Phil Gets Tromatized: B.C. BUTCHER (2016) from Troma Entertainment - Sept. 13, 2017

B.C. BUTCHER DVD Cover

B.C. BUTCHER
Starring Leilani Fideler, Natasha Halevi, Molly Elizabeth Ring, Devyn Leah, Parker Love Bowling, Miranda Robin, Kato Kaelin, Kadeem Hardison, Rodney Bingenheimer, Dwayne Johnson
Written by Kansas Bowling and Kenzie Givens
Cimematography by
Edited by Robby DeFrain
Produced by Lloyd Kaufman and Kansas Bowling
Directed by Kansas Bowling
Released by Troma Entertainment

Welcome back to another edition of Phil Gets Tromatized! Today's film has been long overdue. As you may recall, I conducted a series of interviews (click here to read them) with the stars of the then upcoming Troma film B.C. BUTCHER. It was the feature film debut from Kansas Bowling, who made the film at the young age of 16. Since then, the film has become a huge cult classic and garnered acclaim from critics and fans alike. Bowling was kind enough to mail me an autographed screener of the film, which I've been wanting to watch for the past year. Well, like the old saying goes, "better late than never." So let me tell you why B.C. BUTCHER rocks my world and why you must see it!

The film's official synopsis: When a tribe of cavewomen imparts cruel justice on one of their own their fate takes a turn for the worst. After discovering and falling in love with the corpse sacrificed by the girl-gang, a lone wandering giant of pre-historic mythos is inspired to homicide. Consequently the cavewomen are menaced by the heartbroken and bloodthirsty cave-brute with a grudge, and the prophetess among them is ignored when she predicts the tragic outcome. “BC Butcher” is hailed as the first pre-historic slasher film to ever be made. Shot on brilliant 16mm film, the film features actor Kato Kaelin, a cameo from Rodney Bingenheimer of KROQ Radio and a performance by Southern California rock group “The Ugly Kids”.

One of the aspects that I loved about the movie was the actresses were incredible! Leilani Fideler's Neandra is such a spiteful and vindictive antagonist that she will lie to cover her own mistakes, even if it costs everyone else in her tribe their lives. Natasha Halevi's Anaconda is the smart, practical one who calls Neandra on her shit and is my favorite character in the film. The fun and bubbly Poppy, portrayed by Molly Elizabeth Ring, is the cave girlfriend we all want. Bamba is blind but has the gift of sight, and is played amazingly by Devyn Leah. Add special appearances by Kato Kaelin and Rodney Bingenheimer and the rest of the incredible cast, you've got yourself an awesome B-movie classic!

The directing was superb and Kansas Bowling definitely has that auteur eye for directing! Her set-ups and compositions hearken back to those glory days of exploitation cinema: handheld, fast and in-your-face gore and beautiful actress fighting monsters. The look of the film lend also lend it to those days as well, having the movie shot on 16mm film stock! It looks fantastic and has that grainy look that can't be replicated with today's technology. Bowling has continued with this mindset, as she has been making a series of music videos and their all on 16mm. I can't wait to see what this talented filmmaker will produce for us next!

B.C. BUTCHER is my favorite new indie horror/cult classic film of 2017!! If Doris Wishman directed ONE MILLION YEARS B.C. it would look exactly like this! Fans of Troma movies and classic grinhouse films will have a blast watching this! Easily one of the best films in the Troma library!! 5 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!

B.C. BUTCHER is currently available on both Blu-ray and DVD at your local retailer
nd on the Troma website. To purchase this film as well as books, posters and Blu-Rays and DVDs, visit www.troma.com. 

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil interviews writer/director Kansas Bowling from the upcoming film B.C. BUTCHER from Troma Entertainment - May 15, 2016

Writer/Director Kansas Bowling (Picture from IMDb)

For the past several months, I have had the pleasure of interviewing several of the actresses from the from the upcoming Troma Entertainment film B.C. BUTCHER. Today my series concludes with my interview with the co-writer and director of the film herself: Kansas Bowling. From living in Topanga Canyon to walking the red carpet at the Egyptian Theater, read all about this amazing young filmmaker's journey who became the first inductee into the Tromaville Institute for Gifted Youth and was recently listed as one of W magazine's 42 up-and-comers.

Phil Castor: Let me start off by saying congratulations with all the success your film B.C. BUTCHER has received. When you first made the picture, did you ever thought it would become this popular and garner all these rave reviews and fans?

