Queens of Scream: the New Blood

Home , Beyond the Rave, Blood Feast, Cassandra Peterson, Chainsaw (Scream Queens), Charles Cyphers, Creepy Canada

NVF Magazine Publications in Association with BearManor Media Queens of Scream: The New Blood

All illustrations are copyright of their respective owners, and are also reproduced here in the spirit of publicity. Whilst we have made every effort to acknowledge specific credits whenever possible, we apologize for any omissions, and will undertake every effort to make any appropriate changes in future editions of this book if necessary.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, digital, photocopying or recording, except for the inclusion in a review, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Published in the USA by: BearManor Media P O Box 71426 Albany, Georgia 31708 www.bearmanormedia.com

ISBN 1-59393-455-6

Printed in the United States of America.

All interviews used by permission / edited by David Byron All photos and logos used by permission. Cover art by Dennis Willman Susan Adriensen photo by Mark Alan Lee Book design by Darlene Swanson of Van-garde Imagery, Inc. Contents

Acknowledgments ...... vi Introduction by David Byron ...... ix Interviews 1 Afterword by David Byron 183

The Queens: Brenna Lee Roth - star of Killer Biker Chicks and DOG and producer of Grind House Glory

Scarlet Salem - star of Killer Biker Chicks

Bianca Barnett star of Albino Farm

Nicole Kruex - a.k.a. -Nikki Homicide K – star of Zen: Hunter

Rachel Grubb - star of 13 Hours in a Warehouse

Seregon O’Dassey - star of Ghost Watcher 2 & False Face / Playboy model

Evie Effects - F/X artist, model, actress

Heidi Martinuzzi - actress, writer, staff Pretty Scary.net

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April Monique Burril - star of Chainsaw Sally {featuring Jimmy ‘O}

Monique Dupree - star of Bachelor Party IN the Bungalow of the Damned

Jackey Hall - star of Chrome Angels

Sarah Virginia Brock - star of Scream Farm

Kristi Fitts - star of Buddy Be Bop VS The Living Dead

Krista Grotte - Award-winning actress of her own short filmAlarum

Fatally Yours editor - Sarah Jahier

Scream Queen Prodigy Emily Brownell

Lissa Slasher - star of Black Dahlia

Cassandra Faye - star of Trinity

Last Doorway Productions Reyna Young

Legend of the Red Reaper - star Tara Cardinal

Fist of the Vampire star Cheyenne King

Kindra RavenMoon - Dark arts alternative model, actress, writer, musician and writer

Susan Adriensen - writer, producer, director of Under the Raven’s Wing, actress in The Blood Shed and Sculpture

Jennifer Rouse - associate producer and co-star of Chainsaw Sally, The Death of Poe, and Stingy Jack Contents v

Special guest interviews: Hammer Films scream siren Ingrid Pitt

Girls and Corpses magazine editor Robert Steven Rhine

Horror fiction prodigy Amanda Underwood

Makeup artist Teri Harrison

For Christ’s Sake actress Nicola Fiore

Danica Decosto - Star / co-producer of Crazy Animal

Patty Dunn – Actress and star of Fury, Terminal Descent, Autumn Country, & The Darkness: Chiroscuro

Donna Hamblin – Star of At the House of Madness & Ted Mikels Astro Zombies M3 Cloned

DeeDee Bigelow

Sexiest Scream Queen contest winner Stacey Dixon

Introduction

must admit, when I first came up with the idea for this book, I was… Iwell, petrified at the thought of being surrounded by 20-plus Scream Queens for the next few months. It was new to me, and although I am usually up for just about any challenge, this one actually frightened me. Now, not that I thought any of the ladies involved would ever hurt me. As a matter of fact, the ladies featured within this book have been nothing but nice to me, all of them more than cooperative above and beyond the call of duty. They have been sweet, friendly, helpful, professional, and very patient as well, considering how long it took me to put this book together. Maybe it was all of that ‘’hideous beauty’’ that had me feeling so uneasy… And beautiful they are, as well as extremely intelligent. It is my hope that the interviews featured here will provide invaluable insight into the world these ladies work so hard to preserve for our entertainment. They are tireless and relentless in their dedication to their craft, and I believe in giving credit where credit is due. But, not without some static from my friends and associates along the way. When I had told one of my friends about the book, his first reaction was one of bewilderment. “Why would you want to interview a bunch

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of bimbos?” he asked, wearing a stupid expression on his face. “They are so…creepy.” My answer? Well, I said, it is simple; I am ME. And me is a person who can see when another person has found their niche, and is happy with it, and enjoys it and literally lives it to its full potential, while at the same time manages to maintain a sense of style, grace, integrity, and respect due themselves as well as all of those lucky enough to having been associated with them. They are professionals. They are intelligent. They are beautiful. They are multi-talented. Yes, they are Scream Queens, and they are great at what they do, too. But most of all, they are women, special ladies that hold a high place in my heart for all of their invaluable contributions to the horror genre, and to all the lives they touch. Besides, being surrounded by such hideous beauty, how can I not feel blessed? There is my answer. Any more stupid questions? GOOD. Now, turn the page, please…

David Byron / March 2009 This book is dedicated to Lloyd Kaufman Praise for Lloyd

first met Lloyd Kaufman at a church in Buffalo, New York. But it’s not Iwhat you think... When I was in college, I majored in Theater. One of the classes I had to take my senor year was Auditioning. I didn’t want to go to the local theater and audition because that’s what everyone else in my class did. So...I got on good old craigslist.com and searched film jobs, and found a company out of New York that wanted girls for a horror film. I thought it was cool so I called and they told me to come in the next day. The next day I got my mom and we drove from Canton, Ohio to Buffalo, New York, so I could audition. I had prepared this great monologue from Twelfth Night (Shakespeare). When I got to the address, it was a rundown old church, with MOLD!! in the basement. (Anyone who knows me well knows I have a phobia of mold or mold-like textures.) Anyhow, so I walk into this church and I see Lloyd sitting in the Rectory that he had made into his production office. I then was escorted down to the basement (moldy basement!), where I met the wonderful Jamie Grecco. I auditioned for him, they taped it and I was on my way about three minutes later. I nailed it!!! I knew for sure I would get a cool role. As I walked out, I saw my mom outside smoking a cigarette with some guys from the art department and F/X crew. She was standing on the side porch and looking down into the side yard where there was

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a sign being painted that said, “I love cock.” As we walked away, she didn’t say anything until we got in the car. Then she blurts out, “Are you sure you don’t want to cut hair?” Haha! Priceless. Anyhow, I was offered a great role as a clam girl in Poultrygeist, but turned it down because I was still going to a very conservative university and didn’t want to get in trouble by being nude in a film. So, I took a much smaller role of “News Woman.” After P-geist, one of the F/X guys was going to go work on CSI: Miami so he hooked me up with background work on that show. Since 2006, when I wrapped on Lloyd’s film, I have been a working actress. I am lucky enough to go from film to film and not have a day job. I love Lloyd for the chance of working with him. I don’t know where my career would be if not for meeting Lloyd. Still, sometimes, I get calls from people all over the world that say, “Hey, I talked to Lloyd and he said I should get you for my film!” Haha. He is great! I’ve met a lot of the other girls in this book from him. Love, Brenna Roth ••• I first met Lloyd Kaufman a few years ago and found him funny and charming. Earlier this year, when he was in Minneapolis for a screening of Poultrygeist, I had the opportunity to act in a scene with him. He was a joy to work with, and complimented me several times on my acting. He is an eccentric legend in the independent film community. — Rachel Grubb ••• Lloyd Kaufman is the god of indie filmmaking. I’ve learned a lot from him. There’s going to be a cool spot in chicken heaven for him :) – Monique Dupree a.k.a. Gata Praise for Lloyd xi

I met Lloyd at a screening of Poultrygeist in Orlando, Florida, in February of ‘08. For some reason, we hit it off in a way that seems we already knew each other for years. Both of us have the same sense of humor, a love for the gay community, and a desire to stick it to corporate Amer- ica. With all the times I have filmed with him, I notice that he is an ideal partner for me to ad-lib and improvise with. Anytime I am at an event with pompous or egotistical people in the industry, Lloyd is always the one to remind me and others about true passion for filmmaking and art. I am always proud to say, “I am with him,” because he is an example of a true artist and public figure. He has helped launch the careers of several women in the cult world and I am so grateful for everything he has done to support me on my journey. If anyone has anything negative to say about Lloyd, I feel like they are talking about a member of my own family. Lloyd, thank you for everything!! — Nicola Fiore

To Lloyd NVF Magazine interview with Brenna Lee Roth

It’s great to have you here, Brenna. How are you this fine morning? Hey! I’m great. I am actually on the set of House on Sorority Row right now, it’s 9:30 a.m. and I’ve been awake and working for about five hours now. Haha. Thank God for iced mocha from Starbucks.

Forgive me, but I can’t resist asking this: What is it like being the daughter of a rock-‘n’-roll icon, David Lee Roth? I bet he is very proud of you. It’s totally not as big of deal as people think. I mean, I never lived with him, but having someone that close to me that can give me good Hol- lywood advice is nice…when we hang out it’s like we talk about what we have going on, he will give me advice on what I should do, and I tell him it’s about time to settle down. Haha. I guess we are both big party people. We both also know ZERO about fashion!

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Join the club. Some ladies seem to be born to be an actress, and you are one of them, in my opinion. Who were your early influences? Any favorite actresses? Since I was a model when I was a kid, I wasn’t very shy. For some reason, when some people see a camera they get shy. I guess I’m not shy because I am ok with how I look. When I turned 17, I couldn’t model anymore because I got hips. I am a happy size 7 now! 36-26-36…same size as Marilyn Monroe! You would think that lots of men would think that’s hot, but for some reason no guys ever hit on me. My dad thinks it’s because guys are scared that he will kill them if they hurt me. Since I don’t really watch movies, I don’t really have a favorite actress. Al- though I am great friends with Leslie Easterbrook and Betsy Palmer; they are both great, strong women that have made me think a lot about being a great actress.

Yeah, Betsy is cool. Now, here’s a new one even on me; I understand you are actually afraid of horror films, yet you have starred in over 60 of them. Am I missing something here? LOL! Oh, my GOD! Yes. I hate scary movies. I went to see Saw 2 in the theater by myself (no date) because I was going to hang out with Shawnee Smith the next weekend…I had my hoodie pulled up covering my whole face except for one eye…and I was talking the whole time! Yep…I’m the girl in the crowd that is like, “Why is she going up the stairs” or “Why is that girl stupid” or “Listen to the music, dumbass, you’re gonna die!” Yeah, so if you have ever been at the theater and heard that, it may have been me.

Tell me a little about your documentary, Grindhouse Glory. It sounds great. Can I have one?! I met a group of kids in the Philippines that had the new G1 [Google phone], but still had to walk over a mile to get fresh water out of the mountains. SO … I’ve teamed up with a few engineers from Columbia University that have designed a new water treatment plant. We plan to Interviews 3

build two this year, maybe more next year. The whole idea is that we will build a water treatment plant at a school. When the kid is done with school at the end of the day, they can take home two gallons of fresh water to their family. It’s amazing, really. My heart is really in this project. Not only are we getting fresh water to kids that normally wouldn’t get it, we are also getting the kids to stay in school! Some of the other kids were sent to garbage dumps during the day to collect metal for scrap, or to the field to work. So it’s great, now they get an education and water. Two things that they wouldn’t normally get without us. In the documentary, you will see me cry a lot! We need about five grand to finish it…so we’ll see when it comes out. Should be out early 2010. The thing about GHG is, well, lawyers suck! The documentary is finished, but now we are trying to clear all the clips we have in it. It actually costs more to get the rights to show clips of old horror films than it did to shoot it. We shot on 16mm, so spent a lot of money there, and now we’re sorta just waiting for all these studios to let us use their old footage. It’s funny; we interviewed Don Edmonds (great man) and he didn’t even know who had the film rights to a lot of his old films. I’ve started a new documentary in the meantime. I’ve been in Japan a lot in the past year and there are so many kids there that don’t have fresh water. It’s mind blowing to me that with all the technology we have in the world that there are still areas.

Tell me your personal opinion concerning women in horror: Do you, like myself, think it is high time they get the recognition they deserve? I know…dumb question. Not a dumb question. I am totally old school. I believe that a woman is here to support her man. And I feel it best to stop there because 1. I don’t wanna get beat up by a feminist and 2. I gotta go make a pie now. (Yes, I am serious.)

Wow… you’re single?! LOL! Just kidding. Do you plan to pursue your career in horror? Us “horror people” have to stick together. 4 Queens of Scream

I love the horror fans! They are amazing! I mean, come on; you don’t see “chick flick” conventions or “drama” conventions, do you? Haha. I love the horror crowd.

Any last words before you go? I feel like I should have something, but I don’t. Sorry. But, I will autograph this for you if you bring it to me at a convention, for free, for the rest of my life.

Oh, believe me, I will try! Thanks, Brenna! ••• Filmography: The Road (2009) (post-production) Hollywood & Wine (2009) (post-production) In NorthWood (2009) (post-production) Dog (2008) (post-production) Adventureland (2009) (uncredited) She’s Out of My League (2009) (uncredited) Frat House Massacre (2008) Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2008) (uncredited) Fist of the Vampire (2007) (uncredited) The Horror Convention Massacre (2007) (V) The Kill Point (TV show) - “No Meringue” (2007) - Pilot – “Who’s Afraid of Mr. Wolf, Part 1” (2007) -“Who’s Afraid of Mr. Wolf?” (2007) Spider-Man 3 (2007) (uncredited) Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead (2006)

Self: Scream Awards 2008 (2008) (TV) NVF Magazine Interview With Scarlet Salem

Greetings, Scarlet! What a lovely name…How are you? I am doing great, David! Thanks for having me on here!

First of all, let me say how…strange, it is, to see such a beautiful lady in horror films! But, then again, what a pleasure, too! How long have you been into the genre? First off, it’s not only a pleasure for everyone else; it’s a pleasure for me. Yes, some think it’s strange, but it’s my calling. I was meant for this business and genre! I couldn’t ask for anything better than this. I’m having the time of my life right now! If you could do something that you love and get paid for it, why not?! I’ve been into horror since I was very young. I watched my first horror films with my grandma, how sweet! I guess I can thank her. My mother was a diehard Lutheran and didn’t want me to be watching anything “bad,” but my grandma was a bit more open and lived life to the fullest and still does!

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Who is your favorite actor? Actress? My ultimate favorite actor is, of course, Bruce Campbell for his campy, awesome work in the Evil Dead trilogy. He just makes everyone who is watching him have a good time, no matter what character he plays. His persona in front of the camera is fabulous! My ultimate favorite actress is, there are a few, but I would have to say Cassandra Peterson for her famous character as Elvira. I’ve always been a huge fan of Elvira. She does what she wants, she’s into metal, quirky, funny, and is just a kick- butt chick! I would have to say she’s definitely one of my idols, too!

How about favorite film or book? Nosy little bugger, aren’t I? Yes, David, you are nosy… but that comes with the territory, of course, and it’s fun! There are too many to choose from, but if I had to choose, it would be George A. Romero’s film, Day of the Dead. I could watch that film for days on end and never, ever get sick of it. I love the characters, location, special effects, story, and just everything! Most people seem to like Dawn of the Dead better, which I love too, but Day of the Dead wins my vote. I, unfortunately, don’t read as much as I should, so I can’t say what my favorite book would be. Watching a film is way more entertaining, unless it’s a screenplay, those are fun to read, especially if I’m one of the characters, of course!

Here’s a good one for you; Let’s just say you are kicking back on a Saturday night, curled up on the couch – alone – watching a flick on your DVD player. If you had to make a choice between the two, which would you watch? E.T. or The Texas Chainsaw Massacre? That sounds so relaxing and I think I’ll do that right now! Oh, and don’t forget the popcorn, hehe! Okay, so you do know who you are talking to? This is, like, a no-brainer! The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, of course! E.T.’s a classic film, but the other one is a must-watch film! First off, we’d better be talking about the original that was shot in the ‘70s. Interviews 7

Okay, the date it was shot in was perfect! The film looks gritty and old, not polished like today’s films, which makes it that much creepier! The music, characters, location, and everything make it a great flick! On top of that it was loosely based on a real killer. It all adds up to a great film!

What other interesting talents do you possess? Surely there is something else besides acting…like…modeling? I think you would make a good model! Thanks, David! I’ve actually been modeling longer than acting. I started modeling six months before acting. Modeling, I think, gave me a push in the right direction. I became used to the camera in my face and it just became natural, which you can tell! I really like modeling, which I still do on occasion, but acting on film is my ultimate favorite thing to do! A side note, modeling is definitely acting in many ways, too… there’s just no dialogue!

Any upcoming projects to speak of? Any scary stuff? Of course, David!! Always new projects on the horizon! I’m currently working on a new film, by Jason Stephenson, called Terror Overload: Tales from Satan’s Truck Stop. I’m really excited about this one because I’ve worked with him before on Pajama Party Massacre and we had a blast and it turned out great! Another film I’m currently working on by Horror Junk/Hatred Studios is titled Farmer Joe. Can’t say much about that one quite yet, but I get to go to Illinois to film that one, so I’m stoked! Those two will be filmed from September to December. I have more projects lined up in that time period, too, but no set dates for any others yet. Keep your eyes and ears peeled because there’s always new projects and more exciting news to come!

Well, Scarlet, it was very nice of you to do this, and I wish you all the luck in the future. Thank you so much, David, you’ve been great! For more information 8 Queens of Scream

and news about me, check out my MySpace at myspace.com/evildead, IMDb, and my website at www.scarletsalem.net!! Support independent horror!! Will do! •••

Filmography: Unholy Reunion Terror Overload Tales from Satan’s Truckstop Scratch Built Corpse Killer Biker Chicks Mutilated Movies Trinity You’re Next 3 Afterbirth Camp Kill Clown Museum of the Dead Resist Evil 1-3 Tales from the Dead NVF Magazine Interview With Bianca Barnett

Good day to you, Bianca. How are you this fine morning? Very well, thank you! I am enjoying the fall weather and all the holi- days approaching. Halloween was a real treat as Bunny Time Cupcakes (a short horror film I starred in, directed by Jason Barnett) played on Chiller TV and took a prize for their Dare 2 Direct contest.

I haven’t heard from you in a while; have you been busy? I know… dumb question! Yes, I am always busy! I have two films and a music video I am working on this month alone. Not only am I an actress, but I maintain my website, answer all emails, read scripts, and handle the business aspect of it all. I’m also a student in college! Hopefully, if my career really takes off, I can hire some help. I truly feel fortunate to be this busy, though, and would love to take on more work. Idle hands are the devil’s playthings ... well, in that case, it might be a good thing!

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I see you have a love for the 1920s era. Where did that come from? As a little girl, I would read a lot about old movie stars when my mom would take us to the library. I thought they were so beautiful and glam- orous, and reading about their often tragic lives was just mesmerizing. I was always fascinated by movie magic, and there was something really striking yet tragic about the actresses of the silent era.

Yeah, I love the oldies too. Tell me a little bit about Silent Ghost Cinema. It sounds interesting. I haven’t heard from them in ages, but they were a company that produced films inspired by the silent German expressionism movement of the 1920s. They created everything - props, costumes, sets, direction and more. I am very grateful to have had the chance to start my film career by working with them.

I understand you have also worked with H.G. [Lewis] on a new project. Tell me about that one! I love old H.G. Filming has yet to start on that project, but I am in negotiations to take part. I do hope to work with H.G., I enjoyed watching his older films. I love genre films from the 1960s and 1970s; they are good even if they are bad!

I totally agree! Not to be nosy, but have you ever wished you had taken a different course with your life? I mean, being in horror films is great, but do you ever wish you could have been more like a Julia Roberts type? Or is the horror genre just fine and dandy with you? I, myself, - and no offense intended against Julia - have found that some of best actresses of the past three or four decades got their start in horror films. I only wish I had started pursuing acting much sooner and, of course, I regret many of the films I made early on. I am not a Julia Roberts type, no offense to her at all, but I don’t fit the mold of America’s Sweet- Interviews 11

heart. I’d rather be kicking ass in an action or horror flick than smooch- ing some stranger in a romantic comedy. I’m not opposed to different roles, though, and I am always open to genres outside of horror. Yes, an “overnight success” is pretty rare in this business. We all have to start somewhere, and that’s usually with commercials, background work and the occasional bad movie. I am just hoping to have a long and productive career that people appreciate. I’m still improving on my craft and I know I have a lot to learn, but hopefully a lot to offer as well.

Honestly, though; haven’t you found that a vast majority of low-budget film actresses are very, very intelligent? Not just a pretty face and big boobs? I think it is terrible the way some guys stereotype actresses. Ha ha, one would think that, but sometimes actors and actresses live up to the stereotype. There are generally hundreds of people, despite budget, that work on movie sets with varying degrees of intelligence. It is a nice treat when I get to work with bright and interesting people with interests outside of themselves. That said, I try to keep an open mind and treat people the way I would like to be treated. It’s not that I am difficult to work with, but I get irritated when things get off track and things become more of a “party” atmosphere. I see it as work and I want to do the best I can, despite the budget.

Amen to that. How about horror cinema? Any favorite films, new or older? How about literature? How much time do you have?

Plenty. Go for it. Okay. I have so many favorite horror films, it’s ridiculous, but I prefer most made prior to 1989. I love everything from classic horror to slasher flicks to atmospheric gialli to B-movie creature features! Horror literature, especially of the Victorian era through the 1920s, has been an enormous influence on me. I also spent most of my childhood read- 12 Queens of Scream

ing Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, Grimm’s Fairy Tales, books on the occult and the works of H.P. Lovecraft.

All sounds nice and creepy…he-he-he…Any exciting up-and-coming projects? I’ve got a handful of feature films I will be working on in the next few months. Also, Albino Farm is set for release in early 2009. Please check my website, www.biancabarnett.com, to find out everything coming up! You can find signed 8x10s and merchandise as well as my personal blog. I’m also hoping to attend more conventions next year and do as much promotion as possible.

Any last words before you leave us? Thank you for taking the time to talk with me and I invite your readers to stop by my website or visit me on MySpace to see what I have coming up! Without all of your love and support, I wouldn’t be able to do what I love. Thank you so much! :)

No problemo, babe! •••

Filmography: Blood De Madam: The Fallen Ones (2009) (V) (pre-production) Albino Farm (2009) (post-production) In a Spiral State (2009) (post-production) What a Great Idea (2009) (post-production) (as Bianca Abel) The Fear Chamber (2008) (as Bianca Evans) Monster Mountain (2008) (V) (as Bianca Abel) Craig (2008) (as Bianca Abel) The Devil’s Muse (2007) (as Bianca Abel) Canes (2006) (uncredited) NVF Magazine interview with Nicole Kruex

Greetings, Nicole. How are you on this fine Saturday morning? Amazing! I’ve been so blessed with every opportunity I’ve been pre- sented with… from the small cameo appearances to the full contracted lead roles. I both appreciate and thank every director, producer, actor, teacher and writer I’ve had the opportunity to work with!!

Tell me about your film, Why Am I in a Box? It sounds sort of Poe-ish [Premature Burial]. I actually don’t know anything about it, except I don’t think it was horror. It was my first cameo appearance, the actor I was working with that day was a lot of fun to work with, though!! Instead, let’s talk about Terror Overload!! Aside from the Coen Brothers’ A Serious Man film ... Terror Overload was the best set I’ve had the privilege to work on so far!! Jason and Joe had me in stitches the entire shoot… and with co-stars like Marv Blauvelt and Chase Ambrose, I loved every minute of filming! Terror Overload is a three-part picture with a fourth-part wraparound

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story that ties the entire film together, lead by Hitchhiker “Debbie” and Joe Netter as the Truckdriver ... it is one sick surprise after another!! A must see…

When did you first decide to become an actress? Any favorite actresses? I’ve been in the business of entertainment since elementary school, my first play was called Hollywood Hotel, where I was honored to play the iconic part of a female Dracula… after that I did commercial work for Comcast, seven years of competition dance, worked as a stagehand during high school, and dabbled in the music industry. I was never out to be “an actress”… it’s not a vanity, or an attention quest for me, I just love to entertain. As for favorite actresses, my answer may surprise you. I am inspired by women who have risen above the bare minimum, the women who really work for and at their craft vs. relying on nudity or pretty faces. Classic and classy women like Audrey Hepburn, Meryl Streep, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kate Beckinsale; rising stars like Zooey Deschanel, Eliza Dushku or Shawnee Smith; and the real Scream Queens like Brink Stevens, Debbie Rochon, and Tiffany Shepis.

It never ceases to amaze me what long and impressive resumes are submitted to me by women that a lot of men would consider as nothing but ‘’big-boobed bimbos’’ with the IQ of a gnat. I think it is really funny how women like you show them the other side of your persona, rub it in their faces. I bet you enjoy it, too, huh? Ha… that’s funny; I’ve actually lost roles because I don’t fit that “blonde, big-boobed bimbo” role. I enjoy that I can portray the strong side of female sensuality without sacrificing my integrity!! I’m not much of a femi-Nazi man hater; I actually don’t think men really do think of us [Scream Queens] that way unless we openly project that trait. Look at Jamie Curtis?! Anyone who labeled her a “bimbo” needs help!! Interviews 15

The funny thing is, though, it’s the bimbos that are forgotten after their looks fade and their boobies drop… and the women who focus on strong acting skill and well-picked roles who live on in history.

What would you say is the hardest part of becoming a professional actress? I am sure it is an exciting life, but it has to have unpleasant aspects as well. The networking, the scheduling, the classes, the commitments, and the auditions. I get invitations to events daily, requests for interviews, auto- graphs, to read scripts and attend auditions… I also have acting training, film school (I’m earning a bachelors’ degree), and run a production company where I have daily interactions with talent, investors, lawyers, recording companies, composers, and talent managers. Don’t get me wrong, I love every minute of it… but the work is exhausting. There is never enough time in a day.

You seem to be a very versatile actress. How do you manage to keep each role fresh? Training… Training… Training. I like to research a person I think best fits the character I’m portraying… mimic their movements and make their personality my own. Using the teachings of Method and Meisner to naturally react but with character. I like dark characters… antagonists… or strong female presences.

