- April Burril is the star of "Chainsaw Sally." Anyone looking for more info on April or her films, can visit her at her IMDB page or her myspace page.
Q: Mrs. Burril, I’ve noticed from your website and myspace pages that you’ve really built up “Chainsaw Sally” as a entity. But what did you do before you even created that role?
A: I performed with a live acting troupe – Jamo Alturnative Theatre – for a few years, which actually was what gave birth to the Chainsaw Sally character. But, primarily I’ve spent my time pursuing a career as a visual artist – painting, graphic design, etc. However, all forms of art have always played a role in my life to some degree – visual, acting, dancing, playing/singing music, etc etc.
Q: Please explain the background of “Chainsaw Sally” as a character and what got you into playing that role. Did you ever think it would become as popular as it did?
A: I never thought it would get this popular and I still continue to be happily surprised by the attention. The character began as a web hostess with the mission of bringing in more horror fans to see our live horror-comedy-musical, “Silver Scream”, performed by the Jamo troupe. It’s pretty hard to convince the average horror fan to go see a musical, so the Sally character was created to bridge the gap and reassure those with Andrew Lloyd Webber-phobias that no one would be breaking into a rendition of “Memories.”
Q: Did you always want to act and be in movies or has it sorta grown from the publicity of the character?
A: Well.... I think a part of me has always had a passion for performing, but, simply due to the environment I was raised in, for practicality’s sake, I never seriously considered it as a career. That environment was encouraging and filled with artistic appreciation, but viewed performing art as something to be a hobby, not reliable enough for a career choice.
Q: Knowing how movie reviews may skew the perception of one’s product, give us in your own words what you want people to know about “Chainsaw Sally.”
A: She’s strong and not very stable. Though she always has some kind of reason behind her killings, I think sometimes she just makes up excuses just because she’s ‘in the mood’ for a good slaying.
Her primary drive is the safety and privacy of her and her brother Ruby’s lives. That and having time to watch all the scary movies she can get her twisted little hands on.
Q: If there were one part of the film that was more difficult than you expected, what would that be? Getting a costume to work? Appearing in a certain scene? Certain lines?
A: Playing the “librarian” phase of Sally’s threefold personality. It is HARD to play normal and understated roles. Far more difficult than to play something over-the-top.
Q: Was there any one day, one moment where you just knew the film would work the way you thought it could?
A: Hm... no. I knew it was fun and I believed in our product, but I never in a million years expected the level of attention we’ve received for it thus far.
Q: Can you pass along any tidbits or a funny story from your filming experiences on the set?
A: Yes. After the scene where I dissolve the ice cream girl’s guts with sulfuric acid, our cinematographer had to leave the room for a minute because he felt sick. That’s a successful scene, right there!
Q: Are you working on a “Chainsaw Sally” sequel? When can we expect it?
A: Yes and no. We have a script and we pretty much have a cast, but are still waiting for the funding. Meanwhile, we’re working on some other, smaller projects.
Q: Tell me a little bit about your role in “A Feast of Flesh.” How did you get involved in that film?
A: My character is a part of the past, compared to the storyline of the movie. Basically, a vampire-soldier in the war between the Bathory House and the vampire hunters.
I’ve been friends with Mike Watt and Amy Lynn Best of Happy Cloud Pictures for some time, so when they asked if I wanted to come play a vampire bad-ass in their film... Of course I said yes!!
Q: What other projects have you been working on?
A: Currently, we are in the middle of shooting “The Good Sisters”, starring myself and the infamous Debbie Rochon as two sisters who are witches (not nice witches, either). The plot centers around their growing paranoia as they begin to view their neighbors – and one neighbor in particular – as a society of witch hunters that they have been fleeing for much of their lives. What’s interesting about this film is that it is not clear on whether they are right in their fear or if they are just jumping at shadows. It’s got a very “Rosemary’s Baby” feel to it and is much more serious than anything else I’ve done. I’m very eager to see the end product.
After that, we have Bad Kitty (punk rock, vampire, vengeance action), The Darlin’ Clementines (women enslaving men for breeding purposes in the wilds of Appalachia), and... whatever else writer/director Jimmyo Burril’s warped mind comes up with.
Q: What’s next for you? If you and I were to talk 1 year from today, what do you think would be on your plate at that time?
A: Probably too much. And I’ll probably be thrilled with it.
Q: Is there any movie director or producer you really want to work for one day? Someone that you look up to?
A: There are plenty of people I look up to, but I’m so content working with Forbidden Pictures, that it’s never occured to me to think of working with anyone else.
Though... thinking hard,... I guess it would be amazing to work with Joss Whedon someday. I appreciate almost to the point of worship his ability to create fascinating and believable characters.
Q: Anything you wish to add for my readers and visitors? Something special about you that they probably do not know?
A: Hm.. Can’t think of anything that I wouldn’t have to kill them for finding out... ;)
Q: Finally...this is an “Obscure Horror Movie” website. Can you name the last horror movie you watched either at the theatres or on DVD, etc? How about name a favorite horror film that you have seen that most people probably haven’t seen?
A: Teeth – on dvd, here at the house, 5 nights ago. Neat movie.
Thank you very much for doing this.
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Chainsaw Sally Review Page