Kansas Bowling: Thank you so much! I had no idea what would happen with this movie. It started off just something a friend and I wrote in high school and then I started making it with no plans for distribution or anything... I was just going to see what would happen. But I didn't think it would be as big as it has become. And if you would have told me back then that Lloyd Kaufman would attach himself as an executive producer I would have fainted!

PC: Back in March your film had it's big Hollywood premiere at the world famous Egyptian Theater. Describe seeing the movie on the big screen being played to a sold out crowd?

KB: It was so much fun. Well... watching it with that big crowd was kind of scary. Just because you want to make sure everyone is laughing at the funny parts and not falling asleep or anything. But I had the best time that night. I couldn't believe how many people came - it really blew me away.

PC: I understand that there was a Red Carpet Gala before the screening of the film. Tell me what was that experience like?

KB: So, so fun! This really wonderful organization Women Underground who promotes women in horror helped put the event on. And they made sure everything was professional and made it a legitimate thing. So many interesting people were there for the red carpet... Kathleen Hughes, who was the star of It Came From Outer Space; so many cool bands like Them Guns, The Fontaines, Kill My Coquette, and the Death Valley Girls; Priscilla Presley; and then after the film Count Smokula played accordion and Ron Jeremy played harmonica. We had girls dressed as cavewomen too. It was just so fun!

PC: So take us back to the beginning. What was your upbringing like? Where were you born and raised?

KB: I moved around a lot when I was a kid. I lived in the city at first and then Topanga Canyon. Topanga Canyon is in the Santa Monica mountains and it pretends to be this hippie community, but in reality it's so not. It's a strange world that I got out of, because I moved back into the city when I was 14. My childhood and especially my teen years (well, early teen years? I'm still a teen) focused solely on watching movies. I just watched so so so so many movies. And I knew that when I got out of school, things wouldn't be so dull. And I was right!

PC: What was school like for you? Did you excel in certain subjects that appealed to you?

KB: I hated school. The public schools in this country are such a joke. I had terrible teachers that were cruel and lazy and didn't give a damn about anything besides their paycheck. It was so miserable. I figured out some way to graduate early by taking extra classes on the side and somehow did my junior and senior year at the same time and graduated when I was 16. 

PC: I read that you were a big fan of low budget, exploitation films and its directors like Doris Wishman, Russ Meyers, Roger Corman and John Waters. How were you introduced to these films and what do you like about them?

Molly Elizabeth Ring & Kansas Bowling. (Photo from Facebook)

KB: I was never really introduced to these films. But I always watched films as a kid that my parents would show me, but they were never that obscure. But movies became so important to me and once you obsess over any film, you go back and find their influences. And when I did things like that, it would spiral into new obsessions. I discovered a lot of it just on my own, reading about actors and directors and being curious about their work. 

PC: It was during your high school years that the idea for B.C. BUTCHER came about. What was your inspiration for the film?

KB: We came up with the idea in a matter of seconds. I just brought up how we should make a movie and we could have cavewomen in it. And Kenzie said, "How about a cavewomen slasher film?" And then we began writing it!

PC: Now you and your friend Kenzie Givens co-wrote the script together correct? How did you two meet?

KB: Yes! We met in high school when she opened up her locker and she had a photo of Jack Nance on the inside and I came up behind her to tell her I loved Jack Nance, but I accidentally frightened her and she screamed. And then we made plans a couple days later to see Andrzej Zulawski's "Possession" at Cinefamily.

PC: What filmmaking experience did you have up until the making of the movie?

KB: None. Well, sort of. I made little movies with my sister and stuff growing up, but nothing ever professional.

PC: Explain to me the pre-production process of making B.C. BUTCHER? What were some of the difficulties you had to overcome?

KB: Well, raising the money was the hardest part. I bussed and waited tables at a Vietnamese restaurant for 8 months to raise enough money to make B.C. BUTCHER. 

PC: What was the shooting schedule for the film like? What was it like working with all these talented actresses, actors and crew members?

KB: We shot over a period of nine days and the days usually lasted from 8 am - 8 pm. It was so great to work with everyone. I'm so happy I found such great people to work with. It could have been a total nightmare, but I got really lucky. 

PC: One of the biggest distinctions is that you shot the movie on 16mm film? Why did you decide to shoot on film rather than using digital cameras?

KB: I am very particular with a lot of things... especially how things look. I wanted the film to have saturated colors like THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE. And I just wanted the project to have integrity as well. And I feel that's much harder to accomplish when you're shooting digital, or "faux-film". 

PC: After production wrapped, how long did it take to edit the film?

