WiH Massive Blood Drive PSA 2014!!!

              

HERE IT IS, BOYS AND GRRLS!!! Our 2014 Collaborative Women In Horror Recognition Month Massive Blood Drive PSA with Patricia Chica Filmmaker, Actress Jessica Cameron, Hannah Neurotica, Isabel Peppard, Maude Michaud, and Your Friendly Neighborhood Twisted Twins, me and my doppelganger, Sylvia Soska.

Every Women In Horror Recognition month, we encourage everyone across the world to donate blood for the WiHM Massive Blood Drive. You can't think horror without thinking blood and the main reason most people don't donate is because they're afraid of needles. It's time to be brave, roll up your sleeves, and give. You can donate everywhere and anywhere. Send in your photos and do a truly selfless act. After all, it's in you to give.

PLEASE share and enjoy. We wanna see pics of you donating and your own PSAs!

-Jen

New Multi-Collaborative WiH Massive Blood Drive is Coming!

Women In Horror Recognition Month Massive Blood Drive multi-collaborative PSA coming soon with segments from Maude Michaud, Jessica Cameron, Patricia Chica, Isabel Peppard, Hannah Neurotica, and the Soska Sisters.

Here's a little sneak peek! This is WiH fifth year, please take this opportunity all February long to celebrate your favourite female artists.

-Sylv

Horrorphilia's Girls Night Out Interview with Hannah Neurotica, Maude Michaud, and The Twisted Twins

This just happened.

As y'all know, we do have an affinity for the gents of Horrorphilia. After all, aren't we all, deep down, Horrorphiliacs ourselves?

We were so happy to be invited out on the first ever Horrorphilia Girls Night Out Podcast with Horrorphilia's fantastic Char Hardin hostessing. And to be guests alongside our beloved femme fatales Hannah Neurotica (our sister in horror, woman behind Women In Horror Month) and miss Maude Michaud (killer Canadian film maker whose work we are so inspired by)? An absolute honor and privilege.

What did we chat about?

In the words of the gents...

Happy Easter everyone and boy do we have a treat for you. Our very own Char leads Girls Night Out w/ guests Hannah Neurotica from Ax Wound, Filmmaker Maude Michaud, and Jen and Sylvia Soska directors of Dead Hooker In A Trunk and the upcoming American Mary. Not only do you get to hear about the Ladies projects such as American Mary, Ax Wound and Bloody Breasts web series, but you also get to hear them discuss Buffy, stealing bras, hockey, the porn awards, and Sasquatch. They also tackle serious subjects such as politics, censorship, women in horror, and we can’t forget - werewolf erotica. An episode you dont…err…cant miss! Download or stream here from the blog or download from Itunes or your favorite podcatcher.

As if you need more convincing to listen like a fly on the wall to our lil' chit chat.

Enjoy the full podcast HERE!

And a very special thanks to the ladies for a kick ass evening that be the holy hell out of watching the Canucks game last Thursday night ;)

Bloody Best!
Jen

Maude Michaud

"The first thing that comes to mind is Freud’s notion of the two basic conflicting human desires: eros (the life/sex drive) and thanatos (the death drive). Also, there’s a very fine line between sex and violence; sex itself can be very violent… There is also this whole idea of struggle for power over another person, both in sex and in violence, which is something horror films represent very well.

In French there is this expression “la petite mort” (the little death) that is a metaphor for orgasm; I think that is an interesting juxtaposition of the two ideas. This might be why it is so easy to intertwine them in horror films." ~ Maude Michaud

In many of our pieces you will hear that we met this wonderful woman at the Viscera Film Festival. But that just happens to be an undeniable truth. This particular woman is one that we were speaking with prior and just over joyed to learn would also be attending the festival. More accurately, we met at the sensational Heidi Martinuzzi's MISTRESSES OF HORROR GATHERING. She is a fellow Canadian whose supreme talent and provocative work fills me with Patriotic pride.

