A true multi-faceted performer capable of writing, directing, acting and producing in a multitude of genres not just within horror but outside as well, Jenn Nangle is one of the biggest names in the indie genre at the moment. In celebration of her accomplishments, and to help celebrate Women in Horror Month, I talk with her about her genre beginnings, some of her most recent genre releases and her original horror hostess, Queen Malvolia!
Me: Hello and thank you for taking the time to do this. First off, where did you get the urge to get into acting?
Jenn Nangle: When I was in the first grade, I went and saw a production of “The Sound of Music” that family friends were in. They were younger than me and I was so fascinated that they knew all the lyrics to the songs, dances, lines, and hit their marks at certain times telling a story. Each person had his or her piece. There was something about that that made me say, “I want to do that!” I then went on and auditioned for anything I could. I grew up dancing, but singing and acting were a whole new ball game! I started taking voice lessons. I loved being apart of community theater. It was the only thing that made me feel alive and helped develop such wonderful friendships throughout the years.
Me: Were you always into genre films growing up? What films specifically got you into watching horror movies?
JN: Muppets and cartoons were huge for me when I was little. I then started to like anything that was popular at the time. At sleepovers, I knew I was different because all my friends loved “Dirty Dancing” and I could take it or leave it. Growing up, “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” always played on Nick at Nite and when I would go over to my grandparents' house, I found myself in the bedroom watching “Stephen King’s: It” and “Child’s Play.” I recall my dad always watching the Universal Classic Monster movies when they played on T.V. I just watched whatever was around me. Teen years I loved “My So-Called Life.” It wasn’t until later that I really fell in love with horror. “Scream,” “The Blair Witch Project,” and “The Ring” were the ones, I remember, opening up my heart.
Me: Is there any specific type of character you prefer playing?
JN: To be honest, growing up, I always got cast as a chorus or a featured dancer, but always wanting more. To create a live being on stage that people would watch and feel something from. I never really was given a chance until high school when I played Marty in “Grease.” It was the best time of my life. During summers home from college, my friends and I would put on plays and donate the proceeds to charity where I played Lucy in “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown” and Princess Winifred in “The Princess and the Pea.” In the beginning, I thought comedy was going to be it. Nothing felt greater than when someone laughs at your jokes… As I grew into college, I related more to dramatic roles. I played Portia in “Julius Caesar” and I recall the reviewer being surprised at the feminine, sensitive side I portrayed. There was something about realism that struck something inside me. I fell out of love with musicals and I think that’s when I started to lean more towards film. At this point, I would play any role that has substance and a killer story. In horror, I started out as a victim, then proved that I could be the Villain, and now it’s all over the place. Nothing like playing an evil villain though… Nothing.
Me: Coming from a theater background, what did you learn studying there that helped you later in your career?
JN: That the entertainment business is a cut-throat business. It also taught me rejection, which, at times, is still hard. I’ll never forget my first class of Stage Combat taught by Steve Vaughn where he said, “You will always be cast by who you know, what you look like, and THEN your talent.” At that time I thought, “Not me!” Oh, how right he was!!! Also, to be extremely prepared and know the entire script inside and out.
Me: As you predominantly focused on other genres before starting in on horror projects, was there any difference in your preparation to play those types of characters?
JN: Not really. I always bring the “true to life” mentality. How am I similar to this character? How am I different? What is their struggle? Where do they switch (if there is one) and why? What are they trying to accomplish in each scene? It’s all the same. Whenever I am asked for my advice from actors on their approach to characters, especially in horror, I always tell them to make it as real to them as possible. If you make it real and you really believe that this creature is REALLY going to kill you, your performance will be true and your audience will be right there with you.
Me: Having worked on various aspects of film production, do you have any particular preference for working on any?
JN: No. (Laughs) I do all these other aspects to play the characters that I want and tell the stories I want to tell. I can’t be that actor that sits around and waits for someone to choose me. It’s depressing. How are you working on your craft that way? Sure, you can take acting classes, but how does that grow your resume and give you footage for your reel? You are only as strong as your work. I am extremely appreciative to, not only my fellow actors when I am on set, but everyone behind the scenes. They work SO hard, having long hours building a set, setting up shots, making sure everything is right so that the day moves swimmingly. I am thankful that I know how all this works, so when I am on set just as an actor, I know how to be professional in every situation.