KB: A lot longer than it took to film. I had a really great editor, Robby DeFrain, and he was working on a project for Comedy Central at the time, so editing was kind of like a weekend project. He's really talented and helped a lot with comedic timing and we worked together putting in the funny sound effects and everything that made the film cartoonish.

PC: Tell me how did you meet Lloyd Kaufman, president of Troma Entertainment? Were you a fan of Troma prior to having them distributing your film?

KB: I was a Troma fan since I was 12. When I was in high school I even sent Troma a script to read. When I finished shooting the movie, I sent Lloyd Kaufman an email, not even expecting a response, and I got a response the next day saying he was interested in the film and wanted to have a meeting with me! So I had a meeting with Lloyd and the rest is history!

PC: What's it been like meeting all your fans at conventions and at screenings? Did you ever imagine having such a huge fan base for you and your movie?

Parker Love & Kansas Bowling. (Photo from Facebook)

KB: It's so surreal! I love how people like my movie and it's so cool to talk to people about it. I was just at the Days of the Dead convention in Burbank signing autographs and it was just so weird how I had actual fans. I used to go to these things as a fangirl. Two years ago, I went to Monsterpalooza and bought an autograph from Camille Keaton. This year at Days of the Dead she asked for mine! 

PC: What's next for you now? Do you have any new projects that you're currently working on?

KB: Yes! I'm doing a lot of music videos coming up for some really amazing bands. And I also have a script which will hopefully soon be in production. It's in the hands of some producers right now and I'm just waiting to see what will happen! It's all so exciting.

PC: What advice would you give to all aspiring and upcoming female talents who want to break into the film industry, especially those who wish to bring diversity and a feminine voice to the overpopulated male dominated Hollywood?

KB: Here is my advice: I know there are societal disadvantages, but whatever it is you want to do, just do it! It's so much more effective to create change by just going out and making a film as a woman than it is to sit and complain about how things are unfair. 

At that ladies and gentlemen, wraps up my interview series with the cast and director from the film B.C. BUTCHER. At this time, I would like to thank all these talented, gifted and amazing women for taking time our from their very busy schedul to participate in this series. From the bottom of my heart, I would like to say a big "Thank You" to Leilani Fideler,  Natasha Halevi, Molly Elizabeth Ring, Devyn Leah, Parker Love Bowling and Miranda Robin for allowing me the honor and privilege of interviewing you all. Special thanks to Kansas Bowling for helping me get that chance to interview her cast. I wish you all the best of luck with all your future endeavors and I cannot wait to see where life takes you. Thank you all again for your time, you generosity, your kindness and also, thank you for your friendship! I hope to meet you all someday soon!

To learn more about Kansas Bowling, visit her website at kansas-bowling.com and be sure to check out her Instagram account. To learn more about Troma and their upcoming release of B.C. BUTCHER, visit their website at www.troma.com.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show! 

Phil interviews actress Miranda Robin from the upcoming film B.C. BUTCHER from Troma Entertainment - April 8, 2016

Actress Miranda Robin (Courtesy of Miranda Robin)

Hello again and welcome back to my series of interviews with the actresses from the upcoming Troma Entertainment film B.C. BUTCHER directed by Kansas Bowling. Today's installment I had the esteem pleasure of interviewing actress and film enthusiast Miranda Robin, who plays Dina in the film. Read all about this up and coming actress who not only holds two major degrees, but is also a avid Charlie Chaplin fan. Thoughtful, insightful, intelligent, and passionate about art and life, this is one individual that will be changing the world for the better.

PC: So I see you were born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. When I interviewed your costar Leilani Fideler she said she was one of those rare breeds that was born, raised, and still lives in LA. Your IMDb page says the same thing. Why do you think people are leaving LA and why do you still live there? 

Miranda Robin: I love Los Angeles! It has a bit of everything here and more to explore. Sand, sea, mountains and snow in the same day, can't beat that. I really don't know why people are leaving LA, possibly parts are seeming to get over crowded, but I have a feeling they will be back. I believe it is important to get out and see the world when you can. And along the way you will know where your heart and home are. My heart has a love for the mountains and the city, and my LA life captures both. Raised in Westchester (LAX), in a generational household and I am still living there part time with my mom and grandma. Grandma June is 98 and a fan of B.C. BUTCHER too. The other days I live in Topanga Canyon with my husband William Preston Bowling (caveman #1), and step-daughter Parker Love Bowling (B.C. BUTCHER Poster Girl and character of Po). I will travel and explore with my family, but Los Angeles will always be home for me. 

PC: So tell us about your childhood? What's your family like?

