In “2012”, director Roland Emmerich literally blows the world away in a spectacular way never before seen on screen and shows us the worst that can happen to our beloved planet: Earthquakes, tsunamis a-go-go, eruptions in your face, mega-explosions, highways and buildings destroyed... very impressive technical success, no doubt... Readmore...
While “Naked Weapon” may not be the greatest movie ever made, it nevertheless made a deep impression on Hong Kong audiences and, perhaps more importantly, gave Maggie Q her first major acting role. Directed by Ching Siu-Tung (“A Chinese Ghost Story”, “Swordsman II”) and produced/written by Wong Jing (“Naked Killer”), “Naked Weapon” mixes Hollywood high-tech blockbuster with Hong Kong style exploitaction... Readmore...
It’s awesome to watch a heroine kick a bad guy’s ass in the movies! But in real life, it doesn’t really happen very much. According to L.A.-based actress/model and women’s safety advocate Candace Kita, the smartest thing for a woman to do with a potential “predator” (1) is to remove herself from the situation as peacefully as possible... Readmore...
Known as the “Hong Kong Spider Girl”, world champion rock climber Lisa Cheng (鄭麗莎) is also an accomplished gymnast, martial artist, successful bodybuilder, and for the last four years has been the reigning queen of the Miss BodyFitness event at the Hong Kong Bodybuilding Championships. Lisa’s extraordinary physical abilities and multiple athletic activities have led her into a career as actress, stuntwoman and fitness model... Readmore...
Everybody loves “Girls with Guns” movies, but “Calibre 9”, an indie action feature marking the debut of young French director Jean-Christian Tassy, may start a brand new trend: “Girls in Guns”! This low-budget, wacky flick stars Nathalie Hauwelle as a murdered prostitute whose spirit possesses her own murder weapon... Readmore...
In “Kirot”, James Bond heroine Olga Kurylenko (“Quantum of Solace” and Neil Marshall's upcoming "Centurion") is Galia, an assassin from Ukraine living in Tel Aviv, who’s involved against her will with the local sex-traffic mafia.
Away from her daughter who stayed in Ukraine, Galia wants to escape from her new employees after disobeying her latest contract. She will join forces with her neighbor Elinor (played by popular Israeli actress and pop rock singer Ninet Tayeb) a battered wife who shares with her an adjoining wall, and who wants to fight as well for her freedom.
Olga Kurylenko and Ninet Tayeb in Danny Lerner's "Kirot" (2009)
Procuded by veteran filmmaker Ehud Bleiberg, chairman of the L.A. based production and sales company Bleiberg Entertainment, “Kirot” (which means “Walls” in Hebrew), is the second feature film of Israeli director Danny Lerner after the acclaimed mystery drama “Frozen Days”. The movie will have its world premiere at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival (September 10-19 2009) as the opening film for the new City to Citysection, which shows this year 10 films from and about Tel Aviv.
Today was held the very first French press screening of “The Descent: Part 2”, the efficient sequel of Neil Marshall 2005 spelunking claustrophobic horror monster movie. This sequel marks the directorial debut of Jon Harris, who worked for the last 15 years as an editor (He did in particular, Guy Ritchie’s “Snatch”, Matthew Vaughn’s “Layer Cake”, James Watkins’s “Eden Lake” and the first part of “The Descent”).
If you watched the director’s cut of “The Descent”, you probably know that there’s no way to make a sequel to it, at least with the same characters of the first film, because they all died or were about to die, lost in an underground labyrinth of tunnels and caves, populated with blind angry/hungry devil-esque creatures.
But it was finally decided that “The Descent: Part 2” would be a direct follow-up to the North American version of the original film, where the character of Sarah Carter (played by Shauna Macdonald) succeeds to escape from the monstered caves.
Sometimes you have to let go.
Still, why would she go back in hell instead of staying safely at home? Well, the scripwriters had the practical idea to make her amnesiac. So basically, after her escape, heavily traumatized and covered in (others’s people) blood, Sarah is questionned by two cops, and is obviously suspected by one of them, the veteran Vaines (Gavan O’Herlihy). The other one, Elen Rios (Krysten Cummings) who’s also a mother, feels empathy for Sarah (who has lost a child in an accident one year earlier) and think she has nothing to do with the missing of her friends.
Sarah is going back to hell.
When a good cop dog find the entrance to an old well at the place of an old farmer (Michael J. Reynolds), Vaines decides to go underground and look for the missing girls, with Elen, Sarah and also a rescue team, composed by the experimented Dan Sheperd (Douglas Hodge) and two younger volunteers, Cath (Anna Skellern) and Greg (Joshua Dallas).
