Australian horror creator Vanessa Gudgeon working in just about all fields of horror, so she was of course, perfect for our questions.
Please introduce yourself:
Thank you so much for having me.
My name is Vanessa Gudgeon. I’m an Australian horror filmmaker, alternative model, haunt actor (most recently featured in both The Book Of Haunters Volume 6: Sisterhood of Haunters and the 2021 issue of Hallozween Magazine), Burlesque performer (Miss Soxie Liqueur’e), audio engineer/foley artist, SFX artist and mermaid (Mermaid Soxie).
My latest short film; Hobo Sewer Slaughter won the Golden Lomax at the 2019 Trasharama film festival and went on to screen around Australia and select parts of America and Canada and is currently available for streaming via Troma Now!
What is it that attracts you to the horror genre for your chosen field of creative work?
I have always been attracted to horror since I can remember and have a massive appreciation for all the quirky characters, cinematic styles and bold storytelling that come with it. I also feel that horror has always been the leading fictional genre in having a lot to say about the world around us. I try to leave people with something to think about when they watch my films.
Who inspires you in your work and in life?
I’m honestly inspired by my friends who work so hard in their creative fields.
What are your passions, cinematic or otherwise?
I am very passionate about my work in sound because I am absolutely fascinated with how it can be used to both enhance what we are watching and while I absolutely love running sound for live musical acts and recording the sound for my own films, I have also been very fortunate to be the resident audio engineer and foley artist for Harbour Theatre in Western Australia for the past decade, where I have found a love for live theatre. I am also interested in environmental conservation, the mythology of merfolk, haunt attractions and all things Halloween.
Considering this is 2022, why do you think we still need a movement like Women in Horror Month?
I find that Women in Horror Month is still very much needed, as it seems to be the only time of year when some women get a chance to have their work highlighted in the wider community and while things have changed a lot since I started, I feel that it is still so important to continue this tradition so we can celebrate every female working in this genre, no matter what their background and continue to grow the wonderful community it has created, which is very important to me.
What would you tell an up-and-coming creative in the world of horror who sees that being a woman/identifying as a woman as something that makes it so much more difficult at times?
I feel that, in my own experience, women are much more respected within the horror genre than ever before and if you are ever made to feel that someone you are working with is trying to pressure you into something you don’t want to do, or they are making you feel that your career or life, in general, should be more difficult based on your gender, sexuality, or anything else you have no control over, don’t be scared to walk away, because there are so many better people out there who will want to work with you and you deserve to feel safe and just as worthy as anyone else working the same job.
What are your favorite bits of helpful advice that you have received about your work or your field?
Some of the best advice I have received is, especially when you are starting, do it for yourself first and foremost and don’t lose your passion we’ve all heard the term “fake it till you make it”, but don’t try to fake it unless you are willing to learn how to do whatever it is you are faking!
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?
I love Skye Medusa’s work playing Vampi on The Vampi Show which has a movie on the way, that I am very excited about!
What do you have coming soon that you can talk to us about?
I’m currently in the pre-production stage on my next short horror film; Mr. Bang-Bang and The Babes Of Death, which is about a group of ladies who attempt to bring a dildo to life, but in a terrible twist of fate, they accidentally give life to a gun and his sexy bullet babes and that’s when the fun begins! I’m also working on an upcoming, all Western Australian made feature anthology film called Bleederville, as well as a documentary about the original Deadly Earnest and would love to hear from anyone who has information on the character, or the people who played him over the years.
I have been working on a few more horror scripts recently, including one about mermaids and I am very excited to bring them to life on screen in the coming years.
What do you hope to leave behind in your legacy as an artist?
It’s not something I’ve thought much about before, but I guess, when it comes to horror, I hope that I can leave people with films that will give their potential audiences a bit of a laugh and maybe even something to think about.
Pop them links to follow your work here:
You can follow me on Instagram @soxie_liqueure & @mermaid_soxie and keep up to date with these films:
Hobo Sewer Slaughter
Mr. Bang-Bang and The Babes Of Death
Bleederville