ABF Season 4 - Meet the Crew: Deanna Gomez
A new season of A Bad Feeling Horror Podcast is upon us and we’d like to introduce you to the creeps behind your bi-weekly nightmares!
Up first, our ghoulish leader, Deanna Gomez. In addition to her role as showrunner for ABF, Deanna has been writing stories for the podcast since it’s inception and lending her voice to bring to life host persona, Ghoulia Gomez.
Deanna Gomez
Creator, Co-Executive Producer
Writer, Actor
Deanna is a proud Chicana born and raised in San Bernardino, California. A natural storyteller from a young age, Deanna channels her passion into her work as an actress, screenwriter, and creator. Thanks to her roots and experiences, Deanna offers a unique perspective in all that she does. She began the ABF Podcast with The WODC team to celebrate and promote BIPOC women in horror.
Where are you from originally and how did you know it was time to make the move to los angeles?
I'm originally from San Bernardino, California, born and raised. I still have family who live out there today, so I visit often. I spent about 10 years in Orange County for school and early in my career, but now I have finally made the move out to LA. It can be a little lonely, admittedly, even for creatives. You think that moving out here, there's going to be a ton of people that you're going to bond with, but you have to be careful with who you trust and who you give your time to. However, don't let the bad keep you away from exploring and trying new things because once you do, you will find your people. Don’t give up.
I knew it was time to move out here when I started to book more acting gigs, and I found that I was just miserable at my old day job. It was so draining that I didn’t have the energy to be creative when I got home. So, I decided to make the move and trust that making that leap would lead to a better opportunity, and I was right. I definitely believe it was the universe rewarding me for taking a risk on myself.
What do you consider to be your major creative influences, across genres?
Music is definitely a creative influence for me. Sometimes people underestimate how important sound and music are in film and TV, but they are so crucial in telling the story and getting the tone right. So, whenever I hear a new song, there’s always a chance that it reminds me of a story I had in mind, and then my imagination just goes with it. At the end of the day, most music tells a story and takes listeners on a journey of the artist’s design, but like with any other form of art, listeners can interpret it in different ways, and it can lead to their own unique ideas.
Another major influence is my family and my culture. I think all creatives pull from their own experiences and lives, but as a Latina and Chicana, I know that we aren’t a monolith. There are some things we go through that are similar, and there are some that are very different. However, these similarities and differences lend themselves to unique and interesting stories that deserve to be told.
What are your thoughts on the current explosion of horror media in the mainstream? How do you feel about it and where do you think it's stemming from?
I love the explosion of horror cinema in the mainstream. I think horror deserves so much more credit than the industry has given it historically. Horror is such an inclusive genre; even at its worst, it doesn’t surprise me that it’s taken off now that it’s become more easily accessible. It’s one of the only genres where some movies can be so bad they’re good.
I think it stems from a couple of things. One of them is accessibility. We have horror production companies busting out multiple horror films a year, like Blumhouse, we have Shudder, an all-horror streaming service, and we have heavy-hitting auteurs like Jordan Peele and Ryan Coogler creating higher-concept horror that the industry cannot ignore. Second, we had the pandemic. The pandemic led us to TikTok. However, you feel about it, TikTok connected us in a way social media hadn’t before. Sure, you had Facebook groups, but even those were more contained. TikTok allowed people to show off what they loved and introduced people to new things. It also showed people that they weren’t alone or that it was okay to like what they like. Horror, Halloween, and all things spooky blew up on the platform, and I, for one, am not mad at it.
Did you go to school for writing or are you self taught? What do you think are the pros and cons of the path you took?
I have my MFA in screenwriting but I really don't think you need to go to school to be a screenwriter unless you wanna teach it some day.
As an actor, Is there a particular craft program that you've done that you feel you learned the most from?
I did do a two-year program at the Actors Studio of Orange County, and I absolutely am better for it today. It gave me a really strong foundation for my acting skills and gave me some insight into the business aspect of acting that I find invaluable. I’m a firm believer in the idea that an actor should always be in a class and honing their art, but that could also mean taking casting director workshops and business of acting courses. That’s what I do now, and it’s allowed me to gain more insight from current casting directors who know what casting is looking for currently and help me stay up to date with the latest trends in the industry for actors.
What's your favorite scary story, across mediums?
My favorite scary story is the story of La Llorona. It's become such a well-known story, I don't know anyone who hasn't heard of her. It's really cool to see because I don't think Latinos get enough credit in the industry, but most of us were raised with legends and lore that have universal value, and La Lallorna is the perfect example of that. It’s been cool to see so many iterations of her pop up in horror cinema.
If you could have been a part of any existing horror movie, what would it be, and who would you play? Why?
One of my favorite movies of all time is A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014), and I wish I played the lead vampire. I wish I had written it, directed it, everything. I just wish I had come up with the film first. It’s such a brilliant movie with incredible, nuanced performances, and it’s visually stunning. It’s a combination of genres, and it even utilizes shots normally used in spaghetti westerns.
Every scene is interesting, and the leads are so fun to watch even when they’re just gazing into each other’s eyes. Hell, I wish I could have just PA’d on that set to watch the magic happen, but the lead is The Girl, and she’s a vigilante vampire in a destitute city where most residents aren’t really bad or good. Even so, she punishes those she deems guilty and protects those she deems worthy. It’s a very subtle take on female rage. She’s a brilliant character.
What advice do you have for creatives that are just starting out?
Listen, this is hard. Following this dream is hard, but it's worth it. The people who make it in this industry aren't the people who are the most insanely talented and beautiful or the most wealthy; it's the people who keep going. It's the people who get knocked down and told no over and over again, but they have a good cry, maybe a drink, and they wake up the next day and get back to it. Furthermore, be realistic about what “making it” looks like. Not everyone is going to be the next Brad Pitt, Anne Hathaway, or Emerald Fennel, and that’s okay.
I know a lot of working actors, writers, and directors you’ve probably never heard of, but they’re out here doing the damn thing and making a living from their art. I’m not saying it’s impossible to make it big, big, but there’s more success to be had than you think. It’s still not easy to do, but it is doable. So, find your people, make your art, and tell the stories you want to tell. Don’t wait for someone you think is a big deal to hand it to you. And for the love of whoever, be kind to yourself along the way.
Listen to Her Stories
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Listen to Her Stories 〰️
There are only 3 episodes left this season, Listeners! Let’s get our final three of season three started with Static!