Deep underground floor please.
Then, you probably guess how things will go. By the time Sarah will start to recover her memory, very uncool things will happen, and mostly to human beings. In the dark and oppressive depths of the unknown cave system, people will be lost, stuck, chased, scratched, dismembered, shitted on (litterally), bitten, and eventually eaten, unless they fight back...savagely.
But if you’re familiar to the short film festival Channel 101 and its website (created by Dan Harmon and Rob Schrab – who also co-created “The Sarah Silverman Program”), you probably have seen her a lot more, since she directed and/or played in numerous hilarious short movies since 2005, including her action horror “Mega Bitch Meltdown” (Super Chicks vs. Zombies), the Swedished “Turdy Longbows” (the “Pippi Longstocking” of the new millennium) and the totally insane “The Vacationaires” (the part 2 was just put online).
Here is the first half of the two-part interview of this multitalented artist who likes to make movies in the living room (Kate's pink hair photo by Sammy Primero).
Frédéric Ambroisine: Is your name Freund German?
Kate Freund: My last name is German for “friend”. I'm German, Italian but I was raised in Los Angeles my entire life.
FA: You are an actress, director, writer, editor, music composer, banjo performer, producer, animator, make-up and digital effect artist, costume designer, casting director and illustrator. Did I forget something?
KF: I also make little stuffed animals and puppets. I sell the stuffed animals through www.katerdoll.etsy.com Also, if you watch “The Sarah Silverman Program”, there is a puppet named Ookie that I made.
FA: Among all those activities, what was the first one who attracted you? The one that gave you the desire to work in the entertainment business?
KF: When I was little, I hated school. I didn’t see the point in going. It felt like I was doing a bunch of work and not getting paid for it. When I was six, some kids from a higher grade came into our classroom and said, “who is trying out for the talent show?” Several kids raised their hands and got to leave class. Obviously, I wanted to get out of class and I raised my hand. Sure enough I was dismissed. I couldn’t believe it. They just let me leave because I said I had a talent. Something sorta clicked in my head, if you had talent you could get out of doing normal work.
They lead me into the auditorium and put me on stage. Then said, “what’s your talent?” Honestly, I didn’t have one so I faked it. I started singing and acting out the song, My Boyfriend’s Back. Unfortunately, I couldn’t remember the song lyrics so I just made up my own hoping no one would notice. I thought for sure that they would be mad at me for acting like I had a talent but everyone thought it was funny. They actually thought it was all part of my routine and put me in the show. From then on, I said I wanted to be an entertainer.
Kate Freund by Matt Freund (the previous and next one too)
FA: Did you study acting or filmmaking?
KF: From around 9-15, I performed regularly at The Santa Monica Playhouse. Then for some reason, I lost all interest in theater and starting studying film acting from David Wells and Sally Piper and did workshop classes with my then manager Hines and Hunt. I almost didn’t go to college because I was cast in a pilot that was a “sure” go. Like every “sure” go, the show didn’t get picked up and it really bummed me out. I felt like I had put so much time and energy into acting that it was time for a break and enrolled in the University of California, Irvine as a Biology Major. I had always been interested in science and for some reason that seemed logical. However, for Christmas that year, my dad got me a video camera and I started making little movies with my dorm mates. I lasted one more quarter at UCI and then transferred to USC to study creative writing and screenwriting. At USC, I collaborated on over 30 student films. It was a great environment but honestly, I think the best film school out there is Channel 101 and it is free.
FA: On your “official” – but incomplete - filmography (IMDB), you started to work as an actress, and then a casting director? How did that happened?
KF: When I was 17, I was cast in “Once & Again” as an out of control party girl. It was a bit part but I really enjoyed working and getting out of school. The director was a family friend and knew I was interested in the entertainment industry. I asked if I could get an internship in editing and he said, “no but we have something in the casting department.” I had already met all the casting women because they used me on their show, so I thought great I know I’ll get this internship. I interned and then was an assistant for Amy Lippens Casting for about two years. When I was at USC, I wanted to work on as many projects as possible but unless you were in the directing/production program everyone was kinda snooty. I didn’t want to P.A and had all this casting experience so I just became the go to girl for casting at that film school. I got to meet all the budding directors and didn’t have to lug around a bunch of heavy gear.
FA: What do you have to do as a casting director?
KF: Basically what a casting director does is a lot of work that most people take for granted. You’re sent hundreds of actor submissions and from those you pick people to come in and read for the part. It was really interesting for me to see the other side of the audition process. At then end of the day, it gets really stressful because you just want to find that perfect person that the director, producers and network all like.
FA: How did you met Rob Schrab? Did you know about his work before knowing him personally?
KF: I met Rob in 2005. I was working as a producer for “Rough Cut LA”, it was an entertainment news show minus the gossip. We’d constantly pitch stories that were about talented filmmakers or film festivals and then send a camera crew and a host to interview. My friend had just shown me Channel101.com. They were a huge fan of Justin Roiland’s “House of Cosby’s.” I looked at the site and couldn’t believe how funny the videos were and that people were making these out of their living rooms with out a big budget. It was the complete opposite of USC, you could make something for dirt cheap and still entertain people.
I suggested that we do a piece on Channel 101 and the Executive Producer signed off on it and then told me I should host it. I went down there with a camera crew and interviewed everyone. Rob was the last person we interviewed. I had seen his show Twigger’s Holiday and thought he was brilliant. After the interview we became email friends and then he asked me out. We celebrated our 4 year anniversary in April.
KF: Rob is a genius. His attention to detail and his comedic timing would inspire anyone. I’m very fortunate to be around someone who is so talented because it makes me try harder as a creative because I know he is going to see it. Rob’s my biggest fan but also my hardest critic.
FA: When did you hear about Channel 101?
KF: A friend of mine showed me the Channel 101 website in 2005.
FA: Can you explain a little bit the concept of the 101 Channel. The (failed) pilots and episodes etc.?
KF: Channel 101 is like a mini TV network. There are five shows in Primetime. These shows are the top voted shows from the screening. And each month, 4-6 new shows are screened alongside the Primetime shows. The audience can only vote for 5 shows. The shows that are the most popular become Primetime shows and they get to make another episode. The shows with the least amount of votes are “failed” pilots because they only get to make the one episode. During any screening a Primetime show can get canceled if a new show gets more votes. Does that make sense?
FA: You started as an actress in some 101 Channel shorts in 2005 and then you started to direct your own shorts. Did you have any directing experience before that?
KF: I directed some artsy student films at UCI and USC before delving into 101. The thing is, 101 is one of the best training grounds for honing your craft. It teaches you discipline. You have one month to make something and then it gets rejected or it gets screened in front of a live audience and you instantly know if you are good or not. If the room goes quiet or worse people talk over your show, you know that you have to do better next time. Usually when you submit to a festival you can’t see the initial reaction from the audience until months later. There is a certain immediacy to 101, which is great because you can be timely with your comedy. I helped Rob with “Thriller, Chiller Theater” and then I was a fairy in “Yacht Rock” but I kinda felt like a hypocrite for praising 101 so much and then never making my own show. I wanted to prove that I could make something and contribute too. I’ve made 11 shows for Channel 101 but only 5 have been screened. You never know what the panel is going to react to. Last June I finally got a show into Primetime with co-creators Kelsy Abbott and Kyle Reiter. It’s called "The Vacationaires", watch it!
Kyle Reiter, Kate Freund and Kelsy Abbot in "The Vacationaires" (2009)
KF: I wanted to do a show that had a mix of female and male talent. At the time, most of the 101 shows were all staring dudes. I had just watched “Switchblade Sisters” and “Naked Killer” and wanted to do a kick ass girls with guns show with a twist.
KF: Around 80 bucks. I bought a few rubber masks, the glowing hand communicators and some tape stock. I had lights, and my brother Matt Freund, shot it with his camera. We borrowed guns from fellow 101er David Hartman.
FA: How long was the shooting and the editing?
KF: We shot in Topanga Canyon in January and it was around 30 degrees and it started raining so we had to go up the next weekend to get Myke dancing in his underwear. I was so worried he was going to get sick. I think it took around 3 half days of shooting. The editing took about a week and a half. Rob really helped me with the first action scene.
KF: I saw the SXSW Grindhouse trailer late in the game and was so bummed out because I really wanted to make one. I knew I didn't have time to shoot something new so I just cut up Mega Bitch and wrote a voice over track. I think I did that trailer in one night and fed exed it out in the morning. It was on aintitcool's pick for grindhouse trailers.
KF: I don’t know. I’ve never really thought about it before. I just do projects that I want to do and ultimately, they fall in the comedy genre. I think it goes back to wanting to be an entertainer and some choice words Rob shared with me, “Don’t bore your audience.”
FA: There are different levels of craziness in comedy, and it seems that you’re trying to exeed the limits of madness a little bit more one short after another?
KF: When I make something all I am consciously trying to do is finish it. That being said, I think with each project I am trying to top myself. I mean, who wants to go backward?
FA: To know if your work will be efficient, do you have to laugh at your own jokes or make your friends laugh?
KF: I live with Rob Schrab. I like to edit in the living room. Rob will pass by and if what I’m working on catches his eye and he stops what he is doing to laugh. I know I am in good shape.