MR: I am an only child and my mom and grandma are two of my best friends. I grew up living with both of them, a generational home is truly magical. In my house growing up, and still, creative freedom is accepted and who you are is loved unconditionally. Childhood is about exploration and play, stories and dancing in the kitchen, I definitely had that. There were hard family dynamics mixed in as well, parents not being together since I was two, tears and sleepless nights, but looking back, my childhood was pretty good. Museums, theater, concerts and art materials always at my fingertips. When I thin about it some of my most fun times involve acting, dancing and singing of some sort. I have always loved to dress up as other characters or different versions of myself. Childhood is precious and I know that from looking back on it and from studying it in school. When you remember parts of your childhood, good and bad, write them down. Creativity will bring them about years later in another form. 

PC: Were you scholastic when you were younger or was school a bit boring? 

MR: I have always enjoyed learning new ideas and concepts, but school was not always easy for me. I preferred the art classes to the textbook ones. Test taking is a nightmare! I know the material and then the test comes in front of me and it looks like it is in another language. I also find it very difficult to read about a subject if I am not interested in it/ It was college that made me fall in love with education. Studying what I am interested in, I took off like a rocket. 

PC: How old were you when you became interested in acting? 

MR: I have always loved acting since kindergarten, even though I has a shy moment during a performance once and hid underneath a table. Acting is freeing. I did a lot of musical theater in elementary school and I was part of the drama conservatory at Crossroads High School. I have see a lot of theater from Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon to the hits on Broadway in New York City. Pure inspiration. Honesty acting is a medium, whether on stage or on screen, is such a gift to the actor. We can step into characters and try on new hats, simultaneously getting to know ourselves better. In the past decade I have really focused on the programming behind the camera. I find producing and creating fascinating. The role of Dina was the first acting role in quite a while and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I had so much fun in this film. I got to run in the dirt, wear leopard, play with fake blood and see Kansas in her natural element. 

PC: Were you always a big fan of the cinema?

MR: I LOVE FILM! Give it to me in black and white, silent, with sound, in color-I will take it all. Watching a film is like taking a trip. I am always willing to see something new. What I love about films too is watching the favorites over and over, reciting the lines and tearing up at the same scene. I took several film classes in high school and college, one film insight more intriguing than the next. 

PC: I read that you received you BA at UCLA and your MA at Loyola Marymount. What subjects were you majoring in? 

Robin as Dina from B.C. BUTCHER.

MR: I loved UCLA, what a gorgeous campus and great professors. I received a B.A. in Women's Studies with a minor in Sociology of Sexuality and Gender. The classes made you think about life, our social interaction and why we behave the way we do. It is like a diary entry you didn't know you could write. The next educational adventure was at LMU. I was in a cohort of 20 students and we studied everything together. The leadership skill classes were my favorite. The lessons involved a lot of situational role play interaction, acting skills plus acquired knowledge put to the test. I received my M.A. in Early Childhood Education. I don't think I am done with my educational path. I think I am ready for more. I guess I  would consider myself an education junkie. 

PC: Explain on how you became involved with the Topanga Canyon Film Festival. What is your role in the festival? 

MR: My husband, William, has been working with the festival since the beginning. When I joined the Topanga community five years ago we went to a film screening that was presented in the Chaplin screening room at Raleigh Studios in Hollywood. Later that night at an after party in Topanga a discussion of Chaplin came about and all my Chaplin facts started coming out. Someone suggested doing something Chaplin for the festival, and the Chaplin Showcase at the Topanga Film Festival was born. I am a true admiration of Mr. Chaplin, his talents changed cinema forever. I have been producing with the festival ever since. One of my favorite producing experiences was the 45th anniversary of Hair the Musical. The night was a fundraiser for the Topanga Film Festival & Institute held in a beautiful establishment called Rosewood, decorated in Baroque Fashion. We had original Broadway and Los Angeles cast members break into a song flash mob of "Let the Sun Shine In." It was magical and made an imprint on the canyon! 

PC: You made your film debut in B.C. BUTCHER. Tell me the process of how you became involved with the project? 

MR: Kansas Bowling is my step-daughter and I was ready in anyway to help her with her film. I started behind the scenes, helping with make-up, props and craft services type stuff and then the role of Dina fell into my lap. The camera was set up, using 16mm film, the other actors were on set and the woman suppose to play Dina never showed up. With no time at all, Kansas said, "Do you fit in this dress and will you be my Dina?"...and there you go. I am Dina. I am so honored to be a part of the Cave Tribe. 

PC: Fascinating. So what was it like working with Kansas then? 

