Actress and filmmaker Anastasia Washington:
To start, please introduce yourself:
Hey! I’m Anastasia Washington. I’m the female Jordan Peele combining social commentary of BIPOC stories with comedy and horror. An award winning bi racial actress comedian podcaster and filmmaker with a long legacy of genre based films from the Addams Family films to her current works . See my work on Shudder, Troma, and more. And featured at fests like Screamfest, Midsummer Scream, and San Diego Comic Con and upcoming Salem Horror Festival!
What is horror to you, what makes a work of art one in the horror genre?
Horror is the exploration of fear. Fear can mean so many things and by and large is a reflection on how we feel about the world and our placement in it. A good horror film leaves you have conversations about society and self and what changes can be made to truly stop some of these real life horrors.
What made you want to work in horror?
I think horror found me. My Mom and sisters were huge horror fans. And while most child actors started in kids content, I started out in action movies and genre films mainly and I felt at home there. Horror people are the best people because they explore empathy everyday and are in touch with the dark and the light side of society. So growing up around people like that was a blessing. Naturally I was drawn to it as so many women are to explore my feelings as a woman and a woman of color. Through comedy and horror I feel the most at home letting my voice out and the horror community is the most giving and loving community there is.
Where do you get your inspiration?
Really I pull from my experiences. Sure I read a ton and am always watching some documentary or movie but the projects that I truly connect to are often exaggerated or maybe not so exaggerated moments of my life. Or my fears of which I have many valid and irrational ones. I love to explore the why and what ifs. Like when I was a small child I accidentally went to a Neo Nazi kids birthday party and they found out I was black. This informed a feature I wrote about hate music festivals (which are real things) and colorism and identity. What if two types of black women were put in a most horrifying situation. What would happen, how would colorism impact this and what horrors would spring from their own insecurities and identities.
What would you like your legacy to be in the genre (or elsewhere)?
I would love to be the female Jordan Peele who still performs as much as creates. I want to combine horror and comedy and social commentary to enact real change in the world.
What is Women in Horror Month to you and why is it still important this many years later?
Women in Horror are my people. I co created a community of women in horror and my life is severely changed by these women. They are the kindest most talented people you will ever meet. And I wish them all the money in the world so you can see the talent that women in horror have. Their impact on my life has been so tremendous and so imagine if the world hear all these amazing women’s voices. The world would 100 percent be a better place. Highlighting them is so important so that people know about them and their work and get them even more projects.
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?
Oh my gosh! So many. Brea Grant who is not only an amazing soul and friend but a talented writer and filmmaker who advocates for other women in film. Chelsea Stardust who is an amazing filmmaker and writer and friend but also takes so much time to mentor young artists. Alison Star Locke who is an an amazing writer and filmmaker but also advocates for parents and kids on the spectrum. Virginia Powers Hendry for being an amazing advocate for women of color and an amazing talent in filmmaking and writing. Also shout out to filmmakers and festival baddies Rachel Belofsky, Vanessa Ionta Wrig, and Heidi Honeycutt. Also the epic Teri Gamble and Julia Marchese, filmmakers, actors, and podcasters. I can’t not mention Barbara Crampton who also advocates for female filmmakers constantly while also balancing being a legend. Actors Fayna Sanchez, Elissa Wagner, Kay Else, Jessica Moore, Camille Corbett, Creatives like Ama Lea, Samantha Hale, Shannon McGrew, Ivotres Littles, Ashley Maria, Sophia Cacciola, Sophia Zolan Veronica Shea, Katie Hattenbach, Melissa Howland, Lily Scourtis and my co host of the horror group the amazing filmmaker Shannon Brown. Gosh there’s so many more amazing women to call out, but I guess I have to stop talking sometime.
What are you currently working on that you can tell us about?
Currently doing the festival circuit with a film I co-wrote and star in Gaslighter, coming to Salem Horror and more fests. Working on bringing some more scripts to life. And also do panels at upcoming cons, including Wondercon, where I’ll bring a True Crime in Comics Panel inspired by my podcast Cereal Killer.
Where can readers keep up with you?
Here’s a complete list of my socials.
