Interview with Filmmaker Rachel Grubb

Rachel Grubb is a multi-talented actress, director, writer and producer that has taken the horror world by storm ever since she appeared as Amy in St 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, Cave Women on Mars, Terror Overload, Camp Kill and Strip Club Slasher. She played a creepy ghost in Dav 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 Productions, the non-profit all-female production company she runs with her friend Brooke Lemke. Rachel has been an in-studio guest on Maxim Radio’s “Hotties Of Horror” week, and writes a regular Scream Queen column for The Chainsaw Mafia.

Fatally Yours: How did you fall in love with the horror genre? 

Rachel Grubb: I think I really fell in love with horror when I discovered Dario Argento.  We went to a local screening of a cheesy Italian B horror film, and they showed a trailer for Deep Red. My friends and I had always enjoyed horror movies, but was then that I really got hooked. I was so intrigued by the creepy dolls and the walking dummy and whole atmosphere in the trailer that I had to track it down, along with the rest of his stuff.  It was then that I also started watching a lot of David Cronenberg’s stuff. Videodrome got me hooked on his work, and I have been ever since.

Fatally Yours: What does horror mean to you?

Rachel Grubb: Mostly, horror means fun! Entertainment. A return to childhood when everything was new, and a sound I didn’t recognize would make me jump. Only now, it’s a nice feeling.

Fatally Yours: How and when did you get involved in the horror genre?

Rachel Grubb: After I found Dario Argento, I got more and more into horror, and I discovered the work of Jess Franco. When I saw Soledad Miranda in Vampyros Lesbos, I thought, “Wouldn’t it be awesome to be a lesbian vampire sex symbol?”  I hadn’t really considered acting at the time, so it was just a passing fancy, or so I thought. Then, a few years later, I started taking acting classes. I was just looking for any roles I could find at the time and didn’t have much of a focus. I got a small part in NFTS Productions’ Doomed to Consume, and I decided, “This is what I want to do!” I never really wanted to get rich and famous as an actor. Doing horror is a way for me to keep playing fun and challenging roles and have people who appreciate what I do, without having to be in the tabloids.

Fatally Yours: What is one thing you’ve done within the horror genre that you are most proud of?

Rachel Grubb: I am proud of my role in 13 Hours in a Warehouse. It’s been the most successful of all the films I’ve done, and also I’m proud that people took notice of my role in spite of the fact that I had no lines. I had many people tell me that I was their favorite character, and I think it’s great that I was able to make an impression just with my onscreen presence.

I’m also quite proud of my performance in Cave Women on Mars. It’s a comedic sci-fi film done in the style of 1950′s drive-in movies. Christopher R. Mihm really gave me the opportunity to develop the character of Hagra how I wanted.  I was using all kinds of odd little influences. There was a little bit of Bettie Page, some Tura Satana, Anita Pallenberg’s character in Barbarella. When I started talking, Hagra had this weird, nondescript accent that didn’t really make logical sense, but it was perfect for an homage to bad 50′s sci-fi.

Fatally Yours: Do you feel women in horror get the proper recognition when compared to their male counterparts?

Rachel Grubb: I do think that women in horror have been getting more recognition in the past few years. However, I don’t feel that we get recognized in the same way that men do. I think that there is still too much emphasis placed on our appearance. There are many beautiful women in horror, but there is more to us than just that.

Fatally Yours: As a woman in horror, have you found it harder to be taken seriously in a genre that seems to be dominated by males? 

Rachel Grubb: When people find out I am also a writer and director, they tend to take me more seriously. Everybody knows I act, and I also model. I think they assume that if I’m off getting paid to be pretty and get my picture taken all the time, that I must not be very good at acting. Or very smart. Good looking guys who act and model aren’t really judged that way. I’ve had people tell me how surprised they were to learn that I had won an award for a screenplay I wrote, when they thought all I did was act and model. I was actually interested in writing and directing first, and acting didn’t come until later, and modeling came after acting.

While I’m happy that people respect me as a writer/director, I wish that women could get more respect just for acting in horror films. We scream queens have to be ready for anything! We have to be good sports about being covered in nasty F/X makeup. We also need to have a wide range of talents, because we can be asked to play anything from comedy to drama. It’s not just standing there screaming and looking pretty! It’s hard work! Some people think that indie horror doesn’t require any talent. But when you’ve only got one take because the sun’s going down, and the budget means you can only use the F/X once, you’ve got to know what you’re doing!

Fatally Yours: Have you ever felt exploited as a woman by any roles you’ve taken? Have there been certain roles you wouldn’t take because you felt exploited?

Rachel Grubb: I always try to make the most of every role I’m given. If I’m playing a role that seems like a typical ingenue/victim, I do my best to play her strength and bring out some real personality in her. If the role is boring, I do what I can to make her interesting. If she’s a stereotype, I try to bring out more sides to her. I approach it as an acting challenge, instead of a problem.

There was one role I didn’t take, and it was because I felt exploited, but it wasn’t a horror movie. There was a short film I auditioned for that had a lesbian scene, which included nudity, all of which I was fine with. That is, until the director called and offered me the role and told me about the other actress. He said, “I don’t know if you’re bi or whatever, but you won’t be disappointed if you are!” I was speechless, and he basically tried to get me to tell him if I was into girls. Which I would not say, because it has nothing to do with acting. If I’m going to do a scene like that, I’m not going to be discussing with the director how hot and sexy the other actor is. It’s more important for us to just feel comfortable with each other.

Fatally Yours: As an actress, do you feel roles in horror for women tend to be weaker or stronger than those for males? 

Rachel Grubb: In the past women were portrayed as weaker, but I think that’s changing. There have been some great horror movies with stronger female roles in recent years, and the horror audience has really responded to it. I think we’ve seen that there are women in the horror audience, and that men can appreciate a strong female character, too.

Fatally Yours: What are your overall thoughts on how women are portrayed in horror films?


Rachel Grubb: I want to see more women behind the camera. That goes for every genre of film, of course. I think only way we can make a difference in how we see ourselves portrayed in movies. That’s the philosophy behind Silent-But-Deadly Productions, the all-female production company I run with my friend Brooke Lemke.