MR: Seeing her on set is a truly cool experience. She is very professional and meticulous with her craft. She would stand behind the cameraman to see every frame. Her storyboards were easy to follow and she explained her vision from every angle. These types of details made it enjoyable for the cast and crew to work together as a team. I would work with her on any project. She is going places. 

PC: Describe your character Dina for us. How did you prepare for this role?

MR: Getting into the character of Dina was actually really fun! I only had 15 minutes to become this cave woman and Kansas told me that Dina needed to look really messy and dirty like she was running and exploring the wilderness. We didn't have stage make-up on set yet and improvising was the only option. There was a birthday in the house  the day before and there was leftover chocolate cake and chocolate frosting...perfect. I rubbed it all over my face and arms, used a little green and brown eye shadow, stuck some actual dirt to the frosting and then Cave Camera Ready. Dina was born on set, on camera. The other cave tribe really took me in and made it easy. I had a bloody fantastic time! Thank you Kansas for trusting me with his role. 

PC: What did you take away from this experience? 

MR: Always be ready for anything. I feel very lucky to end up in the role of Dina. I just walked the red carpet at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood for the B.C. BUTCHER premiere. For the first time in film, I have to say, I think that is really cool. I am also amazed by the talent and drive of both Bowling girls, Kansas and Parker. They are ready for the world and the world is ready for them. 

PC: Are you a fan of horror genre? What are some of your favorite films and genres? 

MR: I am not a huge horror movie fan, but there are some good ones, but this whole experience of being in a slasher movie is changing my mind a bit o the excitement of this genre. I definitely prefer the suspense/thriller films to the blood and guts, but every movie needs a little blood. I like the SCREAM trilogy by Wes Craven or anything Alfred Hitchcock, especially PSYCHO and REBECCA. I'm definitely a Kubrick fan, A CLOCKWORK ORANGE and THE SHINING and of course everything by Charlie Chaplin. Check out Chaplin's short film ONE A.M. The rest of my favorite films I am going to list in no particular order or genre: SPACEBALLS, MARY POPPINS, THE STRAWBERRY BLONDE, SERIAL MOM, ADVENTURES IN BABYSITTING, CAN'T BUY ME LOVE, THE CRAFT, PUMP UP THE VOLUME, EMPIRE RECORDS, THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW, GIRL INTERRUPTED HEATHERS and BEETLEJUICE. 

Actress Miranda Robin (courtesy of Miranda Robin)

PC: What are your plans for the film industry? Do you have any projects you are currently working on? 

MR: I will continue producing for the Topanga Film Festival and Institute and there will be some fun events coming up in the future. Currently I am working on an animation/film panel project and co-writing a screenplay. The exciting part of the industry is that there are new projects around every corner. So my plans change all the time, but my focus is getting people together for the Love of Film. 

PC: What advice would you give to all aspiring and upcoming female talents who want to break into the film industry, especially those who wish to bring diversity and a feminine voice to the overpopulated male dominated Hollywood? 

MR: DON'T HESITATE. GO FOR IT! As a woman, we have a voice and a chance to do great things and change the world one step at a time, if we want to. What is a feminine voice? We get a chance to redefine the world or keep it the same, it is a choice. You have talents and desires you don't even know yet, therefore to get the chance you've got to take that chance. Come at the industry from all sides. Get to know in front of the camera and behind the camera, why not even try to work the camera. Take a class, let the Craft of Film embrace you while you take charge of it. I would say, just be yourself. If you want it, you want it for a reason. Tell the world what that reason is. Film it, paint it, sew it, BE IT! 

To learn more about the Toganga Film Festival & Institute, visit their website at www.topangafilminstitute.com.  Also check out their Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts. To learn more about Troma, their film catologue and their upcoming release of B.C. BUTCHER, visit their website at www.troma.com.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil interviews model/actress Parker Love Bowling from the upcoming film B.C. BUTCHER from Troma Entertainment - March 16, 2016

Actress/model Parker Love Bowling (courtesy from Bowling)

Welcome back to my series of interviews with the actresses from the upcoming Troma Entertainment release B.C. BUTCHER directed by Kansas Bowling. Today's installment I had the utmost pleasure of interviewing the poster girl for the film, model/actress Parker Love Bowling, who also plays Po in the film. Read all about this inspiring model and her future plans for the film industry and the modeling world.

Phil Castor: So B.C. BUTCHER just recently had it's big Hollywood premiere at the famous Egyptian Theater. How did it feel to see the movie on the big screen play to a sold out crowd?

Parker Love Bowling: The Egyptian premiere was astounding. When making this movie I never imagined it would go as far as it did. It was a rather pleasant surprise and made me immensely proud of my sister.

