Reyna Young proves that Independent horror can be HOT!



The macrocosmic organism of contemporary cinema is a dynamic consciousness filled with the collective and archetypal expressions of visual existentialism and fantastical dream. It is the filmmaker in their various guises as writers, directors, cinematographers, and even actors, that serves as the incarnate vehicle through which the infinite natural and preternatural psyche is visualized.
As such, film shall forever be one of the greatest mediums for the chronicling of the human condition. It is a visual voice speaking many differing tongues each reflecting the world that surrounds it. Its significance, as both simple art and artistic sociological expression, is often overlooked by more dry historians. Be that as it may, life will ever imitate art and art imitate life.
Such creative responsibility of course should transcend the voices of those orbiting in a universe governed by the laws of studio politics, name dropping associations, and corporate funding, phenomena so often running the show.
It may be safe to say that it is usually not the “professional” filmmaker that speaks the demiurgic voice of the worlds around us. These individuals are often strapped in financial bondage by funding war machines herding them within cinematic death camps. Such restriction may yet be the souls price paid for the ability to speak within a mass forum. It may not hold deeper moral or ethical condemnations upon such professionals in film.
Operating beyond hierarchal watchdogs, it is the independent filmmaker that yet pulses with the life stream of evolving artistic reflection. And it is the independent horror filmmaker that stands on the frontlines of artistic cinematic independence.
Regardless of the genre, the independent filmmaking community is ripe with innumerable fledgling writers and directors, each hoping to attain notoriety for their creative visual cacophony. Statistically, few will make any mark at all and perhaps will drown their remaining creative energies within the vomiting interior decorating of their newfound alcoholism all over their film degree. Yet still some shall prevail. Whether through pure innate talent, winning the lottery, or being in proximity of the correct alignment of stars (not the astronomical kind), filmmakers will release their product upon society. Quality is always another issue as well. Horror is the perfect genre for fertile filmmakers to spawn their cinematic miscarriages all over the floor like gooey dead film cell fetuses. The veil is ever thin between what is good bad B-movie horror and what is just bad, bad B-movie horror.
Where is all of this diatribe leading to you ask? It is leading to Reyna Young. Reyna Young is, among many things a fledgling Jackie of all trades. She is a writer, director, and actress within the independent horror genre. She also hosts an online horror show called The Last Doorway Show. Her production company Last Doorway Productions is responsible for several short films including, Out of Print which won first prize in the Viscera Film Festival.
Reyna’s main body of work is the Confession Trilogy, three interrelated shorts chronicling the demise of a murdering young man. Confession number one begins with the character, played by Dylan Walsh, drunkenly stumbling into a church for confessional. His main dialogue is a commentary about his murderous doings, and his somewhat spiritual perceptions on his place in the realms of God.
Within the second confession it is revealed that he killed the priest, played by Adam Richardson, in the end of the first confession. The dialogue throughout all three films maintains an evocative philosophical depth that is unusual for most independent short horror films, adding to its standing out in terms of what it is.
The third confession ends with the character being executed for his crimes. His last moments reveal a conflicted consciousness laced with a good deal of self loathing. He does not offer any repentance for his actions so much as apologizes for being born in the first place.
Another evocative aspect to these short films is the soundtrack performed by John Gillette of the musical group Dammit. The “Aimless Acoustic” piece is haunting in an almost River’s Edge manner.
The next offering from Reyna’s catalog is her 4 Short Films of Terror. Film two and four are interesting experimental shorts about a killer peach. These two pieces illustrate ripe examples from the very neglected killer produce aspect of horror. The third film is Sinner, a short which is a videotaped confessional from a jaded woman, played by Jennifer Burkett, who with some melancholic regret, kills her lover.
The first, and most significant piece, is the Viscera series winning Out of Print. This film, shot with a soft black and white surrealism, has no dialogue but simply more haunting instrumental work from Gillette. Out of Print depicts a strange doll like woman who hacks up a tied Reyna with an axe. The overall feel of Out of Print is one that seems to balance a childlike innocence with death. The mask wearing character aptly symbolizes the conflicting internal rage that often harbors within the psyche of children.
When one watches the films of Reyna Young an illumination slowly manifests within the mind. For an independent filmmaker, her films hold a depth that may differentiate her work from the typical amateur horror filmmaker. Her films do not depict clichéd blood, guts, and nudity as one would expect from horror. Her work offers up more psychological themes than. This deposits Reyna not just as a maker of horror films. It suggests that Reyna is worthy of the title of filmmaker.

