Please introduce yourself.
My name is Lia Scott Price and I am the creator, filmmaker, author and artist of the vampire horror-action comic books and animation series called Vampire Guardian Angels. I turned guardian angels into a new breed of vampire in the vampire genre, a hybrid of a serial killer, guardian angel, and vampire, and I am a character in my comic book series and animation. I’ve also directed and acted in my Vampire Guardian Angel films.
What is it that attracts you the horror genre for your chosen field of creative work?
In horror it means making something normal into something abnormal. When you drive down a street and look at a random house, for instance, what goes on inside? Can you turn the house into a secret lab with zombies? Or a haven for vampires? I play a game where I’m asking “what if …what if…what if”…..what if a person in the crosswalk was a serial killer? It’s turning anything that seems ordinary into something extraordinary. It’s where my imagination takes me. It’s a twisted world of make-believe. For instance, I turned guardian angels into serial killers and vampires. It’s posing a question: what if something supposedly good was evil? That to me is what horror is: a what-if scenario.
Who inspires you in your work and in life?
It’s anyone who goes through difficult times and I find their stories inspiring especially if they suffer from anxiety and panic attacks like I do, and in our society, mental issues are stigmatized. But it’s during my most challenging times that I am the most prolific. I write best when I’m at my darkest, when I had a malignant cancerous tumor that caused health issues, anxiety, PTSD, and traumatic life changes. My most difficult times are actually my most creative times. because it’s an escape. It gives me a goal to keep me grounded.
I use art and my creativity as my therapy. It’s human expression of feelings. What you can’t put into words, you can express in film, music, art, and writing. I’ve created a whole vampire world in a novel, films, comic books and animation and that gives me confidence and keeps me focused. For instance, even if I’m going through hell, I tell myself I have to finish this one comic book page, time to get to work. It’s the same reason I’m able to get up in the morning despite feeling like crap, the reason to keep on going. In a way, it’s a lifesaver.
Women in horror have made great strides, but it’s clear that a lot of work is still needed to make it a most inclusive genre. To you, what is the importance of a movement like Women in Horror Month?
It’s providing support and a way to showcase our work. Being an independent artist, it can be difficult to find resources and to be taken seriously. And there is pressure to have to prove yourself constantly as a woman. And even if you have a positive mindset, you still need support. You need a network that can relate to the challenges that women face in the creative industry, where we can offer each other advice, opportunities, and of course, support. And it’s not just support that is needed in the creative process, it’s needed in marketing, publicity, business, media, and in all industries. They are all interconnected, with each helping the other to achieve a common goal.
What would you tell an up-and-coming creative in the world of horror who sees that being a woman/identifying as a women as something that makes it so much more difficult at times?
Know why you are doing something. I’ve learned to not try to please everyone. If people like my work, that’s great. If they don’t, so what. I will keep doing what I am doing. People can say what they want, but in the end, it’s what you do for yourself that really counts.
Be successful in your own way. Success means many things: to some it means a huge movie or book deal and fancy cars or mansions , but to others it means just being able to reach a goal of creating something you’re proud of. You don’t always have to go by the definition of others. It’s what you create that’s your own. it’s your own passion that people see and can even be inspired by. Because that’s who you are and what makes you unique.
Don’t be afraid to create and try different things. Find a way. I found a way to publish, film, or animate, with or without a budget. If one way does not work, find another. Learn to balance business and creativity. Run yourself like a business. Become your own production company or publisher. Find out what they do. Who do you have to hire? Where can you find what you need like a business would do? It’s step by step, planning, and setting goals. It could take a short time, or a long time. (And that is also why we need a support network.)
Learn to adapt. For instance, for me, when hard copy publishing was expensive, I made digital comics. When I could no longer exhibit at comic book conferences, I created an “online booth” to keep promoting my works. Use what resources you have, but never stop learning and keep working on finding what you need to reach your goal.
What are your favorite bits of helpful advice that you have received about your work or your field?
The advice I’ve gotten has actually been from people who not in the film industry, but who ran businesses. I was told that if I wanted something done, I had to find the right people, or learn how to do something eventually, and learn to wear many, many hats, and try to learn everything from accounting to legal to promotion. At first, I hired professionals, then learned from them. I hired cinematographers, and then learned to become one. I hired artists for my comic books, then learned to draw them myself.
I was also advised by these business owners to never underestimate yourself or say you can’t do it or compare yourself to others. Each of us has their own style and unique way of creating. Find what makes you and your work unique. It can take a while to get noticed, but you have to keep putting yourself out there. Have faith in your own work and don’t worry if others judge you. There is always a story, a reason, and a personality behind the creation, and that is what people will eventually relate to.
But know your limits too. If writing a book doesn’t work for you or it’s not your thing, try script writing. You might find that filmmaking, or comics, or art, or directing might be your thing. Your work is also a “product”. You have to go find what works and when you do, work on it, and keep improving on it.
In honor of celebrating Women in Horror Month, who do you believe viewers should keep an eye on in terms of the creative ladies in horror?
All of them. I’ve seen some amazing work from women filmmakers, artists, authors, musicians, actors, etc. That’s why online sites that feature women in horror with links to their films, pages etc. are important, so people can check out their work.
What do you have coming soon that you can talk to us about?
I’m currently working on turning my comic books into animation. I’m doing the art, animation, and also some of the music. I’m trying my hand at composing. I’ve actually composed my first black metal-inspired theme for the animation trailer with help from professional musicians, and I’m working on more compositions for the animation in the future.
Pop them links to follow your work here:
https://www.patreon.com/liascottprice
https://www.youtube.com/liascottprice