PC:  So let's go back in time for a bit. Where were you born and raised?

PLB: I was born in Beverly Hills and lived in Los Angeles my entire life thus far. I grew up in Topanga Canyon but am now living in the city and enjoy it a great deal more.

PC: What were some of your interests when you where younger?

PLB: I've always been interested in the same things. I've always loved fashion and film, or just anything that conveyed glamour. Growing up I tried my hardest to get as much attention as possible, so it seems fitting I decided to go into the film industry. 

PC: When did you begin your modeling career? Was it something you fell into or did you pursue it?

PLB: My modeling career did not take off into recently because I've always looked very young, but it is going well now. I did not do any professional work until being the B.C. Butcher poster girl and I've been getting a lot of work off of it. I've always loved having my photo taken, but I did not pursue it as a career until now.

PC: Who are some of your idols in the modeling world, both in front of and behind the camera?

PLB: Some of my idols in the industry in front of the camera are Edie Sedgwick, Twiggy, Jean Shrimpton, Jane Birkin and Brigitte Bardot. Some photographers I love are Helmut Newton and Richard Avedon.

PC: Besides modeling, what are some of your other interests and hobbies?

PLB: Besides being an actress and model, I am also a designer. I design and sew clothes which you can view on my website (parkerlovebowling.com). I also love to write and am currently interning at two different publications. 

Parker Love Bowling as Po in B.C. BUTCHER

PC: I read somewhere that you were member of the LA Junior Derby Dolls, How did that come about?

PLB: I joined the LA Junior Derby Dolls because my mom skated with the LA Derby Dolls. She was a very good skater and I aspired to be like her, so naturally I wanted to try it out. I played roller derby for about three years but it conflicted too much with my schedule.

PC: Describe your experience working on B.C. BUTCHER?

PLB: B.C. BUTCHER was a very fun film to work on. Since I did not have a lead role I would just lounge around when I wasn't shooting and read lines with the other actors. 

PC:  What was the film schedule like and where was it made?

PLB: B.C. Butcher was shot in Topanga Canyon over a nine-day period. Each shot was done in a single take which gave the film a campy quality.

PC: What does it feel like to be the poster girl for the film?

PLB: I love being the poster girl for the film. Lloyd Kaufman called me "the iconic poster girl," which is such an honor since Troma itself is such an influential company that puts out films like no others. 

PC: What's it like working with Troma? Where you a fan of their films prior to working with them?

PLC: Troma is great and Uncle Lloydy is so kind and supportive. Before I worked on B.C. Butcher the only Troma movies I saw where the CLASS OF NUKE 'EM HIGH films but am starting to watch a lot more. I'm in great company!

PC: What are some of your favorite films and film genres?

PLB: My favorite film is Two For The Road. Mary Quant did all the costumes which really make the movie so wonderful. I love old musicals and 60's classics. 

PC: What's the next step in your modeling career? What are some of your goals?

PLB: I Would love to do more modeling in film just like Andy Warhol's films starring Edie Sedgwick. They have such a enigmatic quality. Other than that I enjoy a variety of work and am open to most opportunities. 

Parker Love Bowling with her boyfriend Kalvin Madsen.

PC: What is it about Andy Warhol's films that you find attractive?

PLB: Andy Warhol's films are just very glamorous. I love how they look.

PC; Are you planning on acting in any more films? Do you have any current film projects that you're involved in?

PLB: I am currently in pre-production of a few films. I am very excited to star in Jared Master's new film alongside my sister this summer called ROLLER JUNKIES. It should be really groovy. 

PC: ROLLER JUNKIES is a fanatic title! Can you tell us what the film is about and is there a website for it?

PLB: There is no website for the film yet but there's an imdb page. I haven't gotten the script yet. All I know is Kansas and I are roller skaters in it.

PC: What advice would you offer aspiring actresses who want to break in the film industry, especially those who want to bring diversity and a feminine voice to the male dominated Hollywood?

PLB: Everyone finds success on their own terms but from what I've experienced, I recommend to just be open to all job possibilities. I would never have thought to be a horror movie actress, I saw myself doing more Tuesday Weld type roles, but I found I love working in all genres. A lot of people turned down B.C. BUTCHER because it was too low-budget but now it is getting a lot of press so I would say just be open minded to all projects. 

