My Vagina Isn't My Resume - The Women of American Mary

"As I'm greeted raucously by the Soskas and Tristan Risk, I notice a willowy blonde sitting in the corner observing us. "Dammit," I think, "that's Katharine Isabelle. I didn't know she was going to be here." Sensing my surprise, Jen laughs and says, "This is Katie. She flew in last night." 

Katharine stands and we shake hands. "Sorry," I say shyly, "but I didn't prepare for you." She smiles, then drops her head and makes an exaggerated sad face. Jen says, "It's okay. No one's

 prepared for Katie."

The Soskas are road warriors, relentlessly grinding it out on the film fest circuit the world over. I'm extremely curious about how they manage such an arduous schedule. I mention that I'm still recovering from the boozy karaoke party a few nights earlier, during which the Soskas commandeered the stage to the delight of the crowd and performed a passionate version of Aerosmith's "Dream On." If this is typical festival life, how do they manage it on a nonstop basis?

Sylvia Soska smiles, saying, "If we had the choice, we wouldn't do anything but this. It's kinda what we live for." 

READ THE WHOLE VERY HONEST & EXPLICIT PIECE WITH THERON NEEL HERE!!

-Sylv 

 

Kool-Aid Man Style 'Oh Yeah' for American Mary

 "A few years back twin terrors Jen and Sylvia Soska announced their arrival to the filmmaking world with their action packed, gore streaked exploitation flick Dead Hooker In A Trunk. Their debut developed a following in the underground due to the twins ability to craft funny engaging characters and take-no-prisoners attitude towards violence and mayhem. Their follow up American Mary doesn't walk through the door their debut opened-it bursts through the wall Kool-Aid Man style shouting 'Oh Yeah!' at top of its lungs in order to let the horror community know that there's a new pair of voices in town that are going to be reckoned with for years to come."

 - Mike Snoonian, All Things Horror (full article)

-Sylv

If You Are Undecided On American Mary, Read This

"This is true art, rarely seen in cinema today. It's a slightly more civilized, 21st century take on torture porn with high production values and a killer narrative but there's much more here than meets the eye. Yes, it's hard to watch at times, but those who appreciate movies the way they used to be made won't want to turn away. In American Mary we gorily discover that hell hath no fury like a female surgeon scorned." - Larry Richman, PROnetworks (full article)

-Sylv

Katharine Isabelle Wins Beer to Chug at Fantastic Fest

                      

When you win at Fantastic Fest, not only do you win a fucking wicked awesome mug, but that mug comes with frosty amazing beer to chug. It was a thrill to have the sensational Barbara Crampton award our Katharine Isabelle a special Jury Award for her stunning performance as Mary Mason in AMERICAN MARY.

And she drinks like a champ. Because Katie doesn't half ass anything.

-Sylv

The Austin Chronicle Chronicles the Twisted Tirade at Fantastic Fest

Do you want to know what it's like when you get Jen, me, Katharine Isabelle, and Tristan Risk alone in a room together while we're promoting AMERICAN MARY? Complete, unabashed insanity.

I love this article so wholly because it's exactly what happens with Daken-amour, shit tons of good ole fashion cussin', and body modification film-making antics. The intro --

"There's a trick to telling Jen and Sylvia Soska apart. One has fangs, and the other doesn't. Even though the latest film from the Canadian film making duo, American Mary, deals with body modification, their dentine difference is all natural.  

Let's cut to the chase: There may have been bigger names at Fantastic Fest, but the interview everyone ended up wanting was the Twisted Twins, the endlessly cheerful, endlessly nerdy joint force of nature. No other film maker would have booked a third day of interviews, not would many have had to.

Heading up to the Rapper's Delight karaoke room for the interview, I got my first real taste of the Soska experience. Jen sprinting down the corridor, handling the arrangements for the day herself, grinning broadly: Sylvia inside, prepping the room, while their actors, Ginger Snaps star Katherine Isabelle and Vancouver-based burlesque performer Tristan Risk are AWOL somewhere. When they finally arrive, Jen calls down the hall. "Is that the movie star?"  

"Nah," yells Risk. "It's just the stripper."  

"Well, look what the werewolf dragged in," laughed Jen. It took about 15 seconds for me to get enveloped by the madness.  

Dragging up one of her straight-to-SyFy low budget performances, with a straight face Sylvia turned to Isabelle and said, "Richard's a big fan of Ogre. Nah, he's a fan of Ginger Snaps. Nobody's seen fucking Ogre." 

Isabelle sighed. "Well, he's going to go see it now." 

Too late. Already seen it. Cue whoops and hollers from the American Mary ensemble." 

 Read the whole awesome Austin Chronicle piece here! A huge thank you to Richard Whittaker for one of the most fun interviews we've had and for putting all that insanity so eloquently together in the piece.

-Sylv

American Mary Invade's Austin's KLBJ

 Jen and Sylvia Soska came by the studio today for little two-on-one time with CJ. The Soska twins, a.k.a. the Twisted Twins, are a package deal: together they can write, produce, stunt and star in their own horror movies. Ever sinceDead Hooker in a Trunk, their accurately named debut film, they've been churning out more blood and gore than a Tarantino film and more addiction than your favorite cult film. 

The twins are in town for Fantastic Fest, Austin's freaky film festival. Their newest movie, American Mary, is about a disenchanted med school student who gets involved in a shady underground surgery business. We're wondering if we can hire Mary to give CJ some breast implants.

What happens when you get the Twisted Twins, Katharine Isabelle, and Little Miss Risk all to your lonesome for a radio interview while they are in town for the American Premiere of AMERICAN MARY at Fantastic Fest? Fucking awesome things.

Click here to hear it all. Treat those lovely fucking ears!

