Hall and Oats would describe her as a "Maneater!"

Mandie

The Film Femme Fatale

August 2008
Age: 24
Birthplace: Dallas, TX
Fav Movie: 2001: a Space Odyssey
Website: Synthetichuman Site

Making independent films is hard work, nobody knows this better than valley filmmaker Mandie Smith and the collective SyntheticHuman Pictures. Falling hard upon their success with past films, Not Quite Dead (Horror), Tip Jar (Comedy), Drain (Suspense Thriller) and most recently I’m Voting Republican (that has acquired over 3 million views on YouTube.com) they are yet again working on another short horror film penned by director, Casey Moore. This film is called ‘Her Special Day’ and was shot on location in Prescott, Arizona. In short, the film (set in 1972) is about the destruction of judgment and morality a young family faces when entering the inner circle of a dark religious cult. The film is scheduled to premiere this fall at festivals across the country. So, you may be thinking,

“So, she makes movies, big freaking deal.” Well, it is a big deal. Not only is she the logistical manager of production of these films, she is also a casting director, co-producer, co-creative consultant, occasional boom operator, actor, assistant director and can just about pull off anything that is set in front of her. “It’s stressful, but I can’t help but think that it beats sitting on my ass all day. I’d rather play make-believe with my friends.” Having been trained in acting and stagecraft for the theatre since elementary school, film was a natural progression for her.

Mandie notes, “I find being involved in film and theatre the most rewarding. Seeing the monsters and characters jump off the page of the script and come to life is very exciting. Watching an audience being physically and mentally moved by our vision is the tops!”

And recently, SyntheticHuman Pictures has been moving judges and audiences across the country, wining such awards as ‘Best Cinematography’ (Drain) at the New York Cashama Film Festival, ‘Best of Arizona’ at the Tucson Short Fest (Drain), nominated for ‘Best Short Horror’ (Not Quite Dead) at the Chicago Horror Film Festival and most recently ‘Best of Festival’ (Drain) at the Cave Creek Film Festival.

“Every time we win an award I feel my house could burn down and I wouldn’t care at all. It makes me very proud to see everyone’s hard work being recognized. Blood, sweat, tears and many sleepless nights go into these films, we’ve got some of the most dedicated and creative people in the biz on our crew. I’m very blessed to have the opportunity to work with them.”

When asked about her love of horror she replies, “I have always had a fondness for horror films, but not because they scared me. I liked them because they make me laugh and make me think ‘How did they do that?’. The most evil and vile movies make me laugh like a 4 year old girl. I suppose maybe my dreams are more horrifying than most horror films and I’m a bit desensitized. After working on horror films, you see the tricks of the trade and how really gory scenes are executed..its not real glamorous and its sometimes pretty hokey. However, watching the audience jump and cringe at our films is the best part.

If they only knew the hilarity that went into setting up the shot, they would most likely be laughing too.”

I’ve had first-hand experience with Mandie during production of our music video for “The Bad Guy” a few years back. Let me tell you, there isn’t another girl on this planet that takes film as seriously as this one. (Not to mention she makes killer Cannolis!) Her upbeat and professional attitude is what makes a production work like a well oiled machine. She not only was the production manager but an actor in the video as well. “I’m always up for helping out the local music scene. I feel I’ve gone to so many shows and had some amazing times—its part of my personality to want to show my appreciation the only way I know possible. If it wasn’t for the NSK video I would have never met Stephen Krystek (founder of SyntheticHuman Pictures) who was also an actor in the video, my life would surely be different.”

The Gore Girl shoot was made possible with the help of Steve Wargo (Show-n-Tell Studios), David Matteson *Editor* (SyntheticHuman Pictures), Hayden Blades *Consultant* (SyntheticHuman Pictures), Brad Garner *Photographer* ( www.Signaturedigitalimages.com ), Colleen Lacy *Drobe* (SyntheticHuman Pictures) and Stephen C. Krystek *Director* (SyntheticHuman Pictures). For additional information about Mandie and SyntheticHuman Pictures, please visit www.synthetichuman.com

ICSYB-If you could have any celebrity slaughtered and hacked to pieces, who would it be?

Mandie - I’d like to round up all the fuckin brats from the O.C., The Hills, and the whole Kardashian family and throw them into a freshly sharpened high-speed blender and make a soul sucking douchebag margarita!

ICSYB-As an actress who has been in a horror film, do you prefer to be the villain or the victim?

Mandie - I enjoy doing both! I have been told I die very well and can act very believable but I suppose being the villain is where the glory is. Everyone remembers the villain.

 

ICSYB- If you had to choose…Fast or slow zombies?

 

Mandie - After working on Not Quite Dead, slow zombies crack me up! I love them! Slow zombies just make more sense!

 

ICSYB-What was your scariest bad dream?

 

Mandie - I used to be plagued by nightmares as a child, so much so my mom took me to a kiddie therapist. It was always the same dream of a candle getting knocked over and the whole house going up in flames and my family was stuck inside the house and I had already escaped. That’s really scary for a six year old.

ICSYB-What are your top 5 scary movies of all time?

Mandie - 1. Nightmare on Elm Street 2. The Shinning 3. The People Under the Stairs 4. Ghost in the Machine 5. Night of the Living Dead

ICSYB-What was the scariest movie you have seen and how did it affect you?

Mandie - Ghost in the Machine REALLY freaked me out as a kid. Since computers were just becoming widely used I thought that one day they would all be programmed to kill us. I guess the real scary part is that the movie didn’t have a tangible monster or villain…there was no way to know or control what could happen.

ICSYB- What current film projects are you working on?

Mandie - We have one in production right now called Her Special Day. It’s a horror piece set in 1972 shot on location in Prescott, AZ. In short, it’s a tale of the destruction of judgment and morality due to a family’s involvement in a cult. We also have a full-length feature film in the works for next year along with two more horror films. It’s been a very good but very busy year for us.

 

ICSYB- I’m sure there are some crazy antics that arise on set, any favorite moments?

 

 

Mandie - When we were filming Not Quite Dead I was playing the role of a freshly bitten rabid zombie named Shannon. In one scene I attack one of the main characters and bite him, then the protagonist shoots my head off. To achieve the affect, we had to attach tubes to my face and back and have two guys with syringes full of F/X blood stationed just out of the frame. When the first take happened the tube fell off my face and filled my entire bra full of sticky fake blood! Not to mention when had Channel 3 News anchor Beverly Kidd ravaged by a gang of hungry zombies! Good times!

ICSYB – Beverly Kidd is a hot little lady, no doubt! Thanks for the Gore Girl Shoot and everyone be sure to check out her films below!

 

Here is the short film I’m Voting Republican

 

 

 

The Trailer for Not Quite Dead:

 

 

 

 

 

The Trailer for Drain: