SADIE KATZ TALKS DEAD BLOOM

Behind the Coastline

You are reading an independently published interview-series published and carefully curated by Swedish pop-culture journalist Daniel John. Ever since its start in 2015, the core curiosity remains the same, surfing the creative currents of music, film, fashion and everything else on the pop-radar, catching the waves of culture as creative

Culture Coast TalksDaniel John

You’ll never know what you’ll get when horror sets out to be socially charged. Though fair to say, 'Dead Bloom' spares no blood, this is a gore-filled spectacle. How did the experience of this film and playing Cassie splash over you?

I’ve done my share of gory projects and I feel like the director is always like “be prepared it’s gonna get bloody”. Let’s just say this is the first time I was not prepared for the amount of gooey goodness. Without giving any spoilers, I will say I didn’t suffer as much as the rest of the cast. For fans who love clever, over the top madness with a cherry on top the kills are definitely extra extra.

Cassie showing up with her son is not this film’s only parent-kid duo, the writer–directors, Domonic and Damien Paris, are father and son. How did you find their dynamic working together on set?

On set Damien was very hands on, I felt Domonic’s presence andencouragement but it seemed he trusted Damien and let him steerthe ship. I have to point out there was also another mom in this duo, Gina Gallo, Domonic’s wife, who was our producer and was amazing to work with.

A story moving from past to present, your acting journey is one that goes all the way back to kindergarten. How did your acting form in the early years?

I wanted to act more than I wanted anything, from an early age, when I was young most acting opportunities are in musical theatre and as much as I’d love to be a great singer and dancer, sadly I’m not! I did my share of musicals but only begging the director after not making callbacks from the singing and choreography auditions to come in and show what I can do acting-wise. My senior year of high school I switched schools which gave me the opportunity to compete in dramatic interp in speech and debate. I went varsity at my very first event and won more trophies and awards than I had my entire school career. It was such a validation that the thing I loved more than anything, I was meant to pursue.

You’re just so associated with the horror genre now, was it something you were truly drawn to or did this “scream queen” status happen by chance?

When I was younger, I was a much more nervous person. I was so hard on myself, I couldn’t get out of my own way. I couldn’t get myself to relax in the room, before self tape auditions, and I would shake, my voice tremble and I was just an absolute mess. With horror auditions I realized my trick would be to act just for a minute or two like I wasn’t terrified, knowing after saying hello and slating my name, I could jump right into the scene. Many times the casting director would comment how quickly “I went there”. I used my vulnerability about the audition and stuck it into the character. Even when playing a villain, I try to always come from a vulnerable place, they say your casting type is who you are when you’re awake at 2am, which makes me perfect for horror! (laughs)

Is it a status that made you very scare-resistant overall, after everything your character’s been put through. Would you walk through a carnival house-attraction without as much as a jump or are you still just a theatre-kid at heart?

I am the biggest chicken ever! I can not even walk through a kiddie-haunted house! I tried to go to Knott’s Scary Farm once and I peed my pants. I only started sleeping with the lights off a couple years ago.

Is there anything outside of this genre you’d love to do that you feel you haven’t done yet?

I’d really love to do more action. And I’d absolutely would love to do a 'True Romance' kinda love story.

There is actually an annual industry award named after your hustle in the film-industry. Is there any other recent work you already can't wait for the audiences to get their eyes on?

Thank you for that, AmDocs, the American Documentary and Animation Film Festival in Palm Springs, always has a special place in my heart. In addition to the newly released 'Dead Bloom', now available on Amazon Prime, I'm also looking forward to a very cool pirate film, 'Cursed Waters'. It also stars John Wells, Michael Pare, Robert Lasardo, Vernon Wells, Costa Mandylor and even more fun names and familiar faces.