Those eyes…know something’s coming…
Today we’re making waves with Sara Sevigny, director Christopher M. Walsh’s “Fracture Zone” for Deathscribe 2014. Sara and her writing partner, Corrbette Pasko, just debuted their short play “30 Days Down the Rabbit Hole” at Abbie, and followed that up with “Autumn Leaves” as Red Theater‘s entry in Fight Night at The Den. Their full-length play, Zombie Broads, goes up at Factory in fall 2015. Sara’s favorite drink is unsweetened green tea lemonade because it tastes like sunshine. We’ll be talking about sound as a character, hiding places, and What Scares Her.
How did you get into horror?
By force. I hate horror. I love paranormal, but true horror scares the shit outta me. I got nightmares for weeks just seeing Blair Witch Project. Holy hell, that brought me back to childhood. As a camper, who knows there are those crazy abandoned houses in the middle of the woods for no reason, and had counselors who would put rock piles in front of your tent telling you it was the ghosts of a cursed burial ground? That shit is real. No lie.
What excites you most about directing horror, compared to other genres?
I’m just as scared as the audience about what is happening. If I’m freaking out, then everything is working. My heart is racing just answering this question.
What in this script resonated most with you?
Meeting the characters at the end of their story. You’re thrown right into the center of shit hitting the fan and you just have to hold on tight and ride it til the end.
What do you consider the biggest challenge in directing for “radio,” compared to traditional theatre?
Remembering that the audience should be able to close their eyes and have a similar if not more heightened experience than if they were watching a play/movie. I know when I watch something scary, the first thing I do is close my eyes to ‘hide’ from whatever it is that is scaring me, right? We all do. In doing radio, there should be nowhere that the audience can hide. Closing their eyes should actually make things scarier. That’s the goal!
What discoveries have you made about storytelling during this process that you are excited to use in future projects?
I was a performer last year, and really loved how powerful sound can be to any script. How important it is to incorporate it into your storytelling to enhance mood, plot, tension, etc. The fact that each writer uses sound as if it is a character? That’s awesome.
What sound would you most like to see/hear performed in a Deathscribe piece?
Sucking or draining someone dry.
Beauregarde was last seen tumbling down the sidewalk at ludicrous speed.
What scares you?
Those waterlogged spirits that are remakes from Japanese movies, (example The Ring). Any ‘girl’ with matted hair that is coming out of a tub is a enough to make me start screaming to run for your friggin life. And Sharks. I mean they’re the zombies of the sea. Oh, and zombies. Because they’re zombies. Anyone who likes zombies is crazy. It only takes one and it’s the end of the world. THE WORLD!
Come watch Sara bring us to the world’s end with “Fracture Zone” by Christopher M. Walsh in Deathscribe 2014 at the beautiful Mayne Stage on December 1st!
^_ _^ .>T<