TWS Week of Horror Day 3: Sadie Katz [Interview]

Oh, we got another great one for you fine readers today! We managed to steal some words from the amazingly talented actress that this win the horror world will definitely recognize. The wonderful Sadie Katz! We will just go ahead knock this out first….she is obviously a stunningly beautiful woman, and does not shy away from on screen nudity. Alright? We got that out, now back to what really matters….she’s cool as fuck! And she is talented as all hell, in and out of the world of horror. We take a bit of focus on horror for this interview, but she is an all around delight and has contributed so much to the world of cinema, and it is an honor to have her grace these digital page. We will be forever grateful! Yes she is a beautiful person on the outside, but her wit and charisma on the inside is what really knocks us dead! She’s been the hero, the villain, the tortured, the torturer, the dying, the dead, and so much more!

So with that, let’s stop gushing over the lady and check out what she has to say! Enjoy!

When do you think it was that you first realized you wanted to get into the world of acting? And what keeps you wanting to continue on?

The first part of your question is a crazy easy one- it’s sorta silly and obvious for me but, and I hope I don’t sound like an asshole but, I’m just an actress by nature. Like, I just have alway been an actress. Like that little girl who is overly dramatic and intense and everyone in their family goes…oh that’s Sadie…she’s such an “actress.” So, as a kid when there was a talent show (I’m showing that I’m a kid of the 80’s) you’re like oh, I’m an actress I’m suppose to sign up for those. Or if there’s a community theatre play I’m like dying to audition and it’s the only thing I think about all year waiting for the annual auditions because I’ve already been identified as an “actress” the same way when a boy (or girl) grows up he’s a sports nut and knows all the baseball players and his whole room is baseball- I had Marilyn Monroe pictures and did monologues and such. I was always writing plays and forcing my friends to watch me perform. My grade school didn’t have drama so I wrote a play and asked my principal to let me have an assembly and put it on in front of the entire school. I’m sorta bragging, but not really, I was a nerdy kid. I’m a nerdy adult. Loving acting is kind of a curse. It’s something you have such little control over. You are constantly scared of never working. They call it getting the “fever.” It’s a sickness. When you’re working you’re stoked when you’re not you’re obsessing about when you’re going to be working again. My son is the only thing that keeps me kind of chill about the whole thing.

I don’t have a lot of reasons why I want to continue really except I’m in too deep. It’s like I’m a gambler and I’ve already kind of been at the table a little longer than I should have…I put all my damn chips at the table. I have like, twenty dollars in my pocket not really enough to walk away and I’m competitive I hate to lose and maybe I’m in Vegas- not like at the high end table but, broke Vegas. So, I put the $20 bucks down on double zeros because, I’m silly like that (I’m talking roulette) and I hit it…I think I’m gonna win millions but, it’s old Vegas so I get just enough to keep playing. I’m making it sound really sad but, truthfully it’s fun when you’re up. I mean I’m a grown up and my job is basically to run around playing pretend. It beats sitting at an office.

It wouldn’t be completely fair to simply label you as a “horror actress” or “scream queen”, as your work is all across the board. But, being that this is our Week of Horror, I have to ask what do you enjoy about working in the world of horror/suspense films?

Being on a horror set is really, really crazy. But, as an actor it’s so very strange. Here’s the idea at some point you are going to be doing something super embarrassing in front of a lot of people and they’re going to be hoping that you are fully committed. Let me explain- normally in a horror film you are going to be doing one of two things: either begging for your life or taking someone else’s life…this will probably involve a lot of screaming and slobbering or a superiorty complex in buckets. And let’s be honest maybe, possibly after you do this screaming and sobbing you might have to a couple scenes later [where you] maybe show a boob or two. This is weird. What’s weirder is having a bunch of people watching this happen and then having lunch with them later. A horror crew works their asses off because the commitment has got to be in such heightened levels from everyone- I feel like I fall in love with everyone on set because I’m trusting them with the rawest emotions I can bring and they act like I’m a normal person after.

Another thing…this being Week of Horror- I’ve been lucky enough to play the “evil” character on a few occasions- this is so damn fun to me because, you really have to get in the head of the other actor you’re playing opposite of or you’ve failed. You want them to believe you for a second because, ultimately that’s what acting comes down to the suspension of disbelief. Horror films are super fun because they’re normally ridiculously crazy circumstances if you can get your brain to get lost in that…it’s different than acting in any other genre. I’m not sure how healthy it is for you long term, but it’s a rush.

When I did Wrong Turn 6 I was working with a bunch of cuties fresh from very elite schools in London I fell in love with all these boys they were wonderful and well trained in theater and this was their first film I had the privilege to rape them in the woods, smother them with my vagina you know a normal day at work all while trying to play an actually sweet, broken character. In Blood Feast, I got to play against seasoned film actor Robert Rustler as the Goddess Ishtar who was the yin to my yang there’s something so strange about trying to provoke someones deepest darkest sickest side in the space of a film set and let them tweak with yours that I would say is oddly therapeutic. Hmmm…this is turning out to be a very strange reply…I’ll let you and your readers mull over that for a while.

I have recently become informed about a great little film that you co wrote with writer/director Mark Jones that is absolutely intriguing known as Scorned. I know there is an interesting back story to this one, and I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind sharing a bit about that to our readers, and what are your overall thoughts of this project as a whole?

Scorned! This is my first Writer’s Guild Credit and I feel like it’s Christmas every time I get a green envelope in the mail. Here’s the real story of how it all came about that I haven’t really shared with anyone before so…Exclusive!!!

I’m feeling cheeky! Mark Jones and I were fans of Misery…we were going thru break ups and talking about crazy women. I was acting especially crazy towards a boyfriend who cheated on me – forgive me this was a long time ago and I grew from that. Promise. Anyway. I hadn’t had a lead in a film yet and truthfully it was fucking killing me. Killing me. K-ill-ing me. Mark wanted to direct a film too and hadn’t directed anything since this really cool little sleeper called Triloquist. Check it out it’s pretty weird and funny and kind of got buried.

Anyway, we had just finished writing a really cool script together we couldn’t get sold because the budget was too high so we decided to write a single location low-budget- that I could be the lead in about a girl off her meds, whose boyfriend cheats on her with her best friend and she lures them to the beach house and she tortures them and tries to teach them a lesson…kind of a Misery but with younger people. We even named the lead character Sadie. Which in retrospect was kind of embarrassing because she’s not a nice character.

Well…two years later I’m now a working actress but, nothing really has been released and it’s just sorta the beginning. We get a call and Anchor Bay picks up Scorned which is a big fucking deal. Very exciting. But, when I was there on the phone with our agent and Mark I knew that meant I wouldn’t even get a chance to audition so we are being offered a lot more money on the script from Anchor Bay but, tears are running down my face because, I didn’t care about the money I wanted to play the character… it was a strange feeling to know it’s a huge damn deal to get your script picked up as a writer by a very cool company like Anchor Bay but, to not even be in the running or considered to act in the project… Anchor Bay gets to pick the leads- their money their choice- Anna Lynn McCord ended up playing the lead and you know what? She’s fucking brilliant. She carries the film. She makes a lot of the same choices I would have made. I hope that doesn’t sound – well, whatever I mean that sincerely, Mark and I wrote that character with a specific voice and she picks up exactly in that voice. I have a feeling she understands crazy. The film is fun. It was suppose to be fun. That’s all. It’s suppose to be tongue in cheek. A lot of reviewers missed that. It’s like…What’s that movie James Franco just did? Oh, umm…Mother, May I Sleep With Danger? I loved that movie. Sue me.

And to bring it all back around, you were featured in the great horror/thriller House of Bad, created by our old friend and former TWS interviewee Jim Towns. Can you tell us a bit about your experience on this project? Was it as exciting as the film turned out to be?

I love that you asked me this question! I’d marry you but, my boyfriend would get super pissed. It’s so weird now because Towns is like a major part of my life. I mean he’s an editor producer on my doc but, when I’m not working with him I am texting him or bitching with him about something. I should include I love his wife Betty Lou too…she’s a belly dancer by the way. Anyway House of Bad. I have a lot of friends from that project because, it was a film family. For real. One of the producers, Dorota is having a birthday this weekend. I don’t remember what it’s like not to have HOB as part of my life. It was a crazy shoot because Sirah was just going thru it. Every fucking scene was so intense. We shot so fast and furious I felt like Jim and I really trusted each other in filming just naturally. When I was cast I originally read for Teig- Which would have been strange because I gave a pretty spazzy read for Teig and I think it would have made for a long ass movie. Sirah is me. I am naturally a very vulnerable person but, I’m not a dummy. I’m so proud of that film because it’s not your normal cabin in the woods film and as much as we were all working our asses off there was genuinely a lot of love and respect between the cast and crew and that’s mostly because Towns was super prepared. I’ll say too that a lot of work was put in by the producers of the film in the film’s ending to make sure everyone got it right – reshoots and just attention to detail, inserts- I mean I’ve done some “cabin in the woods” films since and my heart’s breaking because really everyone just like “moving forward, fuck it…” and I’m like why aren’t we giving it 100 percent? Sometimes when people do low budget horror they don’t really care about the finished product. I was spoiled by House of Bad because, I kind of assumed everybody would be like this. They’re not. Sorry this answer is long…Ha, so in summary – what made the process so damn exciting is when people care a lot to give 150 percent. You feel that on set and the cast and crew start to realize you may have something special, that’s how it felt on the set of HOB. That’s why it felt special.

