Sick Chicks Pick Flicks: Chapel Hill Film Festival Celebrates Horror By Women

ARTS & CULTURE

CHAPEL HILL – “If you’re in indie filmmaking for the money, you’re in it for the wrong reason,” local writer-director-producer Christine Parker says. “You’re not going to make a million dollars. You have to be in it because you love film, you love making films, and you love telling stories.”

For more than a decade, Parker’s been sharing her love of movie-making through Sick Chicks, a production company that fosters a sense of community and collaboration among women working in the horror, sci-fi, and fantasy genres. On Sept. 20, the group’s Sick Chick Flicks Film Festival will showcase more than 30 short horror, sci-fi, and fantasy films made by women. It will run from noon to midnight at Chapel Hill’s Varsity Theatre on East Franklin Street, inviting everyone to be part of this collaborative celebration of women in horror filmmaking.

Parker’s mum and a mummy

In an interview, Parker shared her personal journey, revealing that her mother deeply influenced her love for horror films. Born in the United Kingdom to an American Air Force father and an English mother, Parker’s early years were spent in California. Her mother’s love for horror films, often enjoyed with a stash of hidden Cadburys, introduced her to the classics, mostly Hammer films.

Hammer, a British studio that dominated the horror market from the 1950s through the 1970s, made one of Parker’s favorite films, “Blood From the Mummy’s Tomb.” That 1971 movie was one of the inspirations for 2019’s “Blood of the Mummy,” on which Parker worked as producer, writer, director, and cinematographer. This deep appreciation for classic horror films is a testament to the genre’s enduring influence on Parker’s work.

“I’ve loved mummy movies since I was a kid,” Parker said. “I’ve always wanted to make one. That was a labor of love.”

“Blood of the Mummy” is currently streaming on Amazon and Tubi, thanks to Parker finding a good distributor. The streaming era, she said, is full of potential for indie films. “Your film can be seen a lot easier. It’s a lot cheaper for the filmmakers. When I started, it was mostly DVDs, later Blu-rays — when you have to take those costs out of your profits, you don’t get as much. Streaming has a lot less overhead.”

The birth of the Sick Chicks

Two decades ago, Parker formed Adrenalin Productions, which released dozens of short films and five feature films. By 2012, though, she felt the itch to do something different. “We were thinking it would be really great to do something on a bigger scale. Part of that was me as a filmmaker submitting to festivals; often, it seemed to be a guy’s club. You didn’t see many female films, and you know there are a lot of women out there making films.”

Parker also noticed that when women were a minority on film sets, “they didn’t allow their voices to be heard. When we were on our own, they had all kinds of ideas.” That led to her forming Sick Chick Flicks, “to address the need for female filmmakers to collaborate and learn how to make horror films.” The Sick Chick Flicks team, which now numbers about 20 members, worked with Parker to make Blood of the Mummy.

The collaborative aspect, Parker said, means “everybody does a little bit of everything.” Recently, she encouraged everyone to write a script for production; they now have six to develop into short films. “I want to have them make their own movies — to pass the torch. They’re a little nervous, but once you get past that first one, it’s not so hard.

“It’s just lovely to see the creativity,” she added. “I’m a very creative person, that’s why I love film, I like to write, to edit, to shoot, I like to do all these things. It’s fun to see how it’s influenced other people and allowed them to shine.”

A festival of horror

The Sick Chicks Flicks Film Festival takes place Sept. 20 from noon to midnight. The list of films includes one feature film, “Baby Fever,” multiple shorts such as “Something’s Wrong With Kit,” “It Burns,” and “The Man Who Loved Flowers,” plus panels on making movies. Tickets are available online until noon on the day of the festival, and until 6 PM if you’re buying in person. The price is whatever you choose to donate.

“We really like for the filmmakers to attend if they can,” Parker said. “Many filmmakers have attended, met other filmmakers, and ended up working together.” It often happens, she said, because when filmmakers meet, they naturally start talking about their ideas.

When it comes to selecting films for the festival, the Sick Chicks use Film Freeway, a platform that allows filmmakers to upload their movies, browse a database of festivals, and submit to those they find compatible. Parker emphasized that while a compelling story is essential, the festival also values good quality film and sound. As she put it, ‘if you can’t understand what people are saying, it doesn’t work.’

Fraser Sherman has worked for newspapers, including the Destin Log, the Pensacola News-Journal and the Raleigh Public Record. Born in England, he’d still live in Florida if he hadn’t met the perfect woman and moved to Durham to marry her. He’s the author of several film reference books and has published one novel and several short story collections. This reporter can be reached at: Information@TheLocalReporter.press