To learn more about Parker Love Bowling, visit her website at parkerlovebowling.com and be sure to check out her Twitter and Instagram accounts. To learn more about Troma and their upcoming release of B.C. BUTCHER, visit their website at www.troma.com.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil interviews actress Devyn Leah from the upcoming film B.C. BUTCHER from Troma Entertainment-March 10, 2016

Actress Devyn Leah (photo by Ruben Rojas)

Welcome back cinephiles to my fourth installment in a series of interviews featuring the actresses from the upcoming Troma Entertainment film entitled B.C. BUTCHER, directed by Kansas Bowling. For this edition, I had the honor of interviewing actress Devyn Leah, who portrays Bamba in the film. From performing since the age of six to her upcoming LGBTQ project, read on about this fascinating woman who's on the rise to stardom.

Phil Castor: What was it like growing up in Corona, California?

Devyn Leah: What can I say? Corona is a lot slower than Los Angeles, and there's ample parking! My idea of a day out was going to the Target shopping center with friends. I miss it sometimes, but then I remember that I can get frozen yogurt delivered to my house at 3am here in Los Angeles.

PC: How old were you when you became interested in the world of performing arts?

DL: At the risk of sounding cliche, I've been interested in it all my life. I've always been the center of attention. 

PC: Was your family supportive with your passion for the arts?

DL: Of course! They came to see me in plays, dance recitals, concerts, and everything else.

PC: You wrote and acted in your first play while you were only in the first grade. Tell us what was it about and how did you come up with the idea?

DL: Oh gosh I remember putting it on in a neighbor's backyard.  I can hardly remember what it was about, except for the fact everyone kept messing up and I must have given the intro, "Please sit back, relax, and have a purrrrfect day," a few times. 

PC: How old you were when you started taking acting lessons?

Leah as Bamba from B.C. BUTCHER

DL: I believe I was around six. I took a small acting class at a church near my house, and had a small role in "The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe".

PC: Did you find that acting was a creative outlet for you to express yourself?

DL: Yes! I wanted more though. Bigger roles, more lines, everything!

PC: When did you decide to move to Hollywood?

DL: I moved to Hollywood in October 2013. 

PC: Explain how you did you get cast in B.C. BUTCHER?

DL: I submitted to the project on the casting website, CAZT, and was invited for an audition!

PC: What was it like working with the film's director Kansas Bowling?

DL: Kansas is amazing. She knew exactly what she wanted and did it all; she's an inspiring visionary. 

PC: How would describe your character Bamba? What made you want to play this character?

DL: Bamba is the blind voice of reason whom, of course, no one really listens to. Interestingly, I had originally auditioned for Anaconda, but got invited to play Bamba! I love Bamba because she has a big heart and is a little more level headed than the other girls. Plus she's got that accent going on!

PC: Are you a fan of the horror genre? What are some of your favorite film genres?

DL: I love horror movies! My favorites are Woman in Black, and 1408. I also love comedies, whether the be live action or animation. I'm actually just a giant child.

PC: Beside acting, what other interests do you have?

Devyn Leah (photo by Aaron Lee)

DL: I still dabble in screenwriting, and just finished a feature length romantic comedy. I also perform with the burlesque troupe Brazen Booties! I'm a pole dancer, a hip hop dance captain, and I sing occasionally.

PC: What new projects are you currently working on and what are your future plans for the film industry?

DL: I'm attached to the amazing LGBTQ project, True Colors, and we're in the middle of our Kickstarter campaign! True Colors follows a group of queer high school teens in the 90s. It's going to be a groundbreaking series because most of the characters are LGBT; there's not just a couple of gay stock characters. The project means a lot to me, and everyone can check out the Kickstarter here ( https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/michaelmammano/true-colors  )

PC: What advice would you give to all aspiring and upcoming female talents who want to break into the film industry, especially those who wish to bring diversity and a feminine voice to the overpopulated male dominated Hollywood?

DL: Oh gosh. We need you desperately! We need all kinds of females: females of color, females of varying sexualities, body sizes, backgrounds, transgirls, EVERYONE! Just keep at it, and you'll break through. You might have to take some weird roles, but don't do anything you're not comfortable with. You're more than a stereotype, girl. We'll take this town and this industry by storm; I can promise you that.

To learn more about Devyn Leah, visit her website at devynleah.com and be sure to check out her Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts. To learn more about Troma and their upcoming release of B.C. BUTCHER, visit their website at www.troma.com.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil interviews actress Molly Elizabeth Ring from the upcoming film B.C. BUTCHER from Troma Entertainment-March 6, 2016

Actress Molly Elizabeth Ring (courtesy IMDb)

My series of interviews with the actresses from director Kansas Bowling's film B.C. BUTCHER from Troma Entertainment continues. Recently I had the honor of interviewing Molly Elizabeth Ring, who portrays Poppy in the film. From working with the famous Coen Brothers to her love of supernatural and psychological films, below is my interview with this strikingly stunning up & coming actress from Minnesota.