I noticed that you are set to be an “remake”(?) of the classic Blood Feast, which was originally directed by a past TWS interviewee Herschell Gordon Lewis (Another past TWS interviewee). He even has a role in the new film, over 50 years after the original! So, is there anything you can tell us about this film? What has been your experience?

We made it! It’s out! Well it came out at Frightfest in London and then it’s coming out in New York in October! It’s got awesome reviews! Look it up on IMDB and Facebook! Okay, I know I just gushed about House of Bad…so, I don’t want you to think I just gush about everything I’m in. Or to take away from one project to the other because, these are special…Marcel Walz is the director of Bloodfeast. He’s the sweetest! He’s a genius! He’s in Germany- which is where we filmed. Herschel Gordon Lewis makes a guest appearance!!! As well as starring Robert Rustler, Caroline Williams and Sophie Monk. This film was a-ma-zing to make. And it looked unfuckingbelieveable. If you don’t like remakes…this is one film where it’s not like an insult to the original. I mean the original was made on a shoe string so, it’s like okay and cool. Marcel is very stylish- he adds a lot of glamour to a very gory, blood bath. The score of the film is just amazing. Roland Freitag is the DP and it just has this quality. I think it’s really special… I play the Goddess Ishtar which truthfully kind of scared the fuck outta me! Everyone called me Goddess on set which was funny and fun but, I was like oh god- I’m walking around basically naked and what if everyone is like, really? Goddess? But, we did something really cool with her character that is really smart- and played really well with Robert Rustler’s character that I think puts him in league with a lot of the horror villains- also Roland made me look great and for that I should send him a big smooch! Also, I should add there was a hell of a lot of love on that set. Just buckets full.

Photo by Alexander Desch

What exactly does Sadie Katz do in her down time? When you’re not playing different characters on screen as a job, what else do you do to enjoy your life?

I have a 15 year old son, Griffin who is the funniest person on the planet who I get to drive around a lot which as you can imagine is really fun. When he hangs out with me I pretend I’m 15 which I actually feel like I am most the time anyway. My boyfriend Nick who is British which means he talks a lot fancier than I do and everyone thinks he way more interesting than I am…has been making me watch the show The Magicians which I started off saying is really nerdy but, now I am kind of secretly obsessed with it’s like Buffy 2.0 (well, almost) I’m also really in to playing Rummy and Board games, cooking and a lot of stuff that makes me sound really boring. I love live theater which also means that normally I’m one of the younger people in the audience! Why don’t more people see live theater??? I like yoga and lots of other stuff too. You know, groupon stuff.

So what is new for you? You’re constantly working, is there anything we can expect to see you doing in the near future?

Yes! I’m so excited and proud of this I’ve been working on it forever…well over two years, my first directing project! I have a documentary coming out in 2017 called Bill Murray Experience about my quest to have a “Bill Murray Experience”. Please be on the look out for it and tell your friends! It’s been a passion project and I am very indebted to anyone who shares anything about it!

Here’s the trailer check it out if you will :

What is your favorite scary movie?

My answer to this sometimes changes I don’t know why but, I will say Black Swan was so damn scary to me. I watched it in the theater and I was like having serious anxiety. Cringing and freaking the hell out. My friend I was with was like why are you so quiet? And I was like: That is my biggest fear ever. He goes turning into a swan? No, like, losing yourself so much you just stop knowing what’s real or not and the crazy mom. Yeah. Mila is pretty hot in that too.

What was the last thing that made you smile?

My boyfriend and my son and my dog make make smile every single day.

TWS Week of Horror Day 2: Paul M. McAlarney [Interview]

If you will allow it, the internet can be an amazing source of great entertainment and endless knowledge. It has always been a tool I have tried to use for the positive. And one of the main positives has been discovering amazing folks like Paul M. McAlarney. For long time readers of this rag of a website I call bliss, it will probably come to the surprise of no one that I discovered Paul through the amazing talent I have continuously followed from the great city of Boston, a place I have only seen digitally tossed into ruins via an Xbox. But, I find so much good shit coming from there, it’s hard to ignore.

Long story short, McAlarney has worked with two former Bostonians, Michael J. Epstein and Sophia Cacciola, who I have geeked out about over the years, and have been fortunate enough to have guested on TWS, and featured several times over. So, it only felt right to reach out to Paul to learn more about the why he awesome enough to be in good company!

Paul released the amazing horror/comedy(?) Honky Holocaust that I recommend to everyone with a pulse. He is also becoming a fixture in the Troma world, which is an amazing feat in itself. If you follow his work, you are bound to find a Lloyd Kaufman feature in there somewhere. Overall, the guy is a force to be reckoned with in the horror community. I don’t like to give too many guarantees, but I guarantee you are going to love this guy, and especially love the work he has done.

Alright, time for a digital conversation with Paul M. McAlarney!

What made you decide to become a filmmaker? And more specifically, why the world of horror? Also, would you consider yourself a “horror” filmmaker?

I’ve always been a cinephile. But even before that I was obsessed with writing. Before I could even spell my name I was “writing” books and renting them out to family members for a nickel each. My love for films led me to write screenplays, and after ten years of writing countless scripts, I realized that the only way they’d ever see the silver screen is if I put them there myself; nobody cared about the stuff I was writing and how could I blame them? Everybody thinks their movie ideas are great so why listen to me or read my scripts? But I was done wasting my time and effort. My friend Greg Lavoie and I wrote a silly web-series, recruited a volunteer cast and crew, and shot the thing. The DP we recruited was Nick Norrman, who Greg and I had previously lived and worked with, and Nick asked me to direct a short b-horror film he wanted to produce, since I had a little directing experience with the web-series. I did it because I felt like I owed him for shooting our series, but I had so much fun doing the gore and directing cheesy 80s horror styled one-liners that I abandoned comedy and went 100% into b-horror and exploitation. The latter had always been my favorite genre, even before I knew what it was called. I don’t consider myself a true horror director because I don’t make scary movies. But most people don’t know what the fuck exploitation or grindhouse style cinema is so I just call it horror rather than repeat myself over and over.

 So, Honky Holocaust. Such an amazing film, and a brilliant concept for a film. Tell us, where did the idea of this film come from, and how did it feel to have the legendary Troma pick it up for distribution?

Why thank you, Ron. Can I call you Ron? I’ll pretend you said “yes”. Ron, truth be told, I came up with the majority of the plot for Honky Holocaust while taking a shit. Nick Norrman and I had been filming stuff for my web-series one day and afterward, while we were dumping the footage, he suggested we do a feature film. He was also in the middle of showing me clips from the Italian Mondo film Goodbye Uncle Tom, and I was falling in love with the uncensored portrayal of black slaves slaughtering white slave-owning families. To me it was like, “this is what anti-racist cinema really should look like. Anything else is just watered-down white guilt.” In my opinion, white people who don’t get mad about racism are racist, and are no better than the slave owners of pre-Civil War America. Fuck people nowadays too who live in the “north”, think racism is a problem of the South, and thought Crash (2004) was a good anti-racist movie. It’s a white movie for white people. And the north is just as racist as the south. Anyway, I wanted to express my anger about the stagnant condition of the civil rights movement and i needed to take a shit too. So I went down to the bathroom, took a seat, and started thinking. Within ten minutes I had most of the plot structure outlined in my head. I told Nick the premise, he dug it, and the rest is history. From day one of production we wanted it to look like a Troma film, so having them pick it up not only felt right, it was a dream come true. We all grew up on Troma.

 And what do you personally love about this film?

Everything. I’m a whore for epic proportions. Thats why I have to struggle to write a script with less than 100 cast members. I love the Spaghetti Western styled cinematography Nick pulled off, I love the epic punk and hip/hop soundtrack and the Ennio Morricone and John Carpenter influenced score, I loved the fire on the hilltop that had us all worried we were going to burn the forest down, I loved the unnecessary topless biker, I love the maggots in the pussy and dick, I love the True Romance inspired sex scene, I love the mythological nature of Lucius the Gardener, I love the fruit-throwing mob, I love the shootout in the penthouse, I love the two cops… i could go on and on. I also love that reviewers have called it “racist” AND “anti-white liberal bias” hahaha.

I’ve noticed that you have more Troma related work in the works, what is that experience like working in that realm?

All of our films will have an unavoidable Troma feel. We can’t help it, it’s in our blood. As of right now, we don’t know who will be distributing any of our films other than Honky Holocaust, but we have featured Lloyd Kaufman in each of our features and cast Elizabeth D’Ambrosio, the head of PR at Troma, in our latest feature, The Streets Run Red. Working with Troma, both directly and indirectly, has been a trip and a half. They’re an awesome, humble, wacky bunch of guys and girls, Lloyd and Michael are both totally down to earth, and I love that they dig our stuff because we totally dig all their stuff. If Troma wound up distributing all of our films, I certainly would not be disappointed!

Can you tell us a bit about Ungovernable Films? How did this happen? And what are you most proud of about the company?

When we made Honky Holocaust, it was under the production company name “Bloody Hammer Films”, which was a short-lived (about 14 months) company that Nick Norrman and I had founded in 2012. We immediately brought on Mike Collari and Thomas Delcarpio, two filmmakers we had been working with on short films before Honky Holocaust, and then we brought on several more people while filming Honky Holocaust, but once the film was done it was clear that the group we had formed was not compatible, to say the least. We decided to more or less dissolve Bloody Hammer Films and I created Ungovernable Films, bringing Bloody Hammer alumni Nick Norrman and Alex E Edwards on board, as well as Dave Sullivan, who was an actor in Honky Holocaust and had proven himself to be incredibly multi-talented and driven. Ungovernable Films’ first task was to finish post-production on Honky Holocaust, and then we set out to produce the punxploitation film, The Ungovernable Force, my second feature. I love Ungovernable Films because the four of us really gel; we each have our strengths – Alex is the responsible one and the businessman; Dave is the people person and handles all our casting and smooth-talking; Nick is the cinematic genius and our in-house grindhouse expert; I do most of the writing and directing, and I steer the ship. But what makes me the proud daddy of Ungovernable Films is its ability to stand on its own; we’re starting to have people from all over the world contact us to tell us how much they love what we’re doing, and people in the Boston independent film industry are beginning to know the name Ungovernable Films, even though they might not know me, or Dave, or Alex, or Nick, and even though we’re a pretty young film company.

 So, our avid TWS readers may be excited to know that you have worked alongside, and seem to be pretty friendly with TWS regulars Michael J. Epstein and Sophia Cacciola. And both being so fantastic at what they/you do, it’s not really that much of a surprise. But, can you tell us how you managed to work with and know one of our favorite partnerships in the world of art?

Sophia Cacciola and Michael J Epstein are two of our favorite people in the world. They have helped us out so many times on our films and I feel like we’ve never done much in return aside from forcing Michael to film pornography and setting off their smoke detectors while filming a scene on their treadmill. While we were doing the kickstarter for Honky Holocaust, Michael and Sophia were doing their kickstarter for their first feature, TEN. Somehow they realized that TEN, Honky Holocaust, and another film called Fat all had something in common – they were socially-conscious exploitation feature films being produced in Boston that year. So, Michael and Sophia did what Michael and Sophia do best: they got the director(s) of each film together for a forum on “intellexploitation” in Somerville, MA. I mean, isn’t that what anybody would do if they found out that three films of the same broad genre were being produced in the same metropolitan area? No? Well, that’s what Michael and Sophia do. And thank god for that because we’ve been good friends ever since and they’ve helped us out a ton in one way or another with just about all of our films since. Sophia has allowed us to kidnap Michael on numerous occasions, wrote and recorded a song for our film The Ungovernable Force, allowed us to film a scene on their treadmill, and much much more. Michael has been on set with us as a cameraman or sound mixer more times than he cares to admit and has assisted in countless other ways as well. They’re a fantastic pair and I’m sure they’ll continue to involve themselves in our films and other projects much to their chagrin but our enjoyment, even though they’ve moved to Los Angeles to try and get away from us.

What else have you got in store for the future? Anything else we should be looking forward to from your amazing brain?

It’s odd because the film industry seems to move at such a slower pace than the rest of the world, since it can take years for a film to go from pre-production to public release, and Honky Holocaust is no exception. We finished filming Honky Holocaust in the Spring of 2013 and it is just now getting released on Blu-Ray, three and a half years later. So when you say “the future” it also includes the past three years, since most of what we filmed in that time hasn’t seen the light of day yet, but will soon. Anyway, to answer your question, the first thing we filmed after Honky Holocaust was 12 Rounds For The Loaded, a nihilistic “torture western” short film available for free on youtube (https://youtu.be/EGI6dXQYL78). After that we filmed The Ungovernable Force, our most ambitious production to date with a long list of b-horror and punk rock cameos and is hitting festivals as we speak (Arizona Underground Film Festival, Fright Night Film Fest, Buenos Aires Rojo Sangre Horror Film Fest, Terror Film Festival, to name a few) and the official trailer is available on youtube (https://youtu.be/7EzMsKi0bw4). Then we did Gay Jesus, an anti-homophobia horror comedy short that we released for free on youtube (https://youtu.be/ebbMHYbZabA). We did two short films, Smoothie and Maul My Children, for horror film anthologies 60 Seconds to Die and Grindsploitation 2: The Lost Reels, respectively, which will both be available on DVD within the year. The last thing we shot was The Streets Run Red, a serial killer feature film, which is still in post production, but the teaser trailer is available on facebook and youtube (https://youtu.be/-EbdBkSFJKc). I’ve got several dozen more outlines in the works for future films, so don’t expect us to go away any time soon!

What is your favorite scary movie?

Favorite scary movie… well, most movies that I find truly scary usually aren’t movies that I like cinematically, and vice a versa. Unfortunately, in order for a movie to scare me nowadays it needs to use CGI, which I loathe, so I’m in a bit of a paradox there. So I’ll have to answer this question in a few parts. The movie that scares me the most to this day is The Conjuring. It scared the shit out of me. But there’s a good deal of CGI (ew…) and it’s not a great movie (it’s good, don’t get me wrong, but it’s not a movie I would watch for cinematic value). My favorite horror movie is Cannibal Holocaust, but it didn’t scare me at all, so I don’t consider it a scary movie. So, if I cross-reference movies I’ve enjoyed for their cinematic value and movies that still scare me, only two movies really fall into both categories: The Exorcist and The Legend of Hell House. Because practical special FX are so important to our style of filmmaking at Ungovernable Films, I can’t bring myself to respect the use of CGI. I can only really forgive its use in a small handful of movies, and sometimes it will ruin an otherwise good movie for me. My general rule is: if you can’t film it with a camera, it shouldn’t be in a film.

What was the last thing that made you smile?

When I realized that my DVD queue on Netflix included 498 movies so I could add two more movies to it before I hit the 500 movie cap again.TW

TWS Week of Horror Day 1: Jody Wheeler [Interview]

Welcome back Everyone to an all new Week of Horror! It is that magical time of year where blood and murder and chaos are not only acceptable, but preferred! And we hare kicking this off with some great words from writer, director, producer, up and coming cult leader, all sorts of things doer, Jody Wheeler. Hardcore horror fans will know him as the man behind the new classic, 2014’s The Dark Place. But, his work has spread across so many different genres, and has even been a championing of sorts of the LGBTQ community. Which is definitely something you should support and look more into, but we are hear to talk about the HORROR! Oh the HORROR! Jody has a new film, WTF, coming soon that I seriously believe will blow all of your feeble minds.

With that, please enjoy this digital conversation with Jody Wheeler!

Can you tell us a bit about the upcoming film WTF!, which you are an executive producer on, that looks absolutely terrifying, yet so much fun?

Yes! I really think it is. Classic group-of-friends go to the woods story and mayhem ensues. This time, there’s some nice wordplay, betrayal, treachery, classic video gaming, and a wonderful moment in keeping with the title of the movie, one where you question everything you’ve seen. There’s also boobs, butts, and blood. But no one ever watches a movie for that. 🙂

Your 2014 film The Dark Place has seemed to become one of those cult thrillers that I’ve heard nothing but good things about. Can you tell us a bit about why you wanted to make this film? What was your end goal, and do you feel like you accomplished what you were trying to do? (P.S. I feel like you must have, because it is so great!)

Thank you for the cult remark. I’ve always wanted to be a cult leader. That whole “hoods-in-candles-and-shadow” has always been a favorite look of mine.

The story came from a collision in my brain between a family drama and twist and turning thriller. I think I was also watching too many BBC mysteries, too. I blended that all together with some humor for flavoring and think I got a pretty good movie out of it. Even though the script is original and not based on an existing series — the car crash was in my mind after all — I imagined I was adapting the first book in a series of mystery novels, trying to set up a hero and his relationships with those he loves and the larger world. You’d want to see him in future adventures as he traveled the world, hoping just maybe you’d run into Keegan (and Wil) if you had troubles of your own that needed solving. They are great characters and I’m proud to have shared them with the world.

You have a wide range of work in your catalog, definitely not just horror and thrillers. But, given that this is Horror Week, can you tell us how much you enjoy working on more frightening projects?

