You will never look at the countryside the same; something is lurking and creeping in and out of the shadows. Director & Creator Glenn Douglas Packard take us on a dark venture in his directorial debut, Pitchfork. The film premiered in theaters and on demand this past January from Uncork’d Entertainment. I recently viewed the film for a second time, and I must tell you the story was more enjoyable this time around. I focused my attention more on the characters and their take on life, each offering a unique performance to this film. Pitchfork is definitely that horror nostalgia movie we have been waiting for! Sinful Celluloid was recently granted the opportunity to speak to a few of the Sexy Women of Pitchfork. In the interviews, we discuss the challenges of working on a horror film to the funny side of it all, such as memorable and funny moments on the set and discussing who the cast clown was. So enough of me blabbing, check out our interviews below with these beautiful and talented women of Pitchfork!
Also, available our review of Pitchfork and interview with Director & Creator Glenn Douglas Packard.
Interview With Nicole Dambro – “Flo”
Ryan T. Cusick: Hi, Nicole. Thank you so much for taking time out of your day to speak to us. How did you become involved with this terrifying film?
Nicole Dambro: My pleasure, thanks for the invite to chat! I first met Glenn when he cast me in a couple of his performances as a dancer in Miami. When I moved to LA, we stayed in touch through Facebook, and I gave him updates on my acting career. When he was getting ready to make Pitchfork, I as just coming off of filming a horror movie, and when he shared the project with me, I was immediately intrigued. Whatever Glenn does, he does 110% and exceeds expectations… I just knew that being a part of his first movie would be an unforgettable and rewarding experience!
RTC: In the movie Pitchfork, your character Flo is very outspoken; she knows what she wants, and is outright gorgeous. How are you and your character Flo similar?
ND: I jump at opportunities to play characters like Flo! At her core, she is fiercely loyal to her friends. I don’t really see her as being outspoken as much as very protective (I can relate, as I am a Scorpio and I’m the same way about my loved ones.) When it comes to getting what she wants, she’s a free spirit who moved to New York by herself, who wants to conquer the world of the arts… I know from experience, if that’s the life you choose, you always go after what you want. On those two things, I can absolutely identify with Flo–I moved out to LA by myself and on my own terms, and I absolutely go after everything I want! as, for the gorgeous part, I’ve got to give credit to Glenn and David for styling me, of course 🙂
RTC: I was rooting for you and was quite surprised when you met your unkindly demise; you put up quite a fight! Were there any challenges prepping for your fight scene and death?
ND: Thank you! I also loved that Flo got to fight back. You’ll see she doesn’t really give in, even when she knows her time is up. Flo maintains her power until the very end. If you look closely enough, after Pitchfork licks my face, a single tear falls out of my eye… that was my preparation. I know it sounds sick, but… I just imagined never getting to say goodbye to my family. That was all the prep I needed.
RTC: What were some memorable and funny moments on set?
ND: We filmed with live mice on the first day. In the scene, I grab a mouse from Hunter and play with it while we frolic in the hayfield. However, this little mouse was a terror. It kept pooping in my hands, and trying to escape by jumping for dear life. When it realized that I wasn’t letting it go because we had a SCENE TO FILM, it decided that biting me was the next best idea. It bit me a few times, and managed to escape… working with animals is never a cakewalk! Best part? The scene got completely cut from the movie.
Remember the scene where Clare walks by the Amish buggy, and it’s moving, with moans coming from the inside? That was actually just Glenn and I in there, shaking and making suggestive sounds! Haha! Ahhhhh, movie making.
Also, we were all living on the set, like it was a summer camp. One day we all went to a karaoke bar and danced and sang ourselves silly. On another day off, we all went out to Brian’s family’s lake house to go boating and have a bbq (which was amazing!) One thing I’ll never forget is the night sky out on the farm… one night when we were done filming, we all brought blankets out by the barn and laid under the stars. I must have seen 20 shooting stars that night, clear as day. Moments like that really bound us tightly together as a cast, which made us so comfortable with each other during the actual filming process.
