An Interview With Thomas Dominique

Recently I got to talk with Thomas Dominique. He gave us the rundown on himself and a touch of Blood Drive. So sit back and enjoy before tonight’s episode of Blood Drive airs!

 

HMF: What is your favorite horror movie?

TD: Errrm… I have so many. If we’re going for straight horror, I would have to say The Exorcist. When I was younger, my friend got his hands on his Dad’s copy and had a screening for about ten of us.  We were like nine or ten years old. I remember it was daytime, we walked into his house with so much big talk like “yeah right, this isn’t going to be scary!”… We left his house mortified.

HMF: What was it that pulled you into the crazy world of acting?

TD: Certain films and TV shows really moved me growing up. I guess I always had a desire to tell my own stories. To me it always seemed like something other people did, It wasn’t until later that I actually decided to pursue it. I really wanted to learn how it was done from the bottom up… It’s a world where you’re constantly learning and trying to improve. You can live two lifetimes and still not learn everything there is to know about the craft.

HMF: What was it about Blood Drive that made you want to audition?

TD: The Character was a role I’d never played before, especially in the world that Blood Drive is set in. So I was going for a challenge… and I definitely got one!

HMF: Was Christopher your first choice?

TD: No, my first choice was Grace, but James Roland was just so stubborn about it. Then I said “alright I wanna play Clown dick; I’ve got some great ideas Jimmy, just roll with it!” He said “No, you’re playing Christopher Carpenter!” Then I bowed my head and solemnly agreed… Not really, that didn’t happen. Christopher was definitely my first choice. He has a lot of vulnerable qualities without being too much of one thing. Also a really interesting series arc, I definitely liked the character right away.

HMF: You obviously have great chemistry with Marama Corlett that shows through your scenes together. Do you share the same chemistry off screen between takes?

TD: Ahh I can’t stand her! (Laughter) nah, Marama’s the best! We had so much fun between takes, there was never a dull day when she was on set. She’s really funny. We sometimes would meet some of the other guys and go for dinner or a drink, and talk about all the craziness we had to do that day. All the cast had great chemistry! We would often go round to Christina Ochoa’s apartment for game nights… I’d get intense on those games man, trying to get my team or myself to win. We had a little gang which consisted of myself, Marama Corlett, Darren Kent, Andrew Hall, Colin Cunningham, Natalie Mendoza, Craig Jackson and Jenny Stead, Carel Nel and Keenan Arrison. Some of the cast lived in Johannesburg, but we’d hang out with them too whenever they were in town. Great guys like Adam Pelkowitz, Brandon Auret, and Sean Cameron Michael. Others had friends and family staying with them so they had less time to hang out, but would still come out sometimes.

HMF: How has Blood Drive been different from your other roles?

TD: Well, my character is naked quite a lot, it’s my first time doing that. Also I got to do stunt work and work with a lot of special effects, which was so much fun! There were so many contributing factors that made this role different to the others: Being in South Africa, working on a 13 episode show, being away from London for 6 months. It was a totally new experience for me.

HMF: What has been your favorite and least favorite scenes to film so far and why?

TD: I can’t pick my favorite scene cos there’s so many. But I do remember a particular scene that wasn’t too nice to shoot… It was episode 9 in the Pixie Swallow kitchen scene. It was only unpleasant because it was real Worcestershire sauce in the first few takes, and it went everywhere in my hair and ears, into my costume, down my legs… it smelt so bad! It took at least 4 showers to get the smell off. That was my least favorite part of scene, because of the sauce in my pants.

HMF: What comes next for Christopher?

TD: Christopher has a very interesting little journey coming up, I don’t want to spoil it for your readers and the Bleeders. If you didn’t know, that’s the name of our Blood Drive fans. They’re the best fans ever, I love the Bleeders!

HMF: What are we going to see in the future from Thomas Dominique?

TD: Who knows what the future holds… We’ll have to wait and see, I’m still in meetings and auditions at the moment. For the foreseeable future two friends of mine Samson Kayo and Robert Whitelock have written a play for the Soho theater in London, I’ve been involved from its inception. I’m really excited about it, it’s near completion and the script’s amazing. Other than that I take it one day at a time… Stay focused, work hard and pray I stay blessed.

