that made you smile?

I’ll just say this: It is an absolute joy to watch my pet rabbit eat a blackberry. The simple things, ya know.

Aimee-Lynn Chadwick [Interview]

Photo by Todd Tyler Photography

Welcome to Day 3 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!

Oh do we have another wonderful interview for you fine Folks today! We have some wonderful words from another absolutely amazing actress. It’s Aimee-Lynn Chadwick Everyone! Aimee-Lynn has done some incredible work in the world of horror and beyond. I was absolutely ecstatic to talk to her about her work in the Return of the Living Dead franchise specifically. And while we may have different opinions on the the outcome of the films she worked on, she is indeed the expert and was so kind to give us a bit of insight on not just these couple of films, but some of the other amazing work she has done in and out of the world of horror, as well as letting us know what made her want to join the world of performance, as well as her work as a brilliant musician. There is so much to enjoy here, so let’s just jump right into it!

So Folks, please enjoy some wonderful words from the amazing actress Aimee-Lynn Chadwick!

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?

The first memory I have of Films and being drawn to them were Old Black and White movies I use to watch with my mom.  Shirley Temple movies were my LIFE! Watching films like Rebecca of Sunny Brook Farm, White Christmas, anything with Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney in them.  That is really where I knew, even in my young age, THAT was what I was born to do.  It was something that really burned so deeply in me.  Not the “fame part” necessarily, as I have always been a painfully shy and awkward, but I was always drawn to characters, and watching the transformation of an Actor really taking on a role.  Whatever genre that may be.  If someone really dives deep in a role, and brings depth, and vulnerability, and transports me into the story enough to believe they are that character.. THAT is everything for me.  It’s my favorite thing ever.

In 2005 you appeared in the brilliant additions to the Living Dead franchise, with Rave to the Grave and Necropolis. In your obvious expert opinion, what do you believe these two films have added to the franchise? What sets them apart from all the others?

Usually, when this topic is brought up It is presented to me in a “tongue and cheek” sorta way. Let me start by saying, there is nothing “BRILLIANT” about these 2 films, it’s a kitschy genre, and in my humble opinion NOTHING can top the original ROTLD.  With that said, these 2 movies HAD THE POTENTIAL, to be brilliant.  My fellow actors and makeup team, and writers, are all brilliant in their own right.  The problems that were faced on these productions were set against us from the start. Let’s just say, we shot in Romania, and were faced with A LOT of obstacles on our 5 month journey.  We shot both films back to back, out of sequence.  One of our actresses got gravely ill and had to be med-flighted back to the states to save her life.  So we had to recast her for Rave to the Grave.  None of what we already shot made sense anymore, and we were running out of time, and money.  So scripts were botched, story lines were cut, it was a frenzy.  What do I believe these two movies add to the franchise? I think if one looks at them with less of a “judgy-troll eye” , and sees that there were so many things that the actors and director, had NO CONTROL over, you will find the heart of these movies.  You will see that we all gave it what we could with what we had to work with.  I signed on to this project as a ROTLD SUPER FAN! so just the fact I get to say I am part of the franchise family is EVERYTHING to me.

I can only speak for myself, but the time I spent filming these movies will last me forever. I made lifelong friends.  I got to spend time in the most beautiful, magical country. I got to film 2 zombie movies.  I got to work and learn from some of the greatest special effects artists of all time.  It was a life changing experience I wouldn’t trade for anything.  The thing that sets these movies apart, is they are more on the modern side, and maybe they aren’t perfect…but, like I said in the beginning, ROTLD [films] are kitschy! and suppose to be FUN! these aren’t meant to be Oscar-winning movies.  They are meant to take the horror fan away for an hour or so and have them throw tomatoes at us.  So, I think we did our jobs perfect…despite it all being one uphill battle .

Beyond the world of acting, I’ve come to learn that you are an accomplished singer/songwriter as well. Can you tell us a bit about your journey into the world of music? And where can people learn more about your career as a musician?

Music and Acting have always gone hand in hand for me.  I started my career doing local and professional musical theatre. I have been writing poems, and songs since I could write.  So when I got to los angeles I started working at Tower Records and finally got the nerve to start really working on my own music, and collaborating with other people.   Music has always been my sanctuary.  Where acting I get to “be someone else for a bit”, and Create characters, with my music it is like my diary, my therapy.  It has literally kept me sane all my life.  Even if I take a break from making music for a year or two, I always end up diving back in and writing a record full force. I love it so much.  I have been so blessed to get to collaborate and write and perform music with some of the most talented humans ever.

My first Album is called Generation Next, you can find it on ITUNES and SPOTIFY.  I also had a band called Chasing Aimee and a side acoustic project called The Charles Shaw Project. Currently, I am working on a solo project under the stage name FABLE.  More to COME!

While the world of horror is far from being your mainstay in the world of film and television, you have had some great success in the genre. And this being our Month of Horror showcase and all, I am curious to know what it is you enjoy about working in the more frightening world of suspense and horror? What sets it apart from other projects you tend to work on?

I LOVE HORROR! It’s so fun! Halloween is my Christmas. Plus, If anyone has ever done ANYTHING with or for the horror community they will know what I mean when I say, it is the most awesome, supportive, family. I love getting bloody, I love wearing weird contacts and freaking people out on camera.  The art of it is so amazing. I had never been so giddy as I was the day I sat in the makeup chair for 4 hours for my prosthetics for Chromeskull: Laid To Rest 2!  My death scene is SO gnarly and awesome! they had to basically build the side of my head, ear and pig tail and all, just so chromeskull can rip my face off ! It was pretty fun I must say.  I think there is something exciting about working on suspense and horror projects.  I have never been on a set of one where I didn’t have the best time of my life.  If I had to pick something that sets this genre apart I would say it’s the fans, and people you meet from being in one.  It truly is one big creepy, bloody, family.  I love it.

Photo by Michael Scott Photography

What is your favorite scary movie?

My favorite scary movie? yikes! This is a tough one, I think I had like 104 at one point.  But, off the top of my cranium, I will pick a classic…the original 1974 Black Christmas starring Olivia Hussey.  This movie was SO good! A. because , OLIVIA HUSSEY! but , also I found it to remind me of an old italian horror film. Even for me it had a bit of a creepy voyeuristic Hitchcock vibe. I am obsessed with the camera angles from the Killer’s point of view. It is not your average slasher film with really gory kills, or Un gratutious boobie shots…It felt more cinematic to me, and made it SOOO much more creepy and scary for me.  That is just one of my faves, but I honestly have so many!

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

This Halloween I haven’t quite decided on what I want to be! I know I will be doing on camera walk-thru’s of some of the awesomest haunts in Salt Lake City with “CROWD SURFING UTAH” (you can find them on youtube) We will do walk throughs and interviews and get people into the halloween spirit all month long! Halloween being my favorite holiday I DO try and celebrate as MUCH as I can each year.  As far as traditions? When I was younger ( I grew up in Massachusetts a.k.a. Witchy capital of the world) and we would always go to Salem each Halloween…Now, I just make sure I attend anything spooky related that is thrown at me , not just during Halloween season but ALL year long!

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

The future holds endless possibilities! Some I can share right now, Some you will have to stay tuned for, but, I’m Wicked excited for a Horror movie I filmed that is now in post production,  called Behind You.  Written and Directed by Matthew Whedon & Andrew Mecham .  It is really creepy. That is all I can divulge at the moment, but I’m anxious to see the final product.  Also, I am continuing to work on a new record, and also, work on my web series which you can catch the first 2 seasons at WWW.TINSELSTOWN.COM

What was the last thing that made you smile?

Family 

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. 

Junie Hoang [Interview]

Welcome to Day 1 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 kicking this year’s Month of Horror off with an absolutely wonderful interview with an even more wonderful performer in both the on screen and voice over world. It’s Junie Hoang! True horror fans are going to recognize Junie from her work on the incredible B horror franchise that is Gingerdead Man. This is a series that had me all in simple based on the titles of their films alone. With titles like The Passion of the Crust and Saturday Night Cleaver, so much respect has to be given, and an almost instant biased was born within me. Thankfully, these films were also so damn wonderful! They are so much fun, and as delightfully terrifying as you would want, but also extremely hilarious.

And a huge part of why this franchise has been so great to watch is due to Junie, who is just an amazing and delightful human being. When I learned that she was also the voice of Chun-Li in the Street Fighter world, I was absolutely floored with excitement that she was excited to be a part of our Month of Horror series. I love horror. I love what she has done in the world of horror. But, I sure do love me some Street Fighter! Her career has been so wonderfully varied and interesting that we are very excited to have her grace our digital pages today.

So folks, please enjoy our very first installment of our annual Month of Horror showcase with an interview from the brilliant Junie Hoang!

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

I started off in dance when I was 16, but it didn’t work out for me because I was a bit directionally dyslexic and on the short side, so I switched over to acting instead.  I was in a comfort zone with dancing and acting was so foreign to me, but as time passed, I realized that the more I worked my acting muscle, I was actually more comfortable in that world than dancing.

Beyond the world of on-screen acting, you are also a celebrated voice over artist, including voicing Chun-Li during the early days of the Street Fighter franchise! So, how do you enjoy voice over work? How is comparable and how is different from working on screen?

I did whatever acting jobs I could get my hands on when I was in Texas to build experience and luckily, I recorded my first job with ADV Films and they brought me back for more episodic anime shows on a regular basis.  Voiceover work in L.A. is much more competitive, so I focused more on on-screen work.  The one thing I miss about doing voiceover work is, you can show up and audition or do the gig and know that you will not be judged based on how you look.

Junie Hoang with the legendary Linda Blair!

You have appeared in the second and third installment of the hilariously frightening, and always cleverly titled, Gingerdead Man franchise. You appeared in The Passion of the Crust and Saturday Night Cleaver. I can’t tell you how much fun I have watching these films. So how was it work in a franchise like this? Is it as much fun to work on as it is for the audience to watch?

Because of the nature of a comedic horror film, shooting it is so relaxing because it just feels like the cast and crew is there to have a good time while they’re working, which takes the pressure off everyone involved.  Getting to hold some of the props and dolls are also a treat.

While the world of horror is not the only one you work in, 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 has been hands down my favorite genre since I was in elementary school, so I will automatically pick that before anything else.  I always dreamt of being the Asian Jamie Lee Curtis of horror films.

What is your favorite scary movie? 

My favorite is Halloween because of course, it’s my favorite holiday to celebrate and watching it always puts me in the mood for the Halloween season.  The movie that got me started on loving horror films is The Exorcist, which I watched and was severely traumatized by when I was 10 years old.

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

I start going to Halloween activities on September the 1st so I can get a jumpstart for the next 2 months, but I anticipate the festivities year round.  My tradition is to do everything I can get my hands on for those 2 months, which usually comes out to about 40-50 attractions and events that I pack into September and October.

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

Right now I’m shooting a Christmas movie for BET, which is my second favorite holiday.  I’ve gotten into a niche of doing urban projects, so next year I return to start shooting Season 2 and 3 of 5th Ward, a TV series for UMC, which is a branch of AMC.

What was the last thing that made you smile?

My niece was expecting a trip to Chicago last week before she started school, so when I was able to surprise her with a trip to Europe instead, that put a smile on my face as well as hers.

R. Lee Fleming Jr. [Interview]

We have a very cool interview for you fine Folks today here at Trainwreck’d Society. Today we are talking with a brilliant writer and producer of film and television, the wonderful R. Lee Fleming Jr.! There was a wonderful time in the late 90’s and early 00’s where the idea of turning Shakespeare and other pieces of classic literature into high school comedies and/or dramas. I absolutely loved this period. I loved it so much. From the John Leguizamo vehicle that was Romeo & Juliet (I know, that is not an appropriate way to describe the film, but I’m gonna do it!) to the Julia Stiles fronted O and 10 Things Hate About You (which was a Laris Oleynik vehicle, in my own opinion…fight me!), I loved them all. And today’s interview subject happened to be a man who brought us two of my favorite films of this era that were not previously mentioned, but were on par with, and possibly even better than, the films previously mentioned. Fleming gave us the absolutely incredible films we all know and love known as She’s All That and Get Over It. The first one being one of the most legendary films of this era, without question. The latter being an absolute perfect film in my opinion (and a wonderful Sisqo vehicle…yes, I will run with this bit FOREVER!).I was intrigued to learn a bit more about Lee and get his perspective on this time period, and what it was like to create a teenage based classic film. And in doing this I discovered that he not only worked on the legendary television series Friends right around the end of the series, but actually has a wonderful Hulu Original series coming very soon that I am so damn excited about called Light As A Feather, which will premiere on October 12th. I love this man’s body of work, and I am so excited to check out his new show that I am certain will be amazing.So Folks, please enjoy some wonderful words from the brilliant R. Lee Fleming Jr. right now! Enjoy!
When did you first discover that you had a talent for the world of storytelling? When did you decide that it was what you wanted to do for a living?

Demond Wilson [Interview]

Today we are so honored to feature some kind words from one of the most legendary figures we have had the pleasure of featuring here on Trainwreck’d Society. Today we are sharing words from the legendary actor Demond Wilson! Demond is most likely known for his role as Lamont Sanford on the legendary television show Sanford and Son, which was a very important show to me growing up, for so many different reasons. This show taught me so much about race, relationships, and really just comedy in general. Which are some topics that are discussed in these amazing words from this legendary figure below.

Since Sanford and Son, Demond has gone on to do some amazing work not only in the world of film and television, but in philanthropy as well. All of which will be discussed in this wonderfully candid interview we have to share with you all today. We are so excited to have Mr. Wilson on the site today, and hope that you all enjoy some amazing words from a man who is an absolute living legend. So, without further babbling, please enjoy some great words from the brilliant Demond Wilson!

I understand that you began performing at a very young age. I am always curious as to what compelled you to begin working in the world of acting at such a young age? And what was it that kept you working in this world?

My parents recognized I was talented as a toddler and placed me in the Hoskins School of Culture which specialized in dance/elocution which led to radio spots at the age of 8 and later a Broadway show.

As a lifelong fan of Sanford & Son, I know why I find to be special and one of the finest programs in television history. But, as one of the legendary figures that made the show amazing, I am curious to know what it is about the program that sets itself apart from others? What is it about Sanford & Son that makes it still remain a classic?

It was about the love of a parent to a child which transcends time, race, and gender.  It could have been a mother and a daughter. It reveals the undying love of a parent to a child in a comedic way.  Our personalities and the brilliant comedic talent of Redd Foxx who put the Character of Fred Sanford on like a tailored made suit.

In your truly amazing career as a performer, you have had amazing success in television, film, theatre, and more. When you look back on your many accomplishments, what field would you say you are most proud of?

Simply the body of work. Chiefly Sanford & Son that is a part of “Pop Culture.”

Beyond the world of performances, you are also an accomplished author, as well as a devoted minister. You combined these two with your book you released 20 years ago entitled The New Age Millenium: An Expose of Symbols, Slogans and Hidden Agendas. I am curious to know what inspired you to write this book? And for those who may not have been able to check it out yet, can you tell us a bit about it?

The subject matter contained in The New Age Millennium labeled me (20) years ago a “Conspiracy Theorist.”  Now the book has relevance in that which hidden to the general public is now plainly taking place.

I am very intrigued by your work in the world of philanthropy as well, especially your work with the Restoration House, which is a program to rehabilitate prisoners, and is extremely important and honorable. What was it that made you want to begin doing this work?

It started as I visited major penal institutions across the nation while ministering.  And realizing not all incarcerated are arch criminals who once released have few alternatives.

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

Have a couple of books that I am currently working on and a TV series I authored.  (Not for me to act in)

I will be in NYC on Nov 1st. They are awarding me a special comedy TV award at the 2nd Annual LOL award ceremony.

What was the last thing that made you smile?

The last thing that made me smile was the knowledge that the path my life has taken was indeed going in the right direction!

Camille Winbush [Interview]

Today’s interview subject is a wonderful person who I feel as though I have literally watched grow up and become the amazing performer that is making incredible moves in the world of film and television today. It’s Camille Winbush! She appeared in Jim Jarmusch’s absolutely incredible cult classic film Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai before she was even aged into double digits. She showed a flair for the world of acting, and has only gone on to prove herself to be one of the finest actresses of our time.

Seriously folks, from watching her battle it out on screen with the legendary Bernie Mac for 5 seasons on one of the greatest television sitcoms of all time known as The Bernie Mac Show, to her success on The Secret Life of the American Teenager, right on up to the film Bachelor Lions that was released this year, Camille has proven herself to be an unstoppable force who can not be stopped. We have some wonderful words from her below, most notably that she has come to the realization that creating her own content is absolutely crucial, and that is the path she is on now. I cannot tell you how amazing this sounds to me! I am so excited to see what the future holds for Winbush, although obvious further success is almost guaranteed with her level of talent.

So Folks, please enjoy some wonderful words from the immensely talented individual that is Camille Winbush!

You have been acting for practically your entire life! When did you personally decide that the world of acting was one that you want to make a living in?

I started acting when I was two years old. At that time I had no idea what acting was! It was just something I grew up doing. Honestly, I don’t think I really appreciated or understood the magnitude of the business until I was about nineteen or so. 

What was your very first gig you can remember getting? How old were you, and do you remember anything from that experience that you still incorporate into your work as well?

The first job that I can remember doing was a show called Viper, which was about a talking smart car. I believe I was around four at the time. There was a big fight scene in which the guy who played my dad got punched in the face and I started crying because I thought he was really hurt. The director loved my reaction and thought I was the best little actress he’d ever seen. And then my mom had to explain to me it was all pretend. I learned that real tears help book jobs and to this day I can make myself cry in less than five minutes. 

You role as Pearline in the cult classic Jim Jarmusch film Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai was just downright delightful! Has there ever been talk about doing a Pearline-centric sequel given that she read the Hagakure? If it were to happen, what direction would you want to take her in as an adult?

Let me start by saying that Forrest Whitaker and Isaac de Bankolé were such cool guys to work with. They both had a calming presence on set. Jim Jarmusch was also great, and a real character in his own right. There has been fan talk about RZA producing a sequel with Pearline as the lead, but I don’t know that it will ever happen. If it did, I’d love to see her take on some of the same characteristics as Ghost Dog and become a bad ass neighborhood underground superhero of sorts. 

You spent some of your formative years brilliantly portraying Nessa on The Bernie Mac Show, which is one of the greatest of all time, in my opinion. We’ve spoken with a few other folks who have spent a lot of years inside a world with a TV family, and I am always curious to know how closely it really felt like a family? Did you have a sense of closeness with your on screen family members?

The Bernie Mac Show definitely left a lasting positive impact on my life. I spent five years with that cast and crew, and essentially we were together on set more than we were at home. We were blessed enough to actually like each other so we did become a real family. So much so that every Friday night after wrap we would all get together for what we called “the bump and grind” which was the whole cast and crew partying together doing karaoke, eating, and dancing. We pretty much had a family reunion every weekend. I like to think everyone on that set had a part in shaping me to be the actor and woman I am now. 

If you were handed the opportunity to portray any inspirational figure in American history, who would it be?

I would love to play a young Maya Angelou or Nina Simone. I feel like there is so much depth to them and their stories need to be told the right way. (No shade) So to be able to play either of them would be a welcome challenge and an honor. 

We always like to ask this question to our statue award friends: Where do you physically keep your well deserved NAACP Image Awards? And does their physical location hold any sort of significance to you?

My NAACP Image awards, along with every award I’ve ever gotten in life ranging from gymnastics to young entrepreneur, is kept at my parents house. Not saying that I don’t appreciate them, but I’ve never been the type to dwell on physical memories of achievement. So I don’t need to see them everyday as a reminder of what I’ve accomplished. I think my parents have earned the right to show them off. Without them I wouldn’t have any of them anyway!

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

I recently came to the conclusion that I am meant to be self sufficient and can no longer work for other people. With that being said, my future will revolve around projects that I create. With everything from owning a small business, to producing my own shows and movies. I also filmed a project earlier this year called FraXtur with a great team of people so hopefully that will be out soon. And follow me on social media because you know, 2018. Instagram & Twitter- @camilleSwinbush 

What was the last thing that made you smile?

The last thing that made me smile was my five year old cousin asking for an Eskimo kiss. Which she calls “Nose”. 

Sarah Darer Littman [Interview] (By Ava Trembath)

Editor’s Note: So, regular readers of TWS will know that we just did a book review for Sarah Darer Littman’s novel Anything But Okay, available October 9th. I have to let you all know that it was not my own original curiosity that led me to wanting to talk with Sarah and check out her latest book. It was actually my soon to be teenaged daughter Ava Trembath who asked me if I could reach out to Sarah Darer Littman to do an interview. So, of course, in wanting to be a cool Dad, I did just that. I had no idea that Littman would ended up being one of the nicest people I would ever digitally meet, and become someone I would dare call a friend! So, while all credit is due to Ava for constructing the idea to have Sarah on the site, I thought it was only right that I let her take the reigns, and have her ask the questions on this go around.

And if I am being honest and candid here, I have spent the last two months talking with folks from the world of horror, so I am probably not in the best mental state to be asking questions to the greatest Young Adult novelist of this day and age. So, who better to chat it up with a YA mastermind that an actually young adult themselves, my amazing daughter and future astronaut for NASA or that weirdo Elon Musk or that weirdo “president” of our’s so called “Space Force” who digest a new novel a day on average. So, ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy some amazing words from the brilliant Sarah Darer Littman with questions by the amazing Ava Trembath. Enjoy!

Ava Trembath on Anything But Okay:

I really liked this book because it had real life problems that are happening today.I liked that it would switch between Stella and her brother and that her brother’s point of view was in emails and texts to his friend even after he died.I also liked that it was told from his sister’s point of view.Some authors would write it from the main person who’s affected by what’s happening not from the rest of the family.In this book it shows that it affects all of the family and even friends.I love this book because it is interesting, sad, funny, and amazing.

What was your favorite book to write and why?

LOL, I always compare this to someone asking which is my favorite child. I suppose there are a few that are special to me in different ways. I wouldn’t say it was my favorite book to write – it was probably one of the harder ones given the circumstance, but In Case You Missed It is very much a book of my heart. It sold to Scholastic and that evening I went to an author event with Gregory McGuire at the public library with my mom. We had a wonderful time, and when I dropped her back at her apartment, I told her “I love you, I’ll see you when I get back,” because my son and I were invited to TED in Vancouver to see Dave Isay of StoryCorps accept the TED award. We had an amazing time, and I was texting Mom pictures. When I got off the plane my phone rang, and my boyfriend called and said Mom was dead. I compare the feeling of that call to having a limb ripped off without anesthetic.

That was in mid March, and the book I’d just sold on proposal was due in August. Writing that book was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but it ended up that one of the themes of the book was learning how to carry on when everything feels completely bleak and the future is uncertain. It ends with hope, but without everything tied up neatly in a bow and happily ever after.

I also love my middle grade fairy tale retellings, Charmed I’m Sure and Fairest of Them All CHARMED I’M SURE, because I got a chance to go back to the original (vs the Disney) fairy tales and examine them in a humorous way with a modern feminist perspective, by telling the story through the teenage daughters of the original characters. There’s another book in that universe coming out in 2019.

 What is your favorite type of books to read?

I like reading books – Fiction, Non-Fiction, YA and middle grade, historical fiction, historical biography, poetry, picture books. I think that’s what has enabled me to be a versatile writer – able to write edgy YA, humorous middle grade, to do business writing and write political opinion. Reading widely helps me make connections that other people might not make.  

What is a type a book that you want to write, but haven’t yet?

I’d love to write a picture book. Note I say write, not illustrate – I am artistically challenged. Stick figures are about the best I can manage.

I’d also like to write a dystopian novel because there seems to be more inspiration every day when I read the news. I keep bookmarking news stories in a “Book Ideas” folder. I’m particularly interested in the intersection between teenagers and technology, because I see how much new technologies impact my teen readers, both positively and negatively. It’s not just the teen readers either. When I visit with classrooms, either in real life or via Skype, I ask classes that have read my cyberbullying novel, Backlash, to raise their hand if they’ve had something hurtful written about them online. Inevitably, most of the kids in class raise their hands. I tell them that as adults, we’re supposed to be modeling the behavior, and we’re not doing a very good job of it. That’s one of the reasons I gave up regular political writing in mid-2017 – it just got so toxic that it was affecting my ability to write fiction, and fiction is what pays for my mortgage and health insurance.

Are you a cat or dog person? Or both?

I am most definitely a dog person. I LOVE dogs, and always felt there was something missing in my life during the (thankfully short) periods of my life when I wasn’t able to have a dog. True story: Mom prohibited Dad and me from going to pet stores together, because every time we did that we came home with a dog!

I actually like cats, too,  but unfortunately I’m seriously allergic to them. Just another reason to be a dog person.

What is your favorite place to write/read?

I was a single mom when I started my writing career, so I’ve learned to be able to write anywhere and everywhere. I’d write in the carpool pickup line, in cafes, on the train, in doctor office waiting rooms, you name it. Now that my kids are older, my favorite place to write is my study, where I’m surrounded by bookshelves with my favorite books. Here are are two walls of bookshelves – there are more on the other walls and downstairs. My favorite place to read is everywhere! I have library books downloaded onto my phone so I can read if I have a moment while I’m out and about. I also love taking relaxing baths at the end of the day and read in the bath. So far have managed not to drop the iPad in the water, but did ruin a book once : )

 What made you want to write?

I’ve always loved to write as a way of self expression. As an introvert, I’ve always found it easier to find my voice in writing than through speaking out loud. But it’s more than that. By nature, I’m a very curious person, and I write to answer questions. Through researching the questions and the act of writing about them through whether it’s for a column or my fiction, I’m able to find some clarity – and hopefully pass that on to readers.

Are you a night owl or an early bird?

I’m more of an early bird, although I’ve worked to become slightly more of a night owl because my husband is one. Otherwise there are times when we’re both working intensively on our separate projects where we end up being like two ships that pass in the night for weeks on end. I’m definitely more focused in the morning, especially if I work out.

Do you think that people other than young adults would like your books?

I do! My books are classified as young adult and marketed to that audience, but as far as I’m concerned I write for thinking human beings of all ages and gender identities. It’s one of the reasons I get frustrated about how my cover designs tend to be very gendered, as compared to male authors who write books with female protagonists. I wrote a blog post about that for #kidlitwomen month. http://sarahdlittman.blogspot.com/2018/03/branding-or-gendering.html

What is your favorite book/author and why?

Ha! That’s another really difficult question. I love so many books it’s hard to chose just one. But if you force me, I’d probably say The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. My most influential author is George Orwell. I have my MFA students read his essay “Politics and the English Language” because I think it’s so important to the understanding of good writing, and how language can be used for both clarity and for obfuscation, particularly in politics.

Do you like to write with pen and pencil or typing on a computer better and why?

I like to jot down ideas with a pen and paper, especially when I’m trying to brainstorm or work out a problem. I do most of my serious writing on a laptop, however,  because I can type as fast as I think. Writing longhand is too slow for my brain when it comes to getting words on the page.

What was the last thing that made you smile?

My dog Benny (aka “the writing assistant”) makes me laugh constantly, especially when he throws his toys up in the air and they land behind him and he’s like “Where did it go?”  Reading Ava’s review definitely made me smile!

Greg Edmonson [Interview]

I am so damn excited to share this incredible interview with you fine folks today! But, first I want to take you on a personal journey as to why I am so personally affected by today’s guest, the Award-winning and absolutely brilliant musical mastermind, Greg Edmonson.

As many of you may know, I am not particularly the most knowledgable person, or even a fan of, the world of science fiction. I am always under the opinion that the real world is scary enough (and this was pre-November 4th 2016 America & Brexit-era UK, even). In fact, I have been known to call in some friends to help me out when we have guests on that may have had some great success on projects like Star Trek, Star Wars (DO NOT confuse them, all my fellow casual series watchers! Also the Captain Kirk/Star Wars joke isn’t funny. I know, I tried it.), or anything that has really had an impact in the world of fantasy and science fiction. Specifically I tend to call on my dear friends over at the Super Geeky Playdate podcast, as Brady, Bryan, & Adam are my most trusted confidants in the world of geekdom. If you’re not already listening to them, you owe it to yourself to do that.

But, I do tend to find myself dabbling in the field ever so slightly, which can even lead to unhealthy obsessions which seem to be a real commonplace for fans of these genres. But for me, it’s always with projects that sort of teeter along the lines of fantasy and science fiction, but don’t contain a completely impossible sense of realism. It’s as though they have taken something that may seem impossible at the time, but have simply implemented the impossible into true to life scenarios. And that is the paradox that I love and enjoy in projects like the series Black Mirror, the video games in the Fallout franchise, the entire catalog of writer/director Charlie Kaufman, and of course…..FIREFLY!

I was a late addition to the world of Firefly. I knew the show existed, but didn’t get into it until about 8 years ago on a Sunday sitting in a trailer in the desert outside of Doha, Qatar. I watched the entire series in a day + Serenity, and instantly joined the plethora of fans in the Firefly cult following who are rightfully pissed that the show never got to continue on. I could rant about this part of the show’s history, but that proverbial horse has been beaten into non-existence at this point. If you are unfamiliar, a quick Google/YouTube search will have you spiraling down an enraging rabbit hole worse than anything Tim Burton could have ever put out.

And I am not trying to blow smoke up my guests ass as I segway into finally talking about our amazing guest today when I say that the score and original music of Firefly is absolutely incredible and extremely crucial to what the show became. I’m not sure if this has already be proclaimed, and I’m not likely to look it up, I am going to say it now: If the ship Serenity is the 10th member of the crew, the music is the 11th. It’s that damn empowering, and not to mention the BEST opening title song from any television series in history. I wouldn’t even say it is “arguably the best”, because it’s really not up for debate. I honestly feel as though a proclamation of this nature will not require any gear up for on-line hatred. Who can really debate this?

So with all of that blabbering in mind, I am just so damn excited to share some words from the man who performed a crucial element in the world created by Joss Whedon. The show would have been great without Greg’s involvement, but I dare say it wouldn’t have been OUTSTANDING had he not been so kind to throw his amazing abilities into the already extremely talented mix of artists who made the show possible. And the amazing Mr. Edmonson has been so kind to tell us all about it right here, Folks! And as our guest tend to do, he has also gone on to do even more amazing work! In fact, some of you may be tuning in for different reasons than Firefly, and are screaming at your keyboards right hoping I wrap this shit up, or have not even read this portion. And that’s okay. I just hope that you enjoy this amazing interview with one of the most talented humans the world as known that we are so fortunate to have grace our digital pages.

So Folks, pleas enjoy some great words from the brilliant Greg Edmonson!

*****

How did you find yourself working as a composer of film, television, and more? What drew you to this line of work? Was it a deep-rooted ambition that you can always remember having, or did you simply find yourself in this world one day?

I originally moved to Los Angeles to work as a guitarist, but early on I got an opportunity to write for Hanna Barbera (the animation company). Soon that led to working with Mike Post who was doing quite a lot of television (L.A.Law, Quantum Leap, etc). I found that I really enjoyed writing to picture. The difference between being a composer versus being a player is a little like the difference between being a director as opposed to being an actor. The director has much more responsibility, but is ultimately in control of how the project turns out.

Also working with the brilliant musicians in Los Angeles was and remains such a joy. To hear them bring something to life that you wrote is a wonderment that I have never tired of. I find myself incredibly grateful every single time that I set foot on a recording stage.

So even though I was trained as a musician, the opportunity to work as a composer just fell in my lap and I ran with it! I think that it is one of the best decisions that I have ever made.

I will just come out and say it right from the jump, and I believe that many of our readers will agree with me here…..Your work as a composer on the cult classic television series Firefly is hands down the best there ever was. I will argue that forever and with anyone. With that, I am curious to know what your thought process was in scoring this legendary program that was taken from us far too early? What elements from the show did you feel needed to be emphasized with your work?

How I got the gig was somewhat of a miracle. Everyone in town wanted to work with Joss Whedon, given his great success with Buffy & Angel. But Joss wasn’t really taking calls from agents, so his office just told you to send in a CD and they would get back to you if they were interested. So I sent in a CD and promptly moved on to something else.

But one day the phone rang, and his office asked if I would be free to take a meeting with Joss.

Our 5 minute meeting stretched into something much longer. We were just having fun talking about music and arguing about what was the best Jeff Beck tune (ha). We really hit it off and as I was leaving he told me to tell my agent that I had the gig. To this day I don’t have any idea what they responded to on my demo CD—-but I was thrilled.

They gave me the 2 hour pilot which was so good that I truly thought—I am working for 10 years on this show, because I saw what Joss had done. He had created a fantastic universe with 9 main characters who had such wildly divergent pasts that the story lines could go on forever without repeating themselves! Genius!

I loved every single member of the main cast. They were all so very unique! For instance, every one of the 4 women characters (Jewel, Summer, Morena & Gina) were incredibly strong— BUT in completely different ways. Nathan, Adam, Ron, Alan & Sean were just perfect. Anytime that our cast was on screen (especially all together) it was a joy to write for them. I still think that Firefly had the best casting job of any show that I have ever seen.

TV shows rarely hit their stride until the secondd half of the season, or even the start of Season 2. It takes a while to see what is really working and then build on that. Firefly had the magic from day one and it only would have gotten better as time went on. Joss had created this amazing post-apocalyptic world, where your resources determined your life parameters (not unlike the history of our country)—-so you could have six shooters and laser guns all exist in the same world. Anything could work! And since the cultures were all thrown together the music could be anything that the picture justified. So we mixed in all manner of ethnic instrumentation along with traditional instruments and I have used that combination ever since. Thank you Joss!

The work schedule was grueling, but not one single time did I ever sit down to write when I didn’t consider myself the luckiest man on the planet to be working on that show. So many wonderful opportunities to write. Big action cues, quirky & suspenseful music, all alongside emotional and heartfelt – it was all there in one fantastic show.

It was always fun to write for Mal and Inara—he loved her but he could never quite actually say the words. It just left him too vulnerable. But great writing and great acting revealed what was in their hearts in spite of their words. That type of nuance is a treat to write music for—sometimes music can say what the words don’t say. 

As you probably know after the show was canceled, I wrote a piece at the end of “The Message” to try to say goodbye to the show. It was a funeral scene with the whole cast standing in the falling snow and it just felt like I needed to find some closure to this incredible journey. I was deeply saddened to see Firefly end so prematurely, because I knew that the best was yet to come. It was already great and it was only going to get better (and better)! This was a show that just doesn’t come around very often.

To this day I remain in love with all things Firefly. It was an honor and a privilege to work on it.

You have had so much amazing success in the world of film and television, and especially in the world of video games. For the latter, I am very curious to know what it is like to compose the music to a video game in comparison to a feature film or television series? What sets it apart? And having worked on all three iterations of the Uncharted series in a 4 year span, what did you find to be the most challenging on the second and third go around? What were some things to wanted to accomplish whilst working on these projects that would set each game apart from the other?

I think that writing music for video games is very different from film or TV. In film & TV you get a final edited version of the picture and your job is to become a part of the story telling process. Games are never really done until the very end, so you must rely on the game director (Amy Hennig on “Uncharted”) and the team that puts the music into the game (Jonathan Mayer and the Sony team) to help guide you. With this guidance you use your imagination to visualize what the final product might look like. And then you start writing.

Games allow you a freedom that seldom exits in other formats—since there is no dialogue yet, you can write grand melodic gestures that would not be possible if all of the dialogue was in place. Also the time that you have to write is really incredible with a game. Sometimes it can stretch over a period of years. Film/TV is mostly limited to weeks or maybe a couple of months depending on the project. I so loved my time on “Uncharted”. It was a joy to write that music and I was surrounded by a supporting team that is as good as it gets.

As we moved on from Uncharted 1, it actually got easier for me to write the music. I knew the characters and what Amy was trying to accomplish. It really hit a sweet spot starting with Uncharted 2 which raised the bar for the whole video game universe. The score to Uncharted 3 was recorded at Abbey Road in London and is my best work in games so far. How very lucky I was to have been involved with such a great project!

For your work on Uncharted, you were awarded a pair of BAFTA trophies. We always like to ask our statue holding friends this one question: Where do you physically keep these awards? And does their physical location have any kind of significance?

I keep my award stuff in my studio, but for me, at least, it just documents a point in time. What I love and what matters more to me are the relationships and the friendships that are ongoing. While I am honored and thrilled to win awards, I am even more thrilled to have friends that will last a lifetime.

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

Who knows what the future holds? I am actively seeking projects that I really can find an emotional connection with. I really love to write melodic music that has some emotional impact to it, and if I can help to bring that out in a story—mission accomplished!

What was the last thing that made you smile?

I do a lot of it. For a thousand different reasons, I consider my life to be so very fortunate. And more than anything else these days, I am extremely grateful for the opportunities that I have had. And I am excited to see where the journey leads next!

Thank you for the opportunity to tell my story!

Check out this wonderful video that a fan isolated for the aforementioned scene from “The Messenger” featuring Greg Edmonson’s amazing work. If this doesn’t make you choke up in at least the slightest, please check that you are indeed human: