In the tradition of Scream and Tucker and Dale vs Evil comes OMG… We’re in a Horror Movie!!!, available now on VOD from LeoMark Studios.
Seven friends find themselves trapped in a horror movie in Ajala Bandele’s very funny and somewhat frightening love letter to the genre.
A movie about “What if’s” What if your life suddenly became a horror movie. Who would you play? What if your role was taken? What would you do. This is a horror comedy that answer those questions for seven “lucky” people who get to see what they would do.
We speak to the film’s token “vegan lesbian” Sharon Mae about the movie.
How did you get involved?
Back when OMG was just a short, or possibly a web series, Ajala asked Chris and I to come over and read the short version of it. Chris and I loved it, encouraged him to write more so Ajala wrote some pages, called us in again. This process went on for some time, and as the script grew, so did the number of characters and more friends were pulled into the process. Several of the characters are written as hyperbolic versions of themselves, save for my character, Jesse– Ajala initially had a Latina woman in mind for the role. I think he had a crush on her! But let me not spread rumors…haha! Over time, I just naturally came into the role because Ajala could no longer see anyone else in it, but me. Plus, Ajala loves me and he’s one of my closest friends and who better to work with than your friends!
Is this a bit of a break for you?
Getting to be the lead in a feature is definitely a big break! As an Asian female actress, it’s challenging finding roles that treat you more than glorified furniture to literally color the background. I walk! I talk! I have a personality! I’m fully developed! I have more than five lines! In fact, we speak to these issues directly in the film and it’s so funny because while everyone falls into a stereotype– there’s the handsome male lead, Tom, the best friend, Tanya, the beautiful blonde, Amy, the token black guys, Chris and AJ, the odd one and the assumed killer, Kyle, then there’s me…the Asian. Given that we’ve never seen an Asian female lead in an American horror film, it’s not so easy to figure out who I am, am I the hot girl who bears her breasts and dies in the shower? As a person of color, will I most likely get killed off first just like my black friends are supposed to? You find us fighting our stereotypes in every way possible, which leads to the hilarious the heinous.
Most actors on independent films tend to have wear multiple hats. Did you?
All of us definitely wore many hats to help bring this passion project to life! But for me, I was involved in the workshopping process of the script back when it was just a twinkle in Ajala’s eye. Then I assisted in casting. During the shoot, there were times when I was doing makeup, balancing the cast’s schedules, schlepping equipment to Joshua Tree, helping frame shots, catering, anything and everything to make my friend’s dream come true. If you speak with Ajala, he’ll tell you I functioned as his head cheerleader. I called him every day to check in, to see if there was anything he needed. Post production, I called him every day to see where he was at with editing. I’d come in to watch edits and give notes. When there was a final edit, I’d call him every day asking to which film festivals had he submitted OMG. Call me his stalker, or his accountability partner, I just wanted to see my friend succeed!
The film is all over the net – great work. How important a marketing tool has the internet been?
I’ll site our distribution company, Leomark Studios, as the internet savvy ones. Truly, I am so grateful for their OMG love because they’re bringing us to online streaming platforms to reach audiences the world over. Also, Leomark Studios has bridged the relationship with our PR Firm October Coast and I am also so thankful to them building our presence on the internet with interviews like this one!
Do you read everything you see online about the film?
Whenever anyone shares an OMG post, I can’t help but read it! I don’t go and google them myself because I’m sensitive and if I encounter a troll, I’m afraid I’d let it get to me. I’m working on developing a thicker skin, but I can’t help that I’m vulnerable. Sigh. #MyTruth. But when I do get hurt by other’s words, I remind myself of Brene Brown who took me to this quote by Theodore Roosevelt: It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.
Sequel plans?
Since OMG…We’re in a Horror Movie!!! Ajala is in development for a follow up– a romantic comedy with this cast of characters. We Tom finally get Jesse to fall in love with him?! Find out!
Thanks a ton to Sharon Mae for talking to us about her upcoming film. You can learn more OMG….We’re in a Horror Movie!!! by visiting the Facebook page.
