In my continued quest to support the film To Avenge, written and directed by the extraordinary Nick Belial, I am pleased to share my recent chat with horror film legend, Brooke Lewis, who will be playing Jenny Price in this upcoming film.  When it comes to incredible talent and amazing perspective, not to mention limitless support, you cannot get any better than this dynamic woman who brings such expertise and wisdom to the project! It is my honor to highlight her today in this post!

RH: Brooke, thank you so much for making the time to speak with me today.

BL: Ruth, it is my pleasure. I’m so excited to talk about my upcoming role in To Avenge, and I thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me today.

I was doing a bit of research on you before we spoke, and if I understand it correctly, you actually began your professional career in an off-Broadway production.

Yes, that is correct. While I don’t consider that production my introduction to professional theater since I had been doing some equity theater in college and summers in Philadelphia, but I call it my first little break. I was a part of the off-Broadway production of Tony ‘n Tina’s Wedding. It’s kind of a mobster comedy wedding. I was so blessed in that as soon as I got to New York after college, I auditioned. And six auditions later…I know people often think everything is so easy in the industry, but this did require six auditions/callbacks before I ultimately booked the role. I got an equity union contract–three years, seven shows a week. So it was tough, but it was such a gift. There I was twenty-two years old, and I was a working actress in New York. It was one of the greatest experiences of my life and career.

Had you always been interested in acting?

Yes, I was a very emotional young child, and I was obsessed with television. I had a vivid imagination, and when I would watch TV, I loved to sit on the floor and talk to the characters in the TV and pretend I was in there with them. I think I always knew that I was unique, and I still am hypersensitive and emotional, which can sometimes make you a good actor if you have the right material, the right direction, and the right people to pull it out of you. I don’t think there was a time when I believed I would ever be a traditional woman. {laughs}

Following your time in this production, what was the next step in your career?

I had made a living for four years in New York as an actress, which was extraordinary at such a young age too. I was so blessed to have that opportunity and to work with some raw New York actors and filmmakers. I was getting callbacks for some Broadway shows like Rent and others, but I knew that singing and dancing in those kinds of shows wasn’t really my lot. I wasn’t quite good enough as a singer/dancer. I had found a huge agency in New York, and I had been up for a bunch of sitcoms, which meant I was flying out to screen test for stuff in LA. So it was a natural progression to make the move to California. At that time, artists were much more pigeon-holed concerning what they do, but now everyone is a multiple hyphenate, which I think is both good and bad. Since I started coming out to LA because I was up for a lot of TV roles–TV is where my heart is and what I really wanted to do in life anyway–I ended up coming out here. Most of my friends from acting class in New York had moved out here, and it was very comfortable for me when I landed in Hollywood. However, before making that move, I had done some good, raw indie films in New York to kind of get my feet wet, and I had even been to Sundance a few times.

What film or show do you see as your first big break?

This is the perfect story to illustrate a misconception many have in the film industry. So many think everything is easy and wonderful all the time. My first really big break was…I was cast in the movie 54. It was a Miramax movie; I was very young, right out of college. I was cast as Mark Ruffalo’s girlfriend, Ricko’s girl. Of course, Mark Ruffalo is now an Oscar-nominated actor who is a big star. But in this film, I was in two scenes with him. I literally had my agent and everyone sitting me down in New York and saying that I was projected to be the next Marisa Tomei in My Cousin Vinny. I had also been up for a big sitcom with lots of money on the table. Well, after being on set for an entire week on 54 and having my own trailer and everything being spectacular and hanging out with now what are A-list stars, Miramax went over budget. They cut the last five scenes of the film, two of which were mine. To this day, it is still painful to me as an actress because you always wonder, “what if?”

Now, some might wonder why I share a story like this, but everything I share is from a life coach viewpoint. I believe that when something like that happens, you choose how you’re going to move into the future. Are you going to let it break you? Or are you going to keep fighting, keep living your dream, and keep knowing that no matter how long it takes, you’re gonna do what you love and make a commitment to keep going? Thankfully, I chose the second option. But I will say that 54 was the first big thing. I also missed out on that big sitcom for which I was being considered. It was down to three of us, and I didn’t get it. And this is the point when I decided to make the shift to LA.

