INTERVIEW: Dean Sills

- By @TheBlueTook

Exciting things are coming for DEAN SILLS. Relatively new to the movie game, he’s somehow managed to cram a hell of a lot in already, and taking time out from his hectic schedule, I caught up with the actor, writer and producer to find out what he was currently up to…

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Welcome, Dean! How are we, mate? Tell our readers a little bit more about yourself…

Hi, thank you for having me, I am good thanks!

I am a 46 year old actor from Yorkshire, I am happily married with 2 teenage children and began acting back in 2012. Since then I have worked on over 28 projects including film, TV, music videos and theatre. I began my acting life as a supporting artist and soon moved on to bit part speaking roles and now lead roles in a number of projects. I am also a member of ‘The Yorkshire School of Acting’ where we studied the various techniques of acting that apply more directly to screen acting.

In a recent chat we had you mentioned you’ve just been working on the excellently titled CLEAVER: RISE OF THE KILLER CLOWN! Can you talk about this yet?

Yes, I can say a little about the film and my role. It’s from the studio that brought you SLASHER HOUSE, directed by the brilliant MJ Dixon and produced by the lovely Anna McCarthy. The synopsis of the film is 1990 Oklahoma: Carlton Layton arrived home to find his wife in the arms of another man, he went out to his van and donned the clown suit that he used as a children’s entertainer and proceeded to slaughter his wife and her lover. All of this was witnessed by his 5 year old and Carlton escaped into the night leaving his little girl behind.
5 Years Later: Halloween Night and Carley, a young college student, is hired to take care of a little girl as her parents head out to a Halloween party, but someone one is waiting, someone wants the girl, someone who we know as ‘The Cleaver’!

I have a small role in the film playing Sheriff Hoffman and I did the shoot in Milton Keynes. I am also one of the associate producers on the film. Working on this film gave me a real buzz because Mycho Entertainment are a real pleasure to work with. I would love to work with them again in the near future.

This isn’t your first go at horror though is it? I note you’ve already got a few zombies and sinister stuff on your CV!

I actually started my acting career thanks to the horror genre. I applied to be a zombie in an Indie horror film called THE ESCHATRILOGY: BOOK OF THE DEAD back in 2012. I spent 5 days covered in fake blood and mud in Wakefield, West Yorkshire playing a zombie and I totally got the acting bug big time. I loved working for Safehouse Pictures UK. The director Damian Morter did a fantastic job with this film and it’s now out on DVD to buy in the USA and UK. It was huge fun playing a zombie. I am not really a fan of the zombie genre like a lot of the zombie actors I worked with on THE ESCHATRILOGY, but I did enjoy playing one. We all went to zombie school, learning how to walk like zombies and spent many hours in make-up.

After this film I worked on a few more horror films including WASTELAND again playing a zombie, this time I got shot in the eye with an arrow and it was so much fun to do. The director Tom Wadlow was also great to work for but I only did one day on this film. I believe the film will be out on DVD later this year released by Acort International.

I have just played the lead role in a short horror film for Adgar Productions called THE RAILWAY CARRIAGE. The film is a university short from a great young filmmaker called Ross Adgar. Ross not only wrote one very cool screenplay but he also did a superb job directing this unique piece. I play a character called John who finds himself on board a vintage style train. John is constantly walking along the train carriage not knowing what the train has in store for him, he finds himself living a nightmare! We did the shoot over a number of days and filmed at some stunning locations including Elsecar Heritage Railway in South Yorkshire and Elston Chapel in Nottinghamshire. In the film there’s very little dialogue and it’s more about the actions telling the story. I love acting in horror films because I find them so much fun to make even when the stories are very dark. Ross also had Jack Watling, another young filmmaker working with him on THE RAILWAY CARRIAGE and it’s great to see the passion both of them have for filming.

The titles of some of the films you have worked on are epic, including BLAZE OF GORY! I’d basically jump at the chance to make them even without reading a script! Tell me you have a slightly more stringent selection process!

Thank you. I think when it comes to horror it’s more about the director without reading the script you know what they can do and how good it will be. All the horror film roles I have took I have said YES! before seeing the final script, then after reading the script I know I have made the right choice. In BLAZE OF GORY, I play a sleazy co-worker in the segment YOUNG AND NAIVE. The segment was directed by Antoni McVay and we filmed in Newcastle. BLAZE OF GORY is getting released at some point in the near future. The film is 10 twisted tales from the mind of Blaize-Alix Szanto. Any true Horror fan of blood and gore will love this film along with the talent working on it including Victoria Broom and Emily Booth.

Are you a horror nerd, like me?! If not, what’s your genre of choice?

