Ron Oliver [Interview]

Welcome to Day 17 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 6 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!

Hello Folks! We are keeping things rolling with another amazing interview for our Month of Horror. We are beginning to break out the big guns for dear readers! Not that we haven’t had some heavy hitters in the previous 16 days, but I am simply promising that it is going to get even wilder from here on out! Today we have a guest who not only has the perfect first name, but is a damn fine filmmaker and writer not only in the world of horror film and television, but just an overall wonderful talent in the art of filmmaking and writing. It’s Ron Oliver, Everyone!

In the world of horror, Ron has worked within the tremendously popular, for good reason, Prom Night franchise, which we will discuss below. Oliver has also managed to be a man who has been involved with projects that have affected me personally throughout my entire life, strangely enough. He worked on a series we have brought up on here before entitled Are You Afraid of the Dark? (see last year’s Month of Horror with Gerald Wexler!) as well as the television adaptation of the Goosebumps series. But, behind the world of horror, he has also done some of the best Christmas themed TV movies you can find (which has a weird connection I’ve noticed to ALOT of folks from the horror world. I might have to look into that one day), as well as directing episodes of classic shows like The Secret World of Alex Mack, Degrassi: The Next Generation, and more recently the absolutely hilarious Grand-Daddy Day Care starring Danny Trejo and the legendary Garrett Morris. He’s an insanely talented workhorse of a man who has put out so many amazing works of art that should all be appreciated individually. I’d implore you all to check them out, but the odds are that you already have.

So Folks, please enjoy some wonderful words from the absolutely brilliant filmmaker, Ron Oliver!

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What inspired you to get into the world of filmmaking? Was it an early aspiration you can always remember having since your youth, or did you just find yourself in this world one day? 

When I was a kid, my parents gave me a Christmas gift of a flip card projector, this sort of movie viewer which was designed for I guess 5 year olds to watch the original Frankenstein and Dracula – back then, horror was for kids. The images were single stills but when you turned the handle they would animate much in the way of a motion picture film, frame by frame. I was obsessed with it, and the idea of making moving pictures, especially monster movies because i loved horror so much as a child. I decided then and there that one day I would make movies. 

What was your first paid gig in the world of filmmaking? And were there any kind of lessons learned from this project that still affect your work today? 

I wrote a spec screenplay called Camp Out, basically an anthology horror film with a wrap around story about some college aged kids who go on a road trip and encounter a creepy guy whom, they think, is a threat. There’s a significant twist ending which attracted the attention of some producers in Toronto, Canada, where I lived – one of them liked it enough to hire me as a full time writer, developing genre projects to produce. We never made Camp Out but i used the techniques of that script when i wrote The Haunting of Hamilton High, my first produced screenplay, which eventually was retitled as Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night 2. If i learned anything from either of those projects it was this – be true to your original idea and follow it through. There are plenty of roadblocks on the way to the fulfillment of any creative notion, and you have to stick to your guns and believe in the idea, or … why bother doing it at all? 

You began early in your career penning the second and third, directing the latter, installments of the Prom Night franchise, which were incredible by the way. So what was it like to jump into the world of Prom Night that early in your career? 

Prom Night was an interesting phenomenon – it’s not a particularly original film, and there are a lot of reshoots that went on (I found out later) to cash in on Jamie Lee Curtis’s fame at the time, so I think it was really not much more than a solid concept – slasher at the prom – which enjoyed the benefit of a terrific star, great promotion and excellent timing. 

When I wrote The Haunting of Hamilton High, we weren’t thinking of Prom Night at all, other than having a Prom as the final denouement in the script. Ultimately, the Samuel Goldywn Company, who bought the movie, decided to cash in on the box office of the original Prom Night – which was a very smart decision obviously – and call it PN2. 

Look, I loved horror movies, and to be able to become part of an established company – with a movie produced by Ray (The Wizard of Gore) Sager for heaven’s sake! – was a dream come true for a kid from rural Ontario, Canada with absolutely no connections to the film industry at all. And then to have my first movie be released theatrically internationally and to become, after all these years, an actual cult film is still a bit mindblowing, frankly. 

My entire life changed because Peter Simpson – the executive producer of the film – decided to take a chance on me, solely because he liked my writing. If he hadn’t given me that break, I don’t know what I’d be doing now. 

So I’m indebted to a lot of people who believed in me over the years, and I try to pay that back by encouraging and mentoring younger filmmakers. 

Throughout the 90’s you worked on a series that I absolutely adored as I was the target audience at the time. And that series was the wonderful Nickelodeon series Are You Afraid of the Dark? Our friend and past guest Gerald Wexler also worked the show. So, I am curious to know how you enjoyed working on a horror series meant for younger kids. Where there any similarities to your previous work in adult-oriented horror? 

I loved every second of making that series. DJ McHale, the creator/producer of the show, saw my Prom Night 3: The Last Kiss on video and thought I had the right sensibility for what he had in mind. 

As a kid, I loved The Avengers (the English TV series, starring Patrick McNee – who coincidentally used to own the house my in-laws live in) and Robert Fuest’s Dr. Phibes movies and of course John Waters. To be able to meld all of those styles with my own, and then to have the kind of creative freedom to write and direct 2 episodes like “The Tale of the Full Moon” or “The Tale of the Ghastly Grinner”, both of which are stories that – on the surface – seem like simple kid monster shows but are, I believe, actually about much deeper issues, was yet another dream come true. 

Horror is always at its best when it is an allegory, and when I was a kid I remember the deeper themes at work in the monster movies I loved – so I tried to bring those things to the work, and tell stories which had a little something to say, as well as hopefully scare the pants off the audience. 

In your own personal opinion, what do you believe it is that makes the horror genre special? What sets it apart from other genres you have worked in? 

As I said above, horror works best as allegory. A movie like Train to Busan, which is in my humble opinion one of the best and most important genre films of the past decade, or Attack the Block, as significant a piece of socio-racial commentary as we’ve seen since the 60’s, can deliver their messages subtextually in a way that mere polemics rarely do. I’m proud to be a genre filmmaker, and would make more genre films if the industry would allow! 

What is your favorite scary movie? 

Evil Dead II. No question. 

Do you have any plans for this coming Halloween? And fun traditions that you try to stick to every year? 

I’ll be working, as usual, making a mystery movie set in an alternate reality of 1960’s bossa nova and romance. I used to dress up as “Morty The Clown Of Death” at my sister’s house in Toluca Lake, Los Angeles and scare the crap out of kids by giving them candy and telling them “You’re going to see me twice in your life. Once tonight…and once at the end….” We used to get huge 3 lines down the block, with parents bringing their kids to be terrorized into good behavior…. Sadly, she sold the house and I’ve been making movies pretty much nonstop for the past five years so….Morty Is on hiatus. For now….. 

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

Right now I’m directing a movie I wrote for The Hallmark Channel (the anti-thesis of your audience I suspect) called Christmas At The Plaza which I developed because I love The Plaza hotel in New York – it’s where my husband and I fell in love – and I wanted to honor it with a holiday film. It’ll be broadcast on Thanksgiving weekend. After that, I’m doing two mystery movies back to back – the Picture Perfect Mystery franchise – and then we jump into Big Fat Liar 3. 

Genre wise – we have been talking at my studio, Universal, about a reimagining of Ghost Story….we have a treatment and we’ll see what the next step brings us…. 

What was the last thing that scared the hell out of you? 

The election of Donald Trump. I met the man years ago and was astounded by his ignorance. I am not delighted to see he has lived down to my expectations. 

What was the last thing that made you smile? 

My husband found a praying mantis floating on top of the pool; he rescued the insect, and now Mr Mantis lives on a bamboo tree in our living room, happily ever after. I haven’t stopped smiling about this. 

Larry Rosen [Interview]

Jesse James [Interview]

Jonathan Lloyd Walker [Interview]

Photo by Kevin Clark Studios

Welcome to Day 14 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 6 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!

Hello Folks! And welcome back to another great week of interviews and showcases for our Week of Horror here at Trianwreck’d Society! And do we have a damn good interview for you all today! It’s the great Jonathan Lloyd Walker! He is a phenomenal actor that you know and love. Die hard horror fans are bound to recognize Jonathan from the 2005 classic film Land of the Dead. But even more impressive is his work behind the camera as a producer, writer, director, all of the above really, on such projects such as the extremely popular Van Helsing series, as well as his addition to the beloved Lake Placid franchise, which we will obviously discuss below!

So Folks, please enjoy some wonderful words from the brilliant on and off screen legend himself, the great Jonathan Lloyd Walker!

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What inspired you to get into the world of entertainment? Was it an early aspiration you can always remember having since your youth, or did you just find yourself in this world one day?

As a kid growing up in England I remember watching my Mum on stage in community theatre. I liked watching a crowd react to what people were doing on stage and I remember wishing I could experience the feeling of entertaining others. I was always a bit of a mischievous kid who wanted to get attention, good or bad, so my first steps into this industry was as a child performer.

What was your first paid gig in the world of entertainment? And were there any kind of lessons learned from this project that still affect your work today?

I did some English TV commercials as a kid. In those days you didn’t get the money, your parents did… so I guess lesson number one was keep track of your money and make sure you get paid! I think a far more simple lesson was to always pick work that you enjoyed. If you do gigs simply for a paycheck but hate the experience then you’re selling yourself short emotionally. I try to always spend time making projects that I enjoy being involved with, ideally working with people I enjoy collaborating with. It doesn’t always work out that way but you can eliminate a lot of needless trauma but listening to your gut and avoiding work that takes more from you than it offers.

Photo by Kevin Clark Studios

In the world of acting, you appeared in the wonderful Romero-directed addition to the “Of The Dead” franchise he created, 2005’s Land of the Dead. I am curious to know how your experience was working on a film like this, and working under the direction of George himself?

It was a great thrill to work with George. He was, even late in his life, a passionate and dedicated filmmaker and storyteller. He gave me the opportunity to act opposite Dennis Hopper which was a dream kind of gig for most actors. It also gave me a front row seat to see the creature FX master Greg Nicotero at work. George also hated shooting during the day. He made a plan to shoot pretty much all of that movie at night, even the interiors. He gave all his actors, small parts and leads, a lot of input and he crafted that story as it unfolded in the shooting. At the screening he pulled me aside and really wanted to know what I thought. My opinion mattered to him and that felt like its own validation and reward. But more importantly it showed how much the work meant to him.

As a writer, you added to the Lake Placid franchise with Lake Placid: Legacy. What inspired you to get into this franchise? And what are your thoughts on the final film?

I was brought in by Peter Nelson at Sony. I pitched what I thought could re-boot the franchise a little, maybe take it away from camp and ground it more but still connect to the original story from the first film. Peter had some great ideas too. The broad strokes of that pitch were what got me the gig and most of those story beats ended up in the film.

I think the film turned out mostly how I expected it to. It’s always difficult making horror on a relatively small budget and without a big practical and/or VFX house selling the creature effects. But there are some good moments for sure. It was also a surprise when the production ended up in South Africa because the script I wrote had the story set in New England just upstream from the original lake in the first film. I don’t think the film ever named where they were so the exteriors don’t really say rural New York State but… maybe nobody noticed!

In your own personal opinion, what do you believe it is that makes the horror genre special? What sets it apart from other genres you have worked in?

Bottom line… real people stuck in the worst kind of circumstances facing the kind of things that give us all nightmares. Horror digs into our primal fears, triggers us in a way a crime drama or comedy just isn’t going to. When people tell you they couldn’t stop thinking about something you wrote because it haunts them, that’s high praise. Horror should always be like skating on thin ice. You know the danger and you know you have to do it… but chances are you’re going to fall through. There’s a dopamine and adrenaline response to horror which is a kind of high you just can’t get from other types of more conventional genres.

What is your favorite scary movie?

Hard to narrow it to just one. Goodnight Mommy ranks right up there with The Exorcist. Seen at different points of my life but both left a mark and still manifest for me from time to time.

Photo by Kevin Clark Studios

Do you have any plans for this coming Halloween? And fun traditions that you try to stick to every year?

I had a scary clown outfit I wore a few years back that people in my neighborhood still talk about. I went out trick or treating with my kids and people were avoiding me. Mostly the parents who couldn’t actually tell it was me. I was actually asked to wear the costume again to someone’s party which I don’t think has ever happened before… so maybe that’s becoming a tradition.

Other than that our house is known in our neighborhood as a fun place to stop on Halloween. Good decorations and candy for the kids and signature festive cocktails for the parents. Everybody gets a treat!

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

Check out a series I produced for Netflix called Wu Assassins. It went live this summer so take a look if you haven’t already. Van Helsing season 4 began airing on SyFy in late September so get caught up on their website or tune in Fridays at 10 pm to see that. I’m one of the cast in TBS’s Snowpiercer which will air in March. Not straight up horror but certainly scary and edge of your seat in many places.

What was the last thing that scared the hell out of you?

I’m a parent. My wife called me in a panic one evening saying our son had gone missing at a community event and nobody could find him. Flashes of the worst kind of nightmares went through my head. Stuck out of town there was nothing I could do except hope for the best while trying to chase away the deepest of fears. He turned up an hour later… he’d been hiding, as kids sometimes do, not knowing or understanding the panic he’d caused. So, scary situation with a thankfully happy ending.

What was the last thing that made you smile?

Again, kids. They make me smile each and every day. But the less saccharine answer is probably… Comicon. We went this year and met some of the most amazing and dedicated Van Helsing fans. Their passion and appreciation for what we make certainly made me very proud and exceptionally happy.

Victor Mathieu [Interview]

Welcome to Day 11 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 6 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!

Hello Folks! We have an incredible interview for you fine folks which we have wanted to have on the site for quite a long time. In fact, I believe our guest was meant to be on last year, but schedules permitting, he was unable to make it. But, we are so excited that he is with us here today to grace our digital pages. It’s Victor Mathieu! Victor has worked in a plethora of fields in the world of film and television, and in several different genres. But his work in the world of horror has been especially compelling. And that is essentially what we are here for this month, amiright? In recent years, he has developed two extremely compelling horror flicks that I truly cannot say enough great things about. Those would be The Monster Project and Dead List. The latter being distributed by our friends at High Octane Pictures, who regular readers will recognize as a company we have featured so much work from over the years.

Victor kicked off his career as production assistant on such amazing projects like An Inconvenient Truth and Mamma Mia, and has worked his way into our hearts as one of today’s finest talents. And we are so excited to have him finally be a part of our Month of Horror series. So Folks, please enjoy some wonderful words fro the great Victor Mathieu!

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What inspired you to get into the world of entertainment and filmmaking? Was it an early aspiration you can always remember having since your youth, or did you just find yourself in this world one day?

I discovered a love for the arts through music at an early age. When I was young, I was in a band and fell in love with being on stage, so I pursued acting. Through that, I discovered a passion for directing. I went on and directed a few films and other content, until just about two years ago during which I closed that door to produce full time.

What was your first paid gig in the world of entertainment? And were there any kind of lessons learned from this project that still affect your work today?

My first gig in LA was working for Lawrence Bender at A Band Apart. I was a part time production assistant on an Oscar winning documentary he produced at the time called An Inconvenient Truth, and through that, I discovered the rush to succeed in the world of cinema at that time and have been addicted to it ever since.

I am very intrigued by a TV mini-series, according to IMDb, that you did in 2017 entitled The Smiling Man. Can you tell us a bit about this project? What made you want to tell this tale?

The Smiling Man is a creature that evolved tremendously during the post-production phase of The Monster Project. The creature was never meant to be shown in any shape or form in the film, hence why you really only see him in the form of static throughout The Monster Project. We all kind of fell in love with the terrifying look of this demonic character, designed by special effects guru Jim Beinke. We explored the idea of launching a viral marketing campaign for the film and with that came the mini-series. If you watch the Smiling Man on its own, it may not make sense during some moments since the goal of the viral marketing campaign was for the ‘participant’ to unlock videos as you attempted to crack codes and riddles on a viral website we had created to promote the film.

In your own personal opinion, what do you believe it is that makes the horror genre special? What sets it apart from other genres you have worked in?

I’ve always loved feeling the adrenaline rush that I get from watching a horror film. Frankly, it makes me feel alive. Not falling asleep because I watched Paranormal Activity? Or Insidious? Well, that’s part of it too. I love that feeling, and I hate it too. In some ways, the reason why I love the horror genre (particularly supernatural horror) is because demons, ghosts, spirits etc. No matter how scary they are, logically, if those entities exist, that must mean there is life after death. I personally find that comforting and reassuring.

What is your favorite scary movie?

I’d have to list two: Evil Dead II, and The Shining.

Do you have any plans for this coming Halloween? And fun traditions that you try to stick to every year?

I do. I’ll be releasing a VR Horror Series which I wrote, directed and produced called Scary Nights. Think Tales Form The Crypt meets Creepshow in VR with an all new iconic character who greets and leaves you at the top and tail end of each episode. If you like witches, scarecrows, clowns, etc… and if you’re a Goosebumps fan, then you will want to check it out.

As for Halloween traditions, I throw an intimate horror film viewing every year with close friends, for which I pick 4 horror films. We start with an old classic (generally Nosferatu or The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari), then move closer towards more recent horror films. Everyone cooks horror themed meals (hand meatloaf, eye popping soup, puking guac pumpkin).

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

I’ve made the switch into full time producing nearly two years ago. I’ve started my own production company, CineWorld Pictures, and focus primarily on producing dramas. Surely can sound disappointing to some horror fans, but I haven’t forgotten about the horror genre. Maybe I’ll return to it when I find a horror script that I fall in love with.

As for plugging projects…though I would love to share, I unfortunately cannot at the moment. But I am working on some very exciting dramas with some extremely talented people that I cannot wait to share with the world.

What was the last thing that scared the hell out of you?

A supernatural nightmare I had last night.. Something about a possessed veiled old lady inside an old Victorian style mansion. Most definitely too scary to share. Proves however that the world of horror cinema quietly whispers for me to come back to it at night. And one day I shall, and I’ll make sure it’s a very good one, not found-footage, and more sophisticated than the ones I’ve done so far. Something more to the likes of The Shining or The Exorcist.

What was the last thing that made you smile?

My Border Collie sitting by my side as I’ve been writing my answers to this interview.

Eduardo Sanchez [Interview]

Welcome to Day 10 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 6 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!

Hello Folks! Today marks an incredible feet for us here at Trainwreck’d Society. Not only do we have an incredible guest to share with you all today….he’s actually our 500TH GUEST! I am so excited that the showing of our 500th guest happens to land during or covenanted Month of Horror showcase, and that it is the incredible filmmaker Eduardo Sanchez! Sanchez is one of the most inspirational figures in independent cinema, alongside his working partner Daniel Myrick, who we were fortunate to have on the side a few years ago. Together they created the now 20 year old film that shocked the world known as The Blair Witch Project. The shock to know that this film is now 20 years old has still not subsided. I truly feels like just a few weeks ago, and the internet was new, and we were all convinced that we were seeing something real and terrifying. But, we will get into more about this next week where we talk a bit more about a very special 20th Anniversary screening that will be happening in Brooklyn, New York with one of the film’s stars, Michael C. Williams, and the legend himself Eduardo Sanchez. Details are below. I implore everyone in the NYC area to get yourself down to King’s for this truly special event.

I truly cannot think of a better person to be appointed as being our 500th guest here today rather than Eduardo. He is a pioneer in the world of independent cinema, and as a long-time independent publication like ours, we respect the architects. And his brilliance definitely expands beyond creating the most successful indie film of all time. He has been consistently putting out incredible horror, thriller, and beyond, projects for the last 20 years in both the world of film and television. From shows like Queen of the South and From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series, to films like Altered and Lovely Molly, Sanchez has an awe-inspiring career, and we so so excited to have him with us today!

So Folks, as we’ve said 499 times before, please enjoy some wonderful words from our 500th Guest here at Trainwreck’d Society, the legendary Eduardo Sanchez!

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What inspired you to get into the world of entertainment? Was it an early aspiration you can always remember having since your youth, or did you just find yourself in this world one day?

I’ve always felt like I wanted to make films and entertain, but growing up in a suburb of DC, I didn’t know anyone in the entertainment industry, let alone someone that made films. So I just kept it as an interest until High School where I took a TV production class and was hooked from day one. I realized I could actually make a living in this field, something that until then had just been a dream.

What was your first paid gig in the world of entertainment? And were there any kind of lessons learned from this project that still affect your work today?

I was a PA for a local production company. It was pretty fun and exciting but also a lot of hard work. Just learned how tough it was on a set – long hours and such – but also learned about working as part of a team, skills that I still use to this day.

20 years ago, yourself and our old friend Daniel Myrick, brought one of the most exciting and original stories to life with the insanely successful film The Blair Witch Project. Looking back two decades later, and the inspiration that the film became, what would you say is Blair Witch’s contribution to the world of horror?

I think the biggest contribution to the genre was the inspiration that a tiny film could still make a big impact on the cinematic world. We came out of nowhere with a pretty unique idea and somehow we made it onto theater screens around the world. It showed people that a small, cool idea still has value in the film business if you played your cards right and had some serious luck on your side.

How do you want the film to be remembered in say another 20 years from now?

As a testament to the power of independent film. Like I said above, that a spark can come from anyone and anywhere.

In the world of television, you worked on a few episodes of one of our favorite recent series, in which we have spoken with quite a few people who have worked on, entitled From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series. What drew you to this series?

Robert Rodriguez offered me a job. How could I turn it down?

And how was your time working on it?

It was nerve-wracking at first. This was the first episode of television I ever directed and somehow I ended up with the third episode of the first season. I was the first director to take over the show (Robert did the first two episodes) and I was doing scenes directly taken from the film. It was hard-core but I planned accordingly and the cast and crew were very welcoming and once I got into the groove, I was fine.

But it was pretty trippy to be directing scenes directly lifted from the film. It’s such an iconic movie so it was definitely tricky trying to bring my vision to it but not betraying what had come before.

Was there anything that set itself apart from the several other shows you have worked on?

It was a tough show. Lots of acton, stunts, make-up and practical effects in every episode, so we had to move quickly. But it was a blast and the people that worked on it were wonderful. Such a great education for me as an upstart TV director.

In your own personal opinion, what do you believe it is that makes the horror genre special?

Horror films are the perfect form of escapism. People love to be scared – but they also want to be safe. With horror, you can go on this wild ride where all kinds of horrible shit is happening to people on screen and you can share in their plight but then it ends and the lights come on and you can go on with your normal, relatively safe life. It’s great fun if you’re into that kind of stuff.

What sets it apart from other genres you have worked in?

It’s a great genre to work in because there are so many sub-genres within it that allow you to spread your wings creatively as a filmmaker. You can go from monster movies to straight dramas to action and comedy – you can do almost anything as long as it falls in some way under that horror umbrella.

What is your favorite scary movie?

The Exorcist is the scariest movie for me in terms of basic fear. But I have many favorites in the genre: Jaws, The Amityville Horror, The Shining, The Changeling, Evil Dead 2 just to name a few.

Do you have any plans for this coming Halloween?

We are pitching a tv show with Sam Raimi right before Halloween that I’m pretty excited about. Going to be cool pitching with him in the room…

Any fun traditions that you try to stick to every year?

Unfortunately, I’ve been working out of town for the last 2-3 Halloweens so I’ve missed all the fun. But this year I’m home so hopefully we can go all out at the house. I don’t do that much but I do set up a smoke machine and some props from some of my films and then blast scary music over some speakers. It freaks the little kids out a bit but that’s kind of what it’s all about, isn’t it?

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

Doing some Blair Witch 20th anniversary screenings in October which will keep me busy. Also, my partner Gregg Hale and I are working on some TV show ideas that we’re pitching soon and I’m directing a new show for FOX called NeXt that I’m pretty excited about. Loved the pilot and the concept of the show and we’re shooting in Chicago, which is a first for me, so really looking forward to it.

Then in January I go to Vancouver to direct my fifth and final episode of Supernatural, which is going to be really special since it’s the last season of the long-running show. Lots of people to say goodbye to after that one is done…

What was the last thing that scared the hell out of you?

Besides my credit card bill, nothing that I’d want to share right now.

What was the last thing that made you smile?

Galaxy’s Edge at Disney World. It was even more magical than I expected it to be!

Hannah Emily Anderson [Interview]

Welcome to Day 9 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 6 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!

If you all can think about to close to 3 years ago, during a previous rendition of our Month of Horror, we may have gotten a slight tease about a “new” addition to the saw franchise that was “coming soon”, from one of the film’s screenwriters, Pete Goldfinger. Well, much has happened since then. Jigsaw hit theaters almost a year later, and out of it we learned about the brilliance of one of the film’s stars, of which we are so excited to have with us here today! It’s Hannah Emily Anderson, Everyone! Hannah is an absolute star, especially in the world of horror having not only amazingly entered the Saw franchise, she can also be seen on the first season of the television adaptation of The Purge, in which is she is also so brilliant in. She is an absolute gem of a human being and has even managed to work in the world of comic book movies that are all the rage right now, appearing as Elaine Grey in this year’s hit film Dark Phoenix.

Yes, Hannah is all over the place and doing incredible work and we are so excited to see what the future has in store for this incredible actress. So Folks, please enjoy some wonderful words from the absolutely brilliant Hannah Emily Anderson!

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What inspired you to get into the world of entertainment and filmmaking? Was it an early aspiration you can always remember having since your youth, or did you just find yourself in this world one day? 

I grew up wanting to be a surgeon, which makes sense, because I was just fascinated by the inner workings of people. I found myself ever curious, wondering why people were the way they were, where did they come from, what drove them, what made them different. 

My parents also fostered a love of the Arts in me. We went to the Ballet, the Symphony, and the Theatre. I remember seeing my first real play when I was 12 and it absolutely thrilled me.
I did also love to perform but didn’t think I was good enough to do it for a living, or that an acting career was even possible. I was in college for Creative Communications (PR, Advertising, Journalism, Broadcast) when I got an opportunity to be a stand-in for actress Clemence Poesy. I was so close to the action, watching great actors like Forest Whitaker work their magic. I loved it so much that I quit college and moved to Toronto to audition for Theatre school. I got in. 

What was your first paid gig in the world of entertainment? And were there any kind of lessons learned from this project that still affect your work today? 

My first gig was a one line part on the show The L.A. Complex. I had NO idea what I was doing. All I had to do was step onto my mark, say my line, then step off, but I was terrified I’d forget what to say and fuck it all up. I got through the day by watching the other actors and basically copying everything they did. They seemed comfortable, at ease, speaking in their natural voices, but they also made mistakes. That job taught me how to push through my nerves, that I’ll never really feel like I know what i’m doing, that it’s okay to make mistakes, and that being able to stay relaxed on set is key. 

In your own personal opinion, what do you believe it is that makes the horror genre special? What sets it apart from other genres you have worked in? 

The horror genre makes it safe to explore any topic freely, especially if it’s political (I stole that from a conversation I had with Jigsaw writer Josh Stolberg, but it’s true!) The Purge series, for example? Race, politics, status, the faults of America in general…it challenges you, it makes you question what you believe. Horror is also a full body experience. Whether I’m watching it or acting in it, It gets my blood pumping and my imagination working in a way that no other genre 

does. It tends to be more physically demanding. Acting like you’re terrified out of your mind is one of the hardest things to do. And how do I learn to do that? By watching horror movies and literally being terrified out of my mind. 

In 2017 you appeared in the latest addition of the Saw franchise, co-written by our dear friend and past guest Pete Goldfinger, entitled Jigsaw. I am curious to know what drew you this project? Were you previously a fan of the franchise? And how was your experience working in the world of Jigsaw? 

Saw is such an iconic franchise. I watched Saw 1 and 2 when they first came out and couldn’t believe how twisted and gory they were. When I actually got the part (off a last minute tape) and I had the chance to be part of this franchise, I just couldn’t say no to that! To go from watching this iconic villain when I was in high school, to suddenly sitting next to him in the makeup trailer?? I was pinching myself.

Photo by Brooke Palmerÿ

I had SO much fun on set. I enjoyed playing that cat and mouse game with the audience. Am I the killer? Am I not? And being in a separate story line from the victims, I got off pretty easy. The other actors were always covered in blood and screaming. I escaped all of that. Plus, Matt Passmore-who plays Logan, is such a goof. We’d be singing, dancing, and joking around, right up until “Action!” 

The following year you appeared front and center in the wonderful television addition to one of my personal favorite modern horror/thriller franchises, with The Purge. So what drew you to the beautiful bit of madness that is this franchise? 

This was the opposite experience in that I knew nothing about The Purge going in. I’d never heard of or seen the films. (I know, crazy). Reading the script sent shivers up my spine and I didn’t understand what The Purge was until the end of the pilot, so the concept was a surprise. I thought it was brilliant. 

I was attracted to this character trying to do good and desperately hold onto her own morals on a night of pure evil; driven by a pure intention to help others, but then being forced into making life or death decisions. Jenna is also privileged, and most people in privilege don’t have to think about what they’d be willing to sacrifice to protect the ones they love, to protect themselves. The show is constant high stakes and a lot of action. Pretty much an actor’s dream. But man, was it ever a marathon. 

What is your favorite scary movie? 

Ooooo tough one. It’s a toss up between The Shining and The Babadook, two of the only films I’ve never been able to properly finish out of pure terror. 

Do you have any plans for this coming Halloween? And fun traditions that you try to stick to every year? 

I plan on trying, once again, to convince my partner to dress up and coordinate costumes. Good luck to me.

My family and I used to turn off all the lights and pretend we weren’t home (my parents’ idea) so we could watch a spooky movie in the basement in peace. I will not be continuing that tradition. I’ll be eating boatloads of chocolate and hopefully handing out what’s left to the kids. 

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

I’m trying to get through Toronto’s top 100 restaurants, so I have a lot of eating to do. I’d also love to do more travelling.

Work wise, a really cool horror/thriller film I’m in called The Ballad of Audrey Earnshaw will be coming out sometime in the next little while. I’m also writing a comedy web series with my writing buddy and actress Elyse Levesque (her latest film: Ready or Not), that we hope to make in the not too distant future. 

What was the last thing that scared the hell out of you? 

I had a terrible nightmare I was being attacked by a strange man. I tried to scream and nothing came out. I woke up shouting and sweating, in a total panic. I thought I was going to have a heart attack! 

What was the last thing that made you smile? 

A baby boy smiled and waved to my partner and I as we walked by. It was so genuine, innocent, and sweet. 

Stuart Flack [Interview]

Welcome to Day 8 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 6 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!

If you can remember as far back as to last week, you will remember we were gushing over a certain film that is hand’s down one of the best of the year during our interview with the film’s director. That film is Room For Rent. And we still love it, like a lot. So much so, we are extremely excited to have the man who penned this truly fascinating story. It’s Stuart Flack, Everyone! He is an absolute genius of a wordsmith and we are so excited that he was able to share a few words with us here today during our most celebrated time for the world of horror. To have both the director and the writer of our favorite horror film of 2019 show up in this very special month is a true god damned delight, and a real honor.

So Folks, please enjoy some wonderful words from the brilliant writer himself, the great Stuart Flack!

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What inspired you to get into the world of writing? Was it an early aspiration you can always remember having since your youth, or did you just find yourself in this world one day?

Some of my earliest memories involve books and writing. I was always that kid who was either reading stories or writing them. When I was about five, I ‘borrowed’ my mother’s diary and started filling in imaginary entries. It was the kind of shakily-written, simplistic stuff you’d expect of a kid that age, but looking back it was definitely a sign of what was to come.

What was your first paid gig in the world of writing? And were there any kind of lessons learned from this project that still affect your work today? 

My first paid gig was writing for the glamorous world of… shipping insurance. That gig quickly snowballed into a lot more copywriting for well-known brands. There were many times I resented having to write that stuff rather than all the stories in my head, but advertising is actually great training for a writer: you quickly learn that the business of writing involves collaboration and compromise, and that deadlines matter.

You penned the script to the recently released and absolutely brilliant film Room For Rent, one of my favorite films of the year. It is a very unique and fun mystery/thriller of a film that had me scared for damn sure. With that in mind, I am curious to know what inspired you to tell this tale? Where did the inspiration come from tell the tale?

I wrote the script years ago, in a cold and draughty old house in Shanghai. I was having some relationship issues at the time, so I found myself toying with the idea of a character who has regrets: that life and love hadn’t worked out the way she wanted, and that those regrets were beginning to poison her entire character. It was important to me that she also be an unreliable narrator, so that we’re never quite sure whether we should sympathize or run.

And as I know that things can change from pen to screen, I am curious to know what your thoughts are on the film that is now out in the world?

The original script was set in a run-down English seaside town in mid-winter, so it was fascinating to see how the director, Tommy Stovall, translated it to Arizona in mid-summer. It was a good reminder that the story’s themes are universal: loneliness, longing and revenge work in any setting. Lin Shaye did a great job of making the role her own. In addition to being the queen of horror, she has truly brilliant comedic timing, which added another dimension to the character. I think that’s what makes filmmaking so special: it’s a highly collaborative process, with everyone bringing something important to the table.

What is your favorite scary movie?

The first scary movie I ever saw from start to finish was Jaws, and it will always have a special place in my heart. I was really young at the time—probably way too young to be watching people get ripped apart by a psycho shark—and it scared the hell out of me. Even now, I think of that movie every time I go swimming in the sea.

Do you have any plans for this coming Halloween? And fun traditions that you try to stick to every year?

There are so many cool things to do at Halloween, but my ultimate definition of horror is to be queuing for hours in super-crowded places. If friends are having a party, I enjoy rising to the challenge of finding a good costume. Otherwise, I prefer to keep the evening low-key. 

What does the future hold for you?

My agent in LA is currently shopping a new script. It’s a psychological thriller that’s been getting strong coverage, so I’m hopeful it can find a good home. In the meantime, of course, there are more scripts to write. I’m also a published novelist under a different name, all of which keeps me pretty busy.

What was the last thing that scared the hell out of you?

I was recently hiking near the largest glacier in France. It was jaw-dropping—and I do mean that literally—to see how much the glacier has retreated in just the last twenty or thirty years. It’s like we’re living in the first act of a monumental horror movie, but most people still seem to be in denial that we’re alone in the woods surrounded by climate-change zombies. It’s becoming more and more obvious that the second act is going to be a total bloodbath. 

What was the last thing that made you smile?

I really appreciate a dark sense of humor. I had the chance to see Bianca del Rio on tour this summer. Most of her jokes were deeply inappropriate. Weeks later, they’re still making me laugh.

Jackson Davis [Interview]

Welcome to Day 7 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 6 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!

Welcome to Week 2, Folks! And we are kicking the week off on a high note with some words from an absolutely brilliant actor. It’s Jackson Davis, Everyone! For regular readers around here, you will recognize Jackson as the man who brilliantly starred in one of our favorite films of 2018 known as The Basement. Jackson have over a dozen wonderful performances in just one film. I was truly fascinated in watching him move in and out of different characters throughout the film, and I remain so today! I had been wanting to talk to Mr. Davis about his work on this gem of a film for quite some time, and I am very excited that we were able to include him in our biggest celebration of the world of horror. To say he is a perfect fit would be an understatement to say the least.

So Folks, please enjoy some wonderful words from the brilliant Jackson Davis!

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What inspired you to get into the world of entertainment? Was it an early aspiration you can always remember having since your youth, or did you just find yourself in this world one day?

Growing up I always wanted to be a standup comedian. Or on SNL. That was the dream. But, life happens and I just ended up being an actor 🙂 Growing up I didn’t really think about acting or dream about it.  I just wanted to make people laugh and be on stage.

What was your first paid gig in the world of entertainment? And were there any kind of lessons learned from this project that still affect your work today?

My first job was a pilot called wrigleyville. It was a great project and I was just so excited to be there.  It shot in Chicago and All the actors lived together in this apartment building.  I am sure I learned a lot but what exactly I couldn’t tell you. It was 14 years ago. But I know that every time I work on something I learn something.

Your performance in 2018’s The Basement was absolutely wonderful, the stuff that genius is made of, I seriously believe. Your role seemed like it would be a lot of work to pull off. So, I am curious to know what it was like to take on multiple insane roles in one film?

Well first thank you so much for that. You’re too kind 🙂 I’ll take it though haha.

This was unlike any other job i’d done before. There was a few challenges. The first and most obvious was there is a lot of dialog. We were lucky that I had a month or two to prep before shooting which doesn’t ever happen. Usually it’s, ya know, we start next week. So I had time to learn the lines.

The second challenge was figuring out all these different characters. And how to make each one of them different from one another. With the characters that I felt were nurturing I tried to give them a feminine touch. The more violent characters had a lot more testosterone. I wanted them to be big and broad. We are gonna be in that basement for a long time with just the two of us so we felt it was okay making them bigger.

We also had a few rehearsals before so I got a chance to show the directors what I was thinking and vice versa. We shot basically one character a day. So there wasn’t a lot of time on the day. They had to be ready to go.

In your own personal opinion, what do you believe it is that makes the horror genre special? What sets it apart from other genres you have worked in?

I think what makes it special is the fans of horror. I don’t think there are any other genres quite like it. They enjoy it to the max. They Will find it wherever it is. And they let each film be what it is.

What is your favorite scary movie?

In truth I didn’t grow up with horror films. I wasn’t aloud to watch them. I think my parents knew I couldn’t handle it, haha. I once as a kid saw a scene from some piranha horror film from the 80’s and I wouldn’t go in pools for months. I honestly still think about it when i’m swimming laps at the gym sometimes.

Editor’s Note: the film reference is most likely Joe Dante’s “Piranha”, and yes is a completely rational fear. Also our dear friend Pete Goldfinger is one of the geniuses behind “Piranha 3D” & “Piranha 3DD”. Also terrifying! Okay, back to the show!

Do you have any plans for this coming Halloween? And fun traditions that you try to stick to every year?

No each year is different and it’s always very last minute. A few Halloweens ago I was at a party and Mike Tyson was there!! Everyone saw him but somehow I never did. Maybe it was just someone dressed up like him. I like to think that cuz I was so bummed I didn’t see him.

What was the last thing that scared the hell out of you?

The serious answer is I see things on the news every day that scare the hell out me. But the more fun answer is, I like to hide and scare my friends so in revenge one of my friends just did it to me. I was walking out of my house and he jumped out from behind a car. It was at night and I knew he was there, but still it got me.

What was the last thing that made you smile?

Right after the dude scared me. I laughed. You got to respect a good scare.

Ryan Cargill [Interview]

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 6 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!

For those of you who are prone to keeping records, the number 2, or the word “twice”, has made the cinematic universe in 2019 pretty damned interested. I’m sure there are multiple reasons one could surmise this to be true, but I am really only referring to one singular event being depicted on screen, 2 times/twice, that would be very surprising, if it didn’t happen to be the 50th anniversary of said event. I am of course(?) talking about the killing of Sharon Tate and her friends by members of the Manson party. And I am of course referring to the instance of 2 films choosing to imagine what it would have been like if the tables had turned and the events did not unfold as they truly did. Now, one film, which will not be mentioned because of possible spoilers, just went out and did it. While another film, faces that reality accurately, but gives a slight bit of hope in to a jarring situation in which the facts are pretty well known and have been regurgitated out into the world ad nausea at this point, thus creating something extremely original, yet still telling the whole and complete story. And that film was The Haunting of Sharon Tate. And dammit, it is fantastic!

And within that film, there were some incredible performances. It is suffice to say that Hilary Duff may have revitalized her career as the titular starring role. But, the performance that truly had me compelled the most, came from our interview subject today. It’s Ryan Cargill, Everyone! Ryan portrays the dearly departed Steven Parent in the film, easily the most redeemable person involved in this horrific event. He was the most innocent. He was simply a fan. And Cargill manages to pull this type of charisma off without a hitch, and gives an absolutely wonderful appearance and pays great tribute to Parent and the suffering that he would face. Ryan is an absolutely incredible actor, and we are so excited to have him grace our digital pages during our Month of Horror showcase.

So Folks, please enjoy some wonderful words from the brilliant Ryan Cargill!

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What inspired you to get into the world of filmmaking? Was it an early aspiration you can always remember having since your youth, or did you just find yourself in this world one day?  

I did impressions and accents for my family as far back as I can remember. We always lived in the country so there was a lot of time to pretend and use my imagination to create characters. I didn’t think about it as a profession until one summer my incredible mom made me take a theatre course and I was hooked. Ever since then it’s been a love and passion of mine that’s grown more and more meaningful to me.

What was your first paid gig in the world of entertainment? And were there any kind of lessons learned from this project that still affect your work today?  

There were a few, but my first big one was WITs Academy for Nickelodeon. There were a lot of lessons. A big one was that if I find a really strong why for making each project I can find the strength to push through difficult days. I don’t want to make any piece of film that’s half-committed. I would like to be able to give something of myself to each audience member. For WITs, it was because of the young fans on Nick. I remember how important my childhood shows were to me so I aimed to create something great for them too. For The Haunting of Sharon Tate, it was important because Steven Parent was a real person. Not just a news heading or that kid who was killed by the Manson family. He was a guy with hopes and dreams and his whole life ahead of him. So I just wanted to honor him and get my own actor self out of the way as much as possible.

You were absolutely wonderful in one of my favorite films of 2019, The Haunting of Sharon Tate. I am curious to know what drew you to this legendary and bloody tale?  

Thank you! That part meant a lot to me. I loved the character because of the purity of his soul. Not a lot is known about Steven Parent other than his pictures which show a kid who emanates kindness and happiness. He had a lot of plans for his future and he was on the way out the gate that night when he ran into the Manson family. If he had left a few minutes earlier he would have lived. So In deciding to take the part, I liked that he and the group got a happy ending after all their trauma. That he gets to live on with Sharon whom he idolizes and really loves and these other kind friends who take him in. I liked that the story rewrote history in that way.

In your own personal opinion, what do you believe it is that makes the horror genre special? What sets it apart from other genres you have worked in?

It’s thrilling! It’s like a really scary roller coaster. When it’s really working well, jumping on for the ride means you’re gonna be taken on a wild journey. Also, monsters or bad people are clearly defined. It’s the ultimate battle between good and evil and the hero gets to do battle with the monsters (even if they have to get the bejesus scared out of them first). It’s a challenge to keep your nervous system that high strung for that long in the horror genre. Other genres you can relax more in-between scenes. We were all having trouble going home, relaxing and sleeping after wrap each night. It was hard to shake off the material during night shoots.

What is your favorite scary movie?

The Conjuring. No question. No matter how many times I see it, it always succeeds in scaring me! haha, It’s really effective filmmaking.

Do you have any plans for this coming Halloween? And fun traditions that you try to stick to every year?

A movie marathon is always a must for me. I’ll probably have a group of friends over and watch The Shining and The Conjuring with some good pizza.

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

I’m in a movie called The Never List again with Jonathan Bennett and Fivel Stewart from Sharon Tate that should be coming out before too long. I’m also in a Young Sheldon episode which you should check out! Season 2 Episode 14! I also directed a music video which you can follow the link for on my Instagram page. You can keep up with me on Instagram and other platforms @ryancargill_ .

What was the last thing that scared the hell out of you?  

I’m reading Dr. Sleep by Stephen King right now. He always makes me think I’m hearing suspicious noises at night. I sometimes have to get up and check… ha!

What was the last thing that made you smile?

From my balcony, I saw this young guy offer to push this man in a wheelchair across the street. He helped him across and then wished him a good day. I loved getting to see that!