Motel 666 is privileged to not have one, not two, but three sound designers working together to bring you the best in terrifying audio. Today we’re treated with interviews with two of our sound designers, Sarah and Kasey!
Sarah Espinoza
Do you consider yourself a horror fan? What is your favorite genre of horror?
I am a horror fan for sure. I really love psychological thrillers and horror. It is always the fear that haunts the mind that can keep me up for weeks.
What was the first time you encountered horror in entertainment? Was it a book, a movie, a play or something else?
I read a lot of GOOSEBUMPS books as a child and watched ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK. I have always really loved spooky things.
Does designing for a horror piece present any unique challenges or opportunities? Have you done any horror theatre before, or is this your first time? What is your favorite part about designing for a horror piece (no spoilers!)
It does present unique challenges, but so do most genres. I love designing horror. There is a sense of humor about it that I adore. I think a horror design needs to be aware of its self with out feeling out of place. We are often asking the audience to extend their belief beyond the natural world so making them understand the world we are creating is important. All this said there has to be some elements of surprise.
I have worked on DEATHSCRIBE for a few years and every year it is a blast.
My favorite part about designing a horror show is there is inevitable smashing of vegetables to make sound effects. Foley is awesome.
How have motels played a role in your life?
I have stayed in motels a few times, and they have usually not been my favorite places. I will say i have many interesting stories of people I met in motels that I would be delighted never to cross paths with.
What “impossible” design challenge would you like to tackle in a horror play?
I have always wanted to make sound come out of no where from any source. For example, changing an actors voice with out a mic. Or whispers coming from over your shoulder with no one there. My favorite part about horror is the music and the surprise. It would be awesome for an audience member to hear something from behind them but see no one there.
What is the one thing that scares you the most?
I am terrified that I am on the Truman show but it is the Sarah show and nothing is real. I guess that’s a paranoia, but wouldn’t finding out your life is a lie be terrifying?
Kasey Trouba
Do you consider yourself a horror fan? What is your favorite genre of horror?
I’m definitely a horror fan! My favorite genre of horror would have to by psychological horror/thriller, the kind that stick with you for days after you encounter it.
What was the first time you encountered horror in entertainment? Was it a book, a movie, a play or something else?
The first time I encountered horror in entertainment, I was about 7 years old, and it was Stephen King’s Rose Red miniseries on ABC. Looking back now, it probably wasn’t as scary as 7 year old me remembered it to be.
Does designing for a horror piece present any unique challenges or opportunities? Have you done any horror theatre before, or is this your first time? What is your favorite part about designing for a horror piece (no spoilers!)
It definitely presents unique challenges, because the same thing doesn’t scare everyone! This is my first time working on a full fledged horror show, as I’m still in college. My favorite part about designing a horror piece is getting to play around with a bunch of different ideas until you find the one that really hits.
How have motels played a role in your life?
Motels haven’t played a huge role in my life, really. They’re just where I’ve crashed after a few out of town concerts with friends, because we weren’t (still technically aren’t) old enough to rent a hotel room.
What is the one thing that scares you the most?
Students loans.