Interview With Actor Travis Burns For ‘Dreamcatcher’ (2021)

The new horror flick, Dreamcatcher, released on VOD and digital this week. To celebrate the release, I spoke with star Travis Burns. We chatted about how he got the role of DJ Dreamcatcher [read our review here], how’s he been keeping busy during these times of Covid, and of course, horror movies.

PopHorror: Hi Travis! How are you?

Travis Burns: I’m good, thank you. How are you doing?

PopHorror: I’m good, thank you! I watched Dreamcatcher last week, and I thought it was great.

Travis Burns: Woohoo! Amazing!

PopHorror: So I’m really excited to talk to you about it.

Travis Burns: Thank you so much! Yeah, absolutely. You’ve seen it before I have.

PopHorror: What intrigued you about the movie and made you want to be a part of it?

Travis Burns: I read the script, but I actually auditioned for a different role. I auditioned for Zack [Gordon], booked, and through the audition process, they were like, “No, I think you’ll be better for this role.” And I saw it was Dylan, and they explained a DJ, the DJ Dreamcatcher, and I was like, “Oh my God. This is what I want.” So I did the audition, and later that day, they actually pulled me off and offered me the part. I was like, “Absolutely! Yes, please. Let’s do it!”

I think the bit that intrigued me was that the story was amazing, written by Jacob Johnston. And it was also directed by him, or he was directing as well. But also I think about Dylan, this character. It’s not quite a genre I’ve done before, because I’ve done soaps and feel good movies, and this was stepping out of my comfort zone and doing a horror/thriller. For Dylan, there were so many different layers and things to explore with him that I was super excited to dig deep and get to know. And for me, that was really intriguing and exciting to do.

PopHorror: I noticed on your resume a lot of holiday movies.

Travis Burns: Yup!

PopHorror: I am a big fan of those, too (laughs!!

Travis Burns: Of course! Of course. We’re all suckers for them.

PopHorror: Were you a fan of horror before?

Travis Burns: Absolutely. I love horror. I remember growing up as a teenager I was into Scream, especially I Know What You Did Last Summer. That was always a favorite. But then… It’s a different kind of horror, but Paranormal Activity and this and that, but I’ve kind of scaled back because my wife isn’t a fan of horror. She gets really scared and has nightmares, so I kind of need to sit by myself and watch them. But it’s all good, it’s all good. I still enjoy them very much.

PopHorror: I’m a huge horror fan, and I still get nightmares sometimes too, so…

Travis Burns: I love the horror. They don’t really scare me. I find them so fascinating.

PopHorror: Yeah. There are some that give me nightmares, and then some that you’re just like… wow. 

Travis Burns: Exactly.

PopHorror: They’ve done comedy and horror together. Just so many different things.

Travis Burns: I love that. I love when they do a bit of comedy in it. I’m like, “This is actually incredible.”

PopHorror: What was your favorite part filming Dreamcatcher?

Travis Burns: I’ve got to narrow it down to one? The first week of filming, a really exciting moment for me was shooting in the warehouse with 100 extras down below and really embodying Dylan as a DJ and being up there on deck. Even though, yes, it was make believe, but it was a feeling that I probably won’t get again for a long time. A thrilling experience being up there. I set myself a little goal for that day. Real DJs control the crowd. I’m like, “I wonder if I can control this crowd?” Even though they’re extras and I’m working and this and that. I actually got to do that, which is crazy to think, but just simple hand movements to get people to move one way and this way. It was really cool. They followed my lead.

PopHorror: That’s fun! If you could collaborate with anyone, who would it be?

Travis Burns: Wow! I mean… if you go the director-way like Martin Scorsese. He’s insane. I’ve always wanted to do a Universal and a WB film. A studio film. There’s a bunch of actors as well. There’s so many people out there and great projects out there that I’m happy to collab with just about anyone.

PopHorror: What would be the one dream project that you would just love to do?

Travis Burns: I’m thinking like… I’ve always been into doing my own stunts and a very action-y movie, so I would love to do a proper action movie with guns and high speed car chases. Jumping out of planes and stuff like that. I am down. Sign me up! Where’s the dotted line? Something like that would be absolutely a dream to shoot.

PopHorror: That’s awesome! What’s up next for you?

Travis Burns: I would love to say a few things, but I don’t have anything lined up next for me. The industry, obviously, has taken a bit of a hit from Covid, and since March, I have been focusing on—because nothing has been happening—I have been focusing on building a golf brand because I am into golf. So that will be launching next month, which I’m super excited for. It’s been kind of fun to start a business, I guess, while I wait for the industry to get back up and on its feet. In the meantime, I’ve just been auditioning and hoping something comes.

PopHorror: That’s really awesome! I’m really excited to hear about that. While Covid has caused a lot of projects to stall and to cancel, I feel like it’s allowed people to be creative in other ways and tap into their dreams that maybe they didn’t have time for before. While it had a bad part to it, it’s also done some good for some people.

Travis Burns: I absolutely agree. It’s given some people the opportunity to really scale back and think, “What is it that I really want to do?” Even with my life, I guess, you know? I used to work in the bar. I used to be a bartender, and my other friends were in bars and it’s like, “I don’t want to go back to that.” No disrespect, but I want to make my life work in a way that I don’t have to go back. Starting this business is a way for me. My other mate, he’s written his own film, and he’s producing it, so I mean, hats off to everyone who’s out there hustling because we’re all hustling.

PopHorror: Absolutely. Finding ways to make yourself happy.

Travis Burns: Exactly. Exactly right. And I think that’s important to the mind, the health mentally as well. It’s really important to people.

PopHorror: One last question for you today. What is your favorite scary movie?

Travis Burns: I’ve got to narrow it down? Scary movie… I’m going to have to say I Know What You Did Last Summer. It’s always been a favorite for a long, long time.

Thank you so much, Travis, for taking the time to speak with us. Be sure to check out Dreamcatcher on VOD and digital now!