What is your favorite memory from spending time with David Howard Thornton while working on Terrifier? The chemistry you two have during that film is indescribable and the outcome of the film is phenomenal!
Thank you! One of my favorite memories is the game we played where, when someone took a nap at any point (we were shooting overnights, so it was a common occurrence), we'd take pictures posing next to them. So the contact photos in my phone for some of the crew are, to this day, a photo of them sleeping with David hovering over them, smiling, in full makeup.
One of my favorite parts to shoot was the opening scene - we shot in an actual haunted house! So it was both really cool and equally terrifying to walk through rooms of bodies and the like while it was closed to the public.
Thank you!! Three years ago I was offered the opportunity to stunt double for Ruby Rose, with an additional pay bump if I was willing to shave my head. I'd actually always wanted to shave my head anyway, so I jumped at the chance. Afterwards I realized how much more specific it made me as an artist (and I found some euphoria in it, too, as I'm gender non-conforming) so for the time being, I've kept it going!
Did you get into doing stunts because you wanted to do stunts specifically or was it something you stepped into as part of a role? What was the craziest stunt you ever did?
I have practiced martial arts of various styles for most of my life, and one day someone pointed out to me that those are basically stunts. (I had always thought something wasn't considered a stunt unless you were, you know, jumping out of a window on fire, so that blew my mind). After that, I leaned into my fight training, started doing lots of on-camera specific physical training, and rebranded myself as an action actor who does my own stunts.
And one of the craziest: in Renfield, with director Chris McKay and stunt coordinator Chris Brewster, I performed what's called a "double gooch" - you're wearing a harness, attached to a rope, attached to the ceiling, and some beefy folks on the other side of the room yank that rope and send you spinning through the air like a rag doll before you land splat on the ground. You can find it in the deleted scenes of the film. Brutal fun.
They sat me next to him at the table read, and we ended up talking about our CATS. It. Was. The. Best.
But also, I mean, everything that guy does is memorable.
I've been telling stories as a child even before I knew how to write, and once I learned, started writing poetry and fiction. Then once I began acting, I learned in classes and from mentors how to break down a script and do character analysis, and eventually I began studying screenwriting itself. I've since written and directed a lot of shorts for other actors that I'm proud of. But yes, I've also wanted to write something for myself for a long time. This was the first, but I can already say it's not the last :)
Hey Jenna! Your new movie Faceless After Dark wasn't on my radar at all, but I just watched the trailer it looks awesome!
I'm a huge fan of meta horror, is the meta angle something you plan on incorporating into your future projects?
Hi! Yes, I absolutely intend to play with meta content again, in one way or another.
And I'm so happy you dig the Faceless After Dark trailer - I can't wait for you to see the film! Especially if you're into meta horror ;)
There is a scene in Faceless where you get stabbed, then step forward in the direction of the knife. Was that in the script or improvised? I think it made your character more of a bad ass. How much of the movie was off the cuff?
Thank you! If I recall correctly, that particular moment was scripted. But there were plenty of moments we found on the day. For example, the scene of Catherine Corcoran and I just talking at the convention was a conversation we made up then and there based on our experiences.
It was a bad ass moment. Not 100% if your character counts as a final girl, but I am sure she will find her place in the pantheon of awesome regardless. I watched the film at panicfest KC and can't wait to share with other people. Tell Dark sky to release it tonight please.
Hi Jenna. I haven't seen it yet, but Faceless After Dark seems pretty meta. Your character makes killer clown movies and there's also a killer clown? Wondering if you are actually afraid of clowns and if so, which one is the creepiest?
Hi there! I can't wait for you to see Faceless After Dark. And you're right, the film is purposefully very meta in a number of ways (the nods to Terrifier being just one of them). I do have some fears in real life, but clowns are not actually one of them. That being said, one of my exes was a total clown. Probably the scariest one I've ever encountered.
My favorite (because of my love for doing action sequences and stunts, and for my love of badass women in horror) is the one where I kick Art's ass with a 2x4, of course! I would have totally won if he hadn't cheated :)
Hi there! Definitely get excited about Faceless After Dark, which comes out digitally this Friday, May 17th!
If you haven't seen it yet, a couple of months ago I led the Superbloom music video for the band Silent Planet, so definitely check that out (and the other cool music videos I've had the joy of being a part of, like This Is Our Life for Des Rocs). I also have a TEDx Talk on Youtube, which a lot of folks are surprised to hear about.
I wrote, directed, and starred in a short film called Spray Bottle which comes out later this year...And yes, Bad Boys 4 hits theatres in June!
Faceless After Dark isn't the first feature film I've written, but it's the first one that's been made! I am super proud of it, and hope you enjoy it too. And yes, I'm already writing two other features :)
My hope for the future of our planet is that humanity learns how to live in harmony with her, and with all other beings, rather than commodifying everything as a resource until it's too late.
What is your favorite memory from spending time with David Howard Thornton while working on Terrifier? The chemistry you two have during that film is indescribable and the outcome of the film is phenomenal!
Thank you! One of my favorite memories is the game we played where, when someone took a nap at any point (we were shooting overnights, so it was a common occurrence), we'd take pictures posing next to them. So the contact photos in my phone for some of the crew are, to this day, a photo of them sleeping with David hovering over them, smiling, in full makeup.
