I had the extreme honor of sitting down and talking with David Naughton the other night for a short interview. David Naughton was the star of An American Werewolf In London as well as other numerous film and TV roles along with being the spokesperson for Dr. Pepper (the best one in our opinion). This interview was done for his appearance at the Terror In The Aisles event here in Chicago for the 30th anniversary of An American Werewolf In London.

WM: Are you surprised that “An American Werewolf In London” has become and remained one of the classics of the genre over the years?

DN: Yes, it was a surprise. We knew we were doing something special but for it to have they staying power was definitely a surprise.

WM: What is it about the film that you think attracts so many people to it?

DN: First and foremost it would have to be the special make up effects that Rick Baker provided. It won him his first Oscar and it was, at the time, state of the art. Secondly I would have to say the story, it was a great story.

WM: What was it like working with Rick Baker and what was the make up process like?

DN: I was pretty cooperative and it was pretty interesting. I didn’t know how long the process would take or anything because it had never been done before. We knew Rick Baker was a real professional and artist so just seeing some of the preliminary make up with our own eyes was really fascinating. The big question was, how is it going to look on film, and we were just hoping it would work.

WM: Arguably An American Werewolf In London is one of the first really successful horror-comedies. Why do you think it worked so well?

DN: There’s just natural tension in a real horror film and it was spread out light heartedly.

WM: What do you think about the current state of the horror genre? Do you think it’s burned out with all the remakes?

DN: Remakes always make me a little disappointed. Come on let’s come up with some new material. It seems to me it’s them always playing so safe to do remakes. We’ve seen it already, come on with new ideas, please.

WM: What are some of your personal favorite horror films from the past 5-10 years?

DN: I haven’t really seen a ton of them. I really did my homework watching horror films in preparation for An American Werewolf In London, but since then, unfortunately, I was really disappointed in a lot of them.

WM: We can definitely sympathize with you on that. With the amount of films that we watch around here a lot of them turn out to worth less than the DVDs they come on.

WM: Do you have any upcoming projects or events you’d like to tell our readers about?

DN: I have a project I might be working on and it would take me back to England. It’s not a horror film, it’s more of a psychological thriller. I don’t know if it’s going to work out but if it does I’ll be back in England in 2012.

WM: I’m surprised that as successful as An American Werewolf In London was (as is) that we never saw a direct sequel. We’re going to ignore An American Werewolf In Paris. Were you ever approached about a direct sequel and are you surprised there never was one?

DN: There was always so much talk about it. I think John Landis had something in mind and why and how it didn’t come about is still a mystery to me. I always thought there was certainly an audience for it and even years later I thought there could have been an audience for it. I guess he just felt he satisfied his need for a werewolf film in that one.

WM: It is a shame and it’s not because I fell you don’t want to make something inferior to the original if you can’t make it better. I can understand why another wasn’t made.

DN: I can understand that thought but there’s always more to be told to an audience.

We’d like to again thank David Naughton for taking the time to do the interview with us and we can’t wait to see what projects he does next.

I really don’t think I need to introduce the subject of this interview.  Any horror fan worth their salt knows Barbara Crampton and the important contribution she’s giving to the genre.  Beginning her career in 1983 on DAYS OF OUR LIVES, her talent and drop-dead gorgeous looks landed her in her first feature length film, FRATERNITY VACATION (a popular teen-sex-romp that was so popular in the 80’s).  But that same year, 1985, Barbara Crampton would be thrust into the horror archives for her role as “Megan Halsey” in Stuart Gordon’s RE-ANIMATOR, a genre-defining film that blew away horror fans around the world.  Then after the hugely entertaining CHOPPING MALL, Barbara Crampton teamed up again with Stuart Gordon and Jeffrey Combs to make FROM BEYOND, another classic horror film that gave fans both a fantastic story and mind blowing special f/x … practical f/x.

I originally got in touch with Barbara Crampton through twitter and she was nice enough to agree to doing a interview for anythinghorror.com.  So after I calmed to hell down I sent her over my questions and here we are.  So enough of my rambling … here’s my interview with my all time favorite Scream Queen, Ms. Barbara Crampton!!

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Anything Horror:  Tell us a little about your upbringing.  I read somewhere that you travelled a lot growing up because your father was a carnie.  Is that true?  Did that life style in that environment draw you closer to the world of horror?  What, if any, effect did it have on you?

Barbara Crampton:  Yes, I grew up on a carnie lot. Rides, games, and cotton candy at my fingertips daily. We travelled in the Summer when we were off from school.  There were many types of people who are drawn to that way of life. Transients and drifters being very common. I’m not certain it drew me to the world of horror, but it certainly exposed me to the type of individuals who are on the fringe of society and afforded me a kind of acceptance for ALL creatures horrible and not!

Who are some of the directors, actors, and actresses who’ve influenced your horror performances?  Were you drawn to horror roles or did you approach them pragmatically like your other roles?  What are some of your all time favorite horror films?

My favorite actors growing up were Bette Davis, Miriam Hopkins and Danny Kaye. I used to love to watch old black and white movies after school on the daily ‘Million Dollar Movie.’  Those actors were fearless, strong and always made bold choices. I was mesmerized with them! The fact that they always took risky chances was what I loved about them. I’d like to think they have influenced  my performances whether it actively shows or not…in my own mind they do.

I have always loved horror movies and anything that scared me from a very young age. The adrenaline you feel from watching a great horror flick is like taking a very good drug without the annoying after affects. I was raised on THE TWILIGHT  ZONE, THE OUTER LIMITS and DARK SHADOWS. I just loved vampires!…but who doesn’t.

I was very lucky to be cast in Stuart Gordon’s RE-ANIMATOR. It was just a part I auditioned for and booked. I didn’t have any evil or otherwise plan to have a horror career. It just happened, as Stuart cast me again in a couple others…and a few other directors did too. Lucky me.

I like the classics: TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE, DAWN OF THE DEAD, POLTERGEIST, THE SHINING, THE FOG, INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS, NOSFERATU, THE OMEN, THE EXORCIST.  Yet I am very fond of the Slashers, for their it’s spine tingling cringe inducing feelings. I was shocked and absorbed watching PIRANHA 3D. I can’t wait to see the next one! Some really scare me and disturb me on a very deep level and I have to look away from the screen. So I can’t say that I’ve seen the original HELLRAISER and SAW in it’s entirety. Or THE ENTITY or THE DEVIL’S REJECTS… or that I ever will. I will go to the bathroom or linger at the fridge until the ‘bad’ parts are over. I just can’t stick my eyes to the screen, I’ll have nightmares!

