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So Susan, tell me how you got started in this
business? When did it really click for you
that this was what you wanted to do?
Ever since I was a little girl, I wanted
to act. I was the only girl my age on the block
and when I wasn’t playing with my four older
brothers or the boys on my street, I used to hide
away in my room with my dolls and create little
shows. As a pre-teen, I used to create mystery
shows on an audio tape recorder, playing all
the characters by myself. Once, I came home and my mom was playing one of
my tapes about a person turning into a roach to
her friend. They praised me! They loved it!
…I ran into my room, mortified. I eventually
joined the high school theater … in senior
year; I was a late bloomer. There my interest in
drama grew. I got accepted into the BA of Fine
Arts for Theater at Montclair State College (then
pending University), but I decided to enroll in
their Broadcasting Department instead. That was
where my interest in producing creative video
began.
 You're
the founder of Blue Eyed
Productions. What was your intent when
you began this production company and how has
that evolved from then until now?
Upon venturing into my first real
production outside of college, a featurette, Mavi
Goz, it was recommended to me by an
accountant friend that I should have a company.
At the time, it was easier to be incorporated so
I went with an “Inc.” that instead of
an “LLC.” The company only evolves as I
evolve. At the moment, not too many people are
familiar with the Blue Eyed Productions name, but
they are more familiar with my personal name. I
think that’s a good thing as I especially
want to inspire more women to step up to the
filmmaking plate. … But I don’t plan on
changing my company name. …I like my blue
eyes!
Before we talk about your directing
you're also an actress with some very
promising sounding flicks like Alan Rowe Kelly's
'The Blood Shed' and the horror
flick 'Sculpture'. Can
you give a little teaser for each that will make
them irresistible to the racksandrazors.com
readers?
Certainly! … And with pleasure! Ah,
what can I say about The Blood Shed?
… Besides that it was a major trip to work
on … and it was as fun to work on as it
looks! If you like crazy-ass flicks like Texas
Chainsaw Massacre, Spider
Baby, and Pink Flamingos,
you will LOVE The Blood Shed.
Basically it’s about “The
Bullion’s,” an inbred family living in
the sticks of New Jersey and dealing with the
overcrowding of their suburban neighbors in the
most grizzly ways…. I play the
Bullion’s cousin, “Sno Cakes,” a
slow-witted “Daisy Mae” type. Find out
more at their website: www.thebloodshed.net . I truly enjoyed
working with EVERYONE on The Blood Shed
and I adore and respect the Director, Alan Rowe
Kelly, immensely! He has also become a good
friend! Sculpture! Also
another great film to work on. Pete Jacelone is a
Director I hope to work with regularly in the
future. I was suggested for a role by friend and
respected associate, Marv Blauvelt, who saw me in
The Blood Shed. I play
abused wife, “Rose Steele,” mother of
“Ashley Steele” who is played by the
lead, talented beauty, Raine Brown.
“Ashley” has been commissioned to
create a work of art for an upcoming gallery
show. With the encouragement of her friend,
“Emily” (played by Misty Mundae) to
create the perfect man, that’s exactly what
“Ashley” sets out to do … using
art instruments in the most creative and gruesome
ways! The scene I was in was intense as I get
slapped around by “Rose’s”
husband, “Frank Steele”
(Body-Blauvelt!). We took the time for
some laughs during rehearsals to lighten things
up. We had great fun! … But as soon as we
were on set and Pete called “Action!”
we all just “clicked in” … and
gave a serious brutal performance. Please check
out Sculpture: http://www.sculpturethefilm.com/ . Also enjoy the
little teaser vignette that takes you into the
mind of poor “Rose Steele.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39Wq_NkFa40
 Tell me about your
directorial debut with 'Under The
Raven's Wing'. First off
what made you decide to direct?
Under the Raven’s Wing
was my first feature
directorial debut. It was easier than my first
film, Mavi Goz, as I only
had cameos in the film; In Mavi Goz,
I played the lead. Since Under the
Raven’s Wing was a
pseudo-documentary, I also found it easier as one
scene could be done in one shot without moving
the lights around for reaction shots and creating
various cuts within a scene, etc. If we did that,
it wouldn’t look like a documentary, right?
I also did the camera work as if being held by
one of the characters, the cocky male filmmaker
(played by Coy DeLuca) shooting three sexy young
women about a murder they committed. I thoroughly
enjoyed the experience. Also seeing my written
words come to life through talented actors was a
great thrill. In independent filmmaking,
directing kind of comes with the territory.
It’s not always the case. I could have
gotten someone else to direct my film … but
… no way! I wanted to
direct. I can’t describe the excitement that
comes with directing. It’s like painting a
story with a camera….Please check out
“Under the Raven’s Wing” http://blueeyedproductions.com/?Movies-Under
The Ravens Wing and www.blueeyedproductions.com
What skills do you think you developed as an
actress in front of the camera worked to your
adventage when it came to stepping behind it as a
director?
I have to say that both acting and
directing/producing came at the same time for me.
I did both equally throughout college. The key
thing for anyone in either position is to learn
to respect each other. Directors need to realize
the commitment that actors put in to help them.