Fatally Yours: What has been your favorite character you’ve portrayed?

Rachel Grubb: Gosh, that’s a hard question to answer! I had a lot of fun with Terror Overload, because I played several different characters. My favorite one was Bobbie Rae, the hillbilly hooker, because the character was so over-the-top and funny.

I also enjoyed my role as Shelly in Group Home. Shelly was the manager of the group home who was snorting and dealing meth while the residents were there, and even while she was breast feeding. The film was a dark comedy, and it was a challenge to humanize the character and still make her funny when she had so many unlikeable traits. The director, Ted Dewberry, also made a short film called Perversions, in which I play a very troubled young woman named Rhonda. She has just had gastro-bypass surgery, and has stopped eating completely and has to have a feeding tube put in. She is an alcoholic, and she uses her feeding tube to pour the alcohol directly into her stomach. I am very proud of my work in that film, too. Both films are available at the Longcoat Films’ YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/longcoatfilms

I also did another short film called The Straw Man, in which I played the poet Edna St. Vincent Millay. It was my first time playing a real person. I listened to a recording of her poetry to get a feel for her voice. She was a challenge for me, too, because she was bigger than life, but she was real. I had to create her as this woman with a tremendous personality without making her look like a cartoon character.

More recently, there was my role as Susan Shepard in Bad Girls Burn in Hell by Travis Miller and Joe Hollow. They gave me free reign to create the character how I wanted. I had specific ideas about her, from her wardrobe to her mannerisms. Everyone on the cast and crew thought that I gave her a very distinctive presence, even when she wasn’t speaking.

Fatally Yours: Since you’ve been involved with the horror genre, have you noticed a change in women’s roles within horror whether it be roles in horror films, women behind the camera, women writers, etc.?

Rachel Grubb: Yes, I’ve been happy to see so many women getting involved in the production side of horror. I don’t feel that horror is more male dominated than any other genre, but I do think that horror is thought of as something that women aren’t supposed to be into. What kind of a woman is into blood and guts? Well, me, for one, and most of my friends! Female writers know how to write women, and that’s why we’re needed here.

Fatally Yours: What women in horror do you look up to?


Rachel Grubb: The first answer to this question is always Debbie Rochon. She’s so talented, and I never get tired of seeing her in anything. When I first realized I wanted to be a Scream Queen, I looked to Debbie Rochon as everything I wanted to be.

There is also Angela Bettis, Barbara Steele, Soledad Miranda, Ingrid Pitt, and many more.

Fatally Yours: What would be your dream role?

Rachel Grubb: In a perfect world–one in which Heath Ledger was still alive–I would like to play Dr . Harleen Quinzel with him as the Joker. I’d love to see the Joker play a smaller role in the next Batman movie and take a backseat to the main villain. It would be interesting to see him at Arkham interacting with Harley for the first time. And I would love to work with Heath in that role. When I watched him for the first time, I felt the same way I felt when I saw James Dean in Rebel Without A Cause. I had to wonder what it was like to be in his presence when he was like that, and what it would be like to play off of him as an actor.

Fatally Yours: What advice would you give aspiring women who want to become involved in the horror business?

Rachel Grubb: First of all, don’t do anything you’re not comfortable with. If you don’t want to do nudity, don’t do it. Don’t say you will just to get the role. If you don’t feel safe doing a stunt, ask someone about it. Have the director demonstrate it for you. If the director is too scared to do it, s/he shouldn’t be asking you.
I would recommend anyone, whether they are interested in acting or directing, to take acting classes. Directing taught me so much about acting, and vice versa.  All different types of acting, ranging from comedy to drama, are found in horror, and it’s all worth learning about.

Fatally Yours: In your opinion, what makes the perfect scream queen and who is the ultimate scream queen?

Rachel Grubb: The perfect scream queen is an actress who loves and respects the horror genre. She may be involved with projects outside of horror, but she never feels that horror is beneath her. She does not want to be ridiculously famous, only to keep contributing to the horror genre, improving herself as an actress, and having fun.

To me, the ultimate scream queen is Debbie Rochon. I’ve seen her in several films, some good and some bad, and she always works hard and makes the most of her role.

Fatally Yours: What inspires, influences and motivates you?

Rachel Grubb: It’s hard to explain. It’s this feeling that I think most artists can relate to. When you make something, and you get this feeling that this thing exists because of you, and no one else could have made it. It may be brilliant, or it may be awful, but it’s unique in that it could only have come from you. I suppose it’s the reason why some people have kids.

Fatally Yours: What are your goals for yourself within the horror genre?

Rachel Grubb: I want to direct my own horror feature. I have a script that someone wrote for me that I absolutely love, and I hope to go into production with next year. Apart from that, just to keep learning and improving at acting and filmmaking. I wanted to be able to look back on all of this and feel like I was always pushing myself to do my best.

Fatally Yours: Where can people find more info on you?

Rachel Grubb: Silent-But-Deadly Productions’ official website is http://www.sbdproductions.com.  You can also add me on Myspace and on Facebook and follow me on Twitter.  Also, please visit my IMDB page.

Interview with Filmmaker Shannon Lark

Shannon Lark is a filmmaker, writer, director, producer, dancer, and actress. She is the director/founder of the Viscera Film Festival, CEO of The ChainSaw Mafia, and held the 2009 Spooksmodel crown for Fangoria Entertainment.

Lark surrounds her entire being to encompass the genre and relentlessly works to bring more women into the bloodbath. She believes in equal opportunity killing, equal opportunity filmmaking, and the idea that creating art is what saves the world from destroying itself.

Fatally Yours: How and when did you fall in love with the horror genre? 

Shannon Lark: It started early for me. I was 4 years old and my mother took me to a gruesome rendition of Romeo and Juliet. In the scene where they commit suicide, silk streamers burst out of their chests, rising hundreds of feet into the air and falling gracefully over their bodies.  That was my first experience of death, and it was forever stained within my memory. After that I was hooked: trying to sneakily rent movies that had any hint of blood on the back cover (which were mostly Full Moon productions at the time).

Fatally Yours: What does horror mean to you?

Shannon Lark: The idea of the genre is to explore the deep fear of being so small and insignificant in this great wide universe. It is humanity’s way of connecting on that terrible, awful level of pain and the idea of non existence. The genre creates a space for everyone to connect, exploit, and experience (and re-experience) all the horrific things that can happen in our lives, and in our imaginations. Horror is fundamentally the strongest emotion, aside from love and hate.

Fatally Yours: What is one thing you’ve done within the horror genre that you are most proud of?

Shannon Lark: For the most part, it’s the emails and communication I receive from young girls, asking me questions of how to get in the business, or just simply for advice.  In my eyes, this is one of the main reasons why women should want to be in the spotlight.  There just aren’t very many good role models in the entertainment business for young girls out there. We should constantly be trying to reach out and help people: assist in the idea of them getting up and doing something for themselves, whatever that may be.

Fatally Yours: You’ve done so much in the horror industry – everything from dancing with zombie dance troupe The Living Dead Girlz to running The ChainSaw Mafia and hosting the Viscera Awards to acting and being Fangoria’s first ever Spooksmodel! I love how multi-faceted you are, but how in the world do you juggle everything?

Shannon Lark: I’m just constantly working. My family is very supportive and that really helps me to put everything else in my life down to focus on my projects. For the past seven years I’ve been apart from my family, so it’s nice to now lean on them now for this work I’m doing. It’s been insane to juggle so many things and in the past I’ve been guilty of working too hard to please everyone, causing the quality of my work go down because of it.

I’m now learning to focus on one main project at a time, with plenty of help to get all the loose ends tied on the projects of a smaller scale. I grew up in a small town near the border of Mexico. I spent my teenage years drinking and experimenting with plenty of drugs, which was incredibly unfulfilling. That part of my life was over by the time I turned 18. I knew there had to be so much more in life then squandering it away on needless things. Doing work in the horror genre is incredibly therapeutic and fantastic.  It’s really all I want to do, however form or role I feel like working in.

Fatally Yours: Out of all your experiences and careers within the horror genre, what has been your favorite?

Shannon Lark: I don’t think I can call anything a favorite. There has been wonderful times in every piece of work I’ve done. I’ve fallen on my face many more times than I’ve had success, and laid in bed wondering if I’ll ever succeed at what I want to accomplish.  It’s all beautiful though, just like those silk streamers bursting out of the ballet dancers’ chests. It’s scary and wonderful and I am consistently reaching for more.

Fatally Yours: What else do you hope to accomplish in the horror genre?

Shannon Lark: I’ve really buckled down to fulfill my film career. I love dancing and theater (and I may return to that one day), but acting and directing and writing are what keeps me sane and living in an imaginary world. I’m co-directing my first feature (more news on that soon) with another female director, so that is quite a project to tackle. I hope to work (acting wise) with more women (and men) directors, on all kinds of budgets and scenarios, all over the world. I want the Viscera Film Festival to continue to grow and help other women propel their careers forward. I want it all. And I believe with every inch of my soul that people can have whatever they want.

Fatally Yours: How would you convince people who aren’t horror fans to give the genre a try?

Shannon Lark: I don’t believe that people should be convinced of anything. If they don’t like it, they don’t like it. Maybe one day they will, but maybe (and probably) not. For some people, they fail to see the underlying messages in the act of violence itself. Horror is one of the most artistic forms of art that touches on gender, social, and political issues with a single stabbing motion.

I have noticed, however, that many people who proclaim they don’t like “horror” will enjoy “thrillers.” This makes me chuckle, because horror is not merely a sub genre of slashers films. Horror is any piece or film that contains horrific ideas. Black comedies can even be horror movies. And yes, thrillers can even be horror movies.

Fatally Yours: Even though women seem to be getting more and more involved behind the scenes in horror, why do you think there are less female horror directors, writers, producers, etc. in the genre than males?

Shannon Lark: Because it’s a boys club, and until the late 1920′s when film was deemed “sophisticated,” women were actually headlining the scene. But the dawn of digital media is changing the entire industry, and many women directors (not just in horror) have popped up because of this.  No longer do you need to rely on a major studio to fund your film. Filmmaking is an art that has been liberated. The widespread consumerism of digital media will create even more change in the industry in the next 10 years. Digital is already beginning to look as good as film (if you light it correctly). I am so excited to be in this age!

What’s even more thrilling is that more women are hitting theaters to partake as an active part in the audience. Perhaps the increased accessibility of digital cameras are getting more women involved in film. The birth and affluence of the internet has made it easier for women to find other independent filmmakers who are doing what they dream to do.

This is what I feel Women in Horror Recognition Month is all about: females getting up and creating something. This is not about the “boys club” that we aren’t apart of, or how we are the gender who are objectified the most and generally paid the least. This is about helping women to understand their true potential. We need to be in the audiences and become the director, the producer, the writer, the cinematographer, and the special fx artist. We need to work together and with men, creating equal opportunities for ourselves, not waiting for the prince on a white horse to come save us as we faint at the sight of beauty and strength. This isn’t about ostracizing the male gender, nor is it about putting men in a specific role that plays out in our lives. This is about rising above the self loathing and depreciating ideas that women think about themselves (and each other) all over the world. This is about knowing full well that you are enough. You are skinny enough, and talented enough, and smart enough, and nothing can stop you if you try.  Nothing.

Fatally Yours: Do you feel women in horror get the proper recognition when compared to their male counterparts?

Shannon Lark: I think it’s very easy for a woman who sincerely shows she’s willing to work hard in the genre to be supported, by men and women alike. If women want recognition, all they have to do is seize it, and have the ambition to make it work.

