As you may know, February is “Women in Horror” month. To celebrate, PromoteHorror.com asked women from different professions if they would like to answer some questions about being a “Woman in Horror.” One of the women, who was kind enough to answer our questions, was author/director Izzy Lee. Lets see what she said about being a “Woman in Horror”…
-PH: When did you first become a horror fan?
-Izzy: At a very young age. I was drawn to old films I could see on cable, like the Vincent Price/Edgar Allan Poe/Roger Cormen films, Creature Double Feature pairings, and Hammer Horror flicks. I couldn’t get enough. I haven’t changed.
-PH: Was there a specific moment when you realized that you wanted to go from being a fan of horror to a woman who contributes to the genre, or did it just kind of happen naturally?
-Izzy: It was a gradual evolution. I went from devouring everything at my local video stores as a teen to programming genre stuff for film festivals and then reviewing films. I felt like I didn’t really belong, even then. But when I became a filmmaker, that changed. It was something I wanted to try, because apparently, I happen to be insane. But it caught, and here we are, 15 short films and bumpers later. I also write or co-write many of my scripts and I write fiction now, too. (Find me on Amazon in a few anthologies!)
-PH: What does having a “Women in Horror” month mean to you?
-Izzy: It’s a spotlight and a celebration. I wish we lived in a world in which we didn’t need a spotlight and were judged by our merits, but we still have a long way to go where equality is concerned.
-PH: Is there a woman in horror who you consider a role model?
-Izzy: Man, there are so many… Look to Jennifer Lynch, Mary Lambert, Antonia Bird, Mary Harron, Katheryn Bigelow (Near Dark), Jovanka Vuckovic, the Soskas, Gigi Saul Guerrero, Maude Michaud, Jill Gevargizian…
-PH: How do you think the role of women in horror has changed over the years?
-Izzy: Great question. I’d say we’re vocal as hell and very active now, and I’m proud to be part of this wave of kickass women filmmakers!
-PH: What do you think the future holds for women in horror?
-Izzy: More opportunities to work on features and be part of awesome projects, I hope!
-PH: Being that this is PromoteHorror.com, please feel free to plug your current/next horror project.
-Izzy: Thanks! My PSA for the annual Women in Horror Month Blood Drive goes live at midnight, PST: https://youtu.be/8WzlpmdwHjo
Find me here:
Innsmouth on Shudder
Postpartum on Short Ends/Project Alpha (The Nerdist)
Tilberian Holiday in “Wicked Witches,” a New England Horror Writers Anthology
The Lake Children in “Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep: A Charity Anthology Benefiting The Jimmy Fund” (Book also includes Jack Ketchum, Brian Keene, Christopher Golden, James A. Moore)
The Lake Children in “Hydrophobia: A Charity Anthology Benefiting Victims of Hurricane Harvey”
https://www.facebook.com/nihilnoctemfilm
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm5642855/?ref_=fn_al_nm_2
We would like to thank Izzy Lee for taking the time to answer our questions, but more importantly for her contribution to horror!