Interview: Actress Amanda Fuller for ALL THE CREATURES WERE STIRRING
Amanda Fuller in ALL THE CREATURES WERE STIRRING | Photo Courtesy of RLJE Films

It’s that time of year when the holidays have encompassed most everyone’s life, for better or for worse. For those who like the Yuletide season to have a dash of horror, they won’t have to look far as ALL THE CREATURES WERE STIRRING is a fun and terrifying anthology centered around the holiday season! For the DVD and VOD release, I had the chance to speak with actress Amanda Fuller where we discussed everything from her three roles in the film to her love for the horror genre.

Nightmarish Conjurings: How did you first hear about ALL THE CREATURES WERE STIRRING and what was it about the script that made you want to be a part of this anthology?

Amanda Fuller: I had worked with Rebekah and Dave before. I did a short with Rebekah and kind of knew them through that community and what not. And, they honestly just asked me, they said they were doing this cool project and asked me to do it. I said that I would love to do anything that they are doing and that was kind of it. I didn’t get the script right away, I trust them and had such a great experience working with them the first time. They were friends of mine at that point. So it was like, yeah sure, anything you’re doing sounds fun to me. They told me the ideas and what not. And then we worked it out and then we did it. It was pretty simple – a fun friend project.

Nightmarish Conjurings: You end up playing three characters in the film: Linda, Chet’s Mom, and Dickensian Woman #1. What was it like to play three very different characters and was their one you enjoyed the most?

AF: It was fun, I mean, I’m used to playing all different kinds of character because I am a character actor and it is a norm for me. I rarely get to do it within the same day, so it was like icing on the cake to be able to play like that. We shot it in two days over a weekend and it was kind of sporadic and random – we’re gonna do this part and then we’re gonna do that part. We were kind of going with it, just playing and being silly. They’re all fun characters, they’re all so different. Of course it was fun to do the Dickensian woman, is that how you say it? The old timey thing. It was definitely a departure from everything I ever do so, maybe that was the most fun? Yeah, I don’t know, I enjoyed it all. I just got to play all weekend. It was a ball!

Nightmarish Conjurings: You are no stranger to the horror genre – having been in films such as FASHIONISTA and STARRY EYES, to name a few. What is it about this genre that you love and what do you look for when it comes to choosing your roles?

AF: I love everything about the genre. I have to say that the thing that kind of hooked me into the genre, which may sound odd, is the fan-base and the community that is around it. I never was like a big horror junkie growing up, I think I wasn’t exposed to the right kind of horror. I was just exposed to the typical blockbuster movie kind of things and never really understood the draw of it. I’m an indie girl overall, so I was never really into blockbuster movies all that much. But then when I did RED, WHITE, AND BLUE it kind of got accepted into the whole horror movie and we did all the festivals and at that time I was able to see like real genre films for the first time and the community that supported it and loved all of the people and had the best time. Every festival I would go to was a blast. It was a blast of smart, interesting, creative people – that kind of hooked me. And I started to get more intrigued by everything. And now, I think, genre film is my favorite type of film to make.

In terms of picking roles, I think they kind of pick me. I’m sure if something came along and I didn’t really jive with it I would be like “yeah, I’m not into it.” But for the most part, I’m game for everything if it’s intriguing and provocative storytelling. That’s my favorite kind of story to make and typically genre films are in that sort of world. If anyone wants to use me and I connect with them and connect with what they’re doing I am game.

Nightmarish Conjurings: One of the reasons I loved this movie so much was because the chemistry between everyone seemed so genuine. What was it like to work so closely with the other actors?

AF: It was fun. We just met each other that weekend and kind of jumped in together, dove right in. So we all went on this ride together. I know I keep using the word “fun,” but really that is is the best way to describe my whole experience with working on this project from beginning to end. Especially since it was so quick, any grueling hours, it just ended up being a fun weekend that we had together. So, it’s funny, the chemistry, or our little piece of it. We just met and did it. So, I think we just really liked each other. It was one of those genuine you just meet people and get along and just have an instinctive chemistry, I think that’s what happened with all of us. We all kind of know what the heck we were doing and trusted Dave and Rebekah and we were in it together. I think it turned out, you know, it reflects that and it works, thank God. A really good time.

Nightmarish Conjurings: Last, but not least, are there any other projects you are working on that we should be keeping our eyes out for in the future?

AF: I am currently working on LAST MAN STANDING which is on Fox every Friday night. And I am on ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK – you can see me on season 6 and I’m now working on season 7. So, I am juggling both of those shows right now. And I’ve got a ton of projects in the works that I have written and directing some of them and just trying to get any and all of them off the ground and in the development part of a lot of different projects that are close to my heart. And hopefully, there is stuff I don’t know about on the horizon. But as of now, that’s my world.

ALL THE CREATURES WERE STIRRING is now available on DVD, On Demand and Digital Video

Shannon McGrew
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