A guest on previous spotlights, I'm pleased to welcome back Amanda Megan to talk about her work in the upcoming films "Spirit Board: Doorway to Death" and "Black Sheep."
Me: Hello, and thank you for returning to this! Since last we’ve spoke, you’ve been involved in the upcoming film “Sabilla Six” from Shannon Atkins. What can you tell us about the film?
Amanda Megan: Hello, thanks for having me!
I can’t say too much about the film as it is not out yet, but I can tell you that it’s basically a warning about internet dating. Well, dating in general.
Me: How did the cast and crew react to the type of film being made?
AM: A lot of the cast had similar experiences, so we all brought our real-life experiences to our scenes, which I feel makes it so much more real.
Me: Do you recall having any odd or funny on-set stories about yourself or any of the other cast/crew members?
AM: There was an ongoing joke about how many selfies Shannon would take. To be fair, she has a good reason for why she does it. There was one day when we got a photo of her holding an act looking all crazy, and honestly, it's my favorite photo. There were a lot of little moments, but those are the two that stand out to me the most.
Me: What are you most looking forward to with its upcoming release?
AM: To the audience’s reactions and to Shannon having “her moment.” I’m all about seeing other people win.
Me: As well, you’re also involved in the upcoming film “Spirit Board: Doorway to Death.” What can you tell us about the film and your character, Katie?
AM: This is a Shawn Wright film, and I always have a blast on his sets. More importantly, he makes sure the cast is comfortable and respected and never pushes us to do things we don’t want to do (i.e., a nudity scene.) My character Katie is a little bit of a bitch until she starts to see things from a different perspective.
Me: What initially attracted you to the role of wanting to play her? Was there a role of yours in the past that helped get you in the proper mindset during filming?
AM: I was attracted to the role because I knew it would challenge me, as the role required a lot of range. I don’t think there was a role of mine per se, but I did watch and research a lot of other Ouija/possession type films to prepare.
Me: With a stacked cast of talented indie actors and actresses involved in each film, what do you recall from your experiences working on these films? What tips and tricks have you learned as an artist from working on these films?
AM: There is always something to learn, something to improve. Watching and running lines with the cast is a huge benefit when you’re actually together because you feed off of each other’s energy. I also learned that acting isn’t acting, but more about reacting. Your voice matters, your tone, facial expression, body movements, etc. The most important thing is to keep open communication and ask questions. Maybe you read the line one way, but the director sees it another way. Or maybe there’s a stunt coming up, and you’re not sure how to approach it. Always ask the questions.
Me: Outside of these films, you’re also a part of the upcoming “Black Sheep” as not only a director but writer and actress. How did the early stages of the film come to life?
AM: I have friends all over, and I make sufficient effort to keep in touch with them. One of my friends, DJ Patton, lives in California, and we were doing monthly to weekly phone calls at the time. We valued and really prioritized the pre-production. I had talked about an idea I had while I was with my parents, and he jumped right on board. “That’s a great idea, we need to do it.” What really pushed me to start the pre-production tho – I was with another film friend, Russell Sage Patrick, at a concert near where I live. There was one song that one of the opening bands played – Top of the World by Brenden Starr. While they were playing, my mind went on a journey, and it showed me Chanda Rawlings in a movie theater covered in blood. I stopped dead in my tracks and shared the vision with Russell. And it was pretty much history after that.
Me: Where did the inspiration for the film come from? Were there any unique stories about its conception?
AM: My parents are very supportive of my creative endeavors. One night, like 3 years ago, we were sitting out back on their patio, and somehow the subject came up of Red Carpets. Why red carpets? What started that trend? And we came up with an idea to basically make a movie of why that started. Black Sheep was originally going to be called “Red Carpets Origins.” But as with many works of art, it started to take on a life of its own over time and has essentially evolved into its own little world.
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?
AM: Casting was so difficult. There are so many talented people out there. And of course, we wish we could bring everyone on board, but we definitely did not have the budget for that. It is important to me to work with new people when possible, so we wanted to extend our reach all over the US, provided the talent would be able to travel. We looked for people who brought their characters to life, who gave them their own little spin, and who could take directions well. Collaboration was so important to us on this project, so we needed to make sure the people we brought on were open to sharing ideas too. I also value safety and comfort for everyone on our sets, so the cast and crew were asked to adhere to a code of conduct. Extremely grateful and proud to say there were very few issues on our sets. We made sure we picked good people who were great performers.
Me: What else are you working on that you'd like to share with our readers?
AM: I’m focused on getting Black Sheep out to the public this year, as well as Sabilla Six with Shannon. I’m not taking on too many film projects this year because of that and focusing mostly on writing. I have a few ideas for future films I hope to bring to life, and my life partner and I are actually working on a novel. I do have a short film that I am working on with Jason Burke that we hope to finish this 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!
AM: Network, network, network. Don’t be afraid to start small, but do not keep yourself small. Always remember who you are and what you stand for. Don’t be afraid to step into your power, but remember you’re not alone. Find your tribe and keep it.
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