RTC: I am sure it was a riot on set with all of your working together. Who was the cast clown?
ND: I can’t really point one person out. Everyone was funny and kooky… but Keith taught us some moves from “Men of the Strip” and that was THE BEST.
RTC: How was your experience working with Pitchfork? At any time were you scared out of your mind?
DB: I’ll never forget Daniel on this set. Even though he was playing the killer, he was my friend before the movie started casting. I had NO IDEA that he was going to go full Jared Leto on this part. I’ll never forget waking up to the feeling that I was being watched, and SURE ENOUGH, Daniel was being a creepy creeper watching us sleep from the doorway. When I caught him, I shook my finger at him, and he left… but then I caught him trying to sneak back a couple of hours later. After that, I genuinely became paranoid that he was always peeping on us. He was so unpredictable! After that, I didn’t know what his “boundaries” were as a non-actor. It made me nervous that he was being a creeper on his downtime to feed his character.
RTC: Horror is such a unique genre, so much can be done with it and the many subgenres it houses. What horror film best describes your personal life?
DB: Probably The Descent. The deeper I go into this Hollywood world, the weirder and more sinister it gets..but I know I’ll make it out alive. I just might lose a couple friends on the way
RTC: In the Hollywood universe whose world would your character Flo rock? {Laughing Out Loud}
Probably Captain America (Chris Evans). He’s the sweetheart of the superheroes, so I think Flo would agree that he definitely needs some corrupting. As for women, I think she’d go for Margot Robbie because C’MON—IT’S MARGOT ROBBIE— and because Flo could use some corrupting from another strong female. Remember– Flo’s planted her rainbow on every street corner– from the boys to the girls! She floats both ways.
RTC: What is next for you? Are you doing anything in horror?
RTC: I am, actually! I shot an insanely beautiful horror film this fall in Idyllwild, California. It’s called The Axiom, by Nicholas Woods, and it’s has a feel similar to Stranger Things. The synopsis reads, “A group of friends are tricked into going on a rescue mission in the woods, unknowingly crossing into a terror-filled dimension.” I play Darcy, another feisty female, who accompanies her fiancé, brother, and friends to go find a missing girl. It’s an exceptional film, and I hope you guys keep an eye out for its theatrical release!
Interview With Lindsey Nicole Dresbach – “Clare”
Ryan T. Cusick: Hi Lindsey! I have been looking forward to speaking with you, thank you so much. Is Pitchfork your first feature film?
Lindsey Dresbach: Yes, Ryan. Pitchfork is not only my first feature but also my first acting gig ever. I’ve known Glenn since the age of 10 through the professional dance world. He’s been a mentor and staple in my life since. Glenn asked me to audition for the role of ‘Clare’ with the note of “just be yourself, ” and I got it! Best honor and experience of my life.
RTC: Are any plans in the works for you to be part of a sequel to Pitchfork? Would that be something that interests you?
LD: I certainly hope Clare makes it to the sequel! She deserves it, and I would love to see her come back with more vengeance and strength. Being apart of Pitchfork II wouldn’t just be an interest but truly a passion. The world that Glenn created on and off the camera is one I want to live in forever.
RTC: In the film Pitchfork your character Clare appears to be smart, kind, and more conservative than the other girls and of course very beautiful, can’t leave that part out {chuckles}. Lindsey, in the real world, are you similar to your character Clare or much different?
LD: Aww thank you, Ryan! I’m very similar to Clare, and I think that’s why Glenn always had me in mind to play the character. I come from an incredibly caring household. School always came first. My family, the arts, education, and religion definitely shaped me. I would say that ‘Clare’ is truly Lindsey just with some terribly gruesome encounters.
RTC: What were some of the most memorable and funny moments on the set?
LD: The most memorable has to be rehearsing for the barn dance scene. It was so nostalgic dancing in the studio again with Glenn and performers I looked up to as a little girl, like Celina Beach who plays Lenox. Despite the stakes of needing to get the choreography down in a short amount of time, the studio served as a judgment free zone and was just so carefree. I felt like a bonded a lot with my cast members there.
