iHorror Interview With Malvolia: The Queen of Screams – Jenn Nangle

iHorror: Jennifer, hello. Thank you so much for speaking with us today. I really cannot believe that seven months have passed since our last interview together. Where the hell does the time go? First, I need to start by asking about your newest venture: Malvolia: The Queen of Screams. To my knowledge seven months ago, Malvolia was non-existent, or maybe she has been housed in a dormant place waiting for that breath of life. Where did this sexy vixen of the night come from? Tell us about her.

Jennifer Nangle: Has it been that long? Feels like yesterday we were talking about “Demonic Attachment”… My arch nemesis Malvolia was in the beginning stages at that time. She was an idea for a feature film I had. When I submitted the treatment, it was politely rejected, but I was encouraged by a couple fellow filmmakers to keep going with the idea. I knew I wanted to, but there was something missing. I knew I wanted to showcase a strong, sassy, evil, woman and Morticia Addams popped into my head. And then I started to do more research on Vampira. And… the rest is history. Though just reviewing short films on YouTube won’t be Malvolia’s only job, but I can’t go into too much detail about that just yet. Still in the works!

iH: Jennifer, 2017 I have a strong feeling is going to be a major stepping-stone not only for your career but also as a woman fighting her way to the top! I say this because you are all over social media, I cannot load up anything without your beautiful face at the top of my feed, and I adore it. I know you have been faced with many challenges and setbacks over the past few years in this career path. Have you noticed any positive changes as a woman pursuing a career in film?

JN: You are too kind, and I really appreciate all that. I was starting to think people were getting sick of me! 2016 for me was a roller coaster. When things were up, they were way up! And when things were down, they were really down. I started to lose hope and was considering pursuing something else. I hit major writer’s block; there were a bunch of projects going on that I wasn’t apart of, some harsh criticism about my acting in “Demonic Attachment” – it all started to really bring me down… Until Zed Fest Film Festival accepted “Demonic Attachment”! It was awarded four awards.  It refreshed me and reassured me that hard work and determination pays off. Lesson learned – never, ever give up on something you want so badly. It’s not worth it.

I also took a different approach to how people were seeing me. I’m extremely versatile, but I started to hear how certain people in the business only saw me in certain ways. It was do or die time. Either I started to show myself in a different light or keep being over looked in casting. Hence the photo shoots and different ideas to network on social media came about. There have been a couple comments about me being narcissistic, but if those people really knew who I was, they would know that I’m doing these things for my career.

iH: Besides Malvolia, do you have any plans to tackle other projects this year or will this character be your primary focus?

JN: You know me! I always have my hand in many different pots! Malvolia will be my main focus for the beginning of the year (also depending on how many submissions I receive) and then I will be rolling into my feature film “Social Mania” which touches on the highs and lows of social media. I will also be filming a comedy pilot at the end of the month (I’m just acting in it) and another one in the next couple months. I have a couple short films that will be releasing February. I try to stay as busy and creative as much as possible!

iH: Women have played a vital role in horror films. Unfortunately, over the years, the stereotypes for woman characters have clouded over something I find very important. After the dust settles and we see through these stereotypes, woman dominate horror films, in my opinion, they are almost always the heroine. This is evident in our classics like A Nightmare On Elm Street, Friday The 13th, Halloween, Alien, Scream, and I Spit On Your Grave, just to name a few. How do you feel about this? Do you think this is something tragically overlooked?

JN: I feel like there is a certain blue print, have you, that has worked in film for a long time where people are afraid to stray away from… But when they have, they have been incredibly successful. Women are strong. They are powerful. And they can outsmart a man in ways other than physicality. My short film “The Deal’ touches upon all of this (coming February!). I feel for a long time it has been over looked-ish… But then again, in my experience, a majority of writer’s in the business are men and majority of the filmmakers in the horror community are men. Men write for men. Not all do, but that’s just natural for them (obviously), and that’s ok. But I feel that is changing… There have been more women, especially in the indie circuit, just working it. Women are being celebrated in film festivals and other avenues. We are finding support on the internet from people all over the world. I definitely believe that change is on the way and I hope it is embraced rather than feared. Yes, change is uncomfortable, but it spices up life in a good way! I mean, we can look incredibly sexy while plunging a knife into someone. Just sayin…

iH: Lastly, Jennifer, because February is “Women In Horror Month,” what advice and happy thoughts can you lend to women trying to make it in the business?

JN: There is no right or wrong way or A-z list that you follow to do anything in this business. JUST DO IT. Do not wait for someone to say you can do it nor listen to those critical voices around you, because if you do, nothing will ever get done. Things may not work and situations may not be perfect or ideal, but every situation is a learning experience. We always need more women voices. Do not let fear get in your way. You are strong than you think.

iH: That was certainly a treat, thank you so much for speaking with us today Jennifer.

At the present time Malvolia: The Queen of Screams is seeking out submissions to showcase. For more information, please send inquiries, if you dare to [email protected]

Media Links

Twitter @QueenMalvolia          Jennifer Nangle – iHorror Interview

 

Ryan T. Cusick is a writer for ihorror.com and very much enjoys conversation and writing about anything within the horror genre. Horror first sparked his interest after watching the original, The Amityville Horror when he was the tender age of three. Ryan lives in California with his wife and Eleven-year-old daughter, who is also expressing interest in the horror genre. Ryan recently received his Master’s Degree in Psychology and has aspirations to write a novel. Ryan can be followed on Twitter @Nytmare112

 

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