For the most part, the men I’ve worked with in the genre are incredibly jazzed about a woman who wants to learn every position on the set. A woman who wants to write and create and be part of it all is a firehouse. A woman who is willing to sleep on a cold floor in a sleeping bag because the budget just doesn’t have the funds for a 5 star hotel room can be a godsend. A woman who wants to get bloody, and dirty, and work incredibly hard to make this group experience happen is what the genre needs. If you are a woman and are not willing to do that for the genre, then you are probably in the wrong field. Don’t lie down in your own tears and beg for people to feel sorry for you. There is no room for divas. And the men who work hard in the genre shouldn’t have to put up with that either. I truly hope that every woman going into the genre will treat every man with just as much respect as she thinks she deserves, or better.

Fatally Yours: As a woman in horror who champions females in the genre, do you think it’s harder for women to be taken seriously in a genre that seems to be dominated by males? 

Shannon Lark: As far as being behind the scenes, women are taken just as seriously, at least in the independent world of filmmaking (Hollywood is another idea entirely). As for acting though, I think women have a fine line to walk.  The issue of nudity is a difficult one that can cause lack of respect from audiences in general if it’s displayed as gratuitous and not in a beautiful or artistic light. For a filmmaker who is really going for T & A just to sell to prepubescent young boys, the T & A factor is not going to be shown in an “artistic” way.

Now this is the real kicker: it’s almost impossible for unknown actresses to break into the business without doing nudity. But once you do a nude scene, that is what you are constantly being asked to do. I see how it could get out of hand, and the only roles you are being offered are ones where you have to take off your clothes.

This is one of the main aspects of the business I would like to help change for women.  It’s fine if an actress wants to do nudity, but women should be able to have a choice, and understand they have a choice, before going into their first audition.  If men have a choice on doing nudity, then we should have one as well.  You have no idea how many scripts I’ve received just this year that had gratuitous nudity in them.  It’s so hard when the script is good to tell the Director that I don’t do nudity.  It breaks my heart when I want the role so badly. But I do it, because I want to help pave a way in this industry for women to have that choice and I want to be known for my talent, not my cup size.

It’s the woman’s body that can get in the way of being taken seriously.  We are always demanding that we be treated as equals but then we generally use our bodies to define our careers. We should be using our minds and our talent to define what we want, too.

Fatally Yours: Since you’ve been involved with the horror genre, have you noticed a change in women’s roles in the genre? 

Shannon Lark: I have, but I believe the advancement of digital technology and the internet has been fundamental in aiding this development.

This is helping filmmakers like Stacie Ponder, Devi Snively, and Ginetta Corelli truly stand out.

Fatally Yours: What women in horror do you admire and why?

Shannon Lark: There hasn’t been a woman I’ve met in the genre whom I haven’t admired, for the simple reason that she is doing what she wants to do. No one is holding a gun to her head. She is here on her own accord and making her own imaginary world as she wishes it to be.

I’ll name off a few people though, so you can get my drift: Heidi Martinuzzi, Stacie Ponder, Devi Snively, Victoria Waghorn, Ashley Lawrence, and all the Viscera Filmmakers who have poured their hearts and souls into their work.

Fatally Yours: What inspires, influences and motivates you to keep working in horror?

Shannon Lark: To explore every horrific situation, whether in mind or body, and process it in a therapeutic fashion to gain more awareness and compassion for the world.  To create beauty out of chaos and destructiveness.  To me, this is what life is all about.

Fatally Yours: How does it feel to be admired by horror fans?

Shannon Lark: As long as I feel like I can help them find what they are looking for, or be a positive influence in their lives, then it’s wonderful. If I have a fan just because he/she thinks I’m hot, I find myself relatively disappointed.

Fatally Yours: What are your favorite horror films and books?

Shannon Lark: Men, Women, and Chain Saws, a compilation of short stories by women titled Viscera, (which is where I derived my inspiration for the Viscera Film Festival), and Memnoch the Devil by Anne Rice.

Fatally Yours: Outside of horror what do you enjoy doing?

Shannon Lark: Playing with my Dalmatian, working out, yoga, meditating, watching movies, and camping. I’m kind of a hippie. What can I say?

Fatally Yours: What is your ultimate goal while working in the horror genre?

Shannon Lark: To be a sufficient aid to bring more women and men into finding their careers in horror or filmmaking in general. To live out every excruciating moment that I exist within this body to explore the terrors of the world and make into something positive by sharing it with the world.

Honestly, I’ve just gotten started.

Fatally Yours: What advice would you give women who want to become involved in the horror genre?

Shannon Lark: Get up. Don’t complain. If you are surrounded by those who do not help you in a positive manner, release them and continue on with your dreams. Don’t exploit yourself unless you truly, truly desire to. Don’t wait for that certain someone on a white stallion to tell you he’s a producer and he’s gonna make you a star. He’s probably a pervert. Make your own films if you want to act, or direct, or produce. Stand up now and find what you want, and that doesn’t just go for the genre.

Fatally Yours: Where can people find more info on you?

Shannon Lark: You can find me at:

www.thechainsawmafia.com
http://www.thechainsawmafia.com/viscerafilmfest.html
www.myspace.com/shannonlark
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shannon_lark
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2608690/

Interview with Filmmaker Maureen "Mo" Whelan

Maureen “Mo” Whelan is a multi-talented and gorgeous woman working in the entertainment industry. She started in animation before moving on to producing, acting and modeling. Right now she is working as a producer for Probell Films and also acted in their new thriller film, Client 14.

We had the opportunity to talk to Mo about her multi-faceted career, her beginnings in the entertainment industry and her love of the horror genre.

Fatally Yours: Tell us about growing up. What drew you to the entertainment industry and when did you decide you wanted to make it your career?

Mo Whelan: My father was Irish (from Ireland) and in the British Army. He was always telling me Irish folk tales and ghost stories. He would tell me about his paranormal experiences while guarding castles in Britain and living in Clonmel, Ireland. In Clonmel, on a small street, there were tales of a headless horseman that rode up and down the street in the midst of the night. He always spoke about The Tower of London where he swore he saw a ghostly women floating over a bridge. He told me about his Army experiences, he served in small conflict wars in Cyprus and Aden. He saw terrible things happen to many of his now deceased friends and counterparts. This inspired me to get into storytelling and one day write a script based around his life.

