BACKTALK FROM SATAN'S SCHOOLGIRL: A CHAT WITH THE DIVINE BRANDY D'VINN by Owen Keehnen

Jersey girl Brandy D'Vinn lists as her goal "to live life to its absolute fullest" and the edgy beauty seems on the right track for doing just that. The photographer/actress/art model/dancer/web designer and relative of Jimmy Durante is a real multi-faceted force of nature. She had never really entertained thoughts of acting before stepping in front of the cameras as Lily in Terry West's 'Satan's Schoolgirls' (2004) to deliver a pretty unforgettable performance...and we're still waiting for a follow up! Recently we caught up with Brandy to see what's been keeping her so busy.

Check out her official site at www.brandydvinn.com


 

 

Okay Brandy, let's start with a visual and can you describe for me the room where you are answering these questions?

I'm in my bedroom at the moment and there is a sleepy cat laying across my lap. If I look to my right I see all my photography equipment just laying there waiting for me to get creative with it. To my left is my entertainment center with all my anime and Japanese horror DVDs stacked on top of it. Behind me is my bed and next to that is my easel with all my art supplies also awaiting a creative spark.

You have such a broad scope of interests: web designer, singer, dancer, photographer, actress, art model...which do you consider to be your passion?

My passion has, and always will be art. I can't pick just one facet of it. Everything I've done up until now has shaped me into who I am, and without, it I would be lost. Since I was a child, I looked up to my great uncle Jimmy Durante and my cousin who was a Broadway actor. I took up dancing at a very young age and it all kind of snowballed from there. From acting classes, to modeling school, to voice training, I've always delighted in honing the talents I've been blessed with. I'm a bit of a perfectionist so I could never be too good at anything. I'm a born entertainer and I've always loved to paint, sing, dance, and put together short plays to perform in front of my family during holidays. In my teen years I became heavily influenced by the Internet and taught myself how to code web sites in notepad. I created my first site when I was fifteen years old and since then I have designed over twenty different web sites. My first site ever was a crappy little geocities site that I developed for my gaming addiction. I used to play Age of Empires online against other players. The vast majority of these players were male and they couldn't believe that they had been beaten so badly by a girl. I put up that site just to prove that I was indeed female and to show these hardcore gamer guys that they have just had their asses handed to them by a teen girl with a lust for war strategy games.

You made quite an impression as Lily in 'Satan's Scoolgirls' (2004). How did that film role come about?

That role was a lot of fun. It was my first ever speaking role in a film and I was very nervous about playing such a confident, in your face character like Lily. I am nothing like her in real life so it was definitely a challenge. I tried my best to think like a pervy little delinquent and I think I reveled in it a bit too much because it definitely came across on screen. I landed that role because my best friend Darian Caine introduced me to Terry West. Terry and I hit it off and we quickly became friends. When he offered me the role I couldn't refuse. Especially after seeing his other films... I knew I'd fit right in.

So what exactly do you think the curriculum would be for a true schoolgirl of Satan's?

A daily human sacrifice to the dark lord would be mandatory. Any true schoolgirl of Satan would start the day off right with a hearty breakfast of fresh virgin's blood. I'm sure the regular curriculum would cover the seven deadly sins and maybe even some serial killer studies for extra credit. Home ec. would be sewing together the leftovers from the sacrifices to create some uber sexy zombies. Necromancy would be a necessity because we all need undead minions to do our evil bidding. How else would they animate the zombies that they worked so hard on in home ec. class? For wood shop, the girls would learn how to build their own torture chambers. They could use their pet zombies, and of course each other, to test them out. Satan would be pleased!

Being skilled in so many modes of expression have you ever thought about stepping behind the camera and directing your own film? If so, do you have any plot ideas?

I have... And I do. But I'm not allowed to tell you about it just yet.

Do you recall the first movie you saw that scared the shit out of you?

'Faces of Death'. I can't remember which volume... My older cousins showed one of those to me when I was eight. It definitely left a huge impression on me... Lets just say it convinced me to become a vegetarian. I've been one for seventeen years now.

Okay, we're pulling the car into the Brandy D'Vinn Drive In. What three horror movies are on the triple bill for tonight and what goodies are they going to be serving up at the concession stand?

Since I've been obsessed with Asian extreme cinema lately, my triple bill would most likely be Ichi the Killer, Old Boy, and Versus. The concession stand would offer your standard, low quality greasy popcorn, fattening bon bons, and sugar-loaded candy. If you tried to serve anything healthy your drive-in would probably go out of business because Americans just love being gluttonous pigs and if you want to run a business you have to cater to that.

Vampires, werewolves, witches, zombies, aliens, creatures, telemarketers...which one does it for you horrorwise Brandy and why?

I've always had a thing for zombies. Something about the undead is quite unsettling and I regularly have nightmares about running from or fighting zombies.

Do you have any other projects pending you would like to let the Racks and Razors readers know about?

I've been keeping busy with my photography hobby lately. Selling prints and doing some freelance photography jobs here and there. If you're curious you can check out my work here: http://sinisterkiss.deviantart.com/gallery

Nothing new on the acting horizon just yet. I would love to act in some more films. I've gotten offers after 'Satan's Schoolgirls' but nothing has really followed through yet. A lot of indie film makers have a tough time getting things off the ground and that is understandable. I know its not easy to come up with the budget for a full length feature film. I'm always looking for like-minded visionaries to get creative with. Not only do I act, but I love to help out behind the scenes too. I love all facets of the creative process and I like to dig in and get my hands dirty with the best of them.

What scares you in real life?

Bugs. Especially the vampiric species. I really can't stand the creepy crawlies and nothing will make me let out a bloodcurdling scream quite like finding a tick on me or having an annoying mosquito buzzing in my ear at night when I'm trying to fall asleep.

What makes you go psycho in real life?

Disrespectful people and utter stupidity. Also, driving in N.J. is the pits. I am perma-afflicted with road rage.

What is your most prized possession?

I don't really consider him a possession because he owns me... My cat Skeletor brings a lot of joy into my life.