To start this off, why don't you introduce yourself to those of us
unfortunate enough to not already know you?
Ha! I love how you put that ! My name is August Kyss. I am a writer, actress. What got you
into acting in the first place, and did you receive any formal training on
the subject? I always wanted to try acting. I took it
in high school but have only really taken it seriously in recent years. I
had a bit of a revelation during the pandemic. I just don’t want to take
tomorrow for granted anymore. I have been trained by actor and acting
coach Greg Bryk. You may recognize him from films such as Saw 3D, Book of
Negroes and Rabid. I'd like to pick out a few movies from your
filmography and ask you to say a few words about them. So what can you
tell us about Murdercise? Murdercise was an eighties dream come
true. My entire August Kyss persona is eighties-based so you can imagine
how thrilled I was to be part of Murdercise. Paul Ragsdale and his wife
Angie De Alba are wonderful people to work with. I was super excited to be
in a film with Ginger Lynn Allen ( Rob Zombie’s The Devil's Rejects). Do talk about Wolf
Hollow for a bit! I absolutely love Mark and Liz Cantu. If
anybody told that little girl that watched Sleepaway Camp during a slumber
party in the eighties that she would be along side Felissa Rose [Felissa
Rose interview - click here] in a horror
film, she wouldn’t believe it. It was a surreal moment for me. Still is!
It was really cool to be in a film with the legendary Lynn Lowry ( George
A. Romero’s The Crazies) as well. A few words about Murderbot,
and what was working with legendary Jim Wynorski [Jim
Wynorski interview - click here] like? Jim and I have become good
friends since, and I couldn’t be happier about that. He is tough. He
demands the absolute best out of his actors, and I wouldn’t have it any
other way. It was really cool to work alongside Jim’s muse, Rocky
DeMarco (Demolition High).
Any other
past or present films of yours you'd like to mention? I was recently in an anthology,
One Night In Lethargia. I was playing a bartender named Melanie in the Painkiller segment. It was great. Got along great with Skeeta
Jenkins, my co-star. It’s about a retired championship boxer turned
sports gambling addict who finds himself in the crosshairs of a Nazi gang
after a bad bet. Stephen Beason is the writer/director and Sylvia Moore is
the executive producer. Any
future projects you'd like to share? I will be
involved in horror hosting for NYX Television which will be ready to air
in the United States summer 2024. As for film projects, I have a role in a dual American/Canadian action/thriller film named
Death Bitch coming up. My segment will be directed by Mark Kiazyk. It
also stars Bridget Powers (Bridgette the Midget from the Howard Stern
Show), I love it. It’s exciting for me because it’s right near my hometown of Winnipeg, Manitoba. I have a lead role in an Ontario based horror
film named Massage Parlour Massacre, which is written and directed by
Nigel Hartwell (Demented) who will feature Felissa Rose and Robert Mukes
(Rob Zombie’s House of 1000
Corpses). I have another film in pre-production I'm in from Wolf Hollow writer/director Mark
Cantu called Grind with Felissa Rose and Lynn Lowry once again, I’m so
blessed. Going through your
filmography, one can't help but notice you never stray too far from the
horror genre - coincidence, or is horror a genre especially dear to you,
and why (not)?

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I love how horror films can trigger that fight-or-flight in
us. I read somewhere that horror movies boost endorphins. It forces you to
pay attention and silences the mind. Horror movies are oddly peaceful to
me.
How would you describe yourself as an
actress, and some of your techniques to bring your characters to life? I think I over-practice. I
also try to forget I’m on set doing a job. I was really successful in
that attempt during my segment Painkiller. It felt absolutely real. Actresses
(and indeed actors) who inspire you? John Malchovich. His voice
is so unique. You can tell it’s just him by hearing his voice and not
seeing him. I’m also inspired by Linnea Quigley. To me, she is the
picture-perfect scream queen. Your favourite movies?
I have so many. My absolute favourite horror film of all time is Return of the Living
Dead. It’s my go-to film. It’s literally almost always in the background. I
watched the Babadook recently, I enjoyed it. I am currently learning all
about metaphor in film. I’m taking a course at Sundance, taught by
Dennis Widmyer (Starry Eyes, Pet Semetary) called How to
Craft a Suspenseful Horror Screenplay. Each week we are given film
suggestions. It’s really expanding my horizons. Another treat of a film
I’ve seen lately that I really enjoyed is Beneath Us All. The
attention to details in that film are superb. ... and of course, films you really deplore? I don’t deplore any film. Thanks
for the interview!
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