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Filmmaker Interview by Chris Olson
Thank you so much for speaking with us. Where in the world are you right now?
Hi, this is wonderful, thank you so much for speaking to me. I am in my home country Sweden at the moment.
Hello from the UK. You made a short film in 2021, Lonely - which you wrote, directed, and starred in. What can you tell us about this film?
Lonely is about BB, a woman during the pandemic, she thinks she is safe at home. I wanted to focus on BB and what is going on with her and how everything has changed. There is also a sequel Insane, Lonely that has been filmed and is doing good on the festival circuits. Both Lonely and Insane, Lonely are doing good, I´m so proud.
Why did you want to tell a pandemic story?
I wrote about bringing the pandemic and the danger in people together. I saw how people acted and some still act today. I do thriller and horror movies and brought those elements into the film. I did not want to say what country or town BB is in, making it so that she can be anywhere in the world.
I wanted to bring that she thinks she is safe in her home, she is safe away from her loved ones. When I´m home alone, now I love scary movies, but I sometimes think about how fast the police would come to my home, what if something happens and how safe am I in my home?.
What were the challenges getting this made? And how did you overcome them?
The rules in Sweden are very different than in other countries but the rules for filming was strict. The rules in Sweden are more of giving information and advice and people follow the rules, we have had some limitations but it was not really a challenge as we were four in the cast and crew.
Mark filmed his scenes in London and sent them to me. But it is always a challenge to film, a feature film, a series or a short film even without the pandemic but when you have everything planned and everybody on board then it will work, of course, things can happen but if you look at the problem, you can always find a solution.
That's a terrific attitude. You also have a podcast. What’s the show about?
The Untitled Show by E-MN is a podcast about the unknown, unsolved murders, mysteries, crimes, missing people and things that are spooky and scary. I have always loved things that are weird, scary and can´t be explained so after doing some short videos on Instagram, I brought it over to do a podcast. It is so much fun, I just released the first episode of season 4 and I´m working on episode 2 at the moment.
What’s next for you in terms of filmmaking?
At the moment I´m filming a short film that is based on some events after what happened in Toy Box Killers, I´m also writing a script for a #horror series with a writer and journalist Paul Bagnall and am working as an associate producer on a gangster movie with Mark Denham.
I have a few more projects in the works and hope to get started soon with them. A dream is to move back to the US and continue working there, I´m working on moving back there. There is this apartment building in L.A. called Hollywood Tower, that would be amazing to film in.
Who are your film heroes?
Marilyn Monroe, she was the reason why I wanted to be an actress when I was a child and I feel she is more than a comedian and a beauty, she is amazing, just watch Niagara, wow, it will show why Marilyn Monroe is a legend.
David Lynch is a hero, he makes amazing work. The silent movies and Golden Age stars and directors are my heroes in #filmmaking, acting and style.
Why do you love making movies?
I love old movies, silent movies, the Golden Age, the movies, the stars and I feel that they are heroes and silent movie stars and directors. I remember getting grounded and watching Casablanca and Citizen Kane and the movies are amazing, anything with Marilyn is just amazing and silent movies, wow. I love it, during the silent movies, it was filmed fast and released fast, Buster Keaton doing his own stunts, having a house fall on him.
The stars were mysteries, the movies were mysteries, the life, the style and I love it. I love making movies, being creative and seeing it start from the story on the paper to then setting everything up with casting, finding locations, filming and when it is time to edit the film. When everything is finished and released, I can relax and feel the joy, I love it, I love everything about making movies.
Filming is my job and my hobby, my freedom. Making movies like the silent movie times, are amazing, they were the first. I love creating movies, bringing the past into the future, respecting our past, our history and joining them together.
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