Hot & Horrifying: The First Ladies Of Horror (9) Teresa Fahs Good morning, Teresa. How are we today? Doing well. Forcing myself to stop multi-tasking, and unplugging, so that I can sit down and chat with you- uninterrupted. Now, here's an interesting tidbit of info I dug up on you; you were once a ''figure sculpture''. Is that anything like modeling? Only in the way photography is like modeling. When I started, there was a live model in the room, but what I do is interpret what I see into a three dimensional piece. I don't model, or act. I'm actually very camera shy. Was it NUDE figure sculpting? If so, may I have a copy of the statue? {Laughs}. As a matter of a fact it was nude figure sculpting, otherwise, I think I'd be sculpting clothing, and for that, all I'd need is a dressed mannequin. But those pieces were sold many years ago and are long gone by now. Damn! Was it your experience in sculpting that got you into FX work? Yes. It was a pretty easy transition from sculpting a body to sculpting body parts, and certainly takes less materials. {Laughs}. I had a few gallery shows. You know, the stuffy fine art type of thing. Then I started getting strange prop request from theater folk, maybe because they would come out to art shows. I did a human head pie, a pregnant belly, severed hands, and things like that. The artistic skill set is nearly the same. First, I sculpt a piece, then I make a mold of it, then I pour the piece, and I finish by painting it. What's different, is how the piece of art is being used. That's what determined my materials and level of detail. If theater actors want to kick a severed head around like a kick ball, then I use slip cast latex over flexible foam, and the piece comes out much like a Nerf ball. If they want to drop a severed head in water and have it sink, I weight the inside with rocks and make it waterproof. If they are shooting in HD and want to decapitating an actor, I do body casting and use platinum silicone. If they are blowing it up then I build in blood packets and compartments for pyro charges. There are dozens of ways to make a decapitated head. But the sculpting and mold making process are nearly the same. Now, your store Gorify, I see is a ''one-stop specialty shop for zombie makeup.'' Why only zombies? Are you prejudiced against other monsters? {Laughs}. I appreciate all monsters. I really love aliens too, but it just seemed to me that the zombies needed the most help. I know a lot of zombie walkers and have seen some pretty bad makeup. But I just have a special place in my heart for zombies. They are my favorite. To me, you the textbook example of success; even though it may seem odd to people that don't know you. You have such a great education, yet chose to work within the horror film industry. Why that choice? Well, it was that education and my wonderful day job that got me into zombies in the first place. I just don't have the stomach for the corporate work environment. I'd sit at my pretty nice desk, and watch my co-workers walk through the maze of cubicles. Day after day. It was the same thing. Outside of the occasional PowerPoint presentation, there wasn't much room for creativity. That's when I started REALLY loving zombies. I realized I was surrounded by them all day long. Sit through a project management IT meeting sometime and observe the level of "enthusiasm", or hang out near the lobby first thing in the morning before everyone has had their third cup of coffee, or go a two day training session on contract management. Wowee! Now there's something that will make you beg to be undead. To me, that's just not living. I guess I just have this innate entrepreneurial spirit. I'm also a creature of the night. I do my best work when everyone else is asleep. I get a lot of creative momentum between the hours of midnight and 5AM. It's hard to find one of those ladder climbing positions with those hours. I also can't deny that I've had a life long love for horror. It started in elementary school, when I'd sneak Steven King books out of the public library. Then I'd read all the Edgar Allan Poe books at the school library. Then my father took me to see Alien on the big screen when I was 9 years old. He'd never let me look away when I got scared. Then he'd take me out for pizza afterwards and tell me how the special effects were done. By the time I was a teenager, I wasn't scared by the things that scared other people. Now that I'm in my late 30's, I get the feeling that much of the horror that comes out of Hollywood is marketed towards the 20 year-old demographic. Sometimes it makes me sad when I think there's nothing out there for someone my age, someone with an education, or someone who knows basic anatomy. When that happens, I just create the horror I want to see. I sculpt it. It's an interesting life when your own work is more satisfying than television. You are also well known for your detail to realism. Now, is that only for your FX, or do you employ a sense of realism into ALL aspects of your work? For example; so many big budget studios