-Sylv

The Fantastic Centipede

^^^ Our Fantastic Centipede. Tweeted immediately to the person who would dig it the most.

^^^ Tom's response.

EPIC WIN. For centipedes and red carpets everywhere.

-Sylv

FIGHT! Fantastic Debates - Twin vs Twin

At this year's Fantastic Fest, we got the opportunity of a lifetime. Jen and I were invited by Chivonn Anderson and Carrie Matherly to be the first females to fight one another in the Fantastic Debates. Chivonn was the first, followed by Michelle Rodriguez and both ladies fought men. Bad. Ass.

We agreed wholeheartedly. They asked us what we would like to wear if we could pick anything. We asked for the Outworld princess and her evil twin's attire - Kitanan and Mileena. It was a goal not to have a 'girl fight'. Form took place of a street fight in the ring. Please enjoy!

    

Fantastic Debates. ^^ Fantastic Fight Footage from FearNET!!



Fantastic Debates. ^^ Fantastic Fight Footage from Fantastic Fest!!

Armed with our very own Little Miss Risk to ring girl the event and our fists, Mortal Kombat did ensue. And I can totally relate to FIGHT CLUB now. There is very little as exhilarating as punching someone in the face and then being punched in the face.

-Sylv

Fantastic Fest Was Fucking Fantastic!

For years, Jen and I dreamed of the opportunity to go to Fantastic Fest. Being the overly ambitious women that we are - we wanted to make a film that would play there. This year - thanks to Tim &  Karrie League and Todd Brown - that dream became a reality. AMERICAN MARY had her US Premiere at Fantastic Fest and Jen, myself, my awesome mom, Katie, and Tristan were all in attendance for the awesome.

Now, allow me to preface - Fantastic Fest is unlike any festival you will ever go to. The feeling of acceptance and commodity comes the moment you get off the plane. The Fantastic Fest volunteers are there at the airport to get you in a shuttle to your hotel and then they pretty much adopt you, you become family, and you have the best time of your life.

Example, we had our American Premiere of the film, had lunch at the League's home where Jen sabered a bottle like a ninja while Tim held the bottle (ensuring career success - thank God, she got the cork off), then Carrie introduced us to their adorable twin daughters (who with a family as cool as they have are bound for world domination), then we got to go to the range and fire shotguns, have a karaoke sing off which ended in beer guzzling post singing, then got to participate in the Fantastic Debates in Kitana and Mileena costumes (thank you Chivonn Anderson and Carrie Matherly) where we were the first girl on girl fighters, followed by two more screenings, I learned how to swim (thank you, Ti), Katie won a special jury award for her performance in the film which was awarded in a mug filled with beer to chug, we got to go on a tour to Troublemaker Studios where I pretty much died of fangirl, we met Elizabeth Avellan, we made a fantastic-pede on the red carpet, and it was pretty much the most amazing time of time of our lives.

Many people warn you about Fantastic Fest. That once you come, you come every following year. It's like summer camp for genre lovers - and it's true. We are hopeless hooked and utterly in love with the festival. Thank you to everyone who came out and checked out AMERICAN MARY, to everyone who hung out with us to make a wonderful experience for us, and the team of Fantastic Fest that created this festival that is truly remarkable and unlike anything else.

I will be back. Fuck, maybe we'll try to get a movie out every year just so we have an excuse for coming back every year!

-Sylv

Mary American Fucking Mental with a Side of Rabies

Hi Ladies and Gentlemen! Tomorrow, Jen, me, and Tristan Risk (Katie flies in after us) fly to Austin for American Mary's American Premiere at Fantastic Fest. 

May I ask you a favour? Would you go absolutely fucking mental posting, reposting, and talking about the film? Like, people remove you from being a friend because you've caught viral American Mary rabies?

I don't know if I'll have much access to the internet, but I want to scream this screening from the top of the mountains and I need your lungs.

Going to fucking KILL IT tomorrow. I don't know how I'll sleep because I am so excited to see you all and watch MARY in that beautiful Austin Theatre with you all.

-Sylv

Proud Mary Keeps on Rolling to the Festivals

AMERICAN MARY has screened at Film4 FrightFest, Motel X, is coming to Fantastic Fest this week, then opens Grimm Up North, then closes Monsterfest, and announced today - we will be in the Sitges Film Festival.

Proud Mary keeps on rolling - hope to see you at the screenings in your surgical best.

-Sylv

Fantastic Fest Schedule Now Live with Two Chances to Check Out American Mary

Fantastic Fest schedule is LIVE!!! Lots of rad flicks and events, American Mary plays on the 20th and the 24th - and I have a beef with Jen, might have to see her in the ring on the 22nd for the Fantastic Debates.

Get all your info here.

-Sylv

American Mary to Have Her American Premiere at Fantastic Fest 2012

"Fantastic Fest is the largest genre film festival in the U.S., specializing in horror, fantasy, sci-fi, action and just plain fantastic movies from all around the world."

I fucking love Fantastic Fest. I love the films they show, I love the experience they create with their festival, I have wanted one day to have a film that would be selected to screen at this festival and today that ambition has become a reality. AMERICAN MARY will be having her US premiere at Fantastic Fest 2012.

Thrilled to have this amazing opportunity, Jen, myself, Katharine Isabelle (Mary Mason), and Tristan Risk (Beatress Johnson) will be making our way down to the festival to watch the film with the fine folks of Fantastic Fest.

If you can make it out, please come and check out the film, meet the cast and directors, and have a bloody wicked time for our AMERICAN MARY American Premiere.

A huge thanks to the team at Fantastic Fest for making a pair of identical fangirls' dream come true with this acceptance!

-Sylv