Funniest moment although terrifying at the time- Daniel Wilkinson who plays Pitchfork snuck into our rooms to scare us. To set the scene- Glenn had all of the actors sleep in the same house in order to create those bonds while isolating Daniel in a hotel miles away. We actually weren’t allowed to see him in full makeup until we had a scene with Pitchfork. Hence, our first encounter would be captured on camera. Well, I chose to sneak on set to get a quick look of Pitchfork. Pitchy didn’t like that… and chose to mess with us that night. Specifically me. He left notes in “blood” that read ‘bad girl’ or ‘you’re next.’ He also placed a dead frog on my note while planting an empty Gatorade bottle filled with live frogs that started jumping all over my room. Terrified, I screamed for the boys. Keith Webb (Rocky) and Ryan Moore (Matt) were pacing around the room trying to catch all of the frogs. Actually quite hilarious. To top it all off, I woke up to feel something on my cheek. Ryan and Keith happened to miss a frog. I will say I definitely got to practice my horror scream. May sound funny now, but the next morning I found Glenn and told him I was going home! I was petrified. Pitchfork was always watching and sneaking in!
RTC: If Pitchfork ever made it to a part VIII in the franchise what title do you think it would have?
LD: Wow that’s a hard one. Maybe ‘Planet of Pitchfork’
RTC: If you were to choose a horror film that best personalizes your life in the real world what would it be?
LD: A horror film that best personalizes my life in the real world would have to be ‘The Final Girls.’ Not only is Taissa Farmiga one of my favorite actresses, but also I love horror mixed with comedy and retro vibes. It’s scary, but it’s also light-hearted at the same time. I love to have fun and be scared simultaneously.
RTC: I am sure Pitchfork was a very vigorous shoot! With the emotional challenges that your character travels through, to the running, and stunt work what was the most challenging part of the shoot?
LD: The most challenging part of the shoot was definitely the basement torture scene with Ma and Pa. We shot it over the span of two full days. To stay true to the scene, I chose to rarely leave that chair. I think I was tied up and immersed in Ma and Pa’s stench (sorry guys love you) for maybe about 10-12 hours a day. I remember when we broke for lunch, Brian Raetz (Hunter) and I chose to stay tied up in the basement. Pitchfork was there too pacing in the background, yelling and hitting the walls. Brian and I caught a glimpse of each other and just started balling. Despite the cameras, everyone really committed and it made the scene feel so real. Ma and Pa were twisted 110% of the time. I thought I would never get out of there. The horror that took over my body the second day of filming that scene when I walked back down into that basement was an anxiety I’ll never forget.
RTC: I bet there were a lot of pranks that occurred on set! Who got into the most trouble?
LD: Definitely Daniel (Pitchfork) did all of the pranking, but it was encouraged. However, one night some of the cast were lying outside by the barn watching the stars. Our locations were absolutely breathtaking in Clare, Michigan. Our producer Darryl Gariglio and assistant director David Mayorga came up behind us with a pitchfork. It was scary for maybe about a second, but it simply produced a roar of laughter. We were all so close and goofy it just became another amazing memory together.
RTC: What is next for you? Are you doing anything in horror?
LD: I recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies. Now with Pitchfork under my belt and school behind me, I’m working tirelessly on my craft. I’m in class, auditioning and having the best time on my new journey. My DREAM is to be on American Horror Story one day, so I will be working towards that! In the mean time, I crave any horror opportunity that comes my way because Pitchfork will forever be THE experience that defines me. The horror laughs, music, smells, scenery, and people are completely etched in my heart.
Interview With – Celina Beach – “Lenox”
Ryan T. Cusick: Celina, hello! Thanks for speaking with me about your role in Pitchfork. You gave a remarkable performance in your death scene; I felt as though I was right there with you. What is the most extreme change in your personality that you did in preparation for your role?
Celina Beach: My preparation for my death scene was kind of easy for me… I’m an extremely emotional person as it is so crying is not a problem…especially after becoming a mother two and a half years ago, my empathy and sensitivity levels are extra high.