What’s it like being the preeminent Scream Queens of the 1980’s and 90’s?  Did that title make you want to remain in the horror genre longer?  I think you’re the best Scream Queen from that or any era mainly because of the roles you took.  You weren’t just some bimbo being chased around who screamed a lot and then got slaughtered.  I always thought your roles were different because you portrayed strong, intelligent women who would fight back (and you have a fantastic scream!!).  Do you see your Scream Queen roles as standing out from the (stereo)typical S.Q. role?

Thank you for that moniker. I’m not sure if I deserve it…I was fortunate to be in some terrifically written movies with some great roles for woman. RE-ANIMATOR was delicious! Funny, creepy and weird. Meg Halsey was written strong and I played her that way. That was in the writing. And how much more poignant and tragic…spoiler alert!!…that she dies at the end. How much more meaningful. If she had been just some bimbo or a nagging B**ch, you wouldn’t have cared that she was strangled by a dead guy and Dan was grief stricken. But you care because she’s a real person. I was given a great part…already on the page.

In FROM BEYOND Katherine stands out as a strong person too. And In CASTLE FREAK Susan must bear the burden of holding onto a crumbling family. Stuart Gordon and Dennis Paoli gave me strong roles. These are complex stories with characters who have layered personalities with desires and fears. Yet there are plenty of heroines in this genre who have had strong roles who are great screamers…I can’t even list them all! Sigourney Weaver in ALIEN. Linda Hamilton in TERMINATOR  Nicole Kidman (love her) in THE OTHERS… Faye Raye, Gloria Stuart, Patricia Neal, Beverly Garland, Jamie Lee Curtis, Dee Wallace, Ashley laurence, Rose McGowan, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Karen Black,  Danielle Harris, Amber Heard. There are many slasher movies with less developed characters who get offed…and you don’t care. But you’re not supposed to. That’s not their point. There are many great scream queens out there who get killed in all sorts of fun and cool ways and their characters are not developed cuz it’s not in the script. I’ll let you tell me who they are!

Did you have any idea when filming RE-ANIMATOR and FROM BEYOND that they would have the following and popularity they do today?  These aren’t just genre-defining films; they’re modern-day classics in every sense of the word.  Characters from each of those films became instant house-hold names and as iconic as Jason and Leatherface.  What do you attribute the longevity of these roles too?

RE-ANIMATOR was Stuart Gordon’s first film. He had been active in theatre in Chicago for a long time. His pals from that era included William Macy, George Wendt,  Dennis Franz and Joe Mantegna. He was already a very creative guy working with some top notch talent. Jeffrey, Bruce and I also had theatre backgrounds, so we rehearsed for three weeks prior to filming. When does one do that on a low budget movie? The script was great and fun but we had no idea whatsoever that people would continue to watch, love and talk about this movie some 25 years later. All the elements just seemed to come together. The score by Richard Band is so memorable. Makeup by the now known greats: Anthony Doublin, John Naulin and John Buechler. Mac Ahlberg, photographed the movie and worked very closely with Stuart, and taught him about the camera.  They forged a deep friendship and went on to make many movies together. It was a magical script. Jeffery is of course fantastic and he is the heart of the movie.  Yet the longevity of this and FROM BEYOND really come from the single minded and laser focus of Stuart. He has a passion and a strong force of will to bend others to his thinking! His movies are full and cohesive, and he knows what he wants. He gets the performances he wants out of everyone. The behind the scenes people and the actors in front. He will tirelessly push you in a very calm yet energetic way. He is the movie.

Barbara Crampton in CHOPPING MALL.

You’ve starred in some of my favorite genre films:  RE-ANIMATOR, FROM BEYOND, CASTLE FREAK, CHOPPING MALL, and PUPPETMASTER.  What has been your favorite genre role, and why?  What’s your personal favorite role out of all the various films and TV shows you’ve been in?

I loved playing Katherine in FROM BEYOND. There was so much range in that character. Repressed intellectual, sassy seductress, and heroine all in the space of 86 minutes. We filmed the movie in Italy, my first time there, on the old De Laurentiis lot. It was a lovely shoot. I also had a very juicy part in THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS for many years. “Leanna Love” was her name. She was a borderline personality and had a very tortured relationship with men.  So that keep me going for a long time. It’s also nice in an actor’s life to have a regular gig once in a while. It made me feel safe and I was able to put some money away for the lean times.

In total you’ve starred in over 30 projects in everything from soap operas to comedies, to dramatic-thrillers.  Why do you think the horror genre is most connected with your name?  What is your favorite genre to work in?  Do you have a favorite film that you worked on?

I’ve just been lucky enough to have been in some terrific horror movies and to have worked with a great director. I definitely have a soft spot for horror movies. It is my favorite genre. So much energy and thrills!

RE-ANIMATOR is my personal favorite movie. It has become so iconic, and I get to keep talking about it and reliving it. We had a 25th reunion at a horror convention last year. Everyone was there! So many fans came out to talk to us about the movie and it was so satisfying to see how people are still talking about it. New fans too, from a new generation.

Just leave that alone Barbara ... just leave it alone.

Tell us about your new film YOU’RE NEXT.  Can you give us any exclusive news about it?  When do you expect it to be released?  What drew you back to the horror genre, and more importantly, are you staying?

YOU’RE NEXT is a thriller horror piece. It was written by Simon Barrett (one of the funniest people I have ever met) and directed by Adam Wingard. What happens when a family comes together for a reunion at a somewhat remote old house and they come under attack from some unknown forces? That’s the basic premise. I have been sworn to secrecy and cannot reveal any more than that! Oh…I can tell you, I play the Mom.

I had such fun working on this movie. So many very talented people. Sharni Vinson and AJ Bowen [from THE SIGNAL] are terrific. Some friends of Adam’s who are film makers themselves came out to play roles in the movie. Joe Swanberg, the amazing director who has a one page idea for a movie and has his actors improvise the story. He sells all his movies to IFC. They eat him up. He is astoundingly facile with nuance and invention. It was amazing to watch he and AJ Bowen (my new favorite person on the planet) improvise together at a dinner scene in YOU’RE NEXT. Sheer brilliance! Ti West, director of HOUSE OF THE DEVIL and THE INNKEEPERS came out to play a role. He is friends with Adam and others on the movie. Amy Seimetz who makes her own movies makes a lovely appearance in the film. All these other film makers came to be a part of it. I was amazed by their friendships, and their desire to help each other out. Such creation lovers! Adam and Simon are great collaborators. YOU’RE NEXT is very character driven. They love to work with the mind of every performer. If Adam heard one wrong or phony note on the actors part. We would stop. Discuss. Try again. Perhaps change a piece of dialogue with Simon’s aid. Discuss, film. No one working on this movie had any ego. I’m certain Adam got some great performances out of his actors. he wouldn’t settle for anything less or move on until he got something great.

