Cthulhu Save the Queen…The Scream Queen Jessica Cameron

Hey there, Darlings! All of you I’m sure by now are very familiar with the indie film, Mr. Hush. So far I’ve interviewed nearly the entire main cast. I’m only missing two in my collection (yes I collect interviews and you should all be so lucky I don’t collect humans. The reason I don’t? Have to feed and shelter you…Apparently humans don’t like a crystal box on the high shelf…hmm…) at Fatality Fest, I added one more to my list. None other than Scream Queen Jessica Cameron! She is a real jewel Darlings! I urge you if she is at a show that you are at, stop by. She acts, she directs, she produces, she writes, she makes jewelry….She is the horror communities equivalent to a freakin’ Barbie!  We didn’t just talk Hush though…no we chatted about some other very cool things she had in the works. Top Hats on Darlings! Have a shot of Jager…

Cthulhu Save the Queen…The Scream Queen

Jessica Cameron

Malice Psychotik: How many films have you done?

Jessica Cameron: I have done currently over 70 different independent projects. That includes web series, tv shows (both network and non), I have done pilots, independent films, pretty much if you can shoot it, I’ve done it. Except for porn. That is available for viewing haha!

MP: One film you have done is Mr. Hush. How did you come across this film?

JC: Mr. Hush, I came across the Facebook page and I loved the story that I saw. I reached out to David and said I would love to be involved. He looked at my reel and we made an offer and I was just thrilled! I had so much fun. David is such a passionate filmmaker and he had this awesome original story. I think it is so special, to me. It really is a special little film. I love David Madison, his lovely wife and his gorgeous little child. She played my daughter in the movie. They’re just really good people. You know when you meet people and you’re like “you are good people”. They are good people and they made a good movie. And I can’t wait to see what they do next.

MP: What were some stories from the set? Anything happen?

JC: I was only in the movie for 5 days which is 3 weeks. But it was a really good set. I think it was really lighthearted. Our DP Jack Schaefer was awesome. There is a great scene where two of the leads are at the bridge and the camera angle is from the center point of view. And it was funny because the DP really wanted to get the shot and David really wanted it as well but then David was like “You know what, I’m concerned because we can’t get the shot.” We didn’t have a crane we actually had to hike up and down these hills. It took like 20 minutes to get to the location so we had to bring minimal equipment. And our DP was like “Screw it! This is why we have insurance.” He took his red camera and walked out across the rocks like in thigh high water to get the shot. At one point right after we were done shooting and when he went to come in, he actually slipped and fell. And the camera went up in the air in his hands and it really wasn’t too far  above the water.

MP: What other films do you have coming out that everyone should keep an eye out for?

JC: Well my directorial debut which is Truth Or Dare which I am phenomenally excited about. It’s my first time directing and I actually co-wrote the script. It is a very brilliant, beautiful, twisted, crazy torture flick. So it’s definitely not for the faint of heart or those with weak stomachs. If you have a weak stomach then don’t watch this movie. It’s not the movie for you.

MP: I love those movies!

JC: I know right?! That’s what I think. But you know initially I didn’t want to direct it. I wanted to find a director and half the people we approached were like “it’s too much Jessica. Tone it down.” And I was like no! You’re not changing my story. Why do I have to tone it down? You’re not a studio and I’m not getting studio money. They were like “People are going to be offended.” And I’m like so what? I have never met a horror fan who would hold against the filmmaker that they were offended. They just turn it off. If it’s not your thing, that’s cool. I get it. But you know what? I don’t care. This is my thing. I made a story that I love. That I think is relative to society and I made it as bloody and gory and insane as the story needed to be. I definitely think we are going to offend some people and people are going to walk out and I’m cool with that. This is my warning! If you have a weak stomach, this is not a movie for you. If you have a delicate moral sensibility, this is not a movie for you. We push all of those boundaries and that’s what I love about it. And if you don’t, no problem.

MP: Just looking at the picture you have on your table and you said its real gorey, how many buckets of blood do you think you used in this film?

JC: I have no idea! I know we went through about half of our expense budget was basically just blood. Those of you who don’t know, you can make cheap blood or you can make expensive blood. We actually made the really, really good stuff and we made it all from scratch. We actually kept it on camera the whole time before we settled on one because we wanted to make sure the blood looked really good and believable. You know it’s a very fine line. Blood on camera has to be minimally redder than real life to show up properly. Because real blood in real life goes into this brownish color and doesn’t ? on camera. But you don’t want to make it too much where it looks like red paint.

MP: Can you give us a short run down of the film?

JC: Well it essentially centers around a group of 6 kids who met in college during a marketing program. They have a Truth Or Dare Youtube channel. Their number one fan decides he wants to play their game but he’s got a few rules of his own. Things start to go horribly awry. It actually started with Derek, our protagonist, the ubber fan, he’s actually based off an actor we all know. You know that guy who is desperate to be famous to have people love him and to have friends. He wants to belong. That’s kind of where we started. We were like what would make that guy snap? I live in L.A. I know that guy. I know tons of that guy. What would make that man snap? Well let’s put him in front of these 6 kids who stumbles upon internet fame. They haven’t worked for it and they don’t really appreciate it and they’re not cherishing it. You know what would make him go to that breaking point.

MP: That sounds like an awesome movie! Can’t wait to see it when it comes out. So is there anything awesome going on in the horror community that you want to be a part of?

JC: The Soska sisters! I think they’re brilliant. I think they are revolutionary. I love their sense of being, their brilliance and determination and everything they do. For me, American Mary was one of the top 3 films of last year. I think everyone who is a horror fan should see it. They NEED to see it. It is a brilliant film. So I’m definitely a huge fan of them. They also happen to be women from Canada. And what’s cooler than that? They are also some of the most humble people you are going to meet. I am a big big fan of that. I don’t like people who have an attitude. I don’t like people who are dramatic. I just want to make movies. So those girls are everything I love about independent filmmaking. So anything that they are involved with I am a huge supporter and hopefully we’ll get to work together. I’ve also got Intrusive Behavior coming out which is a Florida based film. I was actually here last week for the premier. I can’t wait for the world to see it! It is a really great film. It’s actually where I met in person, Heather Dorf. I had known her for a long time in the independent scene and I met her in person and Heather Dorf blew me away! Her performances are unbelievable! That’s how I cast her in Truth Or Dare. I also have coming out Clone City 2064. It is a film that I produced and also have a small role in. It’s set in a futuristic world where we all have clones and someone is killing off one of the detectives clones. So we just signed to distributor so this is new too. I haven’t been public before but thank you for allowing press on that. We have a lot of interest and a lot of feed. I think it’s a really great story and should be shown.

MP: Well thank you for sitting down for the interview. It’s nice to add another member of the Hush family 🙂

How was that, huh? Jessica is the best kind of people and I hope to be seeing more of her around these parts. Truth or Dare looks bad ass. Can’t wait! That’s it for now Darlings. Still have a lot for you all to look forward too. I’ll see if I can drum up a little HHN 23 news for you too…

Until Next Time, My Freaky Darlings,

Malice Psychotik