If you could trade places with one of your favorite Scream Queens for a day, who would it be? I wouldn’t. I don’t really envy the careers of any of the women who in- spire me. I’m here to crave my own niche. But I would love to work with Debbie Rochon, she is so nice!! Every time I’ve had the opportunity to talk with her she’s been nothing but amazing … so to do a movie with her would be an honor. 16 Queens of Scream

I wish she could have been in this book. Oh well. What’s on the horizon for Nicole? Oh gosh, I’m beginning to lose count! I have five films I’m either contracted out to or am reading for 2009. I will be playing the lead hunt- ress, Quintana, in the new Stonebell Creations film, Zen: Hunter, I’m reading scripts for Hayride, Whitey and Fun Park, I’m signed on for supporting roles in Mr. Jones’ film Hunger and the Fear the Dead Feature, I have a film of my own to direct and I will be making television appearances as a full team member in what is slated to be a national network show, Dead Reckoning (sorry can’t mention which network yet), and a comedy episodic titled Placebo Effect, where I’m contacted out as a reoccurring character.

Any last words before you bid us farewell? James Duvall (Donnie Darko) once told me, “Don’t get discouraged, Ni- cole, for every 500 auditions I’ve only landed 10 roles… just keep at it.” So…For all the girls who travel this road … Work hard, love yourself, never sacrifice your morality, be strong… and, over all, have fun. It’s a difficult road; never expect more then you’re willing to give!! There are 100 girls who look just as good as you in mascara, so above all else be humble, honest, and grateful. You will succeed if you are meant to. And for you … Thank you so much for this opportunity!! I am truly honored (blushing even); I’m not sure I deserve such an opportunity but I embrace the gift and will always appreciate this. Thank you, David.

Anytime, babe, anytime… ••• Interviews 17

Filmography Lust Lead Blood Planet Changing Channels: The Zombie Apocalypse - Young and the Lifeless & American Idol After Lead Hit Chicks Niobe Terror Overload: Lot Lizard Erin and the Gun Fiend in the Family Trinity Confirmation of Brother Eli Flush The Pact: Hob’s Horn Hunger The City Boss Violet Lesser Known Characters Speed Dating Why am I in a Box Spooner Sisters Crime of the Century Street Hassle A Broken Family Into Temptation A Serious Man

Television Placebo Effect Series Pilot Ghostbustin 911 - Ghost Girl Trailer The Real America Lead/Co-star/supporting in Random Skits 18 Queens of Scream

Commercials Shop NBC Christmas 2008 Promo Commercial Tide To Go Pen Detroit Pistons 2008-2009 Commercial

Theater A Simple Act of Generosity A Dreary Monday Kathren NVF Magazine interview with Rachel Grubb

Hello, Rachel. How are you today? Good, I hope. I’m fantastic! Thanks for asking.

First of all, your film, Why Am I In a Box? has such a diverse title. I just have to know what the plot is behind that one. Pray, tell? I play the protagonist, Ellen Farnsby. She went to school to be a writer, but she never really became one. She has a crush on this younger guy, Jeremy, who just got out of art school, and really wants to pursue a creative outlet, but he’s really wishy-washy and can’t follow through with anything. So they kind of talk to each other about the art they’d like to create, but never follow through. My character gets kidnapped by Paige, played by Brooke Lemke. Brooke and I run Silent-But-Deadly Produc- tions together. Her character, Paige, has a lot of drive to be a writer and has written several novels, only they all suck. She has no talent. She’s the opposite of Ellen, who has talent, but never does anything with it. So Paige kidnaps Ellen and locks her in a big white room and tells her she

19 20 Queens of Scream

must either write a great novel or die. That aspect is a little like Saw, only instead of crawling through razor wire, the victim has to write a novel, which can be just as torturous. Why Am I In A Box? is a dark comedy.

What was it that first drew you into the acting profession? Any favorite actresses or actors? I am a huge fan of Malcom McDowell and I used to watch A Clockwork Orange every night before I went to bed. It was around that time that I became more serious about film and decided it was what I wanted to do. I thought I would be a screenwriter. I went to school to be a writer and since I was very young, I wanted to write books. Then when I discovered I loved film more than literature, I started writing screenplays. I wrote a few shorts for school and began work on my first feature- length script when I graduated from college. It won the Best Break- through Screenplay Award at the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival. I decided that if it ever got made, I wanted to be in it. I had been in a couple plays as a child, but I didn’t really have any acting experience. I’m not sure why I was drawn to acting in my film. I suppose I just thought it would be fun. So I started taking acting classes. Unexpectedly, I became very good at acting and enjoyed it more than writing. So, now I am an actress who also writes.

I have always loved independent film and apparently you do, too. Have you ever been in a big-budget production? And if so, is there a big difference? The biggest-budgeted film I’ve ever worked on is13 Hours in a Warehouse, which is still pretty small by Hollywood standards. So, I guess the answer is, “No, I have never worked on a bigger-budget production.” That’s not to say I never would. But for the most part, I do like working in indie film. I love the process of working with a small group of people with an idea they believe in. I also love watching independent films, because I love to see filmmakers who do the best they can with what they have. Interviews 21

Okay, now for a question I don’t ask very often, so you will have the extreme honor of being my first victim today: What would you say, in your personal opinion, is the exact definition of a “Scream Queen”? That’s a great question, because I think the definition has changed over the years. Back in the ‘80s, I think people thought of Scream Queens as women who screamed loudly and often, specifically in slasher movies. Then the definition progressed to include women who were known for acting primarily in horror films. Today, I think it’s something different. I’ve recently become a staff writer for The Chainsaw Mafia, which was founded by Shannon Lark. The Chainsaw Mafia believes that the term, “Scream Queen” can be used to describe women who work in all aspects of production in horror films. Scream queens can act, write, direct and produce their own horror movies. Scream queens are talented and have a true love for horror.

Who would you say is your favorite Scream Queen? Come to think of it, I don’t think it’s fair that there aren’t any “scream kings.” I have heard guys in horror movies scream in terror more than the ladies. Really macho guys. Actually, HorrorMovieFans.com Indie Radio has a photo album on their MySpace page dedicated to guys they consider “scream kings.” Marv Blauvent, my costar from the “Lot Lizard” segment of Terror Overload, is one of them. But in answer to your question, my favorite Scream Queen is Debbie Rochon. She has always been the one whose career I’ve wanted to emulate. She’s such a talented actress, she plays lots of interesting roles and she’s appreciated and respected by true horror fans.

Has the thought ever crossed your mind that the ladies of horror don’t always get the recognition they deserve? It has for me. That’s one reason I wanted to do this book. I think it has been far too long and in between that the ladies of horror got their place in the spotlight. I mean, there are some great actresses out there in big-budget films, 22 Queens of Scream

but there are in low-budget films, too. But you never hear their names on TV or see them on the cover of People Magazine, do you? Actually, that’s one of the things I love about being a Scream Queen. The fans appreciate what I do, but I don’t have to be in the tabloids. I love being an actress, but I don’t love the idea of being photographed by strangers everywhere I go or having my outfit critiqued in national magazines. I have a whole collection of Halloween costumes I wear on regular days just for fun and I know I would make the “worst-dressed” section every week. Every director I have worked with has been very appreciative of me and said complimentary things about my performance. I feel that I get the recognition I deserve from the true fans and people who appreciate Scream Queens. Having said that, I do want people to know that Scream Queens are talented and deserve respect. I think the stereotype of a Scream Queen is a cute girl who gets naked in a horror movie because that’s the only way she can get cast in anything. There are certainly some girls like that in low-budget productions, but there are bad actresses in Hollywood films, too. I wish the mainstream would acknowledge that some of us do this because we love horror and we love the independent film community.

What would you think if I began posting a scream-queen-of-the-month in all the online and print issues of my magazine? I think it would be neat. I think that’s a great idea. I love anything that celebrates Scream Queens and recognizes their true talents.

Will do! Getting a little off track here, what would you say your favorite scary move is? Or book, for that matter? Gosh, there are so many that I love! I can narrow it down to a few. I love The Ring. I am a fan of the Japanese original, but I like the US remake more. I like it because Samara in The Ring is much younger than Interviews 23

Sadako in Ringu. I like a good malevolent child in a horror film. Another one of my favorites is Deep Red by Dario Argento. I love almost every single film Argento has made, but Deep Red occupies a special place in my heart. The first time I ever heard of Argento was when I saw the trailer for Deep Red and now he’s one of my favorites. And I’d have to hang myself if I didn’t include something by David Cronenberg. He is my favorite filmmaker of all time and it was after watching Videodrome that I realized this. Although they aren’t exactly horror, two other films I love to watch again and again are Battle Royale and The Dark Knight. These are more action films than anything, but they are both scary in their own way. Heath Ledger’s take on the Joker is one of my favorite film performances. The Dark Knight has the distinction of being the film I’ve watched most in theaters. I also love John Waters and I never get tired of watching Pecker. My favorite scary book is The Traveling Vampire Show by Richard Laymon.

Hey! That is one of my favorite books, too! Any exciting film projects coming up for you? I just wrapped shooting a few movies. One is called Camp Kill. It’s a fun, campy slasher movie I made with Scarlet Salem. Another one is Terror Overload: Tales from Satan’s Truckstop, which I made with NFTS Produc- tions. It’s four short stories and I play four different characters. I also have a dramatic film I did calledOne Way Ticket. It’s about an arranged- marriage couple from West Africa. It’s in post-production and will be released in West Africa some time next year. I have a few projects coming up, too. I’m going to be working on a couple movies with Haunted Autumn Productions, who made Tales of the Dead. I’m doing a short film with them called Night on Has-Been Mountain and another feature- length film calledHi-Way Headhunter. I’m going to be acting in those and serving as casting director. I’m also doing a movie called The Psychosis of Ghosts. It’s by Dave Kaufman, whom I’ve worked with on 13 Hours in a Warehouse. We’ll be doing that next year. 24 Queens of Scream

Sounds great! Thanks for taking the time to do this, and take care. You too, David. ••• Rachel Grubb appeared as Amy in Saint Euphoria Pictures’ The Monster of Phantom Lake. Since then, she has acted in numerous independent feature films such as Unholy Reunion, Tales of the Dead and Cave Women on Mars. She played a creepy ghost in Dave Kaufman’s 13 Hours in a Warehouse, and she played the lead role in JP Wenner’s Retina, which appeared on The Horror Vault DVD. She recently finished directing her first feature film, Why Am I In A Box? from Silent-But-Deadly Produc- tions, the non-profit all-female production company she runs with her friend Brooke Lemke. She just finished NFTS Productions’ Terror Over- load, and will soon begin working on Dave Kaufman’s next feature film, The Psychosis of Ghosts. Rachel has been an in-studio guest on Maxim Radio’s “Hotties of Horror” week, and writes a regular Scream Queen Guest Blog at HackSlashDead.com. •••

Filmography Why Am I in a Box? (2009) (post-production) Into Temptation (2009) (post-production) Terror Overload (2009) (post-production) Nobody (2008) (post-production) (uncredited) 13 Hours in a Warehouse (2008) IceBreaker (2008) Horror House (2008) The Completely Remarkable, Utterly Fabulous Transformation of a Regular Joe (2008) Trinity (2008) The Telephone Game (2008) Interviews 25

Tales of the Dead (2008) Unholy Reunion (2008) The Horror Vault (2008) (segment “Retina”) Cave Women on Mars (2008) The WaZoo! Show (TV episode) - Episode #2.3 (2007) (Yielding to) A Willing Breath (2006) The Monster of Phantom Lake (2006) A Prairie Home Companion (2006) (uncredited) Doomed to Consume (2006) Justice (2004) (uncredited)

NVF Magazine Interview With Seregon O’Dassey

Good morning, Seregon. How are you today? Good I hope. I’m great. Considering I recently sprained my toe at an audition (gee, I hope that’s not an omen) I’m good, LOL.

Aw…poor little toe. I haven’t chatted with you for a long time. Sorry. Been really busy. I bet you have, too. Speaking of being busy, your resume sounds as though you have been a busy little beaver most of your life: you have been in the Marine Corps, finished college with a degree in - UGH! - funeral studies, and now a full-time actress and model. WHEW! What do you do for relaxation? Climb mountains? No. I learn new languages, LOL. Well, that’s one of many things. I am working on German and brushing up on Spanish. I read a lot of different types of books and I have started writing a lot. I put aside about two hours a week to catch up with friends I don’t get to talk to often.

27 28 Queens of Scream

Sounds very interesting. I can’t resist asking this; as far as your “funeral studies” were concerned, did you have to - YUCK! - look at and/or touch corpses? I like horror, but, if I had to actually touch a corpse, you better have some paramedics handy just in case I pass out. Yes, I had to actually touch them to do the removals, embalming, dressing and make-up. Ironically, it looks nothing like it does in movies. The more gross something looks, the more fake it actually is. A real dead body doesn’t resemble the horror movies at all.

I will pass. What position did you hold in the Marines? I bet you were the prettiest Marine on base! I actually only went through 10 out of 12 weeks of basic training. I can’t be in the sun, so I was discharged for the medical reason of the beginning stages of skin cancer. It’s been benign all my life, but I keep a close eye on it and don’t go in the sun any more than I have to.

I see you have also been in TV shows as well, One Life to Live, Law & Order. How does doing TV differ from theatre films? There has to be some type of difference. There is a major difference, and it’s why there are two different unions (AFTRA and SAG). This is what SAG doesn’t seem to understand. When you are working on a film, you can be on set for up to 14 hours just waiting to do your one scene. A TV show that airs once a week doesn’t have that kind of time to waste, so in the same 14 hours you will have done three-four scenes, or more. A soap opera also is very fast paced. It airs an hour a day for five days. That’s the equivalent of two movies per week! The work is more concentrated and the talent bar is raised for someone who works at a faster pace or more often; the breaks differ or maybe you are on set less for daytime TV.

Okay, what’s this about being in Playboy?! And…can I have a copy?! LOL! Sure, you can have a copy, if you buy one off of Playboy.com. Of course, Interviews 29

you’ll have to backorder it. I was the Employee of the Month in April 2006!

I bet you were! How do feel about horror cinema these days? I mean, it has changed so much over the years, seems to change with each new decade; the ‘80s we had slashers, the ‘90s brought us a slew of serial killer films. What type of films do you prefer? I mean, oldies but goodies – ‘60s and’ 70s - or the newer films? Horror cinema today is not nearly as good as it was in the ‘80s. It’s a shame, but it seems all anyone wants is to see some talent-less chick willing to take her top off. Most of them couldn’t act scared if theywere being chased by an ax murderer … and their screams?? Please. Those alone are enough to make me scream … But seriously, I love the old Hammer films: Blood for Dracula, Flesh for Frankenstein …

Do you ever feel that you’d rather have done something different with your life, or are you satisfied with being an actress? It seems so many women - regardless of their extensive resume and obvious intelligence - end up being typecast as a Scream Queen and nothing more. It’s as if they are stereotyped. I think it is sad, myself. I have done a few different things in my life, and I was depressed at everything except being an actress. I love it and couldn’t do anything else. I was told myself to be careful doing horror films. Of course, I was also told to be careful doing Playboy, and that that could be the kiss of death. It didn’t ruin me in the least. People are impressed with it because it’s so difficult to get in that magazine. Recently I was told that Gothic Beauty, which is another goal of mine, would not be good for my career. This, of course, was told to me by an overweight washed-up pageant contes- tant. Here’s a mantra to live by: “People too weak to follow their own dreams will always find a way to destroy yours.” That being said, everyone has a type. Even the most famous people in Hollywood are “typecast” into something or another. Denzel Washington 30 Queens of Scream

himself fought this. It’s not necessarily bad to be someone’s “go-to person” for a particular role. If George Romero does a film and says, “Hey, I’d like to get Seregon O’Dassey for this part,” I’m not gonna complain!

I wouldn’t either. Speaking of cinema, what would you say is your all- time favorite horror film? Or book, for that matter? Yes, I know I am a pain in the ass, and those particular subjects may cover a lot of ground. My favorite horror film? I thinkIT is a really good one. Also The Shining. It’s the psychological horror that I really enjoy in movies and books. It’s the best kind of horror because it’s pretty much up to you to stand up to yourself. There’s no running away from your own mind…

Do you hope be a mother and wife someday? I think a Scream Queen would make a really fun mom to have, let alone wife. I’d like to try it! Hahaha and, please, if I am being too nosy by asking you this, then just tell me to buzz off. No! I can’t stand kids and, to be honest, that very concept puts fear into my heart like Saw wishes it could! I like my freedom, my alone time, and, quite frankly, my figure …

I can understand that. Any interesting film projects in the near future? We hope so! Why yes … False Face (shot in 2006) comes out March 3, 2009 and I’ve recently been asked to be in a film (shooting early 2009) that is based on the 1939 Dreyer version of Vampyre. That’s all I’m allowed to say, hehe ;)

Anything to say before you go? Well, actually, I - oh shit, look out behind you!!

Help! ••• Interviews 31

www.seregonodassey.com - My personal website! http://www.modelmayhem.com/SeregonODassey http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1662562/

Resume: Hair Color: Auburn Height: 5’7” Eye Color: Hazel Weight: 120lbs Measurement: 36D-24-36 Dress: 4 Pants: 4 or 6 (if low hip) Shoe: 8 - 8 1/2 Email: [email protected] Telephone: 212-971-1097

Filmography O Negative Ghost Watcher 2 Rhubarb Pie (Pre-Prod) The Sobbing Stone War of the Worlds Hit or Miss Lead Work In Progress Searching For Bobby De Niro Beyond Dreamland False Face

Television One Life to Live Most Evil Japanese Soap Opera 32 Queens of Scream

The Simple Life Interpol Investigates Forensic Files Law& Order: SVU Sex & the City Hack Principle The Service (ABC Pilot) World’s Astonishing News Damage Control

Commercials/Print P.C .Richard (Katie/Principle) CBC Media Drinky Drinkerson’s Target Select Phillies Promo (Spectator Spilling Popcorn) Comcast Roadmaster Speaker System Mark Chalme’ Subaru Take One Productions PA Dept of Trans (PennDOT) One Place Media Eastpack (Backpack Model) Newspaper Couture Makeup (Model) Joe Platia One Place Media Yuengling Lager Robin Gilmore Model for several Anthony Eastwick Fashion shows

Stage The Sunshine Boys No Class Happy Hour Ask Any Girl The Man Who Came to Dinner A Very Jaggered Christmas

Voice-Over SSA Chris Heidleberg Interviews 33

Promotions Wal-Mart, Mattel, Phillip Morris, R.J. Reynolds, U.S. Army, MNBA Bank, Loreal, Viagra, Captain Morgan, NASCAR

Training Comedic Acting: 6 weeks, Jagger Kaye Commercials: 2 years, Image International Classical and Contemporary Acting (current), Rodger Hendricks Simon of The Simon Studio Scene Study/Film: 1 year, Chartruese Talent Agency, Private Sessions w/ Paul Sorvino Voice: 1 year (Scott Miller); 1 year (Scott Lewis) Acting for Adults, 12 weeks/current, Donna Marrazzo Shakespeare One Day Intensive, Andrew S. Hurley

Special Skills Marine Corp. basic training, Mortuary Studies (Embalming, Funeral Planning, Cosmetology & Restorative Art), Kickboxing, Cheerleading, Coaching, Dance (Modern, Belly, Basic Ballet, Swing), Driving, Swim- ming, Fast Roping, Repelling, Firearms/ Shooting, Sword Fighting/ Fencing, Weight Training, Various UK and European Accents, Moder- ate Spanish, Beginner German, Knowledge of Wines, Cigars, Ancient Egypt, Corset Training, Own Clothing Line

NVF Magazine interview with Evie Wray

Good day, Evie. What a lovely name. How are you? Hello there, Dave, thank you so much. I’m very well and keeping busy, that’s the exciting aspect of the film industry ... there is always something going on!

One thing I noticed immediately – other than your obvious talent – was your love for classic horror films. I, too, love the older films. I believe that a lot of filmmakers – no offense intended – have lost a grasp on the necessary elements that are a key to a good film. How about you? There has definitely been a shift in horror and its focus over the years. In some ways it works and sometimes when an audience sees too much, the impact gets lost. Generally, I think with any genre of film throughout the years there have always been films that are original and exciting, that explore new territory and films that don’t quite capture or move people the way they were intended to.

35 36 Queens of Scream

Although I agree that F/X are sometimes a necessary element to modern horror films, I also believe that too much of a good thing can sink a film, too. How do you feel on this subject? As an F/X artist, I like to concentrate on subtle make-up; anyone can throw tons of blood on a “victim” and call it an effect. Less is more. The F/X work and make-up is there to support and enhance the film not take starring role. I am a big believer in the power of mystery and imagination.

Me too. I see you have a rather impressive resume; drawing, sculpting, make-up, hair stylist. Ever do any modelling? I think you would make a great model. Thank you, Dave, I do like to step in front of the camera on occasion and model for fashion shows and photoshoots ... I would love to start acting again someday.

I hope so! I see you also enjoy graphic novels. Have you ever done one of your own? At school I was forever drawing and making up stories about hideous goblins and superheroes. I then discovered graphic novels and comics and explored them as an art medium. I think creating my own is something I would consider in the future.

Speaking of books, who would you say is your favorite author? I think it’s impossible to choose just one, I have always been a fan of H.G Wells, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Robert Louis Stevenson, Jane Austen, the Bronte Sisters, Charles Dickens and early Stephen King.

How about cinematic horror? Any favs in film? Wow, what a question, where to begin! I tend to watch the old 1930s and ‘40s black-and-white films, anything with Vincent Price, Boris Karloff or Bela Lugosi, White Zombie and The Bat are two of my favourites. I also Interviews 37

have a big love for the 1980s horror films,The Lost Boys, Near Dark and Monster Squad, to name a few. John Carpenter’s Halloween and The Fog both made a big impact on me as a child, and I thought the werewolf transformations in Neil Jordan’s The Company of Wolves were visually striking, imaginative and horrific all at the same time. I prefer to watch horror that evokes a creepy, sinister atmosphere and builds tension in the mind, rather than rely on gore tactics to shock an audience. Recently, I found The Orphanage to be one of the best modern-day horrors.

Do you hope to continue a career in the horror film industry? I think you’d be a natural. I certainly would love to continue working in the horror business; it’s been quite a thrill so far.

Any last words before you have to leave us? “Carry on screaming!”

As long as ladies like you are out there, we will! ••• As a child, Evie became fascinated with 1930s and ‘40s horror films and creature effects. Immersing herself in the world of art and creation she began drawing and sculpting, realizing a career in make-up was her destined profession. After graduating from a Specialist Make-Up Course, Evie now works as a freelance F/X Make-Up and Hair Artist based in London for film, TV and theatre. Credits include numerous West- End musicals, photo shoots and short films. As well as a fulfilling career in make-up, Evie also pursues modeling and acting, having trained at RADA on a short course and performing at the Richmond Theatre. She was delighted to interview Jamie Foxx on behalf of Empire Film Maga- zine, whilst promoting his filmThe Kingdom. Her interest in cinema was sparked by films such as the Univer- 38 Queens of Scream

sal Horror Classics, particularly Jack Pierce’s work on Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein, and Roy Ashton’s Hammer Horror creations. “Growing up I fell in love with the fantasy world, I remember watching Jason and the Argonauts for the first time and sitting in absolute awe at Ray Harryhausen’s fighting skeletons! I knew then this was the job for me, I’d read monster books, graphic novels and comics to fill my head with the strange and unusual, spending as much time at school in the art room sculpting weird creatures.” In the future, Evie hopes to continue her work into more feature films creating original work that inspires others. “As long as I can work in the film industry, whether it be make-up or acting, I shall be extremely happy; film is my life.” To contact Evie, please email her at: [email protected] or you may just bump into her at your local Forbidden Planet store! NVF Magazine Interview With Heidi Martinuzzi

Good morning, Heidi. How are you today? Well, golly, I’m tired. It’s been a long day. But thanks for asking!

Is it true you were discovered while being killed in a low-budget horror film? What’s that all about? It’s a total lie. I made that up to sound cool. I am still waiting to be discovered, actually. I ended up in a horror film because I was a journalist and I had interviewed the filmmaker, who then found out I wasn’t fat. It helps to be put in horror films when you aren’t fat.

My goodness; you have such a resume; I don’t know where to start. What prompted you to get involved with Pretty-Scary? I mean, other than the obvious. Well, I hated writing for other genre sites and the only way to alleviate that problem and still write is to create your own site/magazine (you know what I’m talking about). As the boss, I get to decide what goes up

39 40 Queens of Scream

when, I get into events as press, I get access to cool people to interview and go to cool places, and I have no asshole boss who isn’t as smart as I am yelling at me about crap. I suppose I should also say something about how inspired I was to start doing something for women, or something. Actually, I like writing about women. Men can be so boring! Women at least have a different angle on their work and have a huge chip on their shoulder, so it’s easy to get them to talk about “the cause.”

What’s this about you actually getting stabbed during a prison riot?! That doesn’t sound very cool at all. Did you shove the shiv up the assailant’s ass? I have to confess that I wasn’t actually stabbed in a prison riot. That, like me dating Prince William, was made up to make me sound more interesting.

You fibbed to me again! Naughty girl! I see you have written pieces for Fangoria, Bloody-Disgusting, and Femme Fatales, just to name several. What kind of pieces do you contribute? Nosy little shit, aren’t I? I write stuff about horror, and/or women, mostly! I’ve only done a few pieces for Fangoria. They don’t like to use me for stuff, possibly it is personal. Bloody-Disgusting I used to write for until I decided that writing for free and getting yelled at by Brad Miska sucked. Femme Fatales was a great gig – until they published an interview with Sheri Moon Zombie after hiring me to write a piece on Sheri Moon Zombie and not paying me for it or telling me what their plans were. It really pissed me off. Paul Zimmerman was the editor at the time. So, I sold that Sheri Moon Zombie interview to Sirens of Cinema instead, and wrote for them until I got into an argument with the editor after he published a few interviews that originally ran on Pretty-Scary, without giving my site any credit or mention in the magazine. So, basically, I guess, I don’t like editors. Most of them are jerks and they treat their writers like total shit and pay them next to nothing. In Interviews 41

my experience, only one or two editors of horror magazines are actually people you’d want to spend any time with. So I became an editor of PS, because, in most likelihood, I am also not a person most people would like to write for.

Now this is interesting; how did you manage to graduate high school at the age of 14? Talk about a child prodigy! Well, I have an I.Q. of about 160, which is high, but not amazing. Frankly, I also made that up about high school. I graduated at 19, like everyone else in my family.

What’s this about a Pulitzer Prize? Jeeze .... is there anything you can’t do? I did actually win a Pulitzer. I wrote a treatise on Cryptozoology (one of my passions) and it got a rousing applause. It dealt with unicorns, mostly, and the theoretical practicality of their relation to a common religious mythos inspired by actual animal records and fossils. Fun stuff!

