INTERVIEW – APRIL MONIQUE BURRIL talks Chainsaw Sally

Published on: 30th August, 2009

INTERVIEW - APRIL MONIQUE BURRIL talks Chainsaw Sally  | read this item

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Over the last few years, April Monique Burril and her alter ego, Chainsaw Sally, have become popular fixtures of the horror genre. From her alternative modelling to low budget filmmaking, Sally has gained a loyal cult following.
April reveals the genesis behind her creation and her plans for the future…

The two main themes that you explore in your work is sex and horror.  How did you come to mix the two and why do you think they belong together?
“I wouldn’t say I consciously decided to mix sex and horror. They often come as a package…. maybe because both contain elements of the forbidden… both promise extremes of sensation, pleasure or pain (or fear), respectively.?”

How did you come to be known as Chainsaw Sally?  What came first – the image or the name?
“Well… when I used to perform with an acting troupe – Jamo Alturnative Theatre, we performed several original musicals – the most popular being a horror-comedy-musical called Silver Scream. It was geared towards horror fans, but it was often hard to get the attention of horror audiences to come see the shows. So, Jimmy and I decided to create a spokes-character to bridge that gap. We discussed personality traits (many of which are just my own, plus some Tank Girl, Leatherface, and Freddy Krueger thrown in), looks, and eventually settled on the name, which is an homage to the Sally Hardesty character in Texas Chainsaw Massacre.”

Do you consider yourself a model first and actress second or was Sally created with filmmaking in mind?
“I actually consider myself an artist first and all this other stuff is for fun. But lately, I’m starting to see it move more and more towards being a full-time thing (which is fine with me). The character was created before we even got into filmmaking. And once the website got going, both Jimmy and I were very surprised and the huge amount of attention she got. The Sally movie was simply a natural direction to go in, once we’d made the transition to that medium.”

How did you first gain recognition for your work and have you found Sally an easy image to market?
“We had a leg up when it came to marketing the Sally movie… actually several legs… both Jimmy and I are graphic artists by trade, so eye-catching marketing material was easy. Plus the character already having a fanbase from the website helped alot.

Pretty much, until we finally landed distribution, there were alot of screenings at horror conventions, sending out screeners to the press for review, etc etc. I would NOT say it was easy. But we did get more appreciation and recognition than I expected.”

Females in horror are often criticized for portraying both the victim and the object of desire, and whilst Sally is clearly not the damsel-in-distress, she is something to be lusted over.  Was it your intention to both embrace and subvert the clichés of gender in horror?
“It was my intention to play an intelligent, badass, sexy, fun character. I really don’t think I had broad social implications in mind (well, maybe a little). She’s the killer, so of course she isn’t a damsel-in-distress.
However, I really don’t think that old cliché holds up as much any more. Lately, especially in independent films, strong females are seen alot more. Partly due to an increase in female horror fans I’m sure, but also – let’s face it – tough chicks are WAY sexier!!?”

How did the Chainsaw Sally movie come about and are you proud of what you achieved?
“After making our first film – which was a movie version of the stage show, Silver Scream, we were looking for the next project. Chainsaw Sally fans were already asking if there was a movie about the character, so that was the obvious choice for the next film.

I’m super proud of what we’ve achieved. And by we – that’s writer/director JimmyO (especially), myself, our friends and family that have given us use of their time, talent, and patience, and the fans that have done so very very VERY much to spread the word around!”

The film features appearances from several horror icons, such as Gunner Hansen and Herschell Gordon Lewis.  How did you manage to attract such talent?
“HG Lewis, we’d met first when Jimmy contacted him for some friends who were trying to start up a local horror convention. Jimmy and Herschell started talking regularly via email and phone – trading advice and stories and the film and stage world – after that.

I first communicated with Gunnar after a friend of his pointed him towards the Chainsaw Sally website. He sent me an email saying he appreciated the site and – after I got done fainting and then dancing around the room like an idiot – I wrote him back. Both Gunnar’s and Herschell’s efforts to mention Chainsaw Sally at conventions and in interviews were an invaluable help to us. And the two men have also become dear friends to our family.?”

What plans do you have for the future?  Do you feel there is still plenty left to explore with Chainsaw Sally and do you have any other alter egos you plan to unleash?
“The Chainsaw Sally Show – a webcast sitcom – is about to air episode 1 on Tuesday Sept. 1st!! www.chainsawsallyshow.com

A movie we wrapped several months ago – The Good Sisters - starring myself and Debbie Rochon – will hit the streets as soon as distribution is settled. (this one is very different from Chainsaw Sally.  The Good Sisters is much more an excercise in paranoia. More psychological thriller.)

Forbidden Pictures has lots of projects waiting in the wings, but our next film will probably be a punk-rock girls-with-guns (and possibly fangs) flick, tentatively titled, Bad Kitty. Think… Foxy Brown meets Innocent Blood… or something like that. Should be a hoot!”

Find out more about April Monique Burril:
Official Site
MySpace
Facebook
Twitter
IMDb

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