A previous guest on a past Women in Horror Month spotlight, I welcome back Shannon Atkins to talk about some of her latest projects and upcoming film "The Sabilla Six."
Me: Hello and thank you for returning to this! Since last we spoke, you’ve continued your success in the scene acting in films like “The Legend of Crick Foot” and “Blood and Breakfast” among others. What do you recall from your experiences working on these films?
Shannon Atkins: Hi thank you so much for having me back. Crick Foot was so much fun to work on, we didn't have a script and we were allowed to create our own scene, and we absolutely did lol...Bone Jawnson was great to work with and he allowed us to be as creative as we wanted. I really enjoyed doing some comedy, it was different than everything else I was working on. Blood and Breakfast was also different, I played a character I don't usually play and went out of my comfort zone a little and it was a lot of fun. I was really excited to work with Mark Byrne for the first time and I hope to work with him again in the future.
Me: As well, you’re also in the upcoming film “Ssssstoner Snake” as Jenny. What initially attracted you to the role?
SA: Yeah wow this one was sooo much fun, I originally was supposed to play the news reporter but after I read the script for Jenny I knew I wanted to play this train wreck lol..it was a short scene I directed it as well and had some great cast and friends to help me including Amanda Megan, Jesse L Green and Russell Sage Patrick who also filmed it.
Me: Outside of acting, one of your upcoming projects is working on “The Sabilla Six” as the director and actress. What can you tell us about the project? where did the inspiration for the film come from?
SA: This is my baby... I have put my blood sweat and tears into this one. The idea came from a creepy message one night in my messenger so I was joking around and reached out to Matt Burns and said "I'm going to make a horror film about Messenger," we laughed but the more we talked I got mad and said I'm actually going to do this but make it about the dangers of social media as a whole, and add some experiences from myself and the other girls in the film.. we all talked and wrote down our horrible experiences and things that we have gone through in past relationships and sent it to Todd Martin, and he wrote an amazing dark script for this film. We are now in post-production of The Sabilla Six, I am beyond proud of my cast and crew for all their hard work and dedication, I can't wait for everyone to see it.
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?
SA: This was actually the easiest part, I knew exactly who I wanted for each character, and I know I made the right choice, each actor put their own spin on the characters in only a way they could. This is a dark film, it needs a lot of raw emotion and the scenes are hard and disturbing, I am amazed at what I saw these actors do, as a director watching it all, I cried many times and couldn't believe the talent I was witnessing.
Me: What was the set like while shooting the film? How did the cast and crew react to the type of film being made?
SA: So everything is different on paper, when it came to actually acting out the scenes, it was not easy, I constantly made sure everyone was comfortable and we took as many breaks as needed. We had a great cast and crew and everyone was very understanding of how emotional the scenes were.
Me: Do you recall having any odd or funny on-set stories about yourself or any of the other cast/crew members?
SA: I don't know about odd but because of reasons I can't mention, we had to relocate right before filming one day, I was literally panicking and I had so many extras that day, I felt horrible contacting everyone, who was already on their way, to tell them, they had to go another 30 min out of their way...it was terrible, but everyone understood and we all made it work, I think better then it would have been anyways and the scene turned out great.
Me: What are you most looking forward to with its upcoming release?
SA: I just can't wait for everyone to see it, I am looking forward to all the first-time reactions from the audience, the gasps, the tears, the laughter...
Me: As well, you’re also involved in the upcoming “Black Sheep.” With a stacked cast of talented indie actors and actresses involved, what are you most looking forward to getting to work with familiar names and those you haven’t worked with before?
SA: I am so excited for this. Amanda Megan is awesome, anytime I get to work with her is great. I love Chanda, and I'm looking forward to working with her again and Kay, such talent and such great people. This has a large cast and I know I can't mention everyone, but I am so excited to meet and work with new actors, these actors all have such incredible resumes and I can't wait to see what they can do.
Me: What else are you working on that you’d like to share with our readers?
SA: Other than acting and directing, I have put together a mini film festival, it's in March at the Waynesboro Theater and it will show all the local talent from all movie genres. I am really looking forward to that...it is hard to get a short film scene so I reached out to Matt Burns and he helped me make it happen. As far as film, I produced a short called The Itch, it's directed by Cyd Tokar, I produced and acted in a short, written by Bone Jawnson called The Palindrome, I directed an installment for the anthology Head On The Writers Block, called The Morning After.
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!
SA: I would say just go for it...we need more women in horror, and not just to be killed or naked in the films, we need more female directors, writers, and producers. If it's something you want to do then do it, but keep your boundaries and your morals, don't fall for the BS of a male director telling you that you have to do something you don't want to...YOU DON'T HAVE TO. listen to your gut, it will tell you when something is not right and who the good people are to work with, if something does happen, don't be afraid to report it, you are not the problem. It's great to be involved in film, but as a female,e it's not always easy. KNOW YOUR WORTH AND DON'T COMPROMISE!!
Thank You so much for having me back, I look forward to talking more in the future.
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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