REYNA YOUNG

"Miss Misery"

Last Doorway Productions

Please visit: http://www.lastdoorwayproductions.com/

INDEPENDENT FILMMAKER REYNA YOUNG TELLS THE HORROR ZINE ABOUT MAKING FILMS:

I have always loved living in San Francisco. I love walking down fisherman’s wharf and buying chocolate at Ghirardelli square. Besides being a filmmaker, I’m a huge chocolate lover!

I was born and raised in San Francisco. I used to always try to film in Golden Gate Park but I have had the cops called so many times I’ve stopped for awhile. LOL!!

The Ocean Beach is so beautiful and at times calming to just sit there and relax. Sometimes I’ll play my guitar; it’s a great place to just hang out and play. I’ve played guitar since I was 16 and soon after that bass and drums. I write songs and like to play electric and acoustic.

But you want to hear about filmmaking, right?

When I was eight years old, I snuck into my daddy’s VHS Collection and pulled out the first horror film I ever saw:, John Carpenter’s Halloween. It scared the crap out of me, yet I couldn’t take my eyes off the screen. The terror and suspense thrilled me and I loved the fact that I was scared. I knew then and there that it was something I wanted to get involved with.

In college, I started to help my friends shoot some of their films. I helped out as Assistant Director and I was a natural at it, so I thought to myself: I can do this.

But how does a filmmaker get started? Where does one begin?

I bought a mini DV camera and wrote my first script, titled Uninvited. I had all my friends help me and I put out a casting call at local colleges, had a bunch of people audition, and cast some riends of mine.

During the shoot, I noticed I was being treated almost as if I didn’t know what I was doing. There were arguments and I fired some people and eventually just got rid of everyone. I had already shot some of the film but I had to start over with a whole new cast.

So you see, just like everything in life, filmmaking does not always go smoothly.

But I didn’t give up. I started filming little by little for a week straight, and then I filmed the rest of the movie all in one night with the actors. It didn’t quite turn out the way I wanted, but it was a great start and I’m still am damn proud of it.

You see, I needed to go through all the crap to come out knowing more then I did before. A filmmaker needs experience to become good, and the only way to get experience is to make films.

Ever since then, I have filmed and filmed and learned from being on different sets and just going with what I feel is right during the filming process. I usually buy my equipment instead of renting so I have it for the future. I buy lots of books on the filming subject but I go by instinct a lot.

Horror is a genre I will always be in love with. Scaring people is what I love to do; giving that thrill of being scared is my gift. Ghosts, goblins, witches and serial killers, what can I say? I’m a weirdo and I love every minute of it!

I started Last Doorway Productions to help get my films out there and that’s what I am all about. The Last Doorway is the title of a show I host under the name Miss Misery. Miss Misery is a sassy, funny and dark goth. She’s into Beverly Hills 90210 and torturing men. She envys Vampira and wants nothing more but to rule the underworld.

Feel free to visit Miss Misery at: www.thelastdoorwayshow.com

While doing the show I came up with a great idea to throw a film festival in San Francisco for short horror films. There really isn’t much in S.F for horror related stuff. Especially film festivals; so I started A Nightmare to Remember. It’s a three hour event that happens every June.

And don’t forget to come to The Women in Horror Convention on February 27, 2010!

I get e-mails all the time from people who want to make a film but don’t know how to start, that’s where I come in to help explain it to them. Anyone can feel free to e-mail me anytime at: kc13rc@yahoo.com.

Welcome to the Darkside!
It is about searching into the depths of Women in the Horror Genre.
From Scream Queens to Independent Filmmakers,
find out what Females of Fatales are all about when it comes to blood, guts, and boobs!
This Women in Horror Convention explores the horror industry which is no longer male dominated! It
gets into the core of the bloodthirsty, sick and twisted minds of WOMEN
who love to create images of the grotesque.

EVENT: Women in Horror Con: In Honor of Bay Area Women In Horror

DATE: February 27, 2010; 1:30pm – 6pm [free!]

PLACE: SF Center 1800 Market Street /San Francisco//ONE DAY ONLY EVENT

Details here:

http://www.pretty-scary.net/content/women-horror-convention-san-francisco-ca