FA: In your shorts, you’re directing and acting at the same time. How do you manage to focus on your work behind and in front of the camera?
KF: Sometimes I watch stuff and it doesn't work. I go eck, why did I do that? If I was behind the monitor I would have changed that but oh well. I just try and make it work in the edit. There's a lot of great actors and there's a lot of great actors out there with baggage. I use myself because I don't want to deal with another person. It just makes things easier. The bigger the cast, the harder the shoot becomes to coordinate. I mean if I had a line producer and a budget then yeah I would work with more people. But we tend to shoot guerilla style. I have a five seater car. If you can all pile in one car it makes life so much easier. That way people are not running late or looking for parking.
FA: In the 101 Channels shorts that you played in and didn’t direct, which one are your favorites?
KF: Working with Sevan Narjarian on “The Pop” was a great experience. I was cast as Olive Oyl and it was so special because that's a role that my dad always wanted to see me play. As a kid he'd joke with me and tell me I looked just like Olive Oyl because I was so skinny. But back to working with Sevan. It's such a treat. He is so good with effects and direction. I know that whenever he asks me to do something, I want to do it because it is going to look kickass. I also really liked working with Danny Jelinek on “Arrow”.
Kyle Kinane and Kate Freund in Abed Gheith & Sevan Najarian's "The Pop" (2008)
FA: Concerning “Turdy Longbows”, which (kind of) movies inspired you? Did you use some footage from old movie(s) or is it 100% your creation?
KF: I was totally inspired by “Pippi Longstocking”. My brother, Matt was the DP on this shoot and he made it look very cinematic. I don't think we used any footage from other movies. I just had to re watch it to make sure. Rob helped color correct the footage to give it a washed out, old VHS tape look. Rob also made the opening logo for 1000 milleniums.
FA: How was the post-production of “Turdy Longbows”? The color work and (voluntarily) bad post-synchro are weirdly awesome...
KF: I had a script for the show but I wanted it to have that "Pippi Longstocking" bad dubbed feel. I wanted to push that to an extreme. I really wanted to make it feel old and familiar. There are so many weird shows I watched as a kid, that I never thought were that bizarre but when I go to rewatch them, I'm like why is this edited like this??? Why did they have that character do that? None of this show makes any sense but as a kid I loved it. My favorite shots we did were in front of the abandoned house where I am coming down the hill. To me that totally looks like the original show.
Kate Freund and Armen Weitzman in "Turdy Longbows" (2009)
FA: Since it’s a pure nonsense comedy, how did you explain to the actors what’s it’s about?
KF: I gave them a script and sent them links to “Pippi Longstocking” clips. I've worked with Todd Bishop before. He was in Astral girl and “The Day My Boyfriend Became”. He's creative and just gets it. I'll tell him to come dressed as a cowboy and he won't show up dressed as a clown. He understands exactly what I'm going for. Deanna Rooney who plays Leena is also extremely awesome. I had worked with her briefly on a channy video and she just brought so much to the table. I had been wanting to work with her for a while. She also does cartoons. Look her up, her art is rad. I know Armen (Weitzman) , through the “Sarah Silverman Program”. He plays the fantasimart clerk and has appeared in several episodes. He was game to do anything.
FA: “The Vacationaires” contains probably the worst green screen effects that I’ve ever seen. You did it on purpose, right?
KF: Ha ha ha. I love “The Vacationaires”. That’s a show I co created with Kelsy Abbott and Kyle Reiter. Originally we were planning on doing a completely different show. We knew that we wanted to work together and that we wanted to be extremely tan to the point of looking filthy. The day of shooting we swapped out our original idea and came up with a show about a family who loves to go on vacations. It was not going to be a green screen show. I think we hung up the blue sheet so it would look like the ocean in the background but that didn’t read at all. When we shot it, the blue screen blanket was stained and wrinkled and not well lit. When I went to key it out it looked terrible. We all started laughing and the gag became about how bad it looked. That show is so ridiculous but I really had a ton of fun working on it for two months. Sad to see that it got cancelled.
FA: Do you think about making one of your shorts into a feature film?
KF: I'd like to do a feature version of “Anna Manesia” or “Mega Bitch Meltdown”. I'd do “Anna” because of the premise and “Mega” for the characters and action. We'll see maybe one day.
End of part 1. Coming soon on part 2: Kate Freund about “The Sarah Silverman Program”, animation and special effects, editing, music videos, Sarah Silverman, Steve Agee, and her new projects.
