SUSIE
ADRIENSEN

Susie Adriensen has made a career out of organization.

The actress turned filmmaker is well known in the tri-state area for her Mingle Mangle mixers, a party where independent filmmakers in the horror community discuss each other's projects and in more cases than one, cast and crew members for projects are made at these events.

Susie has been a tireless worker, with two recent films as an actress (PRISON OF THE PSYCHOTIC DAMNED, THE BLOOD SHED) as well as putting the touches on her writing/directorial debut UNDER THE RAVEN'S WING, about a group of Goth girls who form a cult with disastrous results.

Recently, the Crypt was invited to the home of Susie and her husband Marek for a most charming interview, where Susie gives her funny and unique views on the horror scene and her past, current, and upcoming projects.

COLONEL’S CRYPT: What is it about the horror genre that interests you?

SUSIE ADRIENSEN: I think it’s something that’s in your blood. I like being scared. I like the feeling of “Holy shit, what’s coming around the corner?” It gives me a natural high.

CC: Were there any horror films growing up that had a significant impact on you?

SA: It didn’t inspire me to be a filmmaker but a movie that gave me the heebie jeevies was JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR. There was a scene with these lepers and if I recall they were all dressed in black robes and singing very morbidly. That freaked me out. It’s almost a ticklish kind of feeling. I can’t describe it but it’s intriguing.

CC: When did the acting bug bite you?

SA: As a child, I did small bits on my tape recorder and comedic skits for my mom. That was in me since probably day one. Right now, I like it but I like being a storyteller more than an actor at this moment.

CC: Let’s get right into UNDER THE RAVEN’S WING. How did you come up with the idea for RAVEN’S WING?

SA: I went through a Goth phase a few years ago. I was going to Goth clubs a lot with a friend of mine, Geoff DeVoe. We got a new camera which was a small, Sony, single chip DV camera which for seven years ago was a big deal. So I said to my friend “Let’s make a movie and we’ll make it about a goth girl.” Somehow we incorporated two more characters. I wrote an in depth background about these girls. Then I did a shot list and things happened that we didn’t shoot it back then, it was a short. Things don’t always come together as you know. I dusted off my background of these young girls, the shot list, and wrote a script.

CC: How did you make UNDER THE RAVEN’S WING a reality on such a small budget?

SA: The help of other people. I had Brian Jude, thank god, on board. My friend Sophia Eptamenitis, my husband, Meric Adriensen, my mother in law who did all the cooking, and so many wonderful people on board. I’m leaving so many people out that deserve mentioning, but just good and talented people helped make this possible.

CC: How did you find the actors for RAVEN’S WING?

SA: I sent out a bunch of casting calls and I think two people came from New York Casting.com, one person came from Backstage, and another actor, Coy DeLuca who plays the director, found me through Mingle Mangle or a movie I was in, PRISON OF THE PSYCHOTIC DAMNED. He told me he was an actor, sent me his resume. I remembered him, called him into an audition and he got the part.

CC: You’re well known in the Tri State area for Mingle Mangle. What is Mingle Mangle and why did you start it?

SA: Mingle Mangle is basically just a social group for people in the horror filmmaking business. We don’t accept killers or psychopaths. Well, just don’t let us know about it.

CC: So this isn’t a good time to talk about the one time in Jersey where I…

SA: No it’s probably not. By the way, the mob is alive and well in Jersey but I have no connections. Anyway, Mingle Mangle’s a networking group. I think it’s different because Mingle Mangle very down to earth. We’re just people who love the genre, who love the business. We love to talk about it and work together. It’s just a great way to socialize and talk about the joys and horrors about horror filmmaking.

CC: I met you on THE BLOOD SHED, where you play the crazy character of Sno Cakes. How was working on THE BLOOD SHED and playing such a character? 

SA: My friends and my husband say that Sno Cakes is not a far stretch from me (laughs). It was very comfortable to play that character. It was perfect for me. I had so much fun. Thank you Alan Rowe Kelly for giving me that part.

CC: How did you meet Alan Rowe Kelly?

SA: Alan might not remember this but I posted something on some forum, I think Pretty-Scary and he replied saying he was going to be at Chiller Theatre. We should meet for a drink. I didn’t see him there but he did wind up going to one of our early mixers. It wasn’t Mingle Mangle then, it was called the Horror Film Group Of New York City, which I was working with David Kargas on.

