MicroCinema Scene

Chainsaw Sally is a sweet ‘lil country girl with a Chainsaw. I was invited over to her house to speak with her and JimmyO about the new film they have coming out, Chainsaw Sally. JimmyO is the director, and Chainsaw Sally (aka April) is the star. Their house is in a small town In the middle of nowhere. There are Barbie heads hanging from the rafters like wind chimes, all misshapen by flame. It makes me smile. I remember when I used to melt Barbie heads as a young girl in the asylum for young orphans. Dear God, what is that smell? I must be in their living room. Sally, dressed in her thigh-high ripped stockings is busy cleaning her bloody chainsaw with her tongue, while JimmyO stands by watching approvingly.

Sally and her little brother Ruby spend a lot of time in their cabin in the woods. The odd decorations on the walls seem to span from the floor near the carpet all the way up to near the ceiling. It looks as if they have been decorating this place since they were children. I can see crayon drawings on the walls, people with smiley faces, but as time goes on the eye level of the pictures grows, and the decorations grow more ominous and demented. The walls are a scrapbook of their lives. You could learn a lot from looking at those walls. I brush a bloody chicken feather off of my shoulder. It must have fallen off of that bleeding chicken I saw swinging in the hallway by its throat.

Jimmy has an odd stare on his face, as If he is fascinated with Sally’s every move. I want to get this interview started, as I begin to fear for my life. With wrestling on in the background, I begin the interview…

What Is the plot of the film Chainsaw Sally?

Sally: Sally, working by day as the humble town librarian, spends her nights (and weekends and sometimes even her coffee breaks) making the world a better place. How? Well, by eliminating those who are a burden to society (in her eyes) or who pose any inkling of a threat to her, her twisted little brother Ruby who she cares for, or their home. This all comes as the result of her and her brother watching the brutal killing of their parents as well as their father’s final heroic act of killing the murderers (with a chainsaw) and thus saving his children. I guess it left them a little twisted. The meat of the story occurs when it becomes apparent that the town - not knowing of the existence of surviving family members Sally and Ruby - has sold off their property and now a local land developer is looking to purchase it in order to put up condos and god-knows-what-else. If the land is developed, Sally and Ruby’s home will be discovered - not to mention the remnants of Sally’s nighttime exploits. So, someone will simply have to stop them. And guess who that someone is?

JimmyO, Sally’s sex slave and the director of the film says…

Jimmy: My version of the plot is pretty much THE version of the plot…since I wrote it and all. After witnessing the brutal murder of her family, a young girl grows up and raises her little brother, on her own. Her insatiable taste for revenge creates a twisted, alternate personality who stalks and hunts anyone SHE thinks deserves swift and violent justice.

You don’t screw with JimmyO. I just nod and gulp away my fear. He begins eating mayonnaise directly out of a jar. I shudder in disgust when I see that it is not low fat or soy Mayonnaise. (I am from California). Shifting in my seat, I say, “Describe the character of ‘Sally.’ What makes her different from other Horror slashers?”

S: Oh, she’s a slasher with a heart of gold. Doesn’t that sound sweet? I guess her defining characteristic is her sense of humor. Things may get dark, and when she’s really into a kill, she gets nasty, but there’s always room for fun and humor. She never takes anything too seriously.

Who would give a girl like that a chainsaw, anyway? I giggle.

JimmyO glares at me with a look of sheer demented devotion, It’s almost as if he’s hypnotized…hmmm.

J: Only someone who really trusts her.

Sally, tell me about your little brother, Ruby.

S: Well, don’t you ever tell him, but I love him, of course. The dork. Sure he whines all the time and gets on my nerves and sometimes I need to lock him in a closet for a few hours just to get a moment’s peace, but when it all comes down to where it counts - he’s my best bud. But, again, don’t ever, ever tell him I said that! Also, he’s a pretty good cook. No one makes people-steaks like Ruby! And that gravy…Just a natural talent, I guess. I do know one thing - if ANYONE EVER even THINKS about harming one little hair on his screwed-up little head, they’ll be suckin’ on the business end o’ my saw!! And you can take THAT to the bloodbank!

Sally was pregnant during the filming of this movie. All that blood and gore can’t be good for the fetus! Can it?

