Women In Horror Month 2016

We’re asking our favorite Horror Icons three specific questions:

Why Film? What’s been their favorite project to-date? And what we’ll be looking forward to next…

Actress Joanne Mitchell.

Joanne has been a star of UK television and film for many years - from hugely popular soaps to British features, there isn’t a genre she doesn’t seem at home in. But it’s the MACABRE we’re interested in here at The Bird and, thankfully, it’s the MACABRE in which Jo is excelling lately!

In the last few years, Indie Brit flicks such as Before Dawn, White Settlers and Bait have really piqued the interest of the horror hordes, and rightly so. Thankfully, we managed to grab a few moments with Jo for our Women In Horror Month feature…

SB: Why film?

Jo: Good question. Not sure really, never asked myself that question! I’ve always loved film and the movies from a young age, like most I guess. But the medium itself to work in is just so exciting. There are no rules. Each story is different and even if it’s the same you can tell it a multitude of ways in film. With shots, focus, detail, simplicity, effects, colour…there is no end of ideas when you have a camera and a good story. There are so many different avenues to take. The camera can catch the minutest reaction or flicker without words as well as lapping up the action, gore and excitement..I find that fascinating. There’s just no limit to expression in film..and a lot of fun to be had! Not forgetting hard work of course!

“There are no rules.“

SB: Your favorite project to-date?

Jo: Argh! That’s like asking which twin you’d want murdered! But seriously, each project I’ve worked on has had its own life, its own world of incredible ups and immense downs. It’s almost impossible to say. Before Dawn was our first feature and it was a story that came about organically and almost by fluke..a friendly row! I loved working on that because it just felt so exciting and we had no illusion of any grandeur at all. All we wanted to do was make a movie that we had written, film it with a bunch of talented mates and have a laugh at the same time. Such a bonus it was well received and got distribution.

Then Bait (aka The Taking) was incredible too but there was a lot more at stake. However, I got to shoot it with my best mate (Victoria Smurfit) and we had a blast. Hmm, not answered that question have I? Probably will have to say Bait as it’s the most recent! Does that mean that I’ve murdered a twin???

Jo (right) with her best mate and co-lead, Victoria Smurfit, in Bait.

SB: What’s next on the horizon?

Jo: I am filming a TV drama at the moment which isn’t horror. But I am going to direct my first short film in the summer, a sort of ‘kitsch horror’ I guess, which I am really excited about. There are other projects in the pipeline too, but nothing definite as of yet, so watch this space!

Official website: mitchell-bruntfilms.com

Twitter: @joannemitchellb

Watch Jo in action in the trailer for BAIT: