Women in Horror: A Look at the Ladies Crafting the Worlds of Fear!
Featuring: Trista Robinson
- What first drew you into the world of horror?
I grew up watching horror with my dad. As the only child of a single parent, it was our favorite pastime. When I decided to act, I studied under the tutelage of my aunt who was a stage actor in Pittsburgh, then was awarded a scholarship to attend a conservatory in NYC. At this conservatory, I felt the need to suppress my love of horror. When I moved out to L.A. I was cast in my first feature; The Human Race. It hit all the big horror festivals and I met this big horror community and I have not looked back since!
- What film/book/show was the biggest influence on you?
Tom Holland’s Child’s Play was maybe the first full movie I ever saw! The next morning when I went to get on the school bus I noticed my dad had left a doll I had that coincidentally resembled Chucky out by the trash. Flash forward to L.A. and I wound up having a day player role opposite the great Brad Dourif on Brian and Laurence Avenet-Bradley’s film Malignant. From there they had me audition for Echoes of Fear, which they later told me they wrote with me in mind. The film went on to play festivals all over the world, winning seven best feature awards! They became my best friends and we are gearing up to shoot another film! It all feels so serendipitous.
- What actor/director/writer do you consider your biggest influence?
Well, the honest answer to this question might be surprising. My Aunt Sara; Sara Gaille was the first actor in my family, the first one I knew personally, and I am grateful to have apprenticed her.
- Who would you consider to be your horror twin? Horror twin?
Oh jeez, well this is a bit of an embarrassing story! I also co-host a live weekly horror video/audio podcast called Without Your Head. So, we recently had Alex Essoe on and I am a huge Starry Eyes fan! So I started telling everyone how thrilled I was and it went so well and then people started telling me how much we look alike and then I realized we do actually resemble each other and here I am just raving on and on about how amazing she is! So, I guess I will go with Alex Essoe, which is a huge compliment to me. But in my defense she truly is a huge talent, was a lovely guest, and I am still reserving my right to be a fan of her work even if she is my horror twin.
- What do you think you would be doing if you weren’t involved with the horror community?
I wanted to be a vet before I realized I just wasn’t tough enough to deal with the harder parts of that job. I admire people like Linnea Quigley who devote their lives to animal rescue. I’d like to follow in her footsteps and eventually be able to sponsor an animal sanctuary.
- Plug some of your past, present, and upcoming projects.
Sure! Thanks! I have a few top-secret projects that I can carefully mention. I just shot something with Linnea Quigley actually, which is probably why she was on my mind. That will be available in just a few months! I also wrapped principal photography on a feature with Michael Epstein and Sophia Cacciola and I have a few additional upcoming days with them. I have a fun project called Killer Babes and the Frightening Film Fiasco which is on hold due to covid-19 and come to think of it, Linnea is in that as well! There are many amazing women of horror in that film and I can’t wait to resume shooting. I shot a western called Promise in which I play the title character which will be available later this year or early next. As I previously mentioned, I am also preparing to shoot with Brian and Lo Avenet-Bradley on an exciting new film!
- Where do you like folks to follow you on social media?
I post updates on my work on Facebook and Twitter. You can also check out the podcast! Without Your Head is a weekly video podcast that I co-host as Treacherous Trista alongside Nasty Neal and Terrible Troy. Free archives are available on audio and video podcast at http://withoutyourhead.com/
- Where can folks find your work?
Echoes of Fear is available on Blu-ray and is packed with special features. It is also available with an Amazon Prime subscription. It’s still coming out in many countries all over the world. It was recently released on digital in the UK and will be available on DVD there August 3rd. Purgatory Road is available in the US and is included with an Amazon Prime membership as well and will also be available in more countries soon. Human Zoo is also available on Amazon.
- Which horror icon would you most/least like to go up against?
Well, this interview might be a love letter to Linnea Quigley and I am ok with that. I loved working with her recently and would love to do it again!
- Any advice for young ladies aspiring to become involved in the horror community?
Do it for the right reasons and don’t be afraid to assert yourself.
- Who is on your Horror Mt. Rushmore? This can be actors, writers, directors, characters, etc.
Oh man, Stephen King. Between films and literature; so many scares, so much of my time, so many stories and feelings…
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