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Fan Fest ’31 Days of Slashers’: EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW- Deborah Voorhees talks Directing, ‘Friday the 13th’ and all things Horror

Happy October, my fellow geeklings! Now that October has finally stumbled upon us, we can officially begin our haunting season. For the month of October, we will be doing ’31 Days of Slashers’, which will feature facts, spotlights and even some interviews from some of our favorite iconic horror villains.

Are you ready for Halloween?! We sure are!

Tonight, we have another special treat for you! I recently spoke with Actress/Director/Writer Deborah Voorhees on her work in the world of Horror!

Deborah made a splash with her debut in Friday the 13th: Part V A New Beginning as the character of Tina. Since then, she has tackled not only the world of acting… but also writing and directing!

In fact, she is currently working on her newest film titled The List!

Deborah is one of the sweetest, and most kind people I have ever had the pleasure of interviewing. She truly has much to offer and a lot of advice to give for those of you looking to take on the film world by storm.

Tonight, on Halloween, she will be having some live chats on her official Facebook Page ‘Deborah Voorhees Shear Horror Group’! So be sure to head over there and check all of her fantastic activities out! (Pssst…. there may even be a LIVE event!)

 

Jules: In your Official Facebook Group ‘Deborah Voorhees Shear Horror Group’, you post a lot about different types of horror. There is gory horror, there’s suspenseful, and the list goes on. What is your favorite type of horror?

Deborah: Right. Honestly, it is Horror Comedy! I have to say I really, really want to make like ‘Ghost Stories’ and stuff but I have a really hard time watching them it takes me to really build up my courage ’cause Ghost stories scare me! (laughs) But for just pure sitting down and enjoyment and just for a good laugh, I love horror comedy!

But then, horror thriller is a lot of fun too! Where you think about having all the elements of a thriller with horror as well. I kind of think of Hush like that. Have you seen that one yet?

Jules: Not yet, but I will certainly add it to my list!

Deborah: Oooh! Let me know when you do! It’s just one of those movies when you are just on the edge of your seat the whole time and I mean its really neat because it starts out and you really care about this person and you don’t want to see the person hurt so you’re really like invested. It’s not just a ‘kill, kill, kill’ and you have nothing invested in the person.

Jules: In horror films, which do you prefer to be… the victim, the killer or the hero?

Deborah: Oh I would much rather be the killer! (laughs) If I couldn’t be the killer then I would take the hero. My absolute favorite would be behind the scenes. I would like to do a thing where I’m like the crazy old lady-like. Like a Pamela Voorhees kind of a thing, I think that would be really funny to do!

Jules: Your character, unfortunately fell victim to Jason Voorhees in Friday the 13th: Part V A New Beginning, if your character had survived, what would you have liked to see her do in the film?

Deborah: Well, I would have liked her to hear the footprints coming towards her for starters! Then she could have jumped up, threw on her clothes, and grab a stick and fight off Jason and then take off running for help!

Jules: I would have loved to have seen that! I get so sad every time I watched that movie and your character dies!

Deborah: Hey, well at least I died with a smile on my face up until the last second!

Jules: How did you gain the role in Friday the 13th? Had you watched the films prior?

Deborah: No, honestly I hadn’t at that time and I just really didn’t like horror movies they were too scary. But you know, actually being in the horror film isn’t scary. You’ve got cast and crew and everything around you. It’s obvious that it isn’t real! I know that some people say that its scary, and they have a lot of scary moments on set. For me, that hasn’t been the case. I’ve always had a fun time and I was never nervous or scared.

Jules: What does it mean to you to be a part of the Friday the 13th franchise – a horror series that continues to increase in fans and still hold steady today?

Deborah: This is what is so crazy, thinking that its popularity only grows over the years. The Legend of Jason. Oh my god, isn’t that crazy?!

This little campy, delightful horror flick has turned into something so gigantic. I really feel like its kind of similar to being in Star Trek or Star Wars. The fans are absolutely avid and incredibly, incredibly loyal and kind and generous. I consider myself pretty damn blessed!

Jules: If you had the chance to be a part of another horror franchise that is not Friday the 13th, what would that be?

Deborah: Hmmm… I think it would be one of those Scary Movie ones, I think those are really funny! Then I also like the Scream franchise a lot. I really like the Scream movies!

Jules: What can you tell me about your upcoming film, The List? All of your fans are really hyped about this (including myself) and I love the fact that you are involving fans so much in this upcoming project. Tell me a little about it!

Deborah: It is a horror comedy and its going to have all of the comedy that you typically see in it, but there is going to be a lot more thriller aspects of a psycho, just like Hitchcock’s Psycho as well as a lot of tense action and things like that. It will all be coupled with the comedy!

It’s about a typical serial killer socialite and she basically creates a list off all those who have wronged her and begins offing them one at a time.

Jules: That sounds so cool! Really exciting!

Deborah: I am excited! I’m having fun working with the fans on it, we have the ‘Best Kills’ Competition going on. I was looking at the submissions and we’ve got some really good ones and it’s going to be really hard to pick 3. Then we’ve got submissions for those entered to be killed in the film. With these submissions there will be a drawing and someone will be flown out to be part of the cast for the day and be killed by our serial killer, Sally!

Jules: Now that you’ve stepped into the world of directing, would you ever consider acting again?

Deborah: There’s actually another film that I haven’t announced yet that I’m going to be directing, but I can’t tell anyone about it just yet!

Jules: I’m looking forward to the surprise!

Deborah: Me too!

Jules: What is your dream film that you would love to one day make?

Deborah: That’s a great question! There are a lot of films that I would love to make in my life. I would say in a way, it is whatever film I am making next. It just really grabs my heart you know, pulling a film together and working with the actors and editing and all of those things that come with making a film. Picking one is going to be tough… of course I am really looking forward to my horrors. I also have a couple of romantic comedies and a sci-fi family film… I have western!

One day I would love to do a remake of The Bad Seed! It’s one of my favorite horror films from the 50’s, 1957.

Jules: You’ve had some amazing experiences as an actress, writer, and a director. Do you have any advice or words of wisdom for those aspiring to be film makers today?

Deborah: Yes, I do. It’s probably the most important thing that they will ever hear. Don’t Wait to be hired, go out and make your own art!

With that, somebody may come along and hire you. There is no reason for someone to really hire you if you don’t have proof of what you can do. You can’t walk up to someone and say ‘Hey I wanna be a Director’ and you’ve never done anything. Get out there and do it! Do your own stuff!

Do you own film on just a thousand bucks, and all you have is enough money to feed people. Do it, make it happen!

Jules: So here is my final nerd question for you… If you could choose to be the sidekick to any superhero, who would it be?

Deborah: Ooooh! I’m going to have to say Wonder Woman! Totally Wonder Woman here!

 

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