S: Yup, I was pregnant - in my third month - for the entire shoot. If I ever see a girdle or corset again, it’ll be too soon! Still, with the use of such handy gadgets, it wasn’t all that difficult to conceal my growing figure. Luckily all the weight gain stayed pretty much in the belly area. And, with all the difficulties, it’s still the best thing that’s ever happened to me. One thing I found very frustrating was the physical limitations I had because of my condition. When I perform, I’m well known by those I work with for putting every ounce of energy I have on the line and not being afraid of getting hurt in order to pull of a premium performance. However, with a little one growing inside me, I had to back off a lot more than I’m used to. Not that it’s obvious in the film. It’s just that we didn’t do as many action-type of scenes as we could have otherwise. It just leaves me something to look forward to in the next production! ‘Cause you can bet there’ll be no more holding back after this!!

Chainsaw Sally Is almost too busy watching her favorite cartoons, Chuck Jones Looney Toons, to answer my next question…. We know she didn’t just fall up from Hell, so where did this charming actress come from?

S: This is my second film. My first was the movie version of Silver Scream, where I played a variety of things. It’s a musical and I am one of the main dancers for the group that has been performing the stage show for years. I’m one of the brides of The Count, a witch, and a babysitter in Babysitter Blues, among the many heavy dance roles. Stage-wise, I’ve been involved in Jamo since it came to Maryland in 1997. Jamo Alternative Theatre is the name of the theatre group that became Planet X when we started into film. Most of our performances were Silver Scream - which is just an awesome live stage show. Also, we performed a sci-fi, sort of musical tribute to Ed Wood, Jr. titled, "Attack of the Killer Space Vultures From Planet X" as well as a children’s adventure titled, "Milky Way, Mars, and other Candy Bars." Jamo performances were really unlike anything else. Especially with the combined creativity of JimmyO’s writing and lyrics, James M. Taylor’s very original musical composition and Katie Hutchinson’s super-quirky ingenious choreography. Everyone who got involved in doing Jamo-shows quickly became addicted to it. No local theatre group I’ve seen has inspired so much loyalty and energy in their cast and crew.

JimmyO - Why are you making a transition from stage production to screen production?

J: I always wanted to do it, but growing up in a trailer in Mississippi, it just never seemed within my reach. Now, with the digital age, I can do it. A lot of things fell into place for me. Investors, tools, and I guess I’ve seen enough movies that I have a good idea how I want to see things. But really, I learned a lot for my first two films… I can’t wait to do a third.

Why horror, Sally? I mean, Why?

S: I’ve always been a huuuuuge horror fan and well, darn it, it’s fun!

What is your favorite horror movie?

S: Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Duh! Oh, to clarify - The ORIGINAL Texas Chainsaw Massacre. I haven’t seen the remake as I didn’t see why they thought they needed to remake it. It was perfect the first time - partly because it WAS the first time. A very original, psychological and creepy movie that sinks its claws just a little deeper into my brain every time I watch it. I’ll admit the first time through, I couldn’t get past getting irritated at all of Sally’s screaming. But, then as I watched it a couple more times, I realized that the reason it irritated me was that it was genuinely creeping me out. This poor girl, trapped in a very hopeless situation and even when you think she’s found help, she’s only dragged deeper into the madness. After the second viewing, I’ve been hooked ever since! It’s actually given me more nightmares than any other film. And that is SUCH a compliment!!

Who do you admire in the horror cinema community?

S: Herschell Gordon Lewis, with David Friedman, for breaking down some serious barriers and bringing nasty puke-your-guts-out gratuitous gore to the screen. Tom Savini is one of the major makers of gore. Tobe Hooper and the entire cast of TCM for that beautiful piece of work. Listening to the commentary, they really all put themselves through hell that long, hot summer in Texas. Marilyn Burns totally busted her buns to give us a super performance as Sally Hardesty. And poor Gunnar Hansen! He hardly ever got to take the stinky mask off! I’ll bet that was pleasant…I’m sure I’m forgetting several someones, but that’s what comes to mind right now. Oh, and, though I know you asked about "cinema," Stephen King was the twisted creature who started me on my path into darkness! Maybe I couldn’t watch R-rated movies when I was young, but I was allowed to read just about anything. And one day, I picked up Mom’s copy of Night Shift by Stephen King and life just hasn’t been the same since. You know, I never really needed a night-light ‘till Mr. King came along. Then, all of a sudden, my closet and the space beneath my bed seemed a lot more crowded…

What do you think of all the remakes of classic horror films that are out now?