Reyna has taken time from her busy schedule to sit down on my intestine lined couch and speak with us about what it is like to be an independent horror filmmaker...oh, and be a hot chick in a male dominated genre.


Necro: Sum up “Last Doorway Productions” for us?

RY: Yes! Last Doorway Productions is something I started to help get my name out into the genre and it’s something I have been dreaming about for a long time. I always wanted to do Horror Movies and have gotten parts in Independent movies that never saw the light of day. I do love to act so I figured I can write, Direct and star in my own movies. Now it’s more about Directing right now for me then acting I do love being behind the camera. Last Doorway productions is a group of friends bringing their love of horror alive pretty much. I do have some cool friends who stick by me and help…..

Necro: Is their any inner meaning to the choice of “Last Doorway Productions” as your companies name? Does it have any esoteric or philosophical significance?

RY: I am a huge fan of The Twilight Zone and I always dreamed of having my own Twilight zone type themed series with short stories that I wrote and Directed but I would call it The Last Doorway. The name always stuck with me and I couldn’t resist in naming it for my company.

Necro: You have an upcoming film fest. Can you give us more information on this event?




RY: A Nightmare To Remember is all about helping the Horror Independent Film Maker! I believe in helping others any way that I can and I thought putting on a Film Fest especially in San Francisco would help get some Film Making blood pumping. I hardly meet any Horror Film Makers in S.F and there’s never really anything going on like this in S.F so I had an idea one night without discussing it with anyone, typed up a Blog on Myspace and decided to throw one. I really not only wanted to help out other Film Makers but I also wanted to show my much appreciation to John Stanley (Horror host of creature features) because he is a great inspiration to all of us, he is the guest of honor at our event. There’s also raffle and prizes for the audience, I want to get them involved a little bit and thank them for coming out also by just giving them free stuff….. I’m hoping it will be a hit and I cannot wait to throw one next year.

Necro: What, so far, has been your greatest achievement with Last Doorway?

RY: Everything I have done has been my greatest achievement. I never thought I would be actually doing what I am doing! I mean I had dreams and thought a lot about doing stuff that I wanted to do when I had gotten much older and I am actually doing it, I never thought I would in a way, it took a lot of pushing myself out of what I was going through to get to this point. I have had a lot of people growing up tell me I would never make it or I’m not pretty enough to be an actress, I even had teachers tell me this, I had so called friends tell me this, and I had no support from past boyfriends and that was even harder. But to be where I am at now I must say is the greatest achievement I have ever done. I am doing so much from publishing my poetry book to making a near future feature. I’m loving every minute of it.

Necro: What has been your worst experience interacting with the horror genre?

RY: Some people are just so full of themselves I tell you. I have met some people, I have asked some people to do interviews for my show and they blow me off and tell me they only do interviews with well known people. Well known hosts. I don’t know, I guess some people are just like that, I’m not going to name anyone but it is kind of annoying. I haven’t hit anything that bad. I did notice most of the time though it’s not who you are it’s who you know. I’m sure more into the long run I’ll have more for this question though. LOL

Necro: What has been the reaction for Last Doorway Show in terms of the horror genre (fans or industry people)?

RY: I have gotten great feedback from fans and industry people. So far I have not really had anyone bad feedback, which is great and so many people love the beginning theme song and the fact that the show surrounds itself around Independent Horror. Everyone loves the interviews too. I originally did not want to have interviews just Independent shorts but I started getting the hang of asking questions to Horror genre actors and I really enjoy doing it. But I will be showing more Independent shorts and I show the Horror-Fanatics commercial and I help advertise anything I can for anyone who needs me too!


