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| Owen: As a Scream Queen who still lives in her
hometown of Charlotte, NC --- Have you become
somewhat of a local celebrity?
Ryli: I don't really think of myself as a Scream Queen. I leave that title to those who created it -- Janet Leigh, Brinke Stevens, Linnea Quigley, Michelle Bauer... Oddly enough, I'm more popular overseas than I am in my own hometown. I have a following in Germany, of all places. Owen: So tell me about your German fan base. Was it a response to your films or your website? Ryli: To be honest, I'm not really sure if it was a film or the site... but I appreciate it, either way! Owen: How did you realize it existed? Ryli: I started receiving fan mail from Germany -- that's when I first realized I wasn't just known by a few peers. Owen: You started in films with a couple movie projects ('Despair' and 'Runaway Terror') with your husband Mark Baranowski for On Mark Productions and have since done 'Expendable' and 'Sin By Murder' for him as well. Was if tough to be married to the director or did that make it easier? Ryli: I think it was harder, in some ways -- it can be stressful on both sides, because I want to do such a good job since it is for my husband's project, but sometimes it seems that he doesn't have quite as much patience with me as he does with the other actors -- but that's a hazard of the game. Owen: You’ve mentioned wanting to follow in the footsteps of SQ royalty like Brinke Stevens, and since then you have made 2 films with her -- 'Expendable' and 'Severe Injuries'. Were you star struck? Ryli: Brinke and I have appeared in two films together, but have yet to actually be on the same set. She filmed her scenes with her own crew for ‘Expendable’. It would be great to actually shoot some scenes with each other -- I just know I could learn tons from her! We've appeared at conventions together for the past few years, and she's truly a treasure, both as a friend and as a colleague. Owen: Did she still manage to give you any advice as an up and coming SQ? What did you learn by watching her work? Ryli: Not to compromise. Anything. Ever. That's the main thing I've learned from her. That, and that we don't all have to fit into a particular mold to be succesful in this business. Owen: Speaking of Brinke --- 'Severe Injuries' is like a who's who of modern scream queens with you, Brinke Stevens, Debbie Rochon, Amy Lynn Best (who also directed!), Robyn Griggs, Lilith Stabs, etc. Was there a lot of scream queen sisterhood happening on the set? Ryli: Actually, primary filming was completed when Mark and I shot our scenes, so I didn't get to experience the on-set sisterhood. We shot our scenes on the fly while attending a convention with Mike Watt and Amy Lynn Best. Owen: What makes you scream in real life? Ryli: The supernatural and spiritual gets me more than slasher-type stuff. Owen: Where do you see your career five years down the line? Ryli: I hope to still be acting, maybe writing more. Maybe venture into music, even... Owen: Do you have a dream role? Ryli: Not really a dream role, I don't think, but there are certain people that I would love to work with sometime, both "B-" and "A-listers"... Owen: Any other new projects upcoming? Ryli: Currently,
we're working on a new film, ‘Twilight’s
Parasites’ --- The outside world is
overrun by zombies, and several people seek
refuge in the various rooms of an abandoned
hotel. As night falls, the tension causes them to
unravel, and one by one, they begin to turn
against each other… |