 

Thanks again to Thomas for taking time out of his schedule to speak with us. As always you can catch Blood Drive on SyFy Wednesday nights at 10 PM Eastern.

 

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Tobe Hooper Has Passed Away

It is with great sadness that we report the passing of yet another horror legend. At the age of 74, Tobe Hooper(Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Poltergeist) has passed away. 🙁 All of us at HMF send our condolences to his family, friends and fans around the world. Rest easy Mr. Hooper.

 

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The Devil’s Candy is the Sweetest of All

The Devil’s Candy Review

 

 

Synopsis

Two men. One house. One inspiration. One truly unsettling story of madness and genius intertwining together in the darkest of ways. The Devil’s Candy tells the tale of one house’s former and current tenants battling madness and possibly possession. Former resident Ray Smilie has found himself neck deep in evil. The new buyers of his former home, the Hellman’s (nice name for a film like this) see their patriarch, Jesse, influenced by the same evil that has driven Ray to the brink of sanity. Throughout the film, the effects of demonic voices are shown to inspire great things in Jesse and Ray. However, in Ray’s case, those same voices also drive him to kill unless he drowns them out with his guitar. Ultimately, Ray gives in to the inner devils in one scene that is as beautifully crafted as it is unsettling.

Don’t be mistaken, however, Ray Smilie is not a purely evil character. Pruitt Taylor Vince’s portrayal of his character is more sympathetic than it is anything else. Even despite the horrible things Ray does, there’s a sense that the character doesn’t enjoy what he feels he is forced to do. Not until he is driven beyond the brink of his own better judgement and gives in to the voices of his unholy inner muse.

The other protagonist, Jesse Hellman, shows what Ray may have been many years before the start of the film. A normal man with an artistic side looking for inspiration to drive him to succeed in his passion. While Ray’s passion was music, Jesse’s is painting. We find Jesse at a point in his life, and career, where he is forced to paint things outside of his preference to survive. This is when he moves into a house in the Texas country to find his much-needed inspiration to paint his next great creation. It is in Ray’s former home that Jesse begins his descent into madness. At first, it seems Jesse is simply lost in the moment. Painting for hours at a time with no memory of it, only seeing the magnificent results. Soon, he the audience realizes that the same forces speaking to Ray are influencing Jesse as well. Before long, these moments of memory loss begin affecting his family and isolating him from them, especially his daughter Zooey.

The madness of Jesse and Ray comes to a bloody inferno when Ray choose Jesse’s daughter as his sacrifice to the Devil. In an ending that is violently unsettling and gloriously metal as fuck, we see one man give in to his demons and another conquer them for the sake of what is most important to him. However, the question remains… Were the voices all in their heads or was it really Satan influencing them to embrace their inner darkness.

 

 

The Bad Guy Take

It took me far too long to finally watch this movie. It’s sat on my NetFlix queue for at least a month before I kicked up this bad boy. I must say, I’m not at all disappointed in it. As usual, IFC Midnight presents a dark tale that is as thought provoking as it is visually appealing. In the case of The Devil’s Candy, it’s also aurally stunning. The use of heavy metal as a soundtrack and a very sparse score gave the film a very different, and welcome, ambience. Even the stereotypical Satanic imagery fit in and didn’t seem cheesy. In fact, the use of the cliché-as-fuck black goat was used to well that it’s appearance gave me chills. It’s not often that a cliché is used in a way that works, but somehow this flick nailed it.

The most important aspect of this movie is the sound. The voices that the main characters Ray and Jesse hear are so well mixed that it seems like they are whispering into your own ear rather than coming from the speakers. This added a whole new layer of spine-tingling, goosebump-inducing fear that I appreciated probably far more than I should. It also helped give an ambiguity to whether these men were truly insane or being whispered to by dark forces from the underworld. To add to the truly uneasy audio mix is the very sparingly used score. The times a score is used, it’s not as noticeable as it could be, but it adds to the emotion and fear of the scenes it’s used in. The other usage of music is heavy metal. The metal head in me had to throw up the horns for the first twenty minutes of the movie as well as the end credits (worth watching if you’re a classic Metallica fan).

