Busy and talented Rachel Grubb is an actress and aspiring filmmaker from Minneapolis, MN. She won the Best Breakthrough Screenplay award at the New York International Independent Film And Video Festival for her first feature length script.  Rachel has acted in independent horror films, such as, "Doomed To Consume," "The Monster Of Phantom Lake," "Harrowville," "Horror House," "Unholy Reunion," and "Health Freaks." More recently, she played a dual role in Haunted Autumn Productions' "Tales Of The Dead," and Hagra, lead huntress of the Evil Liak tribe, in Shadow Creek Studios' "Cave Women On Mars." She will also be appearing in Dav Kaufman's "13 Hours In A Warehouse."

Rachel recently directed her first feature film, "Why Am I In A Box?" from Silent-But-Deadly Productions. "Why Am I In A Box?" tells the story of  Ellen Farnsby, a modern-day Scheherazade. And if she doesn't tell the story of a lifetime, someone else will be writing her obituary. She is kidnapped by Paige, a failed novelist with an ax to grind. Jeremy is a video store clerk whose one talent is fooling himself, and others, that he's an artist. He and a pop junkie of a detective named Lydecker are hunting for Ellen. Will Jeremy and Lydecker find Ellen before a vicious maniac edits her out of existence? Will Ellen write a brilliant novel or end up a tragic movie-of-the-week?

Rachel has also been an in-studio guest on Maxim Radio's "Hotties Of Horror" week, and writes a monthly Scream Queen column for The Chainsaw Mafia last but not least Rachel won second place in a Banana eating contest hosted by Ron Jeremy.  So let’s come on a journey and find more out about these talented Minneapolis lass, who is hungry for more.

“When it requires me to step outside my comfort zone and do something new, I know I’m making progress.” - Rachel Grubb


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HMB: Fist of all congratulations Rachel to all the success you’ve had since your last time here at Rogue, and thank you for giving us the opportunity to do a follow up interview with you!

RG:   Thank you!  I'm always happy to talk with you guys at Rogue Cinema!  It's a pleasure.


HMB: Rachel, let’s pick it up where your last Rogue interview ended. Your feature length directing debut for the comedy “Why Am I In A Box?”, is currently in Postproduction, when can we see it?

RG:  This fall.  I've got a lot of post work to do on it, since there is some animation that needs to be done.  But Brooke and I are planning to have the premiere of my feature and her three shorts, A YOUNG HEART, A BROKEN FAMILY, and YOUNG EYES, on September 24th.


HMB: Can you tell us how many shoot days you had and how much the Budget was for "Why Am I In A Box??"

RG:  We shot the whole thing in 13 days.  All together, the budget was around $10,000.  Most of it came out of my pocket, since it was our first project. 


HMB: For “Why Am I In a Box?" you worked behind the camera, wrote the script, directed and starred in it, last but not least you also served as producer on the film.  What was the toughest part of doing all that, and are you maybe a
control freak?

RG:  The toughest part was not any one, specific thing, but rather trying to do all of these things at once.  Doing everything on a project takes a lot of energy.  I may be a control freak, yes, although not in every aspect.  I love acting, and when I'm directing, producing, or casting, I usually take opportunity to cast myself in the most interesting roles.


HMB: You did quiet a couple of Horror movies (13 Hours in a Warehouse, Unholy Reunion, etc.), what draws you into horror?

RG: I like working in horror, because it has aspects of all genres.  I can do really dark dramatic roles, and I can do comedy.  It all comes into play in horror.  It's also a very popular genre in independent films, because horror fans love low budget independent horror films.  I love working in independent film, so I get offered horror roles a lot.


HMB: Another Horror film you currently wrapped is “Terror Overload” Ari Lehman  and Scarlet Salem. What can you tell us about this indie project?

RG: Oh, that was so much fun!  I had worked with NFTS Productions on DOOMED TO CONSUME, but I just had a small role as a zombie, and they had been wanting to cast me in something since then.  I was only going to be in one, initially.  But after I was cast in DINNER DATE, they were looking for another girl to be in LOT LIZARD, so I volunteered.  Then they needed a last minute replacement for MONGO CHUPA and asked me to step in.  Brant Johnson told me that when the first conceived the story, they wanted to have one actress appear in all three segments, like Karen Black in the TRILOGY OF TERROR, and without even trying, that is what they ended up with.


HMB: Rachel, you are an actress and a model. Which came first for you?

RG:  Acting came first.  It wasn't until I saw some success as an actress that I needed some photos for promotional use.  That's why I started modeling.  I was doing TFP work at first.  TFP means Trade For Pictures.  The model and the photographer work for free, and the both get the photos for portfolio use.  Now, I've been shooting so long that I have a full portfolio and a lot of experience, so people hire me to model. 


HMB:  When or why did you decide to produce your own projects and write scripts?

RG: I actually went to school for writing.  I always thought I would be a novelist.  When I became more interested in film, the obvious choice was screenwriting, and I also wanted to direct my own stuff.  Then I decided I wanted to act in my own stuff.  I just thought it sounded like fun.  So I started acting, and unexpectedly got very good at it.


