For our second interview of the day, let’s meet multi-talented actor Spooky Madison.
To start, please introduce yourself:
My name is Spooky Madison, I am a horror filmmaker hailing from the bowels of hell (Columbus, Ohio). I am an award-winning Actor and jack of all trades crew member who has quickly become engrossed in the indie horror community. I now produce movies under the name FinalGhoul Films where I prioritize women and queer characters to bring authenticity to my work because I believe Representation Matters.
What is horror to you, what makes a work of art one in the horror genre?
To me, Horror means being comfortable with the uncomfortable. It means finding pleasure in feeling unsettled, in being scared. Horror is to me, like skydiving is to an adrenaline junkie. As someone who is Neuro-Divergent, I grew up learning about emotions from other people, I learned what was appropriate, I learned how to mask what wasn’t. Horror is a genre where wearing your emotions on your face is what SELLS the art. And as a horror actor myself, I take a lot of pride in being able to sell the art of my friends. As a filmmaker, I take a lot of pride in writing material that inspires or unsettles.
What made you want to work in horror?
Honestly, I found myself working in horror on a whim. I’ve always loved the genre, but I was so disconnected from the horror acting community that it almost didn’t feel like an option. In 2020 I auditioned for my first ever indie horror film called How I Got Here. A coming-of-age Zombie flick made by a few folks in Chillicothe, Ohio. That movie kickstarted my love for being covered in blood and wielding weapons against bad guys.
Where do you get your inspiration?
When it comes to making films, a lot of times a movie title will pop into my head before a plot. But it helps when it comes to creating the outline. From what I hear from my peers, it’s a little backwards- but hey it works for me. I get a lot of inspiration from lighting. If I’m out at the bars, or at an event, or an amusement park, my ideas flow easily.
What would you like your legacy to be in the genre (or elsewhere)?
I want to be known as someone who was supportive of everyone’s journey. I want to be known as a hard worker, a nice person, and a talented peer within the filmmaking community.
What is Women in Horror Month to you and why is it still important this many years later?
Women in Horror Month is a time to celebrate the many badass women and non-binary individuals in the filmmaking world. It’s about recognizing the hard work, and not only hearing their voices but LISTENING to what they are saying.
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?
I’ve forever been a fan of Toni Collette -a dream scene partner, in my opinion, and Neve Campbell obviously. And honestly there are so many women in my horror community that deserve to be recognized but I want to give a shout out to Leah Voysey (the clown cafe singer from Terrifier 2), and Celeste Blanton (phantom fun world, Simpatico Pictures).
What are you currently working on that you can tell us about?
My newest film, Rabbit Season has just hit the first circuit and we are hoping to take home many awards for our little manic lullaby. My production company has a list of short films on the 2024 roster that we are creating, you can find us on IG: @FinalGhoulFilms and you can follow my personal social on IG: @TheGoodbyeGhoul
Thank you for taking the time to this, we greatly appreciate it.
Thank you so much for being awesome!!
