Born and raised in California, Pennie Orcutt has starred in Independent
film, commercials and soap operas. It wasn't long before Pennie started
producing plays, showcases and small film productions for her and her
friends to showcase their work. The transition to producer was natural
and Pennie now has her first producing project under her belt. "Death
By Engagement."
film, commercials and soap operas. It wasn't long before Pennie started
producing plays, showcases and small film productions for her and her
friends to showcase their work. The transition to producer was natural
and Pennie now has her first producing project under her belt. "Death
By Engagement."
Interview done by:
Paula Burr
Paula Burr
Posted on:
October 12th, 2006
October 12th, 2006
HF: Where are you from, how did you end up in LA, and what got you interested
in film?
PO: I grew up in Orange County about 60 miles out of Los Angeles. I started out
as a dancer. I would commute to Los Angeles for dance auditions. I was even a
Los Angeles Rams Cheerleader for many years, which was cool because I got to
travel the world.
Dancing turned to acting and I received my BFA from Long Beach State. I moved
to LA and immersed myself in auditions and classes. The LA grind wasn't easy so
with the help of my actor, writer, & director friends we tried to find ways to make
our own films and cast ourselves.
I was bartending at Gotham Hall in Santa Monica. Yeah, actress/bartender and I
befriended David Jones (Catherine Zeta-Jones brother.) We'd always talk shop
and one day he said, "you're a born producer and you don't even know it." David
was my mentor for a short time but in that time I learned the ropes and quickly
realized producing was my calling.
HF: Would you please tell how you came up with the idea of this film?
PO: The idea of "Death By Engagement"came from Philip's wit and frustration. He
always felt the idea of these big gaudy engagement rings that women put so
much emphasis on is a joke. "How many Carots?" etc. And the myth that men
need to save up three months salary to earn the right to grovel around on one
knee. All I can say is I'm one of those shallow women who needs a rock I’ll take
my chances on it being cursed.
HF: I have noticed that you have worked with Philip Creager a few times now,
can you tell me how you met? What it is like to work with him?
PO: Yes, Philip and I have worked a lot together. I'm one of his biggest fans. Next
to Quentin Tarantino, I like Philip's dialog which I think is extremely difficult to do
well. I loved Philip's work so much that I married him. I thought it might give me a
leg up when it comes to optioning his work...
HF: That’s great! You never can have enough support in the business. Well that is
wonderful to hear that you two are happily married and still going strong working
together. I read DBE is a horror/comedy? It sounds like a great story.
It's really fun and entertaining. That was our goal. We really wanted to open the
world of horror to a wider audience. We hope to satisfy the horror fans with
blood and gore but Philip's knack for quirky characters and witty dialog added a
different spin to the typical horror film.
HF: What do you love about horror movies?
PO: I love how horror films reach the dark depths of our imaginations. The great
horror films use our imaginations and don't show too much. The film that still
haunts me twenty years later, "When a Stranger Calls"-- How did he chop up the
baby? What did it look like? What was the process? If the filmmaker would have
showed that result I don't think it would have been as powerful. Every time the
phone would ring when I babysat, I'd jump. I knew it was my friends screwing
with me but what if it wasn't? Ahhh!!!!!
HF: What is your earliest memory of horror films?
PO: With out a doubt, "Halloween," "When a Stranger Calls" and "It's Alive." "It's
Alive" the killer evil baby. So Cool.
HF: You have a wonderful cast for the film! Christa Campbell (whom I just
wrapped an interview with.. she’s absolutely lovely by the way.) Sascha Knopf,
Aaron MacPherson, P.J. Soles, Iyari Limon and others. Did you have these people
in mind or did it all sort of fall into place for the cast?
PO: PJ Soles was pre cast-- she's my neighbor plus I'm a huge "Halloween" fan. I
think PJ inspired me to take some risks and get "Death By Engagement" off the
ground. Iyari Limon was precast as well. The rest were cast through a process
called breakdowns. Agents get breakdowns and then send their clients
accordingly. We were on a SAG low budget contract meaning the project was
professional-- not to say it wouldn't be if we were non-union. You get the cream
of the crop when you use SAG and it showed on our submissions.
