A previous guest on a past Women in Horror Month spotlight, I'm pleased to welcome back Leticia Buchanan to talk about her latest short 'Betty' and several other upcoming projects.
Me: Hello, and thank you for returning to this! Since last we spoke, you’ve started work on your first written and directed short "BETTY". Where did the inspiration for the film come from? Were there any unique stories about its conception?
Leticia Buchanan: I'd just finished working on a sci-fi short film called "Love and Hatred in MegaWave City" with actress Shoshanna Withers, who also executive produced and starred in the project. After wrapping, she approached me with a scene she'd written for her acting class called "The AI Guy" and asked if I'd be interested in co-writing it into a screenplay and directing it.
I am an Anglophile and a lover of British soaps. Around that time, I was watching "Hollyoaks" and their storyline on incel culture really caught my attention. It's not something that's often discussed in the U.S., so I started reading up on it and became fascinated. This sparked an idea - what if our main character, Dr. Banta, was an incel who creates female AI robots that fit his idea of the perfect woman? A woman who couldn't reject or ignore him.
Shoshanna and I teamed up, mixing my dark sense of humor and horror influences with her concept, and "BETTY" was born.
Me: Compared to your past as a producer or writer, were there any difficulties or unexpected aspects that you encountered taking on the project?
LB: I'm still blown away by how seamlessly this project came together! We knocked out the script in just an hour, and I only needed to do one rewrite. Shoshanna found this amazing location that was absolutely perfect for the story.
The only slight hiccup was filming the final scene. Our talented makeup artist, Tina Solano, built a device to create the desired effect, but it didn't quite work as planned. Tina jumped in and got hands-on (literally!) to make it happen.
We had just one shot to nail the scene without having to redo the entire set, and actors' makeup, and scrub everything clean. And to make it even more challenging, we only had 10 minutes left at the studio. But thanks to Tina's quick thinking and our DP Eddie Lebron's expertise, we managed to pull it off despite the minor setback.
Me: With a cast of experienced and talented indie actors, how'd you settle on the cast getting involved in the film? What characteristics did you look for with each performer that they brought to the table that helped bring the production to light?
LB: There really wasn’t much casting needed. The role of "BETTY" was tailor-made for Shoshanna. For the other roles, we leaned on Shoshanna's network of acting friends. She recommended Daniel Gregory for the part of Dr. Banta, and I'm so glad she did! Dan brought a unique energy to the role that totally blew me away. His talent far exceeded my expectations!
We did hold auditions for the news anchor and reporter roles. Stephanie Londono crushed her audition, and we were already fans of Jacque Coqueran's work, so he was a great fit for the news anchor part.
Me: What was the set like while shooting the film? How did the cast and crew react to the type of film being made?
LB: Our DP/Cinematographer, Eddie Lebron, is not only an amazing talent but also my producing partner and co-founder of Love Your Face Films. We'd worked with most of the crew before, so it felt like a reunion on set. The vibe was super relaxed, and we had a blast creating.
One of the best parts was keeping the ending a secret until the last minute. It was hilarious watching people's reactions when they finally read the full script before shooting. Everyone was stoked to get to the final scene and see how it would all come together.
Me: Do you recall having any odd or funny on-set stories about yourself or any of the other cast/crew members?
LB: I had an absolute blast decorating the set and styling the extras. I wanted to sneak in some subtle details that eagle-eyed viewers could spot. Like, keep an eye out for that bottle of baby oil - it's a nod to the P Diddy story that was making headlines around the time we filmed.
We also gave a shoutout to our favorite whisky company, Den of Thieves, by featuring their bottles on set. And a special thanks to my awesome niece, Taj Nemley-Edlow, who let me recruit her as an extra and even allowed me to add some "mischievous" props to her scenes.
Me: With the film currently on the festival circuit, what are you most looking forward to when it’s more widely available?
LB: We're still on a high from the world premiere of "BETTY" at the Renegade Film Festival! What I was most excited about - and still am - is seeing how the audience reacts to the film. Hearing their laughter and those uncomfortable "ewwws" was everything!
"BETTY" snagged 7 award nominations and took home not one, but two awards: the Audience Award and Best in Block: Monstrous Feminine. We're beyond thrilled!
Me: Another upcoming directorial project of yours is the short “Love and Hatred in Megawave City.” What can we look forward to with this film?
LB: "Love and Hatred in MegaWave City" is an exciting 80s retro wave sci-fi drama short film. Eddie Lebron wrote it specifically for Shoshanna Withers who also Executive Produced this project.
I co-wrote the screenplay with Eddie, produced the film, assisted with casting, and even had the opportunity to jump in as a guest director. We are extremely excited to have Christopher Seto starring alongside Shoshanna. “Love and Hatred in MegaWave City” encompasses the trials and tribulations of a toxic relationship under a neon-lit backdrop!
Me: As well, you’re continuing to work with Rock with Siren LLC on several upcoming films of theirs, what can you tell us about the relationship you have and your work with them?
LB: I've joined Rock with Siren as Executive Head of Productions, overseeing their expanding studio. While my commitment to Love Your Face Films' projects and clients remains my main focus, I'm loving every minute of collaborating with the Rock with Siren team.
We've even coined our own nickname - "Rock Your Face" - to capture the spirit of our partnership. With several chilling projects in development, I'm eager to see the incredible work we'll produce together.
Me: When writing a new project, what's the one fall-back tactic that you're always able to draw inspiration from?
LB: I adore writing! I've got a bunch of scripts just waiting to be brought to life when the finances come or those lottery numbers finally hit! I draw inspiration from my own nightmares, twisted ideas, and things that genuinely freak me out.
I'm all about writing strong, complex femme fatales - there aren't enough female villains out there if you ask me! Give me a badass, take-no-prisoners female lead any day!
And honestly, I'm passionate about telling stories that showcase the underrepresented. Everyone deserves a spot in the spotlight, regardless of their race, culture, gender, or whatever other boxes society tries to put us in. Representation matters!
Me: What else are you working on that you'd like to share with our readers?
LB: The next project I hope to shoot delves into my personal struggle with sleep paralysis. It's hands-down the most unsettling story I've ever written, and I'm beyond excited to see it come to life on screen.
I've also finished two more scripts that I'm super excited about! One's a dark, twisted tale about a woman who's determined to be the last love of your life... and the other's a horror-comedy that's basically a BDSM scene gone hilariously wrong!
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!
LB: To be honest, women - especially BIPOC women - are underrepresented in the horror genre. That's why I'm so passionate about carving out my own space and inspiring others to do the same. I want young women to see themselves reflected in the stories being told and feel empowered to share their own.
Seeing women like Coralie Fargeat, the writer/ director of "The Substance", and Demi Moore break through and receive the recognition they deserve was a game-changer for me. It showed me that it's possible to make a mark in this industry and motivated me to keep pushing forward.
The horror genre's lack of BIPOC women is staggering, but it only fuels my determination to succeed! Seeing powerhouse creators like Nia DaCosta (Candyman) and Kasi Lemmons (Eve's Bayou) kill the game reminds me that there's a place for me, too, as a black woman in horror. It's time to claim my space!
This interview ran as part of our 2025 Women in Horror Movement series. Click the banner below to check out all the featured interviews in this series:
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