I knew I didn’t have to think about being tortured and stabbed to death until the moment I was in the van being escorted over to set. At this point, I hadn’t seen or spoken to Daniel the entire time while shooting, aside from one or two times before. There was such extreme isolation that Glenn had strictly enforced between the cast and Daniel. I absolutely loved that tactic (so smart!) because it truly developed unbelievable real levels of anxiety, curiosity, and fear that we had to incorporate in most of the scenes. Being the insane method actor that I am, I pulled together all the traumatic things that I’ve been through in my life, being cheated on by ex-boyfriends, heartache, etc., and fixated on them for the entire time it took to shoot the scene. I literally didn’t stop hysterically crying for four hours straight.
RTC: On the set what were the most memorable and funny moments?
CB: Oh there were many memorable and funny moments on set. One was the opening scene in the hay field. It was our first day on set as a cast; the weather was gorgeous, we all had a tan after that day! Running through the field like lunatics and the barn scene where I stumble in and Lindsay and I get into fight. Lindsay and I instantly grew to be very close so pretending to be punched in the face served for lots of laughs after each cut.
RTC: In your opinion, which of the cast will go on to make his or her mark in future horror films?
CB: In my opinion, I feel Rachel and Daniel will make their mark in future horror films.. they’re are just born for the genre. The best performances, in my opinion, came from them.
RTC: I must add that you still looked SEXY during your death scene! How was the experience in the makeup chair?
CB: What! How could I possibly look sexy in my death scene?! You’re too sweet. The experience in the makeup chair was painless. Candy was so nice and great to work with. I live for fake blood and barbed wire, I was excited for the transformation!
RTC: On the set who was the biggest Diva of them all?
CB: The biggest diva on set I’d have to say was Sheila. She’d be the last to set, first and last one out of bed, longest in the shower and always had her phone with her. Glenn has such an unbelievable eye for casting, so the characters we played weren’t too far off our real-life personalities. Ok, I think I’ve said too much. I love you, Sheila!
RTC: If you were to choose a horror film that best described your personal life, what would it be?
CB: HA! The horror movie that best describes my [toddler] life right now would have to be a mix between Chucky and House of the Devil.
RTC: How was it working with the character Pitchfork? At any time did you freak the hell out?
CB: Working with an insane method actor like Daniel was exactly what I love and need to feed off of. He knew how to play with our emotions, like sneaking into our bedroom in the middle of the night, watching us sleep, releasing frogs into our bedroom or leaving a creepy, bloody note saying “you’re next” on my bed for me to wake up to. That freaked me out just knowing he was in the house and I was being watched.
RTC: What were the most gratifying and challenge moments for you during the production on Pitchfork?
CB: The most challenging yet gratifying moment on set was definitely my death scene. As easy as it was to be so emotional, I’ve never had to “play dead” or be realistically terrified and tortured in a role. To go from completely hysterical to slow, non-existent breathing was super challenging. And to make it all seem so real that everyone thought I had something seriously wrong with me was the most rewarding thing ever. The complete filming experience as a whole was the best, most fulfilling experience I’ve ever had in my entire career. I got the opportunity in act in a horror film which I’ve always wanted to do, be directed by my best friend Glenn, act alongside unbelievable human beings such as Lindsay, Keith, and Ryan, dance a huge dance scene, die an unbelievably great death. I mean what more could I ask for! A truly memorable and gratifying experience, for sure.
RTC: What is next in the pipeline for you? More horror?
CB: Well, I just enrolled in a method acting studio in Miami called Miami Acting Studio. Taking classes and practicing my craft feeds my creative soul in order to stay sane and balanced. But I’d absolutely love to do more horror films! I hope this is the start to many more as I’ve had such an attraction to the horror genre for quite sometime. There’s something to be said about making an unrealistic situation believable and real to the audience. If I could only do horror, suspense/thrillers, I’d be a happy girl.
RTC: Nicole, Lindsey, & Celina thank you so much for the opportunity to chat with you about Pitchfork and horror! I truly hope we can do this again real soon!
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