In addition to this, I’ve always been a creative person. I’ve been drawing, and writing stories since I was a child. As a kid I use to set up scenes with toys, cardboard boxes and act out events. I just kind of lived in my own little world. I loved watching cartoons and the idea that a person could create an extravagant idea on paper and transfer it to a television set for everyone to view was fascinating to me. As a teenager my interests were drawn towards Sci-Fi, horror and war movies. Now you could take extravagant ideas and mix them with live action. I just found the concept exciting and somehow understood how animation /visual effects were created and the basics of story development. It wasn’t until I reached my teenage years that I really wanted to take my creativity to a next level and make it my career. I took my first 3D computer animation class at the age of 17 and started working at a game studio soon after.

Fatally Yours: How did you get your start in the entertainment industry? When and why did you decide you wanted to try many different occupations within the industry? 

Mo Whelan: I moved to Los Angeles as a teenager with a couple of friends, to pursue my dreams of working in animation and the film industry. My family was not wealthy, so I had no financial support or career guidance. I was determined to accomplish my goals, so I began educating myself on film production. At the time I was working at Chief Auto Parts and meet a guy that worked at a game studio. I told him of my interest in animation and he introduced me to the owner of the studio. I ended up interning at the company for a couple of years. During that time, I also came across a catalogue for UCLA Extensions and registered for computer effects course. There I meet my good friend Jody who is a visual effects expert. He also mentored me and eventually introduced me to a person at South Park and I ended up working on South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut. The industry is always changing, especially the technology. So, a person has to keep up to date on everything that happens in the production process of a film. This is why my skill set is so diverse. I’ve had to learn many areas of production to survive in the entertainment industry. Producing just seemed like the natural next step to my career after years of working in animation, visual effects, DVD replication, marketing, production and post-production. Producing gives me the opportunity to utilize the skill set, along with all my industry contacts and create a film of my interest.

Fatally Yours: You’re a multi-faceted professional that works in producing, acting, writing, modeling and more! Which of these did you find yourself drawn to the most? How did your interest in pursuing other careers develop?

Mo Whelan: I’m actually drawn to story-telling/writing and traditional art. Again, this goes back to my childhood experiences and I think its part of my Irish heritage. Irish people like to talk and tell stories, especially to scare people. Plus, stories help people escape from their everyday life and experience something different that they would come across in a daily routine.

I find all areas of production interesting and am constantly trying to keep educated on the latest technology and media trends. I am fortunate that I am able to grasp the technology side of media production and can adapt in a work environment. Others notice my ability to do so and I am often asked to help out on various types of projects in all areas of production which includes animation, internet, DVD, public relations, and other types of media development. I will work on a project if I find it interesting and my knowledge can be utilized efficiently. My friends find me photogenic and like shooting me, so if they ask me to model for them I will.

Fatally Yours: Out of all the different facets of your career, do you have a favorite? 

Mo Whelan: My favorite time in my career was 2000-2003. I was an operations manager for a visual effects and animation training center called DHIMA, Digital Hollywood Institute of Media Arts. The entertainment industry was still striving during my first year there. Plus, not too many schools were training the profession. We had a lot of students come through the school, and many of them went onto successful careers. It was fun to watch the students complete their first student film with excitement and have a drive to succeed. I enjoy watching and helping others achieve their goals. Hearing from one and knowing that you personally helped them achieve their dreams is far more valuable than money or a media spotlight.

Fatally Yours: What has been your favorite/most memorable assignment/role/article/shoot/etc. that you’ve done in your career? 

Mo Whelan: The last scene my crew and I at Probell Films shot for Client 14 was the most memorable shoot. I cast my niece Kathy Carty, to be in the film. I guess you can say she’s a Scream Queen in training. We shot the scene at her high school, The High Desert Academy of Applied Arts and Sciences.  Patrick O’Bell, the writer/director of Client 14, Joseph Garcia, a co-producer, and I also gave a short lecture to the film class. It was a small class but the kids really appreciated it and enjoyed the knowledge we shared with them. The staff also appreciated our time and use of the facility. We gave the school an opportunity to experience a real production.

Fatally Yours: Can you tell us more about Client 14 and about your role in it? 

Mo Whelan: Client 14 is a 1980′s style slasher film, with a psychological twist. The actual plot is about a group of beautiful escorts who brutally murdered in a local city. Detectives are baffled by the lack of physical evidence or motive of the unseen Killer. The events soon traumatize a Private Investigator as he is unable to protect the escorts he befriends.

I’m a co-star in the film. My characters name is “Crystal” and I play a free spirited, kind of flighty escort whose friends are killed off.

Fatally Yours: Does Probell Films have any other horror/thriller movies in the works after Client 14? 

Mo Whelan: Yes, we have two films slated for release at the end of 2010 and more to follow in the next few years.  We also have two horror webisodes in development and are planning to release them by mid 2009. Our 5 year business plan also branches in other areas of media development.

The next feature film lineup is as follows:

Forgotten Souls – Based in New Orleans, an ex convict finds an old friend working in the cotton fields.  The only problem is that his friend died several years ago.

The Drifter – A crooked undercover narcotics cop almost loses his life in a drug bust gone wrong.  The world becomes a dark unrelenting nightmare as he struggles to find who set him up and his place in the world.

Fatally Yours: You’ve also worked for Girls and Corpses Magazine. What kind of articles have you written there and which was your favorite? 

Mo Whelan: I love Girls and Corpses Magazine. Robert Rhine, the founder and publisher, has been very supportive of my writing skills. He discovered my writing through my blogs and likes my writing technique. I am very appreciative of Robert giving me the opportunity to write for his magazine.

I’ve written a couple of articles for the magazine.  The first is “I’m Going to Get My Samosex! Hot 3D Sex in the Cyber World.”  It was a risky review of the website Samosex.com. The recent article I wrote is “Trannywood.”  It was about some of the local transsexuals that wonder the streets in my Hollywood neighborhood. This was my favorite article because I stayed up on Saturday night and hung out with a pimp and a transsexual prostitute and listened to their stories and watched the girls worked the streets.

