A guest on a previous spotlight, I'm pleased to welcome back actress Andrea Sandell to discuss her recent acting projects and working for the Romford Filmmakers Guild.
Me: Hello, and thank you for returning to this! Since last we’ve spoke, you’ve been involved in a series of promotional work for the Romford Filmakers Guild. What has led to your work with them?
Andrea Sandell: Quite a long time, my Acting Friends have been attending Romford Horror Festival and Romford Film Festival. We attend not just to support the festival but also to network with other Filmmakers and watch the amazing projects selected. I admit the Horror Festival is my favourite as I like Horror the most, hence becoming a Scare Actor. During the Festival, I love meeting my Film Friends, and sometimes this is the main event where we get to meet. The Founder Spencer Hawken, I have known for many years now, and appeared in his films Death Walks and No Reasons. The Festivals are based at The Lumiere Cinema in The Mercury Mall Shopping Centre, Romford, Essex.
Me: With this leading to a special filming troupe known as the Romford Filmmakers Guild, how did the creation of this come together?
AS: Separate to the above, I was part of a Local Filmmaking Group along with my Actor Friend Tony Wiseman, who is also a Scare Actor, when the Filmmaking Group disbanded. Tony asked if I'd be interested, along with another Actress Friend, Petrina Richardson, in running our own little filmmaking group, which we both agreed to and formed the Romford Filmmakers Guild.
Me: What is the purpose of the Guild, and how are you planning to get these accomplished?
AS: We are looking for crew to join us to help bring projects to life, at present we are doing this to practice our craft and not a profit-making group.
Me: With your first project set to start filming in the next few months, how did this come together?
AS: Our first short is a film written by Tony Wiseman with help from AI and relates to Comedy Horror!
Me: What was the early life of the short look like as you were helping bring it to life?
AS: We did appear in the projects that the local filmmaking group produced before it disbanded, such as Revelation and Little Love, now available on YouTube.
Me: Outside of the Guild, you’ve continued your acting career with appearances in several shorts and features, including as Nurse Hellamia in “Remember Me 2: Forget Me Not.” What can you tell us about the film?
AS: Remember Me 2: Forget Me Not is written and produced by Steven M Smith, Greenway Entertainment. I have worked with Steven previously on a Haunting project, and then he cast me in this. I loved the film, and it helped bring horror! The lead American Actor called Hans Petter Hernke, whom I also worked with before, so it was great being back on set with him again. Remember Me 2 is where the Medical Team is secretly Harvesting Human Organs!
Me: Having appeared as malicious or devious nuns several times in the past, was it easier to slip into that mindset while filming? Did you want to include anything in your performance to make it stand out from any other such types in the past?
AS: I have performed as a Nun probably the most and again in Comedy Horror, and it was fun as my character is a bit crazy and only thinks she's a Nun! You can watch me as this character in I Scream on the Beach, Mosaic, and Video Shop Tales of Terror. Although my character is a bit crazy, I bring my Scare Tactics into play as well to bring the slightly sinister element.
Me: What was the set like while shooting the film? How did the cast and crew react to the type of film being made?
AS: I have enjoyed all the Nun Scenes and the sets were great, especially those which were built at Freesprite Media Studios, Rochford.
Me: Do you recall having any odd or funny on-set stories about yourself or any of the other cast/crew members?
AS: One of the funniest times on set was during the filming of a feature called Best Geezer by Raya Films, where the leads and I were jumping for joy in it, and it was exhausting but funny and enjoyable at the same time. I played Pat the Receptionist, and it is still my best role to date in a film.
Remember Me 2 was also funny, as we all had to fall to the floor, and at one point, we all knocked into each other and fell, which was very funny.
Me: As well, you’ve also appeared in many features, including “Best Geezer,” “Dissimulation,” and “Psycho Dater,” among others. What do you recall from your experiences working on these films?
AS: I have worked in brilliant locations, particularly Maidstone Studios. I have always wanted to work in a professional studio. The set was fab, and I didn't want it to end.
A Short called Psycho Dater, which I helped produce and acted in, was filmed at my actress friend's property, a Bungalow which we turned into a therapist-type office. This was also one of the locations in Remember Me 2.
Me: What else are you working on that you'd like to share with our readers?
AS: We are due to film a short in the Spring, which will be the first under The Romford Filmmakers Guild. Petrina and I are the cast of this.
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!
AS: What I would say to someone who is starting out is Go For It! If there's something you want to do today, then do it, don't wait for another day, as the chance may pass you by. Learn as much as you can, work hard, and don't pigeonhole yourself to just one thing. The more you know, the more you have to offer, and you will succeed.
Thanks, Andrea x
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