Since the first "Saw", back in 2004, independant film studio Lionsgatehad promoted every movie of the franchise with a Halloween "Give ‘Til It Hurts" blood drive that benefits the The American Red Cross. Each time, the posters feature one or three sexy nurses who ask for blood.
Shot by photographer Tim Palen (Co-President of Theatrical Marketing at Lionsgate) the two blood drive posters for "Saw VI" released a week ago, show a mysterious masked nurse dressed with a corset of needles (Her original uniform was designed by The Blonds), who looks like a doll or an android more than a flesh and blood lady.
Check out those new posters below plus the previous ones from the blood drive series.
"Saw VI" will be released in the US theaters on October 23rd, 2009 and in France one month later.
Second movie written by Academy Award winner Diablo Cody (“Juno”), “Jennifer’s Body” is a horror comedy directed by Karyn Kusama (“Girlfight”, “Aeon Flux”) where sexy Megan Fox (“Transformers 1 & 2”) plays a cheerleader possessed by a demon, who litterally devellop her appetite...for high school boys.
After a couple of trailers released last July (including a red band one that you can see on the official website), here comes a darkly funny Public Service Announcement by the lead actress, where she’s encouraging everyone to be themselves, no matter what it takes.
“Jennifer’s Body” will open in September the Midnight Madness program of the The Toronto International Film Festival (September 10-19, 2009). Distributed by 20th Century Fox, the movie will be released in the US on September 18th, 2009 and in France on October 21st, 2009.
Produced by the indie Californian company Freak Show Entertainment, and directed by Joseph Guzman, who also co-wrote the script with Robert James Hayes II, grindhouse thriller “Run! Bitch Run!” is a confessed tribute to some classic Rape and Revenge films of the 70’s and the 80’s like Wes Craven’s “Last House on the Left” (which was just remade this year), Meir Zarchi’s “I Spit on Your Grave” or Abel Ferrara’s “Ms. 45”.
For her first lead, newcomer Cheryl Lyone (seen as a vampire dancer in the 1st season of “True Blood”) plays Catherine, a naive Catholic School girl who gets raped and left for dead, after seeing her best friend murdered by a bunch of very uncool people. Facing her, Freak Show Entertainment regular Ivet Corvea (“The Back Alley Butcher”) plays one of them, the very psychotic hooker Marla...
Frédéric Ambroisine: When and why did you decide to act?
Cheryl Lyone: I had a very alienating childhood, where my movies were my escape. I fell in love with classic movies from the 40's through the 60's. I was obsessed with Judy Garland films because I identified with her wounded soulfulness. I knew from a very young age that I would express myself artistically through this medium.
Ivet Corvea: Istarted acting when I was a little girl in Cuba, performing every week during the communist meetings. Then, I came to the United States in 1990. After living in Miami with my family during my teen years an internal pull to expand myself grew. I moved to New Orleans, not consciously knowing what I wanted to do, but trusting that I will find it. Within a year, a talent agency approached me while I was working as a waitress and that’s when it all began. I was bitten by the bug as people say and I couldn’t, haven’t been able to shake it off.
Cheryl Lyone & Ivet Corvea
FA: Where did you partake upon acting?
Cheryl Lyone: I would have to say life~! I was born with a wild imagination that guides me in any creative endeavor I partake upon. I have trained in Meisner, Checkhov, and the Alexander technique.
Ivet Corvea: I have studied with incredible teachers here in LA. Howard Fine was the 1st to teach me the Uta Hagen technique. But every set I walked onto, there’s something for me to learn. Every actor I encounter, there’s a presence, a depth and professionalism I’m inspired to master.
FA: Ivet, it says (you say) on your website that you’re an actress, painter, singer, dancer and creator. If somebody ask you “what’s your job?”, what will you say?
Ivet Corvea: I consider myself an artist who uses all types of mediums to express my inner self. I have gravitated toward acting as my first form of creative outlet and it has enabled me to continue remain on the path of self-discovery.
FA: When and how did you meet the people from Freak Show Entertainment?
Cheryl Lyone: I of course got an audition! (for “Run! Bitch Run”) I walked in presenting myself with a wide-eyed naivete like her and my hair pulled back in a bun. The callback was frighteningly intense and challenging, yet I knew afterwards in my soul that I would be a part of their creative endeavor.
Ivet Corvea: It was in 2007, before “Run! Bitch Run!”.I came in to audition for the role of Mary in the short movie “Back Alley Butcher”.
FA: What’s the story’s about ?