10/17/2009 – Brooke Lewis – Spike TV’s “Scream 2009” – Arrivals – Greek Theater – Los Angeles, CA. USA – Photo Credit: Albert L. Ortega / PR Photos – Contact 

When I made the move to LA, I had already done some day player stuff on One Life To Live and some other stuff in New York. What I never expected was what I became known for. My break here in LA was becoming a well-known horror actress and scream queen. Now, I’m sure there are little girls who wake up one day and decide that their dream is to be a famous scream queen, but most of us do not. I do have my favorites like Jamie Lee Curtis and Adrienne Barbeau, and I would love to emulate that kind of career.

When I moved to LA, I started a company called Philly Chick Pictures–I am originally from Philly. My company partnered with another company I had worked with many times before as an actress in New York, and in 2004, I went to Sundance. This was the year when the first Saw film of that franchise came out.  After Sundance, they wanted me to partner with them and be their LA liaison. I agreed, but I had some stipulations. I agreed to help raise the financing and package the film with some indie film names, but I insisted on being one of the two leads. There was a blonde and a brunette role, and I said that I would be surrounded with indie film actors and veteran actors, and my hope was that would help to bring my name to the surface. And they agreed to everything.

Polycarp
Photo by Sean Ranieri

We did a film that was originally entitled Polycarp. This was a serial killer/crime drama/murder mystery that referenced the book of Revelation in the Bible. With each murder, a body part was dismembered. I was cast along with Charles Durning from Dog Day Afternoon and Michael Paré from Eddie and the Cruisers and Streets of Fire. Also, Eric Etebari from Witchblade and more. Needless to say, we had a great cast, and we did the film, and it had success. You never know with an indie film what direction it’s gonna go.

However, I didn’t necessarily agree with the male producing partners back in New York. I was one of the executive producers on the film, but in the end, when I wanted to continue casting here in LA–I knew a lot of great blonde horror actresses and indie film actresses–they decided to go a different way and cast some erotica film stars. {laughs} I say this because lessons were learned with no disrespect to them. At that point, I didn’t know if this film would ever see the light of day. But we went to the film market that year, and everyone was interested in this piece. Universal Vivendi, which is a subsidiary of Universal for distribution, picked it up. Showtime picked it up, and Showtime aired this film two or three times a week for two years straight.

Quintuplets

Let me interrupt this story for a moment because, in the midst of all this, I did have a recurring role on a Fox sitcom called Quintuplets. Now, while I don’t consider this show my big break, it was a sitcom with Jake McDorman, Andy Richter, Ryan Pinkston, and all these incredible actors. I booked it. I played Gina Grizano, a senior in high school from Staten Island. This was in 2004, and I did two episodes, then the show got canceled.

2004 was also the year that the Polycarp film started to go into pre-production. We filmed it in 2006-2007. In 2008, it got released. And this is what has created probably my biggest notoriety in the industry. My manager called and asked me to come to the office. They changed the title, and this is what people have to understand in film. In indie film, the distributors usually have the power because they’re the ones who are distributing it and they have the money. The title of the film is now Kinky Killers. Never did I imagine that would happen! But here’s the positive, and Ruth, I will always end on a positive. I go to the office and think I’m getting dropped from my manager. But no! There’s a stack of fan mail, and I hadn’t had fan mail since Tony ‘n Tina’s Wedding several years prior! There’s a stack of fan mail to the sky on the desk. There are sticky notes all over with phone calls to return from conventions that want to have me as a celebrity guest as the new scream queen. And they would pay me a couple thousand dollars to come to do an appearance. And I was like, “Wow!’  So there’s the punchline to a very challenging situation, especially in the indie film industry. While I lost creative control because I didn’t own the project or product, I choose to look at the positive. That’s what put me on the map as an indie film horror celebrity.

iMurders with Gabrielle Anwar

From there, my partner and I stepped into doing the project iMurders. That was my next big little break. Robbie Bryan, a wonderful dear friend of mine, he wrote and directed. I like to be more hands-on, and this was a way for me as a woman to create opportunities to play lead roles in films that I wouldn’t normally get to do.

iMurders
with Tony Todd
Photo by Keith Krebs

I got cast opposite the incredible  Tony Todd (Candyman). I got to work with Gabrielle Anwar from Scent of a Woman and Burn Notice. Also Frank Grillo, whose career has just exploded and he’s done everything under the sun–he played my big brother. William Forsythe from Once Upon A Time In America and Billy Dee Williams. The incredible cast goes on and on! So really, I was just starting to get my name out there.

