PopHorror Let's Get Scared
I’ve been a huge fan of Tristan Risk ever since I saw her breakthrough performance in The Soska’ Sister’s American Mary. Tristan recently made her directorial debut with the horror comedy short film Parlour Tricks (you can read our review here) and I was given the honor of interviewing her about this amazing film, plus ask her about her career in burlesque to horror films and everything in between.
PopHorror: You’ve been involved in Burlesque for 17 years. How did you come to be a part of that scene?
Tristan Risk: I got into it as a joke for a friend’s birthday. I got invited to perform the following weekend with a friend’s band, then by another band the weekend after, and soon I had strung enough gigs together regularly to call myself a burlesque dancer.
PopHorror: You portrayed the character Beatress in the Soska Sisters excellent film, American Mary, a character who looks like Betty Boop and sounds like Ellen Greene. Did you come up with a backstory for Beatress?
Tristan Risk: Not really. I think she has a wildly interesting tale and something that is a crossover adventure with Ruby Realgirl on their search for their ideal forms. But that’s only speculation on my part.
PopHorror: You also have a brief role in the opening of The Editor. What was it like working with the Astron 6 guys?
Tristan Risk: I loved it. They have such a dry sense of humor. It’s so Canadian. And they were hilarious and fun to work with. I’m so proud to be part of an ensemble like that, where it’s a great line up.
PopHorror: You have a pretty interesting role in Izzy Lee’s short Lovecraftian film Innsmouth as well. What was it like shooting the climactic scene?
Tristan Risk: I enjoyed it. Lot’s of prosthetic for that role, but it was well worth it. I think I sufficiently menaced Diana enough in that scene.
PopHorror: You played one of the main roles in Harvest Lake. What was it like shooting such a sexually charged film?
Tristan Risk: It was acting, just like any other part of the film.
PopHorror: In Frankenstein Created Bikers, you play a badass assassin with a penchant for explosives and skull fucking. How awkward was the skull fucking scene to shoot?
Tristan Risk: Not awkward. Everyone was professional in all of the adult themed scenes that were shot.
PopHorror: That’s good to hear. You starred in the surreal erotic thriller/giallo film, The Valley of
Rats. Without spoiling anything, what can you tell me about your role? The film recently released on Blu-Ray and the special 3 disc edition has one of your Burlesque Troupes shows on it. How cool is it that people who aren’t familiar with your burlesque work get the chance to see you perform?
Tristan Risk: I play Juliette, whom you never see outside of flashbacks. I’m a thread in the larger tapestry of the film. The live show released with the film is our GAME OVER sideshow cabaret that was black light-themed. We took a bunch of childhood favorites and bastardized them with the questionable art of sideshow.
PopHorror: That sounds amazing! I can’t wait to see it when my copy comes in the mail. You also play the title role in the film Ayla. Your character is a woman who died at age 4 and was resurrected years later as an adult. How did that affect the way you played the character?
Tristan Risk: You never really truly know what Ayla is – is she the real dead spirit? Is she something else? A manifestation of a family’s grief and detachment? I chose to try and portray the character as ethereally as possible.
PopHorror: You play a Burlesque dancer named Tristan in Cabaret of the Dead (formerly known as Fetish Factory – you can read our review here) which was written and directed by Stacy Layne Wilson. Is the character of Tristan similar to how you are in real life?
Tristan Risk: It was more like a fun cameo that she and Jennifer Blanc-Biehn were nice enough to include me on.
PopHorror: You are part of the cast of the upcoming women in prison/exploitation/zombie film, Amazon Hot Box, which has a cast full of amazing indie actors and actresses. What was the experience like working with all these talented people on such a crazy movie?
Tristan Risk: I’d worked with a large chunk of the cast and crew from before, and there was a group of fresh faces for me on this. Everyone was awesome and fun to work with and were kick ass troupers in a few challenging scenes to film in the elements.
PopHorror: You star in the slasher film Cuties as Miss Anna. What can you tell me about the film?
Tristan Risk: It is due out for a 2019 release, I believe!
PopHorror: You have a role in Boogeyman Reincarnated, Ulli Lommel’s return to his Boogeyman series. What was it like working with Ulli?
Tristan Risk: He was a character. He had a fantastic collection of Western style shirts and cowboy boots. He told me about his shoe collection at great length.
PopHorror: You have played a lot of different types of characters. Which is your favorite and which is most like you?
Tristan Risk: I’d say that they are all like me, since there is a small part of me in all my characters. We are at once totally alike and utterly different.
PopHorror: Are you a fan of horror films? What are some of your favorites?
Tristan Risk: I am. Mostly anything where nature takes her revenge on people. I can’t say that I’m fond of people, muchly.
PopHorror: You recently wrote and directed a horror comedy short Parlour Tricks. How did the project come about and what was the experience like directing your first film? Any more directing in the future?
Tristan Risk: I was delighted with the process. I hope to repeat it in the future. No solid plans as of yet, though I’ve some projects in the works.
PopHorror: Any new projects coming up?
Tristan Risk: Some things, but I’m not yet at liberty to say just what yet.
PopHorror: I’m sure everyone is dying to know, but is there any plans to re-team up with your friends, the Soskas, anytime soon?
Tristan Risk: You know us, you can never keep we three separated for very long…
