XX is Coming!

"1.XX
THE HYPE: The announcement of this film got us all giddy with excitement. Riding on the wave of success enjoyed by modern anthology films such as ABC's of Death and VHS, Todd Brown and Jovanka Vuckovic masterminded a new project that brings together the talents of female genre directors for a unique perspective on horror. The first of its kind, this feature will have segments helmed by Jen and Sylvia Soska (American Mary), Mary Harron (American Psycho), Jennifer Lynch (Chained) Karyn Kusama (Jennifers Body) and Jovanka Vuckovic (The Captured Bird). Acclaimed stop motion animator Sofia Carillo will be creating the wrap around story and inter-titles.

Whilst there is no pre-requisite that says female horror fans need films directed by women, or even that they should prefer them over those directed by men, female talent behind the camera is still a vastly untapped minority and its been great to see this slowly beginning to change over recent years. Argue amongst yourselves over how and why the gender of a films director might change its perspective or storytelling slant, but Scream Sirens will always champion those women that break the mould in this patriarchal industry

THE DETAILS: XYZ Films and Dark Sky Films are collaborating to produce XX but there isn't currently a release date or promotional materials available. Don't worry, we'll keep you up to date, be sure to check our weekly news pages for developments."

Read the whole piece HERE!!

-Sylv 

All Female Anthology - XX - Announced at AFM!!

Jen and I are so fucking honored to be a part of XX with Jovanka Vuckovic, Jen Lynch, Mary Harron, Karyn Kusama, and Sophia Carrillo. Huge thank you to Todd Brown who fucking rocks!!!

"Said Brown: "One of the givens of so many horror films has been the objectification of young women, and we thought it was time for a different approach to scaring audiences and letting the female voice be heard." 

"We know that women make up about half of the audience for horror films, and yet female creative voice has been nearly silent in the horror genre," said Newman, executive vp of Dark Sky Films' parent company, MPI. "So we are thrilled about the new and distinct approach that these talented directors will bring to the project.""

Read all about it on ---

The Hollywood Reporter

Variety

Shock Til You Drop

Horror Homework

Fangoria

Bleeding Cool

The Wrap

Dread Central

Ain't It Cool

Pipocamoderna

Sinful Celluloid

Bloody-Disgusting

Badass Digest

Horror Movie News

Sci-Fi Now

Cinematallica

Planet Etheria

Geek Nation

Twitch

The women included in this project have inspired us so wholly. I fucking love these women. Very very excited to be included in this phenomenal lineup!

-Sylv

American Mary Canadian Theatrical Premiere Q & A w/ Katharine Isabelle & The Twisted Twins by Jovanka Vuckovic

                   

This is the ***WARNING: SPOILERS*** Q & A by Jovanka Vuckovic following the Sinister Cinema screening of American Mary at the Yonge and Dundas theatre in Toronto which was the Canadian theatrical premiere with Katie, Jen (middle), and me (Sylv - right). Please enjoy and thank you for filming this!

-Sylv

Jovanka Vuckovic and the Twisted Twins Talk Sex, Scalpels, and Gender Politics

In horror films, women are often seen and not heard. While the genre has long had a place for strong female characters that best the Bad Guy as the film’s “final girl,” they are rarely depicted as powerful killers, with a voice that screams evil. That genre convention is turned on its ear in American Mary, the sophomore feature from Jen and Sylvia Soska (Dead Hooker in a Trunk), twin female filmmakers with a penchant for horror. American Mary is a provocative feminist body horror film that stars Ginger Snaps’ Katharine Isabelle as a disenfranchised medical student who begins performing illegal operations for the body modification community and eventually escalates to exacting sadistic surgical revenge on those who have wronged her. The film will screen at 25 Cineplex Odeon theatres across Canada on May 30th, courtesy Anchor Bay Canada and Raven Banner Films, with my short film The Captured Bird opening for it. In fact, I’ll be hosting the Yonge and Dundas Cineplex screening in Toronto next Thursday!

I recently sat down with The Twisted Twins, who have become my blood sisters for life, for a little girl talk between horror filmmakers.
Jovanka: What was the genesis of American Mary?

Sylvia: The script for AMERICAN MARY wasn’t something we were planning on or had even imagined. We were still trying to get the first film, DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK, out, and really taking hard knocks from all angles. We were incredibly poor, we couldn’t afford rent or food, we were meeting monsters in the industry, we had no idea if this risk was going to pay off, we had family in and out of the hospital for extended periods of time, and were really at a crossroads at our life. Eli Roth had become a good friend and mentor of ours. We were talking back and forth and he asked about what other scripts we had – at the time we had nothing – but I couldn’t admit it, so I listed off a bunch of ideas that I knew Jen and I could write in two weeks with a self-imposed gun to our head. He picked the ‘one about the medical student.’ We put everything we were going through unconsciously into the film in analogies and characters we knew. It’s something I hadn’t experienced before, taking real life situations that you can’t control and putting it into a script and now you could have that control and ability to analyze it from a safe distance. I found myself feeling more self conscious as I realized how honest it was, but it was something we had to do.

Even with the script done, it was a struggle to get the film made because it was so different. It was a hard sell because it was difficult to compare it to anything. We shot a fake trailer which cost more than our first film to show the look, the tone, and the idea behind the prosthetics and character designs with a first reveal of Ruby RealGirl. We used that as a selling tool, but it was still a hard sell. On our 28th birthday, our parents changed that. They told us that they were going to mortgage the house to be the first investors in the film. That’s how the film got made. Cool, talented people knew we would have a tight schedule and a modest budget, but they cared about the film and wanted to make it great. Everyone made sacrifices to make the film happen. We had a fifteen day schedule, a modest budget, and the team worked their asses off in front of and behind the camera to make the film that you see. It’s a huge responsibility to us to make sure that those efforts were not wasted, that we work our asses off to make the film as successful as we can for those people.


Jen: Body modification had been something that had long fascinated us, but we had never thought we’d ultimately come to make a film that focuses so heavily on it. We’ve always felt like outsiders. We were teased and bullied pretty relentlessly in school. Still, we found ourselves sticking up for anyone else that was being bullied and hanging out with people that most people would exclude. We can’t stand it when people are made to feel like outcasts or wrongly judged and there aren’t many groups as misunderstood as the body mod community. It upset us. You’d think that we all learn to not judge people by their appearances in grade school, but that’s just not the case. I find it bizarre that cosmetic surgery is fully accepted whereas the body mod community are regarded as “freaks”. The main difference I see between the two groups is that one is trying to fit into the accepted ideal of beauty, largely the North American ideal whereas those in the body mod community are appealing to their own ideal of beauty and self.

READ THE WHOLE INTERVIEW HERE!

-Sylv

Canadian Mary

Check the beautiful Anchor Bay poster for American Mary!! We hit Canadian theatres across the country as part of the Sinister Cinema series May 30th with Jovanka Vuckovic's stunning The Captured Bird opening the film.

-Sylv

Revolver's Jovanka Vuckovic Talks to the Twisted Twins

The issue’s column had covered the new film, American Mary, which was directed by twin sisters Jen and Sylvia Soska and was just released on VOD. The movie is also getting a theatrical release in 25 theatres across the filmmaker’s native Canada on May 30th, with the surreal short The Captured Bird opening. The director of The Captured Bird, Jovanka Vuckovic just so happens to the editor of the “Splatter Matters” page, and below, we share her interview with the Soska Sisters.

“The story of a young woman struggling in a male-dominated business, where, despite her ability, she is seen as below her male counterparts and more as a party favor or sexual object, isn’t anything new,” explains cowriter-director Jen Soska, who says the film is analogous to her and her sister’s own experiences in the film industry. “It is a story that focuses so much on appearances being everything and there is a lot that women can relate to.” 

As such, American Mary is a direct reaction to the bland stereotypes in mainstream genre films. “We’d heard the Twilight saga called a ‘feminine horror,’” she explains. “That just pissed us off.” Adds Sylvia, “Martyrs is a female horror film. Inside is a female horror film. American Mary is very much a feminist body-horror film.”

READ THE WHOLE PIECE HERE.

-Sylv

Twisted Twins in the Dungeon!

This Saturday in The Dungeon! A "Wicked Weekend Of Killer Directors!" First, we have Matt Farnsworth and Diane Foster of The Orphan Killer! Then, we talk with one of the most important women in horror and director of The Captured Bird, Jovanka Vuckovic! And we end with the lovely and amazing Twisted Twins and directors of the upcoming American Mary, Jen and Sylvia Soska! That's Saturday at 11pm est / 8pm pst on Jackalope Radio!

I love these guys - they have been good friends since the DEAD HOOKER days and we are thrilled to be on the show. They are fucking rockstars.

I also would have to be deported and have my hair bleached blonde if I didn't express my deep admiration for the Canadian First Lady of Horror, Jovanka Vuckovic. I don't want to spoil any surprises, but what kind of dialogue do you expect when you get a group of opinionated horror filmmakers together? You won't be disappointed.

-Sylv

Twisted Twins at the Toronto International Film Festival

The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is a publicly-attended film festival held each September in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Founded in 1976, the TIFF is now one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world. In 1998, Variety magazine acknowledged that "the Festival is second only to Cannes in terms of high-profile pics, stars and market activity." In 2007, Time noted that the festival had "grown from its place as the most influential fall film festival to the most influential film festival, period." This is partially the result of the festival's reputation and ability to generate "Oscar-buzz".

Further, many Hollywood studios premiere their films at TIFF due to the festival's easy-going non-competitive nature, relatively inexpensive costs (when compared to European festivals), eager film-fluent audiences and convenient timing. Notable films to have had their world or North American premiere at TIFF include Chariots of Fire, The Big Chill, Husbands and Wives, Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould, Downfall, Sideways, and Crash.

In recent years, films such as American Beauty, Ray, The Wrestler, Antichrist, Up In The Air, 127 Hours, Black Swan, and I Am Love premiered at the festival, garnering much favourable attention and press. Jamie Foxx's portrayal of Ray Charles ultimately won him the Academy Award for Best Actor while Slumdog Millionaire went on to win eight Oscars at the 2009 Academy Awards. Precious, which won the 2009 People's Choice Award at the festival, went on to win two Oscars at the 82nd Academy Awards while The King's Speech, the winner of the 2010 People's Choice Award at the festival, won four Oscars at the 83rd Academy Awards.

The 36th Toronto International Film Festival occured this year from September 8th to September 18th.

Last week, our team at Industry Works - the guys and gals who put our first feature DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK out to the world and are the team behind upcoming AMERICAN MARY - gave us a wonderful opportunity by flying us out to this year's Toronto International Film Festival to promote both projects. Next year, we plan to return with AMERICAN MARY and from what we saw of the city, the event, and the people - we really can't wait to come back!


We arrived on the 14th, and on the 15th we were on The Ghost Show. Now, I'm not sure if you know the show, if not allow me to be the one to introduce you to one of my favorite horror personalities on the scene today. With horrorific puns like 'fangtastic' and the ever important 'howl are you?' with horror host is a throw back to the classic horror shows of yesterday where the people who truly loved the genre were the ones hosting everything good and so bad it's good from the genre.


Our segment was shot at the Toronto Underground Cinema which is like walking into a holy place of all things awesome in cinema. The posters that cover the walls, the utter fucking coolness of the staff, and the joint puts on some of the best screenings ever. The night of the 14th they were giving the director's cut of MIMIC its Canadian Premiere with Guillermo del Toro in attendance. Huge thanks to Charlie Lawton who let us film in the epic venue and gave me the thrill of a lifetime - our first viewing of the AMERICAN MARY teaser on the big screen. More details to come along with the Ghost Show - I hope that you dig it!

The next day had us sitting across from two people we have a huge amount of respect for as they are total badasses in their fields. It was a sushi lunch with Jovanka Vuckovic and Todd Brown. It was also the coolest four hours of my life. For those of you that might not know - seriously for shame - allow me to introduce you to these fine folks.

Todd Brown lives and breathes film. He's the founder and editor of Twitch - www.twitchfilm.com - and what Twitch specializes is spreading the news about strange and interesting flicks from around the world. He also a festival programmer for Fantastic Fest, Fantasia Fest, and Canadian Music week, which means two things: He knows his films and he works 24/7. Naturally, he has some of the best film stories ever.

Jovanka Vuckovic is who I like to refer to as the Canadian First Lady of Horror as she is the former editor in chief of Rue-Morgue who knocked it out of the park and brought the zine to its golden age. If you keep up on horror, you've seen her breaking the stigmas of what makes a horror fan and what it is to be a woman working in the industry educating the ignorant with her encyclopedic knowledge of the genre. Get fully caught up here with our Women In Horror article on the femme fatale.

I'm not going to lie, we had a stupid grin painted on our faces all day long afterwards. There are people who you admire because of everything they've done and you never know what it will be like to actually meet them. My expectations were high and they exceeded every one of them.

Now, I'm not sure if you're up to date on all our crazy ambitious projects, here's one we're especially excited about - EAT YOUR HEART OUT, our zombie musical which is a collaboration with Kaleena Goldsworthy of the fucking fantastic The Scarlet Ending. The following morning, Kaleena and her sceamo beau, Ted - he screams like an angel - came up for breakfast, catching up, and plans of zombie survival. The musical is set to star the Scarlets and Ted in an epic opera that takes place though zombie apocalypse. Tunes by Kaleena, story by the Twisted Twins and it is coming along bloody brilliantly.



