By: Valerie Milano
Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 6/22/2023 – When one thinks of horror in film, images of gore and blood and death are immediately called to mind. The long tradition of Hollywood and horror has delivered some classics … and some stinkers. And even a few laughs.
(She/Her)
Award-Winning Screenwriter | Actor | Producer
On Saturday, June 28th, at the Dances with Films, held at the iconic TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood, audiences will be treated to a little bit of both as writer/director Katie North (“Nightfish”) presents her latest effort, “Events at Hemlock Manor.”
Starring North as Kat, the erstwhile leader of the cast, Daniel Yaiullo (“Nightfish”) as Oliver, the beleaguered manager of Hemlock Manor, and acclaimed New York stage actor Michael Gardiner (“Fragments with F. Murray Abraham”) as Richard, a long-suffering cast member who seems to get choice roles like playing a dead body. This film promises a mix of laughs, chills, and unforgettable characters.
Written and directed by North, who is assisted by Co-Producer JT Tsou, “Events at Hemlock Manor” chronicles the misadventures of the quirky cast of employees at a haunted house for hire, a kind of Halloween All Year place that is struggling to stay afloat amid an uncertain economy and business plan that is, well, hauntingly bad.
The band of quirky misfits navigate through bizarre events like hosting ill-fated baby showers and managing mishaps with demon babies, all while striving to keep their unconventional business – and their jobs – alive.
North sat down with The Hollywood Times recently to talk about her film, her inspiration for this story, and her brilliant team of actors and behind-the-scenes staff. North, who studied acting at Yale’s Summer Conservatory, screenwriting at NYU’s certificate program, and graduated cum laude in neuroscience from Princeton, said the inspiration for this film was something she grew up with – a mother who adored Halloween.
Click below to see our exclusive interview:
Each Halloween, North’s mother transformed their home into an immersive haunted house, featuring holograms, fog machines, life-sized monsters—elements that vividly shaped Katie’s imagination. This was her inspiration for creating this film, drawing from her unique childhood experiences to tell this story, she said.
“I think there was some serendipity involved with the fact that the people I chose to tell it with were also crazy about Halloween, so we had that connection there,” North said. “Growing up, I didn’t realize it wasn’t normal for your mom to be that “into” Halloween. Most people decorate their houses. She just went really, really hard on this one holiday.”
Along with North, Yaiullo and Gardiner, the cast includes Lee Arden, AliRose Harton, Florian Wahl, Logan Shallow, Kathy Smith, Roxane Durand, Jeanne Vigouroux. North had nothing but praise for this ensemble, most of whom she said she had worked with in New York, having experienced their professionalism. “I have been so lucky to have found so many amazing team members as I go.”
She pointed to her collaboration with Tsou, a writer and producer with whom she was good friends and brought on-board the project after she had decided to shoot it.
“I sent her the draft, thinking maybe she’d pitch me a joke or something,” North said. “And instead, she wrote me back and offered to produce it, which was such a ridiculous dream come true. Not even what I was imagining.”
As a result, Tsou, as executive producer, brought in a team of artists, freeing up North to function at a higher, more efficient level in the roles she kept for herself.
“If I didn’t have all these awesome humans I have, I would have worn even more hats, but I am really lucky that I didn’t,” she said.
“Events at Hemlock Manor” is screening on Saturday, June 29th at 1:15 p.m. at the TCL Chinese Theatre at 6925 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles. Tickets for the world premiere of “Events at Hemlock Manor” can be purchased on the film’s page on the Dances With Films website.