I’m planning on writing more articles for the magazine; I just haven’t had the time to recently.  When I do it will be something that’s a little different from the daily newspaper article.

Fatally Yours: What drew you to the horror-side of the entertainment business? Have you always been a horror fan? 

Mo Whelan: Yes, I have always been a horror fan. Again this goes back to my memories of my father telling me folk tales, ghost stories, and war stories. He was also a fan of horror movies, sci-fi movies and war movies. I use to stay up at night with my sister and him watching them. My mother would fall asleep. I was always fascinated by how the effects were created, loved being scared and scaring people. Now I can scare a large audience on the big screen instead of just sneaking up behind one person and jumping at them just to scare them.

Fatally Yours: Is there any other career you find yourself drawn to or at least want to try? Like directing, perhaps?

Mo Whelan: I’ve been fortunate enough that I have been able to accomplish all my dreams and goals I’ve had since I was a child. I’m pretty content with my life and career.  I could maybe co-direct one day. I wouldn’t mind traveling and filming in less fortunate areas, to allow people who are curious about the art of filmmaking to experience it in person.

Fatally Yours: Having had experience both in front of and behind the camera, what are some of the pressures that you and other women in the entertainment industry face?

Mo Whelan: As a woman, working in the technology side of production for years, I’ve had to always keep up to par on the latest technology and trends in the film business.  I’ve always had to prove my knowledge and speak intelligently towards my male counter parts to gain their respect as a female techy. I’ve had many supportive film industry people in my life and wonderful mentors. So, luckily I haven’t run into too many bad seeds during my career history.

Most female actresses and models have the pressure of appearance on film. Today’s media has focused mainly on super-skinny, over-processed women as being beautiful.  When in reality these women are just characters created to draw attention to them. The classic icon never was super skinny, sporting an orange tan and over-process yellow blond hair with extensions. They were just natural beauties. I’m comfortable with who I am, and how I look. Everyone has their own ideal person they’re attracted to and I know not everyone is going to be attracted to me. Honestly, I’d rather be remembered for my knowledge, talent and personality rather than if I have tight abs and big boobs.

Fatally Yours: What advice would you give those that want to enter into the entertainment business? 

Mo Whelan: My advice to others is to keep following your dreams, don’t give up and don’t get distracted. Never feel like you’re stuck in a situation. You can always get out of a situation you don’t want to be in. Don’t listen to others negativity. You must take responsibility for your own life and take action to achieve your goals. I’ve had to work hard to accomplish my career goals; 13 years later I’m producing my first film and answering interview questions for the media. Stay focused on what you want and you will also achieve your goals.

Fatally Yours: What projects do you have lined up next?

Mo Whelan: My next projects are to focus on the webisodes, the next two Probell feature films, to finish writing my own feature length script, do some curriculum advising for a school, shoot with a few more photographers and I’m having my first traditional art exhibit at a local underground Goth club in March 2009.

I will also still be acquiring short animated films for AWNtv.com. I also am currently in charge of Film Licensing and Acquisitions for AWNtv.com. So, for my animation filmmaker clients, I haven’t forgotten you. I will still be at AWNtv to help you out with your needs.

Fatally Yours: Thanks so much for taking the time to answer our questions, Mo! Best of luck to you in the future! 

Mo Whelan: Thank you and the Fatally Yours staff for this amazing opportunity to share my life with you and your readers. I really appreciate your time and your interest.  Have a wonderful day.

Visit Probell Films’ Official Site!

Interview with Ghoul Girls Founder and Model

We recently got to chit-chat with the brains and beauties of the horror pin-up site, Ghoul Girls. There are a lot of horror-themed pin-up sites out there, but Ghoul Girls is really different. Not satisfied with just showing pretty faces bathed in blood, they feature ghoulish pin-ups who passionately care about horror! Their close-knit family is dead-icated to horror and it shows in their photo spreads and in the following interview with site model Macabri and owner/photographer VampireKitten.

Ladies and gents, meet the fabulous Ghoul Girls!

Fatally Yours: How and when did you fall in love with the horror genre?

Macabri: I honestly can’t remember a time when I wasn’t into horror. Even in elementary school I remember reading all the scary books I could find and watching monster movies.

Fatally Yours: Can you tell our readers what Ghoul Girls is all about?

Macabri: Ghoul Girls is all about B-grade horror, sexy girls and pin-up. Who wouldn’t love that?

Fatally Yours: What inspired you to start Ghoul-Girls.com?

VampireKitten: We started it originally as a one woman coffee table book that branched out into something extremely unique that was nestled in the horror genre. Some of us love pin-up, all of us love horror, so we just thought to put the two together. People started seeing what we were doing and got excited about it. It kind of inspired us to keep going.

Fatally Yours: Had you any experience with running a website before?

VampireKitten: Ya for a long time I had been running an Internet radio station for the paranormal. As well as a few other websites I had been running on my own. It’s a huge undertaking, but it’s well worth it and has paid off. I started doing websites when I was 16, I’m self taught.

Fatally Yours: How do you think Ghoul Girls stands apart from other horror pin-up sites?

Macabri: I’ve seen other photographers that have done horror-themed photo shoots, but nothing with the scope or dedication that Ghoul Girls presents. You can tell that all of the models are very into what they’re doing and having some fun with the genre.

Fatally Yours: How can people enjoy the Ghoul Girls site in its full glory? Are there member fees, etc.?

Macabri: To fully enjoy the site all you have to do is sign up your FREE account. That’s it. For the price of free you get to access all of the photo sets, behind the scenes images, the forum, etc.

Fatally Yours: You’ve recently released a Ghoul Girls calendar. How can people get their paws on one and what can they expect to find lurking inside?

Macabri: The calendar is easily purchased through our web store located at: http://www.cafepress.com/ghoulgirlsmerch . Inside you’ll find 12 months worth of sexy monsters waiting to decorate your room, crypt, padded room, etc.

On another note, we’re going to be releasing a DVD soon with all of the video taken during the shoots, including video from upcoming, never before seen sets.