It’ s noteworthy that different directors work in different ways. The creative challenge is to stick what works for you and see it through. Adam and Stuart worked differently but I felt so comfortable with both of them as they believe in their own style and vision, and work with commitment to that end.

I was skiing In Tahoe with my family when I got the call about YOU’RE NEXT. I was in a professional slumber. Not having worked very much in the past few years, I was busy raising my two children, now 8 and 9.  I wasn’t thinking about movies or my career. I had taken up gardening and was happily working in their school garden part time 20 hours a week, and doing general ‘Mom’ stuff. I read the script on my IPhone and loved it. So I went to Missouri a week later. I had the best time. So, I guess I have the bug again. I’ve been hounding my agent ever since! I joined twitter so I could keep up with what’s going on! Now that my children are a bit older, I feel better about leaving them for little spurts. Yes, I’m looking. I’m available. I would love to work more….If you’ll have me. [I think I speak for everyone here Barbara that we welcome you with open arms!! -- AH]

Here’s a question I ask all the people I interview:  A big studio approaches and tells you they want you to write, direct, and star in a remake of any horror movie (the choice is yours).  Money and time are of no concern.  What would you remake?  Why?

How about ROSEMARY’S BABY? I have always loved Ira Levin. He is a master of suspense and character driven pieces. Those two quality’s are already in the terrific original. The audience knows what’s going on from the beginning but when is Rosemary going to find out? What is in the room next door or rather… whom and when are we going to get a look at it…him? How far is Guy willing to go for his career? Is Rosemary going to be driven insane by her frail paranoia? The betrayal theme is a good one! Such amazing parts for the leads.

I generally think you shouldn’t remake a great, but do the ones that could have been good, but weren’t because of a bad performance or lesser production value. But hey, this is fantasy, and you asked….and I wouldn’t want to risk making another clunker! I’d remake this movie because it is character driven and coming from the actors background, relationships in a story is what most intrigues me the most. Could I improve upon it? No, are you kidding? But what I would do is make it a bit scarier. More dreams with scarier SFX. I would also explore the devil a bit more. Who is he? Perhaps with the angle that you create the devil out of your own sins. Could Your Evilness coupled with the energy of others (Roman and Minnie) create the thing that is most feared in life. What if the devil isn’t real, unless you create pain and misery in others. Perhaps you (Guy) are the devil and your bad energy is unleashed on a world because of the choices you make.

At this point I would, of course play the Ruth Gordon part!

What’s next for BARBARA CRAMPTON?  I can honestly say that I’ve missed you from the horror scene and am hoping we start seeing more and more of you.  The genre needs more beautiful, strong, sexy women in horror!!

We’ll see what the future holds …

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A huge thanks to Barbara Crampton for taking the time to answer these questions for me at anythinghorror.com!!  Barbara said she would check in on the interview after I post it, so make sure you say “hi” and show your support for getting Barbara back into films (preferably horror films)!!

And please don’t be a stranger at anythinghorror.com Barbara; keep in touch with all you future projects (whether or not they are horror), and definitely keep us updated about YOU’RE NEXT … I think I speak for everyone when I say that I can’t wait to see it!!

Stay Bloody!!!

Been a while since I posted an interview, but after you read this one you’ll realize it was worth the wait!!  DAN ELLIS should be no stranger to horror fans and fans of anythinghorror.com.  Dan Ellis is a staple in the over-the-top horror films of indie filmmaker Ryan Nicholson.  Dan’s starred in Nicholson’s GUTTERBALLS (2008), HANGER (2009), & BLEADING LADY (2010) and has starred in horror cult films MONSTURD (2006) & RETARDEAD (2008).  If you haven’t seen any of the above films then what the fuck are you waiting for???  Go get them all, lock yourselves in you house or apartment and have a weekend movie marathon!!

Dan Ellis and I have been corresponding through twitter and facebook for a while and had such great stories that I wanted to share them with you all.  I asked Dan if he’d be interested in doing an interview and he agreed.  So let me “shut up” and hand this over to Dan Ellis.  Enjoy!!

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Wreckhouse Scott: Tell us a about yourself Dan Ellis.  How long have you been acting professionally?  In one of our email correspondences you mentioned you worked in kitchens for many years (I’ve been an executive chef for the last decade).  Tell us about that experience.

Dan Ellis:  I started acting professionally at about 11yrs old. I went to a performing arts school and if there was a commercial, theatrical or film production taking place locally they would come to the school if they needed kids for anything. There was a “young peoples special” that was being filmed and they needed a kid, about my age, to play the lead so I auditioned. A couple days later they called my mom and told her that I got the part, I was so excited I remember having a shit eating grin for days and it was all I could think about until we finally began production. I had so much fun and it was that experience that convinced me that acting was the most funnerest thing EVER! Hahaha…. I did a couple commercials and a theater production that following year but then I got all pissed off and said fuck it, left the school and decided that I just wanted to check out what was out there and just live for a while. So at the tender young age of 19 I joined the Navy…

When I got out of the Navy I was having a hard time finding a job but a friend of mine said he could get me a job washing dishes at an Uno’s [pizzeria] down the street if I wanted and if I busted my ass they’d let me do prep or the line. I need a job so I took him up on it in the hopes to be moved to the line, my mother loved food and cooking so some of that rubbed off on me I suppose and after a few months in “the tank” [also called “the dish pit” - AH] I was promoted to line cook. I left Uno’s and went to work at a real restaurant where there was a lot for me to learn but the Chef and I became good friends so when the Sous Chef position became available I jumped at it but they forget to tell me Sous is French for bitch! Hahaha  So after years of stress beyond belief and working for any number of psychos, tyrants and dictators I decided to hang up my apron till I can get my own spot. That has always been the second dream, owning my own pub/restaurant….

What brought you to the horror genre?  Have you always been a fan of horror films?  What are some of your favorites?  What figures in horror (directors, actors, f/x gurus, etc …) have had the most influence on both your overall career and your acting style?

It’s all my mom’s fault! My mother took me to see THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA when I was about 6 and it really made an impression on me, scared the shit outta me but made an impression none the less. I became obsessed with horror make-up and Lon Chaney and I would spend hours at the library reading about him and how he would get those looks. I started buying thearical kits and doing  some effects on myself and friends (gunshots and such) then we would run around acting like fools. After a summer of this it became clear that I enjoyed wearing the stuff and acting crazy more than applying it, so that’s when I decided I wanted to be in horror films. Luckily I had the best mom in the world, she was so supportive and to this day loves horror movies so we talk about what she’s seen, it’s cool. I love you mom and thank you!