The story itself is very well crafted overall in The Devil’s Candy. At times, it does get a little unclear what is going on, but not to the point where its incoherent. It does tread close to having a few plot holes. Luckily, nothing too glaring as to take away from my overall enjoyment of the film. I found myself too engrossed to dwell on the minor downfalls of the movie when they did pop up. Luckily, these flaws were rare enough to be easily missed unless you’re looking for something to be wrong.

The acting, especially, helps draw in the viewer in and keep them hooked. Ethan Embry is damn near unrecognizable as Jesse Hellman. His portrayal as a starving artist, metalhead, and father doing his best is believable. This combined with his appearance, the character felt like a real person rather than a character portrayed by an actor. Pruitt Taylor Vince, however, really shine as Ray Smilie. His performance walks the thin line between serial killer, victim, and mentally challenged to the point that he evokes sympathy. Until the end, however, when he turns the serial killer vibe up to eleven and sparks the true horror this story.

The ending is what ultimately makes this movie what it is. The journey through madness the two men go through culminates in a bloody showdown. The violence is stark and matter-of-fact, giving a more realistic and brutal feeling to the bloodshed on screen. The vibe of the last thirty minutes or so is incredible and simply must be seen so I don’t spoil things. Despite an end for one of the men, the last few minutes leave more questions than answers. Though not in a way that left me frustrated or wanting more. While it is short in comparison to some movies, ninety minutes was the perfect run time for this story. Any longer and it would have dragged on just enough to lose the pacing.

Overall, this isn’t the best horror movie I’ve seen, but it’s certainly not the worst. I’d definitely watch it again and I highly suggest anyone else to give it a shot. It’s not your typical haunted house or possession movie. It’s a film all on its own and, frankly, doesn’t need a genre to fit into. The Devil’s Candy is a story that will worm its way under your skin and into your mind. It might just stick with you after you watch it. If anything, watch this one for the cool music, wicked artwork, and the last thirty minutes.

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Interview w/ Julian Slink of Blood Drive!

Hello, FREAKS & BLEEDERS! I am proud to announce a HMF EXCLUSIVE interview. Scott Lake had an amazing  opportunity to ask the Man of Mayhem himself, Julian Slink, a few questions along with a few reader…errr..Bleeder..questions. Mr. Slink is the Master of Ceremonies on the SyFy original show BLOOD DRIVE.

So sit back, relax, and enjoy the glorious Julian Slink!

HMF would like to send a HUGE thanks out to Colin Cunningham for taking the time to give us this chance to hear from Julian Slink. You, sir, are awesome!

If you would like to become a BLEEDER, please check out the Facebook group Blood Drive SyFy and be sure to sign the petition to have Blood Drive renewed for a second(or more) season!

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The Bleeders Are Hungry For Second Season of Blood Drive

Hello, FREAKS! As you all know, we are huge fans of the new series #BloodDrive on #SyFy from all the interviews with cast and crew we have done.

Well the #Bleeders (fans of the show) are craving more gory carnage from the gruesome #Grindhouse show, and due to lack of info regarding whether or not SyFy will renew the show for a second season, they have started a petition to help get the show picked up for a new season.

You can show your support by signing the petition HERE

You can also become a Bleeder by joining the Facebook group Blood Drive SyFy

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An Interview with the Anti-Stepford Husband Cliff, Craig Jackson

Craig Jackson plays Cliff, one half of the psychotic couple of Cliff and Domi, these are two people you wouldn’t want to hitch a ride from in Blood Drive, but you might have a blast if they picked you up Craig and Jenny. Let’s see what Craig and I talked about and decided to share with you guys!

 

HMF: Here is the one everyone knows is coming. What is your favorite Horror Movie?

 

CJ: It has to be between “The Exorcist” and “The Fly”. I watched them when I was very young and they have scarred me for life.

