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Exclusive Interview: Halloween 5’s Tamara Glynn talks Howl of a Good Time, Hot Springs Horror Film Festival, and Theater of Terror.

10660341_369714709850932_4941859436397686825_n*Halloween is just around the corner. One of the sure fire signs is that television channels have started the never-ending cycle of rebroadcasting every entry in the Halloween franchise kickstarted by John Carpenter in 1978. As Michael Myers approaches, there’s no better person to talk to than one of the leading ladies who faced the murderer himself. I’m pleased to have conducted an interview with Tamara Glynn on Tuesday, October 14, 2014. She is most known for playing the role of Samantha Thomas in Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers. Since then, Tamara has been busy with a number of other projects, and honestly, I think you’re going to be both impressed and inspired for what she has in store for horror fans and up-and-coming filmmakers. I know she taught me something during our interview together, so for that she’ll always be one of my most favorite interviewees! You can read my interview with Ms. Glynn below, where we discuss her time with Halloween 5, her upcoming short film Howl of a Good Time, her master-class Hot Springs Horror Film Festival, her live-stage play Theater of Terror, and so much more!

Or, you can listen to our interview below! Isn’t she so giddy, bubbly, and infectious? I just love her! I also love that she is a horror actress who is also EDUCATED in horror films. Just an all around great person and fantastic interviewee!

HorrorSociety: Hi, everybody. This is MGD from HorrorSociety.com and I’m here today with Tamara Glynn. How are you doing today, Tamara.
Tamara: I’m great, Michael. How are you?

HorrorSociety: I’m doing fine. I’m actually really excited to speak to you today. I know you have a lot going on.
Tamara: I do. I have a lot going on. I think that’s an overloaded statement right now. There is a world of fun and exciting things going on right now.

HorrorSociety: I know. I’ve been reading up on you and I know there’s a lot. So, first I want to get the Halloween 5 stuff out of the way because that’s what everyone knew you from a little while ago. I just want to ask you a couple of questions on that so we can move onto all the good stuff happening now.
Tamara: Right, right, right.

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HorrorSociety: I wanted to know how you actually got involved with Halloween 5. Did you audition for the part?
Tamara: I did audition. I got the audition from my manager/agent at the time when I was 18-years-old and living in California. It was like any audition, all protocol. I went in and read for it and as soon as I picked up to sides to read the role of Samanatha [Thomas], it kicked in and I became her and it was amazing. I fell in love with the role and they overnighted the tape to the director of Halloween 5, Dominique Othenin-Girard. I was going to Miami to shoot the “Miami Vice” finale the next day and I got the call. I got Halloween 5 and shortly left for Salt Lake City, Utah.

HorrorSociety: It sounds like you were actually really excited to book the role. I was wondering if there was any apprehension because it was the fifth movie in a slasher franchise?
Tamara: I was [excited]. I was a fan of the franchise before ever auditioning, my goodness. The thing about Halloween is that I put it in another category. I don’t really categorize it as a slasher film. I think Halloween is in a class by itself. The anticipation, the executions – they’ve always been the most realistic ones. He’s grabbing a lot of strange objections in the shed, the barn… And killing people with them. Using your basic household tools! I’ve always taken so much pride in being a part of the franchise. It’s amazing, the fans are amazing. I love it. It’s been 35 years last October of the Halloween franchise and 25 years since Halloween 5. I mean, let’s go for 35 more!

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HorrorSociety: Yes, I saw that one of your events that we’re going to talk about, it’s actually on the 25 year anniversary. What was your favorite part having played Samantha? Was it the kill? What was your favorite moment as Samantha?
Tamara: I would have to say definitely the barn scenes. They were amazing. Greg Nicotero from KNB Efx Group – we’re all huge fans of Greg’s now – but having the opportunity to work with him and Dominique [Girard] and Robert Draper… It was amazing. I learned a lot at the time, in fact. Halloween 5 is what really got my interest started getting behind-the-camera as well as being in front of the camera. That’s why I’ve spent the last 20 years of my life primarily working behind the camera.

HorrorSociety: I didn’t even know that Greg [Nicotero] worked on Halloween 5 so you just taught me something about the movie. How do you feel knowing that this little portion of your life has made such been such a big influence on horror fans so many years later?
Tamara: I can honestly say I appreciate it now more than I did then. At the time, yes, it was a cool, but there is a huge difference when you’re 18 as opposed to 45. I was out of the limelight for many years and Justin Beahm is the one who kind of gave me back to the fans, and gave the fans to me. That was back in August 2012 and life has been amazing.