employ almost NO decent dialogue, plot, or acting, yet spend mega-bucks on FX. My realism is engrained in my personality. Realism is my entire approach to life, people, work, love, art... everything. That takes the romanticism or dreaminess that many people enjoy and throws gritty reality in it's face. There's a part deep inside me that finds waking people up to reality amusing. Reality is dirty. Reality is awkward. Reality is smelly. Reality is scarier than anything the big studios rehash and serve warmed up. If the audience believes what they are seeing and hearing is REAL, that it could happen to them, then of course they can relate, and of course they will feel what the characters are feeling. That's true horror. But so many big budget films are too busy going bigger and over the top with bigger explosions and more CGI, that I feel like I'm watching a giant puppet show. I believe acting is harder than it ever has been. Imagine acting terrified in front of a green screen while being chased by a CGI monster. Nothing is real. Nothing is there. If acting is reacting, then what are we, as filmmakers, giving actors to react to? I believe that actors do a better job when they get to react to real set pieces, monsters that breath on their necks, and sticky gore that casts a shadow. I am the biggest hater of CGI you will ever find, maybe because it could render me obsolete some day. But the realism that my art brings cannot be programmed into a computer. I've seen an actor completely transform in the makeup chair. I always give them some alone time to look at themselves in the mirror, to make faces, to touch their prosthetics, to go wild when it's safe. And they literally come out a different person, and it brings a true to life depth to their performances. So I guess what I'm saying is that it's my job as an artist to give the actors the tools they need to get to the ultimate level of realism. What made you decide to take the director's chair for Haunting Kira? This philosophy of realism. That's exactly why I decided I wanted to direct Haunting Kira. This movie is all about transformation. All the creatures and gore will be organic effects. There will be absolutely no CGI in this movie. I have all these realistic gore images and fantastic horror moments floating around in my head, and I want to help guide the actors there. The first part was writing it. The next part is all special effects artwork. But that last piece of the puzzle will be directing. Has your experience on that film served you well? I think so. It has sure taught me what does and doesn't work. Whats on the horizon for Teresa right now? Well, surviving the Halloween season is always a challenge at Gorify.com. Then I'll be locked in the studio with my artists and apprentices creating all the SFX rigs, prosthetics, and animatronics for Haunting Kira. After that, we shoot in Las Vegas. Then promoting and touring. It's going to be a busy year. And once Haunting Kira is in the can, well, I guess we will do it all over again. The next project is in the cue. Any last words before you go? Independent and foreign movies are the future of horror. To all my filmmaking friends, let's show them what we can do by raising the bar and making the best movies we can. Take your time. Do it right. I'll see you on the festival circuit and we'll grab a drink to celebrate. NVF Films Interview with Judy Cerda Good morning, Judy. How are you on this fine July day? I was just looking over your resume again, and it is very impressive; acting, dancing, voice-overs, kick-boxing. I've never interviewed a kick-boxing voice-over artist before! Do you voice-over for cartoons? I would love to do voice overs for cartoons! I haven't yet - mostly voice overs for commercials where I am narrating the commercial as it shows a product or a voice over for radio. If you ever hear of a job for cartoon voices, be sure to let me know. That would be fun. Tell me about your film My Worst Nightmare. Sounds like a horror film, but you never know. Sometimes a title can be decieving... Yes, My Worst Nightmare is a horror film. I played the role of a wife/mom whose husband and son die at the dinner table and she buries them along with the help of her mother-in-law and daughter. Then the son comes back to life but she decides to bury him alive with no remorse. This film has played all over the place! It has played in Kentucky as well as in San Francisco, Berkeley and Oakland several times. It is a really good film by Waylon Bacon. Now, your theatre appearance in Witches and Warlocks sounds self-explanatory...I think. Care to elaborate? Yes, I was in a lead role in Witches and Warlocks. It was a story of witches deciding to capture me and end my life because of power while I am oblivious to it all and spending time arguing with a boyfriend and petty annoyances in life. This played at a theatre in Los Gatos and the audience really seemed to enjoy it. I believe that was my last play as I really turned to film and tv after that. After I had done so much theatre, I was burnt out on it and