"My love for the horror genre began when I was a kid. I don’t know why, but I was always attracted to dark and creepy stories. Contrary to most kids my age, I was not scared by the content, I wanted more!" ~ Maude Michaud

She lists her personal likes as: 16 mm, acting, alfred hitchcock, alternative lifestyle, art, b-movies, bdsm, camera, cinema, corset, david lynch, directing, editing, fetish, film, film festivals, filmmaking, high heel shoes, horror films, kitsch, lipstick, media studies, movies, music, photography, producing, quentin tarantino, reading, retro, scriptwriting, sexploitation films, sinema, tim burton, underground films, weird films, and writing.

Allow me to introduce a woman who many of you know and respect, but many of you may be hearing of for the first time. Take my advice, buys and grrls, you'll want to make yourselves very familiar with the name...

I present to you, film maker, French Canadian, and an artist in every definition of the word...

MAUDE MICHAUD

Maude started writing and directing short films at the age of only 16.

Her shorts, Recessed and Complex(e)/Modèl(e) were showcased part of the Short Film Corner at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival and the 2008 edition of the Wreck-Beach Film Festival.

Other of Maude's works that have screened in festivals include: Perceive (2004 YoungCuts Film Festival), Spirits (2002 International Teen Movie Festival), Finding Hope (2001 International Teen Movie Festival) and Mirage (selected for the 2004 edition of the Jeunes Cinéastes contest, winning the prize for Best Original Music).

Amazingly she has worked on over 15 short films and video projects, including 12 as a director, and was hired as a director of photography on the independent feature film, C.F.A.L. – Chance for Another Life, directed by Marc-Antoine Desjardins.

Here she is at the 2010 Viscera Film Festival with two of my favorite Women In Horror, Brenda and Elisabeth Fies. And, yes, that is a DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK behind them along with a poster for the Fies' brilliant BLEEDFEST.

And again with Elisabeth and yours trulys.

"I do like to keep the dialogue to a minimum in my projects. One of my film teachers used to say: “Remember the basic rule of film making: show, don’t tell. Cinema is a visual medium.” It influenced my way of thinking about films, so whenever I think of a story, I focus on how the story unfolds visually first, then worry about what needs to be said (or not) after." ~ Maude Michaud

This is her short film, RECESSED.

"The inspiration behind Recessed is a tad more complex. At the time, I was really into Japanese ghost films, especially how they use everyday moments and domestic spaces as a menace for the characters, so that inspired some of the creepy parts of the film. I also really like the idea of telling the story from the madman’s perspective and exploring the human psyche, which is what Recessed essentially is. I just love to leave things open-ended and let the audience decide how they want to interpret what it all means. Don’t get me wrong, I do have an explanation for what happens in Recessed, but I much prefer to know what people make of it as I’ve heard so many different interesting theories!" ~ Maude Michaud

Here is the trailer for her next film, RED.



Even though Maude is a huge horror fan, she beautifully explores a variety of genres in the films she directs, which results in an eclectic body of work including: horror dramas, slightly surreal quirky tales, and explorations of unconventional relationships. Appropriately, she has named her production company QUIRK PRODUCTIONS. She also works as a photographer.

Above is a photo taken behind the scenes of her short film, HOLLYWOOD SKIN. It was a stunning, stand out piece that played at the 2010 Viscera Film Festival. I'm so sorry that I couldn't find this shocking cinematic slice of brilliance online to share it with you. But don't pout just yet...

You can however donate to the Viscera Film Festival (a festival that doesn't even charge a submission fee which is a huge kindness to independent film makers) and purchase a DVD of all the 2010 Viscera Film Festival Selections here. You can also see Maude's official site HERE and purchase her complete works HERE.

Maude is an outstanding writer and keeps a wonderful online blog that is all kinds of amazing. You should treat yourself and check it out HERE.

And in closing, allow me to express my most sincere thanks to Maude for being such an incredible inspiration in my most terrible attempt at french...

Merci pour votre bel et unique voix dans l'horreur. Vous êtes absolument juste quand vous dites, « je me sens que les choses changent ». Vous êtes le type de changement je suis heureux de voir.