Sinatra Club

There’s one more I’m also very proud of. Sinatra Club. I found the script for the film around 2004. I helped raise some money for that. It shot in 2009 and got released in 2011. It was incredible. A couple million dollar mobster drama based on the true story the night John Gotti became John Gotti. It stars the brilliantly talented Danny Nucci, Jason Gedrick, Ellen Holman, who’s now on Spartacus, Michael Nouri from Flashdance. And things just exploded for me in the indie world. I am incredibly grateful.

Indie film is something I have truly grown to love and support in the past few years. I know many viewers watch indie films with the mindset that they will be just like the traditional movies you see in the theater with all the bells and whistles. But with indie film, it’s usually all about the story more than it is about the special effects and stars. And I really appreciate that with indie film, the story usually takes precedence over anything else. 

I think the misconception in this day and age with everything being oversaturated is that people think you no longer can make a quality, low-budget film. It’s a choice. I understand financially that it’s a challenge, but I wish more young filmmakers out there would up the ante and realize that it’s still very possible to make quality, independent films on a low budget. It starts out with a story, and as an actress, that’s the first declaration I will always make. It starts out with a script.

I agree with you completely. Even those big blockbuster films out there sometimes have horrible scripts! I don’t care how much money they make or what people say. If the script is terrible, I have no desire to support it. Whereas with a film that doesn’t have the biggest stars or killer special effects, if the story actually means something, I would much prefer investing my time in watching that kind of indie film rather than the big blockbuster. 

Photo by Images By Marilyn

I agree. Even some of the low-budget sci-fi films I’ve acted in, I have been amazed with some of the creative CGI effects I’ve seen. These indie filmmakers are incredible at being able to make it look like you’re on a real spaceship or in space. And I think it is a testament to these filmmakers.

As a woman in the industry, what is your viewpoint on female empowerment?

I am very passionate about women empowerment. You will hear me say it time and again. I am all about empowering myself as a woman and empowering other women as well. Ageism is another issue I feel very strongly about. We all make choices, and I think about that as a life coach, there’s always power in our choices, and when we get to a certain age, I don’t believe it has to end. I’m planning to keep working just like Betty White. When I’m ninety-something, I hope I am blessed to still be working in this industry. If I can even a semblance of her career, I’ll be happy. I could have made the decision to keep on fighting and struggling when faced with obstacles along the way, or I could have just given up and gone with the flow. I am thankful that I embraced everything and never lost sight of my vision and goals.

Now, while I did these larger-budget horror films are amazing, what really put me on the map was this super-low-budget indie film I did. I ended up doing a cult classic in 2009. It was a hit cult classic back in 1988, called Slime City. My wonderful director, Greg Lamberson, reached out to me because I had blown up in horror. He told me he wanted me to be a part of the sequel some twenty years later. I thought, “What a horrible title! What am I getting myself into?”

Slime City Massacre
Photo by Michael O’Hear

I read the script, and speaking of starting with the script, that is the smartest idea. It’s not what you think when you hear the title. The writer is an award-winning novelist and writer. I discovered the story was all about issues from gentrification to Canada versus the U.S. government to drug addiction. As I was reading, I couldn’t believe how smart and descriptive the script was. I knew I wanted to do it. I ended up choosing the role of Nicole, and she was in all the flashbacks. She was like the third female lead. Now, people made fun of me for choosing to be a part of a film with that title. I did it, and it won me in 2010 the B Movie Award for Scream Queen of the year. It got me a lot of attention in the B-type horror genre. So I’m grateful and blessed to this day, and I have no regrets in taking this film. It really blew me up in the genres, and so I embrace it.

I want to also say that horror fans are the greatest fans ever! I was a horror fan when I was growing up, and so maybe this wasn’t the ideal path I laid out for myself when I was training to be an actress, but I honestly feel so blessed to be where I am. For me, I am not into the schlocky horror films; I need a good story in a horror film to capture my interest. I’m more into the thriller and Hitchcock film style. Hitchcock is my jam! Those are the types of thriller/horror films that I aspire to do.

I’m a Hitchcock film fan too!

With Tippi Hedren

In fact, I was so blessed in 2010, I got to do a weekend horror convention as a celebrity guest, and I got to speak on a panel with Tippi Hedren from The Birds. That was unbelievable! To stand next to Tippi Hedren whom I watched when I rented The Birds over and over again. Standing with her, speaking with her to a public audience–that’s crazy!

How did you get involved with the film To Avenge?