decided to stick to films and TV shows. When did the ''acting bug'' first bite you? I don't blame it; I'd have bitten you too! {Laughs}. Well thank you! I decided I wanted to be an actress when I was 5 years old. I used to watch the commercials on TV and imitate them for my father. I also watched reruns of The Brady Bunch and Lost in Space and knew that I wanted to be an actress just like them when I got older. I used to play with Barbie dolls and have them make movies. I never pretended to be a mother to a baby doll the way other little girls did. I knew that I never wanted to be a mother and have a normal life. I knew I wanted something more special than that and that I wanted to be a famous star who made movies or acted on a regular tv series. When I got older, I got a tape recorder and I would create shows similar to Lost in Space and The Brady Bunch and have the neighborhood kids play roles and I would play roles, and create my own shows all on the tape recorder. I dreamed about it so much and spent lots of time dreaming up tv shows and also started singing. I would sing on the swing in the backyard a lot and dream. When I reached about age 10, I was extremely shy so I stayed away from performing pretty much until one day a teacher at school talked to me about following my dream in life and not letting life pass me by. I then took up dance lessons to get over my shyness and read books on self assertiveness. I was pretty unhappy as a child so acting was a big escape for me. I started doing musicals and plays in my late teens, and then realized after doing so much theatre and having lead roles that I was ready to move up to film and tv. So I started auditioning for films and the rest is history. Now I do lots of films, commercials, tv shows and I am loving it. I know this is my purpose in life and what I was meant to do. No other career could excite me as much. Any favorite actresses? Early influences? I don't really have any favorite actresses today. I am not that impressed with the major motion pictures these days or the acting I see. I find myself watching different actors and noticing when they don't convey a feeling that they should be conveying and wondering how they made it so big. I do go to the movies a lot and find that the independent films are much better than the motion picture movies these days. I think more originality and thought is put into the independent films. The motion pictures are too predictable and the actors don't seem to be putting through enough effort in their characters. When I was a child, I admired The Brady Bunch girls and the Lost in Space girls from the reruns and wished they were still on TV because I saw real emotion and depth in their acting. Today I have Marta Kristen (Judy Robinson on Lost in Space) as a Myspace friend and she has written to me which is really exciting. She is now a grandmother with a granddaughter who acts. I think dramatic actresses are the best. I think that independent films seem to be very original and I like that. More thought goes into the making of them. Some of the major motion picture movies out there are too predictable. As for actors out there that I admire, there aren't too many that I admire as some of them don't really show a depth of emotion or tend to whisper too much. However, I do like Katherine Heigl as she has a keen ability to convey emotions rapidly as they change in a scene and has good comedic timing. I'd love to do some major motion picture movies and hope to land a role in one that has a great message to society about dealing with feelings and communicating with others. Have you ever considered taking your place behind the camera? Sit in the director's chair? No, I haven't really thought about directing. I guess when I am a lot older and too old to get the good parts I'll probably want to turn to that. I would make a good casting director though because I can really spot talent quickly and know who belongs in what role at auditions. How about any amusing anecdotes about your experiences on the set? Amusing anecdotes? Let's see - when I filmed The Rift by Torrid Productions I played the role of Jennifer Smith, a sexy villian woman from an organization determined to control time (this was a science fiction movie) and I had to play dead for one of the scenes before I came back to life. This consisted of me laying on the ground while the detectives surrounded me. I had a hidden sheet to lay on but laying on the ground and worrying about spiders was pretty creepy but it went by fast. I also was in a feature film called "Expect Murder" by Sunspot Communications wherein I played a lead role of Susie Blake, a nurse at an insane asylum. I had an amusing scene where one of the patients chased me around with a knife in the lobby. After each take, we would laugh about this. However, we filmed this at a retirement home so while we were filming, an elderly man saw the actor chasing me with a knife and looked very concerned. Then he came over after the scene stopped and asked me if I needed help and if everything was okay. I