When it comes to the horror film genre, it’s safe to say that Mary Beth McAndrews knows a thing or two. Not only is she the editor-in-chief of DreadCentral, one of the most popular horror publications online today, but she has also served as an executive producer on films such as Bag of Lies, The Jester, Last Night at Terrace Lanes, and Ghost Game, all titles for Epic Pictures’ horror label, Dread. It was only a natural progression for her to jump into the director’s chair when the perfect script came along that she couldn’t quit thinking about. That script ended up being Jamie Alvey’s Bystanders, a rape-revenge tale about an unlikely trio that bands together to survive a murderous group of creepy frat boys. While McAndrews may be an aficionado when it comes to everything horror, Bystanders marked a lot of firsts for her, having never directed before. After reflecting on the production process, the three most important things she learned were: Don’t be afraid to trust your gut. Ask for help. Get ready to kill your darlings. “Once I started trusting my gut, I felt really confident. I realized that second-guessing myself was just making the process harder. I know it’s easier said than done to stop being so self-conscious and worried, but when you are on set there is such a feeling of go go go that when you have that confidence, it becomes so much more fun.” She goes on to add, “If you are...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - Yesterday