Ivet Corvea: It’s based on a true story. It’s the story of a pregnant waitress who got kidnapped. The kidnappers want to steal and sell her baby on the black market. They’re gonna do a feature film from this short. The character I play in “Back Alley Butcher”, one of my favorite characters I’ve been fortunate to play, can only be described as a victim. It was very rewarding and freeing to know that. It allowed me to go all out in my performance....I got the direction and vision that Joseph Guzman and Robert Hayes had..... with the chair I was tied up to.... I was also very eager to work on the character, we had extensive rehearsals with the fake belly bump I had to wear. And it seemed every time the guys and I got together we really hit it off! I feel like an integral part of the team, and very thankful to be. “Back Alley Butcher” was my first collaboration with director Joseph Guzman and it was also my 1st lead role in a short film.
FA: Did you know about the case before ?
Ivet Corvea: I didn’t hear about it before, but later, in the news, maybe about a year ago, I heard about something similar happening to another woman in Middle America. Apparently, it does happen.
Ivet Corvea in "The Back Alley Butcher" (2007)
FA: And how did you get involved in the “Run! Bitch Run!” project Ivet?
Ivet Corvea: Joseph and Robert approached me about the character "Marla" and basically went down the list of things she would have to do. And I thought… HELL YEAH… I would love to play such a badass crazy bitch!
FA: How would you describe Marla’s personnality?
Ivet Corvea: Marla is misunderstood, and fearless. She would do whatever it takes to take care of herself! She has had to do this all her life. And therefore will stop at nothing to gain more power and respect.
Ivet Corvea in "Run! Bitch Run!" (2009)
FA: Cheryl, how about your character, Catherine, who, from a victim, becomes an avenger ?
Cheryl Lyone: She is very naive and firmly believes in her Christian morals... often annoyingly so! She sees the dark side of this life when she sees someone close to her murdered and then is brutally savaged. Her transition is dynamic and soul stirring. Retribution is her driving force of existence at that time no matter the consequences.
Cheryl Lyone in "Run! Bitch Run!" (2009)
FA: Are you a fan of horror movies? If yes, what are your favorite ones?
Ivet Corvea: I am a fan of Horror films. I believe the fantasy and there for I get really scared! There are so many I love but my favorite is “A Nightmare on Elm Street”. Freddy Krueger the name alone sends shivers down my spine!
Cheryl Lyone: I am a huge fan of suspenseful thrillers! I saw “The Strangers” awhile ago, and I would have to say that one sticks out in my mind for now.
Wes Craven's "A Nightmare on Elm Street" (1984) / Bryan Bertino's "The Strangers" (2008)
FA: What was you reaction when you hear for the first time, the title of the movie “Run! Bitch Run!”?
Ivet Corvea: I LOVED IT! I though it was genius! Catchy and smart, the title along is a great conversation piece.
Cheryl Lyone: I thought... well this should be interesting!
FA: Are you familiar to 70’s exploitation movies or did you have to study them to prepare your characters in “Run! Bitch Run!”?
Cheryl Lyone: I am familiar with them now. The director gave me a list of them to watch so that I could fully understand the tone of the film. I watched “They Call Her One Eye” and “ Ms. 45" as well as “Last House on the Left”. I really loved “They Call her One Eye” because of her silence through out the film, and the shock of it.
"They Call Her One Eye" a.k.a. "Thriller" (1974) & "Ms. 45" (1981)
Ivet Corvea: I was encouraged by Joseph and Robert to see a lot of the 70’s exploitation movies. My top ones were “I Spit on Your Grave”, “Last House on the Left”, and “They Call her One-Eye”, a pretty amazing and intense film, that helped me to work on my character a lot. Those movies had a big influence both on the writer and the director as well.
"Day of the Woman" a.k.a. "I Spit on your Grave" (1978) & "Last House of the Left" (1972)
FA: Where you influenced my any other movies?
Ivet Corvea: I found myself really loving the performance by Harvey Keitel on “Bad Lieutenant”. The drug use alone in that film is very realistic.
FA: Did you improvise sometimes and bring some additionnal elements to your character that was not in the script or did you just follow the intructions of the director?
Cheryl Lyone: Yes. In creating any character you add flavor by simply breathing their words into life. I love to follow my instincts and the director very rarely had any issues with them. I remember when I was stabbing someone with a machete and the “blood” sprayed all over my face and mouth. I felt like spitting it on him so I did and they loved it! They ended up using that take in the film.
Ivet Corvea: As the Character you always have to try new things see what works and what doesn’t. Joseph’s vision was clear to me and I tried to follow his instructions as best I could.
FA: What was the most difficult moment for you during the shooting?
Cheryl Lyone: By far, the rape scene. I had to dig deeply into my soul and confront issues from my past that are quite painful still to this day to access the right emotions crucial to making it authentic.
Ivet Corvea: I found the nudity of my character difficult to get, but once it happen I got a bit more comfortable.