 

HMF: When did you first discover acting was it for you?

 

CJ: I loved performing little shows for my friends and family when I was young. I stopped performing when I was a teenager and I focused more on making my friends laugh at school. It took a fantastic English teacher, who told me to channel that energy on the stage. Next thing I knew I was playing Iago in Shakespeare’s Othello and I was hooked!
HMF: Who were you biggest influences in acting?

 

CJ: I was obsessed with Peter Sellers and “The Goon Show” (A 1950’s radio show)  from the age of 10. I would listen to “The Goons” and let my imagination run wild. That’s the beauty of radio. Watching Peter Sellers’ visually was delight too. His physical comedy as well as his creation of different characters was genius!

 

HMF: What was the transition like switching from theater to film and Television?

 

CJ: It was pretty smooth. After leaving Drama school, I hadn’t trained a lot in the medium of film and television. I remember my first professional audition for a movie and the casting director just said, “you’re too big and stop acting!”. I took that note and worked at it.  I used to prefer Theatre to Film/Television, but that’s changed. I love the fact that you can try something spontaneous on film/television and if it works and they like it, that moment has been captured forever!
HMF: Do you ever return to the stage? If so what was your most recent production?

 

CJ: I am currently doing the West End Hit, “The Play That Goes Wrong” in South Africa. I haven’t been on stage for 7 years so I’m shaking off the cobwebs. I’ve missed performing to a live audience, as opposed to a dead audience. I find the dead audiences’  very  unappreciative and a lot quieter than live audiences’!
HMF: How has the experience of Blood Drive compared to other television and film roles you’ve had?

 

CJ: I had just come off 3 years of “Black Sails” which was absolutely amazing. To be honest, I was a little worried that it wouldn’t live up to my “Black Sails’ experience; but I had nothing to fear! We had such a great team and I haven’t laughed so hard in a long time! The show was SO out there and the directors/producers/writers gave you room to play and if you went too far they’d pull you back, which I love! I was very lucky to work with such a talented and supportive team and I think that translates onto the screen.

 

HMF: Was Cliff your first choice on Blood Drive, and what attracted you to the role?

 

CJ: The casting director put me forward for Cliff and I’m so glad she did!  Who wouldn’t want to play a ball busted whipping boy with lots of impotent rage. Oh! Who is also a psychopath! James Roland created such great characters in Cliff and Domi. When have such great writing to work off, it makes the process so much easier and enjoyable.
HMF: I love watching you and Jenny interact on the show as Cliff and Domi. How did you prepare for the role and how did you keep the chemistry so fun (and violent) between you?

 

CJ: Jenny and I got each other from the start.  We immediately, sat down and chatted about our characters and their backstory. Jenny lives in Cape Town and I live in Johannesburg and we would constantly send each other messages with ideas and general banter. We eventually started calling each other  “work husband” and  “work wife”. When you have chemistry like that, the process becomes hugely rewarding and you find deeper subtext in your character.
HMF: Of all the racers in the Blood Drive, Cliff and Domi appear very out of place. What has been the Bleeders reaction to the Disarming Duo?

 

CJ: Jenny and I felt very out of place. We looked like we’d walked onto the wrong set. But it added to our process in creating these characters, who lived in their own little crazy world. The #Bleeders reaction has been astonishing. I’m really glad Cliff and Domi struck a cord with the Bleeders. The appreciation of the fans on Twitter and Facebook makes what we do so much more rewarding! If the viewers don’t like what you do, whats the point?
HMF: What is it like being the couple that drives the man-eating Prius?

CJ: Emasculating! I was genuinely jealous of the other cast members and their cars! Just imagine how angry Cliff was! He had no choice. As a man who has been married for many years, you have to pick your battles in a relationship. Poor old Cliff has never won one!
HMF: What’s next for Cliff?

 

CJ: If I told you that, I’d have to kill you!
HMF: What can we expect from Craig Jackson after this season of Blood Drive is over?