S: Hmmm. I guess it depends. There are some remakes out that make sense to me because it brings a dated concept to a wider audience and allows for the use of modern technology to flavor a film that benefits from it. For instance, The House On Haunted Hill or Thirteen Ghosts were excellent remakes. Of course, the originals don’t exactly fall into the category of "classic," but you get the idea. The new look and technology added to a story based on the original film made it something appreciable by modern audiences. Dracula, I think, benefited in much the same way. Jekyll and Hyde is another example with the remake Mary Reilly. The Frankenstein remake was actually much more accurate in terms of the original book and presented a much more moving drama as opposed to a "monster movie." So, in cases like that, it seems like a good idea. Often, it engenders more interest for new people to go and view the classic originals just to see what they were like. Sometimes, however, I think remakes are done that simply don’t need to be done at all. Psycho was a good example. The original is in black and white, not because color was unavailable, but as an artistic choice made by Alfred Hitchcock. The remake imitated the original almost shot for shot, without really adding anything new and wonderful. Which leads me to ask - why did they do it? It would be a great project for a student in film school just as the reproduction of a fine piece of art is a great project for an art school student. But, artists don’t get into museums with their new, almost exact replica of "The Last Supper." That would be ridiculous. See what I mean? Another category of remakes falls into lack of creative thought or laziness. The remake of Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Well, I understand seeing the original and saying "I wish I’d thought of that." But to re-do it? It’s not dated enough to need it! It’s not a film based on a lot of expensive special effects, so that excuse is out, as well. And, from what I’ve been told (again, I haven’t seen it, so take my opinions for what they are), the plot of the remake is so different from the original that it’s basically a different film. So, why call it a remake? Did they do it just for the publicity of the TCM and Leatherface name? I don’t know. But, it seems that if they wanted a different plot, they should have simply made their own original film. Or even labeled it as a TCM sequel. No one would have faulted them for that! Dawn of the Dead may end up in this category as well, but I don’t know enough to say. Based on the previews (which actually look really cool), it looks like a really great zombie movie that did not need to be called a remake. Just give it an original name. People will still come and see it! Bill it as a tribute to Dawn of the Dead, if necessary.

And now, questions for the Playboy layout…. Favorite Color?

S: Black…. no, green and purple together…no. Red, when it pours fresh from the body… oh, I can’t pick.

Chocolate or Vanilla?

S: Chocolate. Sexual chocolate!

Kitties or puppies?

S: Well, kitties have a better flavor, but puppies aren’t so stringy and usually go down easier…

What’s the grossest scene from Chainsaw Sally?
Death of the Ice Cream Girl. It’s…. chunky.

Gore? Sounds Gory….

J: Well, when we shot Sally, I knew that we would have to get wet. BUT, I didn’t want to rely on the gore as a means to an end. So, I took a lesson from my favorite movie-Texas Chainsaw Massacre (THE REAL ONE) where you barely actually see gore. It is more implied… and then your imagination takes over. I like that. No budget in Hollywierd or otherwise is big enough to do what the human mind can when given a little push in the right direction.

Why a chainsaw? Isn’t it rather noisy?

S: Yes, because it’s rather noisy. Nothin’ jump-starts me like the revving of a chainsaw! And you should see how fast they can run when they hear that comin’ up behind ‘em!! I also love the smell of the fuel.

JimmyO, what Is April REALLY like?

J: April is a very odd case. She really has no desire to be famous, or to really have that much attention called to her. On the other hand, she is very natural with this part, in that there is a part of it that is her. She created Sally as much as I did. So you are seeing April on the screen, as she really is, except for the whole… homicidal maniac thing.

Tell us a secret about April that we shouldn’t know …

J: I don’t know that she has any secrets. She’s not really a "girly girl." She is more like having a guy friend with girl parts. We watch horror movies, WWE and porn together… and she HATES "Chick Flicks!" Now that’s the woman to marry!!!!

What is in the future for Planet X productions?

J: Hmmm…. I want to do a lot of things. But I will most likely do Sally 2 next. But I have a big ole bag of fucked up ideas for movies, and other stage shows that I need to spew out, as I can. My writing partner, James Taylor, and I want to do a musical version of Herschell Gordon Lewis’ Two Thousand Maniacs which Herschell was very into when we discussed it with him at supper one night.

I wonder if they ate Herschell Gordon Lewis FOR dinner that night.

Chainsaw Sally is a character that likes to read Instructional literature like Ed Gein’s Cookbook, and that used to own a dog (let’s not ask her about that). The film Chainsaw Sally comes out Spring 2004, so keep a close eye out or check out the website http://www.chainsawsally.com and say hello to the lovely lady herself…

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