Fatally Yours: How are the models/photographers chosen?

Macabri: Right now there are a couple of photographers that do all of the shooting for the site. Models can apply through the site and are reviewed for consideration. If chosen, they work with the photographers/site owners to find the perfect creepy-crawly for them to portray.

Fatally Yours: How can interested parties apply to become models and/or photographers for the site? 

Macabri: It’s extremely easy to apply to model. All you have to do is go to the main site and click on the link that says Model for Us. From there you fill out a short questionnaire and e-mail it to GhoulGirls(at)gmail.com. We’re looking for all sorts, so don’t be afraid to apply.

Fatally Yours: Is there a specific horror film or horror era that influences the look and feel of Ghoul Girls? 

Macabri: The site is about a lot more than just one film or era. We want to encompass everything that people love about horror, whether it’s shooting images based off of something classic like Frankenstein or newer like Friday the 13^th. We’re even exploring beyond movies to include things such as the upcoming Death photo set.

Fatally Yours: Do you ever plan on using male models for the site?

Macabri: Right now it’s just female models, but who knows what the future might hold?

Fatally Yours: What are your hopes and goals for the site as it grows?

Macabri: It would be great to have the site get all the attention it deserves for all of the hard work that’s been put into it. We’re also looking to expand the content on the site. Already we a new section with video rants that I’ve been doing and we’re working on some fun content for download. We hope to keep spreading the word as we continue to carve out our own niche in the horror universe.

Fatally Yours: Is there anything else you’d like to tell our readers about?

Macabri: I just want to say a thank you to the rest of the amazing team we have at Ghoul Girls. Candace, Joshua, Chrissy, and Kurt have been so fantastic. I’m honored to be a part of the site and to be able to talk to you about it now.

Visit the Ghoul Girls’ Official Site!

Interview with Journalist/Actress/Author Axelle Carolyn

Axelle Carolyn is a multi-talented horror journalist, author, actress, model and all around horror fan! She’s written for publications like Fangoria, IGN.com, L’Ecran Fantastique and SFX Magazine, appeared in numerous horror films (Doomsday, the upcoming The Descent 2, short films The Neon Killer and I Love You) and is now having her highly anticipated first book, It Lives Again! Horror Movies in the New Millennium, published!

I was lucky enough to interview the very gracious Axelle about her upcoming book, her career in the horror genre and about her love of horror!

Fatally Yours: First off, how and when did your love of horror begin? Were you exposed to a lot of horror films growing up in your native Belgium or did your love of horror develop later in life?

Axelle Carolyn: I’m not sure why, but I’ve always been attracted to the horror elements in all the cartoons I watched and all the stories I read as a kid. I remember being very impressed by the skeleton army in The Black Cauldron, and skeletons, ghosts and brains were the most fascinating things to me as a little girl. Around 8 or 9, I started reading my dad’s collection of Jean Ray short stories. And around 11-12, I discovered Stephen King…

Fatally Yours: What horror movie has affected you the most and why?

Axelle Carolyn: The Fly was one of the first that I remember getting obsessed with. My parents didn’t want me to watch horror films, but I’d seen stills from the movie and I had a teenage crush on Jeff Goldblum, so I couldn’t stop looking for ways to see that film behind my parents’ backs. When I turned 16 or 17, they gave me a lot more freedom to watch what I wanted, and I finally got to see The Fly. It exceeded all my expectations! I should also credit Re-Animator; I discovered it around the same time and loved it. And my crush shifted from Goldblum to Jeffrey Combs… J This being said, I started writing fiction recently, and the more I think about it, the more I realize that it’s really horror literature that shaped my love for the genre. Stephen King and Jean Ray of course, but also Clive Barker, Edgar Allan Poe, Theophile Gauthier, Guy de Maupassant…

Fatally Yours: When did you start writing about horror? How did you get involved with and start writing for different horror publications?

Axelle Carolyn: I conducted my first interview in 2004. I’d been going to the Brussels Fantastic Film Festival for years, and I asked Johnny Butane (now on Dreadcentral) and Ryan Rotten (now on Shocktilyoudrop), who at the time ran Creature-Corner, if they’d like a festival report. Ryan got me a press card, and I got to do a few interview, including my first interviewee ever, Stuart Gordon. Later that year I met Brian Yuzna, and he invited me to visit the set of his film in Madrid. When I left the set, he asked me if I wanted to cover the film for Fangoria, since I’d done some work for Creature-Corner. I said yes, wrote it, sent it to Fango; they liked it and next thing I knew, I was visiting Hostel in Prague.

Fatally Yours: Your first book, It Lives Again! Horror Movies in the New Millennium will be published soon! Congrats on that enormous accomplishment! Can you tell us what the book is about and what your goals were in writing it?

Axelle Carolyn: Thanks! The book covers the huge wave of horror films we’ve seen recently, from blockbusters to independents, Hollywood to Asia, looking at the main trends, the failures and successes, and whenever possible, the reasons behind these successes. There’s been so many good films this decade, and I’ve been privileged enough to meet a lot of these new filmmakers and count several amongst my close friends, so I thought it’d be good to collect quotes and interviews and give horror fans a complete panorama of what’s been made in the past 8 years. My inspiration originally came from a book I’d read a couple of years ago called The Monster Show, A Cultural History of Horror, by David J. Skal. It’s brilliantly written, and the parallel it establishes between the various trends in the genre and world events was fascinating. I tried to take the same approach in my book, and cover the one decade the book doesn’t cover.

Fatally Yours: What was the most exciting/gratifying aspect about writing a book?

Axelle Carolyn: The most exciting I’d say was the freedom the format gave me. When you write for a magazine, you have to follow a pre-established structure and conform to a certain style. Here, as long as I was coherent in my choices, I could do anything I wanted. I also loved being able to give an opinion rather than just compiling cold facts; I never liked writing reviews, but in the book, the thing I liked the most was to try to look for trends and common traits between movies, or links between socio-political events and box-office hits. Few people know this, but I actually graduated in law and specialized for several years in international law and politics, so I have a good understanding of current affairs. It was brilliant to be able to use that background, for once, and incorporate it into something horror-related.

