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Your upcoming movie Parlour Tricks - in a few words, what is
it about?
It's about a grieving family who use a medium to try and contact a dead
aunt, but something else answers. How did this project fall into being in the
first place, and what made you decide to step behind the camera for this
one? I wrote this last year when I was visiting my folks in
New Zealand. I tried, at first, to get Topher from Bad Cookie Pictures to
direct it. I love their stuff from Ready To Burst to Paint The Town Red.
He kept saying that I should direct it, and I was like, 'No, no... I can't
do that.' Eventually, he, Jordan (our DOP) and my partner Burns The
Dragon all convinced me that yes, I should direct it. So, we'll see when
people watch it, if it has been a favourable decision for me.
How did you actually prepare for your directorial
debut, and is that something you've wanted to do for a long time? And some
filmmakers who inspire you? I've been curious. I have
oceans of inspiration around me in the company I keep. There are so many
talented people I've gotten to work with, that it made me want to tell my
stories. With the cultural shift that is happening, I realize that part of
the change I want to see will come with female artists stepping up to
create. Filmmakers like the Soska sisters [Soska
Twins interview - click here], Jill Sixx, Izzy Lee [Izzy
Lee interview - click here], the Celtic
Badger crew, the Luchagore crew... people who go out and create fantastic,
horrible, and fascinating worlds. What were your sources of
inspiration when writing Parlour Tricks? It was
partly my cast, of whom I more or less with all these people in mind, I
wrote the script. They are all such fantastic performers, it came very
easily. I kept thinking off all the dumb shit that can go sideways in
seances and how they were the rage for quite a long time in North
America. I can't stop fooling around with occult imagery and flapper
feels. Also, I was dying to do something with Mandy's cat, Fran who is
also featured. Trust me, that cat will have a longer career probably than
I will...
With Parlour
Tricks being dubbed a horror comedy, what can you tell us about your
movie's approach to both horror and humour? I write funny
shit. I see no point in batting round the bush; I like to write humour,
and I was raised a theatre brat, with a steady diet of British
comedy, stand up and being around smart, funny and dry humans. Horror
comedy is one of those genres I love since I love to laugh and be scared.
It's something I'll likely explore more in the future, but I wanted a Clue/Haunted Honeymoon
vibe to this, and my cast and crew delivered
in spades. Do talk
about the look and feel of Parlour Tricks? If
you can't tell that I come from a witchy house, and spent my adult life as
a burlesque dancer, then I've failed. If you feel like you're watching a
throwback to black and white Addams Family or
The Munsters, then my
set-casting spells paid off. Anything
you can tell us about your key cast and crew - and did you step in
front of the camera as well in Parlour Tricks? I
didn't want to try and tackle the obstacle of being in front of and behind
the camera on my first go. I sometimes have issues walking and drinking
coffee, so I decided to learn to walk before I sashay. Besides, I totally
didn't have to with Tyler James Nichols, Sean Covernton, Gidget
Gravedigger and Emma Eldritch. I tip my hat
to the cast, because it doesn't matter how funny the writing is, it's all
in the delivery. Emma and Gidget both host a popular podcast called Dark
Entries and produce my favourite burlesque show yearly, the Abra Cadaver
Cabaret. Sean is a very talented horror magician. He often teams up with a
mutual friend (who makes kind of a cameo in the film) and puts many a
magician to shame with his illusions and slight-of-hand. Tyler has been
lending his voice to a variety of animated works and he hosts one of
the most spectacular events in Vancouver, Glam Slam. All are very
talented humans and know how to make my words come to life. I won't lie; I
was spoiled with my cast.
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At
what stage of production is Parlour Tricks presently? And any idea
yet when and where it might be released, however tentatively?
It'll
be shipped out to festival submissions shortly, but it's got a few tweaks
and the score from Chase Horseman, who did the score for La Quincera and
El Gigante for Luchagore. Once that is all wrapped up, it'll be good to
go. I'm electric to unleash it, so I'm manifesting and predicting sooner
rather than later. Any
future projects beyond Parlour Tricks - no matter on which side of
the camera?
Sure do! I've two more films I've written
that I'm working out a few production notes on, but as for in front of the
camera, I've a project with C.R. Avery that is super artsy and East
Vancouver, which makes my toes curl, and a promotional video for my
mermaiding and sideshow performances with The Caravan Of Creeps! Your/your movie's website, Facebook,
whatever else? Our hashtag is #ParlourTricksFilm and
our Facebook page is
www.facebook.com/parlourtricksfilm/
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Anything else you're dying to mention and
I have merely forgotten to ask?
Be sure to follow Bad
Cookie Pictures and myself on Instagram too! @badcookiepictures and
@littlemissrisk respectively. Thanks for the
interview!
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