It was mostly mom and I growing up so I didn’t really have a father figure around growing up so those guys on the screen (Horror, Action and the old Spaghetti Westerns being the top 3) became the “dad” or “big brother” I wanted.  So here’s a couple: Lon Chaney and Lon Chaney Jr., Alfred Hitchcock, Boris Karloff, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, Vincent Price and I know there are a lot I’ve missed but this list could go on for pages and pages literally and I don’t know if “Popeye” counts…. He should.

How did you originally hook up with indie horror filmmaker Ryan Nicholson?  Tell us how it is working with him.  Which has been your favorite role in a Nicholson film?

I just moved to Vancouver and was doing some specialty background work, firearms and military stuff mostly, but I was also trying to get some real gigs. I was still new to the area, didn’t have an agent and my resume was very light. I was mainly looking on Craig’s List for gigs and there was a casting call for “Horror Feature” so I jumped on it. It was an audition for GUTTERBALLS and that’s where I met Ryan, to be honest, I had no idea who he was until after the audition when I got home and looked him up on IMDB. I was pleasantly surprised to see all his FX credits because I knew I was going to see some cool stuff…. And I did!

Ryan is awesome to work with when you can get him to sit for a minute hahaha! But really he’s a fun guy to work with, he listens and as an actor that’s a very important quality for a director to have. He has always been very honest with me as far as my performance goes and no matter how busy he is he still manages to give you some time if you really need it.

And speaking of GUTTERBALLS, I think THE JANITOR is and always will be my favorite. The whole cast and crew were awesome, I got to see some cool FX and the part was just so much fun. I don’t mean to take anything away from the other roles I’ve had, they’ve all been fun, but that will always have a special place with me.

I loved you in HANGER and thought that was one crazy ride of a film (and a crazy performance by yourself).  Tell us your thoughts on the film and what went through your head the first time you read the script.  Nicholson is known for pushing the envelope in the genre; do you think Nicholson ever goes too far?  Are there any future plans on working on another Nicholson film?

I remember when Ryan first sent me some slides to look at to see if I was interested, it was the scene in the truck with Debbie and it was all sensitive and he seemed like a real softy kinda guy so I asked Ryan why he sent this to me? Hahahaha, he said “No man, ‘The John’ is kick ass! It gets better” and he wasn’t joking. One thing to remember is the script that I first read was different from what we did because some things changed. I remember being excited to do it, I like fucked up stuff, and yes, there were some things I didn’t agree with but not because of content after talking to Ryan and getting his point of view, it was what it was. I still think people take that film too seriously and doing that really is the wrong approach, we had fun making it and honestly even the grossest scenes had us laughing our asses off. It wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea (no pun intended), that’s for sure, but I wonder sometimes what people think when (or if) they read a synopsis of films like ours and act like they didn’t see the content coming.

Ryan and I have a few things cooking and there might be a “creature” film but it’s too early to talk about right now so you’ll just have to keep your ear to the ground. I can say we do plan to shoot THE MURDER MACK at some point this year but there might be a project or 2 between now and then..

How did you hook up with Rick Popkop & Dan West?  MONSTURD and RETARDEAD are 2 of my favorite over-the-top indie films (Dan West did a interview with anythinghorror.com last year.  Check it out here & here).  Tells us what part(s) you played in those films.  How was that experience?

Those guys kick ass! I was working at a sign shop in San Francisco and that’s where I met Dan Burr (the Evil Dr. Stern). Dan introduced me to Dan West and Rick Popko and we used to go over to Dan West’s house every Friday to hang, talk and have some drinks. I had been going over there for a couple weeks and was becoming good friends with all of them and one day Rick and Dan approached me with a part. Rick told me they heard I was an actor and that they needed someone to play a doctor in the movie and that’s when Rick told me the name…. MONSTURD! I remember looking at Rick and asking “Really?” and once he told me “No shit” we had a laugh and I told them I’d love to! So that’s how I got the part of “Dr. Johnny Waters”…. I had a blast man, those guys are so damn funny and really talented. They are also some of my best friends and I miss them an awful lot.

What’s coming up next on the chopping block for Dan Ellis?  Any interest in taking the director’s seat in the future?

This is the second time I’ve been asked that so maybe someone is trying to tell me something? I’m in the middle of writing two scripts now.  That and I’d really like to direct as well. It’s something that really interests me so if the opportunity presents itself then I’ll jump all over it!

Here’s a question I ask all the people I interview:  Money and time are no issue and a big studio comes to you and says they want you to star in and/or direct a remake of any horror movie of your choosing.  What would it be?  Why?

DR. JEKYLL & MR. HYDE without a doubt! I have seen a few, except for the one that was just done in 2008 and they all seem to fall short. I would have to do is as an independent because I would make it a very dark and brutal film, there is so much to explore there why pussy-foot around and try to make a pig be a swan? It’s a brutal story so it should be portrayed as such and it would be fun to do a period piece but setting it in the present would work just fine. I’m really excited to see that someone finally got around to making a proper H.H. HOLMES film…. That only took forever! Hahaha!

Thanks so much for taking the time to answer these questions for anythinghorror.com Dan!!  Are there any final words of wisdom or bits of info you’d like to leave us?

I just want to say a big “thank you” to anythinghorror.com and wreckhousemagazine.com and to all the people that continue to support underground cinema no matter what genre. It is the last great frontier and there is so much to explore still so wether you make or watch them thank you…

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Another huge thank you to Dan Ellis!!  You can see Dan in his most recent role, BLEADING LADY (a.k.a. STAR VEHICLE; see my review here).  I’ll keep an eye on Dan and his career and will keep you all updated.  Thanks again Dan!!

Stay Bloody!!!

Boy do I have a treat for all of you.  I was able to score an interview with the two twisted minds behind the fun exploitation flick, DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK (see my review here).  Since writing my review I’ve chatted a few times with Jen and Sylvia Soska (who both wrote, produced, directed and starred in DEAD HOOKER) and found them to be so damn down to earth, sweet, and nice with a dark side that I wanted to know more about.  So I asked them for an interview and was lucky that they had a few free moments.  So sit back and enjoy getting to know these two up and coming horror filmmakers who I’m positive we’ll be seeing a lot more of.

Let me get the gushing out of the way and thank you both for taking the time to answer some question for me. As you can guess from my review, I absolutely love DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK (DHiaT). I’m a huge fan of exploitation/grindhouse flicks and you two knocked it outta the park. Onto the questions:

QUESTION:  I know that DHiaT isn’t 100% in the horror genre, but there’s enough there to assume that you both really love the genre. What were some of your favorite horror films and directors growing up that influenced you? Is there any one horror film that you can both point to as THE movie that made you wanna become filmmakers?

