Denise
- why don't you start us off with a visual and
describe the place where you are answered these
questions?
Well, I am sitting at my
laptop at my desk surrounded by tons of work,
nothing too exciting. There are stacks of horror
films around me though and the Shriekfest 2009
poster is behind me. To my right is a birthday
card that was drawn for me by Armando Norte, A
bunch of headshots are on shelves below my desk
and I can hear my 17 month old little girl
giggling in the background.
Congratulations
on Shriekfest. You started the horror and scifi
festival in 2001. What was your primary
motivation behind putting it together?
Well, I
wanted to help filmmakers and screenwriters
pursue their dreams...I am a big believer in
dreams and I love it when people follow through.
Plus, I had just starred in a horror film and
wanted it to do the festival circuit, but upon
doing some research discovered that there really
weren't very many horror fests out there. So, I
came up with the idea to start Shriekfest.
And how do you
think that has evolved over the years.
Well, the
festival keeps growing every year! It blows my
mind; we get submissions from every country out
there! Through the years I've kept notes of the
films and screenplays I've personally enjoyed and
when a request comes in, I'll refer the ones I've
liked, no matter how long ago it was entered into
the festival.
I know the
festival also has a film and screenplay contest.
So if one of our readers out there is a fledgling
filmmaker or screenwriter what can they do to
submit their work to Shriekfest?
Well, the
2010 call for entries just opened, so all you
have to do is go to our website and print off the
entry form and send that in with your submission.
www.shriekfest.com the pricing is
tiered, so get them in early.
I've read some
wonderful things you have said about the
tight-knit welcoming nature of the indie horror
community. Why do you think this genre of
filmmakers seems to be more open than most genres
- any theory?
These
filmmakers are down to earth and that's why they
are more open, plus they are in a genre that has
been through various degrees of disrespect
through the years...I think something like that
makes them band together. Hollywood has a
love/hate relationship with horror and I think
that makes people stick together as well.
Speaking of tight knit community, I hold a
monthly networking event in Hollywood, CA. If you
are local, the info is on our site and we'd love
to have you! This will be the 3rd year of the
networking meetings and I'm always hearing how
people got work from the meetings.
You also are a
busy actress. Tell me about the horror/comedy you
have coming out with Elissa Dowling called 'Crustacean'
in which you play Sheriff Dee Dee.
This is a
spoof film in the John Waters vein. Very silly
stuff, but lots of fun as well. Very fun cast and
crew.
And I also
want to hear about your work as Helen in
'Carnies' with Reggie Bannister,
Lee Perkins, and Ford Austin. Any memory from
that shoot you would like to have preserved in a
time capsule?
Ah, yes,
the cast. Our cast was awesome and meeting all of
them was definitely the highlight of that shoot!
We had so much fun and still keep in touch to
this day. Here's a funny little anecdote: The
majority of the set had hay on it and there were
several of us with extreme allergies, so as the
day or night wore on, there would be a lot of
sneezing going on! Some of us even had to work
with snakes and/or a rat! Doug Jones is also in
this film...very sweet man. Good memories!
I also want to
hear about your work as Angela Travis in the
horror movie 'Chain of Souls'.
As your first feature, is that what sort of
endeared you to the genre?
Ah, that
seems like so long ago. It was wonderful starring
in a feature, but I have come a long way in my
acting...I thank Steve Jarvis and Dennis Devine
for bringing me along for the ride though. That
is the film that made me come up with the idea to
start a horror film festival...there were hardly
any back then. I have always been a horror
fan...horror films were one of the few rated R
films that my Mother would let my brother and I
watch, so we were hooked!
What is the
most frightening thing that has ever happened to
you during the filming of any shoot?
Well, I
shot an episode of 'Guilty or Innocent' and my
character gets knocked out and burnt in her
house. They had a wall of fire so they could
shoot the fire engulfing me and before we shot,
they came up and said we need to spray you down
with anti inflammatory! I was very scared....I
had to lay on the couch with my eyes closed! I
couldn't see how close it was, but I could feel
it and it was HOT~...the stunt coordinator told
me afterwards that he was very nervous....not
cool...I don't like doing stunts, especially not
life threatening ones.
Do you have
any other upcoming projects you want the
racksandrazors readers to know about?
I
recently shot an episode of 'The Office' and a
Western called 'A Chestful of Blood' and later
this year I am scheduled to shoot 'Cellar Door 2:
Preymate'.
Vampires,
werewolves, zombies, witches, creatures, aliens,
telemarketers...what does it for you horrorwise
Denise and why?
I love
monsters, all kinds of monsters, always have...I
love to see what people can come up with and how
creative these creatures can be, plus they are
scary! Telemarketers...they are scary too!
Especially because they know things about you!
What was the
first movie to scare the shit out of you?
'Nightmare
on Elm Street'! To this day, if I'm at a haunted
house and there is a Freddie there I freak out!
Okay, we're
pulling into the Denise Gosset Drive In. What
three horror flicks are on the triple bill for
tonight and what goodies are they going to be
serving up at the concession stand?
I love
your questions! Tonight we have a triple feature
including 'Nightmare on Elm Street', 'The
Exorcist' , and 'Saw'! And at the concessions we
will be serving red vines, popcorn, chocolate,
and how about a banana martini?
What is your
dream (or nightmare) horror movie role?
Well, for
some reason I'd love to play a detective hunting
down a serial killer or I could even be the
serial killer!
What's the
best Halloween costume you ever had?
My
parents used to throw these amazing Halloween
parties and they would go all out...I remember
being very young and being dressed as Dracula and
I thought that was pretty cool! My Mom went one
year as an ape from 'Planet of the Apes' and that
rocked! I've always loved Halloween.
What scares
you in real life?
Losing a
loved one or losing the love of a loved one. I
can sometimes have a morbid mind, I worry
alot...so, if you are going to be late, please
call or I'll think you are in a ditch somewhere.
Have a Happy New Year and follow your dreams!
Thank you so much for having me!
For more about
Denise or Shriekfest check out -- www.shriekfest.com www.denisegossett.com |