I love scary movies. I’m not a big torture-porn fan, but things like Poltergeist or Let the Right One In or Bug are such a trip. The real world suddenly goes sideways and you are up to your earlobes in doom, with no good options, and no idea if you are the virgin who survives the movie, the first friend to die or, worst on worst, you are actually destined to survive until the last few minutes, and are then taken out by some other twisted fiend. That’s why I love them. Since I’m also a big scifi fan, if the horror film is also scifi or the scifi film is also horror — like The Mist or Event Horizon – even better. To that end, I have a project I’m working on now. It’s horror, with a bit of comedy and scifi added into the mix.

What does the future hold for you? Any other projects you might be working on that you would like to talk about?

With my business partner, Steve Parker, we’re working on the release for WTF!, taking a short he directed called Love, Colin out and around to various film festivals, and working to get that comedy-horror off the ground, plus working on a co-production for a YA time-travel adventure series. So basically, I’m slacking. We’re hoping to be able to announce the comedy-horror project in the next few months.

Do you have any big plans for this coming Halloween?

If that cult-leader thing comes through, I’m hoping the stars will finally be right so I can have my cult open the gate at R’lyeh and bring the Old Ones back through, destroying reality as we know it. Otherwise, I’ll just go to a party.

What is your favorite scary movie?

Oh, there are so many: Alien for the sheer epic isolation of it all. A Nightmare on Elm Street because the idea of exploding into gore after being sucked into the bed always freaks me out. Evil Dead 2 because that was the first time I realized you could laugh so hard your sides hurt while watching someone get their sides ripped out. Ben & Arthur because never has a love story between two men been more bereft of both love and a story (and skill, and talent, and visuals, and sound and…) than that film.

What was the last thing that made you smile?

I smile a lot, so that’s a generally hard one. I will say my most recent unexpected smile came yesterday, on a walk through the marina near my house, when I came across a yacht with a helicopter on the back. Clear canopy two seater. Blades folded in. Lashed an attached to the ample back of this beautiful boat. It’s was right out of a Bond film. Easily stood there for ten minutes. Would have marveled longer if the bald guy with the scar and monocle, and stroking a white cat hadn’t told me to move on…

T’keyah Crystal Keymah [Interview]

Your work on the now legendary sketch comedy In Living Color is as vast as it is impressive. So how was your experience working on this show?
It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. A hard show to do: long hours, lots of changes, internal politics… But also highly creative, energy charged, and the most talented company (cast, crew and staff) ever! I loved creating new characters every week for that show and I learned a lot about show business doing it. Did you have any idea while it was happening that it would have lasting place in history? No. That part was a bit of a blur. It was my first job in television so I had nothing with which to compare it. I didn’t learn that all sets (studios, etc.) were not buzzing with excitement, fans, press, etc. until later.

If you had to choose just one, what would you say was your favorite sketch on ILC, reoccurring or not? 

My favorite sketch was my own “In Black World… .” I am very proud of that piece. They took it from my audition for the show. Though I actually had to fight to get credit for it, it was the first piece on the show written by someone not on the writing staff. It also represents one of the first lessons I learned there. The piece originated in my stage show, Some of My Best Friends, and. Cryssy, the central character of the piece is featured in another of my shows as well.

Can you tell us a bit about your book Natural Woman/Natural Hair?

NW/NH is a book of natural hairstyles with detailed, photo assisted, step-by-step instructions on creating them. It includes full color photos showing the beauty of the final looks, as well as stories of me wearing my hair naturally (or not) in television and films.

What inspired you to create this masterpiece that has actually affected many lives in different ways?

I was first inspired by the fact that when I started on ILC, there were no (and I mean NO) natural hair stylists working on television shows, and I could find no books on the subject to help. I followed through on the idea, however, because even as books started coming on the market, my fans were still asking me about my hair and my hairstyles.

Recently you appeared in the long awaited fourth installment of the Sharknado series, Sharknado 4: The 4th Awakens. How was your experience on that set?

It was great! I must admit that I was unfamiliar with the franchise when I took the job. They called and asked if I’d like to come do a scene with my ILC buddy Tommy Davidson, and two days later I was on the set. With an ambitious schedule the day before a company move to Las Vegas, they were running so late that I didn’t think they’d get to my scene. Anthony C. Ferrante, the director, was brilliant. The clock was ticking and they had another scene to shoot after ours. They were telling him to cut coverage on the scene but he figured out how to shoot it in pieces more quickly than I’ve ever witnessed! Very cool! Hope to work with him again.

Was it as fun as it appears to be on the screen?

Oh my goodness, working with Tommy again was too much fun! It was like we were back on the KTLA lot, quickly going over lines after last minute changes to a sketch. Pretty cool to work with Donna Mills too. So glad Tech Terry didn’t get sharked. I’d love for her to return for Sharknado 5!

If you were given the chance to portray any historical person in American history, who would it be?

Oh I couldn’t name just one. So very many historical stories should be told. I’d love to play Ida B. Wells and Ruby Dee for starters.  My grandparents grew up in the Ida B. Wells housing project in Chicago so I grew up hearing her name. I didn’t learn until later that she was a fierce, fearless civil rights activist who championed the fight against lynching, among other things. Ruby Dee was one of my favorite performers not just because she was talented and chose uplifting roles, but because she was absolute in her resolve to live that life of an artist/activist. And wouldn’t David Alam Grier make a great Ossie Davis?

So what is next for you? Anything you would like to plug here?

I’m working with music legend Brenda Lee Eager on her wonderful new stage show with music, “That’s What a Dream Will Do.” We’re looking to debut it in Los Angeles early next year. After she opens, I will shift more focus to the reworking of my own stage show with music, Don’t Get Me Started! I hope to get it back on it’s feet this spring, or next fall, debuting in Chicago or Los Angeles. Details for both and more will be on my website, http://www.TKeyah.com, where you can also find links to my social media pages and other cool stuff.

What was the last thing that made you smile?

Attending the Grand Opening of my niece Sammi’s hair salon, Embellysh, in Chandler, Az. She and her business partner Angela have been working on this project for a very long time and their hard work really payed off! The salon is elegant, and wonderful and it seemed like everyone could feel the warm energy in the room. Being there made me hopeful to see that there are young people still overcoming whatever challenges they face, in order to mold their dreams into realities. That makes me smile!😀

Photo from the Grand Opening of Embellysh Hair Salon.

Rebecca Husain [Interview]

Well, the year is coming to a close.  And a year is about the time we have been waiting to hear from the wonderful young actress/screenwriter we are so happy to be able to have featured here at Trainwreck’d Society today!  And trust me, we’d wait until the end of time to get a few words out of this talented individual.

Rebecca Husain has been making some wonderful waves over the years as an actress, animation voice over genius, and screenwriter.  It was definitely her work as a voice actor on the brilliant animated Hulu Original Series Mother Up, created by the great Eva Longoria, that caught my attention first hand.  But, after looking a bit into the stellar career she has had, and that she obviously will have, I became even more intrigued.  Besides her brilliant work as an actress, Husain has recently been hard at work penning the film adaptation of Luis Alberto Urrea’s The Hummingbird’s Daughter which has recently had Antonio Banderas attached as a star.  Rebecca will also be putting her acting chops to work in the stage production of Noel Coward’s play “Private Lives”.

And we are so happy that she has come around to share a few words with us here.  So ladies and gentlemen, without further ado, I present one the wonderful Rebecca Husain!  Enjoy!

When did you know for absolute certain that you wanted to work in the world of film, both in front and behind the camera?

I found my first job when I was ten. A Hollywood movie was coming to town and they ran a tiny ad in the newspaper with stars around it screaming- WANTED: VOLUNTEER MOVIE EXTRAS!

I cut it out and carried it around in my pocket for days. On the day of filming, my mom woke me up at dawn and I remember trying to convince her that I didn’t need to wear a coat. (I lost.) We drove downtown and I saw huge movie lights being pushed down the street. After we signed in, we were given a ticket for a boxed lunch and that ticket made me feel very professional. We spent all day cheering as a float carrying Santa rolled down the street, reversed, rolled down the street again. There were thousands of people in the crowd but I cheered like the close-up was on me.

Filmmaking was something I always gravitated towards and my parents were very supportive. My mother put me in theatre school, chaperoned when I worked as an extra, sewed gold sequins on my green swimming costume… On weekends my dad and I would sit at the kitchen table writing scripts.

Now that you have worked in various different settings in the world of film & television, what is it that keeps you working and yearning for more? What gets you excited about this world?

The quiet creation that takes place when you are alone and working on a role or writing a script; and the colorful collaboration that follows while on location in some faraway land.

What I love about working on set (or on stage) is that for a pocket of time an entire world springs to life –spinning with passion and high stakes– and then just as suddenly as it appeared, it disappears when the lights are flicked off.

The same is true for screenwriting. On a good day I’ll sit down at my desk and within minutes I’ll be galloping across the desert off on some wild adventure with my heroine or crawling through a flea-infested garrison eavesdropping on injustice and strategic cruelty.