Yes, I love horror. I got hooked on horror when I was a kid. I remember my Dad and I watching the “Horror Double Bills” that were broadcast annually on BBC2. I loved the classic horror flicks like KING KONG (1933) and THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1956). My favourite horror films are John Carpenter’s THE THING ( 1982) and THE EVIL DEAD (1981) I have enjoyed watching horror from a young age because I love the adrenaline rush of being scared plus the fact we are all afraid of the unknown to some degree or another. I love the atmosphere and suspense along with the gore and the jump-scares. As an actor it’s the perfect genre to work on.

I believe you’ve also penned a comedy short and action feature, which you also produce?

Yes. It’s called UP NORTH and we are filming this comedy short in September. It’s all about two neighbours who show us how society live up north, one family is posh and the other is common as muck. I play Michael Smith, who is common as muck. We have some great characters in this including Richard Head played by my good friend Steve Pollard, who I have worked with on a number of projects including BLAZE OF GORY and TEARS IN THE DUST. We have a great cast including Johleen Wakefield playing the posh neighbour and Carley Motley, she will be playing my screen wife, Rosie.

The action feature ON THE RUN! Is being co-written with Steve Call and it’s going to be 2017 before we get this filmed due to the fact it’s a much bigger production plus we are hoping to cast a couple of well known actors in cameo roles and shoot in the UK and France. The film will be a really cool action and drama feature, which is all about human trafficking and the Russian mafia. We are working on locations now and have already cast a few roles but not giving too much away at the moment. Producing is something I really enjoy doing but you never switch off like you do when acting. Working alongside Steve Call is a huge honour, he is not only a good friend but we have a great working relationship and make a great team. I feel working as a producer is something I will do more and more of in the future.

You’ve also written a number of articles for our good friends over at UK Horror Scene! How did you get into that?

In the past I have written for a number of magazines and newspapers including Cinema Retro and the Dearne Courier plus I also have a Diploma in Freelance Journalism, so I was looking at writing about horror especially since I found myself working on Indie horror flicks back in 2012. I just contacted Andy Deen in 2013 and began writing for UKHS. My first interview was with Nicole Cinaglia and it was kind of special since I am a fan of her work. I have now done over 70 interviews at UKHS and a number of reviews including GHOSTLINE and THE TOUR. Andy is such a great guy, he puts his heart and soul into UK Horror Scene and it’s one of the best horror websites going. A couple of other horror websites have asked me to write for them but I turned them down, I am 100% happy where I am thanks to Andy!

I’ve read a number of your articles, including your interview with Luke Goss, which I really enjoyed. Who else have you managed to grab a few minutes with? Any favourites?

Thank you, this is a huge compliment coming from you after reading some of your awesome interviews, well done! My favourites so far include getting invited to Green Screen Studios in Yorkshire to interview the director Mark Murphy on the set of his new film AWAITING along with some of the cast including Tony Curran, Diana Vickers and Rupert Hill. I also got a tour of the studios, saw Rupert Hill give a superb performance, after watching Rupert act on a couple of monitors and I even got to ask Tony Curran about THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN. It was such a surreal moment especially when Tony went into the character of Rodney Skinner from THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN. This was absolutely fantastic and very exciting to witness in person. I also enjoyed interviewing ‘Emmerdale’ star Dominic Brunt. The late, great Marilyn Burns THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE and Desmond Askew who played Big Brain in THE HILLS HAVE EYES 2006 remake are also two of my favourites!

Does being an actor help you get exclusives with the A-Listers?!!

Haha! No not really! I think my journalism work helps me get exclusives more than being an actor. I just love doing both and hope I can interview a few more A-Listers in time at UK Horror Scene.

You’ve worked on the same projects as the likes of Luke Evans (THE GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY) and Ian McKellen (MR HOLMES) – did you get to spend much time with any of them?

I got to appear on screen with Luke Evans in THE GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY when I played a Policeman. I spent the day with Luke Evans, Jack Roth and Paul Anderson so it was great watching them perform. The filming took place in Leeds and it was the first big production I got to work on. MR HOLMES was filmed last year in London and I did a number of scenes as a passer-by in the background. Sir Ian McKellan is one hell of an actor and a true gentleman. He actually came up to me and one of the women I was working with and had a quick chat with us. It was such a surreal moment. Last year I also spent the day working with Will Mellor. I had a small speaking role on the BBC1 drama series IN THE CLUB. Will was really nice and gave me some great acting tips. I also enjoyed working with the director Neasa Hardiman and would love to work with her again. It was a huge honour being a small part of a series written by the wonderful Kay Mellor. Other well known actors I have worked with include Emily Mortimer on the Sky Living Ident - Doll & Em. I played a Los Angeles Security guard.

It’s quite a long way from painting and decorating! Speaking of which, I need my hall doing – can you come around and give me a quote?

Haha! So true and no I am too busy or I would have been there giving you a quote!
My love of painting and decorating is still there but it’s nothing like the same passion I have for acting. I did two years at Barnsley College Painting and Decorating and was awarded the British Decorating Association Shield for Best Student. I then went on to achieve a Diploma in Interior Design. Over the years I have worked for a number of firms and was a regular paper hanger, hanging 9 rolls of wallpaper each day. Now I get to do other roles as an actor which are a lot more fun! Haha!

