A guest on a previous spotlight, I'm proud to welcome back actress Michelle Bowser to talk about her latest accomplishments and upcoming projects.
Me: Hello, and thank you for returning to this! Since last we’ve spoke, you’ve been involved in numerous projects for Brad Twigg, including the upcoming vampire film “Cracula.” What can you tell us about the film?
Michelle Bowser: Cracula was the most fun I’ve ever had working on a film set. It’s a gory over-the-top comedy, which is my favorite type of film to do. It’s about a guy whose world-travelling professor parents die and leave him a storage shed in West Virginia that he thinks is full of junk, but one of those junk items just happens to be Dracula’s coffin. A couple of crackheads are breaking into storage sheds looking for things they can steal and sell when they accidentally wake up the count, and he takes a bite from one. Now Dracula has a crack problem, too.
Me: As a part of the writing team, what was it like collaborating with Brad as a co-writer? Did your past working relationship with him make it easier to share ideas during this part of production?
MB: It’s always great working with Brad because he’s open to collaboration and any new ideas that someone might have.
Me: Playing one of the lead roles as Det. Sweeney, what about the character appealed to you to play her? Was there anything unique or special that helped to get into her mindset?
MB: I loved that she had a whole detective noir flair and fashion sense about her. I actually had my friend, Christina Bailey, who does makeup, teach me how to do 1940s-style makeup and hair for her character. When it comes to mindset, Sweeney and I definitely both have minds that go in a million different directions at once when trying to solve a mystery, so it wasn’t too hard to get into her head. Maybe just a little hard to choose a direction. Haha!
Me: With the comedic nature of the character and film as a whole, was there any difficulty staying in character during a shoot? How did the cast and crew react to the type of film being made?
MB: Everyone had a great time. We all had trouble keeping from laughing out loud while filming. Everything was so outrageous in the best ways.
Me: Do you recall having any odd or funny on-set stories about yourself or any of the other cast/crew members?
MB: So many stories! Unfortunately, I can’t think of too many that won’t contain spoilers. There was one time we were filming at night in a parking lot, and there was a house next door where people were having a party. They were very gracious and stayed quiet while we filmed. They said they enjoyed the show and then invited us to drink with them. But we had to get to the next set, so a few of us took some beers to go.
Me: What are you most looking forward to with its upcoming release?
MB: I got to be a puppeteer again, like I was in Crackcoon. I can’t wait for people to see the different crazy things I got to stick my hand up in this one.
Me: As well, you’re also working on several other films with Brad, including “T-Rexorcist” and “Halloween Hell Night.” What can you tell us about these films?
MB: These were also fun to work on. I didn’t get to do much behind the scenes on Halloween Hell Night, but I got to play over-the-top Sally Jo, who is having trouble with her husband, played by Steven Kiseleski. We had a great time with those characters and got to ad lib a few crazy things.
In T-Rexocist, we play a different hillbilly couple who aren’t getting along the greatest and having trouble with something wrecking their garbage cans. We got to be spectacularly over-the-top in this one, too. I was more involved with many of the behind-the-scenes for T-Rexocist, and we had a lot of improvising to do because of the weather. Much of the film takes place outside, and there was so much rain last summer, but we managed to pull it off wonderfully.
Me: With a stacked cast of talented indie actors and actresses involved in each film, what are you most looking forward to getting to work with familiar names and those you haven’t worked with before?
MB: I love working with everyone I’ve worked with so far! Crackcoons and Shriekshow II are coming up, and I am really looking forward to those. Fuzzy Monkey Films are always a blast, and I’m open to working with anyone new in the future.
Me: What else are you working on that you'd like to share with our readers?
MB: I am working on expanding a book about vampires I had previously published called The Blackwell Mirror, which is currently out of print. I’m hoping to publish the expanded version next year.
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!
MB: Do it for the fun. Do it for the art and never take anything too seriously.
Click the banner below to check out and read the rest of this year's celebrations!
Comments
Post a Comment