Phil Castor: Let's start at the beginning. Where were you born and raised at? 

Molly Elizabeth Ring: I was born and raised in the suburbs of Minneapolis, Minnesota!

PC: What's your family like? Are they involved in the film industry?

MER: A few of my cousins work in the industry, but my immediate family doesn't. More of my family is in the law field actually! My grandpa did back the Coen Brother's first film though.

PC: Oh that's very interesting. How did he meet the Coen Brothers? And their first film was entitled BLOOD SIMPLE correct?

MER: It was! Also, they are from Minnesota! I don't know how exactly they met but my dad's side of the family (which the grandpa I'm talking about is on) is Jewish and so I think they knew each other through that community.

PC: How old were you when you decided you wanted to act?

MER: I've known I like performing for as long as I can remember, but I think around 8 I realized I really wanted to be an actor.

PC: Did you attend any acting classes while you were in school?

MER: I actually was fortunate that my elementary and middle schools had great arts programs so I had drama class from Kindergarten-8th grade. Then in high school I went to a performing arts school so I definitely took a lot of acting classes there. I also took a bunch of classes outside of school.

PC: Now you made your film debut in the Coen Brothers movie A SERIOUS MAN. What was your on-set experience like?

Ring as Poppy on B.C. Butcher (photo from FB)

MER: It was a scene on the beach that was supposed to be taking place in the summer, but it was filmed in the fall at a lake in Minnesota, and it was super cold! We had heaters off camera to keep everyone warm though. It was really cool seeing such a high level production in action, especially since I really love the Coen Brother's movies.

PC: What do you love about their films? Can we expect you to appear in any of their future projects?

MER: I love the quirkiness, because I'm very quirky as well! And hopefully, call me in whenever you need a redhead, Joel and Ethan!

PC: Tell us how you got involved with B.C.BUTCHER? What attracted you to the project?

MER: I actually wasn't able to make it to the audition, but Kansas liked my look and chose me for the part anyways! I love horror movies so that was definitely what attracted me to the project originally.

PC: Since you love horror films, what are some of your favorites? What is it that you love about the genre?

MER: My favorites are the supernatural or psychological horror films. POLTERGEIST is probably my favorite of the classics, and for the more modern movies I really liked THE CONJURING  and SINISTER! I think what I love the most is that many have surreal aspects. Also, although I'm not pagan myself, paganism and wicca and other spiritualisms really interest me, and they tend to be included in a lot of horror movies as well. Plus, I just love anything psychological!

PC: What was it like working with the film's director Kansas Bowling?

MER: Kansas is great! She's extremely professional and definitely mature for her age. Even though I'm taller than her, I sometimes forget that she's actually 4 years younger than me!

PC: Describe your character Poppy. Did Kansas allow you to improvise on the set?

MER: Poppy is the naive one of the group, but she's smarter (and less innocent) than she first appears! We did do some improvisation during filming, for instance almost everything Kato said on film was improvised, so my responses were too.

PC: There's a debate on whether to make movies on film like Kansas did or shooting on digital cameras. Do you have a preference for either one?

Molly Elizabeth Ring (courtesy IMDb)

MER: I've heard, film takes longer for post production and is more expensive, but it has a really cool look to it! I think that certain movies can really benefit from that look while others would do better with digital.

PC: Do you have any other projects that you are currently working on?

MER: I'm currently working on some web content that I can't quite talk about yet, but stay tuned!

PC: What are your future plans in the film industry? What are you hoping to accomplish?

MER: I hope to be someone that people look forward to watching in whatever roles I play. I'd love to be an actor that people can look up to as well. Also an oscar or two wouldn't hurt!

PC: Besides acting, are you interested in becoming a director or producer? Or maybe having your own production company?

MER: I haven't really thought about it that much, but maybe I would direct someday! Producing is a bit too daunting to me. And having my own production company would also be cool, but for a later time in life!

PC: What advice would you offer aspiring actresses who want to break in the film industry, especially those who want to bring diversity and a feminine voice to the male dominated Hollywood?

MER: Never stop trying. That's the advice I give myself everyday. This industry is tough, but if you don't give up then when you're older you can look back on your life without regrets.

To learn more about Molly Elizabeth Ring, visit her website at www.mollyelizabethring.com and be sure to check out her Twitter and Instagram accounts. To learn more about Troma and their upcoming release of B.C. BUTCHER, visit their website at www.troma.com.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!