Venezuelan-Born Filmmaker Elena Stacca:
To start, please introduce yourself:
I am a Venezuelan-born filmmaker living in Bellingham, WA. I produce/direct my own films, I am an actress represented by BigFish NW Talent, I own a small business that empowering girls through filmmaking, and I work as a Productions Manager at an Indigenous lead organization, Children of the Setting Sun Productions. I am also a member of Women in Film Seattle, I am a judge for Cascadia International Women’s Film Festival, and a board member of our local art-house theater, Pickford Film Center.
I am a Halloween freak, trail runner, wife, and mother of three Torbie cats.
What is horror to you, what makes a work of art one in the horror genre?
To me, horror is an outlet. It’s both entertainment and an excellent tool for social commentary. Sure, some of it is campy, but even then, it’s not easy to make a film from start to finish so I believe it’s all art. If it makes you feel, experience, think…good or bad. It’s art.
What made you want to work in horror?
My family immigrated from Venezuela to the United States 1983. At that time, Halloween was not celebrated in my home country, so it was a whole new experience for us and one that I quickly became obsessed with. I bought every freaking spooky novel from the Scholastic book catalogue (yes I am old), I would make homemade costumes, use the typewriter to write horror short shorties, my sister and I would use our tape recorder to tell scary stories, and I watched all of the horror films (my parents were cool like that). It only got worse, or better depending on how you seee it, from there. In my 30’s, when I finally got around to following my film dream, I knew that it was the genre for me. I hit the ground running and worked as a reoccurring extra in SyFy’s Z Nation TV show. I learned a lot about make-up fx techniques of which I’ve applied to my films and collegues’ films. I’ve acted in many indie horror films, but I always knew I wanted to be behind the camera. To make a long journey short, now that I’ve been directing my own work, it’s been almost all horror with sub genres of comedy horror, sci-fi horror, and thriller horror.
Where do you get your inspiration?
My inspiration comes from several places. First and foremost, the injustices and hardships that I have experienced myself and/or have known others to experience in real life. Those are usually the base of my stories and horror helps me work those difficulties out. Second, would be the theme of finding one’s voice. My films play around with having a voice…or not, especially with my woman identifying characters. Third, would be my husband who helps me come up with some wicked ideas. Fourth, well there’s just too many Directors and film colleagues out there to list…but I guess Taika Watiti’s What we do in the Shadows is my current top inspiration. Sure, it’s not pure horror but it’s a subgenre within it that I love.
What would you like your legacy to be in the genre (or elsewhere)?
I hope to inspire other underrepresented individuals and communities to find their own voice.
Who are some of the Women in Horror who you look up to and who do you want to bring attention to in your field or others?
Michelle Barklind, who co-runs Bleedingham Film Festival. Michelle Nesk, who produces & directs some amazing Indie horror. Huh, just realized they are both Michelle’s.
What are you currently working on that you can tell us about? (this is where you plug everything you want to plug, including social media accounts)
I am currently outlining a mini series, that I hope to create out of my last short film, Salty Sirens. It’s still going through the festival circuit, but we are outlining the stoires and working out the budgest. You can follow us https://www.facebook.com/MASWAProductionsand see the trailer here: https://youtu.be/h1XeHD-DmZI
Thank you for taking the time to do this, we greatly appreciate it.
I appreciate your time, as well! Thank you for doing what you do!
First and second photo credit Ryan Martin Ottaway