OWEN: How did you get involved
in the independent horror scene?
SHEYENNE: I went to an audition for a local independent
horror production called "Blackout"
and met up with Director and President Robert J.
Massetti of Fear Film Independent Productions and
Jon Fish Producer and President of Avalon
Productions. I was not chosen for that part, but
was asked to basically show up at the set of
another local film production named
"Dark Woods" that Robert was helping
out on that day. I went over the scene for about
5 minutes, got a quick synopsis of my character
and just rolled with the camera. On that set I
met local actors Trish Dempsey and Bob Glazier
who I would end up working with on the set of my
latest film "Realms of Blood."
After having done "Dark Woods"
and talking at great extent with Robert Massetti,
he asked me if I would like to star in Fear
Film's next low budget production, I said yes and
we started working on story plots and that is
where my entire independent horror fetish got
started.
OWEN: So
you are from an entertainment background, your
mother and father are both in the business, have
they given you much advice on your new label as
scream queen?
SHEYENNE: Advice,
huh? Well, my mom having introduced me to my
fave Scream Queen, Elvira in the film "Elvira
Mistress of the Dark," thought it
was great and encouraged me to try and
be well rounded with my acting as a
"Scream Queen." So,
I definitely followed her advice by getting
involved with "Realms of Blood" because
I was able to portray all different kinds of
characters, just in this one film, and it was a
blast!! My dad pretty much said "That's
cool, let me know when the movie comes
out!!"
OWEN: In that film you starred
as well as recorded for the soundtrack...was it
more exciting to act or record the music?
SHEYENNE: It was great fun to do both. I think it made it a
lot more interesting in the fact that I had a lot
of insight on where this film was headed since I
helped write 2 of the 3 segments, was Production
Assistant and also Associate Producer. Having
been working on this movie at almost
every area and from the ground up it was
very cool to tap into that and get some great
dark styled lyrics and music to go along with it.
If I had to pick, though I would say acting in
the film was the most exciting because I got to
work with a lot of great people and learned a lot
from all the people I worked with. I learned so
much from this production because I was able to
be apart of it so much. It was like a baby that I
got to see grow up and that to me was an amazing
experience!!
OWEN: You
also perform in the band 'I Digress' which
records on an independent label. What do you
think are the advantages of being with an
independent production both in films and
recording?
SHEYENNE: Well, we are actually not signed with any label
yet, but just finished our debut album entitled
"Justice" and will have it available
independently on our web site and at local
retailer's at ready for radio quality by early
December of this year. We will be seeking
major label representation once our EPK
(Electronic Press Kit) is finished, which should
be around the same time as the album is ready.
We have been plugging this project on an
independent level for quite a while and have
learned the importance of independence in
this business is so that you can do what is in
your heart with your music rather than to have
to possibly comprise. So what we have
done is played our music and produced our music
from the heart and hope that everyone likes it
and that it might spark some attention from
labels. However, if it does not we
will continue on doing what it is we love to
do. http://www.idigresstheband.com/
OWEN: As
far as independent films, the huge advantage
again is doing what you want with the story and
being as original as possible and knowing
that something you have done, if it becomes a
great success, was none other than because you
busted your butt to do so. There is a great
feeling you get out of finishing productions that
you had the control of. If it flops
entirely, you know it was your fault and
have no one else to look towards except for
yourself.
SHEYENNE: I
believe that working on an independent level
is a great place to start and a great place
to end up. I think you should try to do it all
and experience it all, but also get back to your
roots and get back to where you came from, which
for mostly everyone is
independent!!
OWEN: As a musician are you
looking forward to playing an egotistical
recording artist in 'The Woods are Alive'
will it be a fun sort of exercise?
SHEYENNE: We have not started shooting the film yet, but I
have definitely started to search for the right
kind of egotistical character. It is definitely
going to be great fun to play that kind of a
role, especially when people wonder if that is
how I really am!! Just for the record I am
not the Diva type. I don't have to have all green
M&M's and I don't need 20 different kinds of
bottled waters, but I can definitely fake it!!
LOL!! I am a picky eater, though.
OWEN: Do you have a most and
least favorite film project?
SHEYENNE: I
really have enjoyed all of my film experiences
because I just love what I do plain and simple. I
think once you start to have a least favorite
film project that you might need to take a break
for a little while. I have definitely had some
stressful days where there were very long hours
and it was hot and I could fall asleep with my
eyes open, but never once thought, "Wow, I
could've done without this experience." In
fact, being in those tiresome stress ridden
situations have helped my acting be more
realistic at times and I always look back at
times like this for reference on how to play
those types of characters. As an actor every
experience in your life, good or bad, can be
used in perfecting your craft.
OWEN: What makes you scream in
real life?
SHEYENNE:
Horror films!! People actually can't believe how
scared I get in horror films especially since I
act in them. When the set is creepy enough I will
even get scared on the actual set. I am
definitely afraid of the dark and haunted houses
also!!
OWEN: So do you find a lot of
irony then in the fact that you are starring in
all these horror films?
SHEYENNE:
There is a ton of irony in that!! However, I find
that it definitely helps get me into character as
well as amusing everyone around me a great deal!!
We also get some great outtakes!!
OWEN: What projects do you have
lined up in the future Sheyenne?
SHEYENNE: Me and my partner John D'Angelo's company, I
Digress Productions, along with Avalon
Productions have just finished writing the script
for a psychological thriller called "Figments."
It has a ton of horror elements to it and has a
great plot twist and tons of special features
planned for the DVD to help give the audience a
deeper look into this twisted plot. You can check
out the teaser poster and more info soon on http://www.figmentsthemovie.com/
OWEN:
Thanks Sheyenne and all the best to you both in
life and career. |