Merci pour non seulement l'être une grande inspiration à moi, mais nombreux d'autres.

Sanglant Mieux!
Jen

Happy Women In Horror Recognition Month!

It's February 1st and that means it's now officially WOMEN IN HORROR MONTH!! The month is brain child of feminist, horror writer, and all 'round badass bitch, Hannah Neurotica of Ax Wound Zine.

The month is filled with women in horror being recognized and celebrated with special events, articles, podcasts, radio shows, interviews, film festivals, and charitable events. To find out about these events, check out them out HERE. Nothing near you? Well, why don't you do something yourself? Start an event and spread the word!

How else can you take part ANY time in February ANYWHERE in the world? You can give blood! We Twisted Twins started the Women In Horror Massive Blood Drive in celebration of Women In Horror. You can't really think "horror" without thinking "blood" and it's a way we can be strong like the heroines of horror that first make little girls say, "I wanna be her!" and give back. Every TWO seconds someone needs blood and there is no substitute.

This year, we joined forces with some very amazingly talented Women (and gentlemen supporters) of Horror...

THE SCARLET ENDING

Our music is an original song by the Scarlet Ending. The Scarlet Ending is a six piece Indie band from Syracuse, New York. The group is fronted by identical twin sisters Kayleigh Goldsworthy (Vocals, Guitar, Violin) and Kaleena Goldsworthy (Vocals, Piano, Accordion, Pennywhistle, Melodica, Ukulele), with Jon Tedd (Guitar, Vocals), Jess Hafner (Cello, Synthesizer), and Aaron Garritillo (Bass Guitar). Loosely defined as indie rock, The Scarlet Ending offers a blend of pop with cabaret, the grit of dive bar rock with the charms of three part harmony. Treat yourselves to a little listen of their wonderful music HERE.

CJ WALLIS

The video is directed, shot, cut, and choreographed by CJ Wallis of FortyFPS Productions. CJ is a director, writer, film maker, composer, musician, producer and one of the many men that are strong supporters of women in horror. We will also be working together on AMERICAN MARY. He supported us Twisted Twins before we even began calling ourselves the Twisted Twins and it has been an honor and a pleasure to be able to collaborate with not only a gifted artist, but a great friend.

SHANNON LARK

Shannon Lark is the living personification of the best qualities of a woman in horror: brilliance, beauty, strength, fearlessness, and that "I wanna be her" je ne sais pas. Widely known for her role as the first ever Fangoria Magazine Spooksmodel Shannon continues to pave the way for women in the evolving genre of cinematic horror. She is a director, writer, dancer, actress, and professional Scream Queen. Along with fellow femme fatale Heidi Martinuzzi (of the wicked awesome FanGirlTastic), she heads the first ever women only horror film festival, Viscera Film Festival, an annual event showcasing horror cinema as exclusively created by women. Her anthem of “Bring your daughter to the slaughter” is the siren song to the male dominion within commercial horror cinema. Shannon runs The Chainsaw Mafia (a website for reviews, news, and articles as well as for networking writers, filmmakers, and various artists within the horror genre) a production company focused on horror film and splatter theater.

MAUDE MICHAUD

Maude Michaud is a beautifully gifted fellow Canadian director, film maker, director of photography, writer, and photographer. Even though she is a huge horror fan, she loves to explore a variety of genres in the films she directs, which results in an eclectic body of work including: horror dramas, slightly surreal quirky tales, and explorations of unconventional relationships. Over the years, she independently wrote, directed and produced over 15 short films and video projects, both personal projects and commissioned works. Her work has screened as part of the Young Cuts Festival (Montreal & Toronto), the Wreck-Beach Film Festival (Barrie, Ontario), the Short Film Corner during the Cannes Film Festival (Cannes, France), the Montreal Fetish Film Festival and the International Teen Movie Festival in Toronto.