FA: What was the most memorable (enjoyable) moment during the shooting?
Cheryl Lyone: The whole experience of making the film is very memorable to me. This is my first movie where I am in the whole film! I have grown drastically as an artist because of this film, and I am eternally grateful for having the opportunity to be part of such a great team.
Ivet Corvea: I found the fight scene with Cheryl Lyone to be a lot of fun. It was culminating for me as well as my character. As it was one of the last things we shot.
FA: What was the craziest thing that you had to do in the movie?
Cheryl Lyone: Oh goodness! I would have to say the forest scene. She is brutalized and left for dead, and her clothes were ripped off in the process. I have a nude scene walking through the forest trying to find my way back. I had a panic attack prior and I have never felt so exposed. I knew of this scene prior to shooting, and felt that this exposure was imperative to Catherine’s transition to avenger.
Ivet Corvea: I think that the plunger (masturbation) scene was the CRAZIEST! I can’t think of anything more insane than that on the whole film.
FA: Was it the first time that you use a gun in a movie? How did you prepare the action scenes?
Cheryl Lyone: Yes! The mental preparation is so important! For the scene to be authentic you have to be raw and your body has to be physically experiencing the emotions.
Cheryl Lyone in "Run! Bitch Run!" (2009)
Ivet Corvea: It was not the 1st time I used guns. I have been shooting guns since I was a teenager.
FA: Really?!!!
Ivet Corvea: I was lucky enough that when I was growing up I made friends with a group of Bodyguards. they would go shooting often and i tagged along. I have used all kind of guns, riffles even a shot gun, that almost dislocated my shoulder! I like shooting handguns they are easier to handle and i have better aim with them. We would go to the shooting range there were several in town. And a few times in the woods by the everglades in Florida. Its been about 6 months since my last trip to the shooting range. I have an itchy trigger, and all this talk has me wishing I was going soon.
Ivet Corvea and her best friend
FA: In your opinion exploitation movies like “Run! Bitch Run!” are mysoginist or feminist? Maybe a mix of both? Don’t you think it’s an ambiguous genre finally?
Cheryl Lyone: I believe it is an ambiguous genre geared toward who ever it may appeal to regardless of sex.
Ivet Corvea:I’m agree with you, I think it’s very ambiguous, especially on this film, there is not as much revenge on the men, but it’s definitly taken.
FA: Let’s talk about your working relationship between each other. When did you two meet together for the first time?
Cheryl Lyone: I met Ivet at the first reading, and then the very intense callback. We rehearsed and shot the whole house scene first where we play Russian roulette . It was a very crazy scene as well my favorite!
Ivet Corvea: I was the casting director as well for “Run!Bitch Run!”, because we already knew my character, and we wanted to be sure that we had chemistry with the people that came in for the other roles. At the audition, Cheryl did an amazing job. She really brought a lot to the character, so we called her back in and she got the pârt. She’s the one that we wanted from the beginning.
FA: And what was your favorite scene in the movie?
Ivet Corvea: One of my favorite scenes of the movie is when Marla is trying to manipulate Clint into double-crossing Lobo. It really shows the kind of woman she is, a calculating and dangerous woman.
Cheryl Lyone (left) and Ivet Corvea (right) on the set of "Run! Bitch Run!"
FA: In the movie, Ivet and you are the worst enemies, but what kind of relation did you have together when the cameras were not rolling? Was it friendly, or tensed?
Cheryl Lyone: Ivet is a joy to work with! She has such a lovely presence that is very easy to work with.
Ivet Corvea: It wasn’t a tense relationship. Cheryl is an amazing girl and I like her as a person. We didn’t get to become too friendly. I think we both kind of well respecting our characters. I think we just tried to work on our characters as much as possible. We tried to stay true as characters as we could.
FA: What was your reaction when you saw the finished movie for the first time?
Cheryl Lyone: I was so nervous! I poured so much of my heart and soul into Catherine and I can be very critical of myself. After watching it I was euphoric! I was very proud that I had the opportunity to play her.
Ivet Corvea: I felt such pride on the work that we all have accomplished, and I was really blown away, by the cinematography. I mean is a beautiful film with incredible shots
FA: What is your favorite “women with guns” movie character and why?
Cheryl Lyone: Bridget Fonda in “Point of No Return”. I loved the spy/contract killer storyline.
Ivet Corvea: Seriously Pam Grier’s performance in the movie “Coffy” is the most badass woman with a gun I have ever seen! “No one sleeps when they mess with Coffy!”... The tagline says it all!
"Coffy" (1973) & "Point of No Return" (1993)
FA: Ivet, you also played in another Joseph Guzman’s short movie, “Inficted”. When was it done ?