As well as CLEAVER, we’ve also got POLTERGEIST ACTIVITY and TEARS IN THE DUST coming soon, in which you nabbed a lead role – what can we expect from them and when can we see them?

POLTERGEIST ACTIVITY is going to be fantastic. I loved the script when I first read it, the film tells the story of the Prescott family. After the death of his wife, David Prescott moves to a secluded farmhouse in a Welsh village with teenage daughter Katherine. A stressful, upsetting time is soon made all the worse when they encounter unexplained occurrences and frightening visions in their new home. Desperate for answers, David turns to retired paranormal investigator Hans Voltz who must rediscover all of his skill and spiritual strength to defeat the spectral menace. I am a big fan of Andrew Jones, I really enjoy all his horror movies so it was a huge honour when Andrew cast me as Maxwell Statler, I was jumping for joy inside. It’s only a supporting role but working for Andrew was a total pleasure, his crew are all fantastic and I loved every moment. It was fantastic filming in Swansea, South Wales and acting on screen with Jared Morgan, he is such a talented actor. I also got to meet Lee Bane who plays David Prescott. Lee is a really nice guy and a great actor, one I admire so much for his huge talent as an actor. POLTERGEIST ACTIVITY is out to buy on DVD in North America and the UK this summer.

TEARS IN THE DUST is all about the horrors of homelessness and how life can quickly take an unexpected downturn especially when it comes to my character Trevor Wallis. We want to bring across on screen that homelessness can happen to anyone. It isn’t just about alcohol problems or drug addiction it can happen to us all. My character only turns to drink in the film to help him forget. He is a very successful salesman at the start of the film but soon ends up living on the streets due to other people’s actions. We shot the teaser last year and since then the support for the film has been overwhelming with a number of local newspapers and magazines doing features on the film along with a few websites. Steve Call and I even talked about the film on BBC Radio Sheffield. Trevor Wallis is a great role to play because I get to go on a real rollercoaster ride of emotions. We also have a couple of Yorkshire companies supporting us including Yorkshire Tea. The film will be out on DVD next year. Working with Steve Call is a true pleasure we make a great team and TEARS IN THE DUST is going to be the first of many films we do together as producers.

Going from smaller parts in big productions, such as MR HOLMES or 24: LIVE ANOTHER DAY, to bigger parts in smaller productions, is there a different mindset or approach you need to take?

Yes, I think when you have bigger parts in smaller productions you have to have a different mindset or approach. For TEARS IN THE DUST I had to do some research on homelessness and get my head around being in that situation. You have to focus more on your performance because the focus is more on you. On IN THE CLUB the director told me what to say and do and it was easy, you just have to be good at taking directions. I think as an actor doing smaller roles on bigger productions does help prepare you for bigger parts on smaller productions.

Speaking of 24, which has a MASSIVE following and great cast (such as Kiefer Sutherland, Benjamin Bratt, Michael Wincott, Stephen Fry), how did you go about grabbing a part in that?

It’s funny because people ask me more questions about 24 than any other project I have worked on including my lead roles. I got a small part in this fantastic TV show thanks to just applying to a London agency. I soon found myself playing a police sergeant working on the last episode of the series. I appeared on screen in the background when President Heller (William Devane) escorts Audrey’s coffin to Air Force One. Other actors in the scene included Stephen Fry as the Prime Minster. A few people did spot me in this episode and it’s amazing how many people think I actually worked on this in the USA. We did the shoot at Farnborough Airport in Hampshire. The thing that impressed me the most about this shoot was the huge production crew and the fact Air Force One was added in post using CGI. It’s amazing what they can do and it does come across very realistic on screen.

So, apart from the projects we’ve spoken about, what’ve you got planned for the near future, Dean?

At the moment TEARS IN THE DUST and the comedy short UP NORTH are keeping me busy. I am always looking for acting roles so you never know what’s around the corner. I would love to do more writing and producing, I have a great idea for a horror western that’s never been done before so if I get the budget in the future you never know. One thing I can share with you is the great news about my interviews at UK Horror Scene. My best 50 interviews will be going into a book to be published in print. I am going to start work on this once I get TEARS IN THE DUST and UP NORTH done. Andy Deen at UK Horror Scene is also going to do a page or two for me so I am very excited about this.

Where can our readers find out more about your upcoming work, and will you help spread The Slaughtered Bird word amongst your celeb chums?

Thank you, I am happy to spread The Slaughtered Bird especially since you are one awesome website!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm5088823/
https://www.facebook.com/TearsintheDust
https://twitter.com/tearsinthedust
https://www.facebook.com/cleavermovie
https://twitter.com/CleaverMovie
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Poltergeist-Activity-DVD-Natalie-Martins/dp/B00SX54DQQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1431431660&sr=8-1&keywords=dean+sills