Working around the genre as a model and haunt performer for several years, Jessica Snyder has built a following to the point of being asked to go into the film industry with a role in her debut film Axe2Grind. Now, in honor of Women in Horror Month, I talk with her about her experiences as a model, working on her haunt attractions and getting into the industry.
Me: Hello and thank you for taking the time to do this. First off, when did you get into horror in general?
Jessica Snyder: As a child, I was introduced to scary movies fairly early on my parents didn’t think anything of it or that I’d even remember anything so little so it was in their mind a harmless judgment call.
Were you into genre films growing up? What films specifically got you into watching horror movies?
JS: I think my first horror film was probably Rosemary's Baby or The Exorcist or something deff classic.
Me: As you're well-known for your modeling shoots, how did you first enter the industry?
JS: I am self-made mostly I did years of research and studying independently before I even paid for my first photo shoot to start my portfolio over ten years ago.
Me: What do you look for when setting up new shoots or photosets?
JS: Oh I look for many things like in my search for a photographer is something I’d do comparable to their work their style their quality. I do a lot of dark art, not every photographer out there shoots that you can’t go to say a wedding photographer who doesn’t shoot boudoir let’s say and expect them to say yes let’s shoot this some photographers are specialists or have an expertise or niche and it just wouldn’t work out.
Me: From working with the Gore Whores and More to Horror Chicks modeling troops and your solo work, what do you hope to achieve with your modeling career?
JS: I set out ten years ago to be a book cover model, actually, that was always the end goal to be like those women Fabio would pose with on romance novels but with my own creative twist of sorts.
Me: You also work at The Haunted Hydro as an actor, what do you usually do at the attraction?
JS: I’m an actor haunter trainer monster I scare the people who pay to come to be scared so I do exactly that I act.
Me: What are some of your favorite memories attached to the experience?
JS: The experience of working at the haunt is full of memories I’ve worked there 5 years so far and my fave parts are the bonding you have time to develop with the other actors and staff it’s a family affair you could say lol but if you mean while I’m acting it’s deff the smaller excited children high fives and they growl and rawr back and getting the grown men to either follow along for the sake of the kids or dropping to their knees in fear screaming like little girls.
Me: Did you find that working within the haunt industry prepared you for working as Carol in "Axe2Grind," your first feature film? How did you get attached to the film?
JS: I think it had some influence and help with my character sure but I still felt it was very different as well in the haunt you’re not you at all and very rarely even human in nature to begin with so that in itself was a different aspect I’m used to being a monster of some kind not some plain Jane human from Oklahoma such as carol which I’m so thankful for my friend Spencer Grey who was the original director/writer of the film reached out to me because he wanted to include disability in the film but authentically he didn’t want to just take some random able body actor and throw them in a medical device like a wheelchair which is something that drives me creatively it’s annoying seeing disability depicted falsely and it’s in media often.
Me: What was the set like while shooting the film? How did the cast and crew react to the type of film being made?
JS: It was fun on set we had fun connected with some fantastic people.
Me: Do you recall having any odd or funny on-set stories about yourself or any of the other cast/crew members?
JS: I touched Stormy Daniels's butt, yes, THAT stormy Daniels be jealous and then she did ask me if my boobs were real ‘they are.’
Me: What else are you working on that you'd like to share with our readers?
JS: Well winter is my vacay time so no shoots no haunt life I just take the time to hibernate like a bear till spring staying home family time me time, then in spring back to the grind till about August when things start rolling to prepare for the spooky season in October.
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!
JS: Are you weird creepy strange beautiful but threatening creative imaginative then get out there reach out to us over at gore whore productions or horror chicks or your local actors' group or your local haunt and just do the things don’t hesitate to go to a con work for Spirit Halloween or your local special effects artist just take that first step and do it.
This interview ran as part of our Women in Horror Month celebrations. Click the banner below to check out all of our reviews and interviews about the occasion:
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