Working in animation can be equally thrilling. If you really engage your imagination you can walk out of the studio feeling like YES! I CAN fly and slay dragons and make new friends and stop wars and rescue the prince and recover from scurvy while dancing on stilts and…

How did you land the gig voicing Eva Longoria’s character’s daughter Apple on the Hulu Original Series Mother Up?

The producers had been searching for an actress for months. When I saw the casting call for the role of Apple it was headlined with – URGENT! Although I’d never done any voice work, I had this odd feeling that the role was mine. I ran to a studio and the sound engineer recorded my audition on his break. I sent it off and put it out of my mind. Two days later show runner and head writer Greg Lawrence called me with direction and asked me to record a second audition. The following day I was put on “hold” and a few weeks later I got the part.

Some of the content on Mother Up is downright hilariously foul, in all the right ways. It really is just hilarious. What is it that draws you to work for a show like this?

Working with Eva Longoria and the rest of the cast is unbelievably fun. I’m in a sound studio with all these hip actors but then someone will open their mouth and a cranky centenarian will float out!

In addition to Apple, I also play Fergus, Megan, Agnes and Nurse Higgins. In animation you can take the jokes a lot further and the writing team have created devilishly dysfunctional characters. One week Apple is hit in the head by lightning and reawakens as a five-year old prophet leading her deranged neighborhood to salvation; and the next week her mom sprays her food with performance enhancing drugs that leave her sprouting pimples, a moustache and flinging classmates around at recess.

What’s striking about this series is that it centers around a fierce but flawed female character. Rudi Wilson is a clever high-powered Manhattan record executive who suddenly finds herself plonked in middle-of-nowhere suburbia as a stay-at-home mom. She’s not equipped to nurture and this severely unhinged town intends to take her down. Although her heart is not always in the right place, it’s generally in the right vicinity and you can’t help but root for her.

Can you tell us about your script adaptation of the award-winning book The Hummingbird’s Daughter? What made you want to pursue this adaptation?

Director Luis Mandoki sent me the book. We’d been looking for a project to write together and this was it. I read the first page of Luis Alberto Urrea’s masterpiece and just couldn’t put it down. I read straight through the night and all the next day. The Hummingbird’s Daughter is based on the life of Teresita Urrea, the Mexican Joan of Arc and Saint of Cabora.

Set in the 1880’s against a burning desert backdrop ripe with violence, the story centers around the extraordinary bond between a wealthy cattle rancher Tomás Urrea (Antonio Banderas) and his illegitimate daughter Teresita; a resilient little girl born with the power to heal others with her hands.

There’s a really lovely scene where she tiptoes into his magnificent house (leaving a trail of muddy little footprints across his plush white carpet) and meets her father for the very first time. They don’t quite know what to make of each other and yet there is an instant connection between this spiritual little six-year-old and this outspoken liberalist. Years later, when the people of Mexico are rising in revolution against their iron-fisted dictator and crying out Teresita’s name, Tomás sacrifices everything in an attempt to save her life.  Our script is gritty, a little Peckinpah I’ve been told, but with all the heart, humor and fury found in the book.

What else does the future hold for Rebecca Husain? Any other new projects in the works?

Right now I’m in rehearsals for Noel Coward’s play Private Lives.

What was the last thing that made you smile?

I’m listening to a live performance of Elvis singing “Can’t Help Falling In Love.” How can you not smile?

Neil Brown Jr. [Interview]

For anyone who can remember the 90’s, everyone probably remembers it a the era a bit different.  And it has been a sort of unofficial goal here at Trainwreck’d Society to try and showcase as many different aspects about the 90’s entertainment world as possible.  From Nickelodeon child stars to 90’s alternative pop superstars, we’ve interviewed some pretty stellar folks.  And while we have dabbled in the world of 90’s hip hop, we haven’t seem to strike gold on a really beautiful showcase.  Until now.  Not only did we procure the chance to ask a few questions from the man who will be portraying the legendary DJ Yella of N.W.A. fame in the upcoming biopic about N.W.A., Straight Outta Compton, we actually managed to realize that that very man is none other than the illustriously talented actor and martial arts expert Neil Brown jr.

Brown has been around the acting world for quite some time, and has done some wonderful work, including a brilliant guest spots on hit television shows like Suits and The Walking Dead, and appearing in films like Fast and Furious and Battle Los Angeles.  He is a highly skilled actor who has everything going for him.  And while some may see his role as Yella in the upcoming biopic as a “break out” sort of role, we would definitely disagree.  We’d call it just another fine performance by a wonderful and worthwhile actor to take note on.

And with that being said, we are very happy to have had the chance to has Neil a few questions about his career, Straight Outta Compton, and what the future holds for this immensely talented individual.  Enjoy!

How did you find yourself in the world of acting, and what is it that keeps you going?

When I was a kid I won a few youth championships in Karate and Kickboxing. A casting Director and producer from universal studios came to my dojo to check me out for a new martial arts TV show called WMAC masters. They auditioned me, saw that I had a natural talent for acting, and I have been doing it ever since. I was 14 and caught the acting “bug”, I knew this was what I was meant to do. My wife, children, love of the art of acting and a thirst for learning is what keeps me going.

What sort of preperation have you been taking/did take to prepare yourself to perform the role as the legendary DJ Yella in the upcoming NWA biopic, Straight Outta Compton?

I searched all the videos, interview’s, pictures, and songs that I could find of NWA. I spent time with the real Antoine “Yella” Carraby, asked as many questions as I could think of. I studied all of his moves, his voice, his past and present experiences. I immersed myself in the time period that they came up in, and what their music meant to the world and to themselves. It was a beautiful experience. I pray we did them justice.

What drew you to the role of performing DJ Yella?

I grew up listening to NWA, for me to be a part of the film in any capacity was a dream come true. It didn’t take too much convincing for me at all. I jumped at the opportunity, I just wanted to do it right, and I knew having Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Tomica, F. Gary Gray as well as all of the surviving members of NWA involved would get us there.

Another project I noticed you have in production is a comedy titled Rivers 9, which sounds like a very clever take on the Oceans series. Can you tell us a bit about this project? Who will you be performing as?

That movie is just a whole lot of foolishness and fun. I play Virgil Dobbs, a tough guy who knows how to get stuff done. It is in fact a funny take on Oceans Eleven. We had a great cast and crew! Chris W. Freeman brought me on because we worked together on Battle:Los Angeles and I knew he would make a fun movie. I had always been a fan of Vinnie Jones, C. Thomas Howell, Ed O’Ross, Elizabeth Rohm; the entire cast really, and I just knew Jamie Kennedy and I could make people laugh. The project looks awesome, and I just hope the people who watch it have as much fun as we had making it.

Now that you have done everything from racing street cars, to fighting aliens, killing zombies, or being just plain silly in films, what would you say is your favorite genre to work in? 

I’m partial to a gripping drama, but I think any good film should take you through an entire sea of emotions. It should make you laugh, cry, be afraid, be happy, keep you in suspense, and have a great pay off in the end because thats life and I am a huge fan of that. What I do not like is being put into a box for the sake of sales, I like to move people…honestly.

If you could portray any famous character in American history, who would it be?

That’s a great question…….It would have to be Prince. I would love to do his life story. He was and is a musical genius, such an interesting man who effected so many people through his music, his heart, his energy. The boundaries he pushed or rather erased, the careers he started, the boxes they tried to put him in that he effectively destroyed. Love that man for that. It would be a daunting task but I think I could pull it off. Very passionate about that one!

What else does the future hold for you? Any other projects in the works you can tell us about?

I’ve been really blessed to have a good bit of projects in the can. River’s 9, Bad Blood, San Patricios, as well as a passion project called Cold: Choices which is about the immensely hard choices our heroes in the military have to make each day that the public have no idea about, just so we can feel safe. I’m a lucky guy, I have the privilege to play pretend for a living, and hopefully make people feel something.

When you look back on your career as an actor thus far, what would you say is your favorite aspect of the business thus far, and what are you most proud of yourself as an actor for?

Just like a fight or car accident, five different people may see those events five different ways. I love that people will watch my work and each person gets something different from it. I enjoy affecting people, and hope I can continue to do that, and get better at it through growth and experience. That is my favorite aspect as well as what I am most proud of.

What was the last thing that made you smile?

My wife’s smile.

Elaine Miles [Interview]

If you have been paying attention to TWS lately, you may have noticed that the classic television show Northern Exposure has been coming up quite a bit lately (see our interviews with producer Michael Fresco and actor Darren Burrows from October).  I have recently found myself engaged in revisiting the show in its entirety on DVD, and I am absolutely astounded at how wonderful of a show it truly is.  Growing up, I can remember the show being on, but showed a vague interest as it was for “grown ups”.  But, I always knew as I got older that this might just be a show I could learn to love and truly appreciate.  With such an array of strange yet lovable characters, it’s pretty hard not to love.

