Interview with Indy Horror Queen Reyna Young Part 4
Today we conclude our interview with Reyna Young, indy horror movie producer, horror show host, and rabid horror fan.
Dave: Tell me about Last Doorway Productions.
Reyna: Last Doorway Productions is an independent horror company I started to help promote everything that I do and what I stand for. I started doing short films and the only way I could think of getting it out there was too start my own company to help promote my work. Not long after I started it my husband got involved and we have been non stop ever since. We do Film Festivals, a show, movies, write books, and anything else I throw at him. What happens is I say I want to do something, get started doing it and then tell him we’re doing it and he goes along with my ideas. LOL. Like when I started A Nightmare To Remember International Horror Film Festival. I started it, put out a press release, and then told him we were throwing one. I do it to him all the time, it drives him nuts but I know he loves it. So yes its been four years for Last Doorway Productions in November and it’s been a crazy and wild ride, but I love it.
Dave: How many films have you produced?
Reyna: I produced four films before I met John and 13 after. Both features and shorts. I have 45 scripts written for short films and I feel so behind. I want to make it a habit to shoot a short film every weekend but until then I will keep on writing.
Dave: What advice would you have for someone that wanted to get into making indy horror films and connecting with the community? Is there a website where someone to start?
Reyna: Email me anytime with any questions you have. I get asked a lot by fans how they could get started. I tell them pick up a camera and start making a film. Put yourself in it and go from there. Buy a cheap editing program and it’ll be easy to start learning how to edit and create. Get your friends involved and start off with a one minute short and build from there. Sometimes you can’t sit around waiting for someone to call and ask you if you want to be in the film; you have to get up and do it yourself. But anyone and everyone feel free to contact me for any questions you might have at [email protected].
Dave: Top 10 Greatest Horror Movies in your opinion:
Reyna:
1. Halloween
2. Texas Chainsaw Massacre
3. A Nightmare on Elm street
4. Friday the 13th
5. Alice Sweet Alice
6. Dracula- Béla Lugosi version.
7. Frankenstein-Boris Karloff
8. Creature From the Black Lagoon
9. The Exorcist
10. Evil Dead
Dave: Great list. You not only hit all the greats in the genre but nailed a couple of my all time favorites. Thank you very much for your time, and good luck with the documentary and all your future projects. (Frankenstein image courtesy of the horror movie t shirt category)
Interview with Indy Horror Queen Reyna Young Part 3
Today we do part 3 of our interview with Reyna Young, Miss Misery on the Last Doorway Show and owner of Last Doorway Productions.
Dave: As a film producer and director, do you find that the actors that work the best in horror films are actually horror fans themselves, or can an accomplished actor produce a decent performance in spite of not actually liking horror films?
Reyna: A good actor is a good actor. If they don’t like horror it doesn’t mean that they’re not going to put in one hundred and ten percent. I think it doesn’t matter if you’re a fan at or not; it’s all in the skill. However, I think that a horror fan doing a horror film is more exciting to them then if they weren’t.
Dave: Do you see a shift in types of horror movie roles for women from the 50’s until now?
Reyna: I think that every generation is going to have a shift change. From then until now yes females have gotten stronger roles, they have had more of an input in the films and an opportunity to voice out and be behind the camera if they wanted too. So yes we are not just victims to be killed we also do the killing ourselves. (Invasion of the Saucer-Men image courtesy of the horror movie t shirt category)
Dave: Recently there have been a couple female horror antagonists, but they are few and far between. In fact, the only ones that come to mind is the girl from The Ring and Carrie. Any idea why the killer in the majority of films is male? Is it just tradition or does the role of slasher/killer naturally seem to fall onto men?
Reyna: I guess men are viewed as being strong so they are automatically considered the killer. In independent films women seem to be playing the killer more. But yes in Hollywood films it seems to be more male. I think it’s because men are viewed as being stronger but at the same time as a good friend of mine put it that she feels men are stronger but women seem to take more pain then men can in the films.
Dave: How did you get started on your documentary?
Reyna: Well I saw a documentary called Something to Scream About hosted by Brinke Stevens and it was interesting to watch but there were only 8 women in it. There was nothing ever since then to watch and I wanted to learn more about these females. So I decided why not ask independent females their thoughts and take on the genre. I also wanted to find more females who are in the genre to connect with and talk too. I knew a lot of the females in the genre but there were more out there if I looked deep enough. Yes I found a whole bunch of women and they were so happy to be a part of this documentary. I am happy to know them love them all. I cannot thank them enough. By just contacting these females they contacted other females I didn’t know about and from there the list of women grew. There are still so many women I couldn’t get that I wanted to have. I guess I can always do another one. 🙂
Dave: How long did the production take?
Reyna: It took over two years to make and it was worth it. I am very happy with the results. It’s been a long journey of computer crashes, fixing footage, and arguments between John and me. John has been amazing through the whole process helping me with editing and doing camera work while I interview these women. He has been nothing but supportive.
Dave: Was he a horror fan before or after meeting you?
Reyna: He was a casual fan. He really didn’t watch them a whole lot until he met me. I showed him a whole different world. He loves horror now. MUHAHAHAHAHA I polluted his mind…
Dave: How did you get the resources together?
Reyna: I contacted every single woman I knew in the industry. They all jumped at the opportunity which was great. A lot of the women I could not travel to see or had scheduling conflicts so they filmed their answers and sent them to me. This was very helpful (yes they all get credited for it, as did who ever helped them with the footage). We did do some traveling and it was so nice to meet the women face to face or just see them again. I got a lot of good answers in this doc from these women and their insight into the genre. I was very impressed with all these women. They are all a big influence on me.
Dave: How many interviews did you conduct?
Reyna: Well there are 34 women in the doc and I cannot even remember how many I interviewed. It was so long ago but it is in the credits. LOL. I wish I could have interviewed every female. I really do. There are so many I have not met yet and wish I could have. I’m sure I will in the future.
Dave: Who was the best interview, and why?
Reyna: They were all great to interview. I loved hanging out with the girls and learning more about them. The one woman who just amazed me was Lynn Lowry. (http://www.lynnlowry.com/) She had so much to say and I learned so much from when she started out in the horror genre to now. She is wonderful. I cannot wait to see her again.
Dave: How many film clips did you include in your documentary?
Reyna: I tried to include whatever was given to me. Anyone who agreed to have their footage showed I included. I wanted to show a vast variety of the films the women were in and again promote their films and the film makers.
Continued tomorrow
Interview with Indy Horror Queen Reyna Young Part 2
Today we continue our interview with Reyna Young, horror queen extraordinaire and owner of Last Doorway Productions as we talk about independent horror films and her documentary on women in horror, Welcome to My Darkside.
Dave: You mentioned the world of independent horror. Is it fair to say that there is an entire subculture of independent horror producers and fans? If you are involved in that world do you find that you tend to know everyone else into indy horror and everyone tends to support each other as much as they can?
Reyna: There is a whole world of Independent Horror and we all pretty much know each other. Yes there is a lot of support and help when we need it. Everyone tends to lend a hand when one of us needs it. It’s really nice. I admit I have met assholes but then again that’s anywhere you go and any genre you’re in.
Dave: What role do you see women taking in modern and sub culture horror movies today?
Reyna: I see more and more females coming up in this genre as director’s, producers, and editors. Yes there is still the majority of females who are actress’s but those actress’s are often stepping behind the camera or writing they’re own script to show that they’re more then just a naked body in front of the camera or a pretty face in a horror film.
Dave: What roles would you like to see them take?
Reyna: I like to see women take on director and writing roles. I mean females have this inner darkside to them; they want to see blood and they want to see people die and they want to show everyone what their made of. They’re not just in front of the camera to be a star. They can also write, direct, and produce. I think it’s wonderful when a woman can do so much for a genre she loves and kick ass.
Dave: Is there a distinct, discernable difference between films produced by women or men? Can you make an accurate guess as to the gender of the writer or the director, or is it not obvious?
Reyna: I guess it really depends on the film. I mean I can tell the difference sometimes between a film directed by a man and a film directed by a woman so yes there’s a difference. Like for example the first Twilight film I admit was good and you can tell that a lot of heart was put into it. Then I watched the second and third installment directed by men and it seemed sloppy and put together fast. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing that a man directed the films but having females touch on a love story makes a big difference.
Dave: Do you think female roles in horror movies are treated fairly?
Reyna: Well we are always going to have the bimbos or naked women getting killed in front of the camera. There is nothing is wrong with that but you have to see that there are a lot of strong females characters in the horror films. 
