Having joined me previously for a spotlight, I'm thrilled to welcome back Kay Leahy to talk about her latest films "One of One," "Killer Campout Part II" and "Head on a Writer's Block" and upcoming projects.
Me: Hello, and thank you for returning to this! Since last we spoke, you played the lead Vicky in the comedy “One of One.” What can you tell us about the film? What initially attracted you to the role?
Kay Leahy: Thanks so much for having me back! I am so glad to participate again!
One of One is about this job interview being given by an eccentric billionaire who is looking for out of the box thinkers. The participants must come prepared with a story idea and a unique item. I play Vicky, a driven young writer who is determined to win the contest and take the world by storm. She has a brilliant story idea, but spends the movie trying to track down a unique item. It’s a hilarious journey full of obstacles, silly antics, heavy competition and her sister’s annoying boyfriend.
I’d auditioned for several of Absurd Productions projects previously and I was really interested to work with Mark and Donna Byrnes and their wonderful group! I was absolutely ecstatic when I was cast! It was a great privilege to work on One of One.
Me: With a stacked cast of talented indie actors and actresses involved from other productions you’ve worked with before, what do you recall from your experiences working with people that you were already comfortable with?
KL: It was, very honestly, like getting the family back together again. We’re all so busy, we don’t usually get to see each other outside of projects so it’s always really nice working with friends and catching up. On One of One, I got to meet a bunch of new talented friends as well that I’ve had the tremendous pleasure to work with on other projects as well. That’s what is so fantastic about this community. Our film family just keeps growing.
Me: Working in this kind of non-genre feature, what have these experiences added to your repertoire as an actress?
KL: Vicky was a fun sassy role to play. I haven’t been cast in too many roles with sass before and it was a really great to delve into that side of my abilities. I also was really glad I got the opportunity to be purposefully funny. I used to do comedy improv and didn’t feel as if the audience found me very funny. My own family also isn’t usually very receptive to my humor. I think this project gave me the confidence to pursue more comedic roles.
Me: As well, you also mentioned the short Bachelorette Party Massacre in the upcoming feature "Head on a Writers’ Block." What was the set like while shooting the film? How did the cast and crew react to the type of film being made?
KL: We had an absolute blast! We shot nearly the entire short in Mike McGlynn’s house. We even included his dog, Mera, as an animal actor. She was the best girl! The project was comprised of mostly people I worked with on Bloody Summer Camp with the addition of one or two amazing actors. Chris Rhydings and Matt Burns did a great job working together to co-direct the short and it was incredible to work with Owen Young again, who was behind the camera, as it always is. Even the newer cast that didn’t know everyone well, I think, really bonded well with the group. We were all very comfortable with each other from the get-go so it was an absolute joy to work on.
Me: Do you recall having any odd or funny on-set stories about yourself or any of the other cast/crew members?
KL: It’s always a huge barrel of laughs with this group of people. I think the funniest moment happened by pure accident but I believe was actually kept in the short. It was when we were blocking out a part of the scene when Ricky Bredenbeck’s character was climbing on Chanda Rawling’s chair and the momentum flipped the chair on its’ back. One moment, she was upright and the next I saw her feet flailing in the air. We definitely had to take a short break after to get all the giggles out before continuing on.
Me: Outside of these films, you have roles in several other indie shorts Reader and Curtain Call. What can you tell us about these projects?
KL: I think Reader was one of my early roles from when I first got into film. It was a great role and I got to work with a few people who had gone to school for film which was so different for me to experience, having gone to school for music performance myself. I learned a lot during that shoot. Some of the people I met there are still friends of mine to this day.
Curtain Call was a brilliant experience. I got to play a character that I do not typically play, a mom. It was so cool to work with Ian Welfley and his group. The professionalism and welcoming nature of the set made it feel like such a swift shoot. I really enjoyed being in a project that focused on music as much as Curtain Call did. I think, as a musician and as a person who lost a parent, I really identified with the main character of the story. I definitely hope to work with each and every single crew and cast member again in the future.
Me: Having worked with director Brad Twigg already on the upcoming "Killer Campout Part II," what are you looking forward to the most returning to work with him on the soon-to-film "WrestleMassacre 2?"
KL: I am really looking forward to the comradery that is always found on a Fuzzy Monkey Films set! We have a great time, and we work so hard. Each one of us is committed to making these projects a reality and that is always refreshing to experience. In this project, I play Brooke, whose strength and realness I really admire. When Brad first described her to me, he said she was a punk chick and I loved that. I was a punk chick in my high school and early college years, so it was really cool to dive back into that side of myself.
Me: What else are you working on that you'd like to share with our readers?
KL: I am also gearing up for two comedic horror projects that are anticipated to be shooting this summer! One you will have to stay tuned for, but I am really looking forward to bringing this sensual southern belle character to life. The other project is Mark Cantu’s, Grind! I play Laurie, a badass young mom of a preteen daughter who loves grindhouse movies! She takes her daughter to a college grindhouse movie festival where an ancient evil is released and all hell breaks loose. Will they survive? You’ll have to find out.
Other than that, I am currently working on writing my own anthology of spooky shorts that I hope to begin pre-production within the next year and a half. I am also in the midst of editing my very first novel about a group of people that are trying to survive a zombie infested world. I started the project in 2020 during the pandemic and it’s been something I’ve been slowly working on. I do plan to publish at some point, I just don’t, yet, have a timeline for it. It can be hard to write between my day job and shoot schedules, but I make it work. I also have recently picked up PC gaming and stream playthroughs semi-regularly. I started a Youtube channel called Surfing Seaster Games and I try to upload a video once or twice a month. Oddly enough, I mostly play indie horror games, but occasionally I will play something from other genres.
Me: Lastly, being that this is our Women in Horror Movement, 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!
KL: I would say to just do it! Don’t wait for the right time, do it now. Be your wonderful, weird self and keep working towards your dreams regardless of the negativity! I also would like to say that it’s so important to support and raise up your fellow sisters in horror. Even if you’re always competing for the same roles; when one of us succeeds, we all do. There’s a sisterhood in horror that is a wholesome and positive close-knit community that you cannot find anywhere else. We all look out for each other; whether it be making sure someone is comfortable in a scene to alerting each other of potential dangers or sketchy situations. Women in horror are a safe space.
This interview ran as part of our 2024 Women in Horror Movement celebrations! Click the banner below to check out our complete coverage:
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