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Owen: Your Pretty/Scary site (www.pretty-scary.net) is great. How did
that come about?Heidi:
Well, Amy Lynn Best (www.amylynnbest.com) and Jennifer Whildin (www.sassydevil.com) and I were sick of
horror websites that only featured
hot women, and then, only actresses. The
forums on these sites were always filled with
really stupid men who couldn't put two sentences
together, and always had the same old fights
"Alien Vs. Predator Sucked!
No, It Ruled!" So we got together and made a
website that promoted women who wouldn't
ordinarily get interviewed, i.e. artists,
directors, writers, etc., and also a place where
women could get reviews of their work from
like-minded females. It's a whole sisterhood
thing. I know that sounds lame, but women really
do get intimidated by how mean and rude men are.
In July 2004 we launched Pretty/Scary, and it's
been a year now, and we're going strong. We've
gotten interviews from some really big named
Hollywood actresses, and some unknown indie
directors and writers, and a bunch of new
filmmakers just starting out. I have learned so
much about women in horror, and I think everyone
who visits the site does, too.
Owen:
Do you have a pretty clear idea where you want to
take the site?
Heidi:
We've decided to hold the first annual
Pretty/Scary awards this year at the Genghis Con
convention in Pennsylvania. www.ghengisconpa.com Well be honoring a
film written, directed, or produced by a woman,
and have the filmmakers come down to receive an
award. It's something we've wanted to do for a
while. I'd also like to give an award to a woman
who has worked hard to overcome stereotypes in
the industry. There has been some talk of a
magazine, and a TV show, but no plans yet. I
definitely plan on writing a book about female
horror film directors, which I have started, and
I would love to make a Pretty/Scary compilation
of horror film by women. We'll see!
Owen:
Do you find it ironic that the
horror genre, which is often seen as
exploitative of women, actually
offers greater opportunities for
women when it comes to directing and
scripting? Or do you disagree.
Heidi: I totally
disagree. Women rarely get directing gigs unless
they're making an indie project on their own. Out
of about 1000 horror films I love, I can think of
only 4 or 5 mainstream horror directors who
are female: Kathryn Bigelow, Mary Lambert,
Antonia Bird (if you can count Ravenous as a
horror film), Mary Harron (American Psycho is her
only horror film), and Ana Clavell, who just
started directing, are the only ones off the top
of my head. There are a few others... The new
Aeon Flux film, though not horror, is directed by
a woman.
Producing though, offers tons of
positions for women. Many horror films, including
Scream, Cabin Fever,
and the entire Serial Killers
series (Dahmer, Gacy,
Ed Gein) are all produced by women. So
were Terminator 2 and 3. Since
producing is very much about "taking care of
everything" it's a role that is not only
socially acceptable to women, but that comes
naturally easy to women. Lets face it; a producer
is like a big mommy who makes sure everything
runs smoothly. Definitely something
non-threatening for women to attempt, especially
in the eyes of others. Writing is a more passive
aspect of filmmaking too, though the most
important. A few women in the industry really
have me applauding; Jace Anderson for instance,
who wrote Mortuary and Toolbox
Murders for Tobe Hooper, and lets not
forget Crocodile II: Deathroll.
Brinke Stevens has turned from just actress to
actress/writer on several projects, including
Dr. Horror's Erotic House of Idiots, and
Wild Spirit. Most women,
however, just write, direct, and star in their
own projects when they want to break through the
barrier, something almost impossible to
accomplish in Hollywood. Women like Stephanie
Beaton, Stephanie Aldridge, Amy Lynn Best, Denice
Duff, and Darla Enlow have all taken matters into
their own hands.
Owen:
Did you ever expect to be thrust into the
position of a noted horror expert,
reviewer, and essayist?
Heidi: No. I
thought I was going to be a physical
anthropologist, which is what I have a degree in.
You know, forensics and bones, and all that. Then
I was going to be a cop, and then I was going to
be a mortgage broker... Horror films were just a
hobby. Who knew you could make a hobby into a
job! Except for all those sports people. I guess
they qualify. It was actually a dream to become a
horror reviewer, rather than an expectation. I
feel very lucky to be so deeply entrenched in
something I love so much.
Owen:
So when you were a "wee Heidi"
was there some event or memory that you look
back on today and say, "Oh yeah, that kid
was destined for a career on the horror
forefront"?
Heidi: Well, when
I was 3 and I loved watching horror films, (I
remember Nightmare on Elm Street
Part 2 was the first horror film I saw
in a theater) and my favorite show was "Elvira's
Movie Macabre", which I never
missed, I should have had an inkling. Actually,
the truth is, my parents are foreign and the idea
of censorship is completely ridiculous to them.
My mother grew up watching people burn to death
in the streets of World War II Frankfurt. I
suppose she thought that if she turned out okay,
my watching "Piranha"
was no big deal. I tend to agree with her. People
should let kids watch horror films. It's just a
fucking movie.
Owen:
As someone who interacts with people on the
creative as well as the appreciative side of the
horror scene what do you think are some of the
primary characteristics that
distinguish horror fans from most other
folk?
Heidi: Horror fans
are lucky because they get to interact with their
heroes. You can go to a convention and meet Tom
Savini and Bruce Campbell... You try finding
Julia Roberts at a Romantic Comedy Festival and
see if she even gives a shit that people want to
talk to her. Because horror is like a big family,
theres a family element. And because
of indie films, anyone can become a horror icon
if they really really want it. Not like any other
genre of film, where only the lucky few in
Hollywood get to do that.
Owen:
What other projects do you have pending?
Heidi: Well, like
I said, the book about female horror film
directors, a 2006 Women in Independent Horror
calendar from Pretty/Scary, the awards ceremony
at Genghis Con, and perhaps a compilation DVD of
horror films by women. Other pending projects
include: pay my rent, vacuum, go to AA meetings,
quit smoking, find a new therapist, finish that
patchwork quilt I started in 7th grade, and add
to my Glass Unicorn Collection.
Owen:
Were there any perks to being named a Tromette of
the Month?
Heidi: Other than
being naked on the Internet? Not really. It's
just an honor to be recognized as a hot sleazy
woman by the master of crappy films himself,
Uncle Lloyd. No prize money, no role in a film,
no money or car. It's not that great, actually,
now that I think about it.
Owen:
So as a "Goddess of Gore and More" what
are your favorite horror flicks?
Heidi:
I adore Dead Alive AKA Braindead
by Peter Jackson. I used to love Army of
Darkness, but I have watched it too many times
now so I can't enjoy it on the same level
anymore. I like horror with a little comedy in
it. Except Halloween. Halloween
always has, and always will, scare the living
shit out of me. I watch a lot of indie
films, and I'll Bury You Tomorrow
by Alan Rowe Kelley (www.illburyyoutomorrow.com) is just genius. So
is Yimeng Jin's 17th Man (www.the17thman.com).
Owen:
What's something that makes you scream in real
life?
Heidi: My ex. Ha!
No, how about, good sex? Okay okay.... I get
scared of dark alleys, being mugged, rape,
spiders, snakes (especially snakes), alcoholism,
failure, old age, poverty, and insignificance.
Those are the things that make me scream and
toss and turn at night. Those are the really
scary things in life. I'll take Freddy Krueger
over all of them, any day.
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