Jamie Lee Curtis in Halloween or Adrienne King in Friday The 13th are examples of strong female roles. Yes they were females who ran from their killers and even cried but gained strength in those films. They stood up, fought back and were a strong female influence. I wanted to grow up and be Jamie Lee Curtis in Halloween because she fought off the bad guy. She was my hero. Sure there are the films that females are treated unfairly but there are also films where they rule. It’s kind of a 50/50 thing. (Friday the 13th image courtesy of the horror movie t shirt category)
(continued next post)
Interview with Indy Horror Queen Reyna Young Part 1
Last week at the Sacramento Sci Fi and Horror Convention I met Reyna Young, independent horror film producer. She owns Last Doorway Productions and, with her husband John, has recently produced Welcome to My Darkside, a Documentary of Women in Horror. It seemed really interesting and so I thought I would interview her and put it up on my blog as a break from all the dating advice. I plan to do other interviews in the future as well
Dave: How did you first get into horror movies?
Reyna: When I was a little girl I was never allowed to watch horror films. I woke up my little sister one morning in October, and we snuck into my dad’s VHS collection. I pulled out John Carpenters Halloween and ever since then I became obsessed with Horror. From there I watched The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and A Nightmare on Elm Street and started reading Edgar Allan Poe! I’ve been obsessed with horror ever since and it’s been fun. (Texas Chainsaw Massacre image courtesy of the horror movie t shirt category)
Dave: Do you have any experience in horror movie production?
Reyna: I write, direct, produce, and edit my own horror shorts and features. My husband John Gillette edits and does camera work for me as well. I started my own film company called Last Doorway Productions and since 2006 we have 9 shorts and one feature under our belt and another feature and my shorts on the way. I am also Horror Hostess Miss Misery of The Last Doorway Show show we created to help promote independent artists. We have 60 episodes and more on the way.
Dave: Do you consider yourself more of a horror movie fan, horror movie producer, or documentarian?
Reyna: WOW!! Well I like to think that I’m all three. I am inspired every day to do something new and I learn from everything I do. I am a huge horror fan; always have been and always will be. Yes I produce horror films, help out on sets, and get involved with as much movie stuff that I can. Welcome to My Darkside is my first documentary and yes I want to do more. I want to do one on men in the horror genre and get their aspects on things.
Dave: Who do you see as the biggest influence in horror movie productions today?
Reyna: That’s a hard question because everyone is an influence to me. I give everyone credit who picks up a camera or just gets off their ass and does something. Anyone who does what they love and feels good about doing it. In a world of re-makes right now I must say I have noticed more and more people getting into the world of independent horror and it’s coming up a lot more these days. I have friends who were never into independent horror and now that’s all they watch. Independent horror I think will help influence people to do more original films then just remakes.
Dave: What do you think is the motivation behind all the horror re-makes? Is it a tribute to classic horror or just a lack of creativity in Hollywood?
Reyna: Well, I think that originality is lacking and the only way they keep the money rolling in is if they re-make all these classics. I have heard teens nowadays say that they didn’t know A Nightmare on Elm Street was a re-make. I think that’s pretty bad.
(Continued next post)
Nerd Dating: Dirty Dating Tricks Part 2-the Dinner X2
Also known as the Double Dinner (Double Deuce image courtesy of the movie t shirt category), this trick is one that really only guys can do and so most women find it pretty offensive. Therefore, never admit to having done it or even knowing how to do it. Of course, this bodes ill of my dating life if any of the women I go out with read this blog, but honestly, how much more damage can I really do at this point? I can only hope that the women I date find out about this blog on or around our fifth wedding anniversary.
Basically, this is one you should pull out under a certain set of circumstances. They are if you are not really sure how much you like the girl, and/or you are more or less broke but still want to impress her by taking her to a nice place for dinner. This is actually best used for blind dates or first time meeting of an internet date.
The trick is, on your way to meeting her or picking her up, you stop off at Burger King and eat a burger. Then, you take her to a nice place but before you order you tell her “I’m not really that hungry. I think I will just have a salad.” The vast majority of women (at least, the vast majority of women you should want to date) will never order more food than they guy they are with, and she will most likely follow suite. Furthermore, you will gain points with her for your ability to restrain your eating habits, something most women respect.
Thus, your $50-60 dinner turns into $22, for the dater on a budget. This plan doesn’t work so well in most ethnic restaurants like sushi and so on, so make sure you are going to a place where a salad is an acceptable choice.
Having taught you that one, let me say I really don’t use this much at all. There is a lot of value in breaking bread with your date. I think the last time I did this was an internet date, and god punished me by giving me food poisoning from the Caesars salad I age (bad shrimp, I think). However, the money I saved was of great comfort as I puked my guts out the next day.
Nerd Dating: to see a movie or not Pt 2
Sorry I didn’t get this done sooner, but was at the Sacramento Sci Fi Horror Convention with a booth selling t-shirts. The show was a lot of fun, and the highlight for me was meeting and getting this picture with the gorgeous Jewel Staite from Firefly and Stargate Atlantis. Talk about beauty and the beast (of course, if any of you call Jewel a beast I will kill you).
(the shirt I am wearing, by the way, is available in the Star Trek t shirts category).
Anyway, Jewel is married (damn the luck!) but meeting her has inspired me to forge ahead in my quest to meet the perfect women and keep helping the rest of you also meet someone. Last post we talked about movies as a date. Assuming you have determined correctly that a movie would be appropriate (and are not just falling back on it due to your flailing conversation) the question arises “What movie to watch?”
First of all, strike anything cool you want to see off that list. Any sci fi, horror, or action flick will fail miserably. Even if she sounds cool with it, in her head she is either going to think you are incredibly selfish or an incredible geek (probably both).
Second of all, do not see a chick flick. Odds are she will suggest one, but if you agree (or worse, suggest one) have fun being “man-friend” for the rest of you life. You just turned into a hairy girl in her head. Also, your time is worth more than that. A couple years ago I went on a date and somehow ended up seeing Nights in Rodanthe, a Richard Gere movie. It wasn’t so much lame as it was like swimming in a pool of rusty razor blades and afterwords eating a huge bowl of excrement. The mistake I made was not being familiar with the current movies and assuming it was some kind of vampire flick. Do your research. Any movie that involves coming to terms with stuff will make you want to claw your eyes out and use them as ear plugs.
A good compromise will basically leave both parties vaguely dissatisfied, so plan on that. The best option for you will be a good comedy, but make sure it involves women in some kind of role. The Hangover was hilarious but was definitely a guy movie. A good romantic comedy is a compromise in her favor (again, do your research. Love Stinks is technically a romantic comedy, but will turn her off not only you but possibly men in general). Try to have a couple ones to suggest. Having your iPhone set to Fandango before you even pick her up is a plus in your favor.
Next post, movie etiquette.
Nerd Dating: to see a movie or not Pt 1
I think I am done with dancing for now. Let’s talk about an ongoing debate in the dating world; to go to a movie or not.
99.9999% of women will tell you that a movie on a first date is a bad idea, but I have found there are circumstances where this is not necessarily true. Women like to think that you need to talk all night, but sometimes that can be a bad thing, especially if you think your aspherger-like compulsion to say weird crap will screw you up.
I’ll boil it down. Not seeing a movie gives you a lot of time to talk and connect. If you only have a couple hours to see your date then by all means do not fill up your time with this. However, if it looks like you will be with her for five or more hours then I think it’s a great idea, and here is why.
First of all, it gives you two hours of company wherein you don’t have to struggle to find something to talk about. Furthermore, the movie will be a great topic of discussion both before and afterwards. Make sure you know something about the script, writer, director, actors, or premise behind the film to give you something to bring up. Also, there can be a lot of time spent together on line or in the theater waiting for the movie to start.
Secondly, the dim lighting in the theater is very complimentary. If you are reading this blog because you have trouble dating than good lighting is probably not your friend. Also, you are forced to sit in close proximity (more on this later), which is an intimate setting and will help her gain comfort with you.
Finally, if the movie is really good or, better yet, really funny, than the good feelings she will have while watching it or laughing will be associated with you on some level. Make sure you pick out a movie that is good and/or funny (Hangover t shirt image courtesy of of the movie t shirt category).
That being said, if you aren’t sure you can spend more than a few hours with her, save this for a second or third date. It’s perfect for that.
More on this later, including what movie to actually see.
Nerd dating advice: to dance or not to dance Pt 7
I was going to talk about more specific dance moves, but honestly I think I have given you enough to work with, at least at first. Also, I have worked all day and am feeling too lazy to really do a lot of research. I’ll do more some other time, but instead I will address another issue that will come up as you dance: how long should you dance?
The short answer on this is as long as she wants to. Remember, part of dancing is showing her how viral and healthy you are, and bailing out from exhaustion before she does is not a way of communicating this idea. So unless you are seeing spots and/or losing feeling in 1/2 of your body, dance until she looks like she is ready to stop. Keep an eye on signs of tiredness from her, including slowing down, looking bored, our outright passing out. If you are about to pass out yourself and your choices are get off the dance floor or move towards the light, a good excuse is ask her if she wants another drink. If she says no prepare to meet your ancestors.
(if she starts doing the Dance of the Living Dead like these guys, it might be time to ask if she wants to sit down. Image courtesy of the zombie t shirt category).
Another interesting phenomenon that comes up is during your dancing, you will perspire, and by perspire I mean sweat profusely. This is not a bad thing. In fact, it can be very good. “Wait a minute, Dave! You told us to avoid anything that might cause us to smell of anything other than soap or deodorant!” You are correct, in most cases. However, fresh sweat is a healthy mix of pheromones that most women find intriguing. The operative word here is fresh. You know how if you stick grapes into a wooden barrel and let it ferment for a while you get a fine wine that is good and smells great? Sweat is 100% the opposite. Fresh sweat from something wholesome like dancing or working out is good. Sweat left on your body for a length of time smells like ass (literally). Again, do not take this as an excuse to not shower. Just don’t worry about it while you and she are dancing.
Another thing that should go without saying, but given the audience I am talking to needs saying, is if you have some kind of medical condition that causes your sweat to be particularly pungent (dead skunk raised on a manure pile) you should avoid dancing. Claim you have knee problems, or that the lights could cause you to pass out from flicker vertigo. Better that than exposing her to BO so bad it could be classified as a weapon of mass destruction.
Once you get the green light to stop flailing around on the dance floor (that’s unfair. I am sure you took all my advice, practiced extensively, and are now an accomplished dancer. Really) extricate yourself and your date by leading the way through the crowd back to your table (I like to pretend I am an icebreaker).
Actually, that reminds me of something really important I forgot to mention earlier. Under no circumstances should you be the only couple on the dance floor. If there is no one else on the floor you have no business being out there. That is something creepy middle aged alcoholic couples do. In fact, stay off the dance floor if it is not crowded. If you can see wall through the crowd, stay off. If your date is sane she will probably agree.
On the road again
No dancing or dating advice this weekend. I am headed to LA for the LA Comic Book convention. If you are in LA stop by and say hi.
The celebrities at this show are Todd Bridges (Willis from Different Strokes) and Daniel Logan, who played young Boba Fett in Episode II, Attack of the Clones (image courtesy of the Star Wars t shirt category). I guess you can tell the show is not huge, but it is fun and there is usually a lot of stuff to see there. Also, my super hot friend Olga will be helping me out, and afterward we are going to see Res Evil 3D so look forward to a review by me next week.
Talk to you soon.
Nerd dating advice: to dance or not to dance Pt 3
Ok, more dating advice. Or rather, more advice on what to not do while dancing.
Unless you are actually at a heavy metal concert, do not do the headbanger head bob. While it is important to move your neck while dancing, it cannot be the only thing you move. Also, guys doing the head bang bob tend to be drawn towards raising one fist up in the air, again breaking the arm line.
Do not do the plant. In other words, move your feet. Dancing is an activity that requires a certain amount of coordination, and as frightening a prospect it may seem you will actually have to move multiple parts of your body at the same time. I had a friend in high school who was famous for doing the plant, and we frequently ridiculed him for it.
As cool at it may seem in concept and as good as it might look practicing in front of your mirror, do not do the robot. The robot is something an accomplished dancer does to compliment his fertile dance skill set, not the only thing he can do and start off with. Also, as good as you might think it looks in the mirror, in truth it is remarkably hard to pull off successfully and easy to look like a complete ass doing. Just stay away. (Robbie the Robot image courtesy of the movie t shirt category).
If you are not at a punk rock show, do not do the pogo. In other words, do not jump up and down like an idiot. First of all, really lame looking. Second of all, any weight issues you may or may not have will be grossly aggravated as you move in a vertical manner (keep the phrase “bowl full of jello” in mind while considering this dance move). Also, once, while at an actual punk rock club (with a dangerously short ceiling) I was doing the pogo and manage to impale my head on a sprinkler head. Not my coolest moment.
Avoid gymnastic of any kind. At no point should any part of your body except your feet touch the ground. Also, you should not be bent over for whatever reason, especially to look at your date from between your legs or any other Twister position. The temptation to do the worm or some break dancing move may overwhelm your insanity if you think you are doing well (or are really drunk), but do whatever you can to restrain yourself.
One more post on bad dance moves coming up, then we will get into good things to do while dancing.