Acting is my true love. If I did have to choose one aspect, I love to write. But it is a love/hate.
Me: You're also responsible for creating your own genre figure, Malvolia the Queen of Screams. What were the initial stages of developing her like? Where did the inspiration to do a horror hostess evolve from?
JN: So, I was going through a big Blair Witch phase on marketing and releasing content. The mere fact that some believed that those characters were missing absolutely blows my mind. But it’s genius! I had written a treatment for a horror franchise that was politely rejected (there’s that word again). One of the producers urged me to continue on. Without being under the stipulations of the franchise, I knew I wanted to make a statement with this feature film. I went to Monsterpalooza that year where they were honoring Elvira. I wasn’t allowed to watch Elvira growing up, nor thought she was still a big deal. Well, how wrong I was! I was in awe of her popularity over the decades! I knew I wanted my lead character to be about a Horror Host!
I delved into the history of Vampira. Her story is Fascinating! Her love for the genre and her character were inspiring and tragic. So, there I was writing and I thought, “I want to make her REAL!” Make a short web-series, create a fan base, film the feature, and BOOM! I’ll have a fan base for the feature, it’ll be marketable, and then I would be done.
Well, to my surprise, people actually LIKED Malvolia. I was shocked. Floored. Something that I created and embodied, people liked. So, I kept going. I didn’t have a plan. No idea what would happen. I worked with what I had with who wanted to be apart of it. Still is my approach today, which I like, because every episode is drastically different than the others. It keeps it fresh and new. And, we’ll see how far we go!
Me: When you're not involved in a project as her and playing a separate character, is there a difference in how you approach the material?
JN: Yes and no. Malvolia is a deeper, darker, evil side of me that obviously I can’t be in real life… I mean, obviously, I can’t go around killing people, nor want to!! But, I am able to release a lot of anger and frustration when playing her. Because she is apart of me, there will always be apart of her in everything I do. With that being said, I really do try to separate her from that. I was a little bummed when I was talking to someone and they related my character from “Lilith” to Malvolia. Lilith had a switch, a transformation of sort. She went from “playing” a caring being to a businesswoman. Of course, Lilith would be evil – she is a demon! Malvolia is more fluid-like… Alluring and sensual. Lilith is also, but was playing the game to achieve what she wants. I felt I really did approach the script differently than I would a Malvolia script.
Me: That brings us to one of your latest projects, the short "That Night." What can you tell us about the film?
JN: Based on True Events. A terrible act of fate puts two sets of couples in a situation where one set turns into the prey and the other, the predator.
We currently have over 10 million views on YouTube. We have one last film festival we are waiting on. I have been nominated and awarded “Best Actress” from many different festivals. We have won numerous awards from Best Direction to Best Score. I’m super proud of this film that we made on $800 (the money only went to food for cast and crew for a 4-day shoot and festival submissions). Reviewers really enjoyed what we made and the reviewers who know my past work say that this is my best performance to date.
Me: Also being the writer, where did the inspiration for this come from?
JN: I was in a very dark place. Hollywood isn’t the nicest of places. A few years back, an agent wouldn’t sign me because “I wasn’t the Brooklyn Decker type.” And I was very confused by that because, I wasn’t a model, I wasn’t blonde, and I wasn’t married to a famous tennis player. Why do I have to be someone else for someone to want to work with me? So, I set out to try and prove everyone wrong by showing them through my work. You don’t think I’m a writer? Fine, I’ll write a bunch of scripts, shoot them, and put them into festivals. You don’t think I can do horror? Fine, I’ll write and act in a horror short film. Oh, you don’t think I can be sexy? I’ll take a bunch of tasteful, sexy photos and put them out into the social media world. You don’t think I can play a villain or a killer? Enter Malvolia. Then it turned into, “You could never lead a film”, and “You could never play the victim.”