Now for some boring Q&A; What would you say is your favorite horror film? How about book? I know that may cover a lot of ground. Sorry... My fave horror film has got to be ... Dead Alive, a.k.a. Brain Dead by Pe- ter Jackson before he became an asswipe (asswipeage started around Lord of the Rings). It’s got everything I love: gore, humor, and excessive violence. It has a special cheesiness and appeal that is hard to find any- where else. My book is about female horror film directors from the beginning of film up until now. You can imagine that that’s a lot of women. Most people can only name about ten or even 15 if they are lucky- there are actually over 250. And that’s not counting fantasy and sci-fi movies. The book also covers thrillers. Many of the first “horror” films made by women were not considered horror. Still, even more modern ones aren’t (like Jane Campion’s In the Cut or Mary Harron’s American Psy- 42 Queens of Scream

cho). A “horror” film is a more degrading category than “thriller,” so most theatrical horror films try to use that as their “genre” instead. Ida Lupino and Wendy Toye, two brilliant “thriller” directors in the 1950s, are definitely a big part of the book.

Do you hope to still be in the horror industry a long time from now, at least in some way? I hope I am. I love the horror genre. I hope so. I mean, I will be old sooner rather than later so no one is going to be putting me in their low-budget movies for very long… but I hope I can write for as long as is humanly possible and hopefully have someone read what I write. I love film and writing about film. I can’t imagine not being able to do that. I will never stop loving horror films. If, in 30 years, no one remembers my name, well, then that’s that. But that doesn’t mean I won’t still be a fan. So, in that sense, I will always be “in” the horror industry, in some way.

Anything to say before you go? Thanks for taking the time to interview me! I want everyone to be supportive of female horror filmmakers and writers that they may know. It’s the only way to get more women involved in it – to make them feel welcome. And most people either are chicks or want to do a chick, so, everyone wins this way.

Thanks, Heidi! ••• Interviews 43

Filmography: Capone Ghostella’s Haunted Tomb The Cuckoo Clocks of Hell The Call of Cthulu The Archer Project Fistful of Brains Wretched Texas Frightmare Weekend Death Artist Evil Ever After Dust to Dust Beast RetarDead Dead Things

NVF Magazine Interview With April Burril & Jimmy ‘O

Hello, folks. Long time no hear. How ya been? A: Great, super busy, but that’s how we like it. J: Crazy Crazy Busy. Thank God for all the medication! LOL

Been busy? Any new projects since Chainsaw Sally? A: In June, we completed principal photography for our next film, The Good Sisters, starring myself and Debbie Rochon. It’s in post-production as we speak. J: We are also starting the Chainsaw Sally show, and as if we didn’t have enough to do, April and I are in a local production of Evita.

Not to be nosy, but how did you two meet up? Hey, I am a sucker for a good love story, okay? A: Hm ... well, it’s a long and ridiculously romantic story ... Years before we actually became an “item,” we were in Harford Dance Theatre together. Jimmy’s sister, choreographer Katie Hutchinson, had created

45 46 Queens of Scream

a dance piece set to three Led Zeppelin songs. The piece was called “Family Portrait” and followed a husband and wife, played by Jimmy and myself, who painted a large family portrait on an 8x12 canvas during the course of the piece while our “daughters” danced around us and “grew up.” It was big, messy fun – painting portraits using latex paints, brushes, hands, whatever ... It ended with “All of My Love” and Jimmy and I dancing together. We were both involved at the time, so were no more than friends. Eventually, Jimmy moved down to Mississippi, got married, got divorced, started the theatre group Jamo, had a kid, and moved back up to Maryland. When he moved up here, he decided to get back together with his talented sister and start a branch of Jamo Alturnative Theatre in Maryland. They asked me to join up.... and the rest is history. And ... for our wedding – which was on Halloween and in costume – of course! – we asked our talented friends and family, instead of material gifts, to perform for us. Sing, dance ... one friend did his sword- swallowing act. Pretty great. The finale was a performance of Family Portrait (minus the big canvas), leading into “All of My Love” and that was our first real husband-wife dance. There – sappy enough for ya?? J: To add to that, the dance instructor called me before we met and said, “You gotta see this girl; she is right up your ally.” As it turns out, she was right.

Okay, here’s one just for April; I see you are a costume designer, too. And an art director. Now, is this for your and Jimmy’s films, or do you have own line as well? A: Just our stuff. Mostly because I’m very content doing our own thing. I don’t really go out hunting for outside work. I have a steady job as a graphic designer and I’m pretty happy with it. I’m also branching out into freelance illustration – book covers and children’s books – and I’m really enjoying that. I have enough to do just handling our own projects. Plus, I’m sleepin’ with the boss!! Talk about fringe benefits... Interviews 47

Okay, Jimmy. I am gonna pick on you, now. Have you ever done any acting? You look to me as though you could have a very strong….uh… screen presence. No offense intended! J: I’ve been acting since 1984 onstage. As a matter of fact, right now (Sept ‘08), I am playing the part of Che in Evita. I’ve played the King in The King and I three times and… well, I can’t even count all of the local theater shows I’ve done. I’m also the “Count” in the movie Silver Scream.

I am sure both of you have attended a lot of horror conventions. I have yet to go to one of them. Are they as fun as they look? A: Yeah – I always enjoy them. Sometimes I get a little restless being stuck behind a table the whole time, but just when I’m about to be really bored, some new and fascinating person comes by to entertain me. I love it! J: They are good and bad. Sure we get to meet people and hang out with other film folks, but I’m weak when it comes to buying horror goodies that I don’t really need.

What was it like working with a screen legend like Gunnar Hansen? To me, that would be an avid horror fan’s wet dream. A: Excellent. Though the honor of actually sharing screen time went to my lovely stepdaughter, actress Lilli Burril – who played young Sally in Chainsaw Sally. Still, I was on set and enjoyed Gunnar’s company a great deal – as I always do. He’s been a huge help in getting the word out about Chainsaw Sally and, more importantly, has become very dear to our family. J: He’s a bastard! Ok... I told him I was going to start saying that. He’s one of my dearest friends. Our whole family loves him. He never forgets little things, birthdays, etc. As a matter of fact, when April had Willow, he was on the first-call list with our families. 48 Queens of Scream

Okay, here is an interesting question for both of you; Let’s say you are just kicking back on a Saturday night, relaxing… snuggled up on the couch….you get the idea. What kind of movie would you pop into the DVD player? Horror or non-horror? Dr. Doolittle or Dr. Phibes?! A: Oh, we’re both avid – perhaps rabid – horror fans. And, if it’s not horror, it’s usually comedy or camp. Sometimes a good action film. Pretty much the only kind of movie we both avoid like the plague is the dreaded “chick flick.” If it’s not actually a scary movie, it’s usually a John Waters or Herschell Gordon Lewis.... sometimes a good ol’ Dolemite or some saucy Pam Grier (her and Sid Haig in The Big Bird Cage... possibly my favorite roles for both actors). J: Almost always exploitation of one kind or another. For example, last night we watched Hell Up in Harlem.

What would you say is your all-time favorite horror film? Or… book? I have always been partial to Hellraiser for the film, and The Stand [Stephen King] as the book. A: Film? Maybe Texas Chainsaw Massacre, as it’s the only one that’s given me recurring nightmares... but there are many I love. Books... I read alllll the time. Stephen King is absolutely my favorite author. And it’s very hard for me to pick a favorite King book. I am very, very into the Dark Tower series as well as anytime I see a reference to it in another book – lots of mention in the Black House, which is a great one. The Talisman is also a favorite (both King co-wrote w/ Peter Straub, FYI). The Regulators is very freaky. Lisey’s Story is sweet. That one really showed his love and appreciation for his wife Tabitha – I don’t know if that was intentional or not, but I liked it, nevertheless. I recently read Duma Key and loooved it. It was interesting because it was relatively low- action, which often will make my attention wander, but somehow King kept me sucked right into it. I keep hearing King is done – retiring from writing. Then a new King book comes out. I don’t think you can retire from something that you simply are. I hope he never stops creating. Interviews 49

J: TCM, Pink Flamingos, Female Trouble, Return of the Living Dead, all of the Dolemite movies, Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein. I also love Westerns.

How’s about any interesting and upcoming film projects? Anything nice and gruesome? J: Well we have a few movies written and ready to work, we just have to do the funding dance. Really, the Chainsaw Sally show will be fun and gruesome. We are going to really get to do what we want with that. No apologies. Just a mess. Picture if the Partridge Family was not a sitcom about a family in a ‘70s band, but a family who killed and ate the locals who pissed ‘em off. There ya go.

Well, folks, it was a real treat to have you with us, and I wish you both the best and a lot of happiness in life! A&J: Thanks, David! •••

Filmography:

As Actress: The Good Sisters (2008) (V) (post-production) Corpus Kristi (2008) A Feast of Flesh (2007) Countess Bathoria’s Graveyard Picture Show (2007) Chainsaw Sally (2004) Silver Scream (2003) (V) (as April Burril)

As Costume Designer: Chainsaw Sally (2004) (as April Burril) Silver Scream (2003) (V) (as April Burril) 50 Queens of Scream

As Producer: Silver Scream (2003) (V) (producer) (as April Burril)

Make-Up Department: Silver Scream (2003) (V) (assistant makeup artist) (as April Burril)

As Art Director: Silver Scream (2003) (V) (as April Burril)

Art Department: Silver Scream (2003) (V) (property master) (as April Burril)

Self: Blood Bath: Blood Wrestling Volume I (2007) (V) NVF Magazine Interview With Monique Dupree

Good morning, Monique. It is wonderful to have you here. How are you? First, I just want to thank you for your time as I know we’re both busy little bees. It’s great to be here and I’m doing great. I color myself blessed. Thank you so much for asking. :)

First of all, what was it that made you want to become an actress? I’m glad that you said “actress” and not “Scream Queen,” which I’m sure we’ll get into later. I guess it would be corny to say that it’s always been within me to perform … period. I started entertaining the moment I could walk! Of course, instead of a television audience, I wowed a group of no more than 40 at a time (my family). But it was confirmed that acting was something I could not live without that first time I ever walked on a set of a film. That film wasLean on Me. The rush I got from that kind of work … it sealed the deal.

51 52 Queens of Scream

I, myself, get a kick out of the term “Scream Queen.” In your opinion, what best describes the general qualities and responsibilities of being one? I like to keep it simple ... a lot of people have a lot of views on what they feel “qualifies” a Scream Queen to be … I simply say this: Sexy. Femme Fatale. Vulnerable. Clever. Unpredictable. Versatile. On a side note: For me, being a Scream Queen is only one facet of my abilities. I love being considered a Scream Queen…especially since I love horror first and foremost, but I’m just not limited to that.

What is it to you that is so appealing about the horror genre? I love it, too. Do you mean as an actress or a fan? As a fan I love the gore ... physical and sometimes psychological torture of it all. The artistry that some people have when it comes to filming and committing brutal acts on film. To tell a story with a creature or an object ... it’s just great! As an actress, I get to play out things that I know I couldn’t do in reality. I get to exorcize my demons. I get to be other people. There’s just no greater genre out there for an actress.

Now, I know this may be old news, but I can’t resist asking: What was your film Pot Zombies about? With a name like that, I almost fear to ask! LOL ... well, the title pretty much says it all. Well, actually, to accu- rately depict what the movie is about, it should be titled: Colorful, Naked, Trippy, Zombies of Pot, LOL. That explains the movie right there. I hope to be one of the colorful naked people in the sequel: Pot Zombies 2, More Pot Less Plot!

How many “Scream Queens” do you know personally? I know that may cover a lot of ground. By the way; do you know Debbie Rochon? The term “know” can be iffy. I’ve met and worked with a lot of Scream Interviews 53

Queens. I’m closer to some than others. I’m not sure if some of them consider themselves Scream Queens. I know Amy Lynn Best (and she is just the best!!), Nicola Fiore, who is just amazing and multi-talented as well. We’ve become close friends after working on For Christ’s Sake. Then there’s Sofia Mina Smirnova, who is just one of the sweetest people I’ve ever encountered in my life. Tiffany Shepis!!! She’s a gal after my own heart. I’ve worked with her, but we’d never been on set at the same time (Zombithology). We’d finally met at Chiller. It was a great weekend of breast grabbing, dry humping (well, I couldn’t help myself), wine drinking and such ... it was a wet dream, only I was awake. Other Scream Queens I’ve met include Chainsaw Sally, Else McCain, Syn Devil, Rachael Robbins ... and last but most assuredly not least, Linnea Quig- ley and Elvira. I do know Debbie Rochon. We’ve worked on a number of films together, including Cottonmouth, Bikini Bloodbath Christmas, For Christ’s Sake & Satan Hates You. I feel like she’s responsible for my horror career taking off. She is such a beautiful, intelligent and strong God- dess. She’s a shining example of what a Scream Queen should embody. Love you, Debbie!

I, myself, have always shared a passion for the horror genre with my interviewees. I believe us “horror folks” are, in reality, a very nice group of people. How about you? I would agree. I feel like, in general, we’re like a big family, “horror folks.” Every horror set I’ve been on has been like a family reunion … even the conventions are like a big party and a chance to catch up with one another and see what everyone’s up to. I never get to catch up with Tony [Todd] until we see one another at a convention. We always get to catch up on recent projects and, if time permits, go and enjoy some music (preferably blues/jazz) together. And may I say, Tony is one of the most intelligent, helpful, head-on-straight guys I’ve met in my travels as an actress to date. 54 Queens of Scream

Now for some of my obligatory – and boring – Q&A: What would you say is your all-time favorite horror film? How about book? Hmmm ...That’s really, really hard to say. I have more than one favorite horror film and horror book as well. As far as horror books … I have three ... Two from Stephen King, It and The Shining. A new horror author, Anthony Thomas, has a book out called 666 Newark Avenue. That is one creepy book from another, seemingly creepy dude, LOL. As far as horror movies go ... my faves are The Fog (the original), Ichi the Killer, Audition (that’s right, Takashi Miike made my list), Nightmare on Elm Street and my all-time favorite is Evil Dead.

Anything else exciting to tell us? I surely do! As I write this, I’m expecting my seventh child (and the answer is, yes ... I’m crazy, LOL), still filming and doing photo shoots. Some of my upcoming projects include Plan 9 (remake brought to you by Darkstone Entertainment), The Campire Chronicles: Have a Nice Day, featuring James Russo and Holly Weber, Night of the Living Dead: Resur- rection, Spirit & Post Mortem, America 2021 just to name a few. I’m doing a lot of alternative modeling now as well as moving more into television shows. I just finished working on a TV pilot calledRoyal Pains and that’s only the start. I’d also like to say that if you hear people referring to me more and more as GATA, that’s just my nickname and title that I use in my band, Negro Childe (www.myspace.com/negrochilde) as well as my alternative modeling. GATA is just Spanish for cat ... so MEOW!

Well, Monique, it was a real thrill to have you drop in, and, please, in the future, don’t be a stranger! Thank you so very much and I thank you so very much for taking this time to interview lil’ ole me. You’re a doll, David!

How could I resist you?!! ••• Interviews 55

http://www.fangoria.com/news_article.php?idg96 New DVD release!! Monique Dupree on www.hollywoodiscalling.com Satan Hates You press http://www.fangoria.com/news_article.php?idh55 Monique Dupree in Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monique_Dupree Monique Dupree on IMDb http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2374082/ www.1stgataofgore.com www.moniquedupree.com

Filmography Television The Superagent Royal Pains The Tyra Banks Show Life Support Pants Off Dance Off (credits girl) Say What Karaoke Joe Hero (AOL show) Monster Madhouse Fangoria radio/TV Scream Queen contest The View (dancer for Nelly Furtado) The View (audience member)

Film Handsome Harry Spirit Timo Roses Beast For Christ’s Sake Rain of Flesh 56 Queens of Scream

The Misadventures of CB Santa and Mr. Fanta Patchwork Satan Hates You Skeleton Key 3 Triad Super Tromette Action Movie Go! For Christ’s Sake Lean on Me The Replacements American Gangster The Ten One Night Pot Zombies The Wrong Room (film short) Zombie (film short) Spontaneous Decapitation (film short) The Creightonville Terror Bachelor Party in the Bungalow of the Damned Shadowhunters 2: Oria Skeleton Key 2 Heavy Mental Zombthology Cottonmouth The Maim Event Bikini Bloodbath Christmas NVF Magazine interview With Jackey Hall

Good day, Jackey. You look lovely today. How are you? Fine.

This may be an odd way to begin an interview, but I really get a kick out of your ad line on your MySpace page: “If you polish a turd it is still a turd”’ I couldn’t agree more. Is this your philosophy on life in general? Yes, actually that is my philosophy on life in general. I have been through a lot in my life to have the career that have and, unfortunately, I found out that there are a lot of what I like to call “Turds” in the world. I found out the hard way in life that you can’t change people and that you should only keep people that support you and believe in you in your life.

I tend to agree. You also state that you consider yourself a dork. You don’t look too dorky to me, or dumb, either. That’s a common misconception these days: that women in horror aren’t too intelligent.

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Have you ever run across this problem yet? Actually, I have not run across this problem yet. I am very secure about myself and my career so even if I did run across this problem it wouldn’t affect me. I would just move on to the next project. My drive to become a known actress is so strong that nobody and nothing will stop me from becoming what I want to become in my career. I am a bit of a dork, though. People say that I remind them of Anna Faris because I’m a bit crazy, LOL.

What was it that made you want to become an actress? Any favorite Scream Queens? Actually when I was very young I would go to the movie store and rent like five horror movies every weekend and just sit and watch them over and over and then I would act the movies out with my friends. I knew at a very young age that I wanted to be an actress.

I see you enjoy comedy as well. Which would you rather star in? A horror film or a comedy? Or, better yet, a horror-comedy! Well, that’s a hard question to answer because I love them both so much. I actually produced my own horror comedy last year called Chain- saw Cheerleaders. It didn’t turn out quite how I wanted it to but for my first movie as a producer it turned out ok.

I’m sure I’d enjoy it. What kinds of games did you play growing up? Were you one of the “sugar and spice” girls, or more of a tomboy? I was a huge tomboy. I have an older brother and we would always dress up in our Ninja Turtle outfits and have these huge fights in our front yard, LOL. I grew up on a farm in a very small town in Arkansas so there wasn’t much to do but play in the dirt and get dirty. Our house was like the movie Wild America, LOL. We had every animal that you can possible think of living in our house. I can remember eating breakfast with our pet raccoon that we had. He would sit beside me every morn- Interviews 59

ing and eat oatmeal out of his own bowl. I remember that I had to eat my food faster than he did or if he got done eating before I did that he would fight me for my food, LOL.

Is there a certain type of connection between women in horror that isn’t there with so-called mainstream actresses? I mean, I firmly believe that people who work within the horror genre need to stick together, don’t you? I think that there is a connection between women in horror and I think that it’s because most horror movies are made by independent companies and that people in the indie world seem to stay closer together.

I agree. What is on the horizon for Jackey? I just finished a movie called Chrome Angels for the Sci-Fi Channel that has some great names in the film and I just hope to keep moving up to bigger and better films.

Any last words before you leave us and break our hearts? LOL! There’s not going to be any broken hearts. You can always visit me on my MySpace, www.myspace.com/jackeyhall and remember that “If you polish a turd its still a turd” :) Keep it bloody… ••• 60 Queens of Scream

Filmography: Film: Chrome Angels Van Wilder 3 Love Fever Swamp Creek Scary Feelin’ Chainsaw Cheerleaders Dorm of the Dead

Television: I Can Sleep When I’m Dead (Music Video) Rule Hollywood NVF Magazine interview with Sarah Virginia Brock

Good day to you, Sarah. How are you this fine day? I’m very excited! Thank you so much for interviewing me.

Being a Christian, I couldn’t resist asking you this right off; do you ever face any opposition from anyone in the horror film industry over your religious beliefs? I have met people who thought being a Christian was a curse. A lot of people don’t understand what being a Christian is really about, it’s all about loving one another, no matter what their beliefs are, Chris- tian or not. It’s about God and Jesus. If you read the Bible, you see that a lot of “Christians” are doing the exact opposite of what Jesus did. Sadly, there are a lot of people who try to play God and make the word of God look really bad. So yes, people do get nervous when they meet me. But, it just gives me the opportunity to show them that that’s not who I am.

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I see you are involved with a great charity, too, the Croyle Big Oak Ranch project. I, too, am involved in a great cause, www.patchworkproject. com, and an organization against child abuse, domestic abuse. It is very fulfilling work, isn’t it? Very much so! People don’t realize how much wisdom children really have. It’s heartbreaking the way that kids are treated. They’re people too. I hope to try and show people that. The Big Oak Ranch is a great way to see just how beautiful kids are!

What first had you interested in getting into the horror film industry? I began to enjoy the horror genre as a child, watching old scary movies and reading old EC Comics like Tales from the Crypt. Starting at the age of two, I began watching cheesy scary movies with my dad, such as The Mummy and The Wolf Man. I also grew up on Alfred Hitchcock films as well as reruns of his [TV] show. I got hooked on horror very quickly in my life.

Speaking of scary films, what was your film Scream Farm all about? The name is fairly self-explanatory, but you never know! Hahaha It’s about some drug dealers that hide some pot at a haunted house and some teenagers find it. The dealers come back wanting the drugs, the problem is, some of them smoked it and started turning into zombies! Although I’m very glad that I did the movie and I loved the people that I worked with, the only thing that I didn’t like was one line that I had. It was, “I heard that, Jason, and none for you this weekend!” I felt like the line should’ve been delivered sarcastically, but the director didn’t want me to deliver it like that, so the line came across very badly. It just didn’t jive with me. I’m not blaming anyone and nobody did anything wrong, I just felt like that scene deserved an explanation. Interviews 63

I see you have appeared in stage plays as well, one being The Diary of Anne Frank. Which do you prefer, film or stage? There has to be a big difference. Yes! I prefer film to stage, although I’d love to do more plays in the future. With stage, you have to overact a lot and with film, it’s all natural, I feel like I’m more of a film actress. I did love doing The Diary of Anne Frank and it continues being one of the best moments in my career. I played Miep Gies and it was so wonderful. She’s very proper and soft spoken and I even had to speak in a German accent. It was a challenge and I felt like I did well.

What’s this about you getting engaged? That is going to break a lot of hearts, you know. Aw, that’s sweet! Yes, I’m getting married in January 2009. God has blessed me with the sweetest man and I couldn’t be happier!

What’s on the horizon for Sarah? Would you still like to be a Scream Queen say ... ten years from now? Or would you rather settle down and raise a family, live the American dream? I’ve got some more films that I’ll be doing next year. Most of them being horror, but one is a comedy, which I’m excited about. I always want the Scream Queen persona to be a part of me. It’s how I got my start and I won’t ever forget my roots. I will like to do some other films as well, though. I’ll never stop acting, but I’ll have a family with my husband as well one day. We do want to have children; we’re just going to wait a while before we have a kid.

Any advice to the ladies out there who might be interested in becoming a Scream Queen? Stay true to yourself. Don’t let anyone try and change you. Stick with your morals. If you don’t, it will come back to haunt you. I’ve seen it happen. 64 Queens of Scream

Any last words before you have to leave us? You can reach me at www.myspace.com/ginny1986. I love to hear from others! Talk to you soon! God bless and lots of kisses!

Kisses back at ya! •••

Filmography Lounge Act (2006) We Are Marshall (2006) Pretty Vacants (2008) Revenge of the Nerds (2007) (*Canceled* I still get credit, though!) Out of Time (2006) Collection (2007) Opposition of Conscience (2007) Scream Farm (2007) The Haunted (2007) No Return (2008) Welcome To My Darkside! Women in Horror (Documentary, 2009) NVF Magazine interview with Kristi Fitts

Hi there, Kristi. Long time no hear. How have you been? I’ve been great! I’m very busy with the agency and upcoming movie projects. The film industry is booming here in Michigan. Variety has called us the new Vancouver. Soundstages are beginning to pop up everywhere … it’s a very exciting time!

May I say that with a face like that - so gorgeous - it’s hard for me to believe you could ever be scary? Yet, you managed to get the honor of being Scream Queen of the month in August 2007. Congrats! How did that come about? Is it a group vote or something? Well, thank you for the lovely compliment … but make-up helps. Actu- ally, you should see me without it…now that is not a pretty picture. You may need therapy after seeing me without my face on! You know, to this very day, I have no idea who submitted me. During the filming of Buddy Bebop vs. The Living Dead the crew was so impressed with my scream, they suggested that I submit myself as a Scream Queen … maybe that is where it all started?

65 66 Queens of Scream

As I look over your resume, I just can’t picture you being scary; radio personality, runway model, promotions for Marlboro and Victoria’s Secret, and modeling for Macy’s and JC Penney. But, that just goes to show you; you cannot always judge a book by its cover. A lot of guys - and gals as well - have this impression that it’s what is on the outside that always counts. Too bad they can’t see what is on the inside, the high degree of intelligence and a good heart that lies beneath the superficial side, isn’t it? I truly believe that if you are ugly on the inside, it will show on the outside! I don’t care what beautiful features you may possess physically … it will show on camera. And what can I say… intelligence speaks for itself. You should never stop learning. My second grader teaches me something new everyday… and I’m almost 40!

You sure don’t look it, babe. How did you originally get interested in becoming an actress? Any favorite actresses that were an early influence on your career? I did some auditions in high School, but it never amounted to much …. basically, I was too chicken to take the stage. It was suggested by a well- known theatre group that I take voice and acting lessons. I guess they felt I had “something.” I never did. It wasn’t until a few years ago when I started doing commercials that I fell in love with acting! I realized I didn’t want to perform on a stage, instead I loved the camera! Then I started getting roles in feature films. It was all over by then … I was completely sucked into the Hollywood glamour. Oh, I could go on and on about favorite actresses … They range from Angelina Jolie, to Parker Posie, to Audrey Hepburn, to Doris Day, to Ellen Page. I really could go on and on …

I see you are also a writer of children’s books. That is great. Did you always want to be a writer as well? Any early influences in writing? Whew…I am full of Q&A, aren’t I? Interviews 67

Yes, you are…I have written about seven children’s books. They are very reminiscent of Dr. Seuss. Lots of rhyming… They are not published as of yet … but, I have to admit, I haven’t been trying very hard to get them published. That project was kind of pushed to the back burner when I opened my Model & Talent Agency almost three years ago. You know, I really do need to get that done!

