 | The Scream Queen Mafia: An Interview with Brooke Lewis |
 
Written by TCM Staff Writer Rachel Grubb
When I was in Las Vegas for Xanadu, I met an amazing lady named Brooke
Lewis--Scream Queen, actress, and producer! She and I were on two of
the panels together, and I was wowed by her knowledge of the industry.
She is a sweet lady, and I cannot say enough great things about her.
I'd like to introduce you to her now...
Rachel:
Thank you so much for taking the time to talk with me. It was great
meeting you out in Xanadu Las Vegas, and I'm happy to be able to
interview you for The Chainsaw Mafia.
Brooke: Rachel
and The Chainsaw Mafia, the honor is mine! I am thrilled to be
acknowledged by artistic, powerful women of horror like you!
Rachel: Tell us everything we need to know about your production company, Philly Chick Pictures.
Brooke:
In 2002, I created Philly Chick Pictures to "produce entertainment with
an attitude". My movie career started as an actress in low budget
independent fims in NYC. I was always the actress with a ton of energy
and a business brain, who would call in a favor to attach talent, crew,
locations or think fast enough to do damage control on a set. After
doing this work for other people's companies or projects and not being
credited or compensated properly, I finally realized that I had been
"producing" all along! I learned that I have a creative soul and a
business mind. I have never been the type to sit back and wait for
things to happen, so I started Philly Chick Pictures to further my
acting and producing career, make films with an edge and find and
develop strong roles for women! Almost 7 years later, I am still
learning and growing every day and with each project I choose. I have
made a lot of mistakes in my career, but am very committed to learning
from them and moving forward!
http://www.Phillychickpictures.com
Rachel: You do a lot of producing. Do you have any interest in writing or directing your own stuff?
Brooke: Gotta tell ya...not so much! 
There is something very authentic and instinctive within me, when it
comes to acting and producing. Acting and producing come very naturally
to me and I am passionate about them. I have attempted to sit down and
write in the past and I almost blew my fucking brains out! I am way too
impatient to sit for hours and follow a screenplay structure or
format...hell, I hate answering all the emails I get to Philly Chick
Pictures!
I am actually intrigued by directing, but I am such a severe
perfectionist that if I were going to direct a feature film, I would
want to master every technical aspect first. I must admit, I am a
little scared of directing right now, but I try not to say "never".
Co-directing MS. VAMPY was challenging enough, even though I had an
incredible mentor working with me. At this point in time, I am choosing
to focus on my acting career more than producing. Producing has been a
gift and a skill to help me create a solid acting career, but it is a
HUGE time commitment and financial commitment. I have been so blessed
in 2009 to have been cast in so many amazing films and I want to put my
energies there right now!
Rachel:
Wow, that's awesome! I didn't realize you had codirected MS. VAMPY,
too. How do you feel about the role of women in horror, or women in
film in general? Do you think women are starting to be taken seriously,
or do we still have a long way to go?
Brooke: You know I could speak for hours about this one!
As I have stated in the past, "Even in the liberal 2009, the film
industry is still a "BOYS CLUB". I believe this to be so both in and
out of horror! The difference, I feel, is that with "Hollywood" films,
a woman must be "famous" first, before she can have power and create
her own production company or roles that empower women...Drew
Barrymore, Sandra Bullock, etc... That's an aspect of the horror genre
that I love! It is so much easier to develop a horror film for a
ridiculous low budget (you also taught me this, Rachel!), especially
now in the digital age, that opportunities are opening up for female
filmmakers like you and The Chainsaw Mafia crew, Melissa Bacelar, Reyna
Young, etc... I also think women can be a stand for roles that we play
on screen. You know I don't judge nudity...showing boobs, not showing
boobs is not my issue. My issue is roles that are created by men, in
which the woman is perceived as "weak" or "helpless" or "the victim".
This is another aspect of the horror genre that I love! You can find a
million sappy "Hollywood" films where the woman has been hurt and cries
half the movie or you can find a horror flick where the lead female is
now the killer, psycho, detective, cop, vigilante, etc... Powerful
horror ladies, BRING IT ON!!!
Rachel: I agree completely. When
more women are involved in production, I think we'll start to see some
stronger roles for women. I don't think it's even that the industry is
intentionally anti-woman. But the film industry is pretty male
dominated, and I think that's why they tend to have the strong
protagonists as males. I know I'm more inclined to write my strong
protagonists as women, because that's the experience I have to drawn
from, and I'd like to see that evened out. As actresses, I think we can
effect it by which roles we tend to gravitate toward.
I've never done television before. How is it different from movies?
Brooke:
TV is very different! It is a much more "immediate" medium. There is
something soooo gratifying about shooting an episode of a TV series,
then knowing that you can watch it with all your friends a month later.
Um...how long have we waited for some of our films to come out...3
years?
TV has so many different genres, as well. When I played Gina Grizano on
QUINTUPLETS on FOX, we had a live sitcom audience at the tapings, so it
feels very much like doing a theatre piece. Hour long drama series are
a lot more like film, but you have little screen time and limited time
to develop your character! Often with TV, the producers and writers
will come to set right before shooting and change up an entire scene!
It can be scary. I just love the stability of TV and would "bite"
someone to get on a show like TRUE BLOOD for about 5 years 
Rachel: You have quite an impressive IMDB page. Which role are you most proud of?
Brooke:
Thanks, doll! Too bad we don't perceive our own stuff that way, huh? I
am going to choose 3 roles, because I am proud of them for different
reasons. Most recently, I played the role of Rosella in THE SINATRA
CLUB. I grew up watching both horror and mobster movies back east and I
always wanted to act in both genres. I had the opportunity to play the
"goumada" (hooker/mistress), Rosella, and had a freakin' blast! She is
the comedic relief in a very serious mob drama. I am so proud of my
role as Agent Lori Romano opposite Tony Todd in iMURDERS. Lori is a
"tough cookie" detective who struggles between busting the case and
protecting her family. Although she emotionally unravels throughout the
film, she must be careful not to allow her emotions to interfere with
her job. I chose a more subtle approach to this character and still
feel uncomfortable when I see myself on screen with little make up, a
ponytail and frumpy clothes...excellent for an actress to experience! I
am truly proud of my work in KINKY KILLERS (although I hate the
title!). The role of Dr. Grace Sario has soooo many layers and sides,
she is full of surprises and she plays opposite the forever sexy
Michael Pare!
Rachel: What would be your ideal role?
Brooke: MONA, the role that Marisa Tomei played in MY COUSIN VINNY (Welcome Ms. Vampy! CLEOPATRA, the role that Elizabeth Taylor created (She was so gorgeous and powerful! ANY ROLE that Mae West acted in (She was a 5 foot, curvy, spitfire!)
Rachel: What are your goals for the future?
Brooke: I
am trying to live day to day, as it seems "life happens when I'm making
plans"! As I mentioned earlier, I am going to focus on my acting for
the rest of this year. I have 2 projects that I am involved in
producing in the next year, but I will be welcoming acting jobs! I have
about 5 films being released this year, so I will be promoting them
like crazy (iMURDERS; DAHMER VS. GACY; BREAK; GERALD; DOUBLE TAP)! I
ship out to Buffalo in 2 weeks to play the awesome role of Nicole in
Greg Lamberson's SLIME CITY MASSACRE. I head to Dallas later in the
summer to star in Anthony Brownrigg's THE EIGHT. I am starring in Roger
A. Scheck's TONIGHT, HE WALKS at the end of the year. And, horror
filmmakers can always contact me about acting roles at
Brooke@Phillychickpicturescom. I welcome strong female roles!
Rachel: Tell us about your web series, Ms Vampy!
Brooke:
MS. VAMPY is a true blessing! I had played a sexy, sassy, sarcastic,
high maintenance, comedic Vampire character for fun and my strategic
marketing executive, Keith Cunningham, created a promotional marketing
concept for her and she just exploded (well, she is very LOVEABLE!!!)!
One of my best friends and business partners, Todd Tucker of DRAC
Studios, helped me come up with the idea to produce a Pilot/web series
for MS. VAMPY and I ran with it from there! The show is "talk meets
sketch" with indie horror stars who come to Ms. Vampy's Villa to play.
Guests include, Michelle Tomlinson, Denise Gossett, Jeff Dylan Graham,
Lee Perkins, Kenneth J. Hall, Ford Austin and Chris Hannan from SCARS
Magazine.
To quote Vampity Fair, "Ms. Vampy is America's
funniest, sexiest, sassiest and most high maintenance vampire! Her
personality is as big as her hair and is often described as Betty Boop
meets Marisa Tomei in My Cousin Vinny. She wears pleather and fur and
wouldn't be caught "dead" without high heels! But, there is much more
to this loveable vampiress."
Check out: http://www.msvampy.net
Rachel,
thank you for spending time with me, both at XANADU in Vegas and on
this interview. I am so grateful we got to meet in person and speak on
Women In Horror panels together. You are genuine, artistic, supportive
and a breath of fresh air! Hope to see ya again soon!
Rachel: Yes, thank you, Brooke! I'm so glad we met, and so pleased I was able to talk with you today.
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