Jen Soska:  Our love of horror started not just with films, but with the infamous master of horror author, mister Stephen King. Our mom had pretty much everything he’s ever written and let us read his novels while we were still in early elementary school. This was, naturally, much to the dislike of our very “vanilla” teachers, but she just told them, “if they’re reading at this level at this age, why stop them?” Stephen King always had this cute kind of humor to his horror that would lighten his stories just enough that they would still be fun even in the most harsh and violent of situations. I think that really started our love for the genre and influenced our now fully deranged senses of humor.

My first horror movie was POLTERGEIST. Scared the living shit outta me. I had a clown doll that I started to swear was moving on its own and was after me. It even started to haunt my dreams. I ended up locking it in my closet (which I had a lock on) which was kind of stupid because I was afraid of my closet, too, but I thought I don’t want anything to do with that clown and I have no business going into my closet. The two of them can be very happy together. I also became afraid of being alone in a room with a TV. Do you know how hard it is to get around when you can’t cross in front of a TV? Thankfully, I’m well over it now. I love clowns. A real hate turned love story.

I think GRINDHOUSE really inspired us to go and make ourselves a movie. One that is pure enjoyment for our audiences.

Sylvia:  For whatever reason, we were always really drawn to horror. Maybe because there is such a taboo in regards to younger people seeing scary films or reading scary books. As little girls, Jen and I would hang out in the horror section of our local video store looking at the backs of movie cases for something scary. If we found something really awful, we’d share it with the other, then beg my mom to rent it. Our mom was really smart about the whole thing. She said that if we read the book (she was an avid fan of Stephen King) then we could watch the film. First one was CUJO. The book was way scarier and fucked up than the film, but it gave me more of an insight to what is terrifying and what is suspenseful. I think I’ve read all of his books several times throughout my life – and that talented man writes a lot!

My favorite director has to be Robert Rodriguez. What he did to create his first feature, EL MARIACHI was nothing short of amazing. His book on the process, Rebel Without A Crew, got nicknamed ‘The Bible’ on set because it was such an inspiration to making DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK. Hell, we even got the EL MARIACHI himself, Carlos Gallardo, to do a cameo as God in the film. It’s incredible how far you can go when someone inspires you so much. We were interested in film and television since we were little girls, but we didn’t come to the realization that if we want to make a movie we should just go out and make it till we were in our early twenties.

Where did the idea for DHiaT come from? Was it your first choice for your debut film? Will you be staying in the horror/exploitation genres with your follow up? Can you give us any information about your next project?

Jen:  The title came before the film. As unknown filmmakers, we needed something that would stick in people’s minds and inspire a strong emotional reaction. Whether people love or hate it, and believe me we’ve had plenty of both, they remember it. It was our first choice. With your first film, you get so much control. Like Batman, I’m very much a control freak. We wanted to do as much as we could and whatever we wanted because we knew, in the future, who knows how much control we’ll have. We might not even get final cut *shudder*.

No one really knows what their next film will be. We have several scripts ready to go, many waiting on a go ahead from someone. If we had our wish, it would be AMERICAN MARY. But, I’ll let Sylvie tell you more about that one. It is more of a straight forward horror. It was written by request of Eli Roth who was been very supportive of the film and our work.

Horror will always be important to us. We just love it so much. We have a few ideas and a few scripts for things not so horrific. We have a re-imagining of Westerns as you know them called THE MAN WHO KICKED ASS. I’m pretty proud of that one.

Secretly, and no one knows this yet, we’re starting work on something a bit more Grind House. It’s going to be great.

Sylvia:  The film came as a fuck you to our film school actually. They were horribly disorganized and cut the funding for our last project. Well, that simply wouldn’t do. We got a team together, wrote a script, cast it, got it shot, cut and put in everything (and then some) from the school’s ‘inappropriate material’ list. We presented it as a fake trailer (a la GRINDHOUSE) with the other projects paid for by the school. The reaction was huge – half the audience walked out and the other half was cheering so loud that you could barely be offended by the smutty dialogue. Everyone was so excited that we decided to make a feature film version of it. We went into it with just indie film enthusiasm and came out with a film that we’re all quite proud of.

I think there will always be an element of horror in everything I write. I have a dark sense of humor, but I also like to put things that disturb me in real life into my scripts. For example, when we were in grade school some kids were playing baseball with an aluminum bat. Something went wrong and a kid got smacked hard in the back of the head with it and his eye popped out (it more just hung there). That stayed with me for years, so naturally, I had to put it in the [DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK] script. I suppose as long as I keep seeing or hearing about twisted shit, I’ll keep the horror element in the stories I tell.

The next one that I want to start on is called AMERICAN MARY. We’re shooting a teaser trailer for it which will be the first look at the project. We’ll be showing it before our screening in Vancouver, then putting it up on the site to share with everybody. It has some pretty far out elements to it and the prosthetics will be unique to most things out there, but it also has a very relatable story about ambition and what a person is willing to do to be successful.

How is it working with your identical twin sister? How do you approach the creative process being there’s two of you? For example, do you both write a script and then get together and merge the best elements of both scripts into one “super script”? How did you two divide up the duties during filming?

Jen:  We totally tag team. It’s nice to be able to work with someone like Sylv. We think very similarly so it makes the creative process a snap. Additionally, she’s incredibly creative, passionate about her work, and fearless. There’s nothing I can say that she’ll dismiss as impossible. She’s just wonderful, I’m very lucky to have such an amazing doppelganger.

With scenes, both writing and directing (and other duties), we tag each other in. With certain scenes, we’ll ask to direct them or have final word on them. There are ones we get really excited about. We’re pretty good at reaching a consensus.

Sylvia:  The first thing we do is write an outline and fill it with all the scenes that we want. Then we pick which scenes we would like to write. We sit down at the lappy and write until ‘our part’ is over or we hit some kind of creative block. Jen has a lot of humor and weirdness to her writing. We think very similarly, but there are things she comes up with that I would never think of. I like being creative in a shock-value kind of, ‘I’ve-never-seen-that-in-a-film’ way. Sometimes the other comes up with a completely out of left field idea and has to convince the other that it will work. We don’t pussyfoot around each other’s feelings when we’re working. If I feel like an idea is shit, I tell her and vice versa. It’s important to be brutally honest with one another. Same with directing. We storyboard and plan the scenes out together, but choose one of us to be the ‘main’ director for the day. That said, we still give our thoughts throughout shooting to get what we want for the scene.

I realize that all indie filmmakers have the hurdles of low budgets and limited acting talent available to them. How did you two manage to make what looks to be a “big movie” up on the screen? How did you deal with your “budget issues”? Did you also find it more difficult being two females making a genre film? Did you come up against any other hurdles being women?