If you haven't heard about The Scarlet Ending before, watch this beautiful video by CJ Wallis that we worked on last year. You'll also be catching them on the AMERICAN MARY soundtrack. These girls and guys have talent and heart that are peered by very few. Fall in love now, because they will be huge. New videos coming soon!

Later that day, we met with the sensational Lianne Spiderbaby. Writer for Fangoria and Fright Bytes and author of the upcoming GRINDHOUSE GIRLS: CINEMA'S HARDEST WORKING WOMEN which highlights the beloved actresses of exploitation and horror. From what I heard, you really want to fucking read it - down and dirty pictures to the extreme. She was just amazing, professional, well versed, and a pleasure to get to chat with. Coming soon with be our talk about HOOKER, MARY, and the state of horror today.

I want to move into this comic book shop/heaven but there's no rest for the wicked, so a quick grope of Iron Man and we were on our way. Had a motherfucking blast and met some people that I know will remain close friends for years to come.

We now get back to all things AMERICAN MARY. It's been almost a year since we shot and revealed the teaser trailer. A first look is scheduled for mid-November and I think this December 11th - our company's anniversary - there will be a trailer worth all the wait. Thank you for the support, thank you to everyone who saw us in Toronto and came over to say hi, you guys are the people who have made our wildest dreams come true and we can never thank you enough. Promise that we will work very hard to keep you entertained with all sorts of cinematic insanity!

~Sylv

Jovanka Vuckovic

"My mother always says that I’ve loved monsters since before I could speak. When I could hold a crayon, I’d draw monsters. When it was my turn to choose a video on movie night, I’d run for the horror section of the video store. It’s just always been in my blood. I can’t explain it. When it comes to horror, I feel like Lt. Ripley in Alien 3 when she says, “You’ve been in my life for so long, I can’t remember anything else.” -Jovanka Vuckovic

For those of you with just a mild to moderate interest in horror may not recognize the woman being celebrated in this piece. For those of you in the know it's obvious - the flame red hair, the horror icons tattooed across her physique, the endless knowledge of everything and everything horror - because you have to when you're Editor-In-Chief of Rue Morgue, formerly. She's moved on to pursue writing and directing her first feature. And she is Jovanka Vuckovic.

"I admire every woman who’s contributing to the genre without selling herself out. But I’d love to see more women making movies. There are plenty writing horror fiction, but I’d like to see more ladies infiltrate the film business." -Jovanka Vuckovic

This ballsy Canuck is an award winning writer, Gemini Award winner for Best Visual Effects - she spent five years working for CBC Television as a digital effects artist - not to forget she studied forensic anthropology at McMaster University. So much knowledge of the dead - not just the fantastic we see on the screen or the page but also the harsh cold reality of the real dead.

"My career in horror began when I studied forensic anthropology in university and realized that there is a stark difference between what happens in real life and what happens on paper. Working with the dead gave me the perspective I needed to really appreciate living, which only made me appreciate my beloved horror films and literature that much more." -Jovanka Vuckovic

I feel so inspired by this woman. It's not only because she is a fellow Canadian, born in Toronto - although it gives me a huge swell of Canadian pride. I am excited as all holy (and unholy) fuck to see her first feature film - THE CAPTURED BIRD - which, from what I've seen online, looks so original and hauntingly beautiful. With Jovanka's extreme knowledge of horror and vast intellect, you just know we're all going to be in for a treat with this one.



Ok, I don't do this in the middle of writing usually - but you really should go to the film's official site and, fellow horror nerds, be prepared to be stoked. The style is incredible. It's not even finished and festivals around the world are requesting it. However, and this is a nifty piece of Canadian film makingness, the film is being funded by Bravo!FACT but they still need to raise another $60 000 to completely fund the feature. Are you a fan that wants in? This is the kind of movie you can proudly say you helped bring into existence. Go to the donation page here, learn a bit more about contributing, then feel radness wash over you as you help. It's rad.


I have never met or spoken to this astonishing woman, but my friends who have met her sing her praises. She's an incredible role model for any horror lover. She knows her horror and loves it enough to bring her own creepy visions to life for us. Can't wait to see the film and everything (and anything) this lady gets behind. Because if Jovanka Vuckovic is involved, it will be something phenomenal.

UPDATE: We met at TIFF and she is fucking awesome. I got to see THE CAPTURED BIRD and it was unreal.

~Sylv