told him we were filming but he still stuck around to watch as though he didn't quite believe it. I also did a film called The Forbidden Island wherein I had the lead role of Lucy, a mysterious waitress with evil intentions. In one of the scenes, I had to carry a flaming scorpion drink (which has a huge flame on it) and we had to do this scene over and over. It was a little scary carrying something so heavy with flames coming out of it but I'm sure it will look good on camera. This movie is being edited now and will be done soon. I had to carry a drink called a Flaming Scorpion for a scene and we did the scene over and over. By the time I was done, my arms were tired from carrying this heavy drink and the big huge flame was certainly scary to carry. I think it will look good on camera though. This movie is a sci fi called The Forbidden Island (I tend to do a lot of science fiction films) and will be coming out soon. What's on the horizon for Judy right now? Let's see - currently I am in a movie called "Spirit of the Warrior" wherein I play the role of Veronica, a tough business girl whose father died and left her a big company to handle. I play a power hungry person who blackmails other business associates and does evil things to get her way. I have also been cast in a TV series (we already did the pilot) and that should be starting up in the fall. I am playing the role of a school teacher named Mrs. Marshall in this childrens' TV show called Childhood USA. I have also been cast in a movie called "Super Coder" wherein I am playing the role of Julia, an office manager in a crazy office. It's a comedy. This will be starting soon. Any last words before you leave us? Thank you so much for interviewing me and for all you do for actors and the promotion of them. NVF Films Interview with Brooke Lewis Hey babe! You look radiant as usual. How ya been? Iron Dave, you are too good to me ;) I could sit here and tell ya, “Just great!”, but I want to be honest, because I believe that through sharing experiences, both you and others can learn and grow! I am coming off of a challenging summer. I had some health problems, which led me to really take stock of my life, both personally and professionally. For the past few years, I have been living like a real life “Energizer Bunny” and my batteries finally died! I have been going through a major transition in my life and am now choosing to commit to things, people and projects that feel good and true to my soul! I just watched your clip for the Hot & Horrifying film, and I LOVED it! Your screen presence is absolutely adorable! I bet you were a real ham for the camera as a kid, weren't you? Ahhhh…thanks! J Ham? Try ham and cheese, Baby! J I was singing, dancing and posing for the camera before I could talk! I definitely went through some awkward and insecure periods in my childhood and my life, but I’d like to think that my spirit and presence always came through. I am sorry I missed your birthday recently...forgive me? You were 25 years old, right? Iron Dave, you can forget my birthday every year, if you keep the compliments coming…you know I’m a sucker for compliments... YES…25...Or, something like that…I mean who’s counting after 30??? And, ya know what? I still feel 21! I see you born in Philadelphia. Was that a good venue for an aspiring actress? That's a long way from Hollywood! {Laughs}. Philly was a wonderful place to learn the ropes of the biz! It has the artistic integrity and style of New York on a much smaller scale. I had the opportunity to study with some very professional coaches and perform at some amazing Equity theatres. I became a member of the Actors’ Equity Association in Philly. I recorded “Get Me Off Your Mind” at a studio in Philly and I danced on a kid’s show called “Dance Party USA” before I was even a teenager! The biggest problem for an actress there is you can’t pass up a bad-ass Philly Cheesesteak, while you’re watching your weight for camera!!! Hey! What's this about you starring in a film called Dahmer VS Gacy?! That sounds ultra-creepy! You don't play a victim, do you?! That would be such a waste! Totally creepy, huh? But, campy, funny and a smart script…I love scripts with political messages! The classically trained and super talented Ford Austin cast me as Televangelist Tammy Hart in Dahmer Vs. Gacy. I don’t want to give anything away, since the film hasn’t been released yet, but Tammy Hart is a young “Tammy Faye Baker” type who has such an intense acting scene that my talent surely didn’t go to waste on this one! Let me simply reveal that at the end of my scene, I looked up at my Director, Ford, and we were both crying…POWERFUL stuff! What was it like working with Gregory Lamberson on Slime City Massacre? I interviewed him, and he seems like a real nice fellow. Greg is a rare gem and breed in this f’*d up business! As you all know, I live and work with passion. Greg came to me with Slime City Massacre a year before shooting and all he really had at that time was his passion to make his sequel to Slime City. I was so impressed