An accomplished filmmaker and tireless promoter of the genre, Cindy Sanabria has turned her years of experience working on the indie scene into a second career working on spotlighting the work of others with her organizations Horror Tour Guide and Women of Color in Horror. Now, in honor of Women in Horror Month, I talk with her about her early interest in the genre, her memories of working on several of her films and starting her organizations.
Me: Hello and thank you for taking the time to do this. First off, when did you get into horror in general?
Cindy Sanabria: Hola horror hello to you today Don. The pleasure is all is mine, thanks for having me. I guess I would have to say that I first got into horror at a very young age because of my dad. He loved all the horror classics like Poltergeist, The Exorcist, American Werewolf in London etc and loved scaring the shit out of me in the process by adding his own Jump Scares while the movie was playing. It wasn’t really enjoyable for me 'til I reached my teens. I absolutely fell in love with it by my twenties and now adore those films.
Me: Were you into genre films growing up? What films specifically got you into watching horror movies?
CS: Growing up, I enjoyed the slashers like Freddy, Jason, Michael and Chucky. Those were always fun to watch. I have always been a huge fan of creature features and fantasy horror most of all. I would have to say films like Evil Dead 2 and Pet Sematary started my love for horror but the foreign horror realm had me submerged and addicted.
Shout out to Takashi Miike, Chan Wook Park with Ichi, Oldboy and Thirst. And can’t leave out Italian horror aficionados like Lucio Fulci and Lamberto Bava. I was hooked after Zombie and Demons. Cannibal Holocaust and Salo shocked the shit out of me and got me on a torture porn fix for a bit too. I became obsessed with films that were banned from countries, out of print, and major shockers. I had a wicked collection of over 10,000 films.
Me: Having worked on various aspects of film production, do you have any particular preference for working on any?
CS: I love to write, direct and dabble in my effects makeup. Even though as an indie filmmaker, I love to shoot as well. I’m not afraid to get in uncomfortable situations for that killer shot.
Me: Having worked on plenty of short films early in your career, what tools and skills do you acquire working on those that transferred to future film projects?
CS: Over the years I would have to say my skills have improved in makeup and direction. I think being a team player is pertinent because having a reliable crew is important.
Me: Your short film, 'Haunted Red,’ saw you doing the writing, direction, make-up and producing of the short. Did it challenge you to be involved in various capacities at once on a project like this? How do you balance those priorities during a shoot?
CS: I’ve had a lot of experience as a jack of trades on my earlier productions. I use to own and run a production company called WRITERSCENE, comprised of ten filmmakers. We made 40 films in a year working on every aspect of production in order to get it done. By the time I made “Haunted Red,” I was already conditioned to that type of workflow. When I made my first feature “Feral Child,” I was doing everything from Craft services to filming and directing. It’s crazy work, but rewarding once it’s all over.
Me: What was the set like while shooting the film? How did the cast and crew react to the type of film being made?
CS: Haunted Red was shot at two locations in New York. Haunted Red was the most memorable shoot for sure. The first location was at a warehouse/music production studio in the Bronx owned by my friend, Grammy winner/platinum album producer Edward Hinson. He was making music and shooting a video with rapper Eve on one end, while I was shooting scenes for my film in rooms he donated for my shoot. The soundproofing was so good, you couldn’t hear a sound. The other location was at an old-dated house my mother owned in Brooklyn which was creepy af. That day was difficult to push through because we lost a member of my production company earlier that morning. It was hard for both cast and crew (that knew him) to focus on a shoot just given the news of his passing but it wasn’t fair to the others not to proceed so we finished the film with tears and hugs. RIP Jackson Vandeberg
Me: Do you recall having any odd or funny on-set stories about yourself or any of the other cast/crew members?
CS: I shot my first feature film in a haunted house in Greenwich, CT. Everything on and about that shoot was odd. There were lots of weird things happening on set from flickering lights to a ghost attack on the homeowner which led to her moving literally the next day. She was nice enough to leave the home open so I can finish my shoot. In terms of the funniest thing happening on set, I would have to say it was during the witchcraft shoot that I produced and was supervising.
We were shooting a Yoga Scene where the lead actress was demonstrating the “Down Dog” stretch. We heard this long noise similar to the sound of balloon deflating. The sound guy turned to me and mouthed “What the fuck is that?” I had no idea what it was or where it was coming from. Everyone looked confused. Then suddenly the actress drops to the floor in hysterics apologizing for what was a Queef that came from her body. Everyone cracked up and it’s something I could never forget.
Me: What was the draw to being involved in the production of several films in the 'Witchcraft' franchise? How involved were you with the production of these films?
CS: When I was living in North Hollywood, I was approached by indie filmmaker David Sterling. An actress I worked with in NY had recommended me for the job. He offered me an outrageous proposition to produce three feature-length films from the witchcraft franchise (Witchcraft 14, 15, 16) within 2 weeks. The pay wasn’t the best but the work and people I met were worth the time. It was my first production gig in California moving from New York. I worked my ass off on that set and had to wear many hats. I was extremely involved on all 3 productions.
Me: More recently, you've turned to promotion with your site Horror Tour Guide. Where did the inspiration for the site come from? What do you hope to achieve with it?
CS: For me, horror is not just about FANGtastic films. It’s about all the dark, macabre, creepy, crazy and cool expressive shit out there that’s a part of life, people and culture. It’s about art, fashion, travel and experiences. I started the Horror Tour Guide as a way to celebrate my love for the horror genre and give my audience/followers some fun and versatility.
HTG is a platform that helps promote and celebrate indie/underground/commercial horror creators from around the globe. We’ve even offer exclusive interviews/podcasts/giveaways that you wouldn’t find anywhere else. I have met some TERRORIFFIC people since it’s launched. I’m HEXcited to announce we are working on merch and new content for the site. I will be announcing/promoting it throughout the year as things unfold. I hope to be able to fund productions through the site someday.
Me: As well, you launched Women of Color in Horror, which aims to highlight and amplify black and other colored women for their contributions to the genre. How did you get involved with this project?
CS: I created “Women of Color in Horror” as a means to celebrate all women of color within the thriller, horror and sci-fi genre. There are so many amazing and diverse women out there doing great things that rarely get noticed. Many hardly receive the proper accolades and opportunities they deserve. As a Latina creator that was fed up with the lack of support, I received specializing in this genre, I felt I had to make the move to start this.
Little did I know, I wasn’t the only one feeling like this or going through this. Many women have thanked me for doing this and it’s growing fast. It’s a grassroots startup still in its infancy, but there are hundreds of members supporting this now since we’ve launched. I have been forming creative partnerships for WOCIH that can hopefully create some exclusive opportunities for us all. Some things take time and money, but I’m hopeful for our future.
Me: What else are you working on that you’d like to let our readers know about?
CS: I’m finalizing my revisions on two scripts I’d like to shop soon. I’m working on an upcoming Horror Tour Guide film and I’m also working on three books that are all horror related.
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!
CS: If you are a woman of color in horror or a female in the horror industry and need your stuff promoted please reach out to me and join us. Don’t let anything come in between you and your dreams. Always push forward and never stop watching horror!!!
Feel free to join our killer family at www.horrortourguide.com and www.womenofcolorinhorror.com Thank you so much Don for this horror chat! Scare ya later!
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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