A typical Hollywood couple (she's an actor, he's a director) but quite an un-typical variety of projects swirling around for Evan Marlowe and Kerry Finlayson's film production company, Sweet Home Films. I had the honor of working with them last year when they cast me in my first horror film titled "Horror House". (see red carpet pic below!) They have a great camaraderie working side-by-side with each other - I mean, do they ever fight? With films, brit comedy shows and a reality show under their belt, they're sure to give the Weinsteins a run for their money in due time. I caught up with this dynamic duo for "The 5er" and found out what makes them click as a director/producer/actor married team, why they created a british sitcom, who their dream cast would be and the question we've all been dying to know - what's next for Sweet Home Films?
What are your backgrounds and how did you meet?
KERRY: I started theater and dance school at the age of three in the UK and knew from then on that I wanted to be in the entertainment business. After various theater schools and film schools, I picked up the skills to be both behind and in front of the camera. That passion hasn't stopped and now I get to do the best of both worlds here in LA.
EVAN: I have a background in medicine. I toyed with filmmaking as a teenager, then picked it up again when I met Kerry. In between I've independently studied film and filmmaking, reading books on film criticism and watching lots of movies.
KERRY: Evan and I met online and instantly knew we had a connection and same sense of humor. This compatibility helps us to work closely as both a production team and a married couple.
KERRY: Well, if you include the films I made back in film school then a good 17 years. Evan was making short films back in high school using Super 8 film and even started the first film club at his school. He also started making claymation films from a very young age, I believe I was probably more interested in wearing tutus and being a ballerina at that age.
I'm absolutely obsessed with British TV so I was thrilled when I heard you were shooting one called "Shazza". (Thank you for the cameo role!) Why did you you want to do a British comedy show?
KERRY: Being in Los Angeles makes me miss home sometimes as I am so far away from my family. Thanks to networks like BBC America, I get a small injection of British TV and humor to keep me going. I felt it was time that I delved into my British culture and brought a bit of that dry, raunchy Brit humor to the USA.
Who would be your dream cast and where would you shoot? (You can't say your house! LOL)
KERRY: My dream cast would be Anthony Hopkins, Helen Mirren, Brad Pitt and Rachel Weisz. I love their work and seem to grow which each project they do. The ideal location would be an old castle in Transylvania.
What's next for Sweet Home Films?
KERRY: Sweet Home Films has around five scripts under its belt and even talks of a "Horror House 2". A sequel to our last movie "Horror House". We aim to do a second season of SHAZZA and also sell the two reality show concepts we have shot pilots for. It is going to be a busy year, but we look forward to every new project we produce.
Director Evan Marlowe and I at the "Horror House" Screening
Check out the first episode of "Shazza"!