 

CJ: Lots of stage work in South Africa. I’m in the process of getting an overseas agent, so hopefully you’ll see me more of me on your screens. Thanks again for all the Blood Drive love and support!!! You guys rock! Oh!… All the best for the wedding, Scott! Just don’t model your marriage on Cliff and Domi’s!

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An interview with the Face of Julian Slink, Colin Cunningham

I’m really not even sure how to open this interview. I’ve had the opportunity to talk to Colin Cunningham, an absolutely amazing actor, who brings his roles to life with such depth, I feel he might one day lose himself. Without further ado here is my interview with Colin Cunningham.
HMF: As always, what is your favorite horror movie?

CC: Hmmm. Let’s go with EVIL DEAD 2 and maybe BASKET CASE (freaked me out as a kid!)

HMF: I’ve seen a number of credits to you as a Director and Actor. What was it that gave you the film bug to begin with?

CC: I grew up in that age of television where there was very little actually on it. At midnight/1am Ray Charles would sing ‘America’ and the screen went black. That was it. That said, much of the ‘content’ that did play were reruns of old movies. Fortunately for me, they were all the movies that my Father grew up with. So, we spend hours watching them all. Started with The Little Rascals, Abbot and Costello, Bob Hope and Bing, etc. then moved into the big stuff. By the time I got to film school, and seen everything there was to see.

HMF: Who were you biggest influences getting into film and television?

CC: (Aside from my Dad.) Director Hal Roach. The Our Gang/Little Rascals serials started it all for me.

HMF: You’re no newcomer when it comes to Horror and Science Fiction. What has been your most memorable role pre-Blood Drive?

CC: John Pope (Falling Skies) for sure. What a great character that was.

HMF: How has acting on Blood Drive been different from other productions you’ve worked on?

CC: It was mind glowingly difficult. Never, have I worked so hard on a character. What made it different, perhaps the fact that they actually let me. Meaning, I was truly able to ‘work’. Untethered. More often than not, there’s some idiot on the set clipping your wings or cutting off your balls. Not on Blood Drive. It was incredibly collaborative. James Roland and David Straiton created a ‘company’ of artists. Not a typical cast and crew.

HMF: Was Julian Slink your first role choice?

CC: Slink was my only choice. Unfortunately, I wasn’t theirs! The part was actually offered to two other actors (who passed for one reason or another) before it came back my way. James actually wrote the part for Doug Jones! (who’d have been perfect in my opinion.) Love you Doug.

HMF: Do you have any fun stories to share about your audition?

CC: Only that I shot and edited it myself. I knew I was going to go all out. Wardrobe, make up, everything. And I really didn’t feel like driving into Hollywood with all the gear on to sit in some waiting room with other ‘actors’. I didn’t want to directed or coached. It was a take it or leave it kind of thing. So I just shot my own audition.

HMF: On an average day what is your process for becoming Julian Slink?

CC:That all starts with James Roland. The words on the page. I guess the thing about Slink is that I just really understood him. Only it was unbelievably challenging as he’s not just ‘one’ guy. He’s a hundred guys. He’s one guy with Grace, another with Heart, another with Rasher, another Back Stage, another ON STAGE. He’s so many people. I’ve often said, there are many good actors out there that could have played him brilliantly, I just think I understood him more. I’ve never known a character to be so incredibly complex, and yet, I completely understood him. I knew who he was deep down and that much of his ‘persona’ was, in fact, a lie. But the panache’ and bravado, was all grounded in some kind of pain. The problem was, I wasn’t sure if I actually had the ability to pull him off. It was an almost impossible undertaking for me.

HMF: Without a doubt the Master of Mayhem is certifiably balls-to-the-wall nuts. How much of yourself goes into this role?

CC: Although I gave it everything. I have to think that’s there’s actually very little of ‘me’ in it. But Slink IS James Roland. An incredibly twisted, mind bending version of him. But I think Slink, James and myself all have a some very personal things in common.

HMF: Now I normally don’t do much in the way of “what if” questions, yet I have to ask, if Slink we’re taking part in the Blood Drive, what would he drive?