Necro: What was the inspiration for your Confession Trilogy?



RY: I wrote Confession after a break up in High School. All my anger and pain came out on the keyboard. It took me about not even five minutes to write the first one. I threw it in my drawer and didn’t take it out until about 2006. I didn’t even have to work on it, it was perfect just the way it was. I had the idea of getting into the mind of a serial killer, what goes through a murderers mind? why does he think the way he does? So then I came up with the idea of just hearing him, not seeing what he does with his victims, but how he feels and what he thinks about. That’s what I have always been most interested in what makes them think the way that they do? I’ve been a little obsessed over that for a long time. Although I hate hearing about anything bad happening to anyone, especially from some sick freak. I don’t like hearing about women being murdered, or body’s found buried in someone’s backyard, it makes me sick to my stomach, but for some reason I just have been obsessed over what makes someone tick to do the things they do. That’s what Confession is about, getting into the mind of a serial killer…

Necro: Budget and technical limitations are always an issue for the independent filmmaker. How have you handled such problems in your own projects?

RY: I try not to think about it! LOL- I work about 40 hours a week and that’s what helps take care of paying for my movies. I cannot pay actors just yet, I provide them food on set every time. I don’t want to say I’m cheap but I try to do my film making as guerilla style as I can. I make all my props and blood and mostly hire friends, I use Video Studio 12 for editing, which isn’t that pro but you know what it’s good enough for me right now and it’s pretty good. I like it. I just film, I film the way I want with as much or little money as I want and I’m in charge of what stays and goes, that’s the great part about having my own little company. I must say it is tough but I just try to look on the brighter side of things.

Necro: What advice do you have for other independent filmmakers?

RY: Don’t let anyone hold you down, go for your dream, and always keep up a positive mind doing anything that you love. It’s hard but will all pay off at the end.

Necro: Miss Misery, what was the inspiration for the name/character?



RY: I play Guitar and do a lot of songwriting, my favorite singer/songwriter would be Elliot Smith. I’m in love with that man. I never get tired of listening to any of his albums. Anyway my favorite song of his is Miss Misery. I named myself after the song because whenever I’m down and out I always pop in an Elliot Smith album and I always have to listen to that song. I figured it was the perfect name for the genre I am in and the character I was creating, it just fit right.

Necro: What inspired you to become involved in horror film specifically?

RY: When I was younger I read a lot of Edgar Allan Poe and he’s another man I’m in love with. The way he wrote, the way he used his words, I could never get tired of reading his stories. My favorite quote is “and the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain thrilled, filled me, with fantastic terror’s never felt before.“ The Raven - The very first Horror Movie I ever saw was John Carpenter’s Halloween. Michael Myers scared me but at the same time the chills running down my spine fascinated me. I then fell in love with Horror, got my little hands on whatever Horror movies we had in the house and began to watch. I always new growing up whatever I was involved in doing whether it be writing or Film making it would always be Horror. The genre I bleed for.

Necro: Do you have any aspirations to enter the whole Scream Queen phenomena or do you ideally wish to stay behind the scenes?



RY: I have thought about it, and it would be cool, I do love to act. I love being behind the scenes though a lot more. In the future though I must say I will be getting into doing more acting. The more I turn down roles the more I regret big time. Being who I am and doing what I’m doing I feel like a Scream Queen in my own way.

Necro: Do you find being a hot chick helps or hinders your attempts to be assimilated seriously into the horror genre?

RY: Well I think that if I was to star in a lot of movies where I took my clothes off every time then no I would not be taken seriously. I feel that now a days if you don’t have a body and you won’t take off your clothes you won’t get far. At least that’s how I feel about it right now. That’s all I see now are breasts, nothing wrong with it I’m sure for all the guys but I want to see some acting not just another naked body, sure it’s a big part of the Horror Genre in movies but I turned down a role because I wouldn’t take my clothes off, I can act, and if all you want to see is my naked body then sorry, I respect myself. So I turned down this role and now these people won’t talk to me. Whatever! Yes I’m hot but I can also act, I’m not just a pretty face.