How about this film, Buddy Be-Bop vs. The Living Dead? With a title like that, I have to know the details. Do I detect a little bit of Buddy Holly nostalgia in there? Yes, Buddy Holly vs. The Living Dead was the original title of the movie. However, the producers were unable to get copyright permission to use his name. When you view the movie you will see that it is a parody about his life, and you may even see a little Elvis in there as well.

How about this news I hear about you being in a comedy workshop, too? Is there anything you don’t do? Oh, I am always studying, brushing up and trying to learn different things. You can always improve in your craft. I don’t clean bathrooms! I hate it … I love to cook, clean and be a wife and mother, but I don’t do bathrooms….it’s disgusting!

May I ask you what your favorite scary movie is? How about book? I already know what your favorite magazine is….mine! LOL! I have several favorite scary movies…I love theatrics, drama & mystery….not blood and gore. I know, go figure, right? I loveBram Stoker’s Dracula, The Others, Rosemary’s Baby (now I am dating myself!) and The Sixth Sense. I am really into ghost stories and ghost hunter TV shows. I will sit intensely in front of my TV with the sound turned all the way up listening for whispers, EVP’s, voices, etc…looking for orbs…yeah, it’s fun. I actually just met a local paranormal investigative team during a radio interview on Halloween. They would like to get together and 68 Queens of Scream

produce a TV series…very fun! Now, this may surprise you, but my most favorite book is The Good Book…yes, The Bible. I am a Christian.

No joke? That’s nice. Thank you. As far as magazines go, yours and In-Style are all I read! (Wink, wink.)

You can wink at me anytime, babe. How about any new films on the horizon? Anything spooky? Yes, actually. The Haunting on Sea Horse Farm will hopefully start filming this spring here in Michigan. It is being produced by the same people that brought you The Dread and Buddy Bebop vs. The Living Dead. Wait- ing for April is also on the agenda. This film is a dramady … you know, drama/comedy. And, of course, you never know what else will be coming into Michigan now that we have new film incentives for moviemak- ers. Rumor has it that Stephen King’s Bag of Bones will be filming here soon on the west side of the state! How cool is that?! We have already had Clint Eastwood and Drew Barrymore film here…who’s next?

Any last words before you leave us? It was a pleasure interviewing with you…again! Please feel free to check out our agency website at www.RealityModelsSite.com. We always up- date our news page. And feel free to check out my personal MySpace page at www.myspace.com/kristifitts I post trailers, photos, blogs…it’s a hoot! It is always great talking with you! I think you’re swell! God Bless…

God bless you, too, dear. Take care. ••• Interviews 69

Filmography 8 Minute Date (Desperate Mother of 3 and Key MUA) (short film) Kalamazoo? The Movie (as Caterer, stand-in for principle actors Dee Wallace Stone and Mayim Bialik, stunt-double for Renee Taylor and extra in high school reunion scene) The Dread (Admitting Nurse) A Sheer Agenda (College Student) Buddy Bebop vs. The Living Dead (The Waitress) Cherry (Coffee Shop Owner) Buddy Bebop vs. The Living Dead (Featured role as dancer) (music video)

NVF Magazine Interview With Krista Grotte

Greetings, Krista. How are you today? You look lovely. I am very well, thank you!!!

Tell me about your film debut in the film Filthy. The title may sound self-explanatory, but, you never know… It is very self explanatory if you are thinking in terms of dirty and grotesque. Of course many have asked if it’s a porno, especially when they hear that I played the character of “Pussey.” Nope, it is a Horror film not a Whore film!

Whew…you had me worried there… In Filthy I was a member of an insane transient family (think Texas Chain- saw Massacre). I was the childlike, inbred psycho who fought for the love of my brother. There are some sick and sadistic scenes in Filthy! We had an amazing cast and crew; we worked many long hours on this short. I also had never had more fun in my life. The F/X make-up

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alone took hours. I gained so much knowledge from that experience and learned just how much work and literally blood, sweat and tears go into making a movie. I became addicted to moviemaking as well as gained a whole new respect for the hard-working people in the industry. Filthy went on to earn 22 awards in the Film Fest circuit across the nation. It also launched my career.

Sounds absolutely…filthy! LOL! How about the film Alarum? Now, that does not sound self-explanatory. Alarum actually is self-explanatory, to a degree. Since the definition of Alarum is an automatic signal warning of danger - we agreed that title would be perfect. Synopsis of Alarum: A conservative Nanette Bentley spends a quiet evening at home performing her Obsessive Compulsive Rituals that she feels keep her safe. As the night creeps in, so does the stalking shadow of her past - Who is it and what do they want? Just when Nanette thought it was all in her head, she opens her eyes to a startling wake-up call from her alarm that flatlines her into a world of domestic abuse, rape and murder. What ritual will she attempt to use to get her out of this one? She asks, as she comes face to face with her Alarm…The Wakeup Call to Die For. Alarum is a low-budget short that really happened quite quickly. I was hosting a mansion shootout and met Playboy photographer Bo Hitchcock. Bo and I were shooting and we began talking about movies, I said fuck shooting, let’s talk. That is where he discussed the concept. I went home that night and began brainstorming on the story I would implement into that concept. I immediately began writing. This is where I earned a whole new respect for writers as well. Writing this script gave me more emotional freedom than a lifetime of therapy could do. Submersing myself in the world I was creating was intense, complete hell, scary and therapeutic at the same time. I could definitely see truth in The Shining!! I completed the script within a few weeks and sent it over to Rick Danford. Rick added his touch to it and then I began securing our amazing cast and crew. Interviews 73

Joel Wynkoop did an amazing job doing the voice of the clock. He really nailed it and gave that character a reality that no one else could do. Doing this movie also gave me an opportunity to play a character with many layers of emotion with absolutely no focus on my looks. It was very, very intense and it paid off. I won best lead actress in a short at the prestigious Crystal Reel Awards 2008 through the Florida Motion Picture and Television Association. Magdalen Graal won best female vo- calist in Alarum as well! Alarum is still in post-production as we have many bonus extras being added to the DVD.

Wow…busy little beaver, aren’t we? What a resume; actress, producer, writer - boxer?! – weightlifter, dancer, voice-overs. Kind of spoils the dumb blonde image just a tad bit, doesn’t it? LOL! I love to be able to snatch that “dumb blonde” image by the hair and punch it in the face.

Yeah, you go, girl! I have always been somewhat fascinated by the close-mindedness the viewing public seems to possess when watching the average horror film. If you are starring in an NBC movie of the week, you are considered an actress. If you are starring in a low- budget horror film entitled Blood-Sucking Bitches from Hell, you are considered to be a blonde bimbo with the IQ of a gnat. Ever run across this situation? I have run across that through critics and some people in the public. I simply find it hilarious because I would love to see them walk in my shoes for one day on the set, one thing is guaranteed, they will certainly stumble and fall. I often get cast as the eye candy; however, I take that as a compliment because if I was being cast as the lady with a mustache, it would probably hurt quite a bit …

I most certainly agree…I like that kind of candy! A great example is when I went to New York to work on Death on 74 Queens of Scream

Demand. I stayed in Brooklyn (no hotels available in Peekskill) and had to travel to Peekskill each day by walking, catching the bus, then the subway, transfer to another subway then take the metro from Grand Central Station. I had to leave daily at 5 a.m., rain or shine, and would usually return around 3 a.m. sleep an hour and do it all over again. I had two days’ notice of getting the part; therefore, through each day of travel I had to study my lines and then get into makeup and portray that I was a sexy porn star- sexy was the last thing I was feeling. One night we were shooting late, after the last train ran to Manhattan. I had to get dropped off in Harlem at 1:30 a.m. in Harlem, in my porn makeup and find the way back to Brooklyn on the subway. Just through that, many people would be dropping like flies. If people had any true idea, they would be kissing my exhausted damn feet. Instead, they talk about my tits, so whatever, I and only I can handle walking in my shoes.

Almost can’t blame them, though. Kissing your cute little feet, I mean. Haha! Aw…aren’t you sweet?

I try… The bottom line is acting is work, whether you play a doctor or a porn star. I am going to give the porn star that credit for standing there exposed, with a crew of about 20 people, cameras, lights and director explaining how he wants the scene as she pays close attention so that it can be done in minimal takes!

I’d be mortified, myself. I am not exactly stud-muffin material. Haha! Speaking of film in general, which way do you tend to lean where horror cinema is concerned? Do you enjoy the older, classic horror more, or the newer films? I liked the 1980s slasher films, myself. I also love the ‘80s slasher flicks. I loveFriday the 13th sequels. I also love movies such as The Shining and the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre as Interviews 75

well as Natural Born Killers. The classics such as The Tingler and Blood Feast are a riot to watch in a theatre.

I bet! I see you were also co-host for Herschell Gordon Lewis’s 45th Anniversary for Blood Feast. Tell me about it, it sounds like a real blast! Anyone who knows of Herschell Gordon Lewis knows that he is the Godfather of Gore. His movies started the gruesome effects way back when in the ‘50s and ‘60s. His movies were literally banned from certain theatres. He got such hell for it then, and now it is so funny to watch! I played the nurse for Blood Feast at the Gasparilla Film Fest. I handed out barf bags and was on hand in case anyone fainted during the movie- all I would probably do is throw cold water on them, but, hey, I was there for them! The bags I handed out were special collectors from the night where the audience lined up to get Herschell’s autograph. He is such a sweet guy. I first met him at the Chiller convention in New Jer- sey and my good friends at The Film Ranch are working on an upcoming film with him, so I know we will be working together very soon.

Sounds way cool! Tell me a little about your cosmetics line, too. I bet you are excited about that. I am so excited about my cosmetic line. My management at World Enter- tainment Agency hooked me up with a high-end million-dollar cosmetic line. I have complete creative control. I am calling it Celebretty by Krista Grotte. The products are amazing, long lasting and so natural looking, truly high-end in a class of their own. I could not be happier. We are currently working on the licensing, packaging, website and distribution. I wear my own products exclusively. So stay tuned to my site for further updates!

Will do! How about any upcoming film projects? What is on the horizon for Krista? I am currently co-producing a psychological horror film to be shot on 76 Queens of Scream

HD titled The Deepest Cut, written by the unbelievably talented John Strong. I will play the lead role and we have an amazing cast and crew plus the best of the best in Hollywood will be marketing this feature. I am so excited about it and shooting is slated to begin in February ‘09. We are currently in production of The Nightmare Collection 2; the highly- anticipated Brainjacked is in post-production as well as Stilettos. So stay tuned!!!

Will do! Any last words before you have to leave us? Thanks so much for the interview and thanks so much for taking the time to read it!!!! Come check me out on MySpace at http://www. myspace.com/thereelkrista

You can count on it, babe. See ya! •••

Filmography Brainjacked (2008) (post-production) Death on Demand (2008) Real Premonition (2007) The Nightmare Collection Volume 1 (2004) (V) The Spot (2003) TV series Filthy (2003) NVF Magazine interview With Sarah {of Fatally-Yours.com}

Good day to you, Sarah. How are you this fine day? Very well, thank you! Thanks for having me!

I have visited your site, and always found the quality of your reviews outstanding. You must be very proud. Have you always been a film buff? Thank you very much! We keep to pretty high standards, so that means a lot. Yes, I’ve always been a film buff, though my love of horror really started more with literature than movies. I was a big Stephen King fan from elementary school up to high school, as well as any other scary books I could get my hands on. I’ve always loved movies, but didn’t truly delve into the horror genre until college, where I took a film class whose sole focus was horror films. Thanks, Professor Steensland!! After doing my senior thesis on The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, I was completely hooked!

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I see you also do interviews with directors, actors, and F/X artists. Me, too! What made you decide to broaden your horizons past the reviews? I have always been interested in the “behind-the-scenes” aspects of filmmaking, so naturally I wanted to interview the people responsible for the films I was watching. I wanted to peek behind the curtain to see just how things were done, how ideas came to life and just exactly how much hard work went into making a horror film. I also love interviewing authors, clothes designers, artists, photographers and anyone else whose work involves the macabre and horrific. Their creativity is inspiring!

Be honest, now, don’t you think it’s great that women are so prominent within the horror genre now? I think it is high time the reading public knows that women in the horror genre possess such a high degree of intelligence. Of course! I think it is fantastic more women are becoming involved in the horror genre! And it’s not only one aspect of the genre they are becoming involved in…overall, there are more women horror directors, writers, producers, special F/X artists and even more female horror fans than ever before! It is still a male-dominated field, though, so I think encouraging more and more women to become involved with the horror genre is still a must.

Do you write fiction as well? If so, I’d like to see some of it sometime. No, I haven’t delved into fiction and don’t have any plans to. I have a more analytical mind suited for critiquing films rather than coming up with imaginative fiction, so I’ll leave the fiction writing to the pros! Interviews 79

Being a critic of film myself – although not to the extent you are, obviously – I was curious as to your taste in cinematic horror. What have been your top picks within…oh, say, the last ten years? One of my recent favorites was The Ruins. I’ve been impressed with a lot of independent horror films over the last few years. I’ve really championed films like Bad Reputation, Stupid Teenagers Must Die!, Grace, Midnight Movie and so on, that don’t have big budgets to spend on advertising and therefore fall under most people’s radars. There are a lot of independent movies out there to wade through, but when you find ones that you really love it’s worth sitting through all the bad ones! I’ve also enjoyed Neil Marshall’s films, including Dog Soldiers, The Descent and, most recently, Doomsday. I also loved all the great Asian horror we’ve seen in recent years, like Tale of Two Sisters. Films in the last 10 years….that could fill up pages!! Where do see yourself ten years from now? Continuing to bring honest (often brutally so) reviews to horror fans. I can’t stand it when sites start peddling the latest big-budget drivel just because they are in the studios’ pocketbooks or when sites feel pres- sured, for whatever reason, to give a horror film a good review even though they know it sucks. I’ll still be behind Fatally-Yours.com, writing for the fans, standing for standards and doing it, as our motto says, “for the love of horror.”

Any advice to your readers and fans? Any words of wisdom to those interested in a career within the horror genre? I started from the ground-up with an unknown blog just writing small paragraphs about horror movies I was watching. From there it just snowballed and I was lucky enough to get some kick-ass writers to contribute to the site. A few revamps here and there, thanks to my wicked cool designer, and I had a full horror review website up. For those that want to break into the horror genre it is all about persistence, tenacity and quality. Whether you want to be a writer, an actor, a director or a 80 Queens of Scream

critic, those three things will see you through, but only if you stay true to yourself and stay honest. It also helps to remember that your responsibility lays with the fans, not the filmmakers … honesty and personal responsibility is a big part of my writing.

Any last words before you have to leave us? It’s been a ton of fun and thanks so much!

My pleasure. NVF Magazine interview With Emily Brownell

Good afternoon, Emily. How are you on this fine December day? Well, good and bad, actually. I have a pretty awful cold, and I hate runny noses. Also my head is a bit foggy, so excuse me if this sounds like it is written by someone all hopped up on over-the-counter meds, because it was. But a friend and I did spend a few hours wandering around MOMA, which was great. Van Gogh has a special night exhibit there, and it was very fitting for a rainy day such as this.

I understand you starred in your first TV commercial at the age of four. A true prodigy in the making! Did it help your grandpa sell any cars? I’d buy a car from you any day! Not sure if our commercials helped close any deals, but people were always recognizing me around town. Once I remember my cousin and I did this one where we talked the jingle at the end of the commercial, but in the final edit they dubbed music over it, so it looked as if we couldn’t sing, which was kind of the truth, but we were never asked to, and,

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mind you, we were only eight at the time. Anyway, this lady came up to us in the grocery and store and said, “Why didn’t you girls sing? You should have sung.” As if she were mad over some local car dealership commercial. People are strange.

Did you have any favorite actresses growing up? Sometimes the acting bug seems to be in the blood. Yeah, Alyssa Milano. No, like every young girl, I was fascinated by Au- drey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe. But I think it wasn’t until I under- stood the craft of acting that I really decided who I admired. Everyone else just seemed more of icons than idols to me.

I see you have been compared to Ellen Sandwiess [The Evil Dead]. Do you take that as a compliment? She sure could scream! Well, I have to be honest here. I have never actually seen Evil Dead, and I know that is horrible, but Ellen was great in Brutal so I suppose it’s a compliment. It’s just I don’t see myself as a genre actor, though comedy seems to come easy for me and I do have a blood-curdling scream.

Tell me a little about your film Brutal Massacre. The title sounds fairly self-explanatory, but you never know. Well, the full title is Brutal Massacre: A Comedy. So that makes it even more self-explanatory. But it’s about a B-horror film director trying to get back on top of his game making his masterpiece entitled Brutal Mas- sacre, only everything that could possibly go wrong during production does. I play the lead actress in his film who is a bit of a diva and refuses to do nudity. Which creates some serious problems for the director, Harry.

I really enjoy interviewing women in horror, because they tend to show just how intelligent they really are, which really blows a lot of guy’s minds. I think that’s funny, myself. How about you? You have a BFA in film! Interviews 83

I do have a BFA in Film, and actually took a Horror film class while at Syracuse University. It’s funny because I don’t know what my parents were thinking, but my favorite film at the age of four wasChildren of the Corn. I watched that and The Exorcist over and over. And Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal was actually pretty creepy, too. I just think it’s amazing how many of the great horror films are so reflective of what is happening in society, and they present some deep- seated issues in ways we are not used to. I always remember the end of Night of the Living Dead, and how the Ben character heroically fights off the zombies only to be shot by a gang of rednecks. There is so much going on in that movie it’s unbelievable. There are some really great horror films that reflect our fears and help to push them to the forefront, so that they become issues we fight for or against. Too bad there is also so much crap that gets made just to see a bunch of blood and guts. I need stories that make me think no matter what genre they fall under.

Have you stopped to think about how many women work within the horror genre? It’s really uncanny. I have net surfed a lot lately, and found close to five hundred women - already some well known, some up-and-coming – that write, act, and work within different aspects of the horror genre. Doesn’t that make you proud? I see women working in the film & TV industry every day and it still sends chills up my spine, especially when a female director takes charge of her set!

Do you still plan to be working in horror in the future? What’s on the horizon for Emily? Should the right story come along, for sure! I am also doing some writing of my own, which I hope to finish soon, not a horror film but a “break-up” film, sort of a dark comedy, I suppose. I have an idea for a horror film that hopefully I can write in the next few years. It would take 84 Queens of Scream

some serious research into the sanguinarian vampire subculture though. I just did an episode of FOX’s Fringe and am hoping the new year will bring new roles whether they be indies, comedy, primetime or a really kick-ass horror film. Like I said before, I just want to have a great time telling great stories - that is what is important to me.

Any last words before you leave us? “The journey is the destination”…

Amen… ••• Filmography Film The Assassination of a High School President Ms. Smart (w/ Bruce Willis) Brutal Massacre: A Comedy (www.brutalmassacre.com) Mothballs Different Shades of Mundane Siobhan Sayonara Dirty Laundry Closer Than Near Team Queen (Music Video) Confessions of a Backup Dancer (Industrial) Schuster

Television CSI: NY “Comes Around” Human Giant Third Watch How to Vintage Shop Mindful Nonsense (Sketch Comedy Pilot) NVF Magazine interview with Elissa Dowling a.k.a. Lissa Slasher

Good day to you, Lissa. What a unique name. How are we today? Doing well, thanks! The Lissa thing started when my real name, Elissa, was shortened by my friends. Probably because some of them were too lazy to pronounce all three syllables.

I am sorry, I should have asked this first; what was it that made you want to get into acting? Any favorite actresses that were an early influence on your career? I really never planned on making acting a full time thing. Like most actors, I secretly dreamed of being a rock star. After college I seriously thought about becoming a forensic sculptor. Guess even then I knew I’d wind up pursing something dark and morbid. But I have always admired Gary Oldman, Amanda Plummer and Tim Curry.

Who would you say is your all-time favorite Scream Queen? Mine was Jamie Lee Curtis.

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I’d have to say the lovely and talented Tiffany Shepis is high on my list. She’s my girl.

You know, it always slays me when I look down through these resumes how many of the women - all of them, really - who have such an interesting background. You’d think they, with all of their obvious talents, would want to be the next Julia Roberts or Halle Berry. But, instead, they are Scream Queens. And, actually, I think it’s great. Don’t you? I mean, don’t get me wrong; the horror film industry, as well as the horror fiction genre as well - have been and always will be around for the duration. Us horror folks have to stick together, you know? Well, like you, I’ve learned to never judge a book by its cover. That blonde Valley girl you’re sitting next to just might work for NASA. I genuinely enjoy this genre, always have, but I also think it’s important to expose yourself to as many interesting people as possible. Wait! That came out wrong, I don’t advocate flashing people, you could get ar- rested. I learned that the hard way.

Glad you clarified that! Haha. Does it ever get lonely on the road? I mean, all the traveling, meeting new and interesting people would be great, I’m sure, but one would think that eventually they’d tire of the life of always being so busy they couldn’t find time to find that “Mister Right.” In other words, I think it is great and admirable sacrifice you ladies make at times just to entertain us. You must have a real love for it. I don’t find it lonely at all. For me the road is the best part. I get bored being in one place for too long (more specifically LA). I enjoy traveling and I think it helps you to find yourself. Whenever you take a bunch of people out of their comfort zone and put them together in a strange place, they seem to form a kinship. The hardest part is having to say goodbye after you’ve bonded. As far as men go, well, let’s just say, ahem, I’ve never had that problem. Interviews 87

I bet you haven’t! What is working on a horror film really like? I’d imagine it would be a lot of fun, all the special effects and make-up, the practical jokes. Let’s see, it’s sticky, there are often exposed body parts and there’s usually a lot of sexy screaming women running around. Pretty much what every man dreams about.

I know I do! What can I say? Men are pigs. Does a low-budget - independent film - seem more fun to work on? I hear it ismore laidback, more artistic freedom is involved. My roots are in improv, so I’m very comfortable with the style of low- budget shooting. I’ve also found that some of the best stuff happens on the spur of the moment. And you’re right, low budgets do lend themselves to more creative freedom. The actors also tend to be less egotistical and more open to input. I’m a big believer that greatness comes from collaboration with the right people. On the set, the right chemistry is everything. It creates a kind of synergy. I also think it’s important to listen; it helps when you can see things from different perspectives.

Makes sense. Speaking of independents, have you ever worked with Lloyd Kaufman? I think he’s the real deal, all that and a bag of chips. I dig Lloyd; he is an all-around brilliant and hilariously funny dude. I got to work with him briefly. I did a commentary as the “hot girl” for a film Lloyd worked on called Bryan Loves You. We ended up signing together at Dark Delicacies. Cross your fingers for me, I’m hoping to get inToxie 5!

Already got ‘em crossed, babe. Any favorite horror films? How about books? The Shining, Lugosi’s Dracula and Carrie are at the top of my list. The scariest book I’ve read so far is called Jay’s Journal; it’s a non-fiction and pretty damn horrifying. 88 Queens of Scream

Any interesting film projects on the horizon? This past month I worked on a movie called His Name was Jason. Tom Savini hosted it and I got to do some Scream Queen inserts, which, as you know, I love to do. It was fun and it actually lead to my doing a commercial for PBR that’s been airing on the Versus network. I’m also just a few days back from England where I shot a bit part for Clive Barker’s new film,Dread . Actors can never be sure of what tomorrow will bring but, fortunately, good parts just keep getting thrown at me and I’m more than happy to oblige.

Sounds great! Any last words before we have to sadly part ways for now? A message to dipsomaniacs like myself: If you soar with the eagles you have to shit with the chickens.

I will most definitely keep that in mind! •••

Filmography Films: Clive Barker’s Dread, Dark Reel (Gnome Killer 2 DVD extra), Savannah’s Ghost, Live Evil, Psychosomatika, Thirsty, Death Racers, Borderline Cult, The Legend of Bloody Mary, Cold Blood Canyon, The Black, O.C. Babes and the Slasher of Zombietown, Transmorphers, Son of Sam, The Book of Zombie, Erection, Diary of a Serial Killer, Meet the Does, Mummy Maniac, Bleed Dating, House on the Hill, HP Lovecraft’s The Tomb, Absolute Horror, In A Spiral State, The Night Stalker, Amateur Porn Star Killer 3-D, Black Dahlia and Edgar Allen Poe’s The Raven. NVF Magazine Interview with Cassandra Faye

Good afternoon, Cassandra. You look lovely today. Thank you so much!

I see you grew up in a small town in Minnesota. Growing up in a small- town atmosphere, did you find it hard to keep up with your interest in the horror genre? My interest was never very hard to keep up. When you live in a small town, you need to find ways to entertain yourself as there isn’t always a lot to do! Especially in winter!! So I turned a lot toward movies and video games to keep myself occupied. There was a good six-month period that my brother and I dedicated to beating Resident Evil Nemesis!! Ever since then I have been obsessed with zombies!!

I see your first horror film-viewing experience was with Chucky the killer doll. Good choice. Did that one give you bad dreams?

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Oh yeah! I was quite little when I first saw that movie. Afterward, I couldn’t go to sleep if I had any stuffed animals or dolls in the room! Eventually I could have them in the room but they couldn’t be looking at me! I used to lay awake at night and think I could hear my toys moving around. I have since gotten over that, though! Hehe!

I see you also played a ghost in a school play. I bet you were the prettiest spook in there! Did you realize at a very early age you were destined for the horror genre? Thank you! Actually, not really. I was always very interested in acting, period, but the majority of the opportunities where I came from were in musicals. I always thought that if I were involved in anything it would be some sort of stage work. I have always loved singing and dancing, so initially that was where my interests were!

I haven’t seen the film Trinity yet, but I hear it’s a good show. I see you co-starred with Scarlet Salem and Nicole Kruex in that one. What a couple of sweet ladies they are, too. Did you all have fun making that film? I had an absolute blast! I didn’t actually get to shoot any scenes with Nicole. The only actress I appear with is Scarlet. It was cool making a movie with her. She and I have known each other for quite some time so the situation was very comfortable and very enjoyable!

Who would you say is your favorite Scream Queen? I always liked Jamie Lee Curtis, myself. But I must admit, the ‘’new blood’’ is giving her a run for her money! One actress I really admire is Jodelle Ferland. She is the little girl in Silent Hill and she seems to keep popping up in movies and television that I really enjoy. It’s really something to me to be that young and possess that much talent. Especially in situations like that of Silent Hill. It’s someone special to me that Interviews 91

can take all of that in so young and separate it from reality! Mila Jovovich is a close second. Resident Evil is special to me and the movies kick ass!