CC: Oh without a doubt. A 1975 AMC PACER (SUNDOWNER EDITION.) As it came with a roof rack. It also had the deeper shag carpet, like the Limited. 18 oz. vs. the stock 12oz. 🙂

HMF: You obviously have great chemistry with a lot of the other cast. What do you do to maintain that chemistry with them?

CC: Well, the compliment is appreciated. Unfortunately, that is something you can only hope for. If things click, great! But, you can’t learn it, teach it or even work for it. It’s either there or it ain’t. You hope. Great cast.

HMF: Even though this show give us a clear meaning of expect the unexpected, what might we expect out of Julian Slink in the future?

CC: He’s scheduled to take over as HOST of THE FAMILY FEUD (once Steve Harvey’s contract is up.) Heart Enterprises owns the show. 🙂

HMF? What’s next for Colin Cunningham after this season of Blood Drive?

CC: A Second Season of Blood Drive? If not, I go back to auditioning for Doctor, Cop and Vampire shows. 😞

That wraps up my conversation with Colin Cunningham. However, you guys will be in for a treat as soon as I get everything together so keep looking for that. You’ll know exactly what I mean when it gets posted.

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A Conversation with the Anti-Stepford Wife, Jenny Stead

I’ve had the pleasure of speaking with the Creator and a lot of the cast of SyFy’s Grindhouse Epic, Blood Drive. This interview is no different. Jenny Stead is a brilliant actress and is one of the best parts of the show. If you haven’t seen the episode “Booby Traps” yet, then please get caught up. You can catch Blood Drive on SyFy every Wednesday night at 10:00 PM Est.
HMF: Our first question never changes. What is your favorite horror movie?

JS: That’s a tough question and I feel bad admitting this to you but I’m not a huge horror fan. I have a highly active imagination! So the word ‘favourite’ is tricky. Which horror movies left a lasting impact and ruined the dark and alone time for me forever? That’s easier. The Exorcist should crack no. 1. my dad’s a preacher, so I grew up in a very religious family and that film freaked the shit out of me. (on the plus side it left me with an enduring adoration for Ellen Burstyn).

Don’t look now, Nightmare on Elm Street, Let the right one in (the Swedish version), Psycho and Rosemary’s baby are probably my ‘favourites’ and then I have to give an honorable mention to Pet Sematary. When my kids first started climbing out of their beds in the early hours of the morning, I’d hear their clumsy, toddler footsteps trundling towards me and, I kid you not,  for a second my heart would stop and I’d panic that they’d have a knife in their hands. Pet cemetery ruined a lot of morning cuddles for me. 

HMF: What was it that gave you the acting bug?

JS: I went to university planning to study psychology. I added drama as one of my subjects just to check it out.  By my second year I had been cast as Hermia in A Midsummer Night’s dream. By my third year I had dropped Psych and Drama was my major. So I guess it was my exceptional lecturers and the seduction of the stage.

HMF: Who were your biggest influences for getting into acting?


JS: As a kid, I always dreamed of being a singer/songwriter. I was in a band and I wrote a lot of music. My mom was the one who thought I should pursue acting. I was always quite a dramatic child. When I was 5 or 6 I used to put on her vinyl recording of Franco Zeffirelli’s Romeo and Juliet, listen to it and cry and cry. (weirdo!)

HMF: How has acting on Blood Drive been different from other shows and films you’ve worked on?

JS: I’ve worked hard at a fairly prolific and successful theatrical career but I haven’t done that much film work. I really love the medium though and getting to be a recurring guest was awesome because I got to build on my character and watch her evolve. Blood Drive had THE most amazing cast, crew, directors and producers. Everyone was so kind, so generous and so funny. I also found it deeply satisfying having my own trailer and chair!

HMF: You play Domi on Blood Drive, one half of the duo Domi and Cliff. What was it that attracted you to this role?

JS: I loved the audition scenes with Cliff. James Roland wrote them with such honesty and familiarity, it was quite poignant. This married couple who are in a rut, getting on each other’s nerves all the time and coming to a crossroads about whether to stay together or just call it a day. The fact that they both like to torture and kill people and hold on to pieces of their victims (next level romance) makes them at once horrifying and completely hilarious. Who wouldn’t want to play these two?

