Meet actor, writer, producer Rachel Bryant:
To start, please introduce yourself:
Hi! My name is Rachel Bryant and I’m primarily an actor who also writes and produces a little bit as well.
What is horror to you, what makes a work of art one in the horror genre?
Horror is a genre of film that truly lets us play with our imaginations… Especially the darkest corners of our minds. I love that it is a really great tool in exploring human themes and can be used allegorically to help audiences see things from new perspectives etc. I feel like elevated horror has really changed the genre and created an opportunity to challenge peoples beliefs and help them grow as individuals.
What made you want to work in horror?
I fell into it because I knew an FX guy (Robert Bravo) and we discovered that my body/skin took to appliances and latex very well… and that just opened the door to me exploring my work as an actor in this genre. As I did more and more of it, I really loved that I got to play in such high stakes situations, it’s a beautiful challenge as an actor. Plus being covered in blood is actually really fun, kind of like playing in a sandbox.
Where do you get your inspiration?
I get my inspiration from so many places… art, books, plays… especially other filmmakers and how they push themselves to make impactful and fun films in any genre. I think a lot of my characters and stories I want to tell stem from my experience to other art as well as my experiences in life. It’s been cathartic for me to work through a lot of the pain I’ve been through recently through the different characters I am luckily very blessed to play.
What would you like your legacy to be in the genre (or elsewhere)?
I love my legacy to be that I made people feel like they weren’t alone. Stories bring people together but also make people go “oh wow, thank goodness I’m not the only person going through that.” I was a pretty lonely kid and art/tvshows/movies reminded me that I wasn’t alone, and I hope to do that for others with my work.
What is Women in Horror Month to you and why is it still important this many years later?
Really I think WIHM is a celebration of the female voice and the female storytellers in this genre. It’s so important because still SO much of the film industry is mainly male, so stories etc tend to be from that perspective. I’m grateful that there’s an opportunity to highlight different voices in this genre.
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?
Melissa Vitello is an incredible horror director/writer, she inspires me with her stories and her visions. I also love Jennifer Stone, she is excited to tell fun stories and engage with fans, along with being just a joy on set. I also think Stacy Synder deserves a shoutout because she is a great actress and producer. Finally, Angel Bradford is simply a delight on set and one of the nicest gals I’ve worked with.
Melissa Vitello is an incredible horror director/writer, she inspires me with her stories and her visions. I also love Jennifer Stone, she is excited to tell fun stories and engage with fans, along with being just a joy on set. I also think Stacy Synder deserves a shoutout because she is a great actress and producer. Finally, Angel Bradford is simply a delight on set and one of the nicest gals I’ve worked with.
What are you currently working on that you can tell us about?
I’ll be heading to Dallas to shoot a very fun role in Jennifer Stone’s next film with Stoneberry films called “Birthday Bash!” And people can also see me in various drive ins across the country because I am also in J Horton’s “A Hard Place.” FYI, “A Hard Place” will be available to stream May 25th!
Where can readers keep up with you?
IG: @RachelAmandaBryant