Jen:  EL MARIACHI was made with a mere $7,000. That is incredible. I won’t disclose our actual budget, but it was modest. I firmly believe that a shoe string budget doesn’t mean your film has to look cheap. To be perfectly honest, if you can’t pull off something well, cut it. There are movies out there with fairly decent budgets, budgets I’d kill for, that end up with a shitty a final product with crappy effects. We did what Robert did when he made EL MARIACHI. We got creative. It makes me sad when filmmakers just throw money into something. Michel Gondry is incredible for the reason, among many, that he tries to do all his effects practically. And when you watch his work, you’ll see how good it looks.

With a minimal budget, we really had to rely on practical problem solving and people volunteering their time and services. We had a some absolutely amazing people backing us and our film up. With a little ingenuity, some good people, and a hell of a lot of ambition, you can do anything.

Being first time filmmakers, we did take a bit of shit. Maybe not because we were female. No one thought we could do it. We tried to get so many people to help us initially and they said we’d need a big budget, better script, and more people involved. We should wait and hope for some studio to pick us up. They thought we were crazy. Of course, we ARE crazy, but that’s besides the point. We stuck to our guns and ended up with something we’re really proud of. All we ever wanted was to make a film that is pure enjoyment and I think that’s what we have here. Maybe it’s not everyone’s taste, but what is?

I guess being identical twins got people to check out the film, too.

Sylvia:  We had to sacrifice a scene where Badass punches out a bear and says ‘Fuck you, bear!’ That was tough. I wanted an explosion, but couldn’t get it together. Everything else worked out beautifully. Almost every actor in the film was either both an actor and a stunt performer or just did their own stunts. They were fearless and hardworking. We had some of the best stunt people in the city to help out thanks to our producing partner and stunt coordinator, Loyd Bateman. Jen and I knew some great FX and makeup people that we got on board to make our gore and insanity. We maxed out our credit cards, had a great team to help out financially including Maryann Van Graven and her husband, Donald Charge, and our parents, Agnes and Marius Soska. It got pretty bad with us having a ton of debt, no money for food or bills, but they helped us out so we could finish the movie and eat. I’ll forever be grateful to them.

I think we are very lucky having not had to deal with any remarkable sexist issues. I was undermined by people I later asked not to return to set anymore at the beginning, but that kind of stupidity sadly exists everywhere. We’ve had a lot of people get behind the film because they dig it and the fact that we’re girls making these movies that are stereotypically known as ‘guy movies’.

Continuing the last question; where did you find such a talented cast of actors and actresses? I understand that Goody Two-Shoes (C.J. Wallis) wore a few different hats for the production. How did this cross-utilization of talent help with the production?

Jen:  The cast and crew were all friends and contacts of one another. Loyd Bateman brought not only his wicked awesome stunt skills to the project, but also a crew of very talented stunt performers. We wanted to do as much as we could with this project. We wore a lot of hats, so to speak. It was not only to showcase our skills, but it may be the only chance we’ll ever get to do all those jobs at once. I also think it is something that sets our film apart from others and really is what Grind House and independent film making are about. We have a very talented and capable cast and crew who were able to do multiple jobs. We’re so grateful to all of them. Our deep involvement made us all care that much more about the project, too.

CJ Wallis was and is a God Send. Like God himself sent us the perfect Goody Two Shoes. He’s an extremely gifted filmmaker himself and a composer. His work is much more art house than ours and we feel our styles blended together beautifully giving DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK an Art House meets Grind House feel to it.

Sylvia:  There were a lot of people that were interested, but then lost interest when they read some of the material or realized that we were just going to pay for it out of our own pockets. Luckily we got some amazingly talented folks on board as cast and crew. Most often cast would crew the days that they were on set. It was this real indie family feeling. We started with Jen, Maryann, Loyd, and me on the team then started looking for more talent to fill the other roles. We had made friends with the very talented, John Tench, and asked him to be our Cowboy Pimp and he agreed. He is a wonderful actor and the classiest guy. Loyd knew this knockout fiesty stunt woman named Tasha Moth and she loved the idea of being the Hooker. She brought her fighting experience to create an epic performance in the Hooker’s death scene. She also brought her daughter to the project to portray Geek and Badass as little girls in the flashback sequences.

We went through a couple of Junkies for scheduling reasons and ended up being recommended Rikki Gagne. We had worked on set together before and we really liked her. She killed it as Junkie. She’s a very creative and energetic actor – she was amazing to have on the set. Jen and I have been interested in acting for years, so we knew many talented actors that would be perfect to cast in certain roles and, bless ‘em, they came out and worked their collective asses off. We also had a couple situations where crew became actors – our motel manger, David Barkes, and our lighting guy, Ed Brando, had rad cameos in the film. They were so great, no one knew that they did anything other than acting work.

I wanna thank you on behalf of all my readers and on my behalf for doing all the special f/x practically, using no CGI. The f/x looked great and were really effective.  How did you find it working with special f/x? Did it make the production more difficult?  Would you ever consider using CGI in the future?

Jen:  Oh, no. Thank YOU! I feel that filmmakers owe a service to their audience. Without an audience and fans, we’d be nowhere. We really hate CGI. Even when it’s well done and there’s a big budget set aside for it, it really takes you out of the film. I hated the CGI in the HULK movies. Why oh why didn’t they try something practical for the remake/sequel. It’s insulting to the audience.

Aside from Gondry, the film that really blew us away for effects was THE THING (remake). The way they used an amputee for the stomach eating arms bit was breath taking! There is no substitute for the real deal. JACOB’S LADDER was also great for that. I have great respect and admiration for Prosthetic Artists. The things they make, it’s unbelievable. Just to think they could dream up some nightmare of a creature and then make it the next day is incredible. I want to do effects practically as much as possible. CGI would be a last resort. I’d consider cutting the effect from the film before doing it CGI.

Sylvia:  CG can look so dated as well. It’s expensive to do properly and will only look good until the new styles of CG come out. I think it’s a lot more freeing to actually have your effects as a physical thing (pun intended) there on set for people to interact with. I have to thank our FX team – key makeup and producing partner, Maryann Van Graven, and AlyKat FX, Katie and Alyssa Satow, who make the blood, guts, and goriness real and lovely. A friend in prosthetics once gave me some great advice, if it’s comparable to human bits use slaughterhouse parts from the butcher. God makes ‘em best. Pig eyes come in human varieties – brown, blue, green, and hazel, their intestines (when cleverly filled with cream corn and fake blood) look just like the real thing. I would prefer not to use CG in future projects. I just have too much respect for the FX artists’ work. With a good team, there isn’t anything you can’t replicate practically.

I ask this question to all my interviewees: If budget and time were of no concern and a big studio approached you and said you can make the horror remake of your choice (anything you wanted at all), what would it be and why?