HMF: Domi is probably the most disarming characters on the show as far as appearances go. She looks so sweet and happy, yet there is this almost devilish side that we see a lot of in the episode Booby Traps. How do you prepare for such a wild role?

6. I swear there were times on set when all the extras at the Mayhem party’s thought that Craig (Jackson) and I were a lost couple who’d stumbled onto set. We were dressed so differently to everyone Else’s steam punk vibe. Our wardrobe and makeup designer (Danielle Knox and Kerry Skelton) were genius. Just being in these bizarro, not quite Stepford wifey outfits with my hair all curled, bright lipstick and crazy long nails made me carry myself in a different way.

I also had the most amazing dialect coach (Claire Berlein) who became like a dialect/acting coach/spiritual guide. The fact that I got partnered with Craig Jackson who made me die laughing every day was also just an absolute gift. But really, it was all on the page. Roland and our extraordinary writers had created these fully realized characters, so it wasn’t hard.
I did listen to a lot of music which became like Cliff and Domi theme songs for me the top three probably being Inside out by the Chainsmokers, Tony by Diamanda Galás and Move bitch by Ludacris.
HMF: What was it about the role of Domi that pulled you in?

JS: Who doesn’t want to play a psychotic killer? Especially one that can kick ass while wearing a towel!
HMF: What has the fan reaction to Domi and yourself been like?
JS: The Blood Drive fans #Bleeders are the best. We’ve had fan art sent to us, one especially creative lady made an homage video to Domi and Cliff but my favourite insanity has been people asking me to be their mother. I like the idea of being the mother of bleeders! haha.
HMF: What can we expect out of Domi as the show continues?


JS: Expect nothing! Just keep watching because the crazy knows no limit.

HMF: What’s next for you after Blood Drive?

JS: I’ve just finished a run of playing Wendy in Peter Pan (polar opposite,  I know!) and next I’ll be on stage playing a washed up, Trump loving porn star in a play called The Visit. Hopefully I’ll get to do some more film work and sit drinking bottled water and snapchatting from my trailer again (good times).

Though we don’t know what the future holds for Cliff and Domi, I certainly hope to see them survive the Blood Drive and if we get a Season 2, they’ll return for more Mayhem.
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Conversation with horror director Eric England!

Born in Russellville, Arkansas, writer and director Eric England has already made a mark in the horror world having directed more than 10 films. Now residing in California, Eric is continuing to add more to his already impressive resume. I had the amazing chance to speak with Eric and can’t thank him enough for this opportunity!

HMF: The first question that we love to ask is: Which is your favorite horror film and why?

EE: My favorite horror movie is SCREAM. Mainly because I was young when I saw it and the style and tone were so unique, it had a profound influence on my life and taste. I had never seen anything so self aware. It had a lot of unique aspects and layers to it that I had never seen in a film before. So it made a lasting impression.

HMF: Many in our group adore that film (as do I). What would you say first got you into the intense idea of directing horror films? Is it everything that you hoped it would be?

EE: The first interest I had in directing, period, came from horror and it stemmed from my love of movies in general. Horror films seemed to me like they would be the most fun to make. I had never touched a camera before age 18 and made my first movie at 21. So it was a fun and sloppy ride at first. The business side is always the bummer but when you’re in the middle of making something special with other special collaborators, there’s nothing like it.

HMF: Would you say that you developed an eye for it from watching so many films and noting different directing styles?

EE: I think so. Style was and remains something that I’m fascinated by. I think it’s why all of my movies are so different from one another. I love seeing consistency in directors with their visual style, but I also enjoy watching them challenge themselves to be versatile. A great example is someone like Sam Raimi. He’s able to tell stories on various genres, but retain a notable consistency in tone and style.

HMF: (I have to ask) Upon reading more about you, I stumbled across the fact that you are color blind. Given that you have an amazing eye for angles and view, does that become a challenge at times because vivid colors are such a key element in horror?