After “Run! Bitch Run!”. It was for a 48 hours film festival. Basically, producers, directors, and writers are asked to write and make a movie in 48 hours. It gave us an opportunity, after shooting “Run! Bitch Run” for so long, to work with a fresh idea on a new project.
Ivet Corvea in Joseph Guzman's "Inflicted" (2009)
FA: You’re also credited as producer on “Inflicted”; What did you do exactly behind the camera?
Since I am an actor and I’ve done some castings before, I was responsable for, basically, bringing in all the actors, and taking care of them, make sure that the whole process was a smooth one, and communicate between them and the director. This short was definitly a team effort.
FA: Do you think that “Run! Bitch Run!” has a social aspect or a social impact? Rape is still a big social problem...
Cheryl Lyone: Rape is a major social issue in any society. In the film we definitely tackle many social problems in quite an intense and shocking way that may not appeal to all.
Ivet Corvea:I think this film has a huge impact on the audience; It definitely brings out a very strong reaction in people. Yes rape is still a very big social problem and if this film can empower a woman to come forward if they been a victim of rape then I also think it has a positive effect on society.
FA: In movies, a woman/victim who kill her rapist is an heroine, but in real life, it doesn’t often happen apparently. And if it happens, she’ll be a murderer (unless if it’s self-defense of course). What do you think about that?
Ivet Corvea: I feel that anyone that takes the law into his or her own hands is no better then the person who committed the crime in the first place.
Cheryl Lyone: I believe that hate in response to hate will only worsen your situation. I do not believe in revengeful retribution.
FA: In movies, killing bad guys is a common thing, but in real life, do you think that (the worst) criminals deserve to die?
Ivet Corvea: No, I believe all criminals can be rehabilitated, and if not, they should be incarcerated for life.
Cheryl Lyone: I believe they deserve punishment for their crime behind bars. If it happens to be in self defense then I would not hesitate a second in killing them!
FA: Do you think that “Rape and revenge” movies are made mostly for women or for men?
Cheryl Lyone: I think they are made for who ever the style may appeal to regardless of gender.
Ivet Corvea:I think women can walk away from this film inspired, and empowered. I also think it can be enjoyed equally by both sexes.
FA: A ‘rape and revenge’ movie is not a 100% entertainment movie right? Usually, the rape scene is supposed to disgust the audience. Was it clear since in the script that this scene would be a shocking scene and nothing else?
Cheryl Lyone: I think that anything artistically that elicits a response negative or positive is entertainment. The rape scene in this script is not only there to shock. It happens to be an integral part in Catherine's transformation. The rape as well as other situations is the catalyst for her dynamic turn.
Ivet Corvea:Anytime you go into a scene with such a strong subject you have to have a clear objection to make it work. If you’re going for shocking go all out and get your point across.
Cheryl Lyone in "Run! Bitch Run!" (2009)
FA: What is your position or opinion concerning the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution? Do you think everybody in America, and especially women, should have the right to have a gun for protection?
Ivet Corvea:Yes, more women should be gun owners!
Cheryl Lyone: Whew... that is a tough one! There are many irrational people out there as well as several million sane people. I shudder at knowing how many irrational humans have loaded weapon,s at home. It is truly frightening to know how many innocents have died from these irrational humans. Then there are the rational ones who have saved themselves as well as others because of this law. It is such a controversial law that I am very torn about.
FA: What are your next projects?
Cheryl Lyone: I am currently in negotiations for an untitled film.
Ivet Corvea: I’m appearing on TNT’s “Raising the Bar” July 27th. I’m also reading a couple of plays, for the fall. I was offered a role by a friend of mine who runs a theater out here, the Marcha Theatre. I’ve done a couple of play with her before. She’s a lesbian, and she wrote about her life. Her new play is called “In the Tropics”, and I would be playing the lead character.
FA: Will you be in the next Joseph Guzman movie?
Ivet Corvea: I have not been asked to be in “Nude Nuns With Bug Guns”, but its still early! And regardless, I wish only the best for the Freakshow Team.
Interviews made in July 2009. Big thanks to Cheryl Lyone, Ivet Corvea & Freak Show Entertainment.
"Run! Bitch Run!" will be released on DVD in Japan by Creative Axa, on September 11th, 2009 under the title "リベンジ (Revenge)"
In “Kirot”, James Bond heroine Olga Kurylenko (“Quantum of Solace” and Neil Marshall's upcoming "Centurion") is Galia, an assassin from Ukraine living in Tel Aviv, who’s involved against her will with the local sex-traffic mafia.
Today was held the very first French press screening of “
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