Jen:  Wow. That’s a great question. And a hard one. I love AMERICAN PSYCHO, but I’d never touch it. Like a clay pot, if you mess with something that’s already good and done too much, you can destroy it. I hear they’re remaking PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE. I love musical horrors (and not-so-secretly dream of making a new epic horror musical cult classic). I’d love to be able to remake it and treat it with the respect the fans want and deserve. It’s not really all that well known either and people are really missing out.

Sylvia:  I am not a fan of remakes. I like some director’s spin on classic stories (like Rob Zombie’s HALLOWEEN’s), but I like original ideas so much more. HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES and THE DEVIL’S REJECTS were rad because they were terrifying and original. I think we need more new stories from filmmakers and not more rehashes of things that are already great. I hear that they are remaking MARTYRS and I just know that they’re going to tune it down and fuck it up. I’m a huge video game nerd and not totally in love with the film-versions of my most loved games. SILENT HILL was pretty good, but I think I’d like a crack at it. I want share what was scary and fun about the game to me.

Thanks so much for all your time. If you ever come down to Austin, TX, which is a huge horror/exploitation town, look me up!! I’d love to buy my two new favorite filmmakers a drink or 10.

Jen:  Thank YOU! And ten is certainly more like it, ha ha. Maybe we can get hammered and go Rodriguez hunting, ha ha

Sylvia:  Thank you kindly. You know, we actually might be in your neighborhood in the next little while. I’ll take you up on that. I’ll match you with the drinks – because it’s ok to get completely smashed with good friends. I think it’s a must.

There you have it; a little insight into what went on behind-the-scenes of DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK; a little taste of what the Soska sisters are working on next; and a lot of insight on what makes these two kick ass filmmakers tick.  I absolutely love these two filmmakers and can’t wait to see what they give us next (I’m kinda hoping for that Western, THE MAN WHO KICKED ASS)!!

And don’t forget that for my Canadian readers there’s gonna be a special screening of DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK on August, Friday the 13th at 9pm at the Rio Theatre in Vancouver.  You lucky bastards!!  I better get a report “from the scene” on the screening.

A huge thanks again to the Jen and Sylvia Soska for taking time out of there busy schedules to answer my questions.  I’ll definitely keep everyone updated as soon as I hear anything about DEAD HOOKER getting a wide distribution.

Stay Bloody!!!

Hey everyone.  I think you all know how excited I am that not only is CHROMESKULL:  LAID TO REST 2 in full production, but we’re getting lots of updates and stills from the production.  Well a few weeks ago I was on Twitter (@anythinghorror) and I mentioned something about LAID TO REST 2.  Almost immediately I got a response from ANGELINA ARMANI, one of the actresses starring in the sequel.  We chatted a little bit through Twitter about the production and writer-director Robert Hall.  Then it dawned on me that I need to interview Ms. Armani and share some of her info with everyone.  So here it is as well as some exclusive pics Armani scored for me from the set.  I wanna thank Angelina for taking the time to answer these questions and let me tell you how excited Angelina is about the production and with working with Robert Hall.  She is also eager to get the word out about LAID TO REST 2.  So all you filmmakers looking to cast a young, beautiful actress who loves to talk about and promote the project she’s working on … you need not look any further than Ms. Angelina Armani!!

WRECKHOUSE:  Briefly tell us about yourself Angelina.  How did you get into the industry?  Have you always been a lover of horror films?  What are some of your favorite genre flicks?

ANGELINA:  I moved to Los Angeles at 19 years old. At that time I was doing runway and modeling. Acting is what fulfills me the most.  The first genre I started acting in was horror. I have always been a blood and gore fan from a little girl.  I used to watch most of the Halloween movies. My favorite one was HALLOWEEN 1 and H20. I have a love for the original DAWN OF THE DEAD. That flick always had my laughing. Nothing ever scared me.

The question everyone wants to know is, how did you get involved in LAID TO REST 2?  For myself and my readers this is a hugely anticipated sequel to a really kick ass film that helped revive the slasher genre.  With Robert Hall returning to write and direct I’m confident it’s gonna be pretty bad ass.  Are you able to tell us anything about the plot and/or story?  How about other cast members?  What is your role in LAID TO REST 2?

I auditioned for LAID TO REST 2. I absolutely loved the first one. What caught my attention about it were the kills and how gorey they made it. I never saw anything like that in any horror movie. LTR2 is gonna be a pretty sick movie. It’s definitely not for you if you can’t stand the sight of blood and really gruesome kills. ChromeSkull ( Nick Principe) is back, and he’s pissed. The cast is pretty amazing to work with on this. You should be expecting to see some of your favorites like Brian Austin Green, Thomas Dekker, Johnathon Schaech, and many others. My role for LTR2 is a detective.

Armani and writer-director Robert Hall.

I briefly met Robert Hall at this past Texas Frightmare Weekend (2010).  I found him to be extremely humble and down to earth.  What are your impressions of him?  Does he wear 2 different masks; one mask when directing and the other when he’s in his “special f/x mode”?

When I met Robert Hall, he was doing mostly FX. Now he spends most of his time directing. It’s his passion and he does it so incredibly well. I haven’t met anyone who can direct and do his very own special fx at the same time. On top of it, when he’s done filming for the day, he will go back to his office, edit his work, and continue running his shop (Almost Human) for other current projects. I have no idea how he’s able to manage all of that each day. I know I couldn’t.

How do you like working on lower budget horror films?  To me lower budget projects seem more fun because you don’t have a ton of crew whereby each person has a really specialized job.  I would think on a smaller, tighter budget one person might have 3-4 jobs to do for the production.  How do you feel about lower budget genre films?

I love working on all types of movies. LAID TO REST 2 has a pretty big crew. You can expect walking on set with approximately 50 people. I really like working with everyone on all different projects. It teaches me a lot and brings me this truly beautiful experience of exploring myself. You can’t get that by only working on one type of movie. No matter where I go, I gain such a talented family. Sometimes the smaller the movie, the tighter the family will be. As long as you love what your doing, the finished product looks like millions and that’s exactly how you feel.

I don’t think I need to tell my readers or point out the obvious that you’re a gorgeous woman.  Do you have any aspirations to become the next great “Scream Queen”?  How is your scream, by the way?  Do we get to hear it a lot in LAID TO REST 2?

Thank you! My only aspiration is to keep entertaining people. I just concentrate on the work I’m doing now so I know where it will lead me in the future. As far as my screaming. You can be the judge of that because there’s plenty of it in LAID TO REST 2

Armani & LAID TO REST 2 co-star Brian Austin Green on the set.

What future projects can we expect to see you in?  Are you going to stay in the horror genre?  What other genres do you want to star in?