I’ll tell you what… The [Halloween] franchise has the strongest, sweetest, most loyal, loving fans of any franchise. I’ve observed it. I’ve watched, and the support is overwhelming. It’s brought tears to my eyes on occasion. It’s amazing to go to conventions and meet fans and meet filmmakers who are just starting out and say that [John] Carpenter was a huge influence to them. It has such a lasting impact across the board on fans, filmmakers, actors, actresses, special effects… The list goes on and on.

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HorrorSociety: I know. I think 4 and 5 are some of the first movies I remember watching as a child. They were part of the movies that kickstarted my love of horror films. I don’t think I saw 1 and 2 yet, I just saw 4 and 5 on TV or VHS. As a 7 or 8-year-old, it even made an impression on me then. It’s lead you to a lot of good things – and like you said – its lead a lot of fans and filmmakers and actors to a lot of great things as well.
Tamara: It certainly kicked the door open. It certainly opened up doors for many other franchises. It’s always been the leader of the pack so to speak. Halloween has always been the leader and has generally lead by example. That’s why I’m so proud and blessed to have been a part of it. It’s amazing.

HorrorSociety: We’re going to put Halloween 5 aside because we need to move on. I could spend hours talking about your time with Halloween and what your life has been like since, but I know we have a lot of other stuff to cover. I know you’re an actress outside of Halloween. You did “Growing Pains,” “Freddy’s Nightmare,” “Knot’s Landing,” “Miami Vice.” Now you’re going to be acting in a new short film called Howl of a Good Time.
Tamara: Indeed I am.

HorrorSociety: What can you tell me about that?
Tamara: This is super exciting to me. I’ve wanted to work with Patrick Rea. He directed Nailbiter. Patrick Rea is the reason I have developed an internal love for short films. His work is amazing. He has the high-end, indie, flair, very commercialized, sometimes Disney… He takes all these elements and tells these stories in his short films that are absolutely incredible. I’ve yet to see very many film makers who can do this and pull it off the way Patrick does. It’s beautiful.

1958332_390004591155277_7879618620556494928_nI told Patrick a year ago that I’d love to be in one of his short films because he’s so amazing. His precession, his preciseness, his audio… The guy is just… I can’t say enough nice things about Patrick and his talent. We know that we wanted to work together so we wrote a script called Cabin Pressure and it had some things to do with airplanes and the FAA. We eventually decided to take the concept in another direction, which he did beautifully. Howl of a Good time is set in a theater, the theater I’m sitting in right now. It’s an all-star cast. We figured that everyone would be in for the festival, so why not make a short film with an all-star genre cast? Leslie Easterbrook is starring in it with me. Renea Geerlings. Tim D. Welch from Scream in the Dark FX in Omaha, Nebraska. Justin Beahm. Timothy Andrew Edwards. Jeff Allen from Arkansas’ 94.1 KKPT. Amy Perkinson Hale, one of my producers and an on-air DJ from KLADZ radio here in town. It’s a who’s who of friends and a lot of familiar faces in the Arkansas and Nashville area.

HorrorSociety: I’m excited! That’s one of the first things I looked at. The cast does have a lot of people from a lot of noteworthy titles.
Tamara: I will say this – I cannot leave them out! You’ll have to excuse me because I’m running on so much energy right now! One of my sweetest friends in the world, Felissa Rose, is also starring in it. We all love Felissa from Sleepaway Camp. Frank Sorrentino, who has a new hit show out called “The Sorrentinos.” He’s The Situation’s brother from the “The Jersey Shore.” So it’s amazing. It’s huge. It’s big. I don’t know if they’ve ever tried to do this at any other festival, but we’re doing it and if it hasn’t been done then we’re setting it for the record book.

HorrorSociety: Is it true that you’re an executive producer as well as appearing in it?
Tamara: It is true. Being a producer has been such a big part of my life. Being behind the camera and producing… I’ve done everything from grip work to craft services to cleaning the toilets. I’ve done it all. I was raised back in old school where you had to start at the bottom and work your way up. I’ve been in this industry in some sort of capacity since I was ten, so now producing is just a natural love of mine, more so than directing. But in four or five years I’m going to give a shot at directing a project or two.

HorrorSociety: I’m definitely excited to see you directing in a few years. When are you filming Howl of a Good Time? Is that set yet?
Tamara: We are filming at our theater here in Arkansas. It’s at the Motion Picture Theater. We’re shooting the short prior to… Let me give you backstory. My horror film festival opens next week, October 23 – 26. My guests will start arriving next Wednesday, October 22. Our first shot is next Thursday morning at 6am. We’re trying to get all the interior shots done prior to opening up for the festival on Thursday and Friday.