I think it’s great how the ladies of horror can work together so well, seem like one big happy family. Ever thought about having a Scream Queen ‘’reunion’’ every five or ten years? That would be fun. I would like to have a get together just in general! At this point I am fairly new to the acting world. Getting to know one another would be great! It’s a beautiful situation when, even though we all want essentially the same things, we’re completely supportive of one another!

What is it about the horror genre that makes it so comfortable for you to work in? The intensity and the balls-to-the-wall attitude really free you up to taking chances. There’s an opportunity for risk taking and involvement at a different level than I feel there is with other genres except maybe comedy. Don’t get me wrong, all acting is involved and takes a certain amount of risk but horror really lets you let go of that side of you that you otherwise may keep reined in.

What is on the horizon for Cassandra? Any more scary movies? Definitely! And anything else that peaks my interest. I’m taking a stab at writing and directing as well. I love being in front of the camera and becoming something else, however, there’s a real draw to having a vision and making it come to life! Right now I’m working on what I hope to be a series of three or four shorts.

Any last words before you have to leave us? If you have a dream, don’t talk yourself out of it! Where there’s a will there’s a way. Especially in this decade there are so many outlets for getting yourself recognized!! The number one thing you need are good 92 Queens of Scream

people around you. Surround yourself with people who believe in you and get to know others that have accomplished what you hope to! Thank you for reading my interview and taking an interest in little ol’ me!

My pleasure. •••

Filmography Trinity (2008) NVF Magazine interview With Reyna Young

Hi, Reyna! Long time no hear! How have you been? I’ve been great! Nothing but Work! Work! Work! Doing as much as I can without passing out….

WOW! What a resume; director/producer/actress/writer/model/ horror-host! And so young, too. When did you begin your career? When you were four years old? LOL! Well, I started with my production company about two years ago. Be- fore that I made a short Horror film calledUninvited in 2004. After that film I took a break to figure out exactly what I wanted to do. I really wanted to do it all so I started Last Doorway Productions. That way I can make my own films and star in them. It’s been great, I’ve grown and have achieved so much I never thought I would but I have, and it’s been a real roller-coaster ride. I really wanted to have something of my own that I know I can stick with for a long time and Last Doorway Productions has made me nothing but happy so far. When I was a little

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girl, around seven or eight, I knew I wanted to be a Horror actress; I also did a lot of writing, Edgar Allan Poe style. As I got older I became more aware of what I wanted to really do and that was to start my own production company.

Wow… a real horror prodigy! I see you viewed your first horror film when you were just a kid, John Carpenter’s Halloween. Great choice! Which do you prefer more? Traditional horror or slasher? Ugh! I enjoy both but slasher films I do enjoy a little more. There’s something about the whole murderer chasing you thing that gets me excited every time. I’m a weirdo, I admit it! I do love traditional, but I seem to always go toward the slasher thing. I love to watch the teenagers be stalked, tortured and killed. Friday the 13th is the one movie that gives me the most nightmares. I always have dreams of Jason chasing me. I would love to make my own campy teen slaughter movie; I think it would be fun. It’s just a basic story of a bunch of teens doing naughty things and then they get punished for it by a killer with an abnormal background story using an unconventional weapon like a hatchet, or chainsaw. I think it’s great!

Me, too. How tough was it starting your own production company? One would think it would be a real bitch, excuse my French. It was that hard for me at first. I starting filming again a couple years ago and decided that I wanted to get my films out there and thinking that a production company of my own would help, well it did. I invested a lot of my time, tears, sweat and blood to make Last Doorway Produc- tions happen and it’s been a wild ride. I admit I wasn’t supported at all at first by anyone, I guess my so-called friends didn’t think I could do it, especially some of the male friends. I won’t mention any names, but I tell you there are some real jerks out there. When I first started Last Doorway, I received a lot of help from my boyfriend/now-co-owner, John Gillette. He helped build the website and taught me how to do a Interviews 95

lot with web design, Photoshop and overall helping me get the word out there about my films and who I’m all about. It’s great having that backup support when you need it; I also include his band’s music in my films, they’re called Dammit! So far they have been very supportive and it’s great having John compose the music with me.

Sounds like a great friend. What’s it like to live in California? I bet it was a great place to cut your horror teeth on! I’d be lost out there; I am a little old Hoosier boy! LOL! I live in San Francisco and it’s not really Horrorland at all, but I try to connect with whoever I can that’s interested in it. It’s a little tough, I find. Networking out here is just starting to come, too! When I started my production company two years ago, I didn’t have too much to network with. Everyone I met was against horror. Getting to know more and more people outside of the San Francisco area is a lot more effective. I’ve met a bunch of wonderful people and made great connections. Now there’s a group of us starting to form and come together and support each other and help each other out whenever we can. I think it’s beautiful! A bunch of Horror freaks coming together to wreak havoc on the world. I love it! I do love California and it’s great living in San Francisco; I just wish there were more horror fans.

Tell me about your show, The Last Doorway Show. It sounds like a great venue for showcasing indie filmmakers. The Last Doorway Show is a show dedicated to the Independent artist. I want to help showcase their work and help promote them as much as I can. I also go around to horror conventions and interview actors in the genre. I started the online show because I felt that I needed my work to be put out there more and then I started helping out my friends and then from there it kind of just grew. I then came up with the Miss Misery character to host it. I have so much fun being Miss Misery and have such a big fan base now it’s incredible. We have about 26 episodes and we’ve 96 Queens of Scream

been on for about a year and it’s been a wild ride. I’m planning on doing a bunch of changes soon to the show to help improve it, but as long as people are watching and enjoying it, that makes me happy. You can catch all the episodes at www.thelastdoorwayshow.com.

I see you have also done your own F/X for film. Tell me about the F/X for your film Sinner. One thing I love to do is experiment with my films, especially when it comes to the F/X work! I do it myself because I like to learn how to do things like that. I have no school experience from it. I read and look up online what I need, like throat slash, or chopping a head off. Also, when Halloween rolls around, I wait for the day after for the big 50% off sale and buy up what I can of prosthetics. For Sinner I will be doing a lot of stabbing and throat slitting. It’s hard to do everything myself so I will be hiring an F/X guy for this one. As much as I love doing it myself, I have to focus on my directing. I would like to see more women, though, doing F/X work; I feel that I don’t see enough women doing it! It’s definitely something I want to get more involved in, I love to learn.

Sounds fun to me! What would you consider your all-time favorite film? Yes, I know that may cover a lot of ground. Wow! I get asked this a lot. Well, I would have to say John Carpenter’s Halloween!

Really? Me, too. That movie started it all for me and I can never get enough of it. So much suspense and the whole Boogie Man concept is scary, too! For a movie that has really no blood in it, it’s a very effective film. Great cast of actors and Michael Myers is definitely a character that can never be forgotten. Also, Alice Sweet Alice and anything Hitchcock I cannot live without. Hands down, though, it’s Halloween I’m in love with. Nothing is scarier than the music in the movie also; it adds the creepiness to it. I can Interviews 97

imagine myself running scared shitless as the Boogie Man walks toward me and I know even though I can go hide somewhere he’ll always find me. When I walk home after work sometimes I always turn around to make sure there’s no one behind me. Sometimes I imagine Michael My- ers is after me and I freak myself out. It’s funny!

To be honest? It isn’t Mikey after you, it’s… ME! BOO! Dumb question, but here it goes; what does it feel like to be numbered among the vast list of ladies in horror? It’s about time you ladies were recognized, huh? It feels great! It’s a wonderful feeling to be ranked as a Scream Queen and know that my contributions to helping the horror genre are recognized. Yes, it is about time that the ladies got some more action in the genre. I mean, it is very male dominated, not that I am a sexist or anything, but I feel that women are now starting to get the recognition that they deserve. More and more women are coming out of their shells and starting to feel comfortable with doing what they love in horror. I know at first I was a little skeptical on doing my company and my films, not knowing what kind of hell I may get from males about it – and, yes, I did get some hate mail, some reviewers told me to give up. But you know what? That just makes me want to full throttle what I’m doing, just to rub it in their faces. Women are sexy and powerful and when it comes to the horror that they bleed for, the men just better watch out. Horror is going to take a new leap.

We sure hope so. Any exciting film projects on the horizon? I’m so glad you asked - why, of course. I’m working on a feature film to my short Out Of Print. It’s basically a dedication to all the great slasher films. This time the killer is a woman! That’s right, a woman who loves to kill teenagers and she will never die. This film is going to be unique and different from all other slasher films, though. But you’ll have to wait for it to come out to see it. I’m also working on a documentary called Welcome to My Darkside: Women in Horror Documentary. I’m putting to- 98 Queens of Scream

gether interviews and footage, telling some backstory on women in the horror genre. A lot of interviews, mainly with independent female artists! I wanted to do this for awhile and finally got around to starting to put it together. I am also in the works of doing a feature for my other short film,Sinner, which will be released in 2009. Expect more episodes of The Last Doorway Show also! All my short films you can check out on my website at www.lastdoorwayproductions.com.

Will do. Any last words before you have to leave us? I would just like to say to all the inspiring filmmakers out there to never give up! Go for your dreams. Don’t let anyone tell you different. Thank you for the interview it was great! I’d like to thank my fans, John Gillette and my dad and sister for all their support … Love you!

Aw…aren’t you sweet? •••

Filmography Confession Parts 1, 2, & 3 Out of Print Sinner Halloween Peach Halloween Peach Strikes Again Directors Reel NVF Magazine interview With Tara Cardinal

Hello, Tara! Long time no see. How have you been? I’ve been good, thank you for asking. Busy, too.

Now, don’t be mad at me, but I haven’t had a chance to see your film, Delivery, yet. What is the film about? I hear you garnered some praise for your performance. It’s only been out for a year now – what *have* you been watching?? Delivery is about a lonely pizza delivery boy who falls apart after he meets, then loses the girl of his dreams. I had a lot of fun working on the project, and a great role to play. My job was to make the audience fall in love with Monty (Matt Nelson) through my character, Bibi. Every- one else in the film is really mean to him. Of course, the film is actually a testament to my taste in men. Leave it to me to fall for a serial killer.

Now, I have seen an example of your swordfighting skills at www. redreaper.com , and I must say, I wouldn’t want to make you mad at me! Where did you learn to do that?

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Ha! I’ve been training in sword work since I was 16. I never tell my new trainers that, though. I never want them to think I know much of anything, so they teach me their style. I always learn so much more from them that way. Most of what I’ve learned came from the sword master Lord Cathal. He’s been doing live swordfighting for over 20 years. He’s grizzly, gruff, and looks like he’s been swordfighting all of his life. He made me really nervous at first. He trained to fight non-choreographed. That means full armor, real steel (not aluminum like they do in the movies), and full contact. We would meet three times a week in his front yard and train. Even though I was scared of him at first, I loved every minute of it. Weapons work is what I love to do as an action/horror actress. And working with Lord Cathal was heaven for me.

Not to get off the subject, but I was wanting to let you in to something exciting; I noticed you lend your help to The Tenderness Tour, an organization dedicated to helping end child abuse. I, too, have recently teamed up with a friend of mine at www.patchworkproject.com , an online community of writers and artists working for the same causes. Would you like to check it out sometime? I did check it out. I support all organizations that help children. I’m really interested to see what projects the website will use to raise awareness.

Now, back to your film career; now, be honest: are you proud to be considered a ‘’Scream Queen’’? I know I’d be honored to be called a “Scream King.” LOL! There are too many people out there within the viewing public that seem to consider young women who work within the horror film industry as “bimbos.” You don’t seem dumb to me by a long shot. Any title of royalty is a huge honor. Especially when it’s used by the fans. I couldn’t care less what some faceless writer has to say about me, it’s the public, the people, the ones who send me MySpace messages letting me know they’ve seen my work and liked it – those are the ones who’s opin- Interviews 101

ions count. And you are right about the Scream Queen = bimbo equation in the minds of some. It’s not usually the horror fans, though. It’s the ones who don’t take the time to get to know the women they’re watching. The fact is, doing horror films is smart. Why, you ask? I’ll tell you. First, and for me, most importantly, only in horror films can I be granted the chance to explore the extensive range in my craft. In Legend of the Red Reaper, I kill, I fight, I lose, I love. To go that place inside myself hit all of those emotions, those needs, those drives – and all the conflict that comes with it – I can’t do that in a romantic comedy. Horror films are the perfect place to perfect my craft, and delve into those dark places that keep me up at night. And, second, good (Hollywood) female roles are given to a handful of A-list Hollywood actresses. They don’t hold castings for Lara Croft Tomb Raider (who, incidentally, had the only female speaking part in the film). These roles are literally “given” to actresses who have proven themselves, draw a huge following, and are well known. That leaves roles that may or may not be worth performing in more mainstream work. And certainly not a lot of terribly intelligent roles in mainstream film and TV. I’m too young to play the mother. I’m good for the girlfriend. But usually the girlfriend is just that. She has no ambition, no heart, no drive, outside of the “love interest.” Boring. Give me something with meat. I think the most important thing (for me) is to say something by roles I choose. I tend to play deeply-flawed, vulnerable but strong girl-next-door types. The girl next door who comes out okay in the end no matter how much trauma she goes through. And that’s just it. There are a lot of us girls out there going through a lot of trauma. But we’re strong. And we can all be okay in the end. And that’s the story I want to tell, again and again.

How about cinematic horror in general? Any certain preference? I like the 1980s slashers, myself. I like anything with a good story and a strong arc for the characters. I will admit that Freddy still gives me nightmares. I think my favorites are supernatural plots. They’ve always called to me. 102 Queens of Scream

What is on the horizon for Tara? Keep a look out for Terminal Descent and Red Reaper, which should both be out in 2009. Also, I just finished a sci-fi-themed pilot with Tim Russ, Crystal Allen and Gary Graham, which may get picked up by a network. And I’m in talks for a few projects now… but you’ll just have to keep checking my website for those updates.

Any last words before you leave us? Any advice to the ladies out there who want to pursue a career as a Scream Queen? Just be true to yourself. Know who you are, and what you want to say with your characters, and your career. Establish your boundaries before you audition for a role, and honor your limits, and celebrate your strengths. ••• Filmography Actress: The Kentucky Fried Horror Show (2009) Bloody 27 (2008) Terminal Descent (2009) Teeth of Beasts (2008) Legend of the Red Reaper (2009) Beverly Hills Chihuahua (2008) (uncredited) Divas of Novella (2008) (TV) Delivery (2006) (V)

Producer: Legend of the Red Reaper (2009)

Stunts: Acts of Mercy (2009) (stunt double)

Casting Department: The Devil Within (2009) (V) NVF Magazine interview With Cheyenne King

Good afternoon, Cheyenne. What a lovely name. How are you today? Thank you. My name is Cheyenne Archelle King. My middle name is after my daddy, Archie. I am doing wonderful today. Thank you very much for your time today.

First of all, let me say it is an honor to interview a real comic-book hero! How did you become a comic-book hero? A year ago I was approached by my great friend Jon Proudstar with the honor of being a comic-book villain/hero for his comic book, Tribal Force. My character is a 700-year-old assassin witch named Thunder Wolf Woman. She is very beautiful and powerful, by daylight she goes by the pseudonym of Cheyenne King. Tribal Force will be in stores soon. Recently, I was honored again by portraying a sea creature warrior, named Pharis, for Catapult Comics. The comic book, Frank Bill’s Her Majesty the Fish, should be out in stores very soon.

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Cool! Can I have one? How did it feel to become Thunder Wolf Woman? The first artwork done for my character will be drawn from my like- ness, but bigger and more larger than life. I think being a comic-book hero is something many young kids can read about and look up to. I am very excited to see Thunder Wolf Woman come to life!

What Native-American tribe are you a descendant from? I am from the Ojibwe tribe. My reservation is the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians, located in northern Minnesota.

Is it hard to take on a career and have two daughters at home? I bet they think it is cool having a mommy that is a comic-book hero. Both my girls love what I do for a living and are very supportive and excited for me. My eldest daughter loves to model and has been doing so for over a year now. Sometimes my baby will imitate my characters from my films. Once she walked into my room with my tall black boots on, pulled out sticks from each boot and screamed, “On guard,” then tried to fight me. It was so adorable, I cried. When I told my baby I was going to be in a comic book and tried to explain it to her, she asked me if I was going to fly like Wonder Woman. Kids say the cutest things.

I have seen some of the stills from Fist of the Vampire, and, I must say, you look scary. Pretty, but scary. Have you had martial-arts training? Why, thank you. I had about six months of martial arts training for Fist of the Vampire. It was a real rigorous but fun learning experience. I felt my body change in ways I never achieved before in my regular workouts. My personal trainer, Alan Maticis, would keep saying, “That’s great, beautiful, now do it again.” I never met someone so nice and tough as he. I was grateful for the martial arts training; it came in handy for my next film. In Demons Rising, by Cinemalexzikon Films, I am a superhuman assassin who kills and kicks ass with some martial arts. I Interviews 105

really loved the special effects on that film. My face was eaten off by a demon, how cool is that?

I see you are also an accomplished Native-American dancer. You are very proud of your heritage, aren’t you? I would be. I am very proud to be an Ojibwe Native-American woman. I love dancing, it makes my heart and spirit feel good inside. I also love to watch both my girls dance. That is one of the best feelings a parent can have, I think, watching their children dance and just be happy little girls doing what their ancestors have been doing for generations…Dancing, laughing, eating, loving, having a good time, living life.

Here’s a good one for you; Who is your favorite hero? That one is easy: my mom. My mom’s name is Sandra King. She is the absolute rock in my life. She is always there for me, whether it’s talking me out of making silly life-changing decisions, like, moving to California on a whim. She will instead talk me down from my crazy ledge and guide me in the right direction. I value her opinion and judgment on anything more than anyone else in the world. She is my greatest confidant, best friend, and I love to gamble with her. When I go home to visit, she and I will go to the casino and gamble. We’ll have a cigarette when we hit big; lately, we’ve been smoke-free…

Do you enjoy working within the horror genre? It seems to suit you. Yes, the horror genre has always excited me ever since I was a little girl. The first scary movie I remember watching wasAn American Werewolf in London. Whoa, talk about scary. I loved the wolf’s growl. Rick Baker’s special effects were amazing! I had nightmares for months from the scene where the undead were sitting in the movie theatre. It still gives me chills to this day. 106 Queens of Scream

Yes, I saw that film, too, and it still gives me the willys. What’s on the horizon for Cheyenne? My next film is entitled Wendigo. I partnered up again with Len Kaba- zinski and KillerWolf Films. This time around my character is named Angeni Stonechild. She is a medical doctor. That’s all I can say about it right now.

Any last words before you leave us? In my Ojibwe language one says “Megwech,” for thank you. Megwech for this wonderful opportunity. I look forward to seeing everyone at my movies…

I look forward to seeing you anytime! Megwech! •••

Filmography Fist of the Vampire Demons Rising Wendigo NVF Magazine interview With Kindra RavenMoon

Greetings and salutations, Kindra. What a lovely name. How are you? Darkest greetings, Dave, and thank you. I am mega-great, thanks for asking.

Now, this may sound like a dumb question, but here goes: What exactly is an “alternative” model? It sounds most intriguing. Well, it isn’t as intriguing as you may be thinking, Dave. Hahaha. It is really quite simple: An alternative model is the alternative to what the stereotyped fashion photo model is made out to be. For example: Models have always been thought to be tall (5’8” min. height and up) and they are supposed to be beanpole thin and even that may be viewed as fat. They are there to represent a company or product etc. An alternative model can be of any height, weight, shape/form etc.., usually will have tattoos, piercings, she/he are artists being more daring and creative in their work not really fitting into the norm of the fashion industry or what commercial modeling is. Yes, some alternative models do model

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for companies modeling alternative fashions, but, again, this is also usually done in more of a creative manner for the merchandise is of the unusual. There are no hard-set rules with alternative modeling except that, like commercial models, to be an alternative model one must be able to project a certain energy into their work and one must have the right attitude and drive to get to where they wish in the business. It is best to know the laws, your rights and all the ins and outs surrounding the business and one must be photogenic. There is a lot more involved than just taking a picture; anyone can do this. A true model has to have natural talent and be creative on many levels. There is no room for shy timid- ness, and being able to be a good actor/actress is always a plus. Know your market and go for it! The alternative model knows what she wants and will find a way to achieve it. She/he are daring, confident individuals and won’t let simple boundaries or views of others stop them. They are willing to take their art to higher levels and will not stop to stimulate, shock and outright rock your world. Hope that all this makes sense to you and to everyone reading this.

Okay…. I also see “writer” listed among your many talents. Is that fiction writing too? Yes, I am a writer and have been for many years. I write for several magazines and for myself. I am the author of many articles based within the paranormal and occult sciences, also I am a music journalist covering band and CD reviews, also review some live gigs but not as many as for CD reviews. I also love to write dark and erotic macabre poetry and am in the process of writing two books hopefully to be finished and published by the end of this year - or at least one of them anyway. Both books are based within the realms of Traditional Left Hand Path Witchcraft. No, I do not write any fiction other than some of my poetry. I don’t read much fiction either; I prefer my fiction in movies Interviews 109

other than in books. I personally do not have enough hours in a day to get things done and if and when I do find free time to read, I rather not waste it on reading fluff but rather to spend it learning something and deepening my knowledge on an esoteric or practical level. I am more of an observer of true life itself and I feel that there is to much la dee da in the world today, that too many run away from reality and I don’t wish to create fantasy zones in literature to help those who are of weak mind hide. Don’t mistake my words here. When I state this, I do not mean everybody, just the general mundane population who like the wool to be pulled over their eyes. I may not be a fiction reader but I have enjoyed some fiction books and am sure that I will again. Just don’t make it a habit to read fiction when there are so much real subjects to get into and research on. I feel that I would be a hypocrite if I were to decide to write a fiction novel, at this point in my life anyway.

Fair enough. Which types of projects do you like working on most? Literary or film? Some people enjoy tapping the keyboard, while others like the limelight. It is hard to say because I love both and both are rewarding in their own ways. I love to work with my writing but, then again, I really love being part of creating movies. I love to act and acting was my first love over writing and even over modeling. There is a great feeling of accomplish- ment one gets when you finish a written project be it a book or article. As for me, I love to share my writings with others, but, then again, there is nothing more excited than the rush one gets when taking part in a film. I love becoming another character and physically acting out a role, even if my character usually comes to a bloody end, it is just amazing how a film all comes together. So the writing will fulfill my calmer and sedative level of creativity and with film I get to be creative and have fun on a more aggressive level. 110 Queens of Scream

I have always been just as fascinated by film as I have by writing. But, my first attempt at writing a screenplay failed miserably. Is it hard writing one for you? Well, I don’t write screenplays and can imagine how challenging that may be. With writing articles and with my music journalism, it flows very easily. With writing a whole book, I do admit to come into writers’ block now and then, as I have so much in my mind that I wish to project in my books but get overwhelmed with how to put it all together and to narrow subjects down without branching off into other categories and such. You can say that my brain hits overload and then I have to take a break and do something totally different away from the subject for awhile until more of a flow comes back to me.

Here is one I ask everybody, just to dig into their psyche; What is your favorite horror film? How about book? Well, I can’t say that I have a favorite horror book and as with movies it is very hard to say there are way too many on my top list to pinpoint just one. What I will give you is my favorite type of horror film, which would be Zombie! (1980). I love zombie flicks and they have always fascinated me since I was a small child. To me, zombies are the horror monsters that come most close to reality and, hey, the majority of the general population is already zombies in their own right, hehe. I even dream often enough about zombies or zombie-like creatures sometimes as nightmares other times not just regular dreams which include zombies... I always have wondered about how it would be to see through the eyes of a zombie, sort of psychoanalyze it so to speak ... haha. I will stop here; otherwise, you will have me locked up in a padded cell somewhere, hehe. Hey, zombies are cool and gruesome and it would be a lot of fun to portray one in a film one day.

What is on the horizon for Kindra? Lots. There is always something going on and popping up unplanned so Interviews 111

it is hard to say. I will say that there will be more and more happening in the modeling world with me and I do hope to be able to film again in the very near future. I don’t record music professionally full time anymore, but still do take part in certain projects now and then and want readers here to keep an eye out for the upcoming CD compilation that I have recently finished recording vocal tracks for. It is put out by Ritual Music Pro- motions, Legatus Records. The name of this compilation is Masters of Invokation. The tracks are dark ambient mixed in with industrial music. Many amazing artists are featured on this compilation, such as Digitalis and Jade Sol Luna to name but two besides myself. Also, keep posted for my works appearing in several upcoming magazines and book features, such as with a coffee-table book of dark art models being put out by the Drop Dead Dolls modeling and entertainment agency, as well as a series of dark art model books being put out by author and owner of the Ninth Gate magazine and store, Mr. Warlock Corvis Nocturnum, these are the two publications that I will give you to keep your eyes opened for, and keep posted on MySpace for announcements of upcoming magazines features, such as my upcoming feature and cover with Spider’s Web zine and Bizarre. As I said there is so much always going on I cannot think of it all right at this moment… to keep up to date, you can always keep watch or contact me through MySpace: www.myspace.com/sundeadmorning

Any last words before you go? I want to thank you for taking the time to interview me and a big thank you to your readers for taking interest. In Beauty & Blasphemy Kindra xxx The Beauty in Death Kindra RavenMoon http://www.myspace.com/sundeadmorning 112 Queens of Scream

Resume: I am an artist and art is not always about beauty or being perfect, it can be ugly, disturbing, grotesque, imperfect in everyway, but it is creation and creation is the mind flow and heart of the artist.

Kindra RavenMoon is an international and internationally published dark arts alternative model, independent horror film actress, music journalist, musician and writer. Kindra’s natural dark character magically mani- fests within her work. Creating haunting images using dark erotica and tainted innocence, blending gothic beauty with infernal blasphemy is her signature trademark.

*Originally from Montreal Quebec Canada now living in Southern Swe- den.(speaks: French, English and some Swedish).

As a model Kindra has experience in but is not limited to traditional gothic, classic, romantic, vampire, victorian, vintage, lingerie, fetish, pin-up, horror, gore, dark erotica, portrait, medieval, fantasy, casual, occult, Satanic, ritualistic, religious, film noir, steam punk, alternative fashion and boudoir.

Other Experience: *Kindra also has experience hailing from within the realms of live performance, such as with comedy cabaret, burlesque, erotic dance shows and fetish shows and demonstrations. She used to front the death metal band ReformDeathNation, but, due to various circumstances, Kindra no longer plays music on an everyday professional level but does still take part in certain projects in collaboration with other artists when it is worth her while to do so. Kindra’s film experience lies with independent film, B-horror shorts and she has appeared in various documentaries on subjects such as witchcraft, the occult and the paranormal. Kindra would very much like to continue participating in such creations. Interviews 113

*As a writer Kindra writes Satanic/occult based articles and does band and CD reviews for various zines and magazines both in print and online sources. Kindra pretty much can advocate whatever is required of her for both modeling and film alike. Taking her nightmares, haunted thoughts and twisted fantasies and creates a reality that she may call her own.

Some Credits Worth Mentioning: TV Sex Files (Interview ,photo session, girl talk kink show) Part of a Discovery Channel series - Montreal episode. Discovery Channel’s Sexual Secrets - interview and demonstrations. Several documentaries based on the occult, witchcraft and the paranormal

Film: Histoires de Macarbre de La Terre (Macabre Tales of the Earth) La Possession de Marie-Claire 2005/2006 Noir Fatal (Fatal Black) Think this titled also appeared as Votre Sang (in French) and in English as Feel Your Blood 2004/2005 meutre dans la nuit 2003/2004 We Walk in the Night 2005

Magazines/Publications: Noir Fatal magazine Crypt Magazine (Am a Promo Bitch for them and a Proud Crypt Girl!) Dark Romance Magazine RIP Gothic Beauty Magazine ELLE Quebec L’Amour Secret Ninth Gate Magazine (US) (featured model for the Witch Issue, October 31, 2008; also a regular contributing author) VAMPEROTIKA (Front cover model + feature issue #1 2008; will also be featured in 3rd issue 2009) 114 Queens of Scream

Voltcase magazine 2008 Grins from Below webzine 2008 Metal Queens book 2009 Devolution (UK):2008 Featured with Harmon Comics as a promo model and is the muse of an upcoming comic-book character.2008/2009+ Spider’s Web Zine Serpentine Promotions zine 2008 Bizarre Magazine (UK) several issues 2008/2009 Bizarre Girl (book by Bizarre magazine-out December 2008!) Body Art 2 (book by Bizarre magazine-out December 2008!) Old Nick magazine (+ is a promo model 2008/2009 +) Alt Noir magazine (feature + makeup tips 2009) NVF magazine 2009 Fixe magazine 2009 Beyond the Dark Horizon 2009

Stores/Merchandise: Cruella (Alternative clothing + accessories) Diabolique (Alternative clothing + accessories) Anna Kiss (Chain mail lingerie + club wear) North Bound Leather (high quality leather & latex clothing, masks, flog- gers + other accessories for fetish, fun and the darker side of life). Labyrinth (metal/punk t-shirts, jackets ,jewelry + other accessories) *Rock ‘n Stock: band (metal) t-shirts, poster + flyers for store advertisements). *Also was the poster girl modeling lingerie + fetish gear for various Montreal sex shops.

Bands Worked With: (CD covers, posters, backdrops, t-shirts, promos, video, etc.) Brumous Amputated Repugnance Interviews 115

Bad Whoremoans Gravestorm FolkEarth Eradicated Time to Kill The Seventh Wastescape Howling Sin Stryxviri Nox In Loving Memory Texas Blood

Other: Drop Dead Dolls calendar 2009 Sinister Sounds music: Writes CD reviews for them. Voltcase calendar 2009 Deadly Creations calendar 2009 Andre Design digital art calendar 2009 A regular contributing writer for Ninth Gate Magazine A regular contributing writer and band/CD reviewer for Nocturnal Magazine A writer for the Pagan webzine Sisterhood of Sekhmet Promo + poster model for Raven Eggs & Kegs Radio CD/band reviews for Brutalism.com Writer for Madusa’s Kiss To be a featured model in Warlock Corvis Nocturnum’s dark model book out late 2009 also will be the cover model for either the first or second edition of this same book. On a few tracks for an upcoming CD compilation titled Masters Of In- vocation by Ritual Music Promotions and Legatus Records CD out spring or early summer 2009. The Beauty in Death Kindra RavenMoon http://www.myspace.com/sundeadmorning

NVF Magazine interview With Susan Adriensen

Photo courtesy of Mark Alan Lee

Good afternoon, Susan. How are you this fine day? Not too bad. Hope you’re doin’ fine.

First of all, judging by the name of your film, Under the Raven’s Wing, I get the strong impression you are a Poe fan. Could I be correct? I’m a fan, but not as much so now as when I was in my early teens. I haven’t read his work lately, but I’ve always been fascinated by the dark side. Of course, Tell-Tale Heart was my fave! But Under the Raven’s Wing has nothing to do with Poe. Well, there is a scene where the character “Jessie” (played by Jessica Palette – she recently starred in VH1’s Scream Queens) played with a toy raven as she squeaked “Nevermore,” … but that was the only reference to Poe. Under the Raven’s Wing is a pseudo-documentary about a newbie filmmaker who documents three young women about a murder they committed. The leader, “Raven,” controls the other two girls and feeds them warped words of love and acceptance in order to keep them in

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her grip. The filmmaker is fascinated by these girls, but uses their desire to spread their sick philosophies for his own voyeuristic benefit. Hope- fully, you can all see Under the Raven’s Wing on DVD soon. Check out our website to get on the waiting list! www.undertheravenswing.com

Tell me a little about your the film The Blood Shed. The title sounds fairly self-explanatory, but you never know… Titles can be deceiving, but in the case of The Blood Shed, you get both the shedding of blood and that dark dilapidated structure in the backyard of the Bullion’s where that blood is shed!! Hee heee heeeeeeeeee! Well, the movie is about inbred Jersey-billies who don’t like nosy neighbors messin’ with their lifestyle. Their lifestyle is pretty simple. They eat (slop), sleep, play shoot-the-squirrel, and bathe Grandma (a wheelchair- bound old hag with weird powers). Oh, and I forgot to mention, the Bullions kill. It was written and directed by Alan Rowe Kelly. He plays the lead of “Beefteena.” I play little cousin “Sno Cakes,” who lives in the backyard tent. They are both under twelve years old in very adult bod- ies! They are bestest of all bestest of fweeeeends! And they don’t like when Hubcap (Mike Lane), Butternut (Joshua Nelson), and Pappa Elvis (Terry West) forget to include them in the game of tug-o-war….You just gotta go and get the DVD!!! www.thebloodshed.net

And what’s this about you working for the Grammys?! That sounds exciting. You are the first to ask me about my Grammy Awards experience! Wow. Fun memories! In college, Montclair State College, selected students from the Broadcasting Department were asked to be Talent Escorts for the Grammy Awards! Oh, my God! I went home screaming to my mom. WHAT TO WEAR?! I had a dress made!!!!… but, oh, I wish I wore jeans. I think all of us students did. We ran around like chickens without heads. I also was the Seat Filler Coordinator. Yea. Yea. Like on Seinfeld! Interviews 119

But as the Coordinator, I would never put “Kramer” out there!!!! It was a great experience and all of us students had to pinch ourselves. We watched Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston rehearse while sitting in the empty theater with the likes of Patrick Swayze. Oh crap! I’m giving the year away! We were a part of many great events: Arista’s 15th Anniversary event (I escorted Air Supply), Irving Berlin’s 100th Birthday, etc. but the best for me was working at the 1st International Rock Awards. At this particular event I was asked to monitor the backstage entrance and check in talent. I had to give passes to the likes Of David Bowie, Robert Palmer, Rick Ocasek, Ozzy Osbourne (and back then I was wondering who the lady in the housedress was – it was his wife, Sharon! She looks awesome now! I remember Ozzy had some kick-ass cologne). I remember chatting with Bowie! But the nerve of Tina Turner, walking right by without signing in with me first. LOL! I still can’t believe it happened. (http://waddywachtelinfo.com/InternationalRockAwards.html ). But regardless of all the excitement, it was a job, an internship type deal, but a job nonetheless. I had to be professional and not let the thrill prevent me from doing my best. I have absolutely no photos from those events. Not even an autograph. Our professor was very strict about those rules. To this day, I have trouble approaching celebs for photos at horror and industry conventions. At the Grammy Awards and the other events, I was a staff member the celebrity talent could rely on. They are people too, very special people, but they need space all the same. So, I controlled my urge to … pass out … most of the time! I remember hanging out in Ray Charles’ green room! Heck! I tried to keep Natalie Cole calm as we both waited outside the dressing room of Frank Sinatra!… still wish I could have worn jeans….

You know what I think you should do? Put on some jeans…You are an actress, so here’s an interesting question for you, which may cover a lot of ground; who was your favorite actress growing up? 120 Queens of Scream

When I was very young, I loved Carol Burnett! I always loved comedy. That love eventually lead me to do a lot of comedy in college, which made way its to my performances on the ‘80s kid show, Steampipe Alley with Mario Cantone. The Blood Shed is also a comedy. I’m happy to say that it was as fun as it looked!

What would you say is your favorite horror film? Nosy little bugger, aren’t I? Too many to list. I’m sure you get that answer a lot. There are so many different kinds. I don’t mind blood, gore, and monsters, but they don’t happen to be my favorites. I like movies like The Shining, Silence of the Lambs, and Donnie Darko. I also like some quirky strange films. My all time fave is Psychomania from the early ‘70s. I saw it on the late-night show, Chiller Theater, as a little girl and was terrified. I watch it now and it’s hysterical! It’s so great that I bought the DVD!

What’s on the horizon for Susan? Don’t panic now…. I’m not leaving horror…. I’m creating a dramatic short with Kimberly Amato who played Raven in Under the Raven’s Wing. Kimberly is working on the script as we speak and she’s send- ing pages to me in bits and pieces for me to add a little here and there. Although this short is a small time-filler before I create my next bizarre feature, Inside Out, the story is quite moving….

Any last words before you leave us? As I mentioned, Under the Raven’s Wing should be out soon on DVD, distributed by Medicine Show Cinema. It keeps getting amazing reviews so check the website for updates: www.undertheravenswing.com. Thanks, David, for interviewing me. I’d like to also thank your readers for taking the time to hang out with us here!

My pleasure… Interviews 121

Resume: Writer/Producer/Director/Editor: Under the Raven’s Wing – www.undertheravenswing.com Mavi Göz Illusion of Reality

Actress: The Blood Shed Sculpture Mavi Göz Steampipe Alley (TV) Prison of the Psychotic Damned Gallery of Fear Pink Eye LovecraCked! The Movie http://www.youtube.com/user/AdriensenArts

NVF Magazine interview With Jennifer Rouse

Greetings, Jennifer. Long time, no hear! How have you been? Yes, it’s great to hear from you. I’ve been super-busy lately. I’m working on a variety of projects right now. I deviated from horror a little bit to be in a Western film that was shot last year. It’s called Come Hell or High Water and it will be in stores and online on March 31, 2009. I’m really excited about it. I’m currently working on a documentary about Martin Luther King called The Drum Major that should be finished in the spring of 2009. I’m also in pre-production for a few other films such as The Tell-Tale Heart, based on the story by Edgar Allan Poe with a flavor of the Civil War stories of Ambrose Bierce.

First of all, let me say congratulations on your project with Jason Priestly. What was that all about? Thank you! That movie is called Stingy Jack and we are supposed to start filming it in the fall of 2009. T.M. Langseth, who co-wrote the script and will be directing it, contacted me a while back to see if I’d be interested

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in playing the female lead “Kaitlyn.” I read the script and really liked it. It’s about a small town that has banned Halloween because of horrible things that have happened in the town’s past on that night. A new couple moves into town with their son, who really loves Halloween, and they can’t understand why the townsfolk are so against it until they start to become victims to strange occurrences themselves. We have a great cast lined up for Stingy Jack. Lots of horror genre names that people will recognize. Aside from me and Jason Priestly (90210, Tombstone), Kane Hodder (Friday the 13th), Lew Temple (The Devil’s Rejects, 21 Grams) and Charles Cyphers (Halloween) are confirmed and we will have a bunch of other genre names listed in the cast soon.

Speaking of film, I see you were producer on Chainsaw Sally. I bet that was fun. What’s April [Burril] like? She seems really sweet. Chainsaw Sally was a blast! That was actually one of the first horror films that I worked on. I met Jimmy O and April Burril at a July 4th cookout they were having. This was just about the time of the scripting stages. Jimmy O told me about a character that he was working on based on a real-life person he knew. Up the street from their house was an ice cream shop, and every time they walked up to get ice cream, Jimmy O would order a chocolate malt…and the girl would get confused and ask him if he meant a shake. Then, once he clarified the difference with her, he could see that she spelled it wrong on the order pad…writing molt. Every time! So he wanted to incorporate this goofiness into the film and he asked me to play the role. Working with Jimmy O and April was great. April is a real sweetheart and I was impressed that she could flip personalities with such ease on camera when we were filming her Chainsaw Sally scenes as opposed to the days when we were filming her “meek librarian” scenes. For the folks who haven’t seen Chainsaw Sally yet, “Sally” is a mild-mannered librarian for her day-job to “bring-home-the-bacon,” as they say. But, after work, she and her brother Ruby have to fend for themselves… by all means possible. Their parents were killed when several mental Interviews 125

patients escaped from a nearby hospital, and they raised themselves, by themselves, living in a trailer on the land that their parents rented, pretty much from what they watched on TV, until the owner of the land dies and a developer wants to build condos on that land. Well, Sally, of course, doesn’t want this to happen. But she finds herself in a dilemma when she begins to have feelings for “Steve Kellerman” (Mark Redfield), who inherits the land.

And … a part in the John Waters film A Dirty Shame. Busy little beaver, aren’t we? Was that film a lot of fun? Yes, working on a John Waters film was a ton of fun! I had a really small role as a “sex-addict,” but I got to work with singer/actor Chris Isaak and Selma Blair. John Waters really brought life to the set and his direction was actually more mild-mannered than I would have thought. For example, when I was doing my scene, he wasn’t quite sure how to word what he wanted me to do, but I got the gist and I blurted out, “You want me to feel him up?” … “Yes! Exactly,” he said.

And…Body of Lies! Whew…what was Ridley Scott like? Wow! I arrived on the set for Body of Lies and almost immediately the AD [assistant director] came over to me and said, “Mr. Scott would like to meet with you this morning.” I wasn’t sure how to react! So, after I signed in, I followed him to meet with Ridley Scott. What an experience! He wanted me to flirt with Russell Crowe’s character while he was dropping his son off at school. Ridley was very sociable, but also very in control of getting the shots he wanted out of the actors and crew. What a pro!

Your Martin Luther King project sounds good. Did you follow his history closely? The Drum Major, the Martin Luther King project I’m working on, will be a great source of education about the last year of Martin Luther King 126 Queens of Scream

Jr.‘s life. Before this, I guess I knew possibly a little more about Mar- tin Luther King than the average person, but I’ve really gained a lot of knowledge about him working on this project. An actor named Michael Mack (Star Trek Next Generation, Head of State), who plays “King” in the film, approached me about doing the sound and music for it after I worked with him on another project about the Battle of Bunker Hill. We hope to have it finished in the spring of 2009.

Here is one I sneak in on everybody, to dig into their psyche; What is your favorite film? Or, more specifically, your favorite horror film? Oh man! I get asked this question a lot and I can never pick just one film. I guess it depends on what kind of mood I’m in. Sometimes it’s Hitch- cock’s Psycho. Sometimes it’s The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Sometimes it’s Jaws. It’s hard to pick! There are so many great films out there.

What is on the horizon for Jennifer? Aside from Stingy Jack, later in 2009, I’m also in preparations for another Western called Lady Gunfighter and a film version of Othello. It’s great because they are all so different from one another. I’m looking forward to trying my hand at Shakespeare. This version of Othello will be set during the American Civil War. It’s an interesting concept to set it during that period of history because of the issues of slavery and how freed blacks were treated.

Any last words before you leave us? I just want to mention my website, www.jenniferrouse.com, and my MySpace page, www.myspace.com/jenniferrouse. And, finally, I want to thank you for taking the time to interview me!

My pleasure, dear. ••• Interviews 127

Filmography Film Stingy Jack The Tell-Tale Heart State of Play Come Hell or High Water Sins of the Fathers Step Up 2 the Streets Body of Lies Step The Death of Poe The Last Ride of the Raven A Dirty Shame Chainsaw Sally

Short Film Last Call

Television The Washingtonienne The Wire (season 5, 10 episodes) / Whiting’s Secretary Creepy Canada “The Legend of the Goatman” Creepy Canada “The Haunting of the Poe House” Creepy Canada “The Marrstown Banshee” Armed Robbery Orgasms The West Wing The District The Wire

Industrials Hispanic Apostolate/ Volunteer Training Video / Catholic Charities Modeling 128 Queens of Scream

The Passion of Persephone - Demeter - Rosanna Tufts Nightmare Gloves - 2007 Calendar Model Midnight Marquee Press - Ruth Rose - Creators of King Kong Graphic Novel Bella Salon - Catalog/Advertisements Dream “Isabella” Runway Show The Wet Seal - Runway Show Catwalk Fashions - Lead Model - Runway Show The Wet Seal - In Store Model Bella Salon - Print Ad Hair Model

Education/Training Acting/Scene Study: Redfield Arts (Instructor: Carl Randolph) Acting for the Camera: Redfield Arts (Instructor: Mark Redfield) Bachelor of Arts: Towson University Music/Vocal Training: CCBC (Theory, Voice (Pop, Rock, Broadway) Peabody Conservatory Preparatory (Opera) Modeling: John Casablanca’s Modeling and Career Center Production The Drum Major / Sound Design and Music / Palatine Pictures The-Tell-Tale Heart / Associate Producer, Composer / Redfield Arts The Death of Poe / Composer / Redfield Arts The Sorcerer of Stonehenge School / Composer / Redfield Arts Chainsaw Sally / Associate Producer / Redfield Arts and Planet X Entertainment Hispanic Apostolate / Composer / Production Assistant / Catholic Charities Special Skills Equestrian (beginner) Singing (Pop, Rock, Broadway) Mezzo Soprano / Alto Music Composition Costuming Interviews 129

Accents: British/Cockney, New York, Southern, Baltimore Graphic Design Photography

Special Guests Hammer Films Scream Siren Ingrid Pitt Girls & Corpses editor Robert Steven Rhine Horror fiction prodigy Amanda Underwood Makeup artist Teri Harrison Actress Nicola Fiore Actress Danica Decosto Actress Donna Hamblin Actress Patty Dunn Actress Dee Dee Bigelow

Ingrid Pitt

Ingrid is internationally famous as Hammer Films’ Queen of Horror. Count- ess Dracula, Vampire Lovers, The House That Dripped Blood, and The Wicker Man, etc., have established her as an icon in the Fantasy Film genre. Her international film debut was in what is considered one of the greatest war films of all time, Where Eagles Dare. In this, she appeared opposite Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood. Other films Ingrid has appeared in outside the horror genre are: Who Dares Wins (a.k.a. The Final Option), Wild Geese 2, and Hanna’s War, etc. Generally cast as a “baddie,” she usually manages to get killed horribly at the end of the final reel. “Being the anti-hero is great - they are always roles you can get your teeth into.” Ingrid has appeared in many TV shows in the UK and USA - Ironside, Dundee and the Calhane, and Dr. Who, etc. She has also toured extensively throughout Great Britain and South America with her own stage company. Recently, her autobiography, Life’s a Scream (called Darkness Before Dawn for the American edition), was published by Heinemann, and she

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was short-listed for the Talkies Awards for her own reading of extracts from the audio book. The autobiography detailed the harrowing experiences of her early life in a Nazi concentration camp, her search throughout the European Red Cross refugee camps for her father, and her escape from East Berlin, one step ahead of the Volkpolitzei. “I always had a big mouth and used to go on about the political schooling interrupting my quest for thespian glory. I used to think like that. Not good in a police state.” The Bedside Companion for Ghosthunters (Batsfords) is Ingrid Pitt’s tenth book. It was preceded by the Bedside Companion for Vampire Lov- ers (Batsfords). The Ingrid Pitt Book of Murder, Torture and Depravity was published in October 2000. Several other books are in the pipeline. Ingrid’s first book, after a number of ill-fated tracts on the plight of the Native Americans, was a novel, Cuckoo Run, a spy story about mistaken identity. “I took it to Cubby Broccoli. It was about a woman called Nina Dalton who is pursued across South America in the mistaken belief that she is a spy. Cubby said it was a female Bond. He was being very kind.” This was followed by a novelization of the Peron era in Argentina, where she lived for a number of years after falling foul of the establishment in England. “Argentina was a wild frontier country ruled by a berserk military dictatorship at the time. It just suited my mood.” A project which Ingrid has been working on for some time The Cross of Dracula (Dracula Who.....?) is a film which has Dracula desper- ately trying to keep off blood, and become a vegetarian. But his wife, the Countess, has no intention of letting him “go over,” and gives him an extremely hard time. She has also written three segments of a portmanteau film entitled Moonstruck, Altered Shapes and Somewhere After Midnight. She has also been commissioned by Hammer Films to write the definitive book on Hammer starting from the early days right up to date. Other writing projects include Bedside Companions of Butch Bitches and a different look at Britain entitled Ingrid Pitt’s Britain. The Ingrid Pitt Fan Club is well represented internationally and has Interviews 133

an annual reunion in London each November. In spite of her busy work- load, Ingrid still manages to visit conventions and film festivals in the UK, Europe and USA. “It’s great meeting the fans. They tell me that I am more beautiful now than when I was making films a quarter of a century ago. All lies, of course, but sweet. And where else is an old bag like me going to get strapping young men and women whispering sweet noth- ings in her ear?” Ingrid has a passion for World War II aircraft. After revealing her passion on a radio program, she was invited by the museum at RAF Duxford to have a flight in a Lancaster. Ingrid writes regular columns for various magazines and periodicals as well as an IT magazine called Den of Geek. Ingrid’s passions are flying, cricket, golf and cuddling. •••

NVF magazine interview with Ingrid Pitt

Good day, Ingrid. How are we today? Old! And still waiting for the alleged benefits of old age.

My mother and I would love to read your autobiography, Life’s A Scream. How old were you when you first had to endure the horrors of war? Life’s a Scream has now been updated and reprinted in America under the title of Darkness Before Dawn. I think my early memories are of living on my grandfather’s farm. They are all too sunny and idyllic to be real but there must be a little substance there. More reliable memories kick in when I was about 5/6 years old. Soldiers putting us, my mother, father, grandmother and grandfather in the back of a truck and driving off. Then the station where there were thousands of people just 134 Queens of Scream

like us. Soldiers with dogs. Very frightening. I seem to remember being marched off and looking back and seeing my grandmother sitting on a chair with my grandfather standing behind her. Again, that could be one of those dodgy memories that haunt us. Like my husband’s memory of the night before he was born. He remembers distinctly sitting on a lamppost watching his mother and father go into the hospital. I do have a photograph of my grandparents in a similar pose to the one I remember.

My mother also said that her favorite war film is Where Eagles Dare, in which you starred with Clint Eastwood and Richard Burton. What was it like working with them? There was a very friendly atmosphere. Except when Elizabeth [Taylor] turned up and virtually accused me of trawling for her husband. I supposed in her shoes I might have done the same. Especially as an Italian magazine, I think it was Gente, ran a front-page spread of the hectic love affair Richard and I were supposed to be having. An example of my re- lationship with the pair of them happened as we were leaving the studio after the wrap party. We were in the back of a Rolls-Royce; Clint on my left, Richard on my right. Clint leaned forward and looked at Richard. “Shall we tell her?” he asked. Richard looked at him with a wary look on his face. “Tell her?” Clint nodded. “About the bet,” he prompted. Richard went along with it. “Yeah! I guess so,” he said. “What bet?” I asked, not wanting to be left out of the conversation. I thought maybe they were going to suggest we work on another film together or something equally exciting. “Who would get you into the sack first,” Clint said. Interviews 135

I felt a bit deflated, but was determined to have the last word. “Who won?” I asked. At least they thought it was funny.

Sounds a little embarrassing. Speaking of films, I really enjoyed seeing you in the Hammer Films, like Countess Dracula. Was it fun to make scary films? Can’t say it was fun. In Countess Dracula my day started around 5 a.m. on the days I was doing scenes with the old Countess and went on until 9 p.m., sometimes even later. It took around three hours to put the make-up on and more or less the same to take it off. The rest of the time I had to sit mutely around because if I talked the latex cracked and it was back in the make-up chair again. It was then I took to smoking to still the hunger pangs. It took years to break the habit. Vampire Lovers was also hard work. Trouble is that when making a costume drama you are constantly getting in and out of the dresses. As soon as the camera stops rolling, the wardrobe mistress sweeps in and rips off your clothes so you don’t loll around and put wrinkles in them. On Wicker Man it was the cold. We were shooting in the winter pre- tending it was spring. Even the goose-bumps had goose-bumps. Eddie Woodward fared worst. Most of the final scenes were shot on the cliff top and he only had a nightshirt on. He would come to me in between scenes and beg to put his cold feet under my dress. Even The House That Dripped Blood, which was a comedy, didn’t generate a lot of laughs on set. Jon Pertwee was a very funny man. Ex- cept when he was working. Then he was a bit of a perfectionist. So most of our conversation concerned positions, bits of business and delivery of lines. I can’t recall one funny incident. I must say that I thought the finished film was very funny to watch. Just as it should be. It is made for the audience. I’m not complaining. That’s the job. And it can be very rewarding. But sometimes not a load of fun. 136 Queens of Scream

I understand you like to write about ghosts. What prompted your interest in spooks? I did write a book about ghosts, The Bedside Companion for Ghost Hunt- ers. It was part of a trilogy. The other titles were Vampires Lovers and Murder, Torture and Depravity. I just like writing about lighthearted subjects. Actual experience? Well, there was this time when I was living with some Native Americans back in the sixties. They used to take tour- ists on trips into the Grand Canyon. I went with them one time. In the evening I was sitting by the campfire, half asleep, when I thought I could see my father in the smoldering ashes. I told one of the guides and he said something like “Heap good medicine.” I guess he was playing wooden Injun.

I just have to ask about the film Dracula Who.....? It sounds hilarious! Does he really become a vegetarian? I’m not going to tell you that, am I? Let’s put it like this: Dracula is fed up with being constantly in fear of waking up with a dirty great stake through his pristine shirt front. He wants to live a normal life. His wife of 2000 years, the Countess Elizabeth, wants nothing to do with it. She likes her food source on two legs and screaming. Dracula flounces off to try and live his idyll. The Countess hunts him down in a small seaside town. Local folk begin to get vampirized. Both the Count and Count- ess swear it has nothing to do with them. So, who’s the vampire in the wood pile? And will the Count revert to type?

I see you also attend conventions, film festivals ,and like flying, cricket, and golf. Whew! What do you do for relaxation? Climb mountains? Only to get there….I attend conventions and festivals because I’m asked and I love meeting all the friends I have made over the years. It also gives me a chance to wallow in a bit of flattery. Which I love. My husband was a pilot in the RAF and we had a Piper Arrow until a few years ago. We used to flip around all over Europe and he would let me pole it most of Interviews 137

the time. He was also a bit of a cricketer and used to turn out for charity matches. I would go along. I met the editor of the top cricketing magazine and he asked me to write a monthly column for him. I took up golf, after having a stomach operation, to build up my abdominal muscles. I soon got asked to appear for the SPARKS charity team and traveled all over Europe with them. So as you can see my life is without planning and driven by other people’s interest. Just the way it ought to be.

What is your favorite scary movie? Book? Scary movie? That’s a hard one. Problem is I can’t let myself get involved in what is appearing on the screen. It is just a play. But some are able to create more tension than others. Dead Calm, with Nicole Kidman and Sam Neil, for instance. I don’t know if that is categorized as part of the horror genre or not. It certainly kept me awake. Another film I’ve always been quite taken with is the 1944 oeuvre, starring Ray Milland and Ruth Hussey, called The Uninvited. Definitely in the horror mode is the new film from Hammer, Beyond the Rave. I went to the screening a week or so ago. It’s not to my taste. Too gory and loud. But it is right on the but- ton as far as horror is concerned. I do have a minuscule part in it, sneeze and you will miss me. But that’s not to say it isn’t a film for today. It will be released in 20 segments on MySpace starting April 16, 2008. I am assured this is the way ahead for future film releases. DVDs come later.

Do you have any current projects you’d like to speak of? Ah! There you have me. At the last count I have 54 projects on the hoof. Dracula Who.....? is just one of them. It has been revamped (I think that’s a pun) and renamed. It is now called Cross of Dracula and is on option to an American filmmaker as we speak. I have just finished the draft for the Hammer Xperience, which was commissioned by Hammer and should be on the shelves by Halloween - present owners accepting. I have a new book, a sci-fi about Jesus Christ, with the publishers at the moment and a children’s TV project with the BBC, Milly Morris and 138 Queens of Scream

the Mini, which will be shot in 12 half-hour episodes. I have also been working on a TV series called The Chauffeur with James Brabazon. It is about Juan Peron’s chauffeur and the power he exerted over Peron and his third wife, Isabel Martinez de Peron. It is the follow-up to my book called The Perons, which covers the time when Evita ruled the Casa Ro- sada and finishes when Peron and his chauffeur, Jose Lopez Rega, are forced to flee Argentina after the Militarists mutinied. Unfortunately, James died about a month ago so that is on hold for the moment as he was the producer. I write monthly and weekly columns for half a dozen or so magazines. One of them is an IT magazine and can be accessed on www.denofgeek.com. The latest shelf magazine has just been published by Dave Hagan, who runs the Monster Mania Con in Cherry Hills, New Jersey, and is entitled Monster Mania Magazine. He was astute enough to book me as a regular columnist. The other 50 projects keep the mail service in business. You can keep up with the latest on MySpace, Ingrid Pitt Online or www.pittofhorror.com.

Well, Ingrid, I want to thank you for gracing us with your presence, and please come back and visit us again, okay? Happy to be of service, kind sir. Love to your mum. (Dimples prettily and exits right.) ••• Filmography Sound of Horror (1964) Doctor Zhivago (1965) Un Beso en el puerto (1966) A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1966) The Omegans (1968) Where Eagles Dare (1968) The House That Dripped Blood (1970) The Vampire Lovers (1970) Interviews 139

Jason King (1971) (TV series) - guest star Nobody Ordered Love (1971) Countess Dracula (1971) The Wicker Man (1973) Thriller 1975 (TV) (UK) Unity (1981) (TV) Artemis 81 (1981) (TV) Who Dares Wins (1982) Smiley’s People (1982) TV miniseries Octopussy (1983) The Comedy of Errors (1983) (TV) The House (1984) (TV) Bones (1984) Underworld (1985) Wild Geese II (1985) Hanna’s War (1988) The Asylum (2000) Green Fingers (2000) Minotaur (2005) Sea of Dust (2006)

NVF Magazine interview With Girls and Corpses editor Robert Steven Rhine

Greetings and salutations, Robert. How are you this fine day? Feeling a little … decomposed? LOL! Sorry, I couldn’t resist. As a corpse, I’m always composting myself. I’m all-natural and good for the environment. You should see the weeds growing out of my skull.

I love it! I had heard a lot about your magazine in the past, but never had the chance to see it. I have read some raving reviews, though. What prompted the idea for the mag, as if it isn’t obvious? You should pick it up sometime. But feel free to check it out online: ScreamQueenfinalLW.rtf. We started as a webzine and you can read all those 15 full back issues for free here: http://girlsandcorpses.com/backissues.html There have been six print issues so far and those can be purchased online or picked up at newsstands. We get two million visitors a month to the site. But while many print magazines are folding, we started on the web and went to print. So, we knew we already had a huge audience as soon as we made the leap to print which continues to grow every day, defying our decaying economy. Also, we are now on the newsstand in the U.S. and Canada via Ingram, which helps, and also distributed

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around the globe through Diamond and also at our store site: http:// www.girlsandcorpsesstore.com/ The idea of Girls and Corpses as a magazine was prompted by my disturbed brain which I keep in an Apothecary jar here: ScreamQueen- finalLW.rtf. I tend to think outside of the coffin. I like the idea of opposites: Ying and yang, life and death, young and old, pretty and ugly, comedy and horror... and girls and corpses. What could be better than Girls and Corpses? It’s the best of both worlds. And it’s all wrapped up in the world’s first comedy magazine about death.

Might as well have the best of both worlds! You are my kinda guy; I like two things: beautiful girls and corpses. Of course, not necessarily in that order. LOL! Ever had any “special guest corpses”? Like Jeffery Dahmer or Ted Bundy? I think it would really liven things up. Actually, I don’t cover real serial killers. It’s my one pet peeve. I won’t give page space to real killers since the families of their victims are still alive. It’s out of respect. But pretty much anything else goes in the magazine, as long as it’s dark, sick and funny.

I respect you for respecting them. Your magazine is described as, “Maxim Magazine meets Dawn of the Dead.” I’d love to see your centerfolds! Have you met with any opposing viewpoints because of your subject matter? I wouldn’t think so, considering that Fangoria isn’t exactly Walt Disney material, and they have been around since ‘79. We have great centerfolds! My favorite is Corpses on Trampolines. Also, From Here to Eternity we shot on the beach for our Corpse Clas- sics series and it came out killer. We have had some voices of dissent, which I applaud and encourage for our Letter-To-The Deaditor. You can read them here: http://girlsandcorpses.com/print6/letterdeaditor.html. We are also banned in both the Wisconsin and Kansas prison systems – although we continue to get letters from inmates there and at other prisons where someone smuggles them in. Don’t ask. Interviews 143

Don’t worry, I won’t. Do you ever get to interview any well-known people in the horror film industry? Actors, actresses, F/X artists? Yes, all the time. Celebs are now coming to us to be in the magazine: Sid Haig and Sheri Moon Zombie have been on our covers as well as Halloween stars Scout-Taylor Compton and Danielle Harris. We’ve also interviewed Mick Garris (Masters of Horror), John Landis, Joe Dante, Eli Roth (Hostel) Adam Green (Hatchett), comedian Tom Green, Nick Palumbo (Murder Set Pieces), Rob Gudino (Rue Morgue), Ryan Schifrin (Abominable), Scream Queen Tiffany Shepis, porn star Belladonna, Mr. Sci-Fi Forry Ackerman, Herschell Gordon Lewis, and on and on.

Wow…can I do an interview with you?! Pweeze??? I really like your ad-line: “We offer an alternative to fans of horror stalwarts Fangoria and Rue Morgue by serving some guffaws with our gore.” I think that’s great. There is no reason why your readers can’t have a good laugh as well as nausea. Do you think you might ever publish any fiction in your mag? If so, I have a story that might be right up your alley. I think that I’ve done my job when a reader is staring at an image in the magazine that they ordinarily would turn away from in disgust and yet they have this sick smile plastered on their confused face. Yes, we do occasionally publish fiction. In the premiere issue I published my story “Propeller Boy,” which won the World Horror Con’s Best Short Fiction Prize and then Cemetery Dance Magazine (and publisher Richard T. Chizmar) reneged on the winning prize of being published in their magazine. I contacted them several times, but Chizmar kept telling me, “I’ll get back to you.” That was a couple years ago and I’m still waiting. If you are a fiction writer, never, ever submit to World Horror Con... or Cemetery Dance... it’s a... well... con.

Oh, believe me, I know. I bet Jorge Buttgereit would love your magazine. Ever meet him? His film Necromantik was a classic! We love Nekromantik... or as we call it, the Holy Bible. Buttgereit loves Girls and Corpses Magazine and we already interviewed him, here: ScreamQueen- 144 Queens of Scream

finalLW.rtf This is what he said about our magazine, “The corpses are naked and the girls have to wear bikinis! What’s wrong with you guys?”

Speaking of film, what would you say is your favorite horror film? I have always been partial to the low-budget, slasher genre myself. As well as Lloyd Kaufman films, of course. I love some of Troma’s films. Lloyd Kaufman brought vomiting to a high art. But if I had to pick one horror film, it would probably be Psycho... or the original Halloween. My other top pics would include Silence of the Lambs, Aliens, Jaws and The Exorcist... oh, and Freaks! I did a piece on half-man Johnny Ec which you can read in our Golf Corpse issue: http:// girlsandcorpses.com/print5/johnny.html

Sounds great! Any exciting news for your magazine coming up soon? Every day is exciting at Girls and Corpses! I’m living a dream -- wrapped in a nightmare -- wrapped in a fortune cookie. Our next issue is The Karate Corpse, featuring cover girl Quina Feldstein (granddaughter of Al Feld- stein, who is the co-creator of Mad Magazine and EC Comics). We are also working on a European edition of the magazine and our calendar is selling like death-cakes at a zombie bake-off. Check out our Corpse Mart here: http://girlsandcorpses.com/store/index.html. The Prison Soap and Corpse Body Soap are not to be missed!

Any last words of wisdom before you go? Dying is easy... comedy is hard... but dying comedy is the worst! RIP, Robert Steven Rhine “The Grin Creeper” Founder/Publisher/Deaditor-In-Chief Girls and Corpses magazine http://girlsandcorpses.com “So many corpses... so little time.”

Love it! Thanks, Robert! NVF Magazine Interview With Amanda Underwood

Greetings, Amanda. It is a real pleasure to have you here. How are you? Hi, Dave. I’m running late as usual but good. I would give up sleeping to get more done but I’m rather fond of that part of my day. However, I am very happy that you’re including two of my pieces in NVF Publications.

It is really an honor to have you here. Since the first time I read one of your stories, I have wanted to interview you. How long have you been writing? You seem like a natural. I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember, since I could pick up a pen, but there were quite a few times when I had long dry spells. I got serious about writing again in the last five years. I was, and still am, lucky to have great feedback from editors. That has helped keep me moti- vated that there is some kind of light at the end of the tunnel – despite my occasional fear that it’s just a deep-sea angler (the creepy abyssal fish in Finding Nemo for non-ichthyologists).

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Your story, Cockroaches, is what I consider a classic. In dark fiction. What exactly was the inspiration for that one? Or…should I fear to ask? It was silly. I walked into my house on a moonless night, no lights on, no stars because of cloud cover, and the darkness felt like it could be holding anything inside of it. But you still have to walk into it to turn on a light and most of us do that without thinking. So then I wondered what would happen if there was something there, not just in my house, but in every house. I think we take civilization’s amenities for granted, especially the need for shelter. I just wanted to take that crutch and rip it out from under people.

I am thrilled to death to have you in my Deadly Dolls book! And my zombie book, too. A double dose of Amanda! Where did the idea for Slow Breeders come from? I’m a Romero fan. I wanted to stay true to that old-school notion of zombies, which has been challenged in a lot of recent movies and fiction, but play a little with the catalyst of zombification. (I’m not sure if I can use that as a word but it means the process of becoming a zombie.) But the original inspiration was really that quote from Aristophanes which just led my brain in the direction the story took.

Let me ask you some of my really boring Q&A: What would you say is your favorite horror film? How about book? Nosy little fart, aren’t I? My favorite horror film is definitely Day of the Dead (the original Romero), although I have loved Alien and Aliens forever. Recently, I was blown away by the independent horror film, The Signal. I wish I had the talent for injecting black comedy into the middle of my work like they did. It lets the ending gut-punch you that much harder. I read a lot, way too much, but I would say that my favorite author is Philip K. Dick for novels and Stephen King for short stories. I read The Mist about fifteen times trying to figure out what about the structure made it such a good story. And recent favorites definitely include China Mieville’s The Tain and Tim Lebbon’s White, both give me chills. Interviews 147

Nope, not nosy at all. Anytime I meet fellow horror / sci-fi fans, we swap favorites. I think it’s one of the best ways to learn about writers and movies you haven’t heard of. Even in the day of the Internet, word of mouth (as it has become with reviews and such) is still an awesome way to encounter new things.

Have you ever considered putting together a short fiction collection? If so…I want one!!!!! Thanks for the compliment. I love horror, and have been more successful with it than anything else, but I’m equally addicted to spec-fic, sci-fi, and a recent foray into time travel. Hopefully, and with NVF’s support (yep, that was totally a plug), I’ll have enough published work one day to consider something like that.

Well, gotta go for now. Anything to tell us before you go? Don’t take criticism too seriously. But I’m still working on that one, too. ••• “I am a 30-year-old, trying-not-to-be-a-soccer-mom, employed-but-still- in-school, hyphen-loving gal who lives in the DC metro area. Besides beating on a keyboard my happy place is thirty feet off the ground, upside down, and hanging by my fingers from tiny slabs of rock. I am a dog and a cat person, because you’d be surprised how good they taste in a sandwich, and my husband swears that my life will not be complete until they make a movie about evil zombie dragons. Sadly - I am looking forward to exactly that. I’ve published fiction in The Harrow and AtomJack Magazine.”

NVF Magazine Interview With Teri Harrison

Greetings, Teri. How are we today? I really enjoy interviewing female make-up/F/X artists. What prompted your interest in getting into this field in the first place? I grew up watching horror and sci-fi films with my father. He always would tell it was not real and how they used simple things like chocolate syrup for blood; it fascinated me. I also was and still am a huge fan of Halloween and anything theatrical. I always wanted to be a part of something that would place me in that atmosphere for a career. I grew up in Florida and one place that was known for surrounding itself with horror was Universal Studios in Orlando. I did some research on the Halloween Horror Night Event they have every year, looked up schools and special F/X work. It put me where I am today.

I think it’s a shame female F/X artists aren’t up there along with Bottin, Baker, Savini. Or maybe they are and I just don’t know it. Are there a lot of them out there?

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It is a shame we are not as popular as far as the F/X career goes. I know there are plenty out there who are talented beyond belief and don’t get as much recognition as they should. Although there is one female out there who has gone beyond becoming successful in the industry, Vie Neil, who I had the honor of meeting during my make-up schooling. She has been the mastermind behind many creative films, such asA.I., Pirates of the Caribbean, Edward Scissorhands, Mrs. Doubtfire, Hooks, and two of my all-time favorites, Beetlejuice and The Lost Boys.

What’s this about you doing some work for a Star Wars project? That sounds exciting. I actually only worked on it for a few days and assisted with some basic make-up and hair on set. Although the artists like, Laura Tyler, Tim Hayes, Luandra Whitehurst, and Saida Wagner, that continued to work on this film were fantastic and really pulled off some great creations. www.swtheforgotten.com

I see you worked on Legend of the Red Reaper. Tara Cardinal was in that. I really like her, she is sweet. Did you do her makeup? Yes I did. Before Legend of the Red Reaper Tara and I also did a few photo shoots together. She is very sweet and very passionate about her work. She gave me a great opportunity working on Red Reaper. It was a lot of hard work and I had a great time. I met so many good-hearted people on that set and will always remember working on that film.

What kind of film would you rather work on? I hear horror films are more fun, more of a laidback atmosphere. I eat, breath, and sleep horror. It is something I have always been a huge fan of. I would love to take a bucket of blood attached to a hose and walk around set all day covering things in blood. I also enjoy those types of movies because your creativity can really be challenged and brought out. Making monsters to me is the most fun. Although I would also love Interviews 151

to work on a huge action film just to see how it all works and comes together.

This may sound like a dumb question, so forgive me: Do women in the makeup/F/X field have a union? They should. Not that I am aware of. There is a general Makeup Artist Union. I am not sure if I would want a separate union for women alone though. I feel it’s hard enough trying to be recognized in fields that we are already secluded in. I would eventually like woman F/X artists seen in the same light as bigger male artist such as Bottin, Baker, and, one of my favorites, Wayne Toth.

What was it you did for Universal Studios? They have produced some of the real horror classics over the years. I work seasonally for Universal doing makeup for the haunted houses and street characters during Halloween Horror Nights. I would have to say this is by far my favorite job. It’s so much fun and you meet so many people who are passionate about the same things you are. Many of my good close friends have come out of working for Universal and I think it’s a job I will keep for as long as I can.

Do you still hope to be doing this twenty years from now? Yeah. I hope it’s something I’ll always be able to do. I would love to eventually own my own lab and work out of there. I could sit in a room, play my IPod, sculpt monsters, and create ideas all day. There are so many films, plays, commercials, and TV shows these days that the pos- sibilities out there are endless and I hope to be able to experience as much of them as possible.

Any last words of wisdom before you go? Don’t give up. It’s not easy choosing something you love for a career. You face many obstacles and many heartbreaks, but you have to re- 152 Queens of Scream

member you chose to do it for a reason. Hard work pays off and the world is big, meaning there are so places to find where you belong. ••• Education and Training Special F/X and Beauty Makeup training under the teachings of Lee Grimes and Bill McCoy Universal Studios Florida-Grinchmas Whovillian Makeup Class Daytona Beach Community College A.A. Degree in Art and Design, June 2004 (Classes in Photography, Graphic Design, and General Art) Clinique “First Class” Beauty and Skincare Seminar and Training

Experience: Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights18 2007-Makeup Artist/ Airbrush Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights17 2007-Makeup Artist/ Airbrush Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights16 2007-Makeup Artist/ Airbrush ‘Dusk’-Assistant Makeup Artist/Special F/X Zombie Date Special F/X Makeup Artist Abyssmal Photography-Photoshoot-Makeup Artist Star Wars VII-The Forgotten Fan Film-Makeup Artist/Hair/Boom Operator Legend of the Red Reaper Film-Makeup Artist Annette Batista Photography-Makeup Artist for Model Tara Cardinal Photoshoot Mac Crack” Photoshoot with Photographer Betsey Hansen-Makeup Artist/High Fashion Buena Vista Suites Commercial-Makeup Artist/Hair/Wardrobe Universal Studios Orlando “Halloween Horror Nights” 2006-Makeup Artist/Airbrush Interviews 153

Orlando Fire Department-Injury Simulation for Mock Fire Orlando Police Department- Injury Simulation for Mock Terrorist Attack. Garage Sale Film- Limping Frog Productions- Makeup Artist SDK Photography-Makeup Artist for Model Kristin Samuleson Tosca Orlando Opera- Pre-show Makeup Application Bailey Family Makeover Party-Beauty Makeup and Hair Styling

Skilled in, but not limited to: *Also experienced in Airbrushing and Airbrush techniques* Contacts and Portfolio Available Upon Request Beauty Make-up Corrective Clean Beauty High Fashion Glamour Fantasy Hair-work Beards Mustaches Sideburns Stubble Effect Creation of Natural Hairline Character Make-up Various Injuries Tattoo Applications Monster Recreation Zombies Old Age Make-up Paint and Powder Stretch and Stipple Prosthetic Make-up Application of Prosthetic Appliances 154 Queens of Scream

Impressions/Positive and Negative Mold Making Sculpting Techniques Foam Latex Application Proper Removal of Prosthetics Bald Cap Application Patching and Repair Techniques ••• Nicole was born in Loretto, Minnesota, a small town 30 minutes west of Minneapolis, and grew up in the North Hennepin County suburb of Brooklyn Park. The oldest of two and a victim of divorce, she spent most of her childhood with her loving mother, younger sister, and a well-used Nintendo. But regardless of her family status, all of her talents were nurtured; she attended school in dance, art, music and performance. In her teens she became obsessed with Hollywood, but especially action and horror. She adored classics like The Shining, Nightmare on Elm Street, Hellraiser, Hong Kong action, and “Shoot Um Up” Guy Richie-styled films; but she also held a deep passion for the true classics of film history such as Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady, Greta Garbo and the talented Shirley Temple. Currently, in addition to playing parts in over 40 projects in film, television, theater and print, Nicole also found the time to create the film corporation TRIWAR Productions. Watch for Nicole in many projects in the near future!! NVF Magazine interview With Nicola Fiore

Howdy, babe! How are you this fine morning? Getting used to the cold weather again! I enjoy a white Christmas but have thin Florida blood!

Now this is an interesting fact: You grew up on a tour bus with musician parents. Sounds fun. But, didn’t that type of nomadic lifestyle affect you in any adverse ways as time went on? I am sure it did. Moving around a lot. Staying up late. Partying at a young age. Yeah, my sister and I are pretty crazy, I guess you could say.

Now, this may be a very embarrassing question, bit I am feeling a little frisky. How does it feel to be remembered for starring in a film entitled Terror at Blood Fart Lake? I think that has to be the very first time I saw the word “fart” in the title of a horror film. I love that film! It was so fun to make and I loved the character Chris

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Seaver (of LBP) wrote for me. The cast and crew were a blast to work with. I would encourage everyone to see it. Netfilx, Amazon, SRS cinema’s website are all places it is available.

Where did you attend film school? CA? NY? Actually, in South Florida. The community college I went to has a great program and a great professor named Del Jacobs. Some of the alums went on to do great things, including the film Waiting.

As an actress/producer/writer, with so much on your plate, don’t you ever find it overwhelming? Does it ever get …lonely? It is always overwhelming. I wouldn’t want it any other way. I am never lonely though, my girlfriend Melody is very supportive and has come along to help do P.A. work on a lot of the sets I have been on. She is what keeps me smiling.

You have an impressive co-star list: Debbie Rochon, Monique Dupree. The ladies of horror are like one big family, aren’t they? Yes! I remember the early ‘90s late ‘80s when there were women like Linnea Quigley (who I also had the pleasure working with), Brinke Ste- vens, Julie Strain, Tina Krause, and so many others. They got to do several films together and were also a big family. I would like to see that again with the new family. There are several others I would like to work with and am in the works to work with like April Burril, Brinke, Darian Caine, and Tiffany Shepis.

And what about Lloyd Kaufman? I bet he is a real blast to be around. He is great! Even when on a set with him when he starts to go off, I am laughing at him. He and I have the same sense of humor and enjoy pranking people. He has a lot of energy and is hard to keep up with. I like to think I can stay up late and party, but sometimes he is up later than me at cons and still going! Interviews 157

I was watching a film with a friend of mine recently - I believe it was one of the Halloween films – and we’d just seen one of the female stars getting whacked and my friend said, quote: “Another dumb blonde bites the big one, huh?” {Men are really pigs, aren’t they?} This is, unfortunately, the opinion of a lot of the male-viewing public; that these women in horror films are … well ... dumb. I, myself, have found them all highly intelligent. Any {nasty} comments from you on this subject? I have played dumb characters, sure. Also, I have played bad bitches! Thunder Ambrosia in Terror at Blood Fart Lake is a bad bitch. It may seem like a stereotype but I can watch a film and say, “Look at that dude trying to get some ass again.” The truth is, there really are not many men of horror lists or “scream king” lists. Women in this genre are much more admired, I believe. We are all smart because we use that to our advantage.

What is on the horizon for Nicola? There is a lot coming up. I am looking forward to working with Forbid- den Films on a Chainsaw Sally project. There are a few films outside the genre I am doing this next year. A martial arts film, an action film, a comedy, and I just did a three-and-a-half-minute monologue to audition for my first drama which I have gotten really attached to the story. There are a few roles I would like to play in case there are any filmmakers out there! An evil cheerleader, vampire, serial killer (that one should come naturally to me), and someone cast me as a sassy bitch already! LOL!

Any last words of wisdom before you leave us? I think it is important to be in this for the right reasons. Never for the money or the fame. That doesn’t really exist in the cult world. Having fun and enjoying the process is the only reason to do this. ••• 158 Queens of Scream

Filmography Actress: Patient 27 (2010) (pre-production) Post Mortem, America 2021 (2009) Is This a Joke? (2009) (filming) Into the Basement (2009) (filming) Dead End (2010) (post-production) For Christ’s Sake (2008) (post-production) Unholy Reunion (2009)

Miscellaneous Crew: Dead End (2010) (post-production) (production assistant) For Christ’s Sake (2008) (post-production) (script supervisor)

Producer: For Christ’s Sake (2008) (post-production)

Transportation Department: For Christ’s Sake (2008) (post-production)

Self: Debbie Rochon Confidential: My Years in Tromaville Exposed! (2006) (V) NVF Magazine Interview With Danica DeCosto

Good morning, Danica. How are you today? I’m pretty good. A little sick, though. I hate winter!

Me, too. Now, don’t think I am being too forward – and God forbid I make your husband upset – but…I think you are a living doll! You are sooooo cute! I bet you were spoiled a lot as a child, weren’t you? Thank you! And, yes, I was spoiled. My mom used to like to dress me up in frilly little dresses all the time but eventually I got sick of it and just wore jeans all the time. And I was spoiled with lots of toys, too. I loved Barbies! I think that is why I like filmmaking so much. It’s like playing Barbies except with live people instead of dolls.

I understand your face has been seen in dozens of TV commercials and music videos. What are some of the TV spots? Well, I don’t know about dozens, but my favorite commercial that I did was a Post-Its one where I played an office nerd.

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I bet you are a kitty and puppy person, too. Have any pets? Yes, I have cats. At the moment I also have a dog, but we are sadly about to get rid of her because my son is too rough with her and she doesn’t like it.

I see you earned a BA in film. Was it difficult to obtain a degree like that one? Well...back when I got into film school there weren’t as many spots available and it was harder to get in. I actually got accepted as a screen- writing major first, and had try out to switch my major to film. They hardly let anyone switch over and I had to work really hard and make the best films possible in order for them to let me. Luckily I got in, and then got to make more films in the more advanced classes. We were actually required to use film and not video, and that is a lot more ex- pensive. But I am glad I got the experience of doing it, though, because film really is great even though it’s a lot more complicated than video. But, as for if it was difficult to get the degree, the answer is yes and no. Making films was a lot of work. For mine, we built sets and made costumes and did all of the work that most movies have a whole team of people doing, and my husband and I were doing all of it ourselves. He was my boyfriend at the time. But even though it was a lot of work it’s what I loved to do so it didn’t really feel like work.

Make any scary movies? Clue me in… Well, most people wouldn’t consider it scary unless they were under five years old. But my film Imagination will scare the crap out of pre- schoolers. It’s about a monster who lives under a little girl’s bed. He comes out and steals her doll and takes it to his dungeon where he tor- tures all the toys he has stolen from countless children. It’s been called a horror movie for little kids! Interviews 161

What is your favorite scary movie? Or book? Growing up I always liked the Poltergeist movies. But I guess if I had to name the movie that scared me the most, that would be The Ring. I was so scared of televisions after that, and I was even scared of my own hair since I had long dark hair like Samara. Once I was drying my hair and I flipped it forward and I looked just like Samara when she would put her hair all in front of her face and march up to kill someone. Scared the crap out of myself! And that’s really not good to be scared of yourself.

What would you say a “normal” day in the life of Danica consists of? Well, I am a mom, so normally I will wake up and make breakfast for my two-year-old son, and then we might go to Chuck E. Cheese, go to music class, or hang out at home and watch some of his favorite movies.

Anything exciting on your horizon right now? Yes, there is. I am currently in development for my first feature film. It’s a musical comedy and it should be really fun. My husband has already made two features so he is producing it with me. We are going to L.A. soon to write the music with our good friend who is a music producer out there.

Any last words before you go? Thanks for the interview! ••• Danica DeCosto Eyes - blue Hair - dark brown Height - 5’5” Weight - 139 162 Queens of Scream

Film The Scholarship supporting Tony Georgetti The Vampires of Zanzibar supporting John Birmingham Films Crazy Animal lead John Birmingham Films Meant to Be lead John Birmingham Films Camp Pacific supporting Sparklight Films Imagination supporting Danica Pictures The Escort lead Julie Larson Death of an Actress lead Guzman Productions Cocaine Dreams lead Jed Robbins I Fly Away Three Times lead Laurel Almerinda Pag supporting Julie Masucci Lava Lounge featured Ovenbird Films Post-Its lead Justin Jagoda Sally and Johnny supporting Danica Pictures The Shoes supporting Guzman Productions Djinn supporting Marie Ka Sorry supporting Kim Binion, Mike Modecki

Television Crime Strike day player Associated Television Theater The Fantasticks Luisa Theatre One Dominion Aurora Theatre One Grand Hotel Flaemmchen Bellaire High School For Unto Y’all Gracie First Baptist Church of Bellaire Anyone Hear Me? Cathy Bellaire Actors Group

Training Audition Techniques- Scott Musgrove/AIA Commercial, Cold Reading/Theatrical, Improv- Beverly Hills Studios Dance- Dance Dimensions, Bus, Burbank Dance Biz, Santa Monica College Interviews 163

Modeling- Mad Hatter Voice- Kent Banbury Special Skills- singing, dancing, accents (Russian, Australian, Southern, New York, French) swimming, cry on cue, fake sneezing, yodeling

Additional Experience: August‘99-August‘00: Food Server for Playboy Enterprises, Playboy Mansion Duties- serving food at parties

NVF Magazine Interview with Donna Hamblin

Good day to you, Donna, are you doing well, I hope? I’m great thank you; I am in Los Angeles as we speak. It’s raining like crazy here.

I hear you recently worked with Joe Castro. I have interviewed him, too. Sounds like a nice guy. Was he fun to work with? Joe is a really nice guy. I worked with him on Sludge/Shadow of Death with Steven Taylor here in Los Angeles. And, yes, he is amazing and fun to work with. Though I shouldn’t give his secrets away, I will tell you it’s unbelievable what this man can do with a paper towel and paint. He is so willing to explain to anyone on the set interested in learning his craft. He whips through doing the effects on a person in no time then yells, “O.K. Next!” On film his stuff looks so realistic. I would definitely work with him again given the opportunity.

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What prompted your interest in the horror genre? I worked on television, plays, etc. .. anything I could get from my agent. I was auditioned for Disney (yes, that’s right folks....Disney), Ocean’s 12, etc... I did Stephen King’s play, Misery. In between jobs I did a few low-budget dramas and horror movies, then a couple more, and well.... Here I am! The industry has been very good to me. I take my acting very serious, and by incorporating that into the horror movies I believe it makes for a more intense, realistic movie rather than watching someone scream for one and a half hours. You can bet that if I am getting my head severed or picking up a melted person off the floor that you will get one hundred percent of my devotion to acting while watching.

If you could pick any one certain actor/actress to work with, who would it be? And why? Nosy little bugger, aren’t I? Yes, you are a nosy little bugger... ha ha. Hum... that’s a tough one because my first pick would have been Marlon Brando. But if we did that right now, I think that would be a little creepy. (But it would make for one hell of a scary movie.) This is tough because there are so many... O.K. It would have to be Anthony Hopkins. His intensity is never missed. Being able to react to him on the set would be the ultimate high for any actor.

So....tell me, what does a normal day in the life of Donna consist of? I don’t think I know how to have a normal day. I usually don’t have a routine other than when I wake up, I go outside to drink my coffee and think about what I have to do that particular day. I run errands (usually to do with the movie industry). I do a lot of volunteer work. I am a very compassionate person. (I actually started a work program for the homeless in Las Vegas.) I go to a five-day or less Hospice and visit patients once a week. Which is a true passion of mine. If I’m not busy, I love to cook for my family/loved ones. I can whip up a mean gourmet meal. It’s almost like meditation for me. I seldom have time to just “hang out.” I’m trying to fit Yoga and Belly Dance back into my routine, I really Interviews 167

miss them. Though I would probably have to get up at 3 a.m. to fit them into my schedule. Whenever I can, I get away. I try to go on small trips to do what I call my “getaway.”

Your film At the House of Madness sounds interesting. Almost like a Poe-inspired tale. What’s the plotline there? The script reminded me at first of aTwilight Zone episode. Though I cannot compare Steve [Sessions] to that. He deserves a lot more credit for his originality. The character “Tracy” I play in the movie is a vulnerable, naive, person who always lets her curiosity get the best of her. While beachcombing, she finds a book (which is not meant to be read) then later realizes it can only be opened one way. Steve Sessions is an unbelievable writer, producer and director. I had such a great time working with him and everybody else, such as Luc Bernier, Jason Barns. I look forward to working with them again someday. You can find the movie on Amazon.com under Catacomb of Creepshows.

Have you ever considered a modeling career? I think you would make a great model. Thank you for the compliment. I modeled at one time. I did a promo for Photo Hut (remember them?). I am on a CD.rom game, Ceasers World, among other small jobs. The modeling genre here in Las Vegas is so different from, say, the Ford or Elite Modeling in New York. Yes, there is some of that here, however. Usually when a client wants to hire models here locally they want the “Vegas Look,” which is what sells here. You won’t find Cindy Crawford on the billboard for Tommy Rockers or the Palms Casino. You will find some extremely beautiful girls here with big breasts on them, which I think is great.

It sounds great to me, too! What is on the horizon for Donna right now? Tell us. When I get back to Las Vegas, I will be working with Ted Mikels in Astro 168 Queens of Scream

Zombies M3 Cloned. I will be playing the part of Stefani DeMarco, who is the granddaughter of the Dr. DeMarco in the original Astro Zombies played by none other than the late John Carradine. I find it a great honor and challenge to fill his shoes and continue the DeMarco tradi- tion. I will be also working on another movie after that. And I am finishing two other movies at this time. Now that’s a Normal Day for Donna!! Hopefully, I can fit a much-needed vacation in after that. I really love going to the South Pacific.

Any last words before you leave us? Yes... A big thank you to everyone out there that have an appreciation for the horror film industry for all the support and e-mails. I try to reply to all of my e-mails whenever I get the chance, so please feel free to write me at [email protected] or look me up here on MySpace. I love what I do; the wonderful support behind me only makes me hunger for more. XO •••

Filmography Killer Biker Chicks (2009) (post-production) At the House of Madness (2008) (V) Sludge (2007) Cauldron: Baptism of Blood (2004) (V) Mark of the Astro-Zombies (2002) (V) Killer’s Mind (1999)

Self: The Wild World of Ted V. Mikels (2008) NVF Magazine interview With Patricia Dunn

Good day to you, Patricia. Doing well, I hope? Yes, I am quite busy actually. Thank You. We have just finished up our Chinese New Year shows, in between filming and work - it can be a little crazy.

I see you were in Legend of the Red Reaper with Tara Cardinal. She’s a real sweetheart. Was that film a lot of fun? I love Tara. She is sweet; she is very generous and is always looking out for everyone. I had so much fun shooting Red Reaper. All of the cast members got along so well; most of us still keep in touch and have worked together on other films. I really loved the script, and Tara and Matt’s vision. They had their idea, but they were open to your character interpretations as well. I actually played three parts, LOL. I play Quan Yin-the reaper, Kinsey- a blond Reaper, and a Demon. Matt was, like, how are we going to do your credits!? LOL. I have worked with Tara on a couple of Red Scream films as well, Terminal Descent and First Dark.

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Now, I will have to admit, I have never interviewed a massage therapist who could kick some major booty before! So…you just beat their ass, then nurse them back to health? LOL. Actually, I am a registered nurse also. Technically, I could stitch them back up, but usually I don’t need to. I’m usually the one getting beat up. I think I hurt myself more than anyone else, just cuz I can be klutzy at times. I seriously can do some complicated stunt and then sprain my ankle just walking away. Yes, I am retarded. But it’s entertainment value!

What’s this about kung fu?! For some reason, I can’t see a beauty like you “kung-fuing” anybody. But, looks can be deceiving… Yes, right now I practice Wah Lum. It is Northern preying mantis and eagle claw. But I have also done wing chun, some wushu, and five animal styles. LOL. Most people think I look very sweet ... until they meet me. I grew up a tomboy, playing football, tumbling, and some backyard martial arts. I have a lot of friends that know different styles and we train together. I’m learning Kali now also. Getting beat up is fun! I was raised by my father who was a single dad in the Air force, so I was like the boy he never had. We fixed stuff together, and I guess that I tend to act more like a guy most of the time.

I understand you are also a trained singer and dancer. Who were your favorite singers and dancers growing up? Oh my. I really grew up listening to all styles of music. But I have to say heavy metal is my preference. I really loved singers that could belt it out - it challenged me. I have to say Sebastian Bach from Skid Row was one of my favorite singers. I just love anyone who sings from the heart and has good tone, though. I actually wanted to grow up and be on Fame or be a Solid Gold dancer - I know that’s so cheesy, right? I really love dancing, though, because I feel it is a true expression and interpretation of music. Interviews 171

How about literature? Films? Any top picks? I like science fiction/fantasy (can you tell?) I like Laurell K. Hamilton a lot. I would love to play a character in one of her books! I love action movies. Lord of the Rings and House of Flying Daggers are two of my faves. The combination of cinematography, acting and storyline make them amazing to watch.

Anything exciting on the horizon? I am currently shooting a film called Fury by Jason S. Williams. I am acting with my fellow Reaper - Rachel Thompson! It’s a complicated storyline, but we are hoping to finish it and submit it to some film festivals this fall. I am supposed to shoot Vampyr with Red Scream this spring as well. Other than that, I am just flying by the seat of my pants!

Any last words before you leave us? I have a lot of pictures from some of the films webshot/shooting on my MySpace page, as well as my stunt reel, and a couple trailers from Termi- nal Descent, Red Reaper, and Fury soon. I am always open for acting and stunts, so contact me if anyone’s interested! www.myspace/pattystunt

Okey dokey, babe. Will do! •••

Filmography Fury Terminal Descent Legend of the Red Reaper

NVF Magazine interview With DeeDee Bigelow

Good morning, Dee Dee! Long time, no hear! How have you been? Hi, David! I’ve been pretty good, very busy! How about you?

Just peachy, now that you are here! I hear you are going to begin filming your new picture, The Perfect Serial Killer, soon. Horror? Thriller? What genre does it fit into? PSK is a thriller. I’m trying to go back to the Alfred Hitchcock type, where the audience should be on the edge of their seat with anticipa- tion. And, if we make it right, no one will know who the real killer is. I’m co-writing this movie with Tyger Torres, who is amazing, so I am confident the movie will be awesome!!! We should begin filming Summer 2009. Check out the website www.pskthemovie.com

Is it true your first appearance in film was in The Surreal Life? I bet that was wild! Being on the Surreal Life Fame Games with Traci Bingham is what made

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me realize I wanted to pursue acting. It was so fun being in front of the camera 24/7, and it was very natural to me. I still keep in touch with Traci Bingham and Ron Jeremy from the show.

Ron Jeremy?! I see you grew up on a farm. Were you the tomboy type, or sugar-and-spice-and-everything-nice type? LOL! Hahaha…I was just the typical farm girl. I had my first pony at four years old, and have been riding ever since. My mom trained dogs for police work, and now I work PT for a Dog Talent Agency in Los Angeles. Funny how things come full circle? I love animals, and now I get to work with them on set. Life doesn’t get much better than that!

When did you first realize you wanted to become an actress? Any major influences growing up? I first realized I wanted to become an actress, and be in this industry, on Surreal Life Fame Games. I always loved watching movies as a kid, but never thought of being involved with them. So, it has only been about two years or so since I have been pursuing this. And I am filming my own movie this Summer, I think I’m doing pretty good so far!

Now, tell the truth; what does a “typical” day in the life of DeeDee consist of? What do you do to unwind? A typical day for me…Get up in the morning, have my coffee and get to work. If I’m working on set, I will head out for the day. If not, I stay home, answer e-mails, talk with filmmakers about projects, have production meetings on PSK. It can be pretty hectic! Funny thing, to unwind, I will watch a movie. Since this industry is my passion, to me there is nothing better. I will watch movies over and over again for the artistic value.

Here is one just for fun; if you could be any of your favorite characters from any of your favorite films, who – or what – would it be? So easy! Princess Leia. I am a huge Star Wars geek, and I was Princess Interviews 175

Leia for three years for Halloween growing up. I’m still a big fan. Being in this business has given me the opportunity to meet Carrie Fisher twice now. That was like a dream come true!

Anything exciting on the horizon for DeeDee? Oh, I have lots! The Mortal Vampire – thriller – written by EW Bradfute. Into the Basement – horror – written by Norm Applegate and directed by JL Botelho. Get Out of Dodge – Western – written by Tony Ritter. Feed – horror – written and directed by Rick Vasquez. 13 Stories – comedy – written and directed by Tony Ritter. And, of course, The Perfect Serial Killer. www.pskthemovie.com Along with the films, I will start filming a webseries called Vampires in LA. And later this year, I have a recurring role on a teen drama show called Broken Road.

My goodness, do you ever sleep? Any last words for aspiring actresses? Would you like to tell me how much you love me for doing this interview before you leave us? Well, just if you can believe it, you can achieve it. If acting/producing is your passion, then never let it go! Because your dreams will come true some day. Check out my websites for all the updates on all my projects! www.deedeebigelow.com www.bigelowproductions.com And, of course – I love and cherish you, David!!! Thank you so much for the great interview…See ya at the movies!

I hope so! ••• My name is DeeDee Bigelow; I was born in Olympia, Washington on Feb 6, 1973. I grew up on a five-acre farm with horses, dogs and other 176 Queens of Scream

critters. No brothers or sisters, thank goodness! HAHAHA! My mom trained dogs for Police Work, so life growing up was pretty exciting! While my mom would train the dogs, my dad would be watching wrestling, and I would be out with my horses. As a kid I had to be very creative as well. Having no neighbors meant spending lots of time alone. I can draw really well and write poetry. I enjoy other hobbies like riding quads in the sand and mountains, jet skiing, snowmobiling and watching movies. Even as a young kid, I watched movies over and over again. I even tape recorded Star Wars and then would listen to it as I went to sleep. Needless to say, I have the entire movie of Star Wars memorized to this day. About two years ago, I decided to leave Olympia in search of something new. I quit my job, sold my house, and moved to Las Ve- gas, Nevada. I ended up auditioning for this silly show called Surreal Life Fame Games, and got it! I filmed the show with Traci Bingham, and it was quite interesting to me. I decided to move to Hollywood, California, to see if I could pursue acting. Working with Traci was so much fun; I just knew I had to be involved in the film/TV industry. I never knew as a kid I would be involved in this way!!! I knew I loved watching movies, but to be working on them is something so different! After living in Hollywood now for a short time, I know I have found my calling. Acting is my true passion and I can say I truly love being on set! I will remain in Hollywood and pursue my dream of acting. And I know I will succeed, because how can I not when it is my passion? I have filmed such shows asMy Name is Earl, Nip/Tuck, Shark, CSI: NY and movies like All About Steve, Dead Air, Dockweiler and The Bucket List. I’m writing two scripts right now, as soon as I can tell more about that, I will. I’m also scheduled to film a movie next year, so stay tuned! I have to say thank you to all my family and friends who have supported me on this journey! Like my mom and dad - I love you guys! And my best friends - Michelle, Stacy, Erin and Rich! And new friends like Alana, Lisa, Jamie, David, Steve, Mike, Katie, Johnny...All of you have been great! Hollywood has just seen a small part of me so far, and I know it will see lots more! I enjoy and welcome the challenges of this industry, and cannot wait to be 100% successful! DeeDee Bigelow Sexiest Scream Queen Winner Stacey Dixon

Stacey Dixon is a model/actress based out of Nashville, Tennessee, combining her talents as a pin-up/fetish model, and a horror film actress. She is not limited to those genres, as she is diverse in her trade. Stacey has a strong background in film. She attended Jon Nave Univer- sity in 2000. After receiving her Esthetics license she moved to Mones- sen, Pennsylvania, to study Special Effects Make-up under her mentor, Tom Savini (The Godfather of Gore). Soon after leaving Pennsylvania, Stacey started working on film projects in the south and in the Midwest. In 2004 Coyote Ugly brought their Girl Search to Nashville, TN. Stacey auditioned, and made it through both tryouts and beat out over seven hundred other hopefuls. With intense dance training, Stacey began the love of the limelight. That’s when she started modeling by doing promotional ads, and covers for motorcycle magazines. Soon she found herself acting as well. Wrapping up on Old Habits Die Hard, a production by Bloody Moon

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Films, which she co-owns with her husband, in November 2008, she has four more feature-length films lined up. InOld Habits Die Hard, she plays Kane Hodder’s little sister in which she “brings somebody home for dinner” ! Stacey has also starred in short films and music videos. Stacey also has a paranormal Investigating Group in Nashville called Black Cat Paranormal. They have investigated and filmed the famously haunted Stones River Battlefield in Murfreesboro, TN. She has also been writing a book on her own paranormal experiences and growing up in a haunted house. 2009 has already been a busy year for Stacey. •••

NVF Magazine interview With Stacey Dixon

Greetings, Stacey! How are you this fine March morning? I am doing well... tired of the cold and the rain, but other than that I’m good!

So…how does it feel to be the winner of our sexiest Scream Queen contest? I, personally, was blown away by your sex appeal’ I am very honored! I submitted at the last second, and didn’t think I stood a chance, so when I was messaged this morning I was blown away!!! Thank you, I try to be as sexy as I can. For some reason it is very important to me!

And what a resume we have; dancer, actress, paranormal investigation. Have you always dreamed of being in front of the camera? Not always. I was fairly shy growing up and my thing was art. I took every art course I possibly could from kindergarten through high school, and then some. I started off as a Make-up Artist ranging from straight makeup through F/X stuff. (I love gore and blood!) Then about three Interviews 179

years ago, I decided I was on the wrong end of the camera. I started dancing at a young age, but wasn’t formally trained until 2004 when I made the Coyote Ugly Girl Search. I was then trained for clogging, modern, and improv. I have also taken Cabaret Belly Dancing at Vanderbilt University. As for the Paranormal Investigating, I have my own group here in Nashville, TN. We are a fairly small group, but are very different from many others. A lot of Paranormal Investigators base their theories on religion. At Black Cat Paranormal we believe that there are many different spiritual elements and not everyone shares the same belief and we are open minded to the world. Ok, ok... I got a little too deep on that! I love anything paranormal! I’ve seen spirits my whole life and I am currently in the process of finishing up my book on the subject!

And what’s this about you being in a film with Jason Voorhees himself, Kane Hodder? I bet that was fun! Yeah, Kane and I are brother and sister in the movie, Old Habits Die Hard, produced and directed by my husband Ben Dixon. It was a lot of fun! It was the best set I’ve ever been on! The crew was fantastic and the cast was amazing! Everyone got along so great, and the movie was shot in nineteen days! Kane was a trip! In one scene we are having an argument; he grabbed me by my arm and I thought it was gonna rip off! You can check the website and learn more about the movie at: www. oldhabitsdiehardthemovie.com

In your opinion, what is it about the horror genre in general that makes it so appealing? Horror genre appealing ... hmm... well, I’ve always loved the horror genre! I started watching horror films at the innocent age of five. It’s just who I am, it’s in my blood! 180 Queens of Scream

I see you are into paranormal investigation, too. Now, do you really believe in ghosts? I must admit, there have been a few times I did. Yes, I believe in ghosts, spirits, whatever you prefer to call them. There are so many things that we cannot explain. And many people choose not to believe because there is really no tangible proof! I have seen my share of things that I could not explain.

Here’s a good one for you; you are alone on a Saturday night, and you have two DVDs you can choose from to pass your time: The Wizard of Oz and Hellraiser. Which one would you choose? And tell the truth, now. The truth is Hellraiser... I cannot watch the Wizard of Oz anymore - that would drive me insane!! The Wizard of Oz would be my own Lemarch- and’s box!

I see that a lot of young actresses seem to be coming to a bad end these days. How do you stay so grounded? You must be a strong-willed person. I have always been a strong-willed person, but also I have a true love in the horror genre. It’s not just “Oh, hey, that sounds like a great script, I think I’ll take the part,” no, I love horror films!! And I think that is what will keep me around in the genre!

What advice would you give to an aspiring Scream Queen? This is advice I would give to anyone in any aspiring trade: if you want something, go for it. We are in total control of our own lives! Don’t let talk get you down, and listen to your gut feeling!

Any exciting news on the horizon for Stacey? There is always something exciting going on in my life! Never a dull moment! In fact, my husband and I put on a Tattoo & Horror Convention every spring and this year it will be April 24th-26th. There is so much planning that goes into it, but it is sooooo much fun! I encourage every- Interviews 181

one to come out! Plus I have several films coming up, and the modeling never seems to stop! But I love it!

Any last words before you leave us? I am so thankful that I get to live my dreams and I encourage everyone to live your life to the fullest, even if that is something dark and macabre! If you want to stay in the loop of my progress you can visit my website at www.staceydixon.com. ••• Stacey Dixon

Print Coyote Ugly Promotions Model (US Promotion) Coyote Ugly Promotions (Nashville Scene) BobStar Custom Bikes (Magazine) Interview with SCARS (Magazine) Women of SCARS 2009 (Magazine/ Calendar) Stacey Dixon and her SCARS (Celebrity Blog)

Film TimeServer (F/X Artist) - 2004 Barrymore’s Dream (F/X Artist) - 2005 Shudder (Entity) - 2006 (Feature) LETO (Interviewing Reporter) - 2007 (Short) Cuda Lay My Heart Away (Julie) - 2007 (48 HR) Old Habits Die Hard (Allison/ Danielle) Lead Role 2008 (Feature) Thong Girl 4 (Dynowoman) (feature) Hell House ( Domatrix) (feature) 182 Queens of Scream

Music Video Low Cash Cowboys (Business Lady) - 2007 Jimmy Dale (Fortune Teller) - 2007

Training Tom Savini Special Effects Makeup School Alan Dysert School of Acting (Nashville, TN)

Production Companies Bloody Moon Films Full Moon INC Black Cat Paranormal Documentaries (2008) Promoter and Hostess to the Full Moon Tattoo & Horror Festival (Nashville, TN) A Celebrity Column with SCARS Magazine (Independent Horror Magazine) Modeling Resume upon Request Afterword

I am sorry the following Queens were too busy to be here, but at least I am giving them honorable mention: Shannon Lark Tiffany Shepis Felissa Rose Jamie Deadly Debbie Rochon

You were sadly missed within these pages, but maybe next time, huh? This book took a long time to put together, but I think it turned out quite well, and was well worth all the time it took to get it into print. All of the Queens were a joy to work with, and I will really miss them now. I hope they all keep in touch. By the way, Lloyd, if you are reading this – which I sincerely hope you are – I hope you really enjoyed it, too. This one was for you, my friend; may you live long and prosper, and continue to entertain us for many years to come.

David Byron / March 16, 2009

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David Byron

David Byron is the founder and owner of NVF Magazine, an online publication that promotes dark fiction, independent filmmakers, and small press publishers. His diverse style of fiction has been published in numerous online magazines, including Midnight IN Hell, Darkfire, Nite- blade, Twisted Tongue, Abandoned Towers, and most recently in Something Wicked, who published his Bram Stoker-recommended story, Electrocut- ing the Clowns. In only one year online, he has conducted almost 100 interviews with such noted celebrities within the horror film industry as Herschell Gordon Lewis, Ingrid Pitt, Edwin Neal and Simon Bamford, and such noted fiction authors as Ramsey Campbell, Anne Rice, Graham Master- ton, Elizabeth Massie, Roberta Lannes, Kim Newman, Kathe Koja, and Joe R. Lansdale. His online magazine has featured fiction from Roberta Lannes, John Everson, Paul Kane, Michael McCarty and Mark McLaugh- lin, and L.L. Soares. He has also done book and film reviews for McFar- land Publishing, Bloody Books, Fangoria, and Obscure Horror.

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You may view his online magazine here www.freewebs.com/ nvhmag1 He lives in Vincennes, Indiana, with his cat, Toby, who helps him “edit” his manuscripts by jumping on the keyboard when he isn’t looking. And, yes, ladies, he is still single. Thank you for buying this book.