We received over 3,000 actor head shots for "Death By Engagement." Some
actors can get the breakdowns, Christa submitted herself and I don't think she
would have if it were non-union. I couldn't imagine not having Christa. Wow with
that plug I hope SAG cuts me some slack on my next project.
HF: SAG is going to love you. WOW! Over 3,000 head shots...That’s great! How
long did it take to shoot? I heard about a house in Bel Air that a tree fell in to the
roof?
PO: We shot in 18 days. We had a lot of interesting locations but my friend had a
tree fall on her house so it was vacant. I saw an opportunity to get a location for
free but the reality is nothing is free. The crew had to put in endless hours making
the house look presentable. The Pawnshop location was the same Pawnshop
from Pulp Fiction. The Pawnshop owner liked to share his Bruce Willis stories. We
also shot in a house in Topanga Canyon where the hill people really did come out
at night. I was looking around for Eli Roth because I could swear he was shooting
Cabin Fever 2 somewhere in the vicinity. I could go into detail but that's another
horror movie.
HF: I think its great to want to get more people involved in horror, it is just too
much fun. I think there is something to be said to laugh and be afraid in a movie,
it sends the audience on a great ride. I’m looking forward to seeing the film. You
have been very busy promoting it, and your on your way to my home state of
AZ. I emailed and told a bunch of friends that they should not miss out on this film.
I am a huge fan of "Halloween" it is one of my favorites, and is also one of my
oldest memories of being afraid, that and "Nightmare On Elm Street". The
thought of someone coming in my dreams to kill me. Man it scared me to death!
As for "Halloween" that movie still to this day makes my heart beat fast when
I watch it! I love it! That’s really interesting that P.J. gave you some inspiration to
take a risk and get DBE out there. Were you nervous about it?
PO: No, I've never been so excited in my life. I knew I had to take the next step.
I had been working on a project called "Jessica the Book" about a female bookie.
Love that script (written by Philip) I got it to some Studios and Independent
companies. Jennifer Tilly had the script at one point and both Chris Penn and
Robert Forrster were attached. Industry went crazy for the script but not for me
as a producer. I knew I had to get myself recognized as producer if anyone of
any stature would work with me and I wouldn't give up the script. I know that
sounds so Hollywood but I figure I can find a way to make money but to get any
position in this town you need to fight
in film?
PO: I grew up in Orange County about 60 miles out of Los Angeles. I started out
as a dancer. I would commute to Los Angeles for dance auditions. I was even a
Los Angeles Rams Cheerleader for many years, which was cool because I got to
travel the world.
Dancing turned to acting and I received my BFA from Long Beach State. I moved
to LA and immersed myself in auditions and classes. The LA grind wasn't easy so
with the help of my actor, writer, & director friends we tried to find ways to make
our own films and cast ourselves.
I was bartending at Gotham Hall in Santa Monica. Yeah, actress/bartender and I
befriended David Jones (Catherine Zeta-Jones brother.) We'd always talk shop
and one day he said, "you're a born producer and you don't even know it." David
was my mentor for a short time but in that time I learned the ropes and quickly
realized producing was my calling.
HF: Would you please tell how you came up with the idea of this film?
PO: The idea of "Death By Engagement"came from Philip's wit and frustration. He
always felt the idea of these big gaudy engagement rings that women put so
much emphasis on is a joke. "How many Carots?" etc. And the myth that men
need to save up three months salary to earn the right to grovel around on one
knee. All I can say is I'm one of those shallow women who needs a rock I’ll take
my chances on it being cursed.
HF: I have noticed that you have worked with Philip Creager a few times now,
can you tell me how you met? What it is like to work with him?
PO: Yes, Philip and I have worked a lot together. I'm one of his biggest fans. Next
to Quentin Tarantino, I like Philip's dialog which I think is extremely difficult to do
well. I loved Philip's work so much that I married him. I thought it might give me a
leg up when it comes to optioning his work...