First of all, Nick, the writer and director of To Avenge, is a huge, old-school thriller/horror fan. He was so well-versed on my career and a lot of my dear friends’ careers, like Kelli Maroney, who we’re fortunate to have in this amazing film. She’s been a dear friend of mine for years and years. He first reached out to me over a year ago and pitched me the script and story. But at that point, the script wasn’t being released. I told him to let me know when he was closer to production.

So as the year went by, we kept in touch. He sent me the website once it was up. He was very fantastic and super diligent about providing me with information. I think it’s very important for the actors to pay attention to all that information that is sent their way. He really created something that looks quite professional. I began to see the cast come together with so many that I know, admire, and work with. There’s Kelli, of course. And Zach Galligan from Gremlins. So many people I have done conventions with and made appearances with. Lauren Francesca, who is such an up-and-comer; she’s just blowing up right now in Hollywood. I knew there was something great going on with this film, and I waited patiently for Nick to release the script so I could read it. Yet another great lesson about patience.

Another connection I want to be sure to shout out is that originally I’m a Philly/Jersey girl. I grew up on the Jersey Shore and often visited family and friends down in Ocean City, Maryland. Nick and I also had a lot of connections in common with the Philadelphia Film Office; they are always amazing at keeping up with what is going on in the Tri-State area. So Nick and I were professionally and creatively connected in many ways.

When he did release the script, he reached out and told me that my current role was not the first role he had considered me for. But now that he knew me and knew that I was such a stand for women empowerment and the fact that I’m also a board-certified life coach…the irony of how things come full circle coupled with patience. One thing I have learned as I have gotten older is to be a little bit more patient and to just trust. You don’t want to get into that desperation factor, and that is something I used to do. But I now commit very deeply to not being desperate. I trust that what’s meant to be mine is going to be mine. So he offered me the role of Jenny Price, who happens to be the rape survivors advocate, and it really spoke to me. And the story…again, I think it’s great that we can combine this horror/thriller stuff with a drama that touches on a subject matter that is so relevant in today’s society. The subject of sexual assault…what could be more relevant? The timing is so right for this topic. And playing Jenny Price…Nick said it was so me, and I agree that it really is. So if I can use my personal and life inspiration and have the art imitate that, that’s awesome.

I am impressed with everyone connected with this film with whom I’ve had the opportunity to connect. The cast members are just so lovely. And Nick is just amazing! I have worked with many independent filmmakers, and I haven’t seen anyone of them be as professional and supportive as Nick.

I totally agree. From my experience with him, I can tell that he is incredibly passionate about his project, and rightly so. This is his “baby,” and I get that a hundred percent. And he is also so gracious. I will say this in all authenticity. I work regularly with film directors all the time, and I don’t think I’ve spoken to a director in a long time who has been so gracious with his actors. He cares about our needs. I mean, even my reps are impressed with him and his courtesy and generosity. He is willing to go out of his way to accommodate our needs, and that’s kind of rare in Hollywood today.

So in addition to To Avenge, are there other projects coming up that you can mention?

1/2 New Year

One that I would like to mention that is a very special project to me is a dramedy entitled 1/2 New Year. This is a piece that Drew McAnany, who is my real life little brother also from Philly. He also moved out here, and he’s an actor and a writer struggling for his break. So he decided to write a piece for him to star in, and it’s a twenty-thirty-something, coming-of-age struggle in Hollywood. It’s about a group of friends from LA who struggle with their career and struggle with love and who have their issues; it covers almost everything. He plays the lead, Reed DeLuca. Six years ago, he wrote me this big sister role, Pam DeLuca, the kind of role that I cherish. She’s one of the ensemble leads, and we play brother and sister from South Philly. Pam is crazy and amazing.

With Drew 1/2 New Year

For five years, we went through various directors, and I began to doubt that this film would ever get made. And I was very sad because I love the role of Pam. It’s like Pretty Woman. And also a little bit Marisa from My Cousin Vinny, which is my dream. So finally Drew called me last year out of nowhere and asked me to come and shoot 1/2 New Year. After five years! Finally, this amazing writer/producer Georgia Menides came into the picture. She had met Drew at a film festival. She loved his script, and after a rewrite, she brought in Tom Morash, an incredible indie film director, and the rest is history. We spent all of November last year up until Thanksgiving shooting 1/2 New Year. It’s now in post-production, and the cast is incredible. Like Rome Flynn, who does all the Tyler Perry movies and just got a lead on the show How To Get Away With Murder. Shanley Caswell, who is one of the stars of NCIS New Orleans. Jeff Dye, who is one of the stars of Better Late Than Never with William Shatner and Henry Winkler. Bo Youngblood, who’s also just amazing! It was an incredible experience across the board, and the cast and crew worked so hard to bring this to fruition. It should be heading to the film festival circuit by early next year. I am hopeful that this film is going to bring everyone some wonderful indie film attention.