with his passion and the story, I jumped to sign on! I watched him go through a lot in a year to make the film, but his passion continues throughout post-production. Greg is very down to earth, anti-Hollywood and a true artist and that trickled down to the rest of us on Slime City Massacre. Just out of curiosity, have you told anyone about our little private joke, your nickname, LBL? I'd love to know what someone thinks once they find out what it stands for! {Laughs}. Doll, I’ve told EVERYONE!!! ;) Who wouldn’t be flattered by your pet name…LUSCIOUS BROOKE LEWIS? I’ve been called a lotta things in my time and “luscious” ranks in my top 5 faves! J Will you please send me an LBL T-shirt for Christmas??? You got it! What was it like working with the likes of Charles Durning and Gabrielle Anwar in iMurders? iMURDERS is such a special project to me! Director/Executive Producer, Robbie Bryan and Actress/Co-Producer, Christie Botelho put their hearts, souls and lives into this picture. To be given the opportunity to work with Oscar-nominated actors like Charles Durning, still blows my mind (And, I have acted in 5 films with him.)! We were so blessed with a star-studded cast, including Durning, Gabrielle Anwar, Billy Dee Williams, William Forsythe, Margaret Colin and Frank Grillo. I gotta say, however, I was the luckiest of all to star opposite horror icon Tony Todd! We played Agents Washington and Romano. Okay, do you realize I starred opposite Candyman?! Yes! That is so cool! How's Philly Chick Pictures doing? What types of films does it produce? My production company is always moving forward in some creative fashion. We are very much a creative and developmental company. We usually partner and do Co-production deals with larger film companies. We have produced everything from live events to charity events to feature films. We sponsor and support a lot of my favorite horror festivals from Shriekfest to Paranoia Fest to Texas Blood Bath. In the past, I had been freelance producing for other people’s projects and companies, but those days are DONE!!! As a producer, I learned the hard way…OWN, OPTION and PRODUCE your own projects!!! Now, Philly Chick Pictures has the MS. VAMPY pilot/web series and we are in development with 2 horror/thrillers. What's on the horizon for Brooke right now? A date with me? {Laughs, blushes}. Is that an invitation? Yes! Iron Dave, you come to LA and we will drink Champagne till the Vampires sleep J I have several films, both in and out of horror being released in the next year, including Gerald, Dahmer Vs. Gacy, Slime City Massacre, The Drum Beats Twice, Double Tap and The Sinatra Club. I am attached to star in Roger A. Scheck’s Tonight He Walks and Somebody Loves Alice and to act in Ford Austin’s Manson, Anthony Brownrigg’s Freeborn and James Bill’s The Bollywood Boys. We are also in “talks” for some TV stuff with MS. VAMPY. I am doing publicity like crazy, working with SCARS Magazine and traveling to festivals and conventions all year. At some point, I would really like to escape to Italy and do some wine tasting! ;) Any last words before you leave us? Me? Dave, thank you for being you, making this interview fun and supporting the horror community. Special thanks to Nikki and the posse for creating the documentary to go along with it. Thank you to all my horror friends and fans (too many to mention!!!) for embracing me and giving me another family. And, thank you to my family and friends outside of horror for putting up with this crazy lil Scream Queen!!! www.Phillychickpictures.com www.Msvampy.net NVF Films Interview with Mikki Lawless Greetings and salutations, Mikki. Cute name. How goes it today? Hello to you too, and thank you. I have had a very busy day, to say the least. But I am doing swell, as always. Today is another typical day for me, which normally compounds into much work and little rest. In one of your pictures I saw you have some body art. Are you a tattoo artist as well? No, I am not a tattoo artist. As much as I would like to inflict the pain of tattooing on others I leave that to the professionals in the business. I am a tattoo collector, in a modest respect, with horror tattoos being my favorite. I have Kyra Schon (the little girl from the basement from the 1968 version of Night of the Living Dead) on my back, as well as Bill Hinzman on my left arm, with a graveyard scene behind him. I’m obviously a huge Night of the Living Dead fan. However, my tattoo artist is phenomenal! His name is Reverend Tim Pontillo, and he works at Riggs’ Monster Tattoo in Branson, Missouri. Everyone always ask me about my eyebrows, he freehanded those as well. Riggs of Scum of the Earth is the former guitarist from Rob Zombie. If you want some great ink, see real monster memorabilia from real monster movies you should totally check out the shop, it’s amazing! I glanced at your blog, and really liked your ''three rules for life.'' I tend to agree with them, too. Have you had too many experiences in being back-stabbed too?
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