There is little doubt that the British indie film scene seems to be producing a plethora of talent with the horror genre in particular churning out some really creative productions, with that in mind we have been very lucky to get some time with lovely Jessica Messenger whose ever growing resume is now set to add Co-Producer to the list as she set her sights on the upcoming ‘Six Hot Chicks In a Warehouse’.
“Before we get on to finding out a little bit more about you Jessica just wanted to say hi and thanks for taking time for this interview, can you tell us how your involvement with ‘Six Hot Chicks in a Warehouse’ came about and a little more info on the project itself”?
I first got involved with the idea of Six Hot Chicks in a Warehouse (or SHCIAW) back in 2011. Simon (director) sent me the script after brief discussions online, it has since had a number of rewrites, but the main outline of the original story is still 
very much there. I think i was in position of playing MIRA since the start, but originally Simon was relinquishing the script to another director but after various discussions with various people interested in buying the script, he ended up deciding to direct and fund himself. Which has led us to today! Now we are fully cast, my role in the film has become larger as Simon asked me to co-produce, which has meant I’ve become heavily embroiled in the mechanics and the orchestrating of finer details, i would otherwise of not played a part in. it has been a really long road to get this far, in between 2011 and present day, me and Simon worked on another feature film called Beneath a Neon Tide, which was all out family drama. He’s a fantastic person to work with, i was over the moon when he finally said, we are doing this movie and we are doing it 2016! SHCIAW is a genre film inspired by all American grind house films, as Simon has put it ” a neon-soaked, ultra-violent grind house film”. It follows MIRA, a young teen aspiring model who has a good relationship with disgraced photographer ADRIAN (played by DAN PALMER). Adrian has other plans, and whilst scheduling a final shoot with 6 hot chicks in his grimy warehouse-studio, the girls find themselves in a real sticky situation and deal with it in the only way they know how. I have penned it down as a slice of Mean Girls with a dash of Deathproof, to me it a marriage of all things comedy-drama with the real grit of grind house we’ve all come to know and love.
“Much of your early years were very much based around dance, so when did you first start to think about acting or is this something you have always wanted to do”?
Acting was never something I had in my mind that I wanted to pursue. Dance was ALWAYS where I wanted to be until I reached the age of 18. I had always been involved with theatre and studied other performance related areas, but I only really found I wanted to act when I found I wanted to study movies. Once I realised I couldn’t really pursue dance on a professional scale, I started to think about what I wanted to do within the arts. It had to be the arts, I mean that would never change. You can’t remove the innate demand to be creative and perform, it’s just within someone. I guess doing this was inevitable I just didn’t see it coming.
“I just watched ‘My Sweet Valentine’ – Short Horror and it immediately reminded me of scenes from The Following where the twins Luke and Mark have dinners with their victims, which made me wonder if the lure of America had ever crossed your mind”?
The lure of America is of course very much there, I mean they are a huge nation with a mass of talent, opportunities and they have a real hold on the film and television industry. It is impossible to not wonder what is out there and whether you will fit in and be able to carve a career out. However, I am a big believer of making it where you are from and building outwards. To me, if you can’t make your mark in your homeland, then how on earth can you elsewhere? I am also British. Incredibly proud so, I think we can get a little bit lost sometimes and really we have an incredible history surrounding us in the arts, we have some of the best talent in the world past and present. I would love to fly the British flag here and I would love to fly the flag for British talent over the pond too. I think it’s really important not to forget your heritage and what makes you different.
“Following on from the question above how do you feel the UK Indie Film scene is doing at the moment the quality of production and acting seems to have really risen over the last few years”?
I think the independent scene in the UK has grown massively and will continue to do so. Quality, well that’s subjective. I have seen some incredible talent coming out of the woodwork and I really hope aspiring film makers can get involved and bring something new and fresh to the table. I hope that more film makers are brave enough to tackle writing drama, one of the fundamental issues in the UK indie scene is selling. Majority of scripts that you get sent through are horror, and that isn’t necessarily down to the type of actor you are. Horror on the is whole is easier to sell, especially when you’re looking to sell outside of the UK and that can be a real good reason to only write scripts that you feel confident you can succeed in doing so. Especially working on a budget, it’s easy to suggest to throw 10k into a film and not know it will sell at all. People on this scale just don’t have that money to gamble and take risks with. To write a really good piece of drama is difficult, it’s got a whole different set of challenges, but i would love to see more of it. I hope that we do, i hope that we can take more risks.
“Just one final question before we ask a few fun ones, do you have a favourite film you have worked on or character you have played”?
My favourite film I have worked on would have to be SHCIAW – even though we still have 16 days of filming left. The reason for this is because MIRA is my favourite character that i have played so far. I identify with her so much, she has so many elements to her which I can play on and bounce off. Let alone the awesome costumes i get to wear. I have had such heavy involvement with creating MIRA, from her personality, to her backstory, to her costume and makeup and beyond. I feel like I have brought a real piece of me to life which is an incredible thing to be able to do. I completely styled MIRA on my love for all the 90s/naughties women who inspired me creatively and who have led me down this path. She is definitely my love letter to those people. I am so excited to bring it out into the world.
Now the fun stuff ….
“Are you a pink fluffy slippers girl”?
I am a fluffy slippers girl. Pink I can take or leave haha, but fluffy slippers all the way!
“What’s your favourite horror movie”?
Favourite horror movie is SO difficult because there are SO many great movies. I hate this question! haha. I like movies for different reasons. Scream would have to be my favourite movie from my teen years. I’ve said it a million times, but Ghost Face destroyed my life. I couldn’t watch horror movies for a long time without having nightmares. I couldn’t got to the toilet in my house for about a year without my sister, all down to the scene in the toilet at the cinema. YOUTH DESTROYED.
“Where in the world would you most like to visit”?
I would most love to visit Thailand. I will do it. I have to do it. Just haven’t got round to it yet!
“What is your favourite drink”?
My favourite drink is a gingerbread latte. I love that!
“If you were a super hero who would you be and why”?
If I were a superhero I would be Storm. I always loved her as a kid, I thought she was badass and I wanted white long.
“Well Jessica thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us and I have to say “Six Hot Chicks in a Warehouse” looks from first impressions to have all the hallmarks of being a great movie , I know we have supported it and I am sure many more will want to as well so here’s all the links you need to get behind this really worthwhile project” ..
Thanks guys <3 xxxxx
Support Six Hot Chicks In a Warehouse on Kick-starter here
Please, check out her website: www.jessicamessenger.com
Her Official Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/JessicaMessengerOfficial
Her Official Twiiter: www.twitter.com/MissJMessenger
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