10644963_369527673202969_4001117301329035049_nWe’re going to have an amazing time. We have a nonprofit, The Hot Springs Arts and Film Institute. We’re filmmakers for filmmakers. Our passion is to educate and I always say if one filmmaker can come in and get one little piece of knowledge and apply it to their project then we’re winning. That’s what it’s about. It’s an excellent way to network with key industry people. Leslie [Easterbrook] will be here. My friend, Timothy Andrew Edwards, from LA will be there. He’s one of the industries finest composers. He just did Malek Akkad’s Freefall. Tim is coming in because there are so many key elements that filmmakers aren’t thinking about. Sound, design, composing… Tim’s going to come in and speak on that. Bart Mastronardi who teaches cinematography at NY Film Academy will be there. We’re going to do fun things with him and his expertise and how to make [your shot] look pretty. We’re about educating filmmakers and helping them out. We also cover everything from finance to distribution and we’re here to teach. Everyone has a great time and networks and this is where lifelong relationships are made. Last year was our first annual and it was incredible. The friendships that are made… There is magic that is made at this festival.

HorrorSociety: I’m glad you explained that. When I see Hot Springs Horror Film Fest I just think of films and guests. I’m really glad you mentioned that there are going to be classes for filmmaking.
Tamara: We have panels, too. Last year we had Jeff Burr in and David Schmoeller, who created Puppet Master. We took old school and blended it in and balanced it out with newer school directors and filmmakers. That’s what we’re trying to do, to keep on adding quality and production value to the films. Education is key. Equipment is changing every minute. It’s not about keeping up with equipment. It’s about knowing your skills and taking that risk. That’s what we’re here to teach.

HorrorSociety: Wow! I’m really inspired by what you said! I think it’s going to be great because even conducting this interview I’m learning so much. I think you teaching and working with other people is going to be really great. You should write a book.
Tamara: Someone approached me about writing a book two or three weeks ago. I still have to return that email, but it sounds pretty interesting right now. That may be in the future.

HorrorSociety: You already got my money. I’d buy your book.
Tamara: At this point in my life I am very blessed and I have a beautiful, healthy 19-year-old son who is amazing. Mom is my #1 greatest title in the world

10342417_390498571105879_2976718464131295668_nHorrorSociety: Yes. Always.
Tamara: Everything is secondary. It feels so good to give back to fans who love the genre, filmmakers as well. Bill Voland and I have the Hot Springs Art and Film Institute and we want to educate and to have this amazing time. It makes a huge difference. It’s our passion. It’s our love. We want to share this. We want our friends to succeed and filmmakers to succeed. We want them to do it the right way.

HorrorSociety: Of course.
Tamara: There’s more than just shooting a film on your iPhone and putting it to copyrighted music… I’m not going to go there. There’s just a lot more to it. Also, here at the theater… We are opening up this Thursday night… We got the Theater of Horror. One of my producers, Amy Perkinson Hale, is directing Theater of Horror. It is a live stage performance mixed with scary haunts. It’s never been done here in Arkansas. We have international fearologist John Burton designing some of the sets and he did rewrites and revisions on the play dialogue. It’s about a curse here in the theater that happened in the 1930s and it’s a true story! If anyone is listening and wants to come to the theater, come on out! It’s going to be a great time!

HorrorSociety: I want to come! It really sounds like… I’ve been to a lot of festivals both working for HorrorSociety and going on my own to check it out. Yours really seems like the most innovative, genuine, inspiring one, so tell us again the dates and times and where it’s at so they can find it.
Tamara: The Theater of Horror opens this coming Thursday here in Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas. It will run through the whole month of October and end on November 2. Hot Springs Horror Film Festival will run October 23 – 26 and get your tickets now. They are available, but this event will be sold out. https://www.hotspringshorrorfilmfestival.com/ We’re also going to have the premiere of Felissa Rose’s new movie, Blood Reservoir, and a screening of Axe to Grind starring Debbie Rochon.

HorrorSociety: I’m hopping in my car right now!
Tamara: We also have other categories besides horror. We have thriller, scifi, and fantasy. You have to be careful with kids, but these are not just slashers and gore. There is so much passion and talent the new filmmakers have put into these films. They’re awesome. I’m so proud of all the films in the festival.

HorrorSociety: I think we need to move on because I’m getting really jealous that I can’t go. I’m going to send someone there with a camera….
Tamara: No, just come here yourself and I’ll put you to work!