EE: I personally don’t know how it affects my work because I don’t know what colors always look like, ha. But I’ve had reviews and audience members make mention of the saturation in my films. I tend to boost my colors and that’s probably an over compensation of some sort. I view color as a tool for emotions. So I tend to use them in broad applications as opposed to very specific ones.

HMF: Which project that you have done are you most proud of or one that stick out in your mind the most?

EE: CONTRACTED definitely stands out to me as a film I’m particularly proud of. Making films is a challenge from beginning to end. It’s almost as if in your mind, it’s perfect but as you create it, little by little, it begins to take on a life of its own. And you just want to make sure that when it’s done, it’s as close to what you had in your mind as possible. CONTRACTED was definitely the closest so far. And that’s a satisfying feeling for a filmmaker because at the end of the day, most people will watch your movie at home and you can’t force them to enjoy it, or even pay attention for that matter. And if they don’t like it, I at least want them to not like it because it’s exactly what I intended and they just didn’t respond to it.

HMF: Backing up a little bit to SCREAM being your choice as your favorite. Did Wes Craven influence you a lot in your style or what would you say had the biggest influence on how you approach a film?

EE: Wes has and always will be a massive influence to me. Not only as a filmmaker, but as a human being. He was one of the sterling examples of how intelligent the horror genre can be. In terms of how I approach a film, that’s been shaped by my experiences in life. Style/visual processes are always in flux and dependent upon the story I’m telling, but the approach to any film is about my passion for the subject matter and getting to the heart of the story.

HMF: A question that came to mind is your position on CONTRACTED: PHASE II. You did not direct the sequel and was curious as to what transpired with that?

EE: I wrote a detailed account (from my side) of that situation on my blog. It’s pretty simple/classic Hollywood. A small movie did really well for the producers and they wanted to focus more on the business side of the process, than the art. I’m about the art first and foremost. Always. So they made the film they wanted to without my involvement.

HMF: With the cast of CONTRACTED (who were no slouches by a long shot) and your other films, was it difficult to work with the actors/actresses at times and were there memorable cast members that you felt were very excellent to work with?

EE: I thankfully haven’t had too many “difficult actors” in my films, so the majority of my experiences with actors have all been stellar. When the process allows, I try my hardest to be very thorough with casting. The actors are some of your closest collaborators and you tend to have the least amount of time with them to perfect everything they need to do. And it’s like any other working relationship: you work differently and interact with everyone differently. But the advantage in films is that you get to choose your co-workers. So if you have a bad experience, you can usually trace that back to where you made your initial mistake in the process. And I try to always keep that in mind. Casting is a very undervalued process in Hollywood.

HMF: the next question is the most intriguing in a lot of ways, but what is next for you Eric? What can fans look forward to with your work?

EE: Always a fun question. Well, I had a new film called GET THE GIRL released this January from the legendary Orion Pictures. Seeing that logo in a movie theater with my film behind it was definitely a bucket list moment. My next film, HUNTSVILLE, will either be out late this year or early next — waiting on final word. But Sophie Turner from Game of Thrones and Dylan McDermott from American Horror Story are in it and they’re great. It’s a little more quirky and dramatic than my horror stuff. So that makes 2 films away from the genre, so everything that I’m looking at doing next is back in the horror genre. So I’m excited to be getting back into the culture and telling stories that are new and exciting in the genre I love so much. That’s what I’m personally looking forward to.

HMF: Last fun question to wrap things up. Very difficult to narrow down, but what are your top 5 favorite movies of all time? Regardless of if they have impacted your work / style

EE: It’s interesting because I was just thinking about how my top 5 may have changed recently. To me, “great films” are not always films that I want to watch all the time. I want to cherish and appreciate them. So I tend to skew more toward amazing films that I personally love. It fluctuates, so I’ll just go with the ones that I feel I could watch anytime: SCREAM, FARGO, TRUE ROMANCE, Hitchcock’s PSYCHO, (and) SEVEN

Do yourself a favor and check out his work! It absolutely will not disappoint! Thank you again Eric!

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