I knew with “That Night” I wanted to push the limits after being so frustrated with everyone and their comments. I’m a huge fan of true crime. It fascinates me that people can get so angry that they want someone dead and actually kill them. Just CRAZY! There was a 48 Hours segment based on this couple that one night they went out, enticed another couple to come home with them, and then killed them. Two people dead, dismembered, and thrown away. The alive couple gets caught with the dead couple’s IDs (souvenirs) while they are robbing a Hooters. Like… WHAT?!
ProCo Production Company said they were to have their house free for one weekend and I could do whatever I wanted. So, I knew I had to work around a house location. How could I incorporate this insane story with a house? Everything just fell into line.
I took this role EXTREMELY seriously. I knew I wanted to make a statement with my acting in this piece. During takes, I secluded myself from the other actors so I could remain in a lonely state-like struggle. I’ve never had the opportunity to have a child, so I tried to relate what it would be like to have a miscarriage. To feel “not good enough” and “not like everyone else”. I demanded 150% of myself. When I watch that last scene, I don’t even recognize myself. It’s me, but it’s not. I took every moment like it was real life. I was ultimately exhausted by the end of the 4-day shoot. I slept for days.
Me: You're also involved with numerous upcoming anthologies, including several Paranoia Tapes entries and the recently-released 10/31 Part 2. Do you find the creative process in these multiple-team genre efforts to be liberating for yourself?
JN: Ish. When you are brought on to someone else’s project as an actor, you under restrictions because, obviously, it’s someone else’s project. I always respect that. However, Malvolia is my brand. So, I will ask about rewriting a script or I will fight for something that I want because she’s mine. I am very fortunate to have very open-minded, creative people around me that are willing to listen, acknowledge, and support this process. I’m usually granted the freedom to showcase what I want. There are some things, though, that if I could go back and ask more questions or get things in writing, I would, but you live and you learn.
Me: Since you're also involved with several other soon-to-be-released efforts like Desert Moon, Inverted and Unholy Attraction, does the rush of constantly working on new material overcome any potential downfalls like physical fatigue, hectic work-schedules, etc?
JN: In my head, I always thought “More is better.” If I am constantly working, that will show others that I appeal to an audience and they should hire me to work on their project. If I work with this person than maybe this other person will see! 2019 was a HUGE lesson to learn. Being insanely busy doesn’t always mean someone will notice and appreciate you. I became a workaholic. Always writing, trying to network, auditioning for anything I could. I forgot about me. What made me happy. Which lead to a lot of sleepless nights and a lot of rejection. I wasn’t happy. I became angry, especially when I was beaten out by “names’ or when the “names” got more attention on things. I felt taken advantage of since I write, direct, act, and edit all my own material. I didn’t feel rewarded in anything I was doing – and I was doing great things with amazing, hard-working people. I took a lot of moments for granted. In 2020, the year of vision, I am really assessing every offer as to, “How will this help me?” It’s time to turn this around because you can only give so much when people take advantage of your worth.
Me: What do you hope to achieve in the future for your work?
JN: To entertain that one person that feels different than everyone else. Or inspire that person that wants to be a filmmaker, but is too shy to get started. To keep growing. To expand on different, creative ideas. To write more powerful roles for women.
Me: Lastly, being that this is Women in Horror Month, what special message do you have for any women out there looking to join in the industry in any capacity as you are one yourself? Thank you again for your time!
JN: Just do it. Don’t wait for anyone to give your permission. Promises are usually empty. Industry people talk a lot and are flakey. Go with your gut. Think outside the box. Write that script, pick up that camera, and don’t listen to the voices around you. You have your own unique voice that will tell your story how it needs to be told. Learn everything you can about every position in filmmaking so you don’t have to rely on people to do it for you. You will be the backbone, the leader. Lead well. And remember to have fun.
Thanks for having me!
To follow her adventures as Queen Malvolia, check her out on these locations:
Youtube Channel
This interview ran as part of our month-long Women in Horror Month celebration. Click the banner below to see all the reviews and interviews we've conducted for the event:
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