Deadly Beauty: Horror’s Scream Queens and Rising Talent: Ryli Morgan

Deadly Beauty: Horror’s Scream Queens and Rising Talent: Ryli Morgan

“In 2001, she starred in her first film, the beautifully-shot Despair, written and directed by her husband, Mark Baranowski. Joining the On Mark Productions creative team, Ryli followed up Despair with Runaway Terror and Expendable. Through these productions, Ryli quickly became the subject of feature articles in such publications as DRACULINA, MOVIE MYSTIQUE and SIRENS OF CINEMA. She was chosen as the first “Revolver Girl” for Revolver Magazine, and became Troma‘s July 2002 “Tromette of the Month.”

By 2004, Ryli found herself in enough demand that she could pick and choose projects. Among the movies outside of On Mark were Happy Cloud Pictures‘ Severe Injuries and in Sin By Murder (Sterling Productions). Never content with being labeled as just one thing or the other, by the end of 2004, she reinvented herself again as a singer, working with husband Mark Baranowski to co-create the CD Awful Goodness.

In 2005, she branched out beyond horror to star alongside Brinke Stevens and Lynn Lowry in Heaven Help Me, I’m in Love, a dramedy from On Mark Productions. Later, she graced the cover of one of the final issues of DRACULINA (Aug. 2006, issue 51), before announcing a temporary retirement to raise her son.

With her time now split between family and career, Ryli works primarily behind the scenes as a web designer and copy writer. Her recent work has included being primary researcher and publicist for UnsolvedNC.com, a site which profiles missing persons and unsolved homicide cases within her home state of North Carolina.

However, after the birth of the couple’s daughter, the urge to return to film in some capacity has been too great to pass up. Keep checking here for announcements of new and exciting projects in the very near future.”*

Location: Charlotte, NC

1. How did you get into the industry?

From a very young age, 4 or 5, I knew that I wanted to be an entertainer of some sort. Singing was always a love, as well as acting. I remember being very young, waking up when my father came home from his 2nd shift job so that we could watch the late-night “bad movies” (B-films). Joe Bob Briggs was a staple. It was this shared interest that turned into “I can do that”. Luckily, when I met my husband, Mark Baranowski, he shared a love of not only horror but B-films, in general.

My husband, Mark Baranowski, had written quite a few scripts, and I suggested that we put together a film short to showcase his ability as not only a writer but a filmmaker. The filmmaking bug bit us both very hard, and 9 titles later, we’re still brainstorming new ideas.

2. What Scream Queen inspired you most?

I would have to say it’s a tie between Linnea Quigley (in Return of the Living Dead) and Brinke Stevens (every film she’s made). Linnea taught me that you don’t have to be a cookie-cutter “babe” to be successful in b-films, and Brinke taught me that it was okay to have a brilliant mind, as well.

3. What are the next couple of projects you’re working on?

Currently, I’m filming this weekend, actually, for a faith-based local indie film, Till My Last Breath. I’m also preparing for a large role in an all-out horror film, DIE, WITCH, DIE from Matt Cloude. Mark and I also have a few things in the works, but I don’t have enough details to share at this time.