HMB: You've been involved in a number of productions in the Minnesota area, did you ever consider a move to Los Angeles?

RG: Not really.  I love the Minnesota film community, and I want to stay here.  I love the people I work with, and I always feel appreciated by them.  I want to work outside of Minnesota as well, but I like living here. 


HMB: Tell us a little about your female run independent production company Silent-But-Deadly-Productions.

RG: Brooke Lemke and I started Silent-But-Deadly Productions because we liked working together and we wanted to keep doing movies together.  Once we had established that, we decided we wanted to focus on women in film.  We made it a goal to make movies with interesting female roles, and to use the talents of the awesome women we've worked with behind the scenes. 


HMB: What are for you the greatest mistakes producers can make on their projects?

RG:  One thing I have learned, at least with independent film, is that people are willing to help you out for little to no money, if you genuinely don't have any.  When I was shooting WHY AM I IN A BOX? we were trying to decide where to order food from, and my crew asked for the cheaper place, because they knew they money was coming out of my pocket.  I've seen producers make all different kinds of mistakes because they didn't know this.  Some have promised their cast and crew all kinds of money they didn't have.  Others will try to stretch themselves too far and do way more than they really want  to be doing because they don't know how easy it would be to find someone willing to help them. 


HMB: What’s important for you when you attach yourself to a project?

A) As an actor

RG: I mostly look for an interesting character that will give me the opportunity to do something new.  But there are many other factors, like the overall quality of the script, who I will be working with, and how easy it's going to be to work it into my schedule. 

B) As an producer

RG:  I have mostly produced Brooke's films and my own, but she and I are also producting a short film called WHISKEY by John Mackin.  I haven't really done a lot outside of our own, but I suppose I would look at the budget, and who else was attached to it, just as I would as an actor. 


HMB: What do you like and don’t like about the business?

RG:  I like the wonderful people I've met.  I like being able to express myself creatively.  I like being able to watch myself on the screen and feel proud of my performance.  I don't like the measure of how much what you do in this business "counts." It's great when a movie I did gets distribution, and gets seen.  But if no one but my friends and family ever saw my movies, I'd be happy.  I never wanted to be a star.  I only wanted to be an actor.  I am very grateful for the success I've had so far, but I didn't get into this business because I wanted loads of money or attention.


HMB: Some advice for newcomers in the writing, producing and acting world?

RG:  Practice your craft a LOT.  Don't be one of those people who says, "Some day I'm gonna do this" and never does it.  Go out and do it, even if it's just a student project that no one who's not related to you will ever see you in.  Start small, if you have to, and learn as you go.  Don't sit around and wait for that one big special project that is one day going to come along and make you rich and famous.  Because when it does, you'll have to go to the back of the line, behind all those other people who have been working their butts off on smaller projects to network and gain experience. 


HMB: What’s next for Rachel Grubb?

RG:  I have quite a few feature films I'm working on.  I'm currently filming a comedy called THE MANXES by Loren Farand and Jorge Sosa.  I'm going to be acting in another movie with NFTS Productions called STRIP CLUB SLASHER as Desiree Diamonds.  I'm also doing a vampire film called THE LAST REVENANTS with Suzi Lorraine, Brooke Lewis, and Sybil Danning.  I'm traveling to Las Vegas to do a movie called HAUNTING KIRA, by Teresa Fahs.  Next year, I'm going to be doing a feature film for THE SHOW SO GAY called THE GAY MOB.  I'm also going to be doing a comedic web series with David Savage called NO THANKS TO YOU, which I am also looking forward to. 


HMB: Please choose 5 people out of the film business (dead or alive), you want to have at your dinner Table.

RG: The first people who come to mind are dead, because I'd have no other way of meeting them, and if I could bring them back just for a dinner party, I'd like to take advantage of that.  The first is James Dean.  His performance in REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE just makes me want to sit up in my chair and stare at him in disbelief and wonder what the hell it would be like to be in the same room with him.  Second, I choose Heath Ledger.  The Joker has roughly the same effect on me as Jim Stark.  I'd love the chance to talk to him about the Joker and how he created that character for the screen.  I'm a big fan of the comic, too, so it would be very interesting to hear his thoughts on Mister J.  Also, Adrienne Shelley.  I cried when I read about her murder.  She was such an inspiration to me as an independent film actress turned director.  I dedicated WHY AM I IN A BOX? to her.  Moving on to living people, Johnny Depp.  He's someone I would love to talk about acting with, because he has such an original approach.  And finally, David Cronenberg.  I'd just try my best not to fawn over him, and gush about how awesome he is.  That's right.  I've got James Dean, Heath, Ledger, and Johnny Depp at my dinner table, and I'm worried about making a fool of myself in front of David Cronenberg! 


HMB: Any people that have come along in your life that you wish to give a special thanks credit in this interview?

RG: I'd like to thank my fiance Joshua LeSuer, my good friend, and sound guy for my movie, Jim Morgan, and by Silent-But-Deadly Partner, Brooke Lemke. 


HMB: Thank you so much for the interview Rachel and all the best for your future!

RG: You are welcome!  Thanks for the support!