Exclusive: Dread Central Interviews YellowBrickRoad Stars Anessa Ramsey, Clark Freeman and Cassidy Freeman
/may11/ybross.jpg
It seems like the journey for those involved with indie horror flick YellowBrickRoad has been a long and arduous one, but all the hard work has paid off. Not only did the film recently get a limited release in AMC theaters courtesy of Bloody Disgusting Selects, but it also just celebrated its home video release this week onto DVD shelves everywhere.
Recently Dread Central had the opportunity to talk with several of the stars of YellowBrickRoad (DVD review here) – Anessa Ramsey (The Signal, Cassidy Freeman (“Smallville”) and her brother, Clark Freeman (Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2), who all pulled double-duty on the project: Not only did the trio sign on to bring writers/directors Andy Mitton and Jesse Holland’s disturbing trip to the woods to life, but they also came on board the project as producers as well (alongside producer Eric Hungerford).
Check out our exclusive interview with Ramsey and the Freemans below, and make sure to check out YellowBrickRoad now that the flick is available on DVD!
Dread Central: Let’s start at the beginning of the project. Can you talk about how the three of you got involved with YellowBrickRoad?
Cassidy: Andy, Jesse and I all went to the same college actually. Before I got involved, I knew that they had written a script and that they had given it to Clark to read over. But once we saw there was a brother/sister element to the story, we both thought that sounded kind of fun and something we wanted to do together. Clark had done some producing before, but I hadn’t so I really learned a lot on this film.
Clark: Andy and I worked together in the theater, and when I read the script, I came on board the project as both a producer and actor. I had eight years of experience on my side so even though I knew it would be a tough challenge, I knew it would be worth it in the end.
Anessa: (joking) You know what, I didn’t even know who these people were when I signed on to this movie! But seriously, I know that both Andy and Jesse were big fans of The Signal and had told the other producers they wanted to get someone like me for the role of Melissa in the movie. I guess everyone suggested actually getting me, and then the usual calls were made and I came on board. Originally the offer to produce wasn’t on the table. but once they offered it to me, I jumped at the chance. I always love any opportunity I can get to learn more about making movies beyond acting.”
DC: After reading the script though, you must have realized just how ambitious making this movie in the middle of nowhere was going to be, especially since you guys weren’t working with a huge blockbuster budget. Did you have any concerns about the hardships you’d be facing when making YellowBrickRoad?
Anessa: I just thought the idea of making a movie in the woods sounded incredibly scary so that was part of what attracted me to the script. There is a lot of potential for unleashing primal fears when you’re in the woods, but I had no idea just what we were in store for when we set out to start filming. It was incredibly hard, but I think that only strengthens what you see in the movie.”
Cassidy: I think since YellowBrickRoad relies so much on the chemistry between all the characters, us being pushed to the limits making this movie in the middle of nowhere really benefited all of our performances. There were definitely times for me when I didn’t have to fake being exhausted!
Clark:I knew it would be a hard shoot, but I knew we did everything we could beforehand to prepare for making the movie in the middle of nowhere.
Anessa: Yeah, but you can’t prepare for snow in June, and that’s exactly what happened while we were shooting. It was pretty insane to have that happen. Oh, and then there were the black flies that would burrow under your skin. So yes, I guess I would say it was an exhausting shoot but 100 percent absolutely worth it for me.”
Clark: Flies are bad, but at least you didn’t get tied to a tree and left alone for five hours. Talk about nerve-wracking!
Dread Central: Now that YellowBrickRoad has been in theaters and is out on DVD, how does it feel reflecting on a project that has been such a long journey from start to finish for everyone involved?
Clark: I knew from the beginning that YellowBrickRoad was very different compared to what’s currently the trend in horror, but I was excited by the challenge of making a very unconventional horror movie and getting it in front of audiences, too. There’s a subtlety to the horror in those woods, and I think that’s why it’s so compelling. And to be able to say we played in AMC theaters from both the acting and producing perspectives is a great feeling.”
Cassidy: I totally agree. I completely loved the idea of doing something different in the horror genre from the moment I came on board YellowBrickRoad, and I’m so glad to have been a part of it. I also think it’s really cool what Bloody Disgusting is doing for independent horror, and with this being the first time that I’ve produced something, I feel really proud to be a part of their new horror brand.”
Special thanks to Anessa, Clark and Cassidy for taking the time to speak with Dread Central!
Got news? Click here to submit it!
See unseen horrors in the comments section below!
Categorized:
