A guest on a previous interview spotlight, I'm pleased to welcome back Destiny Soria to talk about her latest short film, "Hallowfix and Kill," and its recent release.
Me: Hello, and thank you for returning to this! Since last we’ve spoke, you’ve seen your directing career continue to evolve with the just-released short “Hallowfix and Kill.” What can you tell us about the film?
Destiny Soria: The film is based on a 50s-era mythology story about Stheno, one of the Gorgon sisters of Medusa, who is depicted as an anti-hero who seeks justice for her sisters and the female race in modern times. She is characterized as a powerful and fierce figure, often described with snake-like hair and a gaze that can turn people to stone. Stheno embodies themes of strength and protection, as she fights against evil men and seeks to avenge her sisters' wrongs. In her narrative, she transforms from a chill online dating persona to one where online dating becomes a lethal game against those who wronged her.
Me: Where did the inspiration for the film come from? Were there any unique stories about its conception?
DS: It came from Medusa's backstory, and how she became what she was from her tragic story was not fair to her. And she was punished just because of her beauty, and she was also sexually assaulted. Her sister, Stheno, became enraged and took revenge on all the men who did wrong to women. It's a mythology story, and my love for mythology was just pierced into this film with the world we live in, and how I'm going through the same thing. I was in Medusa's situation.
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?
DS: I think, for Hallowfilx and Kill, is this: I know the people personally, and they are hard-working people, and they just love to be on set. And I know that they were good people to work with. They were kind. They love to be on set. They just bring out the characters, and you know, directing them was easy for them and easy for me. I just loved the way that they brought their own characters to life. I like to see people improvise and bring that character to life.
Me: With your work acting in plenty of short films early in your career, what tools and skills did you acquire working on those that transferred to this project?
DS: I've been acting for 18 years since 2009, and having learned from acting coach or acting schools and being on set, I've learned a lot in those years of being on set and acting and behind the camera. The best quality camera, having the best crew and cast, and having an idea of how the mood is, especially when I'm editing the short films, which I did back in the day, was all edited by me. made by me, better at editing with newer tools to make a better film with special effects, after-effects, and in just amazing editing that I've learned through the years of doing skits and short films. Looking at how to do videos on YouTube helped a lot with working on Adobe Premiere, which is my go-to editing software.
Me: What was the set like while shooting the film? How did the cast and crew react to the type of film being made?
DS: It was pretty simple and easy days. Everybody knew what they had to do. It was like a 2 to 3-day shoot. Everybody was on time, and everybody had their lines perfectly memorized, and it was just a good cleaning shoot day. They like the story behind Medusa's sister and how it was a different edge to a mythological story made into a modern time.
Me: Do you recall having any odd or funny on-set stories about yourself or any of the other cast/crew members?
DS: For Hallowfilx and Kill, there weren't any funny or odd things on set. But the only thing I can recall on this one was that there was a talent that was supposed to be on set for a role, and he never showed up. He stood us up, and I pretty much had to use the bar owner for that one scene and just improvise it. It was just odd to keep messaging me that they were on the way when it was close to call time, and they never showed up, so it's just very unprofessional, and you just don't work with that person again.
Me: What are you most looking forward to with its newfound release on ShadowReel?
DS: Just looking forward to amazing traffic coming through and more distribution deals to come to ShadowReel, and Hopefully Make A Good Success Amount on the Film also.
We just found out that now it's on Cineshort too! Came out March 6th. Here are the links to Hallowflix and Kill:
Me: As well, you’re also involved in bringing the upcoming “Christmas Slasher” to audiences following multiple delays. What updates can you provide on the hurdles keeping the release from happening?
DS: It's very sensitive to speak about it. Especially the trauma and the heartbreak that I adore from it. That would be another story on its own. With the truth coming out on them already, the major part of this was finding an actual professional editor who would just be truthful to me and get the work done on time. With one editor passing away and many not taking this seriously was worrying me out as a female. It is so hard to find or trust anybody with your career, your goals, and your films. It was hard to find somebody who knew what they were doing. And taking it really seriously and being professional when there was a woman present. So, I did everything on my own. And then having a company come after the logo that had nothing to do with that company's characteristics, with a deal to not use something that had nothing to do with their characteristics, was uncalled for and ridiculous, so I had to find a new style of merch logo to give to the perks. But now the film is done and will be released this Christmas with new merch, a new version, a new style, and new everything.
Me: Is there anything about the arduous process of getting it finished and prepared for release that you’re taking with you to future projects?
DS: Yes, I won't be involved with any crowdfunding anymore. I had a bad experience with these crowdfunding sites because there were so many cons, and the prices for the products were so overly expensive that I could not afford to get more perks. I had to hold off on the perks and had to stop making them because the Rudolph company thought my logos were Rudolph. So. I had to make a different idea on style, which took a long time, and had to deal with them over a contract deal, and until after the movie was done to make merch. I had to save the money for the movie only. In making any film, I am going to surely have a legit professional crew company production, and a casting director to look for my cast and talent that are in the database. I will not come across anybody that I don't know or come to me, asking to be in the movie for free. Or just asking to be in the movie is unprofessional, and I will never do that again. And I will never help somebody I don't know again. There are too many cons out. There are too many weird people out there who will just want to harm you to just get into fame and or fortune.
Me: Beyond these features, what else are you working on that you'd like to share with our readers?
DS: After Christmas Slasher is released this Christmas. I will be working on my second feature film, Blood from Snow, which will be filmed in 2027, and I will be editing a horror feature film that I was a lead in this coming month. With acting roles I have booked back-to-back this summer, on top of that, with being an official jury member for a film festival!
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!
DS: Coming from somebody who has a learning disability, ADHD, autism, and a speech disorder, just keep going. There is gonna be people out there who don't want to see you achieve your goals, who don't want to see a woman achieve their goals, and make something happen. That you believe should be shown because you love your art. You love what you do, don't let anybody put you down, don't let anybody lie to you about you. You don't let anybody make you feel like you're worthless. As a human being, as a woman, women have so much power. And so much gratefulness and so much beauty that they can show what they really can do, especially with somebody like me, who has a learning disability. Who's autistic? I'm showing what I can really do. And my kindness and love have shown that, and it has also shown that it brings evil people into your world to just try to hurt you. And harm you and say lies about you. Because they don't want to see you achieve and succeed in life, they don't want to see a beautiful woman do something amazing. They hate that, so keep it going.
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