And one of the characters that we simply can not deny as being one of the most important during its time was Marilyn Whirlwind.  She was the strong, calm, and utterly adorable Native woman who at times acted as the very glue that kept that Woody Allen-like witted Joel Fleischmen in check.  She was the one who had the power to say so much, sometimes without saying anything at all!  Each time she graces the screen, I can’t help but smirk and know that something great is about to happen.

And who was the actress behind this wonderful character?  Well it was none other than one of the happiest accidents in the world of film and television, the lovely Elaine Miles.  Happy accident because the story behind her landing the role as Ms. Whirlwind is one that movies are often made of.  With no acting experience under her belt, Elaine managed to strike the attention of the show’s producers….when she wasn’t even auditioning.  Miles was simply dropping her mother off at an audition in Seattle for the very same role, a character originally intended to be much older.  The producers saw something in her, and took her in.  The rest, as they say, is history.

Elaine went on to work in several more great films, including the classic All-Native American fronted Smoke Signals, and many more before taking a brief hiatus from the acting world.  But, she has never really been out of site.  She moved into the world of stand up comedy, public speaking, and more.  And she has moved back into the acting world as well, and we should all be so damn grateful for that.  So ladies and gentlemen, here are just a few words with one of the greatest television actresses the world has ever know, the lovely Elaine Miles.

When I look back on Northern Exposure, which was once the greatest television comedy in history (in my opinion, which is correct by the way), there is no more iconic figure I can think of than Marilyn Whirlwind. You were definitely to the rock in the chaos that ensued in Cicely. So, if you could tell us, what was your experience like during the filming of this beautiful series?

It was scary at first. Being brand new & green to the industry! But as time went on, working with so many people. They taught me the ropes…so to say, LOL. I was told I was the one in a million with the natural ability to act. So I was the needle in the haystack, LOL. As time went on it wasn’t so stressful and it became fun. Meeting so many different actors & actresses was amazing! Doing something I never in my whole life thought I would do…work on screen! 🙂 That part of my life I will treasure; those crazy long hours of shooting…late nights…early morning…ungodly hot…below freezing! Windy days…wet days! But we did it thanks to cast n crew of Northern Exposure…I am honored I had that opportunity to work on such a successful television show. One we didn’t think would run as long as it did!

Your pair up with Rob Morrow on the show was obviously one with a hidden affection, in a family sort of way, that was absolutely endearing to say the least. What do you believe it was that made your work with Rob more than just a boss and employee relationship? Did you both have a plan of action in making your scenes together so perfect?

I think Rob & the producer’s had an idea of what they wanted. The original Marilyn was supposed to be older…motherly type native woman. But when I went in they liked the feisty side of me…I’m the complete opposite of the character Marilyn. I have no patiences…I talk a lot…LOL. The chemistry of Marilyn & Dr. Fleischman was written for us and it all came together with Rob Morrow and I. He is a wonderful actor…taught me so much in the 5 years we worked together! We had some good laughs with some of our scenes. Was hard to keep a straight face at times! We also worked great as a team…got our scenes done quickly! 🙂

During the 6 season run of Northern Exposure, did you feel a sort of weight on your shoulders or the burden of responsibility of representing Native American women across the country? 

Yes, I did feel a great weight on my shoulders…representing Native people in general…later it became more about Native Women. It was tough at first. I had to deal with Alaskan Natives who didn’t like it because I wasn’t Alaskan Native. Some people wrote in saying I looked too Asian or Hispanic. But I am an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribe of the Umatilla Reservation. Meaning 3 tribes…Cayuse, Umatilla & Walla Walla. I am Cayuse from my mother & Nez Perce from my father side. So I am full blood native. Also some people didn’t like the talent show scene where I wore my own traditional dress and danced. Something Alaskan Natives were not pleased with! So it was tough at first. But the Native people lightened up after a few years, LOL.

Your role in the iconic indie gem of a film, Smoke Signals, is also one I absolutely adore. And with that, I have always wanted to ask you something….Where you actually driving that car backwards during the shoot? How exactly did that work out?

Smoke Signals 🙂 lol yes, I did end up driving the car backwards myself. The stunt driver was too tall…couldn’t fit the hat I wore…so Sherman [director] asked me if I could do my own driving? I said OK let’s try it…so early the next morning the stunt man worked with me to drive backwards, 3 hours before shoot time. That was fun, bahahaha, I did it…I made dust even…it was the funnest thing I ever did in a movie! LOL, Another part I was honored to do and be a part of…the first written…directed…produced…main characters all Native movie! Made history with that movie for sure 🙂

I understand you have are an accomplished stand up comedian? How did you find yourself moving into this line of work in addition to acting?

Yes…people who really know the real me know’s how crazy I can be! One time I was dared to do open Mike at a bar. So I did it was scared as hell because it was non Native audience but I did it n they laughed. Once I get on a roll there’s no stopping me lol its fun doing it but tough for women to get bookings. But that’s ok…now we have a lot more talented crazy comedians out there that are breaking through just fine 🙂 my fav is Tanya Jo Hall OMG if you have a chance to see her go…one crazy Native woman! lol

When you look back on your career thus far, what do you believe is your greatest accomplishment as an actress, stand up comedian, and more?

My greatest accomplishment was being a Native woman on a weekly television show as a regular cast member. I was told I was the most recognizable Native Woman being seen weekly on an international television series. To this day I can walk in a store n some people still get all star struck after 19 years of being off the air.

If you could portray any little know Native American figure in history, who would it be?

I think I would like to portray my great grandmother. She was one of a few survivor’s that made it to Canada during the Nez Perce war. She was pregnant with my grandfather n gave birth to him in Canada. When I was little my Grandpa use to tease us n say we were Canadian too! lol they lived up there not quite a year then were sent back to what is now Lapwai Idaho. I would be honored to play such a warrior woman for sure!

So, what does the near future hold for you? Anything in the works you would like to tell our readers about?

I hope to get back into acting. I purdy much gave up my career when my mother was alive to care for her 24/7. She had colon cancer. She passed away 7 years ago this February 2015. I’ve done 2 movies in that 7 years. 1 short video. So I’m hoping to get back into the industry. I am working on getting my S.A.G. card back…finding an agent…get my foot back in the door so to say. Crossing fingers it all goes as planned. Wish me luck lol

What was the last thing that made you smile?

The last thing that made me smile…my step daughter’s little girl getting 3rd place out of 9 pee wee barrels…3rd over all pee wee’s…my little cowgirl 🙂 she comes from horse people Comanche & Mescalero Apache! 🙂

David Schmoeller [Interview]

Hello Everyone!  Happy Halloween, and welcome to Day 5 of Trainwreck’d Society’s Week of Horror!  It has been a great few days bringing you fine readers some great interview from some of the finest folks involved in the world of horror.  And while it might not be fair to say that we saved “the best for last”, as that would obviously not be fair to the fine folks we have already featured – but we are very excited about this one!

David Schmoeller is that sort of guy that fascinates us the most.  When you look at so many horror franchises out there, it is always great to speak with the originator!  Just as we did last year with our interview with Friday the 13th creator Victor Miller, we have another great interview with a man that has left his mark in the world of horror in a major way.  Schmoeller is the man who originally made us shit ourselves over…puppets?  Yes, this delightful jerk of a man managed to take something as simple and cute as puppets, and scare the hell out of us.  Dolls were already ruined thanks to fellow TWS interviewee Tom Thurman (Child’s Play), clowns are a no go (another TWS interview Tommy Lee Wallace and his film adaptation of Stephen King’s It), and…..well, basically nothing is sacred from the mind of the masters of horror.  If you couldn’t guess by now or didn’t already know, David Schmoeller is the man we can hold responsible for 1989’s Puppet Master (but, thankfully for him, not the ridiculous sequels that would be released).  He is also the man responsible for the now cult favorite 1979 film Tourist Trap, a film that any REAL horror buff should know and love.

So with that being said, we are so pleased to have Mr. Schmoeller as the special guest to round of this year’s Week of Horror.  We are fortunate, honored, and extremely lucky to have this wonderful fellow share a few words with us.  So, here we go!

When did you first realize you wanted to be a filmmaker? And what were some of your earliest influences?

I came fairly late to filmmaking. I became a writer at around 15 years old. I went to college with the intention of writing novels. Mid-way through college, I met some friends who were in film – and it just sounded like more fun. So, I started taking film classes and was hooked. I took a class on Italian Cinema and it completely changed how I looked at film. It was transformative.

Like many other filmmakers we have spoken with (Rolfe Kanefsky, in particular), the Internet and new, easier mediums of film viewing have managed to allow some amazing films to finally receive the credit, at least in a “cult status”, that they always deserved. I definitely believe your 1979 film Tourist Trap is one of these films. Do you think the internet coming around is a good change for cinema? Have you noticed the difference?

