Under the Flowers: Waking the Witch
Everyone's dreaming...but not everyone's waking up.
Interview with Writer/Director/Producer/Editor Richard T. Wilson
Watch Under the Flowers: Waking the Witch here:
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Well, the catalyst for the first Under the Flowers (prequel) was losing both my parents within six months of each another and deciding to make The Halloween Girl to deal with my grief. In the end, the film did help me through a very difficult time and I’m happy to say it was also very well received; we had some Hollywood screenings, awards and great reviews. Honestly, I thought the film would be a one-off but I soon found myself compelled to continue The Halloween Girl's journey in our supernatural web series, Under the Flowers. Flash forward to Season 3, completed earlier this year, and it's become pretty evident to me that the series has been a journey back to myself in many ways.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Our third season, 'Waking the Witch' finds supernatural heroines, Charlotte (aka The Halloween Girl), Rose and Jackie battling a diabolic secret society called The Hollow for the soul of Crystal Springs - but they can’t do it alone. First, Charlotte must travel to the In-Between for help, risking her own soul - to Wake the Witch! While there's clearly lots of supernatural adventure going on here, this story is also very much informed by the dark days we currently live in. For instance, The Hollow is referred to as 'the devil's janitors' by Charlotte; they believe the world failed a long time ago and now it's up to them to 'lock up and turn out the lights'. While The Hollow wants to hollow out people's souls and end the world, Charlotte and her sister witches want to save it because they believe in a transformative hope - love, essentially. And I like to think that's a message most of us can get behind - unless you're a Hollow, of course!
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
I'm a great believer in fighting for what's right and not letting the world dictate who you are. For instance, I refuse to let the times we live in dampen my fire for telling the stories I need to tell. And the stories I need to tell involve transformation and transcendence - so, the personal and the universal are pretty much one and the same for me.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
By the time we got to Season 3 (Waking the Witch), I knew I wanted to get more adventurous and dig deeper into the characters and the larger Under the Flowers’ universe. Charlotte, Rose and Jackie are trying to reach another witch (Jess) who is trapped in the In-Between; without her, they don't have the key to the 'spell' that will stop The Hollow. It turns out Jess is living in a false world in the In-Between and has no memory of who she was/is - and The Hollow wants to keep it that way. Looking back, I think this part of the story presented the biggest challenge for me as I was exorcising a number of personal demons here - and didn't quite realize it. So, I kept trying to build out the other half of the story subconsciously trying to lessen the impact of Jess's story on my own psyche. Fortunately, Jess won out and the story was told the way it needed to be - and I have fewer demons as a result!
What type of feedback have you received so far?
I'm happy to say that Under the Flowers: Waking the Witch has been incredibly well-received! In fact, it's our most successful installment to date; lots of great festival exposure, awards and critical acclaim. A favorite memory has to be winning a Kapowie for the second year in a row at the truly awesome Kapow Intergalactic Film Festival in Hollywood - we've made so many incredible friends there! It's been a year I'll never forget...
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Yes! I'm always surprised to hear what people pull from the show. Last season it was the religious and spiritual elements people picked up on and this year it's been the transformational aspect of the show - we even got compared to Dr. Who (which I LOVE)!
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I consider our work ‘bubblegum art films’ because they’re rooted in both my love of dark, classic literature, art films and retro horror. Having said that, because we're such a mix I would love to reach others who enjoy genre-defying work like 'Under the Flowers' - and We Are Moving Stories is definitely the place to do that!
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Right now, the more ink we get on the series the better since I'm in the process of adapting all the films as a graphic novel series. In fact, I just started pitching the graphic novel series to publishers and agents this week (fingers crossed).
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I hope people pick up on the need for 'hope in a darkened heart' (to steal from a Virginia Astley album title) - and the awesome adventure that will take you on. I really hope Season 3 inspires as much as it entertains.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
"So, do you believe in reincarnation?"
Would you like to add anything else?
Yes, a shout-out to our AMAZING Cast & Crew who make it all happen - I love each and every one of them!
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Well, Catherine Kustra, who plays Charlotte' is producing her own comedic web series - and Amanda Kay Livezey, who plays Rose, is playing Catwoman in an upcoming indie Batman flick! So, there will be Flowers sprouting everywhere in 2020!
Interview: December 2019
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
Under the Flowers: Waking the Witch
Everyone's dreaming...but not everyone's waking up.
Director: Richard T. Wilson
Producer: Richard & Linda Wilson
Writer: Richard T. Wilson
About the writer, director and producer:
Emmy® Award Winner, RICHARD T. WILSON serves as the President /Writer-Filmmaker of the nationally recognized educational film company, OutreachArts, Inc. and its new, award-winning, sister company, Mad Shelley Films (Under the Flowers, The Halloween Girl). Some of Wilson's past work has also been prominently featured on ABC World News Tonight, National Public Radio, PBS and The Independent Film Channel. However, Wilson is probably best known for creating both the critically acclaimed, multi-award-winning TV/DVD series, Maple Ave (mapleavefilms) and the hit, supernatural web series, Under the Flowers (undertheflowers).
RICHARD T. WILSON & wife, LINDA WILSON are the award-winning producing team behind Mad Shelley Films.
Key cast: Catherine Kustra (Charlotte), Amanda Kay Livezey (Rose), Laura Betz (Jackie), Scott A. Evans (Nick), Kit Chesebro (Jess), Susan Dewey (Grandmom Lil), Britney Jones (Mallory), Tony Romeo (Dr. Michaels)
Looking for: journalists, film festival directors
Facebook: Mad Shelley Films
Twitter: @MadShelleyFilms
Instagram: @madshelleyfilms
Hashtags used: #undertheflowers #indiehorror #webseries #madshelleyfilms
Website: www.undertheflowers.com
Other: IMDb
Made in association with: Mad Shelley Films
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? opprime.tv & undertheflowers.com