CC: What was the experience being on the set for THE BLOOD SHED?

SA: Besides freezing my butt off on one of the scenes, which even then was a pleasure because co-producer Rachel Gordon kept throwing over a blanket over me, everything for me was a lot of fun. I felt like I was playing with my brothers and sisters because there were a lot of women in production and in the cast. I just felt like I was with family, it was very comfortable. I really enjoyed myself and had a lot of fun.

CC: Why did you make the decision not to act in UNDER THE RAVEN’S WING?

SA: Originally when we were going to do the film seven years ago, I was going to be Raven. I had the black wig and the Goth clothing. I felt that it was more of a gimmick back then. When I found Kimberly Amato, who plays Raven, I was looking for somebody more Goth but when she came in and auditioned, she was so perfect in a very scary way, I just knew I found Raven.

CC: How far along are you with RAVEN as of this interview?

SA: I am about 95 percent done with the film.

CC: When will we expect to see it?

SA: I wanted to have a premiere and then I was given advice from a producer who said to send it to film festivals that don’t allow you to have premieres first, so I’m hoping people will see it as a film festival first. My goal right now is to have the punch list done by the first of July.

CC: That’s a week away.

SA: Oh fuck (laughs).

CC: I’m putting that in. Anyway, is there anything you’d like to say about PRISON OF THE PSYCHOTIC DAMNED which was just released?

SA: That was very interesting because that was done in an abandoned train terminal. That place was like a dream for a horror filmmaker. I would say there were over a hundred decrepit, empty, Asbestos ridden rooms in that place. I think that my performance would’ve been a little better if I had more time but that’s the nature of this business so don’t judge me too harshly.

CC: Do you see yourself doing more films as a writer/director?

SA: I sure hope so because that’s one of the reasons you start making a film. I have a script called INSIDE OUT. It’s my dream script and I don’t know if it would be my next project, but if it’s not my next project, then the one after that. It’s a little bit like Cronenberg’s CRASH with a twist of female monthly cramps.

CC: Say no more, you got me right there. Remind me never to piss you off.

SA: No car crashes, just strange fetishes.

CC: OK, now you’re getting my interest here.

SA: (laughs) I have this thing for cults, fetishes, and voyeurism. In my two scripts, it deals with cults and a lot of voyeurisms. I didn’t even realize it until both scripts were done, seeing the parallels. I’m not a voyeur, even though I have a telescope in my apartment and I don’t use it.

CC: What is the key of making a film work being that you’ve worked on a few different types of independent films?

SA: Begging, borrowing, no stealing. Also being as creative as you can be. If you see something in your travels such as an interesting location that can be feasible, go and check it out. People don’t like the word compromise, it’s not a bad word, it’s a good word. You have to compromise.

CC: What is your take on the current state of horror and where do you see horror going?

SA: I’m hoping it gets deeper in terms of storyline. In my opinion, I like character driven pieces. But that’s my opinion and I’m a Cancer Moonchild.

CC: What don’t like you seeing?

SA: Shallow, let’s just do this for the blood and gore. People are going to be “What are you talking about Susie?” but that’s how I feel. There’s something about characters and their psyche I find interesting. A perfect example of that is AMERICAN PSYCHO. There’s a lot of gore in that but the characters and the performances were just perfect. Also I think THE SHINING is a great example, that inspired me for sure. There’s something about ghost children that’s scary.

CC: Even though it’s been done to death now. Where do you see independent films being that quality films can be made on such a low budget, like you did with RAVEN’S WING?

SA: I think people are going to feel the need to go to High Definition, but I don’t think they have to. They’re going to feel that need to though. I don’t know where horror films will be in five years but if filmmakers concentrate more on the script than anything, and also getting good actors, I hope people can understand that it’s all about the story, the acting, and the good scare factor, and not the technical aspects of it so much.

CC: What do you hope audiences get out of UNDER THE RAVEN’S WING?

SA: I am hoping from my heart that young people do not take this seriously. It’s something I’m dealing with as I’m editing it. I just think that the characters are very captivating and it’s a pseudo documentary that’s supposed to look real. I hope that young people will understand that it’s just a movie. I also hope people see the humor in it. I think it’s going to be one of those things where either people will love it or hate it. I’m just hoping in general that people will see the humor and they don’t take it seriously. And they enjoy it, and love it.

CC: That’s all I have. Thank you.

SA: Thank you very much Scott.