It was recently announced that rising B movie star Bianca Barnett (ALBINO FARM, DEAD INSIDE) has taken a starring role in the upcoming EXPERIMENTS IN KILLING. Directed by Joseph Christiana (THE NIGHTMARE, MOTEL AMERICANA VOL. II) the film is exactly as the title implies, an experiment. Using a companion podcast entitled EXPERIMENTS IN PODCASTING, listeners will be immersed in all aspects of the production and given a chance, via polling, to make critical decisions about the film. Christiana, along with producer Thomas Dettloff and his longtime director of photography William Bourassa Jr., are gambling that this innovative format is going to lead to a unique piece of indie film history.
In addition to her commitment to the genre through acting, Barnett is the host of the W.T.F. podcast which showcases horror and exploitation films, available in both audio and video versions. FANGORIA spent some time chatting with Barnett and we discussed the groundbreaking project, as well as her trajectory as an up-and-comer in the scream scene.
FANGORIA: Tell me a bit about what got you into indie horror. Were you a fan, or was this just where your career took you?
BIANCA BARNETT: I have always been a huge fan of horror movies! Because it is one of my favorite genres, I have enjoyed being involved in the scene and meeting other fans. So far, I have done mostly indie films but I would like to branch out into other genres and larger budget films as well.
FANG: You won a Golden Cob award for Best Rising B Movie Actress in 2011. First off, what does a win like that mean to you? Second, who is your favorite B movie actress or the one that has influenced you the most?
BARNETT: I was not expecting to win, let alone be nominated. It truly meant the world to me to know that people appreciate my work and want me to succeed. I don’t know that I’d consider her a B movie actress, but Chloe Sevigny is definitely one of my favorite actresses. She has been in some great movies and I love her style and quirkiness.
FANG: How much do you have to love your art to deal with all the craziness on indie sets?
BARNETT: I love acting more than almost anything in the world! I have worked on enough sets (both large and small) to be prepared for anything. I mentally prepare for very long work days. As a rule of thumb, I double the time that they say they need me because eight hours easily turns into sixteen! I have seen just about everything imaginable, so I think it is safe to say that it is very difficult to shock me.
FANG: How did you get involved with EXPERIMENTS IN KILLING?
BARNETT: I had heard about it through our podcast network, Horror Palace. I thought it was a very interesting concept with a great script. Also, they are filming in New Jersey and I have wanted to work more on the east coast because I love it here so much.
FANG: Had you seen Joseph Christiana’s work prior?
BARNETT: No, but after I saw clips of his prior work, I knew that he was very talented.
FANG: Tell us what we can expect from your role in EXPERIMENTS?
BARNETT: It will be different from what most of my fans have seen me in prior, which is fantastic because it gives me the opportunity to show that I have range as an actress. I don’t want to give away too much more!
FANG: Do you trust the fans on the podcast to make some the decisions they will be called on to make? Is the concept intimidating at all?
BARNETT: Horror fans are the ultimate! They are so loyal and knowledgeable about the genre. I trust that they will make some great suggestions. If not, I will personally hunt them down and terrorize them one by one!
FANG: In five years if all goes well, where do I find Bianca?
BARNETT: Hopefully on the big screen making some killer flicks!