HF: That’s great! You never can have enough support in the business. Well that is
wonderful to hear that you two are happily married and still going strong working
together. I read DBE is a horror/comedy? It sounds like a great story.
It's really fun and entertaining. That was our goal. We really wanted to open the
world of horror to a wider audience. We hope to satisfy the horror fans with
blood and gore but Philip's knack for quirky characters and witty dialog added a
different spin to the typical horror film.
HF: What do you love about horror movies?
PO: I love how horror films reach the dark depths of our imaginations. The great
horror films use our imaginations and don't show too much. The film that still
haunts me twenty years later, "When a Stranger Calls"-- How did he chop up the
baby? What did it look like? What was the process? If the filmmaker would have
showed that result I don't think it would have been as powerful. Every time the
phone would ring when I babysat, I'd jump. I knew it was my friends screwing
with me but what if it wasn't? Ahhh!!!!!
HF: What is your earliest memory of horror films?
PO: With out a doubt, "Halloween," "When a Stranger Calls" and "It's Alive." "It's
Alive" the killer evil baby. So Cool.
HF: You have a wonderful cast for the film! Christa Campbell (whom I just
wrapped an interview with.. she’s absolutely lovely by the way.) Sascha Knopf,
Aaron MacPherson, P.J. Soles, Iyari Limon and others. Did you have these people
in mind or did it all sort of fall into place for the cast?
PO: PJ Soles was pre cast-- she's my neighbor plus I'm a huge "Halloween" fan. I
think PJ inspired me to take some risks and get "Death By Engagement" off the
ground. Iyari Limon was precast as well. The rest were cast through a process
called breakdowns. Agents get breakdowns and then send their clients
accordingly. We were on a SAG low budget contract meaning the project was
professional-- not to say it wouldn't be if we were non-union. You get the cream
of the crop when you use SAG and it showed on our submissions.
We received over 3,000 actor head shots for "Death By Engagement." Some
actors can get the breakdowns, Christa submitted herself and I don't think she
would have if it were non-union. I couldn't imagine not having Christa. Wow with
that plug I hope SAG cuts me some slack on my next project.
HF: SAG is going to love you. WOW! Over 3,000 head shots...That’s great! How
long did it take to shoot? I heard about a house in Bel Air that a tree fell in to the
roof?
PO: We shot in 18 days. We had a lot of interesting locations but my friend had a
tree fall on her house so it was vacant. I saw an opportunity to get a location for
free but the reality is nothing is free. The crew had to put in endless hours making
the house look presentable. The Pawnshop location was the same Pawnshop
from Pulp Fiction. The Pawnshop owner liked to share his Bruce Willis stories. We
also shot in a house in Topanga Canyon where the hill people really did come out
at night. I was looking around for Eli Roth because I could swear he was shooting
Cabin Fever 2 somewhere in the vicinity. I could go into detail but that's another
horror movie.
HF: I think its great to want to get more people involved in horror, it is just too
much fun. I think there is something to be said to laugh and be afraid in a movie,
it sends the audience on a great ride. I’m looking forward to seeing the film. You
have been very busy promoting it, and your on your way to my home state of
AZ. I emailed and told a bunch of friends that they should not miss out on this film.
I am a huge fan of "Halloween" it is one of my favorites, and is also one of my
oldest memories of being afraid, that and "Nightmare On Elm Street". The
thought of someone coming in my dreams to kill me. Man it scared me to death!
As for "Halloween" that movie still to this day makes my heart beat fast when
I watch it! I love it! That’s really interesting that P.J. gave you some inspiration to
take a risk and get DBE out there. Were you nervous about it?
PO: No, I've never been so excited in my life. I knew I had to take the next step.
I had been working on a project called "Jessica the Book" about a female bookie.
Love that script (written by Philip) I got it to some Studios and Independent
companies. Jennifer Tilly had the script at one point and both Chris Penn and
Robert Forrster were attached. Industry went crazy for the script but not for me
as a producer. I knew I had to get myself recognized as producer if anyone of
any stature would work with me and I wouldn't give up the script. I know that
sounds so Hollywood but I figure I can find a way to make money but to get any
position in this town you need to fight