MARICHELLE DAYWALT

Marichelle Daywalt is one of the incredible female film makers we met during last years Viscera Film Festival. Her twisted and disturbing short film, MOCKINGBIRD, was among the top films of the festival and a personal favorite of ours. She has recently worked with Scream Queen extraordinaire, Tara Cardinal on her latest short, The Many Doors of Albert Whale which we are just dying to see.
Also, as an independent consultant for Arbonne.com, for the month of February, 15% of all orders placed at Arbonne.com using her referral ID #18707479 (or by phone with her directly) will be donated to the Red Cross!

BRENDA AND ELISABETH FIES

Brenda and Elisabeth Fies are a pair of sister film making and festival heading femme fatales. They are the co-creators and festival heads of the incredible monthly sensational film festival, BLEEDFEST. Directing, producing, writing, and acting are just a few of their many talents. They are a powerful voice for women in horror and a force to be reckoned with. It is an absolute honor to be able to call these ladies friends.

JENNIFER COOPER

Jennifer Cooper is an amazing writer and artist. She has been a huge supporter of Women in Horror. She worked along side of the wonderful Nia Edwards-Behi on the Ghouls On Film Festival of 2010 that marked the VERY first festival in the world to show our demented first born child, DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK. This year she will be bringing DHIAT at LONG last to Scotland at her gore~geous festival cheekily named JENNIFER'S BODIES.

Also featured in the video are your trulys, the Twisted Twins, co-creators of the WiH Massive Blood Drive and story/concept creators for this video, alongside the talented Sierra Pitkin (who many of you will recognize from JUNO and most recently recognize from RUNAWAY).

And who is captivating creature making a very special appearance? Well, that's our Mary. Yes, in this WiH Massive Blood Drive PSA we feature all the talents of these artists AND reveals the actress that will be taking the title role of our highly anticipating up coming film, AMERICAN MARY.

That's right. Happy Women In Horror month!! Let's start this mother fucker off with a BANG!!

Bloody Soaked Best!
Jen and Sylv

Starting Women In Horror Recognition Month off with a Bang!

This year we'll be doing our part to start Women In Horror recognition month off with a bang! For any late comers to the party, Women In Horror month is February, with world wide celebrations, film festivals, and special events!!

How will we be celebrating this year? Just with a little PSA for our MASSIVE BLOOD DRIVE. It happens all month long, world wide, wherever you are, whenever you can. Just donate blood. That's all. It's that easy. Send us proof via photos and video, and you'll be rewarded. Last year, we began getting behind this very worthy cause in celebration of WiH month and this year we are happy to be continuing this proud tradition with a new WiH Blood Drive video with very special appearances from incredible women in horror.

And we also have a little extra treat in store for everyone. We'll have an appearance by... (wait for it) the actress who will be taking the title role in our upcoming film, AMERICAN MARY. Yes, on February 1st via our site, you will not only have an amazing new Blood Drive video featuring some incredible ladies with original music from the Scarlet Ending, (if that's not enough for you!) you will also meet our Mary. And this, boy and grrls, is going to be some very big fucking news.

Horror Community prepare to go bat shit crazy.

Stay Tuned...

1/2/2011

Right here.

Nobody Puts Mary In The Corner...

AMERICAN MARY hits the "Coming Soon Corner" on ALL THINGS HORROR courtesy of the wonderful writer, Mike Snoonian.

"Earlier this year we were lucky enough to screen the debut feature from Canada's Jen and Sylvia Soska. Delivering on the madcap exploits implied by its title, Dead Hooker in a Trunk boasted over the top violence akin to a live action adaptation of a Coyote versus Roadrunner cartoon.
Not a pair to rest on their laurels, the sisters are hard at work on their follow up American Mary." ~Mike Snoonian, All Things Horror

We're proud to be mentioned next to fellow femme fatale film maker, Maude Michaud, who has released a trailer for her new film, RED. Treat yourselves to a look at that beast HERE. You can thank us later.

For the FULL ARTICLE ON AMERICAN MARY, click HERE!!

Bloody Best!
Jen