Actors need to realize that they are an
instrument to the story and should be honest to
the script, story, and learn to take and utilize
direction.
Can you give me a teaser for that film?
Why certainly! Here’s the trailer
too! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxjsaurfI-I Under the
Raven’s Wing is about a cocky
unseen filmmaker who documents the philosophy of
three young women and recreates their lives and
their "Night of Transcendence" - the
night they committed a murder. Raven, the
ringleader, tries to control the production by
keeping everyone in her psychological grip. As
the complicated lives of these three women unfold
freely before the camera, the Director has his
own agenda and the documentary project starts to
become about seduction and voyeurism. Ultimately,
the production goes terribly wrong and a power
struggle ensues … with the Director fearing
for his life. Under the Raven’s
Wing stars Kimberly Amato, VH1 Scream
Queens contestant, Jessica Palette,
and Coy DeLuca and Kamilla Sadekova – all
wonderfully talented actors!
 Do you
have any other projects lined up you would like
to let the racksandrazors.com readers know about?
Ah ha! I just typed up a working synopsis
for a short I just shot, Marinade. I’m currently logging the footage and
it looks beautiful! Marinade: Abused wife, Sarah
Dugan, becomes involved in a secret love affair
which leads her to uncontrollable fiendish acts.
A potion, a spell, and a special meal are served
… with revenge and seduction on the menu.
Marinade stars Marv Blauvelt, Colleen
Cohan, and yours truly as “Sarah
Dugan.” It was shot last month on the Canon
5D and, of the footage I’ve seen thus far,
it looks almost looks too beautiful!
The myspace is under construction, but please
feel free to be our friend!: http://www.myspace.com/marinademovie . Also enjoy some
crazy behind-the-scene videos! https://www.youtube.com/adriensenarts#g/c/E40D5259A799775B Vengeance is
Cynthia’s is project that has
been put on hold as I’m trying to make it
into a feature. It is to star Zoe Daelman
Chlanda, Alan Rowe Kelly, Edward X. Young, Robert
Socci, and an array of other fantastic actors and
actresses! http://www.myspace.com/vengeanceiscynthias As for other
people’s projects I’m involved in,
I’m proud to be in Marv Blauvelt and Raine
Brown’s Psycho Street, a
compilation of crazy shorts revolved around a
town called Kronanberg. I’m in
“Hypochondriac” (directed by Pete
Jacelone) and I play the most disgusting redneck
with a special delivery on the way!
“Hypochondriac” is already finished and
I’m delighted and proud of the result.
It’s a fantastically hysterical film and everyone
gave a great and … crazy … performance. What fun we had! I’m
also thrilled to announce that I will be making a
180-degree turn in performance to play a sexy
demonic cult leader in “Lewis,” also
part of Psycho Street, to be
directed by the talented Anthony Sumner!
Do you have a horror movie you would like to
remake either as an actress or as a director?
Not I. As a writer, I like screenwriters
with new ideas to be given a chance. However,
I’m not against remakes. Heck, I’m
excited to be asked to perform in Alan Rowe Kelly
and Anthony Sumner’s remake of Don’t
Look in the Basement. With those two,
you know it’s going to be a WINNER!
Vampires, werewolves, zombies, witches,
creatures, aliens, telemarketers...what does it
for you horrorwise Susan and why?
Oh! They’re all amazing …
although with telemarketers, I’D be
the antagonist! Heh! Heh! Heh! Vampires are sooo
incredibly sexy! Werewolves are emotional
creatures ruled by the moon … and I can
relate being a Cancer Moonchild! Zombies, my
least favorite because of the over-saturation of
them, can still be scary as Hell with the right
script. As for creatures, I always held Godzilla
and Mothra dear to my heart. Aliens? Well, they
are all TOO REAL! … And on that special
note, be sure to check out
“Hypochondriac!”
What was the first movie to scare the shit out of
you?
Believe it or not, Jesus Christ Superstar.
Remember the leper colony scene?Yep! As a little
girl, I couldn’t get that out of my head for
months! It kept me up at night!
And what was the last horror movie you saw that
really annoyed you?
No comment. Hee hee!
Okay, we're pulling into the Susan
Adriansen 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?
Goodies?! Organic, lightly salted popcorn
will be served … along with fancy girlie
martinis, beer, and fine wine! The flicks: 1.
Psychomania. I have it on both VHS and DVD! 2.
The Shining. Need I say more? 3. The Birds. A
wonderful classic … but we’ll have to
move my parrots into another room.They get scared
of that movie.
And your favorite horror flick death scene?
Can I mention two? Psycho’s shower
scene - you experience so much by seeing so
little. And Dead Alive – practically the
entire movie is death death blood blood and more
death! You experience so much … by seeing so
… damn much!!!
What's the best Halloween costume you ever had?
I was a sexy witch. My face was painted
ugly, but I wore high-heeled boots with fishnet
stockings and a very sexy top. My two friends
were a nurse and a French maid. How original!
… But the guys were interested in me
that night! Hee hee! I was never a cookie-cutter
chick!
What scares you in real life?
Religious fanatics. From Christian zealots
to Muslim terrorists. That’s true horror!
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