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988622_356217741172364_989193829_nHorrorSociety: I’ll totally work!
Tamara: Also, this coming weekend I’m flying out to Indiana on Friday to appear at Shocktober Con in Evansville with Ari Lehman and his band and Butch Patrick. A couple more people will be there and you can get your tickets online now at https://www.facebook.com/ShocktoberCon/.

Tamara: Oh! Guess who else is coming to the Hot Springs Horror Film Festival?
HorrorSociety: Um… YOU!?

Tamara: Besides me! I’m the hostess and co-director! I just looked at what’s sitting on my desk while I’m talking to you… The Staten Island clown!
HorrorSociety: Oh my god really?
Tamara: Yes! I do not like clowns. I’m a little scared because he was popping up in Staten Island. He made national and international news. He’s coming here to the theater, so if anyone sees me running like hell down the street it’s probably because he’s chasing me.

HorrorSociety: That’s so weird. I see him on the news all the time because I’m literally an hour from Staten Island.
Tamara: He’s going to be here.

HorrorSociety: That’s going to be so much fun.
Tamara: I may have to put on a mask and chase him back because clowns… I’m highly terrified of clowns.

HorrorSociety: I think everyone is. I think that’s why they’re’ still used in scary movies all the time. People just hate clowns.
Tamara: They’re evil! Things with clown heads are really popular. In my office I turned the other direction and there is a pig head right there. There’s a leg on the floor and a head, part of an arm.

HorrorSociety: That’s awesome.
Tamara: That is Halloween, right?

HorrorSociety: That is a producers office. That is the definition of a producer’s office. Everything is crammed in there and you’re ready to go.
Tamara: We have a theater filled with all kinds of fun stuff. I encourage, I invite everyone to come out. It’s going to be an amazing time. Come out and cheer these indie filmmakers on. Be a part of the magic. That’s what it’s about.

HorrorSociety: Is there anything we should touch upon that I missed that you’d like to get out there while I still have you.
Tamara: There are a lot of projects on hold for 2015. After this I’m going to take off for a few days. After this sprint to the finish. It’s just a super fun time. I’m proud of the fans. I’m proud of the Halloween franchise. I’m proud of all the filmmakers. I’ve got a lot of projects on hold for 2015. Hell of a Good Time will be available for purchase at some point. I will keep you guys at HorrorSociety up-to-date on that.

1384053_243027945852943_860226641_nHorrorSociety: I mean, is it that long from New Jersey to Arkansas. Can I do that drive?
Tamara: If the clown from Staten Island is trekking down here, then you can do this. We have so many guests from the East Coast coming. We got people from Ohio coming. People from New York driving down. It’s got to be good to convince people to do 22 hour road trips. This is the place to be.

HorrorSociety: I’m so happy I had a chance to speak with you today. You taught me stuff today about filmmaking, promoting. I’m glad you spoke on just how in depth your film fest is. Master class… I don’t know what to call it now. I’m glad you spoke on that well because now people know it’s more than just a meet and greet scenario.
Tamara: It is. Being a filmmaker… Bill Voland being behind the camera of “Silk Stalkings” for six seasons. It’s great to find likeminded people. We learn, we celebrate, we love. We really root each other on.

HorrorSociety: it’s like a little horror family.
Tamara: It is. We want our friends to succeed. What we do is give you guys the tools to succeed.

HorrorSociety: I’m going to let you go because I know you have more than I thought you had going on. I really appreciate you taking the time to speak with me today and fitting me into your schedule.
Tamara: Thank you.

HorrorSociety: I’m going to keep everyone up to date going forward… Howl of a Good TIme, any other appearances, projects. I’m going to keep everyone up-to-date and I’m going to continue to promote the festival because I think everyone should know about it. You get back to work! Have a wonderful rest of your week and good luck with everything!
Tamara: That’s sweet. Thank you for the opportunity.

*For more information on Tamara Glynn and all of her current projects, please visit the following links:
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0323372/?ref_=tt_cl_t6
Halloween Wiki: https://halloweenmovie.wikia.com/wiki/Samantha_Thomas
Howl of a Good Time: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4056656/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
Hot Springs of Horror Film Festival: https://hotspringshorrorfilmfestival.com/
Theater of Horror: https://hotspringscentraltheater.com/
Shocktober Con: https://www.facebook.com/ShocktoberCon

Michael DeFellipo

(Senior Editor)

One Comment

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  1. Go back sometime and check out her face during that barn scene. This woman has the sexiest features on Earth. I think you could make an adult film using Tamara with exclusively closeups…I don’t think there has been a more erotic moment in the history of slasher films(or many other kinds of films, either)…That whole barn sequence was masterfully executed…the finest extended stalking scene of all time…and Tamara’s beauty gave it a charge that made it even more effective.

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