An Interview With Actor and Director Ruben Pla
With FrightFest Digital Edition fast approaching we took the oportunity to sit down and chat to Ruben Pla about his amazing new documentary ‘The Horror Crowd’ which gets its World Premiere at FrightFest on the Arrow Video Screen.
Hi Ruben it is great to meet you and we are really looking forward to the Premiere.
Can you tell us a little bit about The Horror Crowd?
THE HORROR CROWD is a revealing and intimate documentary spotlighting the diverse Hollywood horror film community. It’s all about filmmakers coming together, inclusive of all types, and forming an artistic, creative family where they can produce compelling films.
This sounds awesome. I think it is definitely the first of its kind. I think horror fans are going to be in for a real treat!
Do you think the documentary has helped to pull back the curtain on Horror movie making?
Most assuredly. I try to shine a light on the perceived dark cloud that has been cast on the horror community, to show the audience out there that they are everyday people, with everyday lives, families, and friends. They’re just like you… mostly.
I know for a fact there are definitley one or two unique characters in the horror community.
You have managed to get some real icons and horror movie legends involved with the documentary. Was everybody excited to be a part of it?
Every single person. They all lined up excited and willing to share their stories, their passions, their personal lives, with you the audience. They held nothing back. It was so revealing and enjoyable to behold.
That is really good to hear. You can always tell when someone is genuinely passionate about what they do.
Do you think making the documentary has given you a bigger insight and appreciation for the genre?
Oh, definitely. I already loved horror, but seeing it so passionately through the eyes of THE HORROR CROWD, I took away a deeper appreciation and understanding of what it means to be a true horror devotee.
Do you think they will find the documentary brings something new to the table?
Absolutely. I really believe THE HORROR CROWD will appeal to the average person. It crosses over because it has a lot the average person can relate to, not just horror fans. In the film, besides detailed horror subjects, we cover Family, Race Relations, Literature, Women, etc. It’s not just for horror aficionados. All comers are welcome.
That sounds really interesting. Maybe it will create some new horror fans.
Do you feel like the documentary has helped to shed some light on what attracts so many people to horror movies?
Yes, I do. We make it clear in THE HORROR CROWD that people love to be scared. They love to pull back that curtain of fear and see what’s back there. I think death is such a frightening, yet appealing, subject. We all want to know what happens after we die. It scares the hell out of us, but we want to know. I think that’s why we gravitate towards it.
What inspired you to get behind the camera and direct?
I’ve been a professional actor most of my adult life, and in recent years I began writing screenplays, then decided to direct two horror shorts to test those waters. I enjoyed it so much I decided to dive in and make a feature, and the result is THE HORROR CROWD.
Hopefully it won’t be the last time we see you behind the camera. It sounds like you have a lot to offer.
What was your favourite part of making the documentary?
Two favorite parts. Interviewing the people. That was such a delight. As you can tell when you watch the movie, I am having a blast interviewing them, astounded by their wonderful revelations, their deepest, darkest fears. It was all so inspiring. Secondly, editing this monster of a film was an amazing experience. I had so much footage to get down to 92 minutes and it was a monumental effort but thoroughly enjoyable.
What did you find hard about the process?
To be perfectly honest, nothing. It all felt so natural, the organizing, the interviewing, the editing. Everything went smoothly, and a lot of that is thanks to my producing partner, Arielle Brachfeld, and my co-producer, Hank Braxtan. They made sure I had everything I needed at all times. The film would not be what it is today without them.
It seems like you are a natural! Although it does help surrounding yourself with an excellent team.
Have you been a fan of horror movies from a young age?
I remember, distinctly, watching Creature Features and Chiller Theatre when I was growing up in New York City. They used to re-run all the great classic horror movies, especially the original Universal monster movies like DRACULA, FRANKENSTEIN, and THE WOLFMAN. Those things scared the crap out of me. But they weren’t just scary, they were well-written films, beautifully shot in black & white, with amazing actors like Lugosi, Karloff, and Chaney Jr. I remember how much pathos Chaney conveyed as Larry Talbot, cursed with becoming the Wolfman at night, and the torture in his face whenever it was coming on. Gives me chills right now just thinking about it.
We love the classics! Give us some Hammer Horror any day of the week!
What is your favourite horror film?
If I had to narrow it down to one, and that is really a hard task, then I would have to say the original ALIEN. I remember seeing that for the first time and being so scared of this horrible alien monster, that we barely saw for a good chunk of the movie… you know, like the Shark in JAWS… and never knowing when it was going to pop out. As most horror aficionados know, even the actors were never quite sure when it would descend upon them, something Ridley Scott decided to do to them to get natural reactions. When that Chestburster first comes out, people in the audience had no idea it was coming, because they didn’t reveal any of it in the trailers. We actually have a whole section of THE HORROR CROWD dedicated to ALIEN and it’s effect on some of our filmmakers. One of my favorite sections.
Alien. Awesome choice! It certainly does pack a lot of tension into it.
How can people watch your new documentary?
The film is not in distribution yet, as it’s still on the festival circuit… but if you wish to see it in the UK and Northern Ireland, just go to FrightFest.com on Saturday, August 29th, at 3:00 pm BST and you can watch it there. Remember, the film festival is “virtual”, not just online, so you have to watch THE HORROR CROWD at that scheduled time, just like a real live screening.
Thanks for taking the time out to chat to us Ruben and good luck with the Premiere at FrightFest.
FrightFest Digital Edition presents the World Premiere of The Horror Crowd on 29 August on the Arrow Video Screen.
Buy The Horror Crowd digital screening tickets HERE
WATCH THE TRAILER BELOW
