Fear, Inc. – Exclusive Set Visit Report and Interviews with the Cast
Staci Layne Wilson
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After the success of the short film, we are extra excited to see the upcoming Fear, Inc., feature, which follows a company of degenerates who can be hired for a premium to bring one’s greatest fears to life. But when horror junkie Joe Foster’s customized scare seemingly begins, he and his friends must decide if this company is there to scare them or make them pawns in their own sick game.
The feature shot throughout late summer in L.A., and we were one of the lucky few sites invited to come and have a look-see. The night we were there, filming was taking place at the practically historical California Institute of Abnormalarts bar and museum of the bizarre in North Hollywood. We saw a scene being shot which takes place early on in the film, when the main leads Lucas Neff (Fox’s “Raising Hope”), Stephanie Drake (“Mad Men”), Caitlin Stasey (All Cheerleaders Must Die), and Chris Marquette (Freddy Vs. Jason) all embark on what promises to be a very scary journey.
We also spoke with director Vincent Masciale (interview coming tomorrow) and writer Luke Barnett (interview here). Photos are by Trisha Harrison and Micah Wesley.
We only saw circus type food on set (popcorn, candy), but later on when asked what one of her favorite things about shooting was, Stephanie Drake, who plays Ashleigh, said, “Mealtime on set was always my favorite. Everyone would make fun of me for being so quiet and slow while I ate. I really savor my food. But we would just laugh and laugh until we couldn’t breathe!”
When asked how each of them came on to the project, here’s what they had to say. Let’s start with Drake: “I remember leaving my meeting with Luke and Vincent, where we sat around talking about our favorite scary movies (so cliche, I know), thinking that I would be very lucky to be a part of Fear, Inc. Getting the call that I would be playing Ashleigh alongside three other fantastic actors was so exciting. This being my first feature, I couldn’t wait to jump in and get bloody.”
Lucas Neff told us: “Well, I wanted to do Fear, Inc., for a couple reasons. One: The two dudes making it, Luke and Vincent, seemed like really great guys to pal around with and make a movie (and I was right). Two: It’s a really fun script that packs a little bit of everything. Laughs, chills, and some real emotion. Not a combo you always get from a movie. It’s a script about a fun-loving guy who gets himself into a little too much fun. And, ya know, murder. Something I understand a little bit about… the fun bit. Not the murder bit. And I think it’ll be a treat for horror fans to see all the easter eggs and horror movie references, and then I think it’ll just be a treat in general for people who want to have a good time at the theater. One night I got to sit in a hot tub for hours. It was truly an exhausting experience.”
Chris Marquette added: “I was into the script first. Super smart, well thought out, hysterically funny, and gives the audience a lot of credit. Which seems rare nowadays. Scripts sometimes count on people being invested in what’s going on, without actually giving them substance to latch on to, have fun with, and enjoy. Fear, Inc., was so fun to read simply because it didn’t try hard to do that to its reader. The story arcs are complicated and mysterious, but told with really relatable and honest funny characters. The part of Ben that I played was so much fun to read that it was really easy to imagine how fun he would be to play on screen. Also, Luke and Vincent didn’t read actors. They met with them. Which I think is, sometimes, a more solid way to go when casting a project. That said a lot about their confidence in what they wanted to do with this movie. Meeting them really sold me on how much I wanted to be a part of it. And watching what they’ve collaborated on before, it was easy to see how talented they were as actors, writers, and directors. They’re both really smart, easy-going, and roaring to go to make something special. I got the feeling both Vincent and Luke could not only make Fear, Inc., a really good movie, but that they have the smarts and know-how to make ANY TYPE of movie. Not just a horror-thriller-comedy. And that kind of gut feeling is assurance that if you get lucky enough to get the job, you’ll be in good hands. You can trust yourself to do what feels good. And I got lucky enough and got to show up and do what felt good. And I’m really proud of what we shot and the way things went. I think Fear, Inc., is going to be a really cool movie to watch. I think movie fans, like myself, crave a movie like this one because this movie knows what movies you’ve seen before and incorporates that knowledge into its characters and story. Creating twists and turns that I honestly didn’t see coming when I first read it.”
Fear, Inc., should be out by next Halloween (10/2016).
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