LDR: After looking into your bio, I’d like to know what got a trained dancer interested in the horror film biz? Have you always been a fan or did you find the genre work by chance?
ALB: I’ve always been a horror fan. I saw Last House on the Left and The Amityville Horror as a double feature when I was nine. They terrified me and I loved it. Since then I’ve always enjoyed horror films. I like scary psychological thrillers more than slasher films mainly, though sometimes I really get in the mood for a good high body count sequel. Getting into the business itself was purely coincidental. I met my husband, Mike Watt, while he was in film school and we started dating. He needed actors for his projects and since I had acting experience, on stage, and I was close I was cast. I enjoyed acting and really starting getting into the behind the scenes of films. From producing to directing to lighting and editing, I try to pay attention and even if I can’t do it myself, I at least try to have the basics on how it’s done. It seems to have helped with out productions.
LDR: Women are beginning to come into their own in the Horror genre both in front of and behind the camera. Strong, driven women such as yourself are leading the way with producing and directing. As well as more roles where women are either the heroes, or some of the most unforgettable villains. What or who do you think is responsible for this trend and has it helped or hindered you both as an actress and a filmmaker?
ALB: I don’t know who is responsible for the trend but I know who my influences are. I have looked up to Brinke Stevens, Cassandra Peterson and Debbie Rochon to learn a lot, not just about acting, but stepping out and getting behind the scenes. Brinke and Debbie are both talented writers and producers as well as actresses and Cassandra has been a hero of mine since the first time I saw her and I realized she’s not only an actress but she’s created that character and deals with all that happens with Elvira.
LDR: Tell us about Abattoir, your newest film, in postproduction I believe. What do horror fans have to look forward to?
ALB: With Abattoir we tried to continue the Happy Cloud Pictures tradition and make a movie that is nothing like our previous films. We started out going for a sell-out movie and Mike wrote the script and it had plot and characters and story, everything a sell-out movie doesn’t have. So we didn’t succeed at selling out but we did make an interesting addition to the Vampire Movie genre. Abattoir is more of a female empowerment movie that happens to have vampires. There really isn’t a good verses bad scenario in Abattoir, which drives some people crazy, but we were trying to show that sometimes there is no right or wrong, it’s just whose side you are on. But don’t worry; there is gore and some nudity!
LDR: Tell us the differences between working in front of the camera and behind it. Which for you is harder, and which is more rewarding?
ALB: I find working both in front of and behind the hardest. Luckily I’ve had great assistance when I directed so it wasn’t all on me. But I’ve also at least produced all of our films so I’m never just in front of or behind on our projects. I have had the experience of being just in front of the camera on a couple of projects and whether or not I enjoy it depends on the productions. I’ve been on higher budget movies where the set is a mess and the atmosphere is horrible and it really makes for a bad experience. My favorite in front of the camera only project so far was filming my scene for Marty Jenkins and the Vampire Bitches. I was working with friends and other good people and we got a lot done and had a great time doing it. As far as which is more rewarding, if I ever just work behind the scenes only, I’ll let you know.
LDR: Tell us about The Resurrection Game and the problems with getting a distributor. Do you think that a lot of cross-genre projects have the same problems unless they are backed by major studios?
ALB: I think most movies these days have problems unless they are backed by a major studio. Distributors are so afraid to take chances with some smaller films, if they even watch them. They receive so many truly horrible movies they sometimes won’t even give something else a try. We made The Resurrection Game with stars in our eyes before we knew anything about his business. The plan was to edit the rough cut, send it out and finish the movie with the huge advance we’d get. We planned on doing it this way since we shot on film and it can be really expensive to transfer it and make a print. Obviously out plan didn’t work. We have sent it out in all formats, rough cut shot off of a flat-bed monitor to a nice DVD made from a DV transfer, and we’re received so many positive reviews so we kept plugging along at it trying for a distributor. If it wasn’t well received I don’t think we would have tried as hard. I think a lot of distributors have problems with the film because it isn’t easily pegged. You can’t just say it’s a zombie movie or it’s a drama. It’s difficult for some distributors and film reps to market movies like that and if it’s a lower budget film it’s not worth it. I am happy to say though that after 10 years of plugging away there is a contract in the works. It’s not signed yet so I can’t mention too much but look for The Resurrection Game out on DVD by the end of the year.
LDR: Tell us about Happy Cloud Productions. How did the company come about? What is the relationship between you all like?
ALB: The three founding members of Happy Cloud Pictures, Mike Watt, Bill Homan and me, started the company during The Resurrection Game. Mike had just graduated from Film School and sold his senior film, Tenants, right after graduation. Bill graduated from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh for Special Effects and ITT Technical Institute and was making puppets (Necro-Phil from The Resurrection Game was one of his first) and all kinds of make-up/electrical props. I had a taste of filmmaking from helping Mike on his film school projects and learned a lot about producing and lighting on his senior film and was eager to do it again. We were sitting around and decided to make a movie. That how Happy Cloud Pictures started. The relationship between the three of us is pretty much how it was then, aside from the fact that Bill no longer lives with us.
LDR: Do you and Happy Cloud Productions intend to stay in the horror genre or do you intend to branch out into other areas?
ALB: I love the horror genre but we have other projects in the works that branch out. I’ve been writing a script that’s a romantic drama.
LDR: What does the future hold personally for Amy Lynn Best? More acting? More behind the camera? Or maybe something totally different?
ALB: I’m going to continue working on whatever comes around that seems worth it to me. As long as it’s enjoyable or worthwhile, I’ll do it.
LDR: “Scream Queen”, do you think it is an honorable title or a hindrance to actresses who want to be taken seriously?
ALB: I think Scream Queen is a wonderful title to those women who have earned it. I believe that calling every woman who appears in a low budget movie a Scream Queen is really taking the title away from Brinke Stevens, Linnea Quigley and Michalle Bauer. What I think is worse is when someone dubs themselves a Scream Queen.
LDR: I have to ask. What is your favorite horror film and why?
ALB: My favorite horror film is The Haunting. I enjoy the atmosphere of that film and it creeps me out no matter how many times I watch it. It is so well done and suspenseful and they didn’t even need to show monsters or blood. I’d love to see more movies like that made.
A big Thanks to Amy and all the guys at Happy Cloud. All Horror Fans need to support Happy Cloud and other talented companies in the Indie Film community!
Amy’s Website for mor info!!
Living Dead Reviews