You can expect to see a lot from me in the future. I love exploring everything. Hopefully there will be more horror projects to show you. Actually I’m looking at my schedule….so there will be

Here’s a question I ask all the people I interview:  If a director or studio approached you and told you they wanna develop a horror remake with you in the starring role, what would be the project you chose?  Basically, if you had your pick of any starring role in a horror remake, what would it be?

This is probably the hardest question i’ve had yet. There are so many movies that I really love. I have always admired GOTHIKA starring my favorites; Halle Berry, Penelope Cruz and Robert Downey Jr. I’ve always had that weak spot for dark and disturbing movies. I thought Halle has a fantastic role for GOTHIKA. It’s something I can definitely see myself doing.

Looks like Armani won't be in part 3!!

I wanna give a huge ‘thank you’ to Angelina Armani for taking the time to answer some questions for wreckhousemagazine.com Angelina, is there a set date when LAID TO REST 2 will hit DVD and (hopefully) theaters?  And don’t be a stranger; feel free to drop by anytime with any updates on the production or with any breaking news about LAID TO REST 2.  I’m sure we’ll be seeing a lot more of you in the future!!

LAID TO REST 2 is set to be released Fall of 2011.  You can keep up with our updates on our Twitter pages at:

Twitter.com/AngelinaArmani

Twitter.com/LaidToRestMovie

Don’t forget to join the LAID TO REST 2 fan page on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Laid-To-Rest/64578002238

———-

There ya have it; a little behind-the-scenes with one of the stars of the upcoming LAID TO REST 2.  And the fact we have a really “pissed off ChromeSkull” and a lot of “really gruesome kills” makes this one even more anticipated in my book!!  So look for CHROMESKULL: LAID TO REST 2 to be released in the Fall of 2011.

Thanks again to Angelina Armani for taking time out of her busy schedule to answer some questions for Wreckhouse Magazine.  Look below to find all of her contact info.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3287472/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angelina_Armani

Http://www.Twitter.com/AngelinaArmani

Http://www.Myspace.com/AngelinaArmani

http://www.Youtube.com/ClubArmani

Stay Bloody!!!

Interviewed by Scott Shoyer

Halloween 2009 I attended Vaudezilla’s Monster Burlesque Academy. This was the first Vaudezilla production that I attended and it was an amazing show. After the show I got the opportunity to interview Red Hot Annie, the president and one of the performers for Vaudezilla. If you’ve never been to a burlesque show you should do yourself a favor and attend a Vaudezilla show, they’re beyond entertaining. For more information and a full calendar of events visit www.Vaudezilla.com and www.RedHotAnnie.com.

1. First off tell us who you are and what you do?

I’m Red Hot Annie and I’m a burlesque dancer. I’m a big part of the Chicago burlesque scene, but I also perform nationally, and I’ve even been to Vancouver!

2. How did you come about being a burlesque performer, was it something you always wanted to do?

I didn’t know it was called burlesque, but it’s certainly something I’ve always had an interest in. I remember always being drawn to pictures of super feminine ladies when I was younger – ladies in the circus or showgirls, even. I never really saw myself as a burlesque dancer until a couple years ago, though. I’ve been watching Chicago burlesque shows since 2002-2003, maybe, and I was just a fan for a long time. It wasn’t until the end of 2007 that I started actually dipping my toe in the pool. Now, I can’t imagine *not* doing it!

3. What can people expect from one of your shows?

People can expect to have a good time. We put together each and every one of our shows with the audience in mind, from the free swag bags to the jokes that our audience will *really* laugh at, we like to make sure we’re putting a show together that puts our audience first. Even though we consider burlesque an art, we shy away from anything that makes it seem pretentious or “above” the audience in any way. You can also expect a lot of glitter, glamour, and wonky fun.

4. How do you come up with the themes for your shows?

The themes come up in a variety of ways. Usually, Dick Dijon and myself are just chillin’ and talking about something totally unrelated and we’ll throw out an idea just to make the other person laugh. Sometimes it sticks. Sometimes it’s a good start for a show – for example, the Vaudezilla Monster Burlesque Academy actually started as the Vampire Academy of Arts & Polytechnics. Not exactly a practical concept, but it gave us the jumping off point. Recently, Wham Bam Pam has also been coming up with some brilliant ideas, and she’ll be producing some new and exciting themes next year with Vaudezilla.

5. Tell us about Vaudezilla.

Vaudezilla is a team of performers who specialize in burlesque.

6. You teach as well as perform correct? Tell us about that, how can someone become your student?

I sure do. I teach for Demaira Dance Company. Ladies are welcome to become students by emailing me or just showing up for the class! Details regarding my burlesque classes can always be found HERE.

7. Is burlesque your whole career/life or do you do other things as well?

I’m an artist by profession and burlesque is definitely a large part of my career – I perform an average of three times a week! I’m also a professional hair/makeup artist.

8. Who/what are some of your influences?

There are a lot of really great burlesque dancers in Chicago, but my greatest influences in performance are old vaudeville performers like Charlie Chaplin and Lucy. And the girls in my troupe are the ones I have the most contact with inside the Chicago burlesque scene, so they are often influential.

9. Where do all your costumes and props come from?

Costumes/props come from all over the place, actually! I have a custom costume from www.Limebarb.com (which is run by our very own professional costumer Bonny Babs), but I also have a lot of old vintage pieces and even some modern stuff that’s been re-worked specifically to be part of a burlesque costume. There’s a lot sitting at the kitchen table, leaning over a bra and gluing rhinestones one-at-a-time. I’ve only got a couple props, and one of them is a life-size hot dog cart that my father-in-law made for me.

10. Do you have any advice for girls with interest in becoming a burlesque performer?

Of course. If you are interested in becoming a burlesque performer, one of the most important things you can do is find a mentor who will support you. Find someone who wants you to succeed, and will push you as much as you want/need to be pushed – and the rest will be a piece of cake.

11. Are there any special events you’d like to tell us about?

Yes! Vaudezilla is proud to be one of the co-producers for the Windy City Burlesque Fest – we’ll be featuring performers from all over the United States (and maybe even the world). It’s going to be in April 2010. We’re also planning on remounting Big Lebowski Burlesque in 2010, as well as some new vaudeville shows in Skokie (a Chicago suburb), along with our regular weekly Thursday show at Blue Bayou, BROADZILLA! once a month at Exit, and a variety of other shows that are still in pre-production. 2010 is going to be a very busy year, indeed! You can find out about our shows HERE.

12. How can people contact you for more information on booking and classes?

Email is my favorite – annie@redhotannie.com

13. Is there anything else you’d like to tell the fans out there reading this?

I love you guys. Thanks for making this so much fun!

Be sure to check out the official Vaudezilla website for up to date information and events. Also visit www.Redhotannie.com.

-Interview by Shaun May