Psycho Therapy
Photo by Aaron Kai © Philly Chick Pictures

Also, we’re still doing the film festival circuit rounds, which we’ve been doing the last three years. So I am traveling like a maniac right now and promoting three films. One of them is Psycho Therapy–Staci Layne Wilson, who is one of my best friends and is a writer turned director, wrote and directed this film, and I am blessed to say this film has won me so many best actress awards. That one also stars Ricky Dean Logan, from Nightmare On Elm Street franchise and Back To the Future II & III.

With Courtney Gains

Another is Allen + Millie: A Short Romance–Markus Redmond, one of the stars of Doogie Howser back in the day, wrote this one. He’s a great writer turned director. Another brilliant actor and friend of mine, Courtney Gains, starred in this with me. He’s from Sweet Home Alabama, Children of the Corn, the original Can’t Buy Me Love. And I was one of the executive producers and producers on all of these. And this one won me like seven best actress awards, and it just came out.

On a side note, when I get to choose–and I don’t always get to choose when I’m an actress for hire–but when I get to choose, I’m just so fortunate to get to choose who I work with. I get so excited. When I get to work opposite amazing actors, it only elevates me as an actor. And that’s what people need to understand too. It’s not about ego. If I get to work with an extraordinary actor, it makes me look better. I also always look at short films like feature films because if you’re going to put all the time, blood, sweat, tears and energy into something, I think my commitment should be to always be professional.

I notice you also are involved in a lot of charity projects.

Breaking the Chains Foundation

Thank you for bringing that up. That is something I am incredibly passionate about. For me, whatever notoriety I have, I feel like I have a commitment to give back. For better or for worse, I’m a natural-born helper and empathist at heart. I try to live in gratitude. I know that no matter how down I get about life, there is somebody always in a worse more challenging situation than you. So I think it’s important to do philanthropy and be an activist on subjects that you’re passionate about. I am a celebrity ambassador for Breaking the Chains Foundation. It is an incredible organization that works with people who deal with body image issues and disorders. I’m super passionate about that. I also volunteer several times a year to help feed the homeless at Skid Row. Like Skid Row Thanksgiving, Skid Row Christmas, Skid Row Easter. As much as I can, I go down and help make sure the homeless there are fed. I’m also very passionate about anti-bullying. I do a lot of work to help with this issue; I always have. Also a lot of female empowerment work. I like to fight for the underdog. I’m also really passionate about the HIV and AIDS organization. I fancy myself as a “new age” Elizabeth Taylor. {laughs}

{laughs} That works for me! I can’t thank you enough, Brooke, for taking the time to chat with me today. 

My pleasure, Ruth. I had a blast chatting with you. And I can hardly wait to get busy filming To Avenge. I know it’s going to be another amazing experience.

There is something quite exceptional about Brooke, and I was able to sense her passion and profundity of expertise from the moment she and I began chatting. She is one who chooses to see everything through a lens of light and enthusiasm, and that kind of perspective is absolutely infectious. If Brooke cannot get you excited about her films, charitable causes, and/or just life in general, I may have to question the quality of your existence in this life! If you are merely “getting by,” I would invite you to bask in the presence of this vibrantly gifted woman for just a brief time, and I tend to believe you would find yourself revived and energized. While I am not a rabid horror fan by any stretch of the imagination, I can readily connect with the message and the intensity behind everything Brooke does within the industry and her life as a whole. It is activists like her who are capable of altering society’s perception of women by empowering authentic transformation within the selfsame women who may feel as though they are impotent and unable to effect change within their circumstances. Undeniably, Brooke is a resplendent beacon to all who come in contact with her very essence and persona, and I am grateful to Nick for introducing me to this energetically stimulating human. I am certainly looking forward to the filming and eventual release of this film To Avenge, and I hope that all my readers check out each of Brooke’s links as well as the film’s links listed below as the filming date gets ever closer. There appears to be no one involved with this project who doesn’t have a genuine appetite for quality independent film, and I am honored beyond words to illuminate a woman as sagacious and zealous as Brooke!

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