Hi everyone!
I had the opportunity to interview by phone Andrea Perron and Joey King from the upcoming horror film The Conjuring. Joey King plays Christine, one of the girls from the family in The Conjuring to which all these scary and terrible things happen. Andrea Perron, is the author of the book “House of Darkness House of Light: The True Story Volumes One and Two“, in which she tells her family’s true story (yes, she was one of the girls), from which The Conjuring’s story is based of.
The Conjuring has been called one of this year’s best horror films, the most impressive thing is how it doesn’t go straight into jump scares, but in fact lets you care about the characters. The film is directed by James Wan (Saw, Insiduous) and stars Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson.
Interview with Andrea Perron
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Andrea: I’m very well, how are you?
L: Good, thank you. Are you happy that you are here in Miami?
A: I love Miami. What’s not to love?
L: (laughs) Well, my first question for you is, how did you first find out that they were going to do a movie about your story?
A: Well, that’s very interesting because I had just begun the process myself and had not even told my family that I was writing the story and I got my first call from a Hollywood producer six weeks after I started compiling the manuscript and I don’t know how they knew that I was writing the story.
L: It was like a match made in heaven pretty much, it’s like “oh, you’re writing a story, we’re going to make a movie about it”
A: Uh huh, I got my first offer immediately and I passed on that one because I thought it was just way too early, and then I got another offer and at that point I thought “okay, they’re serious” and I don’t know how they knew and that worked around pretty quickly, then I told my family, I moved to Georgia from Rhode Island, I would be the only one living in Rhode Island at the time, and I knew I couldn’t really tell our story authentically and completely unless I was with my family and that’s how it all began.
L: And did you have any input in the creative process? I know you wrote the book, but did you have any comments about what the director [James Wan] was doing?
A: I think that the movie is extraordinary and I think that it shows the best director and the best cast, it felt like the entire thing came together as if it was meant to be and I really can’t say enough about the film, I think that it is absolutely beautiful and it’s amazing and it’s a new for the genre.
L: I think also that the movie captured something that a lot of horror films don’t, and this one has a lot of character development on the first act, so it makes you want to care for the characters. Did you talk to any of the cast members or give them some tips about what was going on?
A: Yes, we did actually, last March of 2012, 6-7 of us went out to the set, so we met all of our alter-egos, sadly my mother stayed at home and Lili Taylor didn’t come to the set that day, so the two matriarchs were not there, but the rest of us were and it was a wonderful experience to meet everybody, and that’s when I felt really comfortable because I knew that our story was in a very capable path.
L: And since this is a horror film, I just wanted to know if you had any favorite horror films or if you have seen any [before The Conjuring]?
A: No, I actually have never seen a horror film from start to finish in my life. I lived it, I didn’t need to put that into my brain. I’ve never seen a horror film before I saw The Conjuring.
L: True. And I actually think that’s a good thing because I feel like since this movie is set in the 70’s its why it’s so good, nowadays, if you have a horror film and there are going to be five girls in a house, they’ll all probably see a ghost and send a picture to Instagram or Twitter, taking a video of it, I think [The Conjuring] captures the emotion, the fear
A: It does, and that’s the most important thing about it, James [Wan] could have not possibly condense 10 years of experiences into a 2 hour film, but what he did capture was the essence of the love and the fear that we felt as a family, and that was the most important element to capture.
L: Well, those were all my questions for you Andrea, thank you so much. Have a good day.
A: It was my pleasure, you too bye.
Joey: Hi!
L: To start off, how did you find out about the movie and did you have any kind of preparation for your role?
J: I think they called me and I thought I’d go try out for the movie and I was really excited because it was such a different movie from what I’ve done before. It was really creepy and scary. For prep, I got to talk to the real sisters on set which was really cool, they came and visited a few months into the shooting. Hearing the whole story form them was crazy and you know it was very scary to hear it from them, I mean it was just amazing to hear their story and getting to portray what they went through, it was really fascinating.
L: How would you describe your character?
A: My character Christine, she’s the middle of the five sisters, and I don’t know she has these things happening to her and she has this one very, very scary occurrence with one of the main demonic spirits, and it’s very frightening for her and she’s very exhausted as the other girls are. It’s a really amazing story because it really happened, and I got to talk to the real Christine, and it was great to know about it from her and also very terrifying.
L: Since you are a young actress, did you get any advice or learn anything from the director James Wan or Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson?
A: James Wan was such a great director and I just had so much fun filming with him, he’s so brilliant and amazing, and getting to work with Vera was so great too, I mean it was such a cool film and I learned a lot, she’s so like detailed and so friendly too.
L: And my last question, for people who are doubting about checking out The Conjuring, what would you have to say to them?
A: Well, if you’re a scary movie lover, you’re definitely going to check out The Conjuring, it’s so amazing and terrifying and you wouldn’t want to miss it. It’s such an amazing story and these girls for almost 20 years haven’t been able to share it and they’re finally letting it out.
L: Thank you so much Joey, bye!
A: Thank you, bye!
FYI: This interview with Joey was a bit cut short because at a certain point Joey couldn’t hear my question. I actually blame this on myself because my question was a bit too long :)
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The Conjuring will be in theaters on Friday, July 19th 2013
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