Necro: Do you think that obtaining formal film education is needed to create great cinematic art or that you either have it or you don’t?

RY: I think going to school for it does help but I wanted to get hands on experience, I followed around my Film buddies when they were directing and bought books to read. I feel that I have learned more actually then any of my friends who have been in film class for awhile. There’s also the if you don’t have much of an imagination then no maybe it’s not for you. LOL.. I think any Independent Film is Beautiful because it was someone’s baby and it’s an expression of themselves.

Necro: What are your thoughts on how independent horror stacks up against all of the major player competition? Do you foresee more success and support from the mainstream horror genre for the smaller film makers?

RY: I hope in the future Independent Films will receive more support and love from everyone, it feels like Independent films are starting to get more noticed but mainstream movies I think will always have the top priority. It’s ashamed because there are a lot of great Indies’ out there that don’t get as much recognition as they should. I know I will be doing my best on helping out the low budget Film Makers on getting as much recognition as they can.

Necro: What do you perceive makes for a good horror film?

RY: Well there’s the basics of Blood, more blood, add some more blood and when you’ve had enough, more blood. I think what makes a good horror film is when your hair stands up on your skin, when you shutter and close your eyes during a scary scene. When you cannot bare to look at the screen anymore because the killer is indented into your mind. Now that makes a good horror movie. But it’s mostly, you have to have a good story that people won’t get bored of. I have seen so many horror movies that just will never have my attention, to boring and to much killing, or nothing makes since everything’s all over the place. Good Horror movie means good plot.

Necro: Name you favorite horror film and director and why?

RY: My favorite Film would be Alice Sweet Alice, I think that movie was well put together and creepy. Anyone who hasn’t seen it, should. I also Love Halloween, the mask, the unwanted feeling of the movie, and the music just gives me shivers and I love that. I know that’s two. Sorry…. John carpenter is my favorite but so is Wes Craven, it’s really hard for me to pick one…. I love the way their styles are, they are both different and unique in putting scenes together. I think they’re both great.

Necro: If you had the opportunity to exhume the grave and speak to any dead film director or actor who would it be and what would you talk about?

RY: Wow, what a question! Ummm well I would only want to talk to Edgar Allen Poe and ask him about everything, his thoughts, his writing, his loss. I know that if I had the chance with anyone else it would be Edward D. Wood Jr. He strived and came up with what are bad films but he still did it and even though he’s the worst Director of all time, he still made a name for himself. He seems like he would be fun to talk with.

Necro: Your Film Out of Print won the Viscera Film Festival. What was your inspiration for this film?



RY: I wanted to do something weird! Something where people would say, What the hell was that? I wanted to get a reaction out of people that wouldn't be so much scared but so much "How bizarre" I actually when I was thinking so hard everyday to come up with something unique and different and finally it came to me in a dream. I woke up the next day wrote it out, got my little sister and my friend Jen together and shot it. It was at last minute i thought about playing the victim and Killer, I thought it would be something different and cool.

Necro: What kind of attention has winning Viscera brought you or the film?

RY: To be honest, I haven't had much publicity on it but for what I have had on it I've gotten great feed back and so many fans telling me I should turn it into a feature that I have decided to turn it into a feature. i will be releasing a trailer very soon and have it out by next year, although it will be different from my short, I guarantee it will still be bizarre and twisted.....

Necro: What’s in the future for Last Doorway Productions?

RY: I am going to take over the world and it’s going to be a bumpy ride but it will be worth it. Last Doorway Productions is going to be doing more Film Fests, more shorts, Features, Comic books and much more including The Last Doorway Show…

Carnal Cadaverous and The Chainsaw Mafia would like to thank Reyna Young for taking the time to visit our crimson stained chambers...

For more information visit her crypts at:

http://www.lastdoorwayproductions.com

http://www.myspace.com/lastdoorwayproductions

http://www.myspace.com/thelastdoorwayshow