The Internet is a good and a VERY bad thing for filmmakers. On the good side, there are many new places for your work to be seen. But the fact that internet, by it’s nature, leads users to expect everything on the internet be free of charge, this will eventually end film as we know it. Piracy will destroy film, at least as we understand it now. And, unfortunately, commerce is figuring out how to impose themselves on the Internet in very ugly ways: ads that you have to watch to get to content you want. It’s becoming alarmingly pervasive. So, I really DON’T think the Internet is going to be good for filmmakers – not filmmakers who want to make a living at making films. YouTube is a good place to load your films to be seen instantly, but you can’t make any money that way. And now YouTube is being totally invaded by stupid ads – and as yet, there is no way to see that desired content without seeing that stupid ad. I suppose filmmakers will figure out how to get some of that ad revenue – but I’m pretty cynical about it.

What do you believe it is about your 1989 film Puppetmaster that has made it a relevant addition to the other franchises in place (Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Halloween, etc.)?

I don’t think Puppetmaster became a franchise in the same way that Halloween or Nightmare or Chainsaw became franchises. Those films were big theatrical hits – and even bigger on video. Puppermaster was a hit on Video only. So, it just was not as big a hit as some of those other successful franchises. And I’m not sure that it merited 9 sequels – but, I’m sure they all made money for Mr. Band. As to why Puppetmaster was appealing, it has to be those stupid puppets coming to life and running around killing people. Leach Woman coughing-up a giant leach to chew up a man thinking he is about to have great sex is pretty funny.

In past interviews, you have mentioned that producer Charles Band has sort of screwed you out of residuals for the Puppetmaster franchise that has spawned 9 more films. Has a resolution been made on this matter, yet?

No, not at all. I am just one person on a long list of people who Charlie has screwed out of the money he owes them. As long as I was working for Charlie and he needed my services, I would get paid. Once I stopped working for him, I would never get what he owed me. For a while there, in the eighties and nineties, I would have to do another film to get paid for the last one. I liked working for Charlie because he would let the directors make their movies and he didn’t meddle as long as you delivered good films. He didn’t pay much and it was hard to collect what you were owed, but it was so much fun making movies during those days. I wasn’t a filmmaker for the money.

And with or without those factors in mind, what is your opinion of the films that followed your original 1989 film?

I’ve never seen any of the sequels.

In your obviously expert opinion, what do you think it is that makes a “great” horror film, as opposed to “just another” horror film?

A: It helps to have a really great monster (Michael, Freddy, the shark in Jaws, Frankenstein, Annabelle, stupid puppets, etc.). It also helps if your subject touches something in the Zeitgeist of the time or just strikes the imagination of the public (Night of the Living Dead, The Exorcist, and even something like Saw). Sometimes if it is an especially well-made horror film top-notch in all categories – writing, directing, acting, etc – it can be a great horror film (Silence of the Lambs, Prisoners).

Currently you can be found in the UNLV Film Department. How did you come across this gig? How has it been for you thus far?

I’ve been a university professor for the last 14 years at UNLV here in Las Vegas. I was very lucky to get the job – a professor in film was given a better offer just a week before school started and they needed someone to teach directing at a very short notice. I was living in LA at the time and commuted to Las Vegas for a year. They then offered me a tenure-track position as an Assistant Professor and I took it. Best thing that has ever happened to me!

What are your plans for this Halloween?

This year Halloween falls on Nevada Day – which is a state holiday – so, I am going to stay home and work on my new screenplay “Dead Angels.” I hope it’s the next movie I direct. (see davidschmoeller.com)

What was the last thing that made you smile?

Jim Carrey on SNL doing the funniest spoof of the Matthew McConaughey Lincoln Car commercials. (I like McConaughey as an actor – but what was he thinking, really?)

Jimmyo Burrill [Interview]

Welcome Everybody to Day 4 of Trainwreck’d Society’s Week of Horror!  The week of scares is almost wrapped up, so we are bringing out the big guns to put it lightly.  Today we have an awesome interview with one of the modern time’s finest creators of spine tingling and gut wrenching horror films you could possibly enjoy today.  He is a man who has impressed the likes of Herschel Gordon Lewis, Lloyd Kaufman, and more importantly, a shit ton of viewers who have made his work a wonderful cult following for the delightful psychopaths and fuck ups all across the globe.

Jimmyo Burrill, along with his lovely wife April Monique Burril, are responsible for the delightfully disgusting Chainsaw Sally franchise that has swept the nation, as well as the world.  On the surface, Sally is simply a sick twisted tale of masochistic proportions.  But, in reality, it is a brutal display of the power that women can have, and how it gender holds no restraint when it comes to kicking ass and taking names.  And beyond all that, it is just a brilliant piece of cinema that will hopefully always be remembered, even if it is only in the last week of October when we all feel it is okay to have the shit scared out of us, and it might just be okay to become a bit squeamish when he normally wouldn’t do so in, let’s say, the previous May.

Beyond his work with Chainsaw Sally, Jimmyo Burrill is a man who has influenced so many others, and has worked in basically every realm of entertainment you could imagine.  He is a versatile actor, musician, filmmaker, visual gigolo, etc.  He brings to the screen something wonderful each time he places his big scary hands anywhere in the vicinity of art.  He is a visual mastermind who deserves to be recognized even far beyond the TWS world.  But, we are oh so thankful that he has agreed to share a few words with the likes of us savages and hellhounds.  So Ladies and Gentlemen, please allow me to introduce the man who needs no introduction…. Mr. Jimmyo Burrill!

How did you become involved in the world of horror?  I understand you were primarily a musician beforehand, right?  What made you want to join the world of filmmaking and acting?

I have been a horror fan since first grade. My parents made the haunted house at my elementary school, so I was into it. Then in 6th grade I stayed up late and saw Alice Cooper on the Midnight Special. This started the ball rolling to where we are today. I played in a band, Next Window, as a teen… and loved being onstage. Later, I got into musical theater, and regular plays on a local level. To me it took the place of being onstage with a band… As I got into it I realized I loved acting… and then directing. But I studied every part of theater… tech, lighting, sound, stage design. I wanted something more my flavor so I wrote a few musicals with my then writing partner, James Taylor. We did very well locally. The big one was Silver Scream, a sort of Haunted House musical…. Very much like Alice Cooper’s Welcome to my Nightmare. I had not idea about getting into film because of my passion for stage, but then, for the hell of it, decided to shoot an on location film of Silver Scream.. .. and I fell in love. That’s the path… and it’s been weird and spontaneous.

What is it to you personally that makes the horror genre so wonderful?  Especially the world of indie horror that has such a cult following?

Freedom, and unpredictability. This is straight from the mind that thought it up to the final product. If you were an oil painter, for instance, you would not come up with an idea, then try to get funding, and do business meetings trying to get someone to see your vision, believe in it, and back you up. You would not need a team. You would not need actors, or editors. It’s straight from the artist to the canvas. Indie film is as close as we get to that with movies.

How do you feel about the current state of of the horror world with the remakes, internet, etc. all having an impact?  Are things better?  Worse?

It all cycles. A few years ago vampires ruled… now zombies. The next wave will it and zombies will wash into the background again. Eb and flow…. The natural movement of things. If it’s bad now… which I don’t think it is… it will be good again soon. Ever go to a diner and they have one of those dessert displays that rotates around so you can see all the lovely sweets? Same deal with entertainment…. Just have to wait for your flavor to come around.

Were you initially surprised by the success of your cult favorite film, Chainsaw Sally?  Or did you just KNOW that the premise was going to be a hit?

I had never made a film… a real film before. And if you were to ask pros in Hollywood, I’ve still not made a real film. We had a tiny budget, and a load of inexperience. I am grateful to anyone and everyone who takes the time to watch our flicks. If you don’t like it, wish you did. If you do, COOL! I hope to bring you more ASAP! Since I had done nothing in the film world before, I had no expectations. No clue what was going to happen. I think the biggest surprise was seeing all of the Sally tattoos popping up. THAT blew us away.

If you had to rank the Top 3 Deaths from any of the projects you have been, or will be, involved with, what would they be? 

I love the Bugs Bunny machine we made in Season 1 of the show where Sally and Ruby are tormenting a cheerleader who is just mean. She is strapped to a guillotine with her neck under the blade. She has a catheter (a tube for urine) and is being force-fed water. The bottle for her urine is on a see saw… on the other end is a burning candle. Above the candle is the rope holding the blade. All she has to do to live is not pee. THAT was fun. I like Sally digging Angel Eyes heart out with a spoon… and I love the other heart removal in the bathtub scene of the Good Sisters. However, the ones I have for the new projects top all of those.

Can you tell us a bit about your upcoming project, The Darling Clementines?

By far the most fucked up thing I’ve ever written. I can not say much but there will be parts that are uncomfortable to watch. Once again a female driven horror story… as that seems to be my thing. It will be our first real, big budget film. And I DO plan to shoot it on film. HD is pretty… I don’t want pretty.. or filters…or CGI… I want to make a gritty, brutal film.

What does the future hold for you?  Got any other projects you’d like to pimp out to the readers?