Fatally Yours: Of all the “new” horror films that your book covers, which film is your favorite and why?

Axelle Carolyn: That’s a tough question! I thought about that when the time came to choose a cover… and I think my favorite is The Devil’s Backbone. I love ghosts, and this one has just the right blend of atmosphere and scares, with so many different layers. It’s touching, spooky and incredibly smart at the same time. And don’t even get me started on the photography… I couldn’t find the perfect still from the film though, but The Orphanage has largely the same qualities, so that picture of the little ghost was perfect. Horror fans talk a lot about France these days, but personally, it’s really Spain that impresses me the most. The evolution the genre has gone through there is amazing. Rec is another great example…

Fatally Yours: How would you try and explain to people outside of the genre, who don’t realize horror’s merits or positive aspects, that it truly is a worthwhile genre and not merely an exploitative one?

Axelle Carolyn: I’d show them The Devil’s Backbone. Better show something than argue for hours! I showed it to a couple of people who thought horror was all blood and guts with nothing behind it, and they loved it. Come to think of it, I guess The Fly would work well too, to show them how special effects and gore can be used to convey emotions.

Fatally Yours: What do you think horror films reveal about a society’s culture, values, etc.?

Axelle Carolyn: I think horror films reflect the concerns and fears of their time, whether the filmmakers intended it or not. It’s actually better when it’s an unconscious process, otherwise it often feels like the director is preaching or forcing a message down our throats.

Fatally Yours: As a woman in the male-dominated genre of horror, either as a journalist, author or actress, what are your thoughts on how women are portrayed in the genre?

Axelle Carolyn: I’m often asked gender-related questions, and to be honest, it’s not something I’ve ever given much thought to. I’ve never felt like I was treated differently as a horror fan because I’m a woman – or if I have, it probably mostly worked in my favor – so I haven’t really thought about those issues… I know there’s a general feeling that horror films depict women as victims and stereotypes, but when you look at it, there have been many, many wonderful roles for women, even lately. Look at May, High Tension, The Descent; or further in the past, Halloween, Geena Davis in The Fly, or my personal favorite, Bette Davis in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? There’s a lot of female characters out there that broke the stereotypes.

Fatally Yours: Though there have always been women horror fans, do you think that lately we’ve seen more women going to horror fans? Why?

Axelle Carolyn: More horror fans, I don’t know. I couldn’t say, really. But what is certain is that producers have been trying to target women specifically these past few years, and that’s a pretty unique phenomenon. All these Asian remakes are largely aimed at women, and it makes sense, because in Japan, there’s a huge amount of women amongst horror fans. Their ghost stories almost always have a woman in the lead and deal with themes related to the place of women in society; the clearest example is the single mother of Dark Water…

Fatally Yours: Do you think that if more women begin to support horror that this will result in more women directing, writing, producing and so on?

Axelle Carolyn: I don’t think so. You know, if I noticed that a lot more – or a lot less – women were suddenly interested in horror, it wouldn’t change a single thing to my passion for the genre. And when you look at it, even outside horror, women rarely direct, write or produce; it’s mostly a male-dominated industry. Whatever the cause may be… Even chick flicks are more often than not made by guys.

Fatally Yours: You’ve been appearing in many horror films recently, with your cameos in Doomsday and small role in The Descent 2 to your roles in other short films like The Neon Killer and I Love You. Can you tell us how you got bit by the acting bug?

Axelle Carolyn: It’s a funny thing. I never thought I’d be interested in acting. But somehow, when I’d visit sets or met people, they’d often try to get me in front of the camera, and I’d almost always say no. But then I had this little cameo in Doomsday, mostly because I was working on SFX and I wanted to try the makeup on, and I loved it. After the shoot, I realized that writing alone wasn’t enough for me, and that because my husband travels a lot and I wanted to be able to go with him, I’d need to find something that would allow me to take time off easily to travel and write. I remembered the Doomsday experience and thought I could look into acting. A friend of mine, Leslie Simpson, had agreed around the same time to appear in a short film directed by SFX artist Tristan Versluis, and he suggested me to Tristan for the female lead. I got the part, loved it, and decided it’d be worth giving acting a serious shot. Now I’ve got an agent, I’m auditioning like crazy, and I’m learning little by little…

Fatally Yours: Can you tell us a little about your role in The Descent 2? How did filming for that go?

Axelle Carolyn: I play a character called Nurse Lambert. Originally I’d auditioned for that one because she had a gruesome death, but that scene was rewritten just before shooting started… so now sadly, not only do I not die, but my part is pretty small. But it was an awesome experience because I got to say my first lines on camera in a relaxed atmosphere, with friends and people I knew around me. It was great.

Fatally Yours: What projects do you have planned in the future? Will you be collaborating on more films with your husband, Neil Marshall? Do you have any planned books, screenplays, films or other projects?

Axelle Carolyn: From now on, I’d like to put journalism on the side (although I do keep a monthly column on IGN, and I have an article coming in the next issue of Fango), and concentrate on acting and writing fiction. I’ve auditioned for a couple of pretty big films and I’m anxiously awaiting a reply. This month I’ll also be working on Forest of the Damned 2; it’s a little cameo and the film has a tiny budget, but it should be good fun, because it’s a good team of people. As for working with Neil, it’s definitely part of the plan. He wrote a role for me in what should hopefully be his next film. But of course until I’ve auditioned for it and received the producers’ approval, I won’t know for sure if I can do it…

Fatally Yours: For those aspiring to be part of the horror genre, what advice would you give them to fulfill their dreams?

Axelle Carolyn: Grasp any opportunity. It doesn’t matter if it’s not exactly what you had in mind; the smallest thing can lead to the most unexpected places. Four years ago I was desperate to find a job on set, as a runner. I never found one, but journalism found me instead, and now it’s given me the opportunity to experiment and branch out into other things. So far, so good!

Buy It Lives Again! Horror Movies in the New Millennium on Amazon!