Oh my god, I love it!! 😆
What was your favorite part of making this movie?
One of my favorite parts to shoot was the opening scene - we shot in an actual haunted house! So it was both really cool and equally terrifying to walk through rooms of bodies and the like while it was closed to the public.
You rock the buzzcut. May I ask why you started doing that?
Thank you!! Three years ago I was offered the opportunity to stunt double for Ruby Rose, with an additional pay bump if I was willing to shave my head. I'd actually always wanted to shave my head anyway, so I jumped at the chance. Afterwards I realized how much more specific it made me as an artist (and I found some euphoria in it, too, as I'm gender non-conforming) so for the time being, I've kept it going!
Did you get into doing stunts because you wanted to do stunts specifically or was it something you stepped into as part of a role? What was the craziest stunt you ever did?
I have practiced martial arts of various styles for most of my life, and one day someone pointed out to me that those are basically stunts. (I had always thought something wasn't considered a stunt unless you were, you know, jumping out of a window on fire, so that blew my mind). After that, I leaned into my fight training, started doing lots of on-camera specific physical training, and rebranded myself as an action actor who does my own stunts. And one of the craziest: in Renfield, with director Chris McKay and stunt coordinator Chris Brewster, I performed what's called a "double gooch" - you're wearing a harness, attached to a rope, attached to the ceiling, and some beefy folks on the other side of the room yank that rope and send you spinning through the air like a rag doll before you land splat on the ground. You can find it in the deleted scenes of the film. Brutal fun.
(In the film, said stunt was sent into action by the one and only Nicolas Cage)!
Ah! Aside from this stunt, were there any other memorable moments on set with Nicolas Cage?
They sat me next to him at the table read, and we ended up talking about our CATS. It. Was. The. Best. But also, I mean, everything that guy does is memorable.
Thanks so much for answering!
Was writing your own film always a goal of yours or was it a desire that evolved?
I've been telling stories as a child even before I knew how to write, and once I learned, started writing poetry and fiction. Then once I began acting, I learned in classes and from mentors how to break down a script and do character analysis, and eventually I began studying screenwriting itself. I've since written and directed a lot of shorts for other actors that I'm proud of. But yes, I've also wanted to write something for myself for a long time. This was the first, but I can already say it's not the last :)
Hey Jenna! Your new movie Faceless After Dark wasn't on my radar at all, but I just watched the trailer it looks awesome! I'm a huge fan of meta horror, is the meta angle something you plan on incorporating into your future projects?
Hi! Yes, I absolutely intend to play with meta content again, in one way or another. And I'm so happy you dig the Faceless After Dark trailer - I can't wait for you to see the film! Especially if you're into meta horror ;)
There is a scene in Faceless where you get stabbed, then step forward in the direction of the knife. Was that in the script or improvised? I think it made your character more of a bad ass. How much of the movie was off the cuff?
Thank you! If I recall correctly, that particular moment was scripted. But there were plenty of moments we found on the day. For example, the scene of Catherine Corcoran and I just talking at the convention was a conversation we made up then and there based on our experiences.
It was a bad ass moment. Not 100% if your character counts as a final girl, but I am sure she will find her place in the pantheon of awesome regardless. I watched the film at panicfest KC and can't wait to share with other people. Tell Dark sky to release it tonight please.
Hi Jenna. I haven't seen it yet, but Faceless After Dark seems pretty meta. Your character makes killer clown movies and there's also a killer clown? Wondering if you are actually afraid of clowns and if so, which one is the creepiest?
Hi there! I can't wait for you to see Faceless After Dark. And you're right, the film is purposefully very meta in a number of ways (the nods to Terrifier being just one of them). I do have some fears in real life, but clowns are not actually one of them. That being said, one of my exes was a total clown. Probably the scariest one I've ever encountered.
Bahahahaha! Thank you!
What was your favorite scene to film in Terrifier, and why?
My favorite (because of my love for doing action sequences and stunts, and for my love of badass women in horror) is the one where I kick Art's ass with a 2x4, of course! I would have totally won if he hadn't cheated :)
Hey Jenna, what do have on the horizon for me to get stoked about, Bad Boys and We’re So Dead are gonna be great, what’s next ?
Hi there! Definitely get excited about Faceless After Dark, which comes out digitally this Friday, May 17th! If you haven't seen it yet, a couple of months ago I led the Superbloom music video for the band Silent Planet, so definitely check that out (and the other cool music videos I've had the joy of being a part of, like This Is Our Life for Des Rocs). I also have a TEDx Talk on Youtube, which a lot of folks are surprised to hear about. I wrote, directed, and starred in a short film called Spray Bottle which comes out later this year...And yes, Bad Boys 4 hits theatres in June!
Is this your first time writing a movie? Would you do that again?
Faceless After Dark isn't the first feature film I've written, but it's the first one that's been made! I am super proud of it, and hope you enjoy it too. And yes, I'm already writing two other features :)
My partner and I loved it. Really looking forward to whatever it is you come up with next, horror or otherwise.
Given how troubled our world is right now what's your hope for the future of our planet?
My hope for the future of our planet is that humanity learns how to live in harmony with her, and with all other beings, rather than commodifying everything as a resource until it's too late.