The big news for us is the Chainsaw Sally animated series. I love writing and designing this! It was my childhood dream to be a cartoonist. I have made my living as an artist for over 30 years, so this is a perfect project to come around. Picture what you know of Sally, with no restraints of budget, physics, gravity, and reality. This will also open her up to a much larger audience. I can’t wait!!!!

What are your plans for this upcoming Halloween?

Celebrating my 16th wedding anniversary with April.  We were married on Halloween 1998, in costume.

What was the last thing that made you smile?

I actually smile a lot… not that you can tell from my pics.  The last thing that made me smile was the sunrise today though the trees.

Note from the Editor:  A happiest Annivesary to Mr. & Mrs. Burrill!  May your partnership continue to be fruitful both on and off the screen!

Jake Helgren [Interview]

Hello Everyone!  And welcome to Day 3 of Trainwreck’d Society’s Week of Horror!  Today we have a very special interview up with one a man who is not only one of the hottest writers and filmmakers in the modern horror world, but the world of film in general!  FilmMakers Writing Competition winner Jake Helgren has been popping up in all different sorts of genres lately.  While he has broken into the business with a vast collection of great scripts, he has recently released his directorial debut, which is indeed a horror film entitled Varsity Blood.  Much in line with his previously acclaimed work on Bloody Homecoming, Jake takes us into the dark world and oh-so-terrifing world of high school with this excellent blood filled reincarnation of one of America’s favorite past times – watching beautiful teen kids get brutally murdered on screen.

While much of Helgren’s future as well as past works, are not exactly in the vein of the horror world (like the family-friendly-and-oh-yeah-there’s-a-dog film A Belle for Christmas which is fronted by Dean Cain and Haylie Duff), he is a man who has obviously mastered what it means to write, and now direct, a quality horror film in a day and age when it just doesn’t seem to happen that often.  Stories like Bloody Homecoming and Varsity Blood tend to seem all too familiar.  But (as you will read in the much better spoken words of Jake below), when a really great writer can get a hold of an age-old idea, something beautiful can be made.

So ladies and gentlemen, check out a few words with the wonderful writer/filmmaker Jake Helgren!

Your latest film, and your directorial debut, Varsity Blood was absolutely brilliant in its own right. How did you come up with the concept for this film?

Varsity Blood was an idea I came up with back when I was 18 and just started screenwriting (I’m 32 now). I was a cheerleader in high school myself — as were my sisters, who play the cheer coach and teacher at the dance in the film — and so I always thought a stunt-gone-wrong would be a great motivation for some slasher-style fun. I have been obsessed with slasher movies since I was 11 or 12 from seeing them late on USA’s former Up-All-Night programming, and obviously Varsity Blood pays homage to many of those films (the Friday the 13th franchise especially). And at the end of the day, what slasher fan wouldn’t love to see a high school mascot offing the school’s jocks and cheerleaders? I know Girls Nite Out did a similar schtick with the giant bear mascot, but I always thought an Indian warrior could make for a fun killer in a film.

The film has a setting that could be compared to the works of Kevin Williamson in the 90’s, or pretty much any horror film in the 70’s and 80’s that features teenagers…but, it still seems fresh and new! How did you manage to take an age-old concept and make it original? What were some things you were trying to avoid when writing and filming?

still from Varsity Blood.

Thanks for that. Tons of people (and some horror critics, even) go on and on and on about how slasher movies are completely unoriginal. I beg to differ — it’s just that the slasher subgenre has a VERY specific template and set of rules the filmmakers must abide by (Randy told us all about it in Scream). I decided to go the non-postmodern route with VB and make it straight-up 80’s slasher all the way (we did the same with another horror film I wrote and produced on called Bloody Homecoming). People can say all they want that there is nothing original in my film — but when have you seen a killer warrior with a fighting ax and bow/arrow? And having seen all these films, I know at least half of the motivation behind the killings (a double twist) hasn’t been done before, either (same with Bloody Homecoming and it’s fireman and motivation behind the killings).

I think what makes making a slasher movie so challenging is the ability to stick to the template, yet finding some fresh and new spins to add to what slasher fans want, which, at the end of the day, is the classic formula. I don’t expect the people who don’t get it to like it — just for the diehard fans of 80’s slasher to appreciate what we’re bringing to the table. When I’m writing, I try to avoid one-dimensional characters — if the characters are fun, the people watching the film will have a fun ride with them (at least as long as these characters are still alive). And if you can generate some modicum of sympathy for your cast of victims, I consider that a job well done at the end of the day.

You won the Elite Prize for Comedy in the FilmMakers Writing Competition a few years back for a screenplay you call Frivolity. What was the story about, and is there any chance we may get to see this award winning script brought to the big screen any time soon?

Frivolity is a teen comedy in the vein of a John Hughes 80’s film (I love me some John Hughes!). It’s about a closeted gay guy in high school and his best girlfriend stirring up some trouble with the popular kids in order to expose them for the jerks they are. He pretends to be straight to get close to most popular girl in school, only she turns out to be much nicer than all the people she hangs around. To top it off, the best girlfriend (a wacky Anna Faris-type) goes after the most popular guy in school because she thinks he’s also in the closet and she has a thing for gay dudes. Frivolity and hilarity ensues. I would still love to see that film made some day, and I’m proud it won Best Comedy of that festival back in the day, but there isn’t much of a demand for a big-budget teen film with a gay male lead these days — hopefully one day that will change. And maybe sooner than later — my buddy Darren Stein (who wrote/directed Jawbreaker from 1999 with Rose McGowan), just did an awesome John Hughes-esque teen comedy last year called GBF which features a gay lead — so if you’re into these kinds of films, you should definitely check that out. And maybe some day Frivolity will follow suit!

While you have mentioned that you are a huge fan of slasher films, and have actually released two horror films yourself, the world of horror doesn’t seem to be your primary means for expression, as you have written family friendly movies, romcoms, and more. How do you approach each individual project? Is the writing process for developing a blood gushing horror tale similar to a family friendly film about Christmas and/or dogs?

Well it’s tough because as a low-budget filmmaker you’re always working within the confines of a specific market — and these kinds of markets always have a demand for something specific (i.e. a Christmas movie with dogs!). I approach al my projects exactly the same — to write an entertaining film with characters you want to spend an hour and a half with, and to see succeed overcoming some cool obstacles. Romcoms, family friendly movies and horror movies I think all have a great deal in common, because as I mentioned before, you’re working within the confines of a very specific template in any of these genres — the audience simply EXPECTS certain things. As an example, in a romcom, you always have the boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl back scenario — my job as a writer is to find a way to tell that story, but with an all new set of themes, characters and situations. I think it’s a lot of fun and great challenge to do that, no matter the subgenre.

still from Bloody Homecoming.

The brilliant young actress Lexi Giovagnoli seems to appear in so many of the films you write and/or produce. Surely this isn’t a coincidence, so when you are writing these characters, is it Lexi you are visualizing in the role? And what is it that you personally makes her a choice actress to display your work?

Lexi is an amazingly talented actress and I just adore her (I always say if I could be John Hughes, she’d be my Molly Ringwald). I think she has a great deal of versatility, and I’m always happy to put her in a film. I didn’t already know Lexi when she was cast in Bloody Homecoming, so it’s just a relationship that has grown over time, and it’s been incredible to watch her grow from a teenager into a talented young woman. These days, I am usually writing roles with her in mind if I know I’m going to somehow be involved with the production, and since she’s always a total champ and pro onset, I know we can count on her to carry the film, which gives me much peace of mind. But I hate to be too selfish with her — so I really hope she gets the chance to work with lots of other amazing directors and producers in the very near future!

What sort of other projects are we going to see from you in the near future? Anything you’d like to pimp out right about now?

Well I have two films green lit for 2015 so far: one is called A Dogwalker’s Christmas Tale (enough said), and the other is a thriller called The Suicide Note. I am excited about both projects as I will be co-producing them, and am hoping I may get the chance to direct at least one of them as well. I also have numerous other scripts in various stages of development on projects that I won’t be too involved in the productions of including a Pretty Little Liars-esque women’s thriller, an epic, low-budget disaster pic, a faith-based comedy drama, possible sequel in the works for my Dean Cain/Kristy Swanson/Haylie Duff film A Belle For Christmas, and even a biopic I am really crossing my fingers will happen! There’s not much I can reveal about the projects at this point in time, but hopefully they’ll come to fruition!

As the old saying/question goes…..What’s your favorite scary movie?

My fave scary movie is a toss-up between Scream and the original Black Christmas. The original slasher, and the revival of the slasher. Both films are superbly phenomenally written, produced, acted and directed films, and films I can watch over and over. But it’s hard to narrow it down — I have so many!

What are you plans for this coming Halloween?

I will be at a Halloween party of a friend of mine who is a big-time screenwriter in the biz who I shall refrain from name-dropping (I know, fancy ;). Yet I have NO clue what I’m going to wear this year!

What was the last thing that made you smile?

The last thing that made me smile — I’m going to Oktoberfest this weekend in Germany, actually, and I’m ALL SMILES!